Editorial October 2025

October 2025

Having spent a day listening to high end car audio using streaming services as a source and DSP to create a sound field in a small space (the car) whilst doing so in attempts to remain musically accurate left me impressed. DSP is a thing and in the case of cars it is being used to set new standards of performance.

The question is whether this will come to your stereo hi-fi in a home near you. The answer to this is not only a yes (it’s already here) but what it opens up will be controversial. Advances in hi-fi generally are controversial because, well, you know… How can it be more real if it’s a digital construct?

Of  more concern to those with ears that actually can and do listen is the argument that digital poly filla is used to fill in cracks in the audio wall that can sometimes simply not be covered up as simply. In English this means that sub standard systems cannot be made to sound better through the use of digital enhancements – the underlying faults are still there. This makes sense – a compromised speaker or amp or source remains compromised even if the digital tweaking is able to directly identify the compromised aspect in the first place (not easy) and then to apply some kind of correction (nigh on impossible) to it.

Case in point. I stumbled across some of my earlier reference CDs in a clean up a short while ago. Couldn’t help myself – I had to fire up the old Sony warhorse and pop a few on for fun. What a blast! One forgets how good CD was, ermm, I mean is… I had a wonderful time switching discs and skipping tracks with a remote control as opposed to an app. It is surprising how manual and intimate the process felt – I was genuinely reconnected at a mechanical level, even though it hasn’t been as long as I make it out to be that I listened to CD.

But then in the process of listening I happened across an identical recording on Tidal. I confess that I have done back to back CD vs streaming tests ad nauseum in the past but in my newly finished room with a few tweaks done I thought it might be fun to rehash some tests again for reference sake.

I wish I hadn’t. And I mean that because something of my past now had to be let go. I will not lose memories and comparisons of yore, but what saddened me is the loss of memories and comparisons to come. In truly reference material Tidal was so unequivocally better, on the same recording, that one of those sanity check moments had to be allowed to unfold. Interestingly it wasn’t so much in the sound stage but in the enormity of the quantity of additional detail that was presented that elevated individual instrument performance above and beyond anything I had expected. I both love and fear the fact that even now hi-fi can present surprises and engage me ever more than before.

I must be getting soft. And here’s the kicker that’ll bake your noodle. If this is the same recording, and it is, where is all this additional detail coming from? From source and lossless reproduction? From the squillion mega flops processors in the Node alone? Maybe.

When DSP starts to play more of a role in “traditional” hi-fi as it can and does in car sound already, hang onto your hat.

But be warned. Sub standard kit is going to ruthlessly exposed.

William Kelly

Publisher