Toxic Audiophile Beliefs that ARE STUPID! Full of Crap (3)

[@tracerx6324]

Some audiophiles are so busy with the components for the hifi system, they forget the main thing: Listening to music. They can't enjoy music.

[@traildoggy]

But they can hear the piano player tap his foot and know they had leather soled slip on loafers that night 😁

[@JimVim]

YES! Who cares Music and your enjoyment is all the Counts. Love being Cheap most of this stuff is Overpriced Regardless of Salesmen Marketing Brainwash. Any AV Head will hunt down used Refurbished Thrift Black Friday Swap w friends. Joy in saving money to spend on Used Physical Media formats.

[@CJNooberson]

Agreed! I'm almost certain that I enjoy my records on my Fluance turntable through my Denon AV receiver and Jamo speakers more than many snobbier audiophiles enjoy their music.

[@Robert-ps8fj]

Satisfaction of your listening ear is the key of a good music lover whether you are a cheap audiophiler or a high end audio equipment audiophiler...

[@pnichols6500]

​@@CJNoobersonso if you could hear that same music with more detail, depth and soundstage, you would pass because suddenly you wouldn't "be listening to the music "?

[@andywrollo2915]

I've been an audiophile for 38 years. I haven't got a clue about anything.

[@weswheel4834]

In which case, shortcuts such as "Don't buy anything under $5000" are really helpful to appear knowledgeable ;)

[@Old_Sailor85]

Me too!

[@Old_Sailor85]

@@weswheel4834 Ha, ha, ha! True!

[@rosalynadams3758]

@@andywrollo2915 I've been an audiophile for 35 years and don't know much either.

[@stevenveerhoff9208]

I just like to get the best sound out of my existing setup for as long as possible until it breaks and no longer sounds good. I also like to buy for longevity and ease of use for the lowest $$ feasible. Been that way since 1979

[@robcarpender8246]

I was in the "HiFi" sales business back in the 80's and 90's. I always tried to give my customers the best opportunity to get pleasure from their purchase. I always felt that any system was better than the clock radio they might be listening to. Pursuing the "nth" degree of audiophiledom is a fun hobby but not for everyone. If the system you have gives you pleasure and sounds good to you, you can enjoy the hobby. Keep up the good word.

[@jackrosati1438]

I try to do this with family and friends as well. If you push products out of their comfort zone they will just end up with a Walmart soundbar

[@Schlock3000]

After having been down that rabbit hole for a while, I can say especially in HiFi there is a lot of "different" sound, but it's very hard to define if there is actually one that's better than the other. To a certain degree of course you can easily tell that a speaker sounds better than a much cheaper alternative. But I'd say, within the 2,000 Dollar price range you get 90% of what you'll get if you spend 10k or even more. I've had the Wharfedale Lintons for a while and switched to Wharfedale Aura 2 a couple weeks ago. They cost 2k Euros (here in Germany) and they have that laid back british sound, but with more detail than the Lintons. It's the happiest I've been in a long time with a speaker. I wouldn't say they're better, because the Lintons simply do everything extremely well. More a matter of taste (sound- and designwise). Compared to other entertainment tech, speakers are really a matter of what you like and what you need. Other with TVs for example, because in most cases you can very clearly a good from a bad picture quality, an OLED from an LED, etc. And also, usually bigger is always better, if you're into movies. It's easy. Speakers are their own unique science.

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

@@Schlock3000 "Speakers are their own unique science." Very true. I wanted something efficient for my little triode amps so I bought a 40 year old pair of Lowther Acousta 115s for £300 off Ebay. I spent a further £550 replacing the drive units. Lowther still make something very similar for £7K. There's something I like about single driver horns despite the space they occupy.

[@Roberto_MR]

The HiFi business in the 80s sounds like a dream.

[@andrewbrazier9664]

I used to sell audio products too. Mostly all in one systems rather than hi end seperates. Some sounded demonstratably much better than others 🎶🇬🇧

[@Wordsalad69420]

You’d be shocked how many audiophiles don’t have acoustically treated rooms. You spend 2K on a cable, but then you have bare walls.

[@misterzero8667]

You would be shocked that too many people believe treating a room and having a $500 system think it makes it sound like a $10000 system most belong to asr forum

[@jimfarrell4635]

Many of us don't have the luxury of a dedicated listening space and have to share rooms with our families who may not be thrilled with room treatment all over the walls. Course if you live in your basement with no friends or family and never see the light of day, room treatment is an awesome idea.😜

[@enricosalvador7897]

I have a dedicated room with some treatment done. But I do have friends.

[@Matwiej19]

I got denon 4700h and mid range wharfedale speakers. Got as well svs sub for £600. And treated the living room with acustic panels. Plus got a lot of plants. I mean like real a lot of big bloody plants. Nice soft furniture. My system sounds so nice. I mean seriously lovely

[@Wordsalad69420]

@@jimfarrell4635 Not what I'm saying. I'm saying that if you spend thousands of cables, but you don't treat your listening space (whether you can't or not is irrelevant), then you're wasting your money on cables.

[@kevinyoungM14EBR]

I am a fortunate relatively poor person with little disposable income, and most so-called audiophiles would probably scoff at the stereo system that I have managed to assemble over the years. Fact is, I really don't care what they think because my music sounds great to my ears, and I am thoroughly enjoying my stereo system on a daily basis. I do like hearing about all of the new and improved gear, and I will use that information if I ever need to replace what I have - so keep doing what you are doing.

[@thetech207]

I would never scoff at the system someone else has. If you like it, it's right for you. There is no reason to ever spend money you don't have to compete with anyone else, they don't listen to it, you do. What I would do is invite you over to my house to listen to mine, and we could have a couple of beers and discuss music and gear. Cause, in reality, isn't that what it's REALLY about?

[@paulaj2829]

@@thetech207 Totally agree with you on what you are saying because this could be the new way to look at Hi Fi from now on because " We are the real Hi Fi people out there ?? just enjoy the music.

[@mancavedecorations8158]

Everyone has a path. Just don't get stuck with things that don't matter. Keep an open mind and especially open ears, don't fall into the trap of people trying to tell you that you are wrong. You figure out your path through bad choices or "right now" choices. This is how you find your path.

[@practicallyalive]

You're exactly right. The diminishing returns add up fast, and even buying a $200 HD6XX will get you 95% of the way to the best sound. As long as you enjoy what you have, there's no reason to upgrade. Chances are, spending $10,000 wouldn't make you enjoy your favorite music any more than you already do (once the novelty wears off), so what's the point in wasting money chasing diminishing returns?

[@mbilden]

@@practicallyalive Absolutely! Also, listen to your music on your first system for a long time before upgrading. If you think you need to upgrade, think about trying cheap room modifications first. Throw rug, wall art, plants(real or fake) will help the sound of your system. It also helps with the wife acceptance factor.

[@macfolk11]

Gotta say that I just gifted my 23 year old daughter an older Sony 2 channel amp receiver, my “old” recent enough Pioneer turntable with an upgraded stylus, and a set of old Optimus 3 way large bookshelf speakers that I bought local for $25. Not only does it sound really good, but she loves it, and it’s something I have been able to share with her and bring into her home. I have my own RT85 and system, nothing $$$, but it makes me smile, and now this makes her smile. That’s what it is all about. Thanks again, Randy.

[@bertitolino]

Good to hear your daughter is a cool girl who appreciates proven audio equipment. Most modern women start hyperventilating when you install them real speakers with cables.

[@hipidipi20157max]

@@bertitolino 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@MOzarkMike]

Rick Beato once made the offhanded comment to the effect of why buy audio equipment that has tighter specs than the studio music production equipment.

[@scottwheeler2679]

apples to oranges. When the differences in the playback gear/room/DSP are no longer audible then you have reached the real thresholds

[@martinaddison4880]

I agree with that.

[@CraftyZA]

I suppose it depends on what you listen to. Studios are not created equally. No need to spend 100K on a hifi if you listen to Indy music created in an artist's mom's basement. If however, you consume music from the likes of octave records or Telarc (from the old days) then you can bet they spent money on the good stuff.

[@MrJasonfromcanada]

The REL subwoofer FB page is one of the most Toxic audio communities I’ve personally come across. I asked a simple question about my input on my 1205 mk2 subwoofers and all I got was: -My Anthem AVR sucks for music. -My room is atrocious and needs room treatment -My speakers are placed wrong -I shouldn’t put my AVR on top of my power amp. No one actually answer my question

[@CarlVanDoren61]

High-Level input is a 😮 Rel marketing strategy JLA cr-1 active crossover

[@MrJasonfromcanada]

@ The REL 1205 don’t have hi-level inputs. They have two low level inputs with one designated as lfe. My question was if there was a difference between the two low level inputs, I was curious if one had different filters or not.

[@Roof_Pizza]

What's Facebook?

[@RigVader]

@@CarlVanDoren61 The Rel FB community is full of themselves who mindlessly repeat dogma for sure :-) That said, my personal experience with a few Rel subs across a few systems is that it that the high level input was clearly better. I also preferred overlapping the subs with the mains, without using an active crossover. So your milage may vary, but a marketing strategy I would say no. FWIW John Hunter guidelines on setup are not BS, as he is known in the industry as a "setup master", from before his Rel days, where he developed something called the "Sumiko Master Speaker Setup Guide" (fancy words 😆). What is BS is the idea that you can simply apply the same rules to any room. I personally got the best results, when I used live sweeps in REW to position my dual subs.

[@johnr3587]

I found the REL videos on the REL Acoustics channel helpful. I was very pleased with being able to tune, place and adjust the crossover of my REL Acoustics Tzero MKIII Subwoofer. Don't give up.

[@leeherbert1525]

The best video you have done. Being an audiophile means you are someone who loves music and likes to hear it in the best quality you can...

[@01blaval]

For me, beeing an audiophile means you are someone who loves technique and brands, and "sound", much more than you love music...

[@shawnorjiakor]

Exactly.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

I would add one word to your sentence to democratize it. That word is AFFORD. I'd suggest the following... Being an audiophile means you are someone who loves music and likes to hear it in the best quality you can AFFORD! This way the $2,000 amps and $1,800 tuners aren't needed to enjoy music \ audio that sounds good to you. Affordable music can be good music if you put in the effort to source the best available equipment in your price range.

[@ewoutbuhler5217]

I just hate it when people disqualify tone control and loudness because it's not "pure" or "as the artist intended". There're cool functions, in some cases boost the enjoyment and correct some specific issues you might have. It's your system!

[@QoraxAudio]

In fact, proper loudness control that matches the fletcher-munson curve actually makes things more accurate. So it's closer to the recording or "what the artist intended".

[@terryshoemaker8570]

I agree ! Just try the same system in a good room, then in a bad one , you’ ll find why you need tone controls in some cases. In most cases what you hear is the sound of the room more than the sound of the system, especialy at loud levels…

[@rocketbrothers540]

I personally love preamps or integrated amplifiers that have tone control.

[@RennieAsh]

Most artist's intention is that you will enjoy their music. So it becomes not really a bragging point to say such and such system plays music "as the artist intended"

[@MalcaratMartinez]

Yes, the same music that has been recorded through a 72 channel SSL4000 console with 4 parametric eq’s per channel (you do the math) and countless outboard compressors, distressors, limiters and expanders. And guess what? No Audioquest cable to wire that gigantic console………. Now ask any of these audiophiles what were they saying about eq and “pureness” of audio signal ???

[@ron8994]

I’ve been an audiophile for 50 years. I started with a new Yamaha CR800 Receiver in 1974. The Speakers and Turntable from 1974 are long gone, but I recently got the CR800 out of the basement closet and it operates like new! I have recently paired it with a set of EMOTIVA XB2 speakers on sale for $399, a BluDento BLT-HD Bluetooth Audio Receiver for $80, and a Fluance RT82 Turntable for $299. So, for recently spending about $780, I’m back in business and am enjoying the hell out of it! Thanks, Randy for getting me back into audio after seeing one of your KZbin videos about a month or so ago.

[@GP100TD]

ROTEL... RA 1000 RD 1010 RT 1000 RP 1010 + OM10 RCD 951 WHAFERDALE DIAMOND 10.5 ... enaugh ...

[@ravenovatechnologies6554]

A huge problem is people being snarky keyboard warriors. We are all so impolite and impersonal to one another online that we forget that this is a passion that is supposed to drive positive feelings. However, it is that passion that drives us all to do deep dives, hundreds of hours of research, second guessing, and validating our choices and purchases against a subjective and ever changing experience. In a sense, most audiophiles are simply people that have been driven by their passion to complete their own neurotic battle to get the best experience we can, chasing that dragon. It IS exhausting, especially over time, and to see someone making "mistakes" we may have made long ago, it can be frustrating, and we want to save them time or money by offering our advice. But there is a massive lack of gentlemanly conversation, treating others with disrespect because we're all reduced to letters on a screen and not a physical body with thoughts and feelings. Which is kind of funny because this journey is all about the physics and physical nature of the experience.

[@hipidipi20157max]

You deserve more likes with this post

[@ravenovatechnologies6554]

@hipidipi20157max why thank you. Unfortunately that seems to be the way the internet goes 🤣 they say you can laugh or cry, the internet makes me want to do both lol

[@traildoggy]

I'm not an audiophile, I'm a music fan and Cheapaudioman helped me pick a sub $500 system that sounds better than anything I've owned before and better than some fairly expensive systems roommates had. Recent new addition: Philips CD player w digital out for $4. I recently moved 2 tables and opened up my small listening area, then hung some fleece blankets on shelves next to the speakers and it made a huge difference in soundstage width. Cost me $16. 😁

[@ElCid_86]

Thank you for say “player” and not “transport”!

[@howardskeivys4184]

I’ve watched many of your videos, and honestly have not been enthusiastic about a lot of them. But, this video shows balls and backbone. Flying in the face of the elitist, esoteric audiophile. Particularly your comments on the influence of the room. I’ve spent 40 years + assembling an audio system that reproduces music the way I prefer to hear it. The nature of my job is that I’m frequently required to up sticks and move home. My hi-fi always accompanies each move. So, I’ve experienced listening to my hi-fi in a multitude of listening environments. Different room dimensions. Different construction materials, Etc. Without exception, it is always the sonic characteristics of my hi-fi which dominate the listening experience, not that of the room. And yes, I sincerely believe that ‘the stuff of life’, carpets, curtains, cushions, sofas, rugs, wives, children and pets are normally more than sufficient to tame the room down to acceptable RT60 levels. I urge all of you vulnerable audiophiles, not to have room anxiety. Often costly solutions are marketed to solve almost insignificant issues. Great work Randy.

[@neilfox4626]

Rule one of audiophile perversity: Your favorite music will be the worst recorded.

[@bearded_wolverine3503]

When I got back into vinyl a couple years ago I fell for the "if you don't have this or that turntable, amp or speakers you're not going to be happy " well, I use a nearly 50nyear old technics sl-1800 paired with wharfedale 12.2 bookshelf speakers, yamaha a-s701 amp, schiit mani 2 pre and svs sb-1000 pro sub. Seems like it's good to me. Trying to keep up with the Jones will only create frustration. Buy what you like and sounds good to you, after all, you're the only one who's going to be listening to it anyway. No one really cares how much you spent on your 'audiophile " setup

[@stevenveerhoff9208]

@@bearded_wolverine3503 can't get back into vinyl. Hate flipping the disc over every 20 minutes or so, and turntables are finicky as hell in the real world.

[@sandyrussell8213]

Many people fear they are missing out (FOMO) but don't have the confidence in their ears. Lots of people have a big hole inside, through no fault of their own, and think it can be filled with the "perfect" hifi, car, chair, shirt, aftershave, phone... Companies exploit that.

[@BruceCross]

Over 20 years ago, I was told by an audio store salesman that I couldn't buy a good CD player for $700. Snobbery at its finest.

[@user-jg4fu3rd9c]

tell him i got 3 for £300 . all lenovo laptops connected to amp via r.c.a to aux cable

[@BruceCross]

Ha, the snobs would blow a gasket. They need to realize that not everyone is rich.

[@user-jg4fu3rd9c]

@@BruceCross honestly man , they seen my mate coming . he got a naim supernait , and spendor speakers . put him 4 or 5 grand in debt . even talked him into 25 pounds a metre speaker wire . im telling you now , a yamaha a-500 amp and kef coda 8 speakers , with 15 pounds for 10-meter cable will beat it or match it for £200- £220

[@BruceCross]

Poor guy.

[@user-jg4fu3rd9c]

@@BruceCross private number plate to drive to his low paid job ....... personal number plate i call it . everybody knows who it is . nothing private about it . david icke was right . everything is an inversion

[@stooshiemax1756]

The simple fact, is that "audiophiles" pay for exclusivity, and bragging rights. Handmade, limited availability isn't necessarily better... it just costs more. Lets be honest, most people can't hear any difference anyway... but still think they might gain something by paying more than they need to. For every sucker, there is a salesman waiting.

[@niklasschmidt]

I love JBL because they have volume. Makes good stuff cheanper

[@EddyTeetree]

we live in a country that eulogises con artists!

[@Sunshine_Superman]

Just, naw, naw and naw. If I didn't hear the differences I'd still be listening to my tinny bright Walkman. If you can't hear the differences then you've won straight out the box. Lucky you.

[@user-jg4fu3rd9c]

yes pure simps - they will let someone hustle them out of 5000 pounds for a hifi to say they have the best . i know who fool who spent 5000 . if he played it loud enough to see its qualitys he would get evicted . ironically he could get a system just as good for 500. and if he played that loud enough he would get evicted . may as well get some harman kardon soundsticks . they actually do sound the best . and if you play it too often you will get evicted.

[@Sunshine_Superman]

@@user-jg4fu3rd9c my main system is £40,000 plus all in, cables, furniture everything and I know it's not the best system out there - to me it's entry level high end. It's the best I can afford. Does it sound better than the old entry level CA integrated and budget MA speakers I started with. Hell yeah. Does it sound better than my old Quad Elite and Harbeth's also hell, yeah. Makes me happy and I can't be evicted :D

[@10WA]

I've been an "Audiophile" for 30 years. Know what I've learned? Use what sounds good to you. Don't be afriad to try new things and just go with what ya like cheap or expensive doesn't matter. What ever lets you enjoy your music and get that acoutic therapy. I have a friend that still uses his mid 2000s Aiwa shelf system, looks like a damn space ship and has a sick 5 disc changer with 200watts!!! Its his end game and he has it cranked all the time for the last 20 years.

[@user-jg4fu3rd9c]

you need at least 6 amps and at least 6 speakers , and at least 6 days to test and compare the lot to see whats actually best . to beleive everything you read in a music magazine is the height of ignorance . and 80% of what you see in magazines or internet is garbage lies and advertz trying to sell you something you dont need or trying to make something sound better than what it is .

[@grahamclutterbuck583]

Hi fi is like wine meaning a lot of cobblers is spoken about it. Each and everyone has different hearing, if it sounds good to you then that's a win.

[@pcm9969]

And like wine, there is a lot of B.S. around it. People who claim that a wine is flinty, reminiscent of wet shoe leather, notes of hibiscus and elder flowers, etc, are likely full of crap. Much of the same non-specific language is used for audio as well.

[@GP100TD]

Perfect definition! I just want to wrote the same. The best hi-fi is the ine which sound the best to YOU. I heard about one professional musician, "classic music", who installed in his house PA (really, stage equipment for live music) and he claim that this is the "win combination". Why not? For him... Should I by the oscilloscope to analize sound shape produced from hi-fi and compare it with "original source"? With what kind of mic? Enjoy the music...

[@MJ-ge6jz]

I've been an audiophile for uptingk years and the biggest bummer I have about this is getting older, my ear performance continues to deteriorate. I measured my hearing response at age 58, after I accidently demo a subwoofer at excessive loudness which caused hearing damage. Now my frequency response is 45hz - 14Khz. Before the accident I could hear those sweet violins at 17Khz, no more. I am hoping future NANO technology will be able to repair the cilia structures in my cochlea and bring back those missing frequencies.

[@leetronix]

I'm 62 and started my audio journey at 21-22 yrs of age so around 40yrs ago. I have bought expensive and cheaper gear and have learned to adapt by keeping everything simple and not over thinking. Expensive just leads to more expensive and not a better listening experience. I say whatever produces the sound you like vs any cost is what matters and a true audiophile in my opinion puts the enjoyment before the equipment. Just purchase within your means and enjoy your music first 🎶

[@user-jg4fu3rd9c]

so which amp and speakers do it for you ?

[@oiler62]

I'm the same age and have a similar audio history. You nailed it, brother!👍

[@leetronix]

@@oiler62 Thanks and appreciate your reply, keep on grooving 🎵 😁 👍

[@dennisbuckley]

Remember when you first heard that album? You know the one, you were probably 15 or 17 and it changed EVERYTHING! It pulled your heart out through your guts and rubbed it in your face. Remember now? Yeah, that one… Listening to some ‘audiophiles’ (a preposterous term) I believe they’re chasing unicorns trying to recreate that memory. Maybe they never experienced it in the first place. Let it go, the moment has passed. Whatever your budget, spend a quarter on hardware and the remainder on a stack of new music to enjoy.

[@williamdavison]

I build speakers, lately about One Pair every month, and I have found cheap clearance drivers on-line, hand built crossovers, non traditional enclosures and good test equipment, I have been able to listen to great sound for 100 dollars connected to an ADCOM GFA 535.

[@phildavis3105]

I am 178 years old and use a pair Klipsch K- horns connected to my Victrola for near field listening. If you do anything else, you’re woefully under under informed.

[@hipidipi20157max]

I am 178000 years old and remember the first song made with horns

[@scottlowell493]

wax cylinders are where it's at!

[@infn]

The cool thing about Chinese manufacturing is that the barrier to entry for quality hifi is lower than it's ever been. I started with headphones much earlier, so my first proper (not AV recceiver) stereo amp was an Onkyo A-9010 at $350. Today that entry level amp would probably have been a $150 Fosi Audio/any of the hot cheap amps now - better still a pair of monoblocks for $200+. The speakers were Pioneer SP-BS22-LR and I think they were $150 a pair. Today there are plenty more options to choose from at around the same price, and likely better too. There's a price point for everyone and no one should be begrudged their choice or their budgets. But I disagree with the music part! My nostalgia powered music is the poorly recorded and mastered pop, rap and alternative of the late 80s and the 90s - plus the electronica of the 2000s. I don't quite enjoy listening to them as much anymore because I can't bear how terrible they sound. Thanks to the hobby, I have since learned to love new genres of music, jazz, all kinds of stuff that's well recorded, striking a good balance between critical listening and enjoyable tracks. Sure, I'll take those trips down memory lane from time to time but I'm an SQ forward audiophile and not afraid to admit it. You know, it's like the whisky hobby too - it's not about what other people say, it's about what you like. If you can only take your Laphroaig on the rocks, more power to you, as long as you enjoy it!😜

[@jcwheat71]

I put my system together about two years ago. I am in my 50s and have tinnitus and a room with tile floors. Does it sound perfect? Maybe not to someone else, but it sounds pretty damn good to me. Aiyima A07 Amp $80 Aiyima T9 DAC $100 Elac B6.2 Debut 2 $300( on sale) 12 year old Blu Ray Player as a CD player (don't remember what I paid) My enjoyment of this cheap system: $$Priceless

[@ralfandreakkd4368]

So you're the "real" cheapaudioman. Nothing wrong with that. Enjoy the music !!!

[@frankmaze1972]

I'm a Cerwin Vega fan so I'm obviously not an audiophile, but.. my listening area is 15 feet from my front channels out of necessity so most bookshelf speakers aren't gonna cut it. I hope the industry goes back to 12 and 15" 3-way speakers being the norm without having to get a bank loan to afford them.

[@blueribb99]

35 years ago I had the Cerwin Vega 316R's (15" 3-way large floor speakers) and today I'm using the Cerwin Vega VS-150, which is a similar 3-way 15" speaker. An audiophile is someone that is a hi-fi enthusiast. We strive to get the best sounding gear that we can afford.

[@domosautomotive1929]

I love my 30+ year old AT-12's. I refoamed them 6 years ago and will still shake the stuff on the shelves.

[@assai74]

I moved with my wife 3 times. I said, you can do at home what you want, if I can place my gear to sound best. We agreed. Then came the day: why are the speakers so far (70cm to the wall) in the living room, she asked. I put them 20cm more back. She listend and asked irritated what else I have changed. Nothing. She: put them back where they need to be…😂🎉

[@chriswills9437]

In response to the criticism that pop music was insubstantial teenage fluff, Pete Townshend once said good popular music moves your head, your heart or your feet and that the best popular music moves all three.

[@coolmickey68]

I have been an audiophile for 50 years and....its all about the music lol. seriously, all the music I love, I first heard on a small transistor radio, powered by a battery and one small 3 inch speaker

[@hugobloemers4425]

My GF loves her music on her Android phone. I guess that makes her an Audiophile. I never thought about her like that before. PS, if that 3" speaker is a Fostex FE83, you could still qualify as Audiophile ;)

[@truesoundchris]

@@hugobloemers4425 Yes it does. "Audiophile" means someone who loves recorded music.

[@bobdonaldson445]

Great video Randy! The points you make are why Wiim has sold a boat load of Wiim Minis for $89. A great value oriented streamer that's best in class for the price point.

[@audio_facts]

You're making the classic "audiophile" mistake of judging a product's performance based on its price point. The Wiim Mini streamer is bit perfect, e.g., if you use it as a pure streamer with its digital output into an external DAC, no other streamer can offer an audible upgrade with the same source material - within the limits of Toslink: And The Wiim Mini can even achieve 24/192kHz on the optical output. Even if a streamer is $10k or $100k, it can only offer the exact same sound quality through its Toslink output - or worse, like a modified output that someone subjectively thinks is better, but objectively is less correct - or if you're comparing to something older with a lower bitrate.

[@UltrafineDeluxe]

Good music & good recordings are different things. Plenty of music moves me but I wouldn't pretend it's well recorded or "audiophile". Of course the best experience is finding music that ticks both boxes.

[@hugobloemers4425]

Audiophile music is often un-listenable.

[@pascalmartin1891]

​@@hugobloemers4425 do you have specific examples? I am curious about trying these..

[@truesoundchris]

If the recording is more important than the music you end up with listening to mostly mediocre nondescript performances of pieces you don't care for. A recording is what it is, especially if you go back into the 20th century or even in its first half. With classical music and opera in particular (but also certain types of jazz and blues), the greatest performances on record are by artists who died decades before the term "High Fidelity" was even invented! My definition of good equipment is that it should bring out the best from any recording, be it a state-of-the-art hi-res digital one or a phonograph record from the 1910s. In fact, the poorer the original recording is, the more important good listening equipment becomes. An ancient, already distorted and noisy recording can afford much less to lose any of what is available than a top-quality Hi-Fi one, since the difference with additional sonic problems piled on an already compromised recording (think worn 78rpm shellac disc, cassette tape recorded from the audience at a performance, off-the-air tape from AM radio...) will often be a fundamental one of intelligibility of sung or spoken words, or recognizability of different instruments in an ensemble, rather than a comparatively arcane loss in soundstage depth or some such subtle thing typically discussed in audiophile context. You can only explore and enjoy the whole ca. 130 years of recorded music if your system takes kindly to whatever sound quality is put into it. Transparency, good transient response, a neutral and flat-response midrange, and a dry listening ambience are mandatory and will benefit every kind of recording alike (but also lay bare any flaws in modern multitrack mixes, don't say I didn't warn you....)

[@hugobloemers4425]

@@truesoundchris Cool, I can find my self in a lot you describe here.

[@christravis8288]

At one point i found myself Googling "best audiophile albums" and i fell into that trap of listening for the second violinist's breath etc then I had a realisation that I'd stopped enjoying music. I was so focused on tweaking and trying to hear minute details, with 43 year old ears ruined by late '90s Rock bars. I've settled on a reasonable system I've built over time and now i just listen to the bands i love... Not the recordings where you can hear the saxophonist's thoughts.

[@AnthonyToth-t5v]

That’s a good reply I feel the same way

[@rendyjansen]

I agree with the second half of your statement, but would say it's okay to search for 'best audiophile album'. The nuance being why you search. I do these searches from time to time, and have found great (to me) new music, even in genres I don't usually listen to. The audiophile tag is a bit of a short cut since they're generally 'good' albums. For the same reason I listen to almost every new Pitchfork's 'best new album', no matter what genre. Just listen and appreciate, sometimes I love it and sometimes I respectfully disagree with the artist.

[@christravis8288]

@rendyjansen Yeah I totally agree with you and I do still enjoy and respect decent production. I just fell into the trap of listening to music based on how it sounded, rather than how it made me feel. Some absolutely pristine recordings do nothing for me and yet some really rough demos make me emotional. I just think some audiophiles obsess over sound rather than music.

[@pip5528]

The funny thing is that even so-called non-audiophile genres like metal have nuances that a non-listener might not necessarily pick up on. I have definitely found that not having speakers or headphones with decent enough definition such as thin phone or TV speakers kind of turns it to mush and it's harder to hear things like note definition and transient response. Metal is so much more than "angry music" for those of us who take the time to appreciate it. Love this series as always and I definitely hate the gatekeeping and arbitrary classifications the audiophile community can have.

[@JoeJ-8282]

The best values for the money are always found used, at thrift stores, Yard sales, etc... As long as you know what to look for AND watch out for.

[@stanleycostello9610]

That's true, but if it doesn't work properly, and you don't have electrical and mechanical skills, you are up a creek. I've been burned a few times.

[@JoeJ-8282]

@stanleycostello9610 Yes, it definitely helps if you're able and knowledgeable enough to fix minor problems with said equipment in order to get the most out of it... Luckily most of the vintage stuff is fairly easy and simple to work on if you know a few basic electronics repair techniques and methods. It's always a lot more fixable and useful than any of the modern day equipment if/when it breaks, because with modern day stuff you pretty much just have to throw it away and buy another one as modern day electronics are pretty much totally unservicable! :(

[@ericwichmann9536]

@JoeJ-8282 educate yourself and always have $200 bucks cash. I have a incredible home theater on a budget (used) consisting of Integra , and Klipsch Heritage speakers all from garage sales and trades.

[@JoeJ-8282]

@ericwichmann9536 Yep, agreed. I too, have been collecting vintage audio equipment since High School, and I'm now in my 50's, always doing what you said above, and I now have a stereo system, (more than one, and in multiple rooms actually), but I probably now have well over $1 million worth of equipment (IF I had to have bought ALL of it brand NEW and at retail prices), but yet, I've probably realistically only got about $10K or so invested in it all, due to always being thrifty, and fixing things myself if needed. So yeah, if you're VERY adamant about it, AND always watch for awesome deals, then you can get used vintage audio/video equipment for about 1/100th of original retail prices, it just takes time, (quite a few years actually), so you have to be patient and upgrade gradually, as you find better and better stuff, in order to put together a truly amazing system... But it's totally doable if you know what you're doing and looking at wherever you go, and when and what to buy, and when/what NOT to.

[@howardskillington4445]

Thanks for this. It always annoys me when someone posts their budget, asking for suggestions, and some jerk says "save up until you have XXX." I think it's fun to help people with a small budget get started with cheap used gear, and the beauty of it is, in today's market, if you make good choices you can get remarkably good sound for pretty darned cheap.

[@kodacres7820]

Not for nothing, but if you are living paycheck to paycheck, perhaps buying superfluous audio gear at any price isn't the best idea.

[@stevenveerhoff9208]

@@kodacres7820 when I first got into good sound in high school, all of my gear was from thrift stores, from relatives, or from yard sales. I had to pay for my books, lab fees, and any extracurricular events, our money was TIGHT. I also worked at least 10 hours a week from the age of 15 on.

[@EastFrisianRonin]

Music and the ability to listen to music on decent gear IS what helps keep me going, makes living paycheck to paycheck and the tasks required to get said paycheck more tolerable.

[@kodacres7820]

@SPiT_FAH-Q provided you're not crying poor whilst enjoying your purchases, have fun. 👍

[@welderfixer]

I've been suffering from the FOMO syndrome since my first taste of HiFi as a teenager in the late 70's. Going bankrupt a year ago changed my desire to keep up with the Jones'. Sure I'd love a complete Emotiva system, but income dictates the wide line between needs and wants. So, if someone looks down their nose and tries to tell me that I have to get better gear to be in their league I give 'em a solid "okay buddy - thanks - bye". I am totally blessed to have hand-me-downs, open box, on sale and my dumpster diving fixed up gear to use for music and movies. The other even bigger blessing I have is the few friends that are also into affordable HiFi; rather they live nearby or far away to the South and Mid-West. You know who you are and I pray to Heaven above that I can return the favors 10x over. All the very best to everyone - enjoy the music!

[@paultomaszewski1964]

To add to the "your music is garbage" reason is some will say the kind of music you listen to is wrong as well. It seems that if you don't listen to classical, jazz, or the live version of Hotel California, you're listening to the the wrong music.

[@ScottEvil]

@@paultomaszewski1964 There is an argument to be had about music you use to audition equipment. That said, don't audition equipment by playing classical or jazz if you never listen to it, pick well mastered songs in the genre you do listen to.

[@niklasschmidt]

This is because botique brands cannot handle hard music like punk or metal. That is why I would never buy those brands.

[@punkhillbilly3869]

​@@niklasschmidtMy Wiim Amp loves punk. Just saying...

[@niklasschmidt]

I use the woman ultra myself

[@KillerKojak]

@@niklasschmidt WIIM ULTRA

[@D1N02]

If music is recorded so badly it makes you angry, it is good music because anger is also an emotion 😂

[@blueribb99]

I became an audiophile in the mid '60s. The word "audiophile" means "hi-fi enthusiast". For some reason, people today think it means having really deep pockets and spending enormous amounts of money. I personally have spent around $6,000 on gear over the last 60 years. That included a new Pioneer SX-1980 and Klipsch Cornwall speakers.

[@richh650]

I have been an "audiophile" if that means using many audio components over the last 40 years from cheap to expensive, to enjoy music over the years, and I completely agree with this opinion.

[@philsmith5500]

I remember an audiophile of 30+ years arguing with someone who worked in a high end components shop that their 20 y/o system was the best system available. The guy from the shop explained that he listens to multiple new setups a month and theres more than certainly been something better released in the last 20 years and that having a 'preference' for something is not the same as that thing being the best. The audiophile was having none of it, his arguement being that his setup cost him £40k, therefore it has to be the best. The biggest fans of something are usually the most obnoxious person to have a conversation with, its always them playing one-upmanship or trying to catch you out on the most trivial point.

[@nathandaniels4823]

Don’t forget audiophiles whose opinions begin and end with graphs, or even worse, argue that because a company doesn’t provide in-depth measurements of their products, they’re actively trying to fleece the customer. Anytime malice is assumed, we’re moving in the wrong direction. NOTE: I’m not saying that measurements aren’t good or helpful. Even folks like Andrew Jones will tell you that the measurements and the listening are both extremely important. I’m more talking about the kinds of audiophiles that look solely at a reviewer’s measurements and graphs, and having NEVER LISTENED TO THAT SPEAKER ONCE, post their own “objective” assessment of that speaker’s worth based on their interpretations of that reviewer’s measurements.

[@jazz1guy]

my rule of thumb if you can't hear a diffent don't buy it

[@deputy3690]

There's always a difference it's a matter of what different sound one prefers. Then there's the price difference.

[@scottwheeler2679]

good rule

[@scottwheeler2679]

@@deputy3690 There isn't always an actual physical difference in the sound. We are wired to hear differences where none exist if we don't use proper controls in our auditions. There are audiophiles who believe that placing cut out circles of blue paper placed under vases and other items in a room will improve the sound. I don't think blue paper cut outs placed strategically in a room will make any real audible difference. I knew a guy who firmly believed that placing photos of his relatives and pets in the kitchen freezer made substantial improvements in his stereo. I am not making that up. I don't think that makes a difference. I don't think there is "always" a difference.

[@AndersHansgaard]

The budget! Indeed, I think that's the most common blindspot for audiophiles: Simply forgetting that some people can't spend an endless amount on hi-fi. Of course, too many of these people have placed tens of thousand of dollars worth of equipment in totally untreated rooms. Thanks for taking these things up 👌🎶

[@usaturnuranus]

All I need is a system with good clarity, detail, and transients, minimal sibilance, solid (but not boomy) bass, well defined midrange, high signal to noise ratio, good soundstage and focus, adequate power output, sounds good at low volume as well as loud. Other than that, I'm not real picky, and any old stuff will do.

[@scottwheeler2679]

+1

[@Mrsteve4761]

😄

[@ostapnakoneczny834]

Common sense will tell you that the room is about 20% of the final sound. The wiim ultra with its dsp is a very good way to deal with some of the negative room effects at a very cost effective price.

[@scottwheeler2679]

Common sense will tell you the earth is flat, the ground is solid and the sun, moon and stars travel around us. Science will tell us what is objectively true without human error. How would you even gauge the sound of your room? What would you compare it to? You can't quick switch room acoustics.

[@audio_facts]

​@@scottwheeler2679I mostly agree, but you can measure your room, and your speakers in your room, though.

[@scottwheeler2679]

@@audio_facts sure, but that's using science not "common sense." Other than the common sense notion to use science...

[@Pootycat8359]

The OLD audiophiles will tell you, "Steel needles sound best, but your records will last longer with cactus needles!"

[@1979Sci]

A lot of it is people trying to justify their own spending. If you’ve dropped significant money on gear, a part of you wants to draw that line that validates the expense.

[@MarkDauner]

To draw a parallel, I've found that there has been similar gatekeeping and toxicity in the whiskey world and I've noticed a number of parallels between whiskey enthusiasts and audiophiles. Over on the Whiskey Tribe KZbin channel, they like to say "the best whiskey is the whiskey you like, the way you like to drink it." I think that sentiment should carry over to the audiophile world too. With DACs and not single malts, of course.

[@EastFrisianRonin]

Yeah it's a human behavior problem. It can occur anywhere, anytime for any reason.

[@AndyBHome]

Many of the speakers I've tried, mostly cheap ones, sound great at the right volume in the right places in the right rooms, but then can't seem to be made to sound good in another room in any position at any volume. So I think the room and speaker placement, along with listening volume can make a huge difference in how good or bad a speaker sounds. The only thing I find that's relatively consistent is that the lowest end of the speaker offerings are usually much more sensitive to volume than higher, typically more expensive speakers. The good news isn't that expensive speakers sound better at a variety of volume levels. The good news is that even really inexpensive or trash picked speakers often sound great if you play then at just the right level.

[@pascalmartin1891]

I agree, and this is true for the amp as well I tend to like listening at lower levels, even while the family thinks it's too loud. I have tried different levels, measuring with a phone app (for what it's worth). Apparently I do listen at much lower levels than the KZbin channels reviews refer to. Why is 80-90 DB so important?

[@AndyBHome]

@pascalmartin1891 I'm with you. I actually listen at levels low enough that regular people think it's nice and soft, but that's only some of the time. I think the reason that such high listening levels are important to the industry is that those are the standard nominal levels for real orchestral instruments at like 1 meter away. It's really too loud for comfortable listening, and of course it really applies specifically to acoustic instruments designed in the era before electronic amplification. Trumpet, viola, timpany - those were made to fill a large hall where half of the people would be more than 12 meters away. The closest audience members in those settings are 3 meters away at least. But the db level at one meter is a reference that is used to create loudspeakers, even cheap ones. So it's interesting to know that often even very junky speakers played in their sweet spot volume range can sound remarkably good compared to the levels they more typically get played at.

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

I've been an audiophile for 50 years. I am constantly surprised by what kit still comes on the scene. Just buy something you like the sound of and can afford - but keep buying music (or stream something new, whatever your source preference). If you want a good place to start with your gear, do this: 1. Find a small music venue that presents music you like. 2. Go on an open mic night. Many of the artists are happy to talk to you. 3. Ask an artist you like what they listen to at home. Most are on a budget and spend their money *really* well.

[@JeffMarcum]

Wait! What? I didn’t need to spend $4000 on speaker cable lifts? I could have just gotten the $1200 lifts instead? 😂🤣

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

I just hang the cables on the wall with cheap picture hooks. Not that it makes the slightest bit of difference...

[@BrianHall-Oklahoma]

The only thing cable lifters can do is make it a little easier to vacuum under the cables. They have no effect on sound.

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Musical instruments, amps, pedals, auto, radio control aircraft (*especially* drone quadcopters), cooking, hiking shoes, wood crafting, and Mary Jane… I’m soooo emotionally exhausted of seeing elitism in my hobbies

[@pcm9969]

I've been an audiophile for 40 years and I have learned more in the past couple of years than the previous 38! Audio has changed drastically from the original heyday of the 70's to today. I have a pair of $100 speakers bought a couple of years ago that challenge my high end speakers I bought in the late 70's for over $500 (in 70's dollars!). I used to chase accuracy, thinking that was the holy grail. I learned from Guttenberg and Resolve from The Headphone Show (just today!) that absolute accuracy is a myth. I can't wait to find out what I learn next! Great channel Randy.

[@mdrlz]

the only hifi channel for the homeless

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

I've never met an audiophile who used price as a qualifier; it's a bit of a red herring. Rather, it's all about performance. Now if someone says "you should EXPECT to pay " - that makes sense as you do have to pay for performance.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

God forbid that your Chinese components outperform a lot of the "audiophile" gear.

[@donjohnstone3707]

A lot of the best big name audiophile gear is made in China, especially in Taiwan. Why pay more than you need to, unless you like throwing money away.

[@jayjay9932]

Everything is chinese now don't be gullible, lol.

[@francoisherrerajacquelin3749]

Hi Randy. I recently bought a 123 $ sony scs5 pair of speakers + 150$ aiyima T9 pro hooked via coax cable to an crappy old Phillips DVD player and restarted my cd collection. I'm having a blast, my system sounds very good despite its price. I live in Colombia with 2 kids in college and 300 US$ (including shipping) is all I could afford. Your reviews were key to rediscover the joy of music listening. Thanks a lot 😙.

[@Miersemann]

Speaker position is very important. I did the LOTS from your friend Ron and that made a big positive difference.

[@scottwheeler2679]

and listener position

[@glennwassermann6972]

This is a brilliantly-constructed vid. Love it.

[@c0mbat15]

Most people don't have the luxury of building a dedicated room for HiFi listening. Plus they are extremely limited in speaker positioning (most have them less than 12" from the wall) . Room treatment is an option that most aren't willing or able to invest in. But... room correction is here to save the day with all of this. I find it bizarre and funny that most "audiophiles" don't take the time to measure and correct the bass modes in their room as it's cheap, pretty easy and makes huge differences that spending thousands on new equipment can't achieve.

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

I have a PC desktop setup in the corner of the room against a wall. I use a DSPeaker room correction unit and it sounds great. Press the "bypass" key and its shocking how bad it sounds uncorrected.

[@scottwheeler2679]

No doubt if you can't fix a room with physical acoustic treatment room correction DSP is better than nothing. I use both extensively.

[@c0mbat15]

@@scottwheeler2679 While I'm in no position to test the difference between acoustic treatment and room correction common sense tells me that room correction must be better for certain issues. I get that you want to reduce echo and reverb by treating your room but that is mainly done via furnishings. Bass modes need specific treatments that, depending on the frequency of the mode, the room layout, and the speaker position, require different types and amounts of treatment. So there seems to be growing evidence that correcting those modes (specific to your main listening position) is not only cheaper but far easier and, crucially, more effective.

[@scottwheeler2679]

@@c0mbat15 Beware of personal common sense. It will betray you. And beware of overly broad brush strokes when you reference "acoustic treatment" and "room correction." Both come in a multitude of flavors and different degrees of effectiveness. Objective tests have clearly demonstrated that mere room furnishings barely touch the substantial acoustic issues any basic room inherently carries within it. When you start 6 large flat reflective surfaces (four walls a ceiling and floor) common room furnishings will barely affect it. Room modes don't necessarily need tuned traps to address them. That is a common presumption based on the common practical situation that in most cases the size of a broad band bass absorber would be impractical to use in a given room where as a membrane velocity trap is more space effective and far more practical. But the reality is if one can use a large enough absorber broad band absorption will work all the way down to 20 hz. ( I know this because that's what I did) And there are huge differences in room correction DSPs. Not to mention there is no reason to treat it as an either/or proposition. Neither works better individually than both in tandem. DSPs are easier and cheaper. But most of them have one substantial problem, they don't improve decay rates. They can only somewhat flatten out the transient response. The RT is still purely a function of the room's physical dissipation of the bass energy. The only DSP that can improve decay times are ones that involve wave cancellation schemes. And those rely heavily on the room treatments doing a major share of the work allowing the DSPs to be better targeted.

[@DavidB-ec7bm]

I have been listening to music and loving it for 50+ years. I have used everything from a tube bakerite radio to my Focal Headphones with a top-of-the-line dac/amp. I am blessed to have worked hard and saved as much as I could while supporting a family. My position is this. Enjoy the music with what you have. If someone asks for advice, provide such. If not let's keep our mouth shut. I have a stereo system but a lot of the time, I enjoy headphones. One can enjoy the music one likes and not hear the family wanting you to turn it down, change tracks or other interruptions.

[@bladeduffer]

I've got one. Here's one audiophile belief that's definitely crap: vinyl is better than digital. No. Vinyl does sound different and very nice but it is not "better". I'm speaking as someone who grew up in 70s and early 80s listening to and going from pure vinyl to pure digital. I used to go to all the high end audio stores in the county and got aquatinted with many brands you wouldn't ever see in the Dow, Good Guys, and Pacific Stereo stores around town. I learned a lot in those high end stores and listened to systems that ranged from a few thousand to $10k-100k. Expensive turntables with tonearm/cartridge/phono preamp combos that alone would reach over $10K -15k. Yet I could hear cleaner, more dynamic sound from cd transport/DAC combo for a fraction of the price with same amps and speakers. I'm not saying this to knock on people that are into vinyl but I have to laugh everytime someone tries to get a person down that vinyl rabbit hole claiming that it's the only way to audio nirvana. Nonsense.

[@jamesisaac7684]

I think they meant DBX Vinyl. DBX Vinyl are superior to CD accordingly to me Techmoan who collects akl types of music format fun the obscure to rhe fads

[@bladeduffer]

@@jamesisaac7684 Superior? I've never heard that but I read where that compression/decompression process to get those disc to sound so quiet and more dynamic does ultimately compromise overall sound.

[@Viewmydesktop]

I’m really glad I came across this video, with the reach of your platform; this is something that really needs to be repeated from time to time. As a fellow fan of Good listening THANK YOU

[@stevemumbling7720]

I think most audiophiles listen to music they don't like just because it makes their HiFi system sound good. Most of them are old codgers that have an attenuated frequency response and don't know what they're really hearing anyway.

[@lawrence.porter]

The ultimate word of reference here is preference. What sounds good to me with my setup may not sound good to you and vice versa. This is why we have different controls and components for adjusting the sound, bass, treble etc. If an audiophile tells you how to set up your equipment and how to tweak it then all audio equipment must be manufactured to that exact standard and the options for preference taken away because he’s the expert and knows what’s better for your ears. That’s how silly it becomes. I don’t and never have taken any advice about my equipment.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

I don't buy snobbish stuff. I buy what works for me...and, the cheaper the better. After a certain point, return on investment kicks in...and their uber-bucks gear will cost them in the end...for limited increase in "performance."

[@bradpyles5322]

I was in the hi-fi retail business for 20 years and I can tell you from experience most considered audio files have very little knowledge about live music live music is not transparent. It’s not really detailed most of the time it just slaps you right in the face.

[@audio_facts]

I'm an audiophile and I love music, but I don't like most live music performances. Usually because the live performances are crap, the audience is crap, the sound is crap, I have to stand or sit still for an extended period, etc.

[@webbnf]

Having raised 4 kids, for years all I could manage was cheap headphones with my phone. One of the BEST decisions I made a few years ago to get back into the hobby was buy a cheap Sony Amp and some SSCS 5 speakers, ~$350 all in. It didn't sound nearly as good as my now upgraded Marantz given to me by my brother. However, that cheap amp got me back in the game. I remember the first time I listened to my own record through that cheap amp, it was an amazing experience, one I think back on with a smile.

[@ellischernoff8603]

I've been a listener for decades and I like my home system but I've heard incredible systems at Hi End Audio Shows. But those systems are enormous (usually) and always very expensive. In the end, you must audition components and system with music material you are familiar with and in the room you use in your home. What sounds good in a demo room might not in your home.

[@GPintoFerrao]

Another two toxic believes: 1) What some love, others hate. Yeah, Even though many people may say good things about a piece of equipment, that doesn't mean it's right fit for everyone. 2) No one hears with anyone else's ears. Even if there are people who say common things about the way of listening to any type of audio equipment, no one can hear exactly the same as anyone else. It is a human condition.

[@salromano87]

Thanks to your efforts I have a set of Elac B5.2s and the Fosi V3/P3 stack to listen to my ever-growing CD collection on. There are songs that I have heard literally thousands of times, and I am hearing them again for the first time with this equipment. Is it the best? Probably not, but who frickin cares. It gets the job done in my small home office and to me and my ear it sounds great! Thank you for all you do and for helping me get to a point to actually hear my music!

[@myownbiggestfan]

A well reproduced low-fi recording is a wonderful thing. People who can't hear the story of the music in something that was recorded poorly, with the tools available to the artist at the time, are missing out. These are the same people that would want an unmuffled There's a Riot Going On, or for Lou Barlow to re-record his stuff in a professional studio. These people are idiots.

[@thetech207]

I will admit that I am sometimes disappointed that some of the music I love was poorly recorded and that I only realized this once I had gear that would make that apparent...for example a lot of Led Zeppelin, most Boston...however that does not take away my enjoyment of that music, it just means I turn it up so I don't notice (the other benefit of good gear).

[@user-rg4xn3ib4c]

To anyone who only had $125.00 and could not save much more because of bills and life I would say, "Why the hell are you thinking about buying audio equipment?!" At one time in my life I could not buy ANYTHING for like 7 years. I couldn't buy new underwear. With only $125 buy into a savings account, that's it.

[@thetech207]

My audiophile journey started when I was a kid, as my father was a huge audiophile and I inherited some of his cast off gear. However my young adult life was spent raising children and struggling to pay bills, so nothing. 10 years ago my adult journey started...at thrift stores buying stuff for $10 or less. What didn't work, I learned to fix...one could say that led me to any new career and I can afford MUCH better, but still scoff at spending too much money on equipment to gain little in improvement. Randy certainly helped me along the way, a lot of what I currently own was inspired by his reviews.

[@mickbroad2059]

I once worked for an audio manufacturer and if you want to see testosterone on show go and listen to them at a Hi Fi show none of them have a clue!......even about their own product!....I hate it when friends invite you around and all they do is play snippets of music to demo this or that just get a glass of wine sit back feet up and play the whole side of an LP and enjoy it and RELAX !!!!!!

[@Pksparty2112]

I’ve been a stereo owner and music lover for almost 50 years. And a retired electronics engineer for 32 years. I’m still figuring this crap out. But what I have recently learned is I’m done moving up and now getting simpler. My best equipment makes me listen to music I don’t love, just like. The music I love (classic rock) sounds just as good on my inexpensive system.

[@davidjudd951]

I bought my first receiver in 1976. It was also a Realistic from Radio Shack. Their bookshelf speakers with real walnut veneer, were really well built and decent sounding. I still have that system stored away in a box, and it still works The speakers need new drivers.

[@FillingSpots]

The first point Randy talked about made me realize I talk like that too often and I dont want. Thank you Randy.

[@webman1956]

Buying audio equipment to me is much like buying a new car and you have the choice of buying the entry level car for say $30,000 or you can buy the top of the line model for $50,000. The $50k one has leather everything with every creature comfort known to man with even an awesome over the top expensive paint job but the drive train, transmission and function of both cars are almost identical. Now get in both cars blindfolded with someone driving around and see if you can tell a major difference between the two and you can`t and the fact is that you paid a lot of money for window dressing instead of something that functionally that isn`t that much better, you simply paid a lot for extras and eye candy.

[@AnthonyToth-t5v]

I couldn’t agree more 😊

[@paulupton7698]

That's the advantage of having no friends or family by choice.Nobody to give me an opinion = no headache. I am very comfortable to be alone.😁

[@homeopathical]

I read a comment once regarding 'audiophiles'... An 'audiophile' listens to their system, everyone else just appreciates the 'music'. I think it's pretty-much spot-on.

[@peanutbutterjellyjam2179]

I remember a reviewer, that I trusted, a guy who reviewed cheap audio products, who said that he could hear a difference in a HDMI cable. Killed me that day.

[@ebenriggs2396]

Many people are not yet convinced that music can be heard another way. They have been listening to MP3 streaming music over ear buds or single speakers for most of their lives. When in this state, the idea of dropping hundreds or even thousands of dollars to "find out" if their favorite songs will sound better, is not a place that most reasonable people would go. The idea that the experience of listening to music could be improved without breaking the bank is enticing. But when it is said that good budget priced gear is not good enough, the buds of potential audiophiles are being nipped before they can grow.

[@ofcourseimfullofit]

Thank you so much for this video Randy. This is one of my favorite videos you’ve done.

[@williamcurwen7428]

I have just gotten myself a 32bit USB-C DAC for my Android phone collection of FLAC audio files. The quality of sound through my ten years old Audio Technica ATH-M50X is breathtakingly good - astonishing, in fact. The DAC cost me less than $20. I am thrilled to hear my music collection at a level of emotional engagement that I never even knew was possible. Oh, I’ve been an audiophile for over 45 years and happily admit I know nothing about anything other than what makes want to get up and sing and dance.

[@hipidipi20157max]

I didnt have a clue about amps or speakers and now thanks to your channel I have some decent speakers and amps, not audiophile but much better than anything I had before. Thank You

[@superdave1949]

I'd love to see some blind listening tests where the judges have no idea what equipment is being used. I have a hunch that it would end up like some of the blind wine-tasting competitions where the winner turned out to be a $10 bottle! What your ears hear and how your brain processes it are ALL that matters. The bottom line for actual music lovers is "It's the music, stupid!"

[@marcamsden8677]

In the late 70's I worked at a high end audio store( Linn sondek, Acoustic Research etc etc) and after i got fed up with customers competing with them selves and others with how much they thought their systems sounded and how much it cost; instead of listening to the music itself. When I left i bought the best turntable i could afford( Systemdek) along with a boombox with a phono input. All I wanted was to listen and not destroy my vinyl

[@kevindeem7174]

I transitioned into an audiophile in 1991, I identified as an audiophile ever since then, I got a audio advisor catalog, and I started working full time job, and using credit cards back then started buy audio components from then on

[@JeroBagg]

Us professional audio engineers laugh at audiophiles...even though we're just as bad...and probably worse because we get to slap the title of "professional" on our names. But I will say this - unless you know about microphones, you don't know anything about audio. Waiter!? Check, please.

[@robhunter46]

I bought my first stereo with components when I was 17 years old. Luckily I had a friend who was very encouraging and his only suggestion was to not get the all in one rack system, (as cool as it looked!) and go with separates. I got a Pioneer SX-1000 Technics dual cassette deck and I don't even remember the brand of speakers. Sure, you can always save more and spend later... and go without, or get a system that's an upgrade for you. I upgraded from a little boombox. Loved that system and I so excited because it was mine, earned the money myself as a bagger at a supermarket and it was so much more sound. My 2 cents. :D

[@marksomer5790]

I have the biggest dog you've ever seen, his name is Brutus. He's a mastiff great Dane mix. He weighs 217.00 lbs. He's not full grown yet ! God bless you !

[@MrSlipstreem]

I wish that more people who take a keen interest in audio also took at least a passing interest in the basics of audio electronics design. I've been designing and building my own preamps and power amplifiers for over 40 years, and I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that it's perfectly possible to build your own power amplifier for peanuts that will sound identical to one costing tens of thousands of dollars. That said, I don't care if a rich person gets ripped off due to their own stupidity.

[@yerbigbeanoyeah]

Rock on, cheapaudioman. You provide quality content. Some of your work has benefitted my system. Although my system isn't like yours, I like it. That makes me lucky. I have known several audiophiles with more than 200k invested in their room and system who are perpetually unhappy with what they own. The designer Jeff Rowland used to speak about audio playback in terms of parts per thousand and parts per million. I think that is sometimes a useful way of looking at the issue.

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Pretentiousness, Eliteism, and plain speaking, Snobbery abounds in this hobby. There are a few humble influencers out there, but few and far between. Thank you for always providing me with solid perspectives and advice. I don't always agree, but when I have followed your advice, I have usually been very happy and satisfied. Take care, and all the very best, Sir.

[@cheapaudioman]

@@Simon_Hawkshaw you’re the best, Simon! Hope you’re doing well

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

@cheapaudioman I am doing well. Thank you so much for asking. Take care.

[@EastFrisianRonin]

It is not exclusive to this hobby. It's a much broader, human behavioral issue.

[@Mikaelsson]

A thing that also strikes me in the audiophile community is that few people really know how a instrument really sounds , or play one. How can they then possibly know what sound true?