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The HT Guys
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #370 - Interview with Audio Expert Kevin LaTour
by The HT Guys on April 23, 2009 Category: General Interest
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Today's Show: Ara had a chance to speak with audio expert Kevin LaTour about speaker cables. Kevin presented the other side of the argument that says you really should spend more on your speaker wire. He explains why he believes it's worth it.

Speaker Wire Manufacturers:
Aural Symphonics
Mit
Audioquest

Reference Book:
The Complete guide to hi-end audio

Store Kevin formerly worked at:
Acoustic Image




Posted by The HT Guys, April 23, 2009 11:18 PM

Reader Commentary

Reply
caesarv • Apr 25, 10:30am
The comments on speaker cables need to be tempered with the fact that this guy's income depends upon people paying outrageous amounts on cables that have no added audio benefits. Most of the "claims" by these cable manufacturers only begin to take effect at microwave frequencies. The idea that you must pay (proportionately) more for better source electronics than speakers is another indication that this guy just wants to make more profit....
Reply
videograbber • Apr 26, 12:49am
Ara,

thanks for presenting multiple viewpoints. But I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, when "He explains why he believes it's worth it" never really happened. He did say, "they're worth it, no doubt" several times, but that doesn't sound like an explanation to me. Kevin talked a lot, but didn't actually say much.

Also, his comments that picking one esoteric cable over another could be used to tune and balance out imperfections in an existing system damaged his credibility in my book. The last straw was that "$8,000 (!) :shock: speaker cables can actually be justified". How? Well when you've spent half-a-mill on your audio system, why scrimp on cables? In other words, if you have that much money to spend, why not spend it? Well, umm... Now you're talking about people in the stratosphere. They may live on this planet, but they never come down to earth.

I'd recommend sticking w...

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About The HT Guys

The HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios.

Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages.

ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording.

Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater.