An Audio Blog by Walden

Ideas & Insights on Audio & Good Sound

JD 21/08/2026 JD 21/08/2026

LUXMAN D-100 CENTENNIAL

If you have a weakness for Japanese technology at its very best, it is difficult to ignore LUXMAN. Few names in high-end audio can draw upon a history as long and as rich. The story began in 1925, and over the course of a century LUXMAN has lived through virtually every major transition in audio: from radio to hi-fi, from valves to transistors, from analogue to digital, and from the Compact Disc to SACD and high-resolution music.

JD 24/04/2026 JD 24/04/2026

On The Secret of Musicality & The Work of Hiraga

Modern loudspeakers promise technical perfection. Manufacturers routinely claim frequency responses from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, vanishingly low distortion, and sophisticated crossover networks designed to optimize every driver within its ideal operating range. Yet experienced listeners often encounter a paradox: systems that measure impressively can still fail to communicate the vitality of live music. This contradiction fascinated Jean Hiraga, one of the most influential voices in high-end audio.

JD 23/04/2026 JD 23/04/2026

Network Players Matter

High-quality Network Players matter in a streaming system. While many devices today combine streaming and digital conversion in a single box, experienced listeners often prefer a dedicated network player paired with a separate DAC. This approach allows each component to focus on its specific task, often leading to greater musical refinement and system flexibility. Understanding the value of a high-quality network player therefore becomes an important step in building a truly high-end streaming audio system.

JD 23/04/2026 JD 23/04/2026

Digital-to-Analogue Converting

Streaming has become one of the most important music sources in modern high-end audio systems. Services such as Qobuz and Tidal now provide recordings in resolutions equal to - or even exceeding - compact disc quality. Combined with advanced network players and music servers, streaming offers an almost unlimited music library at the touch of a button. Yet one component ultimately determines how convincing streaming will sound: the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC).