Perfection would seem to be following every note and notation exactly as written. Perhaps something best left to a machine trained to never deviate from the score.
And yet I doubt that Beethoven's 9th as rendered by a machine would be perfection. In fact, I'll bet we'd probably scrunch our faces at what we heard.
Perhaps perfection is like beauty, in the eyes and ears of the beholder.
The perfection myth
by Paul McGowan
Imagine how it must feel to get something so right that there are no flaws, no deviation from expectations, nothing but pure unadulterated perfection.
Is it even possible?
Is perfection a myth?
Imagine for a moment Beethoven's original score of his magnificent 9th symphony. Here's what it looks like:
Perfection would seem to be following every note and notation exactly as written. Perhaps something best left to a machine trained to never deviate from the score.
And yet I doubt that Beethoven's 9th as rendered by a machine would be perfection. In fact, I'll bet we'd probably scrunch our faces at what we heard.
Perhaps perfection is like beauty, in the eyes and ears of the beholder.
Perfection would seem to be following every note and notation exactly as written. Perhaps something best left to a machine trained to never deviate from the score.
And yet I doubt that Beethoven's 9th as rendered by a machine would be perfection. In fact, I'll bet we'd probably scrunch our faces at what we heard.
Perhaps perfection is like beauty, in the eyes and ears of the beholder.
Paul McGowan
Founder & CEO
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Table of Contents – Issue 215
Audio show season is upon us, kicking off in the US with Florida Audio Expo, which takes place February 21 – 23 at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon. It’s the first...
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Table of Contents – Issue 215
Audio show season is upon us, kicking off in the US with Florida Audio Expo, which takes place February 21 – 23 at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon. It’s the first time for me and I’m stoked to report on the show, now in a bigger venue, and get away from the Northeast winter!
CanJam NYC (New York), and the Bristol Hi-Fi Show in the UK will take place on the same weekend. Next will come Sound Society Denmark (March 1 – 2, Copenhagen), Southwest Audio Fest (March 21 – 23, Dallas, Texas), Audio Show Deluxe (March 22 – 23, Whittlebury Park, UK), Oslo Hi-Fi Show (March 22 – 23), Montreal Audiofest (March 28 – 30), Shanghai International Audio & Video Show (April 11 – 13), AXPONA Audio Expo North America (April 11 – 13, Schaumburg, IL), Northern International Audio & Visual Show (April 25 – 27, Penang, Malaysia), T.H.E. Lone Star Audiofest (May 2 – 4, Round Rock, Texas), and HIGH-END Munich (May 15 – 18)…and that’s just in the first half of 2025 and may not be an all-inclusive list.
In this issue: B. Jan Montana tells a love story. Octave Records expands its portfolio of jazz music with pianist Tom Amend’s Jazz Classics: 1960s. DALI Speakers holds an informative showcase event. Making Vinyl’s Larry Jaffee offers a vinyl industry update. Jeff Weiner concludes his series on the (sort of) roots of rock and roll. Wayne Robins goes back in time with an interview with pop music legend Lesley Gore. PS Audio’s own Paul McGowan offers an excerpt from his upcoming book series, The Audiophile’s Guide, with an installment on digital audio. We start a new photo essay series from Harris Fogel: The People Who Make Audio Happen.
Ray Chelstowski talks with singer/songwriter Paul Thorn about his new album, Just a Vapor. I continue my series on how to play in a rock band with advice on playing on bigger stages. Rudy Radelic and The Vinyl Beat cover reissues and releases from Max Abrams, the Jazz Crusaders, Donald Byrd, Andreas Vollenweider, and more. Our publishing partner FIDELITY magazine visits Vienna’s Finest Audio Show. Copper Classics features Ken Kessler checking out reel-to-reel tapes and machines. From The Listening Chair looks at the Bluesound NODE ICON. PS Audio earns accolades for the Aspen FR30 loudspeaker, Stellar Strata MK2 integrated amp, and other products. The issue wraps up with high fi, a visit to that old audio gang of mine, and lyrical architecture.
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Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, B. Jan Montana, Paul McGowan, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, Jeff Weiner, Peter XeniLogo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’AmicoEditor:
Frank DorisPublisher:
Paul McGowanPost-publication Nitpicker:
Rich IsaacsAdvertising Sales:
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