Just a heads up! We are switching to sequential episodes away from seasons.

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Big thanks to  @ChordElectronicsLtd  for supporting this episode. Their British-built DACs and headphone amps bring true studio-level detail into the listening experience, with gear used everywhere from hi-fi setups to world-class studios.

Check out the Mojo 2 and more from Chord Electronics here: https://chordelectronics.co.uk/mojo-2

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In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Vaughan of Chord Electronics for a conversation about sound, technology, and why digital-to-analog conversion matters more than most people realize.

Tom’s path into audio is anything but typical. Before working in high-end audio, he was a professional bassoonist, and that background gives him a really interesting perspective on how music is performed, recorded, and ultimately experienced by the listener.

We talk about the evolution of Chord Electronics, the impact of their Hugo DAC, and what makes one converter feel different from another — not just in terms of specs, but in timing, accuracy, depth, and emotional connection.

We also get into the practical side of listening: how DACs, headphones, speakers, and monitoring chains shape the decisions musicians, producers, mixers, and mastering engineers make every day.

At the heart of it all is a simple idea: better sound helps us connect more deeply with music. And whether you’re creating, recording, mixing, mastering, or just listening, the way your system translates that music matters.

Key Five Takeaways

• Tom Vaughan brings a rare perspective to audio, combining his background as a bassoonist with his work in high-end audio engineering.
• Digital-to-analog conversion plays a major role in how we perceive depth, detail, timing, and emotional connection in music.
• Chord Electronics approaches DAC design differently, using FPGA-based technology rather than standard off-the-shelf DAC chips.
• Better monitoring and conversion can help musicians, producers, mixers, and mastering engineers make more confident creative decisions.
• At its core, the conversation is about the bridge between technical accuracy and emotional impact — how better sound can bring us closer to the performance.

Resources & Links

Chord Electronics - https://chordelectronics.co.uk/

Chord Mojo 2 - https://chordelectronics.co.uk/mojo-2

Dan Millice - https://www.millicemastering.com/

‪@NaturlAudio‬ AL-1 Limiter - https://naturl.audio/

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Nate Kelmes

Ben Holmes

Neil Merchant

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