An Audio Blog by Walden - Ideas & Insights on Audio & Good Sound

JD 18/03/2026 JD 18/03/2026

Diamonds Are Forever. On Phono Cartridges…

For vinyl lovers, phono cartridges hold a special status. They are miniature, often refined, and come in various shapes and qualities. Phono cartridges are literally at the source of an audio system as they are used to read the grooves in the vinyl.

JD 12/03/2026 JD 12/03/2026

Tube Soul, Transistor Muscle: The Appeal of Hybrid Amplifiers

Among audiophiles, the question of amplification often leads to a familiar debate: tube or solid-state? Both technologies have shaped high-fidelity audio for decades, each with its own strengths. Yet a third category has attracted increasing attention... hybrid amplifiers, designs that combine elements of both approaches.

Jan Dhont 14/02/2026 Jan Dhont 14/02/2026

The EL84. Gracious Sound from a Small Tube.

Very often, it can be difficult to predict how an amplifier will sound. We assume that by reading enough reviews and analyzing technical specifications, we understand how a piece of audio equipment will perform. Given how significant the investment can be, the risk of a wrong choice is considerable. Yet somehow, that risk feels smaller when it comes to an EL84 amplifier.

Jan Dhont 08/12/2025 Jan Dhont 08/12/2025

Field Coil Speakers

If you’re looking for loudspeakers that let you connect with music on the deepest emotional level, you simply can’t ignore field-coil designs. Field-coil drivers don’t use permanent magnets but electromagnets - a technology found in early cinema loudspeakers from companies like Western Electric and Klangfilm.