How different is buying high end audio In 2018 than It was in 1978?

I met Andy Singer 40 years ago, shortly after he opened his store, Sound by Singer. Andy has seen and heard it all, so I picked his brain about how high-end customers have changed over the decades.
Andy is the Audiophiliac for a Day!
Check out his website, www.soundbysinger.com

[@louisshambarger2230]

I was a soldier stationed in Weather Germany in about 1972. I wanted a record selected as a record of te year by an audio magazine. It featured the Tokyo String Quartet. I don’t know if one could even get it in the US. I found it at a high end audio store in Stuttgart. Later I wanted to buy microphones for my tap recorder and went to the same store. It was Radio Barth. They wouldn’t even talk to me. I took one of their catalogs and picked out a microphone I thought I liked, from Microphone Baugh made in Heidelberg. I went by the factory when I was in Heidelberg. The only one The Who spoke English well enough to talk to me must have been an executive. He was very nice, said Radio Barth has it too easy and sold me the mics at their price! I still have them even though I never make live recordings now.

[@jeffrey3498]

As a kid in the 70s, I was super happy with my Sansui amp, JBL L100s, and a Technics turntable.

[@yokosomike]

Jeffrey that’s pretty close to my current system. Sansui 9500 and JBL 4312’s are all I need and it sounds fantastic.

[@arande3]

I'm trying to beat my 4311s but so far have failed...

[@johnholmes912]

and we were happy with our naim amps linn turntable and rotel tuner

[@jeffrey3498]

@@yokosomike Awesome! I'm jealous! I'm making do with my Apple Air Pods and wondering where it all went wrong. 🤟😩

[@RonRivet]

I bought my first (high end to me) receiver from a great little high end audio shop back in 1976 when I was 13 yrs old. It was a Sony STR V2 which I now realize was not high end. The great little high end audio shop is still here to this day and I now deal with Marc, the son of the man that started it. Now my gear is all Rega which includes a P6 turntable which I listen to mostly. Some may say Rega is not high end audio but it sure sounds and looks great to me.

[@michelcouzijn5862]

In 1978, I was 14 and worked my ass off during the summer holidays in order to buy a Philips high-end cassette deck (N2521); during the autumn holidays to buy a decent Sony amplifier (T2650) and quality record player (Sony PS-X-3); and during the next summer holidays to buy the best loudspeakers my money could buy (a pair of Technics SB-5000). At the time, I read the Dutch audiophile fanzine (Jan Kool in 'Luister') and counted myself among the happy discerning listeners, who focused on listening to music (both rock music and classical music) rather than listening to hardware devices. Andy Singer might have looked down on my very young presence at the time, but I wouldn't have cared. I listened my own way through music, and through the catalogues, and through the available hardware. I vividly remember myself as a 15-16 year old listening to Bach's Matthew Passion on vinyl, and Supertramp's 'School', and John McLaughlin's 'Extrapolation', and Jacques Brel's 'Marieke' on my newly acquired simple-yet-effective equipment, and being totally happy with what I'd got. Ever since, I've been wary of snake oil "high-end". I hallowed the CD, as it is a clear improvement over the LP, and it isn't 'cold' or 'sterile' as some with more nostalgia and imagination than ears would have us believe. Yes, digital music gave way to the 'loudness war', which should be fought with a vengeance - but that isn't the medium's fault. And I challenge every self-proclaimed 'discerning listener' to tell a quality >256 kbps MP3 file from a vinyl recording. Double-blind test inform us that at least 9 out of 10 are unable to tell the difference. And yes, that probably includes you & me. I enjoy re-releases that are a labour of love, such as YES's "Fragile" on DVD-audio or Blu-ray; such as Herreweghe's Bach motets of 1986; or The Beatles 'Yellow Submarine'. 'Digital' is a great medium. 'Wow and flutter', 'needle overhang' and needle wear are issues of the past. Digital amplifiers are better, more versatile, and more reliable than ever. As is digital recording compared to cassette tape recording. Audio has come a long way since 1978. I love what I did back then, investing in good hardware, listening to good music. But there is no reason to glorify Hi-Fi 1978 over today's audio opportunities. Today is like back then: there's some good, there's some bad, and one needs their ears in order to make a distinction. Human hearing hasn't changed. Hi-end aficionado's still try to sell you snake oil. And you still do not need to be a millionaire in order to buy pretty decent Hi-Fi equipment.

[@garyluciani370]

Totally agree with everything you said. I think a lot of people are either "snobs" or "nostalgia lovers" It clouds thier objective faculties.

[@EdWatts]

I agree, but with two exceptions: I have an elaborate surround system, with Carver, Fosgate, and McIntosh gear. Nearly everything is, of course, solid-state, with the exception of the amplifiers for the main front channels, which are Grommes 260A devices -- the old ones, NOT the new, super-high-priced stuff. I prefer hi-res digital source material over vinyl (I have over three thousand LP's!), but I really enjoy the sound of good, "hollow-state" amplification.

[@DaveJ6515]

I disagree with most of the things you wrote. CD was as ugly as hell in comparison to vinyl. Digital is still worse than analog unless you have a very well designed DAC. I never play 320 mp3's through my system, because they don't sound as they should: they are good in your car, but that's it. Some hi-end stores try to sell you snake oil, but if you have ears you can tell the difference between the good stuff and the bad stuff. And there is some really great stuff here and there. For a price, unfortunately.

[@airgead5391]

This was a very interesting video to watch! Great content.

[@afistfulofpimples1745]

No it wasn't.

[@colorscompletely]

love this channel... growing up I would read audiophile magazines in awe of the beautiful designs and promise of incredible sound experiences... this channel and great videos like this bring all that goodness back... well done Steve!

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

William Weaver thanks!

[@tbonez5906]

Very nice, enjoyed this one. Nice summation and understanding of where we were and now are with high end audio.

[@mannye]

The internet interfered because it caused your audiobabble to be questioned by thousands of people spouting common sense.

[@mckirby56]

Late 70s I walked into a "high end" audio store in Canton, OH open minded and willing to learn about audio. As soon as I told the salesman I had about $300 dollars to spend I was pretty much ignored even though there were no other customers in the store. Pre-internet, I was left on my own to learn and shop for myself by this snob salesman. I found a turntable, amp and speakers for my money and I still use and enjoy these to this day. Now, years later, that I can afford more expensive gear I remember like it was yesterday how I was treated by these audio snobs. If there even were audio stores around these days I have no need to buy from them with the many reviews here on you tube and the internet.

[@sf2explus184]

that guy hated his job. 300 dallars back in the late 70s is decent enough money for a solid system for that time maybe not the best but good enough

[@michaelmartin9022]

I remember reading a tech magazine in the mid-90's predicting that everybody would be walking around with a "credit-card sized computer terminal" packed with all the information and entertainment they'd ever need, and thinking "that'll be awesome". Now we're in that future and I'm listening to The Three Degrees on records that are older than I am.

[@multicyclist]

Very interesting show today. I love history and your shows about the history of HiFI are great. It is great that Andy and others are there to provide high-end audio.

[@paulshepherd-smith1875]

The comment at 5:45 is so true. I have a ‘good’ system that whilst not the best is a step up from consumer. When friends come over and listen they are genuinely amazed in good way. There’s no embarrassment about what they have but a realisation that more is available is fantastic to see.

[@scottlowell493]

Buying high end in the late 70's (Braun/ADS, Infinity, Kef, etc) did not have the extreme, arbitrary overpricing, snob contingent and snake oil that developed in the late 80's with companies like Wilson. Cost-is-no-object, but it didn't always mean superior sound. It was simply creating a niche for the deep pocketed, gullible and "alpha" audiophiles. $500 in parts in a $20,000 speaker. $1000 a foot cables, etc...and now, ultra-high end made in Asia for pennies on the dollar and sold at the same extreme prices.

[@senoJSR]

Exactly, Chicoms working for pennies an hour.

[@joetooly8297]

Sounds like Apple.

[@tazblink]

Scott there is a lot of truth in what your saying. Don't forget the 80's audio rags that sold out and never review a advertisers piece of equipment that wasn't great. So sad this industry fell apart. Try to talk to young ppl about high end audio they think your from mars.

[@scottlowell493]

@Astro Nomenov This should be a subjective hobby, not something for people to alienate others with because they spent a lot of money.

[@mostirreverent]

still using a pair of ADS 880s with an Adcom GFA-555I

[@trellusg]

I feel like this guy is out of touch with what the masses grew up listening. My dad wasn’t a doctor, lawyer or FBI agent, and what I grew up listening to made MP3’s sound high fidelity by comparison! 😂 Digital audio improved music for FAR more people than for whom it degraded it - it’s not even close. I remember when, as a young man, I could finally afford a CD player, and it was a Sony Discman (hardly high end 😅), and yet, it blew me away when I first listened to it. So... yeah, for the vast majority of us, digital audio was a huge upgrade. #outoftouch

[@seanquigley3624]

It all depends on your starting point, if your starting with a model T, then a modern car will be better at getting from A - B.

[@TimpBizkit]

What really happened was the loudness war and consumer grade cheap and cheerful "white van speakers". I don't think this is the type of guy who likes pounding EDM either.

[@SuperNathan29]

Digital music is a travesty you lose so much. analog music when played the right way will always trump.ANY digital format ..in my humble opinion and I'm in my mid 30's

[@psp420bam]

@@SuperNathan29 I'm 41 and don't miss the old days at all but I didn't like analog formats like vinyl and tapes and can't tell a difference from aac vs cd(those that can use lossless formats) but I'm not the collector type that likes to have something to hold/look at and see on their shelf. I mostly like how much more capable and convenient things are these days like bluetooth,buying media online, having media stored on devices and instantly accessible. I have about 7 terabytes of HD movies,tv shows and music on my pc which is hooked up to my tv. I only have a basic/ small cellphone for calls/text and have playstation vita slim with sony earbuds for my mobile media needs. I use jbl xtreme and charge 3 speakers as my home theater and for the skatepark.

[@bkkersey93]

@@SuperNathan29 Glad you said in your opinion, because that's factually bullshit.

[@dalefriesen7812]

It's great to hear someone who know's, has lived it, put events into historical context. Thank you Mr. Singer.

[@paulstabin6233]

Great insights from the legend. Having purchased my first audio system in 1974, I have been a witness to the industry arc that Mr. Singer describes. It is encouraging that we still have new turntables being brought to market, etc. As MP3's, cassettes, cd's. 8-tracks and laser discs etc.. come and go, vinyl lives on. There is nothing that sounds better- except the original master tape. Which is a very inconvenient format. Records are the stick shift manuall transmissions of the audio world. They offer the most engaging experience in exchange for a bit more effort. You get out of something what you put into it.

[@steveearnshaw2216]

As a kid in the mid 1960’s, I knew the difference between my hand held transistor radio listening to top 40 am radio at the beach, and listening to my parents classical records on their Magnavox console in the living room. Two vastly different musical experiences, but both equally valid for their intended purpose. The cassette Sony Walkman was replaced by the CD version, and later replaced by the iPod. Serious listening remains in my living room. The Magnavox was replaced many times by a a nice, very satisfying audiophile system. The challenge, imho, is to introduce the world of great music to the generation who sees it as simply background to the busy lives. The Magnavox was not so bad after all.

[@JoePalau]

Steve Earnshaw I think you got it. The same was true of the mid 50’s When I fell in love with the home audio systems of my friends parents. HiFi was exotic but so much closer to the concert hall experience than the modest but prevalent table radios of the day. I was listening to WQXR broadcasts of live opera back then. When I hear a good recording of the same music on a big HiFi system it was comparable to going from black & white to color. A Wagner overature became a wonder to behold, something that made no sense to me on my home radio. It was transformative. Nonetheless. Now it iPhone tunes via Bluetooth to an “active” speaker. No comparison yet it is the standard of the day. Compressed sound, compressed sound stage, dynamics, compressed everything....

[@kingtrance6826]

You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink. If you introduce them and then they still don’t get it then they probably ain’t ever gonna get it.

[@michaelmeece]

Perfect summation

[@dorengarcia5097]

Music fanATICS have ALWAYS been a small minority of the public. Most people have always listened superficially. In fact one great composer proclaimed: "To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also." Igor Stravinsky

[@user-jy7bz8zv5y]

@@kingtrance6826 I got my 'lost generation' nephew (born in 1990) and his bride a nice quality, vintage turntable set-up for their wedding. They are both music lovers but had never taken the time to appreciate music as a contemplative listening experience. He tells me that he is now hearing music on the records that he had never even heard on his iPod versions. Needless to say, he enjoys both versions for what they offer, but he is now a record collector, too. But irrespective of the generation, pursuing quality sound isn't for everyone.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

Wow the negative comments about this guy. I immediately caught that vibe 9 seconds into the interview. The Chinese have a saying, "man with no smile should not open shop."

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

Keith Moriyama the Chinese have a virus, ok.

[@cadetsparklez3300]

@@Make-Asylums-Great-Again true lol

[@TheAboriginal1]

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is also a Chinese proverb.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Interesting and thoughtful insights from Andy Singer. His observations really make sense.

[@Cocteau61]

As usual, you Steve and Andy Singer - nailed it !!!

[@deus_ex_machina_]

Asking a audio store owner about the technical details of sound is like asking a McDonald's franchise owner about molecular gastronomy. 40 years of experience and he still doesn't have a clue about sound...

[@dorengarcia5097]

Anyone who's read the entire Audio Dictionary knows... real reproduction is a ghost.

[@Redspeciality]

My first system was simple but amazing sound. A Dual turntable with ADC XLM Mkii cartridge, a Crown IC150 preamp and Crown DC300A amp, and two 6 foot tall Magnepan Magneplanar electrostatic speakers. I would sit in a pitch black room, crank the amps way up and zone out on Dark Side of the Moon.

[@thomasstambaugh4832]

My setup exactly. My IC150 died because the volume pots rotted after 20 years and Crown said they couldn't be replaced. My DC300A is still going strong (I've had to replace those enormous electrolytic capacitors twice), and my Magneplanars still sound great. I added an active sub with an active crossover I built myself (I'm an EE), and I ditched my turntable thirty years ago.

[@fhills76]

Oh my ,,, it was so much more fun buying in '78... glad to have experienced that great decade

[@jlutell]

Forty years ago we had numerous magazines large and small reporting on audio which helped to form readers opinions. The internet replaced them for the most part. One still needs to rely on your own ears but the help given by a reliable store cannot be replaced. I miss my favorite hangout of many years ago--Square Deal in Patchogue, NY.

[@mikeleahy5283]

Thanks. Wish the old brick and mortar stores would come back but sadly they probably won't. Ordering audio by relying on other peoples opinion s is hard to do especially speakers.

[@doowopper1951]

Yep, I would love to see a renaissance of B&M audio stores, and B&M record stores. But, being 67, my opinion has lost 99% of it's weight.

[@bobc3895]

I agree, back in the 70's there were a dozen good stores that sold audio equipment in my area, now there are none. The only brick and motar choice is Big Buy and they would rather sell you a 27 cu ft refrigerator because that is what they understand. Their sales people have no understanding of audio aside from which phone will hold the most songs. So you are pretty much forced to by gear online I just bought a 2 year old used preamp ($2,500) online because there is no place to go and listen to anything in this area. As a result you give them a credit card number and pray you have made a wise choice. I am very pleased with the sound of my purchase but not so pleased with the build quality. I worked in the military grade power supply industry for 35 years of my working life so I am a very good judge of both component and build quality. One gripe I have with good audio gear these days is they seem more concerned with how it looks, my preamp has a 1/2" thick aluminum front panel, my 30 tear old Conrad Johnson PV10 had a 1/8" front panel and did a great job for it's time, it also used better parts and had higher build quality INSIDE where it counts . I can only assume today's buyer is more interested in how it looks and feels than how it's built

[@AnonymousUser77254]

Bob C well people assume quality from its outward appearance.

[@doowopper1951]

Sybrand Botes I don’t, and never have.

[@jamesallen5591]

Yeah, there are so few options to listen before buying these days.

[@10100001000100011000]

Thanks Steve and Andy for the interesting interview on how times have changed. It is my belief that what is really different is the culture of listening to music as both a collective experience in that the baby boom generation and lack of the internet resulted in people sharing what they were listening to, and listing to music as a stand alone activity, as Andy mentioned. When a new recording came out and you bought it, your friends would come over to hear it to check it out on your stereo system. Nowadays the music scene is so fragmented and music is just streamed on your mono connected speakers throughout your house as background sound. Attention spans have become shorter, and people don't make the time to just listen to an audio recording as a solitary activity.

[@kevinf9822]

Wow, that is Andy Singer. Always wondered who he was. I lived in Manhattan in the 80s and visited his store in '89 when I was looking to upgrade my system. Although I eventually bought from Elliot Fishkin of Innovative, I have fond memories of listening to my first electrostatics at Sound by Singer.

[@69Muscle]

Great video! I love vintage and new equipment. I have brand new Focal speakers and headphones, and 45 year old Advents and Dynacos. The love of music is an obsession.

[@dan0711123]

Folks, get a good, mid priced amp two mid priced speakers, a passive sub woofer. It will sound amazing

[@Wolfie66]

Exactly! And you don't have to spend a fortune

[@dnd6379]

@Astro Nomenov Or Aune audio, also very well priced. For speakers there are numerous companies making "entry level" if you can even call it that speakers, like Jamo with S803 or Elac with B5, great sound quality from both at a completely understandable price.

[@crossocean5663]

It’s a system. Regardless of price. So yeah. Excellent advice. Create a budget and match components

[@spotshooter1]

I'd love to see more interviews with Mr. Singer... he's a wealth of information. Thanks Steve for this!

[@ah.l]

Lovely, more videos with andy plz.

[@ZEPRATGERNODT]

I have much to say but I've read enough that my thought were already written by several people here. Glad to see there are some good minds amongst us.

[@EddieJazzFan]

Retail audio in 70s New York--two words :"CRAZY EDDIE"

[@hifijohn]

I lived in NYC in the late 70's/early 80's and you couldnt escape those damn commercials.

[@johnhermanson5249]

and Battling Barry's House of Audio.

[@christopherjames9843]

Crazy Eddie = crook!

[@EddieJazzFan]

@@christopherjames9843 You're right-- and he was supposed to be related to the guy who started "The Wiz"

[@perez5249]

margaretsville 645-1196 Can't believe I still remember that phone number 😂

[@waltzie]

40 years in audio...still ZERO clue how to use a lapel mic...wow

[@markwolter2032]

Has been listening to audio. Not making it.

[@mercurialmagictrees]

ha funny

[@louf7178]

waltzie Probably knows microphones work better that way.

[@crossocean5663]

Don’t be a dick

[@davidmacnaughton500]

dont feed the trolls waltzie is obviously a troll..

[@Supperconductor]

I loved shopping at Sound by Singer. Andy was there and really helped me narrow down a purchase that kept me very happy for a long time. I used to upgrade a LOT less often back then. The internet really got me into GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) yet ironically left me dissatisfied with new equipment quickly. These days I’m back to only buying equipment I can carefully audition first. Sadly, I doubt brick and mortar stores will ever make a comeback.

[@damonvonschweikert131]

Great topic guys, thanks for sharing.

[@marklowe7431]

$12000 HDMI cable. $6000 power cable. Need I say more. edit. I forgot gold plated optical cable connectors. Yes, this is real.

[@dragonblood0012]

gold plated optical cable connectors fucking really?! lmao

[@marklowe7431]

@@dragonblood0012 I saw them and in front of the sales guy couldnt top laughing. He wasn't amused.

[@claudiobaldonijr9326]

Besides the guys putting diamonds (yes, diamonds) as a spike base for hi-end speakers... ridiculous ...... NONE of these audiophiles would ever accept doing a blind hearing test to "prove" they are REALLY hearing the use (or not) of all those silly pricy things....

[@hugh007]

'78? I'd say 50 and 60s: McIntosh, Fisher, Scott, Dyna, Harmon Kardon, even Heathkits were more substantial and better than most integrated 1 chip amplifiers today. Check out an 'Audio' or 'High Fidelity' magazine from 50 years ago. Hundreds of components and manufacturers.

[@xfloodcasual8124]

Yeah exactly, high end audio really came with the STEM revolution of the 40s and 50s for both playback and recording

[@icemax7]

I really gotta give it to you both Steve and Andy. Please keep posting and shedding more light where it really matters and in this age of crappy music production, I guess it really does matter a lot and you could also do us all a small favour by promoting or rather identifying the quality in music between generations as well. Thank You

[@xray111xxx]

Really shows my age too. I followed Sound by Singer since the beginning of my teens. Crazy

[@elliottdavis9496]

I walked into Sound by Singer about 2 weeks after Sep 11, 2001. I had just turned 18. I was on holiday from Australia, and a keen audiophile. Where better to check out high-end gear than NYC? When the holiday was booked, we had no idea that tradgedy would strike NY - of course. Andy is burned into our memory as “the incredibly rude, arrogant and snobby bearded guy” who we observed in-store. My father has stronger memories than I, as I was engrossed in the tech. Andy chose to belittle our “tourist” status and emphasise what he considered to be our subsequent inferiority. Anyhow, we remember you Andy. Tourists from the other side of the planet have memories. Being Australian, I couldnt really give a toss, because one specific loser doesnt represent the awesomeness that is NY and the US. Having said that, lose the arrogance mate. Its not doing you any favours. ...I’ve just come back to edit this comment because I had not read anyone else’s comment until after I wrote mine. Geeeez, glad I’m not the only one! It’s been 18 years, and I am now complete 😂

[@connorduke4619]

We can all learn and grow, in fact it's our main purpose for coming to Earth. So the Andy you met 20 years ago may not be the same Andy of today.

[@a0r0a7]

I feel someone should advise him due to his age his hearing certainly at the high end will be very poor, just like those MP3 and poor quality CDs. I hate the stylus crackles and pops. Vinyl does sounds beautiful but quiet passages irritate me. CD is a pleasure when the music reaches a quiet passage, certainly not poor. Some expert.

[@petrolhead007]

For vinyl lovers the sound of the needle is music to the ears - so satisfying..... a part of the experience!

[@a0r0a7]

@@petrolhead007 each to there own. Enjoy your vinyl as I will my CDs. Vinyl as I said does sound beautiful, no denying that.

[@petrolhead007]

@@a0r0a7 Agree with you. I too have a collection of CDs, including the SACDs. To be honest the SACDs give a cleaner sound (provided they are recorded/engineered well). The vinyls have their own sound - warmer and more natural. A music lover should enjoy all the different sounds out there rather than falling into certain buckets.

[@a0r0a7]

@@petrolhead007 totally agree. I attended the Bristol Uk hifi show this year and vinyl was some of the most beautiful sounding reproduction of music on show. However, CD poor quality, no. There are very badly produced CDs that sound awful but that's down to the studio engineers and that's a shame. However I do agree with you, enjoy all formats. Happy Christmas 👍

[@user-gk1nt6sm2z]

Andy, get out and hear a real phono hifi, you will know instantly when you hear the real deal

[@societyofhighendaudio]

I used to see their ads in audio magazine. Now I see the owner himself. Thanks

[@petez4608]

Why so short? Interesting interview, feel like there is a lot more to talk to him about. Thanks a ton Steve.

[@m.9243]

There's a heck of a lot of 'snake oil' stuff nowdays associated with high end equipment. Back in the old days, there was real value in whatever one bought, unlike now that many manufacturers charge extraordinary amounts of money for components build like a 'tank' but sounding very ordinary. One has only to test some vintage bits of equipment to realize that 'old gear' was not _that_ bad after all..

[@funkymonkey1198]

In my 25 years of buying hifi i have only had one badly built component....a Philips DVD/sacd player where the front fascia was coming off. So i never waste money on stuff that advertises or boasts or thst reviewers justify the cost because it is "built like a tank". OPPO I am looking at you. Doesnt matter you are bust anyway. When you first started you were the OnePlus of AV. Top quality for low price.

[@socksumi]

So true. Many vintage amps/preamps sound as good or better than anything made today at any price. 1978 Sansui 919 is a good example.

[@MrPeeBeeDeeBee]

My flagship Nad 372 expired so I replaced it with a Cambridge Azur 640A. Then a few months later my house was hit by lightning and the amp was fried. Now, for me, a day with out music is a day wasted... so I manged to scrounge an old Yamaha A500 from 1982. It's got a fixed power cord, non-gold RCA'a - shock horror! and those crappy spring loaded speaker terminals. Well I was blown away by how good, and better, this A500 is. A happy ending - really.

[@timcoker4685]

My Sansui stereo system is over forty years old. 881 receiver, SE9 EQ, 3060 turntable and four SP2000 speakers. This stereo still performs as new and has never let me down. Sound is clean and loud!!! The top end stereos of the 70s were best ever made.

[@oldskool80sfan12]

Αrthur Manolopoulos Well said.

[@ig_foobar]

High end audio stores make most of their money selling overpeiced speaker cable to people who don't understand science. A $20 roll of lamp cord from Lowe's works just as well as $1,000 monster cable, even with high end amps and speakers.

[@andreasleonlandgren3092]

Art C not necessarily true

[@ig_foobar]

@@andreasleonlandgren3092 It is completely true. But waste your money if you want to.

[@kevinl6231]

Well, no (imho). Not a lamp cord cable. Amazon Basics is pretty good and reasonable.

[@ig_foobar]

@@kevinl6231 Respectfully, my findings have been that copper is copper. As long as your cable is of good quality and the correct gauge, it doesn't matter whether it's sold as lamp cord, speaker cable, or "monster" cable. The electrons will find their way to your speakers the same way.

[@growthmindsetmastery435]

I quit reading Gutenberg’s reviews after he wrote a glowing review about the improved sound quality of a new Monster Cable product a few years ago for CNET. Total b.s. and lost all credibility. You cannot trust a reviewer who thinks he hears things and is blind to his own bias.

[@amdenis]

I met Andrew and Steve back in 1981. I was in high school, but worked in NYC in the summer to afford and save for college and maybe as importantly, music. He directed me to what I could afford but not have to sell in a few years. I still have a SOTA Sapphire turntable, although many other things have been added and changed, but it lead me into recording and developing a few US media labs and several studios along the way. One other thing Andrew got me into was western belts/ belt buckles, which I also don't hold against him.

[@EGlideKid]

"My" first stereo was the one my parents bought in Germany when my dad was stationed there in the late 50's. It was a Saba in a huge maple cabinet, more a piece of furniture than a good stereo! It had two small speakers down at the bottom of the front of the cabinet, and the rest was basically space. My second device was a Panasonic portable cassette player with a single speaker. Later, I graduated to an 8-track player (12vdc) that I hooked up to a Radio Shack converter so I could use it in the house hooked up to two car speakers I put in wooden boxes. My, how times have changed!

[@garyluciani370]

One thing I disagree with is his statement that mp3 sounds terrible. The initial low kbs. mp3 maybe, but the higher kbs. mp3, not true. The majority of people when tested in blind tests, can't even tell the difference. Don't get me started on the hi-res b.s.

[@j_freed]

Gary Luciani - the majority of people don't even care, so there's that also. Even if 5-10 percent hear what's better, the other 90-95 percent who claim not to doesn't change the reality that people can appreciate the difference of higher resolution audio. I'm realistic about the limitations of my MP3 player (@196) and my affordable but strong Shure earphones, there's a spending limit that I accept as worthwhile, and no way is the audio that great even for the $300 spent. Some early 1990s cassette Walkmans could have way better top end (and decent headphones) but who wants to carry all that stuff around?

[@jamescarter3196]

"Don't get me started on the hi-res b.s." -- So you don't have fine hearing, ok, you're not somebody who can appreciate high-resolution sound, but don't bother with calling it "b.s." since you're not an expert, you're just a dude who can't tell the difference between a studio master and an mp3, and that's very sad for you. It doesn't make your opinion MORE valid, though.

[@juancornetto8243]

@@jamescarter3196 No human can benefit from a sampling rate above 44.1khz on final playback. You clearly are not an expert either. Look up intermodulation distortion.

[@SOS89140]

Everyone I've ever dealt with that lived in NYC (or New Jersey for that matter), were the rudest people on the planet. Just saying. Now I live just outside the city of Chicago and you DO NOT get that typical East Coast attitude in a small business or any business. If you did display that attitude, you'll wish you hadn't. I can't be the only person who has felt this about NY / NJ people. If so, my bad. Point is that this probably had nothing to do with high end audio.

[@errorsofmodernism9715]

LOL. Sounds like you've had some encounters with the Ko-sher-Nos-tra

[@REDACT3D]

Interesting topic of discussion thanks guys for sharing (great sounding lav mic too btw - must be the operator lol)

[@mines10inches]

It would be great to see more of his store and product range

[@azdesert5497]

70's had good sounding stereos.

[@pascalillustration3650]

2:40 He says: “The audio industry went to cd, which really lowered the quality of reproduction.” What? How can a newer and better technology lower the quality? And compared to what? Vinyl? Cassettes? FM radio? It’s true that you can describe analog technology like vinyl as ‘warmer’, but cd has increased the audio quality with a big leap.

[@Jsims111]

Yeah, thats where he lost me. Especially considering that there are cds that have audio taken from vinyls; containing all the warmth, snap crackle and pop that you can handle. Now, to be fair; he could be referring to how the audio has been mastered e.g "loudness wars"

[@Scottlp2]

I don’t know if you were around when CDs first came out, but they were (for me) unlistenable for 5-10 years after they first came out. He is totally correct. A newer technology can lower sound quality by introducing kinds of distortions never heard before.

[@4186Ps]

Great video, funny I have spent way more on my system today to get the sound I remember in the mid 70’s.

[@roxyb.chandler7961]

When I was 20 (1985)I walked into the high-end audio place near my home in mid-coast Maine looking for a quality car audio system. The floor salesman at the time was a man who sold me a small portable tv/radio at an appliance store a few years earlier. He was with a customer and asked me if I needed help. I told him I was interested in high-end audio for my car, he laughed at me and said I couldn't afford to look at anything in the store. I tapped his shoulder and pointed to the front window at my Jaguar (which I bought with money I worked for) parked in front of the store. The sales clerk, red-faced, sheepishly tried to apologize, I was unimpressed, walked out and put together a very impressive sytem, without his help. Have managed to surround myself with a fine collection of very good equipment over the years without the help of pompous salesman or having to spend insane prices for my equipment.

[@haraldmiller4894]

Cool story man! I like that.

[@StrixTechnica]

It's a bit hard to trust an "audio specialist" (and I'm not referring to Singer here) when they then try to sell you a bog standard IEC power cable (kettle lead, same as used for a desktop computer) for £80 or £250 or whatever on some BS spiel about power - completely ignoring the rubbish TPS cable in the walls and aluminium transmission lines of the grid. This is still a thing, or was last I walked into a high street hi-fi shop. Pity the sales guy didn't know that I'm an electronic engineer and a bit harder to fool with technobabble than most. I admit that they had me on skin effect for a while, though, until I realised the frequencies to which it applies in any significant degree.

[@socksumi]

One huge difference is that in 1978 high end gear was reasonably affordable and most audiophiles could aspire to own it if they saved. Now prices are so ridiculous that only the very wealthy can afford it. Back in 78 some of the best speakers sold for under $3000 pr. Now high end speakers can cost up to $300,000.

[@gbrm6077]

You're right about that. I had Radford 360 speakers that were built from a kit. A Thorens turntable, Audio Research pre-amp and a SAE amplifier. It was a high end system then and was quite affordable. I think I paid about $400 for the top of the line amp. Today, the new SAE amp starts at over twenty grand. The other difference was that high end brands were quite limited. Thorens, Linn and a couple of others were the only turntables to be considered. Same for amps etc. Today the number of brands are almost staggering. Back then, with so few brands available, it was pretty easy to match components for the best sound.

[@kingtrance6826]

Yeah but you still don’t have to spend outrageous sums to get excellent audio quality. You can purchase pre owned gear, Tekton Double Impact for example makes a real nice pair of speakers for around three grand. There’s plenty of ways to put together a great sounding system on a budget. I was around and got started in audio back around 78 so I don’t really agree that you have to be wealthy. Most of us aren’t Rockefeller.

[@socksumi]

@@gbrm6077 Fancy that... another Radford speaker fan. I've owned and three pairs of Radfords over my life but never the big Studio 360s. I did have Radfor 270s though but they worked better in a large open room. Wish I'd never parted with them.

[@doctorrazz]

Most of the modern hi end gear is bogus. Get a 24/96 MQA streamer/ amp and any of the Klipsch Heritage line of speakers, and a Tidal HiFi contract.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

That was amazing New Yorkers are so special they tell it like it is.

[@arthurpozner7701]

Yea...just like the present Commander in D.C.

[@GASMan-57]

I had my first round of audiophile obsession in late '77 and once my Sansui amp crapped out around 2000, I got into the HT thing with 7.2 surround. Interesting the way my two forays lined up with the content of this vid.

[@Jsims111]

For those that say Vinyl as a media is superior to CD, I propose a little experiment; If you have the equipment to do so. Take your Hi-Fi record player and hook it up to a PC with a nice DAC. Record the audio from your record to the PC in a lossless format such as .wav or flac. Burn that onto a CDR at a slow speed. Then play that CDR on your HI-end CD player. My theory is: If done correctly, all the warmth and tone that you like about vinyl should be accurately reproduced by the CD that you just created. Bonus points if you possess retail CD version of the album to compare and reference. Post your results. Maybe Slayd5000 could chime in on this.

[@cirenosnor5768]

It’s not just “warmth and tone” that makes vinyl appealing. More often than not vinyl on a true high end table with a better phono preamp will have a bigger soundstage and more ambiance

[@MedIevalCyrax]

Those high end speakers don't mean shit when everything is recorded these days to sound like every other artist,no matter what genre,music no longer has any soul to it.

[@adamdelarozza1985]

Cause they are soulless snowflakes who didn't learn to play a musical instrument, just use auto tone that sounds like a synthetic dolphin.

[@michaelwiggler511]

Sound quality has nothing with genre. So don’t be dumb.

[@MedIevalCyrax]

@@michaelwiggler511 That's not the point,re-read what I said.

[@michaelwiggler511]

MedIevalCyrax you said music have to have soul which i can relate to people talking about specific genre has soul than other or more specifically one type of music than other. But does not count even 10% when you talk about sound quality. Soul has nothing to do with sound quality

[@MedIevalCyrax]

@@michaelwiggler511 It's not about sound quality,it's about modern music sounding all the time due modern "musicians" if you can even call them that

[@rickewilde]

" the creation of an idea that such a system existed " This is what High-End does very well.

[@garryhall8696]

This was fun to watch brings back memories of the 70s and high-five peter Frampton live lp ever Dorm at the University of Delaware was playing that record oh what fun we had.

[@cmkilcullen8176]

Wow, the money went from the professionals to Wall Street. So many different ways that speaks to impact. The depature of gadgetry from actual in earnest audio and fidelity / music / sound. Very interesting look on the history of audio, music and fidelity (not to mention what one likes in music). Thanks!

[@JDOGFTW]

I like Migos! In my High end audio system. Nothing sweeter!

[@Kpopzoom]

Interesting how hi-end audio mimics what happened in society over those decades - smart guy.

[@TheMusicForMasses]

Great video as always Steve! But I do not get what is dude's real problem?! Gear behind him is 3K+ each. His target market are not those broke kids listening mp3's on their mobile devices but mostly older fellas (like me :) with significant disposable cash to waste (not me :( ) on technology that is mostly from a last century. (excluding HUGE advances of DAC, streaming technology, lossless digital files and in some instances headphone gear). Hi-End companies are shooting themself in a foot with pricing targeting mostly people with a deep pockets and basements to set up their pricy gear and get away from their family. Some honorable exceptions are Elac, Schiit Audio, Parasound and handful of others that I missed. Another point is a lifestyle - people today are more on the move rather than staying at home, unless they are working remotely (from home). A sole existence of lossless digital files is a big thing for me personally as I can carry my portable player and headphones with me wherever I travel. My records and CD collection is mostly collecting a dust. So investing a small fortune in Hi-End gear is totally unjustifiable if one does not have a decent amount of time to enjoy it. And that so-called "vinyl revival" is utter rubbish! 90% of vinyl print-houses from the end of 80's went belly-up with intro of CD's and home-theatre later on, as Andy mentioned in his video, and those few remaining have launched print prices over the roof (read: supply and demand). I can not picture a teenagers or even people in their 20's or 30' starting to build their record collection and invest £20+ for a vinyl?! Obviously there are honourable exceptions but as a general rule, such is not likely to happen on industrial scale. Sure, one can easily build very good HiFi system for £700-1500 but a few fundamental questions are: a) Should I invest money in HiFi (plus ongoing expenses for buying a music) or buy a new laptop, game console or whatever else I am interested in? b) Do I have time to enjoy my music at home? c) Do i have the appropriate space in my home for a gear I want to buy? d) Is type of music that I love really benefits from the gear upgrade? Regarding the last point - unfortunately most of electronica recordings nowadays is such badly recorded that it almost makes no difference if I am listening it through my Mac audio output or Hugo 2! Sad but true :( So folks, enjoy your music in whatever format & gear it pleases you and have a fun ;)

[@socksumi]

I totally agee, especially the part about "older fellas" setting up a system to "get away from their family".

[@jeffwilson3527]

I believe he said HIGH END audio from the beginning .

[@TheAlphaAudio]

That ch precision left and right is far more than 3k...

[@j_freed]

TheMusicForMasses TLDR but I'd say pro audio might be the best, just skip high end consumer entirely. It's a money trap. Perhaps buy a used Bryson power amp and whatever else, or any decent set of JBL self powered monitors, those aren't that expensive. Multi thousand dollar cork sniffing British speakers and hand-wired tube amps are beautiful and nice things but then so are jewelled Rolexes and Bentley coupes.

[@JoeAnshien]

I agree 100% . I could not get rid of my records fast enough once I replaced them with CDs. I would play my records once to tape them, and use the tape till it wore out, and them record a new one. I hated tape hiss, but I hated scratched records and pops even more. Now it is all converted to digital and have never looked back. I think these "hipsters" going back to vinyl are insane and wasting their money. But everyone has a right to enjoy and spend money on whatever they like.

[@trog69]

Yep. I have a NAD 208 "thx" two-channel power amp with gobs of MOSFETs yet designed as a main power amp for an AV system. It sounds glorious gassing up a pair of aDs 910 loudspeakers in a basic two-channel setup.

[@mikethebeginner]

Two other factors: prices went through the roof as sellers chased the top 10%, until average people were shut out of the activity, and, music shifted from recordings of real acoustical events to electronic confabulations that only existed in the imaginary soundscape. If you buy HP's formulation that live music is the absolute sound, then there is no more absolute sound in music.

[@DiscoFang]

The only problem with the "live music" assertion is that apart from orchestral concerts 99% of live music is played through amplification and a sound system.

[@vicinvesta8349]

Two weirdos complimenting each other. Stick your "warm analog sounding" amplifiers you know where.

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

He can pass on now, he clearly knows everything.

[@Canadian_Eh_I]

I dont understand why everyone is taking stabs at this guy. honestly , why do you dislike him so much?

[@edshipe2555]

Love your videos Steve especially this one. I still have the Advent sound system I bought in 78 when in high school. Need to have the Advent utility speakers reconed would it be worth it? Today mostly listening to digital wire and bluetooth from my phone using Fluance AI60s. TY AG, Ed

[@stoutdog56]

I put his first system together during my college years in 1976. That was a fun era for gear, music and life. Quad was trying to compete with stereo. I did some upgrading during the next 8 years but, haven't bought very much hardware since then. I sorry to say that I haven't had my system setup for 19 years. I've been using Bose equipment and my phone/tablet for my music sources. I'm going to setup my old gear this year and do some serious listening to my vinyl, CD's ans MP3's to hear what I have been missing. I've subscribe to a few magazines this year to catch up on today's gear. The equipment is very impressive as are the prices. I see JBL re-released the L100's at $4k??? Today's gear is so far beyond my price range, I will continue using my existing gear.

[@CubeRepublic]

40 years ago fools were easily parted from their money just as they are now.

[@carybaxter274]

HYPE AND SALES. I enjoy the Audiophiliac Show on KZbin very much, and I am sure I will continue to enjoy it, but this episode featuring Mr. Singer of "Sound by Singer" mercantile fame has provoked a concerned response from me. Mr. Singer impuned CD technology blaming it for the decline of the audiophile business suggesting that CD's are unacceptably bad audio. He said that MP3 files were "horrible". I, too, worked in high-end audio retail concurrently with you, and I had a good time while it lasted, but who can dispute that audio salesmen have a bad reputation that is often justified? And off-the-chain hype is a major reason why. Derogatory hype is the worst kind. In a "Stereophile" interview, Arnie Nudell stated: >>"Just to set the record straight, Paul and I don't find digital offensive these days. It's improving at such a rate that certainly we can listen to music with it and design loudspeakers with it. We like its consistency. We've found that digital will go down to pp-not quite to ppp. The fffs on digital now are better than the fffs on record. I'll argue that with anybody, because I have the master tapes of the record. Digital has come a long way, and I have a lot of hope for it, because it's the wave of the future."

[@alandang3505]

I find that everything in the audio chain is a particular type of "filter" and losses part of the signal. Even the microphones are a filter, so there is no way to avoid loss in any part of the audio chain. The question is which filters are the most objectionable and do the most damage to the music? Digital has improved, and many people objected to the sound of strident violins and harsh pianos when digital arrive in the 1980s to the consumer, for the most part they've addressed a lot of these issues, but if you were for instance to listen to Gary Wright's "dream Weaver", or Steve Miller's fly like an eagle on a properly set up and tuned high resolution audio system in a room of appropriate size comparing vinyl versus CD you would immediately understand the digital has a long way to go. Probably the live MIC feeds direct to FM when heard through say a Marantz 10b tuner were the best possible source that could be available to the general public with the least amount of filter. However that tuner...well it's one of the few tuners that really can produce full sound without imposing a flattening of the sound stage and filtering of mid bass and low bass. So for many people who don't get an early pressing Digital is their best bet. Sadly there are far far fewer well produced great sounding reference CDs than LPs ... a standard LP that is well recorded has no problem dispatching even one of the best recorded PCM files. Unedited double rate DSD or higher is the only format that starts to approach well recorded standard vinyl when played back properly. CDs however are ideal for helping to tune systems because of the repeatability. You can't replay vinyl over and over in a short period without degradation of the sound. .

[@carybaxter274]

I understand, but a sense of proportion is in order here as everywhere. Arnie Nudell had sophisticated hearing and superior equipment according to most enthusiasts, and he found CD superior to vinyl in some ways and lagging oh so slightly in others. It is a lie that CD's have degraded the audio world, and it is a lie that hi-grade MP3's are "horrible". Most people hear well enough to know that. Hype is the degrading force we should look out for. If anything can ruin it for all of us, it is hype.

[@upinarms79]

That is very well said. I agree 100%. So much of that nonsense hype and misinformation is why I don't take some audiophiles seriously anymore. Any form of audio storage can be poor when it isn't done properly. You don't have to be an audio engineer to know that there is a ceiling for audio quality on any storage media uand that taking full advantage of the capability of that medium is important, but one also has to consider if that medium is viable for retail consumers. When it comes to digital audio, if you don't properly encode it in a lossless form that alters the original signal as little as humanly possible, you will certainly lose quality, but that's the case with any medium. You also have to consider that people need to be able to store and transfer these files across portable devices, so they have to be a reasonable size to do so, which means sometimes sacrificing some quality for the sake of creating a file that can be viably contained on consumer electronics devices. As digital storage media improves, ie flash memory, hard drives, so too will the quality of digital recordings. My biggest problem right now with digital download services is that they don't offer higher end lossless recordings to customers that want them, only lower quality MP3s because they think that's what the general public will want, but that doesn't make the entire medium of digital recording bad.

[@majestyk3337]

Compared to vinyl, CD's suck ass. I record (digitize) vinyl using a moderately high end system and play it back on the same equipment as CD's and there is no comparison. The only exception are some vinyl's that are poorly mastered. In that case a CD counterpart might sound better. Now I will say this... Some of the very early CD's sound much better than the later ones. Particularly ones with pre-emphasis (you'll need de-emphasis to hear them properly...most but not all CD players do this). Certain early Japan pressings of Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (with pre-emphasis) sound fantastic but they still don't sound nearly as good as the best vinyl pressings. Don't even bother with remastered CD's or CD's past 2000. Almost all of them suck. Most MFSL CD's are some of the worst CD's I have ever heard...don't fall for the hype. Vinyls "tweak-ability" stomps all over CD. I've heard many CD players and while they do sound different, it's not as radical as the various vinyl setups I have heard.

[@carybaxter274]

The vast majority of the audio unwashed will never spend $50,000 on a home system, but they can be enthralled into the fold by the therapeutic exposure to a modest system of used equipment playing MP3 files from the internet (converting the KZbin performances from MP4, for instance). If all they own is a used Columbia remaster of "Kind of Blue" with Miles Davis on CD, or a Verve remaster of some Ella Fitzgerald favorite on CD, or a Harry Connick, Jr. CD, or an MP3 file converted from a KZbin performance on MP4 of Gergiev conducting Sheherazade live at the Salzburg Festival, they treasure their moments of listening. They begin to think like an audiophile. It is a shame and a disservice to mislead them by indulging in well-heeled pretentiousness which is what it is to call their golden moments "horrible" when they know full well they are not.

[@jarodreddig63]

Really enjoyed this episode.

[@afistfulofpimples1745]

I didn't

[@lavarocky]

Hey there I remember back 40 years ago too question I picked up these Becker two speakers to made in New York wonder if you guys know anything about them?

[@JBLClassic]

I’ve been at this since around the late 80’s. My dad always loved stereos but was more of the stacked Advent camp. The longer this goes on, the more unnatural un-musical this Uber high end stuff has become. In all honesty, you’re not even buying extra expensive stuff because it lasts longer or Is more reliable. Thank god I discovered the new JBL line and got off this end high farce.

[@davidviner4932]

He sounds like he loves himself, wonder if he’s now deaf

[@amfearliathmor8213]

One of the best Hi-fi systems I have heard was a Sony SACD reference system, which cost around $50,000 back in the year of 2000. Another one of the best sounds (to my ears) was a very small and very cheap bedroom Hi-Fi, which was a T-class Amp powered from a 30W Solar PV and Lifepo Battery (regulated 12V power supply). The source was a Apple Ipod Touch (excellent DAC chipset) and a Fatman Dock. Speakers were some KEF Uni-Q bookshelf speaker with some Van Damme Professional Studio Blue speaker cable (£20). Total cost was around $600-700

[@zerocapacitance1]

Great video content. Please explain why if he is surrounded by high voltage amplifiers does he not want the lavaliere microphone to be clipped to his shirt?

[@DougMen1]

There was high end audio equipment before '78. A Dynaco ST70 or Fisher 500 sounds better than a lot of what passes as high end these days.

[@rupe53]

DM... Yup, and I had one of each till about 2 months ago, when I sold my Dynaco stuff to an old friend who was looking to replace his PAS-3 with a PAS-3x preamp. (built them myself in the late 60s) Still have the Fisher. I also have a SPEC-1 and SPEC-2 that I found at a yard sale for $20 each. Yes, they weigh a ton but the sound they produce is like having a big block Chevy on tap in your living room!

[@danforthirepair9085]

I own a stereo 70 with Macintosh mx110, with large advent speakers. Even my kids who don't know good sound from a tin can like the sound. It is pure and wonderful

[@tom-iv6lc]

I used to sell some high end gear. The industry is full of elitist snobs. The irony is that it takes young ears to hear it and older trained ears to know what to listen for. By the time you know HOW to listen you simply cant hear as well as you used to. Learn about speaker placement, get a quality source and respectable speakers. That's most of it. Its a dying industry honestly.

[@charlespatrick8650]

tom colopy just living cuts high frequency hearing past 40-50 years old, even younger if ears have been abused

[@zzeuss87]

No kidding. I was in deep in the eighties, hi-fi shops were mostly horrible, but there were some that were ok. Thirty+ years on, it is now so different. People don't know what they are not hearing today. My set-up from back in the day sounded like music. Today's offerings sadden me.

[@hazchem1]

+ Tom Colopy. Odd point of view from someone who used to be in the Industry! What you've said is a lot of nonsense mate, sorry. The Industry has been effected by the sale of MP3, Steaming and Soundbars and the failure of the high end market to adapt and keep up.

[@fredriksvard2603]

As it should be.

[@andrewganley9016]

How true Tom,elephant in the room its called and as for those 'boys with toys; hi fi mag reviewers lets not go there!

[@hogwyild]

Great video, which has sparked a question for you Steve Guttenberg. Is there a point in an audiophile's journey where the audio equipment/gear/system one has out shines or becomes more important than the music one listen's too, which started this whole journey in the first place? My apologies if this is off topic for the video in general.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Sure, it happens. But most of the time the audiophile gets back to the music.

[@antigen4]

in 1978 i was a 13 year old hifi enthusiast ... so it wasn't just the well heeled!! I would go in and make a nuisance of myself on weekends and spend the entire day in the shop listening to the latest and greatest of whatever i could .. all i could afford was a subscription to the absolute sound my grandma got me for christmas though

[@swinde]

2:43 ... CDs in NO WAY by themselves degraded the quality of audio. The main failure was the practice of compressing the sound until there was no dynamic range left in the recording. This had its beginnings in FM radio, but had also been with vinyl to cram more tracks on a record. I had a Donna Summer track ("I Feel Love") on vinyl with out compression and another copy on a greatest songs from various artist on a LP that had about 30 tracks. The difference was incredible. At some point studios began to compress almost ALL recordings, so the quality went down. Most of my system is Early 1970s components plus a CD player from 1984.

[@llaeeZ]

Finally someone gets it!

[@ksteiger]

As soon as he claimed that CDs LOWERED the qaulity of audio reproduction... I was out. Beats the crap out of a casette ANY day....

[@swinde]

No, a properly recorded CD will have a better S/N ratio and absolutely no clicks and pops as well as other surface noise. I have both. CDs in the 2000s were recorded with excessive compression and of course sounded poor compared to well recorded LPs. But even LPs that were compilations of "hits" with 20-30 tracks suffered from this compression.

[@Scottlp2]

Swinde CDs were unlistenable for 5-10 years after they came out.

[@ninjaturtle205]

@Jeffrey Johnson I have heard that to get cd quality sound on vinyl you need to invest like two three grand on related audio equipment

[@gigngamer]

@Jeffrey Johnson nop

[@adamdelarozza1985]

I thought he was gonna talk about digital vs analog, instead he alked about how customers are different and some are FBi, great to hear. Denon DRA 755 with Klipsh KG-4's Speakers. you will thank Me!

[@Reyfox1]

How about a tour of Sound by Singer and the reasons for pairing demo equipment?

[@timwilson3435]

I have a healthy dose of skepticism regarding what this guy is saying on the internet.

[@RAIDER4LIFE131]

Hey chong where's cheech homie!!

[@dashcammer4322]

Any small city had brick-and-mortar retail audiophile shops where you could listen to the gear in person. I grew up in a small city of about 150k. We had two shops with great gear, and several with good gear. That city is now 2x the size, but has no high-and audio shops anymore.

[@michaelphillippi4676]

They had fax in 1973, Harris Electronics Systems Division designed the fax machine for Associated Press so they could transmit black and white photos over great distances rapidly. Harris also designed the prototype avionics system for the first B-1 bomber during that same timeframe. I know because I worked their my first job after college.

[@slehernik]

Bs, bs, bs,... yeah, yeah, yeah,... tell me again how LP sounds better than CD. Expertise.... pfff

[@jamescarter3196]

If you had a point to make, you wouldn't have to act like a douchebag about it. You're just another one of those people who doesn't have finely-tuned hearing, and you assume that digital sound is better just because it's digital. You don't have a fucking clue. Pfff.

[@mercerville1111]

Some CDs sound great, some do not. Some vinyl is incredible, some are not. It’s not rocket science. Not sure what this guy is rambling on about but god I hope to never get stuck in an elevator with him.

[@ericelliott227]

Very insightful and a good sense of humor. I must point out though something Mr. Singer said towards the beginning that was profound and visible to those who want to see. He spoke to the idea of high-end audio existing and to the value through quality back then. The big point to me was that the designers were all about making the stuff to accomplish something ie; good sound and build quality and not just for money. I think what was not mentioned, but perhaps hinted at is the fact of that also changing. Now it is more about "how much can I get for this piece in market no matter what. Now in most cases (not all), it is about how cheaply can I make this so I can put a bunch of jewels on it or just slap a sticker that says "audiophile" on it and sell it for a 4000% profit. I say that acknowledging the economy of scale back then being similar to a degree, but plenty of access to such things. Today however, it is also quite different. You have multiple times more income inequality, far less access to education, jobs, etc. and thanks to the internet, you have far less access to the gear even if you could afford much of it. Buying audio gear, used records, etc. off the internet without being able to inspect it and have hands on experience with it is a fool's errand at best. Reading reviews "professional" or otherwise does nothing but muddy the waters because you are basing off of the person's hearing, particular room and set up, etc. It will be far different for you. Today, the industry is divided in two. On one side you have the mass-produced cheap disposable products that one still only has access to a static display at some big box store again thanks to the internet. On the other side you have the hugely expensive stuff only for the deep-pockets and a large dose of snake oil. If the product were as good as it should be, it could stand on it's own without snake oil. So it is really largely a way for the deep pockets to brag on how much they spent. Back in 1978 and before to today higher price does not automatically denote higher quality. The fortunate thing for everyone now (how long it will last is anyone's guess) is that there are some audio makes trying to buck the system by making gear that is both very good or high quality and value so more folks will have access whether they need to save up first or not. The unfortunate part though comes back around to the internet, because what remains of stereo shops refuse to carry such high value items and there are very few shops remaining anyway. What needs to happen is the reigning in of eCommerce , better opportunities for folks (affordable good quality education, affordable healthcare, etc) and a level playing field for B&M shops where one can go and experience such gear and sound. This not only speaks to those who already know it, but introduces those that do not.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

A lot of truth in what you say. Fortunately there are a few great boutique designers that still design with a sense of pride. I am thinking of Pass, Devore and Decware.

[@ericelliott227]

@@user-od9iz9cv1w Boutique designers are just as much part of the problem. Before the current situation we have today, they are the ones who stick plastic jewels and "audiophile" stickers and such on a $500 to $600 amp (cost to build) and want $15,000 and up, thereby only able to sell to the deep pockets (1%). They then complain that they only sold a few units in a given year and that is why they have to charge so much. It is all BS. The real explanation should be offered and the profit should be reasonable. Real explanation: What it really cost to build including cost of bringing to market and everything. When one does a dive into that information things make more sense. For example: If the widget cost $600 to build and another say $500 to bring to market then a reasonable MSRP would be around $2000 leaving room for selling the product to more people for larger profit at a retail price of around $1500 to $1600. This would actually result in higher profits. (Instead of say 5 people buying the widget at say $2000 = $4500 profit, you would have say 20 people buying it at $1500 = $8000 profit. This would be exponential at higher build cost). The problem is that basic business practices are not taught anymore. These days it is all about how to grift in many cases. "Audiophile" is no longer a descriptive as much as it is pure marketing (like your doctor earning a JD Power award = not a doctor I would want to be a patient of). The makers of high value products will be the survivors and it so happens they have the better customer support as well. These days though with the current situation (mostly manufactured by the way) it is even harder for manufactures to make high value products and sell them, it is a sad situation.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

@@ericelliott227 I do not question your observations. But when I use examples such as Pass, Decware and Devore, I cannot relate see to what you describe. Maybe I should have used 'artisan' in place of boutique. 90% of the industry is boutique in that they are very small businesses serving a small market.

[@ericelliott227]

@@user-od9iz9cv1w That is true W , about 90% of the industry is boutique, but that also comes in two flavors. Using "boutique to replace "small business", there are "value" boutiques and "ludacris" boutiques. Value boutique examples: Schiit, Parasound, Ortofon, Audio Technica, Elac, etc. Ludacris boutique examples: PS Audio, Audioquest or any cable maker, Magico, Wilson, etc. I don't consider Pass, Devore and some others "ludacris". Sure they may be overly ambitious in price to 99% of us, but as you said, there is a certain level of hands-on that happens with companies like them. I'd die to get my hands on any integrated from Accuphase, but there again, price is the prohibitor. Accuphase I also consider to be an artesian level product. In fact, it is direct from the golden days of audio as Accuphase is still hand-made in Japan!

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

@@ericelliott227 Well said.

[@billybass4189]

I'm more than happy with the sound I'm getting from old tech like marantz technics and mission. Only recently put celestion 44's to bed due to tweeter failure. The most modern piece in my setup is a dac to cope with the digital signal from the tv (i miss the analogue outputs from my old toshiba tv)

[@wclark3196]

Jesus, Steve! How could you stand 16 years of going in to work and having to listen to this guy bloviating?

[@throughmyeyes9940]

"high-end" audio equipment was around way before 1978

[@amauksch1]

1974 Marantz 2325

[@bobbaisden1685]

I have built my own system using Eminence speakers in stereo using a small wall 24"x17" instead of an enclosed box. I bought a 1000 watt Crown amp and am still using an old Pyramid preamp. All solid state now but will be rebuilding a 1960 TUBE Hammond organ preamp and amp to replace the solid state. Even with solid state, the sound is awesome. Tons of bass, mids and highs. Parts Express has the Eminence speakers, crossovers, etc. When I was young, I had a Pioneer SX650 with speaker boxes. Compared to now, this is better than anything at any store for the money. It is studio quality. I've had it now for over 10 years and plan to keep it. There are newer Eminence speakers that I would choose to purchase today that I would love to try though. The old organs before and just after the 1960's have very nice tube preamps AND amps in them from 60 to 400 watts. Need new tubes, caps and resistors and it's a brand new amp. Try to get the organ for free or cheap sell the parts on Ebay. Make any money back on the project. Who knows, you may want to refurbish the organ, I do it.

[@sabastiantaylor7209]

The convenience of the internet opened up finding entire genres of music we might have never been exposed to and new group/bands/sounds etc. but it’s also brought up its complications and everyone has an opinion.

[@sabastiantaylor7209]

@@newlin83 your the other peoples opinions. I’m taking about that’s how you listen to music or personally interpreted what I said. I’m not talking about paid for platforms. I seek music from all over the world and all genres of music. The ability to find unlimited music on the internet is fantastic but no one cares for your opinions.