February 18, 2026

“Eardrums Aren’t Like Teeth”

1 hour 15 minutes

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This week, Brent and Dennis flaunt their unmatched talent at finding an audio angle in anything, with a fascinating examination of what long-range acoustic devices (LRADs) do and whether hearing protection products can guard your ears against them (and your power tools). Next up, they dig into cheap audio’s biggest controversy: Whether or not an $80 boutique op amp can transform the sound of a $100 power amp. And how does The Absolute Sound work, really? This one isn’t a hostage video, we promise

📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930

Dennis’ relaunched YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureswithCPAP

Brent’s audio projects:

💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants

💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album

💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent

https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics

Further Reading:

Minnesota State Patrol uses long range acoustic device, first used by military, to disperse Maple Grove protesters by Derek James: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-state-patrol-long-range-acoustic-device/

Defeating LRAD by Tech Ingredients: https://youtu.be/CXKTBQBugIA?si=3fSJfexSUB5z2cMG

Does Rolling Opamps Make Amps Sound Better? by Audio Science Review: https://youtu.be/nGy-Q8jKXr4?si=in-MnDG8yb2trkia

Hell Yeah Rolling Opamps Makes Your Amps Sound Better! (Hear It For Yourself!) by GR-Research: https://youtu.be/-E8wEJF5jAs?si=ZXZ_3Ok2o54lbuDi

Cheap upgrade, HUGE sound improvement! Virtual HiFi opamp review by Passion for Sound: https://youtu.be/Mub-xo619PY?si=RRM1Gv-3YCt38qvZ

How The Absolute Sound Works – Incentives and Ethics by Tom Martin: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/how-the-absolute-sound-works-incentives-and-ethics/

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