Whether you’re a casual music listener or a dedicated audiophile, you need a good pair of headphones. Headphones are a lifesaver when you have a long commute to work on public transportation in Portland, OR, a four-hour plane ride ahead of you, or just a busy household where silence is a rare sound.  

On a recent Northwest Business podcast episode, Jeff Grove and Clark von Trotha of Encore Audio Video discussed how to choose the right headphones to enjoy high-end audio. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when you’re selecting a new pair for yourself. And don’t forget to listen to the podcast here! 

What are some unique (and budget-friendly) ways to improve your home equipment’s audio and video quality? That’s the question Jeff Grove and Clark von Trotha answer for inquiring residents in Vancouver, WA, on this podcast episode of the Northwest Business radio show.

If you aren’t seeing or hearing the quality you want from your AV installation, don’t rush out to buy a new TV just yet. On this podcast episode, Grove and von Trotha explain 3 ways you can achieve high end audio and video without upgrading your existing equipment.

Sneak a peek into their solutions below and then listen to the podcast for yourself!

Imagine an audio system with almost no wires.  If you are an audiophile, you might cry heresy; one cannot possibly obtain high-end audio from a wireless system. But wireless technology has come a long way, as well as other technologies like compact and efficient class D amplifiers and DACs (digital to analog converters), which have enabled audio designers to think outside the box in designing new audio systems for the 21^st century.

Such is the case with DALI.  The word “audiophile” is built right into their Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries name, and the Scandinavian company has been making hi-fi speakers for 35 years.

DALI is known for their neutral, highly musical speakers as well as elegant Danish design.  With the Callisto product, DALI sought to reimagine an audiophile system.  With music coming from both local and Internet digital sources, the time was right to make a system to fit today’s digital audio world. If you are looking for a system that marries audiophile sound with wireless convenience, read on to see if DALI’s Callisto is right for your Vancouver listening room.

To the traditional purist audiophile, digital technology is a Johnny-come-lately to the world of audio. Many of these audiophiles have resisted the onslaught of digital audio, preferring the unfiltered directness and the warmth of pure analog audio, with no digital circuits and processing in the mix. 

For these enthusiasts, A/V receivers are fine for movies, but they simply won’t do for pure stereo listening.  These audiophiles prefer separate components, to optimize every part of the signal path. For turntables, they employ high end phono preamps and cartridges to extract that last ounce of sound from every note. They will use separate preamplifiers and amplifiers with nary a digital connector in sight.  They will employ speakers that require ample amounts of wattage to drive, so that budget electronics simply won’t suffice.  And they will spend almost as much money on high-quality cables to connect it all up.