My HI-FI system after trying 70 pair of speakers.

[@GregorMima]

Well slowly i do understand Alan Parsons. “Audiophiles don’t use their equipment to listen to music. Audiophiles use your music to listen to their equipment”.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yup agree. However, eventually like all honeymoons, it will eventually end and we all go back to the music. That is why I listen to youtube now instead of just audiophile recording.

[@puffdragon55]

love ap hes one of the leaders as far as surround sound multi ch exct not just music

[@ThomasAndStereo]

@Wild Blueberry Check out my video on what speaker to buy. Thanks.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

@Wild Blueberry To be truly helpful, I need to sit down with you to understand your preference, your room size, your current gear, your budget, and so forth. Without all the proper info, a recommendation is just simply what I like, not what you like. Also, with more info, I can recommend a Raidho D3 but that cost $50k and that could be too cheap or too expensive for you. I take giving advice seriously and that is why I don't just randomly give out advice but at the same time, I don't have the time to understand all my viewers in detail.

[@Arcanineisthebest]

It's just the philosophy of being willing to spend time and research to figure out, what you like and where the diminishing returns is for you. I don't get why we need a name like Audiophiles, I do this with everything, phones, TVs, computers, work equipment, my instrument, etc. It's called being an informed consumer, and obviously you're going to spend more time and money on the things that bring you joy, in our case, music. It' not like you're thinking about the equipment all the time tho, you think about equipment when you are on the market for buying a nice pair of speakers/headphones/amp/whatever. And once you find what you like on your budget, you stick to that, and that's it. Again, same as with a car, once you are happy with yours you stop comparing it to other cars you drive and then is when you start enjoying your night drives, when you stop thinking about the car.

[@hilde45]

Such a nuanced approach, with sensitivity to multiple perspectives. Your humility and intelligence are the perfect antidote to the fevers of so much in audio discussion.

[@NickP333]

Thomas, you’re a total madman! Above all, I love your passion for HiFi. I totally understand, but when I bought new speakers, I auditioned maybe 20 pairs or so, then bought my Tektons. Also, love your different vs. better attitude. It is so true, especially in regards to something as personal as music and it’s means of delivery via HiFi components. It’s certainly a balancing act, and that list of gear you’ve tried is nuts! Love it! Thanks for another great vid, Thomas.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks and glad that you take the time to audition the speakers before you buy them. The Tektons are nice and I think now I am ready to appreciate them because my taste has changed and I am starting to appreciate more than the Focal sound.

[@NickP333]

Thomas & Stereo My choice in the end came down to either Focal or Tekton, but I felt the Tektons had a more balanced presentation and quicker and deeper bass. Good luck in your continuing HiFi quest and journey, Thomas! Can you imagine what’ll be available in 5 yrs?!

[@gwapster13]

Focusing on building a system that sounds pleasant to one’s ears, instead of chasing audio nirvana.... your advice makes perfect sense for every sensible person. The idealized “perfect system” does not exist.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yup, took me a while to realize :(

[@inceptionsd]

and yet people liek to chase exactly that "perfection" for some reason.

[@gwapster13]

Soultaker93 the “chase” is to some people what makes this audiophile hobby exciting. If and when you get past that chase, and start just enjoying your system and more importantly the music it plays, then that is the REAL audio nirvana LOL.

[@angkurbarua]

WoW!! I loved the very simple, soothing way of talking, fixed to the integrated intention of the topic, covering detailed comparisons & Very comfortable listening with tranquil environment all around you!! Explains enough, how soft minded & a self-thinker you are!? Lovely.... 😍

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you liked it!

[@HD-su9sq]

Thank you Thomas! Wise words indeed. It's a journey, and the view is different if you've hiked for half the day to reach the peak, or been driven 30 minutes in a bus. We really appreciate your honesty.

[@allanpowell7208]

I do like your precision in explaining what you want from your speakers. It is a relief to hear it instead of the useless babble on other sites. Cheers.

[@geez-hd6dn]

Thomas, I find you very refreshing in the fact, your knowledge in hi fi is accurate and enormous. Switching out and listening to hifi is very time consuming though, like you say. Keep up the good work.

[@kevinweber5129]

I love your analogy to different types of food French, Italian or Chinese.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks, just how I feel. That is why I am not a big fan of arguing which is the best when it comes to audio.

[@StewartRoss]

Agreed, good analogy. All three are amazing, tasty cuisines. I love food as much as music, they go beautifully together too. And naturally we all have different tastes.

[@Xiaoguan8845]

So good. Our journey is so much enjoyable. Even we can never be able afford to have that super high end system

[@m.9243]

Well said! "..there's NO best item..." etc. Horses for courses. Discovered this long time ago and I often have a giggle when someone declares a component as "best" 1) Synergy 2)Objective 3) Personal taste / preference. Even the type of music one listens too matters.. This for me, is the HIFI Gospel after decades searching for perfection.

[@frankhwang9058]

Careful you may offend someone!! Not me though. Well said!

[@m.9243]

@@frankhwang9058 Thank You Frank! I sincerely hope no one gets upset by this statement. It's only an opinion (mine) and, like all opinions, it can be wrong. But, at 74 y.o. I have done the "full circle" in HIFI, spent heaps of money and drew certain conclusions. Thanks for the response.

[@rig4365]

I must say those Silverline speakers are absolutely gorgeous.

[@benjaminqilafku5714]

It's all about sound what counts the most.

[@genedizon6387]

I enjoy your commentary style, very informative and your down to earth manner of speaking.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I appreciate that!

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IT IS REFLEXIVE OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND OBSESSION 😊 YOURS IS MUCH DEEPER THAN MINE BUT MINE HAS BEEN OVER A 50+ YEARS 😍😍

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for sharing!

[@linmi9472]

great video, the more you are in this hobby, the more you know the weakness of your system. You are so lucky to test so many speakers and we are so lucky to have you sharing with us the experience in such a honest.way. Thanks.

[@michaelfern945]

Love your reviews and discussions Thomas. Very full, detailed and straightforward consideration.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you like them!

[@ericbrown5744]

Excellent video! I think your resolution is the "best" possible solution if you enjoy the music and the process of discovery. Thanks for sharing!

[@brianspriggs7881]

Thank you for your generous gift to Drs. Without boarders and thank you for your channel! I appreciate your input and knowledge of audio equipment!

[@eltoncrim3699]

My approach I think is different as I generally want differences in my system from my friends as we all have different spaces, and tastes. What we have found is that there are a lot of ways to get to a really good experience for less money than some of the mega buck systems we've experienced at the audio shows. Each of us has a different approach with different gear and great results. We have a group of five guys that hung out (before Covid) and enjoyed audio and music. Plus I have a second group of guys a group of 4 that also are on the same quest. I say enjoy the quest, enjoy the music and enjoy the company of good friends That to me is what the hobby is all about.

[@frankhwang9058]

Yea sir it’s the experience!

[@clemmtec9506]

This is what you call telling it as it is. Good job thank you. No one fit all.

[@tylerprower]

I like that little audio comparison at the end. Listening to it through some good planar magnetics shows how much better the tigirs are.

[@faustinluete7042]

It's always a real pleasure watching your video, but this one is definitely one of the best !! So Thank you !!

[@laurelhardy4064]

Thomas, I know few small hi-fi shops that don't have as many hi-fi equipment as you have, it's so great to have different systems in the house for different kind of music and of course the mood that you're in, thanks for the videos.

[@ccwnyc5671]

My younger son came in while watching, "Audio porn dad...Really?" 🤣

[@BastianUllr]

hahahahahahaha

[@mbranham9270]

LMAO

[@ronaldmcdonald2456]

EXACTLY! I get that from wife every other day. "I don't think you've EVER drooled over me like that!!!"

[@ccwnyc5671]

@Titanmth saturn it was when Thomas was panning past all the speakers. Just gorgeous. 😍

[@ronaldmcdonald2456]

@Titanmth saturn You THINK there's something wrong with you?! The first thing wrong is that you ADMIT it!!! :)

[@akuma7238]

Hi.. Thomas I been watching your video for a while now and I thank you for sharing your experiences and great reviews of hi end gears. Because of you sharing what you learned I was able to quickly feature out want in a system and because of limited budget I have to hunt for a vintage amplifier that have the sound that I'm looking for and a tube preamp that I my self did some modification. Right now I have a adcom gfa5500 with upgraded caps a ar-ls22 preamp with upgrades tubes and op-amps and bought a pair of tannoy d700 and I added a custom made super tweeter on top. This combination is just outstanding to my ears and to all of my friends that I invited to listen to it. Thank you sir for all of your effort and I very much appreciate it.

[@JG-gg9wk]

Always enjoy watching your videos. Thanks for sharing your journey. Now you can start saving for your kids college fund. Of course you know sooner or later you'll get that itch again.

[@mikechalmers6]

Very good channel . Well done Thomas

[@osallabe]

I think you nailed it, Thomas.... this should be the first video any aspiring audiophile should watch, and revisited many, many times throughout the journey for the sake of reality checks. Well done.... thanks!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I hope my video will give people something to think about. If I achieve that, I am happy :)

[@Ro-ni7nm]

We have very similar tastes and pursuits, 2 channel listening is an obsession and we have came to many similar conclusions around taste vs good or bad better labels. Nice video.

[@kieranchurch9923]

Glad I am not the only person who blocks off ports with a pair of socks to control bass. Cheap acoustic treatment and very useful storage when I run out of clean socks!

[@milkman100001]

very interesting thomas. listening to your reasons for chasing the perfect sound has allowed me to mellow out on my expectations too on my own system. its not always about how much youve spent on things.

[@simonlai]

Tks Thomas for a story about systems of your own so wonderful and long awaited!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JukeboxAlley]

Ive realized that alot of stuff isnt really better, just different. Strengths are all different, ive had many speakers around 100 sets also, ive settled lately on the ls50 and edifier s2000 pro, biggest or baddest ive had well no, but they do everything just fine and easy to move around and look great. Its a tough journey. To help others out here, ones i couldve lived with for good are klipsch forte, ar3a, kef c80, ads L570 and ads L630, klh model 6 and 23, many i couldve lived with, but here we are, for now im keepin what ive got and im plenty good with it.

[@keepitreal5148]

Love what you are doing very honest and experienced opinion and feedback.

[@impuls60]

I found that lifting a speaker 10cm+ of the ground can have a good impact on tightening the bass. I just started with room eq and DSP, and its like getting a new speaker for each curve I design. Really impressive technology at this point. Buying a speaker and putting it somewhere random is playing Bingo. With dsp you increase your chances tenfold of getting good sound.

[@uhugvjkbkjh]

Do you just mean 10cm of clearance under the speaker? What height is tweeter? Thanks

[@yvesboutin5604]

You are a tough customer like I am! Like you I gave up on trying to assemble the perfect system. With my modest income I have built a 'pleasant' system combining musicality with precision. I wish you a great holiday and see you in 2022!

[@timchi7484]

Thanks for delineating crucial ideas for audiophiles and lots of food for thought and speakers to try!!!

[@jamesgilgannon4164]

Hi Thomas! I'm glad I came across your posts. I appreciate your ideology regards different sounding ancillaries that you finely tweak,tune to your liking and tastes. I enjoy listening to people like yourself that have a passion like myself that I can only learn from. Great stuff my friend from Glasgow,Scotland.👍😊

[@eddiebaby22]

Don't be afraid to use an equalizer either. It'll trim your equipment to make it better to listen to, its just like changing amps and you can get even more from your equipment.

[@Xajin]

It also helps to retain the sound of the speaker in different environments so you can enjoy your set even after changing the furniture or location

[@davidbaxter6843]

Hello Thomas, great video. I think your honesty is spot on. The reality is that money matters, but what matters most is if you are enjoyin* what you have and having fun. The type of music you listen to makes all the difference. Thanks for your videos.

[@JesusISdaonlyway]

Man Thomas! I really found your perspective helpful. Good stuff!👍🏾

[@dougstinnett2581]

Thomas, thank you for spending your time making these videos that we all enjoy.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you like them!

[@michaelcollins2473]

I always enjoy your videos. Thanks again, great stuff!

[@delvalle9256]

This is a complete surprise, I thought you would choose a focal as your main speaker or one of . And my impression was that you did not like the ares 2 that much in your review but it made its way to your system. . Great 👍 video

[@ThomasAndStereo]

The problem is time. I was going to keep maybe a pair of Focal Kanta but I rarely get a chance to listen to my own speakers. I spent so much time listening to gear I review. As such, I decided to keep a speaker that is not too expensive but sounds very good. The Ares2 I use it mostly to fine tune my system.

[@MostlyBuicks]

But "Angel" has an upright Bass playing the root note in unison with the piano. It certainly has impressive bass in my system.

[@cuchanu]

Mine too, that whole album has bass

[@trekjudas]

I took me a long time to realize what I am searching for. I was like that old U2 song! But now i know I am personally all about warm, luxurious midrange.

[@meshplates]

Tubes and vinyl man and you're there.

[@1ndomitus]

@@meshplates A man who knows 👍

[@78sound]

Nice analogy

[@trekjudas]

@@meshplates Modern tubes don't automatically equate to warm sound. I have an EAR phono stage and a Yaquin tube amp and they are the polar opposite of warm! Hell, I'd go so far as to call them bright!

[@meshplates]

@@trekjudas It is not really about warm. It's about depth of body and tone. Too warm or too etched are both colorations that are a distance away from neutral.

[@genkifd]

awesome review / comments. pros and con on all systems and the way you are attacking the problem is fantastic. for me a simply one system (good or bad) is what im chasing after.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks and yes, we all have different solutions. There is no right solution.

[@merlecrandall1709]

Keep it up I think the way you put together these vieos are first rate. Actually what comes straight out of the garden , wild(land/sea) ,and farm is better. From down east. Keep listening

[@rayb3000]

That was fantastic, thank you for sharing all your thoughts!!!

[@janpedersen8376]

Glad i don’t have the money to go this deep but, i love your reviews! Always try to get the best out of what i can afford and that is very satisfying!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you enjoy my videos. I will be making some video on more affordable gear and some of them are crazy good.

[@janpedersen8376]

Hi Thomas, I enjoy your reviews because you have so much experience! Noticed that you had a Cayin amplifier included in this review and i wanted to mention the Cayin A100T Mk II which i recently received This amp is a killer when it comes to soundstage and to upper range but overall this amp far exceed anything i have heard before in the price range. I did replace the stock 12AU7 with Psvane tubes. If yoy get a chance to review this amp, i highly recomend it. In my system it drives a pair of Dali Helicon 400’s with Janzen Superior caps in the crossover. Best Jan ppl

[@earlismarks7108]

What a noble caring thing to do Thomas...

[@elvislad]

Im the same,as soon as I had any concept of bass in music it has been my main drive....and image :~} oh and midrange....and its always sweet to hear different cymbals...oh and...

[@brianhunsinger1191]

I surely did hear a difference at the end of your stereo review. Your mic is really nice, sounds full and rich even through my phones speaker. Thanks for the insight

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Good to hear! It is a Tascam DR07 Mic.

[@IceBullit]

I appreciate your honest view, thank you for sharing.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

My pleasure!

[@trekjudas]

There are two types of people: firm mattress people and soft mattress. It's not even a choice, your body will respond to one over the other. I think the same applies to audio.

[@LuxAudio389]

Love the analogy.

[@trekjudas]

@@LuxAudio389 ya gotta go with what FEELS right for you!

[@lupavalo2000]

I love your videos, as soon as I heard what you said about the piano in the song Angel, I felt the neccesity to hear it in my system (everyone of us believe to have the best system but also ask himself, it is as good as I think) Anyways it pass the test (for me) 🤣🤣. Greetings from Costa Rica.

[@saugghos]

More than one system is an excellent decision. Congrats on your new setup.

[@mikem4214]

Must be a UPS driver and his chiropractor who thank you for your contribution to the economy... And 2:05 says it all....THANKS Thomas!

[@chrispicquet733]

Just watched your video on the two speakers you decided to keep.i think you had more pairs of speakers than I did. I got tired of moving big speakers in and out of my house.so,i designed and built my own speakers.never had to worry about those issues again.i still own about 30 pairs of speakers and about 20 amplifiers.i like to change things up and discover great system match's.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Man I wish I can build my own too!

[@chrispicquet733]

@@ThomasAndStereo unfortunately,it was a necessity.i bought the ultra high bill of goods.i found that throwing a lot of money at your system was not the answer.room setup and proper system matching was as important,if not more so than the quality of the components your running.speakers are the hardest and most important part of the system to get right.and the most expensive drivers are usually the worst sounding.it took me two years to get the perfect seamless match between the midbass and tweeter.the thinner the diaphragm,the faster and more transparent the transducer is.most small monitor designers are to focusing too much on bass response, which muddys up the mid-range where 95% of all program material is.ok,I've been rambling long enough.good night.

[@planchernewfinish]

always on the money, great review of your experience with all your gear. helps to tweak and or change the path we want to walk in the audio world.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks, I am sure you have a lot of great stories to tell too Denis.

[@hbchristmas5352]

Thanks for all your great video!!!

[@Drivehead103]

Your videos are very helpful, thanks for your passion and and sharing your ideas and experiences. Seems like stereo systems are like race cars in the fact that when you gain something in one area you lose something in another. A car that is quick off of the line is great for drag racing but not so much for top-end Speed and vice versa. I was raised listening to am transistor radio the size of a deck of cards. I can enjoy music from various sources. But I am wanting to try out a tube hybrid integrated amplifier but I would also like to get a solid-state 500-watt amplifier to see how my Cerwin Vega e712 300w 3-way floor standing speakers would respond. They are sensitive and it does not take a lot of power to drive them but I have a feeling that with a lot of Headroom they would really open up. Added aperion super tweeters with that folded ribbon design and extended the high range frequency tremendously. For me that's the only thing they were lacking because they deliver bass and mid-range by the truckload. I am so close to pulling the trigger tekton double impact and Raven osprey hybrid integrated amp. But now I have got to check out the tube amplifier you have. Decisions decisions! I listen to Jazz and rock and roll and I do like the crank it up and rattle the windows at times. Probably need two systems! Tube for warm jazz and acoustical session. Solid state for Rock and pissing off the neighbors!

[@wiebl5266]

this is possibly one of your best review, thanks Thomas! I thought you could tell us the price more openly. I think priceyness of something is highly subjective, and you are entitled to your definition of highend price. But with your experience, it would benefit many of us, who can't afford to go through your amount of cash you put in. Thank you.

[@custortroy]

What a Dude! You killed me with the food analogy. And yes indeed! There would be 1.5B people challenging on that! I'm African. I like to change cuisine. As one should. Brilliant video!

[@rccardbreaks2864]

Hey Thomas, you mentioned how much you love the piano on angel, may I recommend you then listen to Eurielle, song is called rescue me, and you will want to hear the accoustic version. The piano is stellar, and she sings like an angel. Her voice is amazing and will test the imaging capabilities of your system. In case you are interested. By the way, love your videos!!!

[@rctony710]

Great video! It's nice to see you play diverse music!! Many audiophiles only play audiophile music which is easy to play on an audiophile system and which is usually boring for a none audiophile like 95% of the world! For me I need a system that can play everything so at least 95% of my visits can enjoy! Keep up the great videos!! I love seeing other people's systems since im not into review cause I won't be upgrading anything!👍

[@stephen579]

Fantastic gear, my wife would go mad if I purchased all that.

[@midevil1980]

What I ultimately learned from this video is that ignorance can truly be blissful, trust your ears... 😊👍

[@earlismarks7108]

Absolutely

[@PGHJR002]

A VERY HONEST review...

[@laowho]

Another great video. The last two videos you have shown categorization of gear in terms of sound and tier. I think that helps us understand where a piece of hardware will fit within our systems and what how it will alter the sound we are getting. The only thing better would be if a product is overpriced for what it does or if it is good bang for the buck

[@hi-fihaven2257]

Hi Thomas! Thank You for sharing your system with us viewers. Man I love how you do commentaries. You start talking, and I am hooked! Those Tigris speakers are gorgeous to look at. The Silverline Sonata speaker cabinets are beautiful. If I had them in my room, I might forget to turn on the music, because I would be too busy admiring them! I love all of your components. Have a great day man!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I appreciate that! I try to make the video interesting by telling people stories.

[@xxgamerxxchrischris2325]

@@ThomasAndStereo hey bro i would really really love to hear the music on your friends systems

[@itsrecordingman]

YES DUDE ! I am close behind you having listened to about 65 pairs of speakers !!! LOL I LOVE IT !

[@SoundHobbit]

Hey Thomas! Recently i wanted to share different experinces with different types of amps, vintage, new and last of them not very expensive hiends (i hope😊). I ve saw your videos with amps and speakers, DACs and i was very surprised that you've also switched speakers and amps...and had different oppinions regarding the other reviews! This kind of passion and hobby doesn't let you be indifferent to your senses and it is all about what you hear and how do you receive music in your artistic vission! Because in my oppinion, to make a very well balanced audio system is an art! You have to feel every note...every breath! Thank you for sharing your experinces with us! I have also some vids, but not as higher standards with room acoustics or gear! Unlike you😊! I am at the beggining and i will follow you untill my best in this hobby!

[@anjin_x]

Interesting video! I'm just about to settle down as well. 2 very different but exceptional speakers is the plan. I chose one that has great tone/timber, strong dynamics and very natural sound. The other excels with detail, refinement, tight bass and balanced presentation. After swapping gear for over 2 decades I'm convinced you can't have it all in one setup.

[@andrewnomad1113]

It's always interesting to listen to what you say, you have good sense of humor)

[@whyeme]

Hi Thomas. Try to seek out a pair of SB Acoustics ARA bookshelves for audition. Either the Beryllium or non-beryllium version has that kind of organic midrange which you might like. Pretty deep organic bass too for a bookshelf. Not expensive even tho their drivers are used in Wilson Audio, Von Schweikert etc speakers :)

[@interesting7906]

Audio manufacturers must love you!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nah, they don't even know I exist. My channel is too small :(

[@mrtitms]

Thanks brother, always a pleasure 🙏

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Always welcome

[@johnr5847]

I really enjoy your honesty. It is very refreshing. Crazy question from a novice, why not put together a system with the different speakers that give you what you want to hear for the music you are listening to at the time? I guess I am missing the point?

[@russmaleartist]

I don't believe one speaker can totally capture the ideal for ALL the listeners; therefore, for myself, I found a speaker that had a foundation that had some very good engineering. From there I have slowly and methodically improved my speakers . . . and associated equipment. As I find an affordable possibility that I think I can handle financially, I will go cautiously in that direction -- listening to many opinions -- all of which I may reject or agree with . . . and I find that when a great majority of opinions agree, then their reviews or opinions are worth my discretion to investigate. This is part of the journey in audio and part of the fun. If the pursuit of good and realistic parameters of music is not enjoyable -- then I eliminate the aspect of aggravation and keep the rest . . . and that includes narrow people, who wish to manage, control, or manipulate my taste and try to make it into theirs. I am too much of an individual with my own mind, my own taste, etc. to become someone else's clay to be molded into a shape THEY WANT. :-)

[@thomothomo1078]

Thomas thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts.You are a very good communicator in a nicely understated sort of way. Like you I have owned a great many speakers and built quite a few.If you buy second hand ones it need not be an expensive hobby and you can have a lot of enjoyment along the way.I would value your opinion of the Yamaha NS5000 speakers if you get a chance to hear a pair.From what I have heard they come across as being a very complete package for something that is so domestically friendly.The ability to reproduce piano realistically is something I am fussy about and they seem to do that very convincingly.The vast majority of speakers get that wrong.

[@vencibushy]

Coveting your neighbor's goods is what drives the economy. You're a good member of society.

[@AK-jt5bm]

Lol

[@skip1835]

Amazing honesty and such cool insight into your personal audiophile journey and perspective to this point in time. Thanks for simply "laying your cards on the table" without any BS Thomas. A side comment about the Tigris: I've experienced the sound (I don't play piano) of a grand piano in a studio setting, that is, close proximity, it might be fair to say that at least some of the microphone array being used to record the grand piano on Sara's Angle is a close proximity set up too. And it's probably fair to say that there's bit of "goosing" going on along with that microphone placement to get to that final, lovely, weighty piano sound. Fine by me, I love the entire recording and totally get where you're coming from, and yes, it's certainly a low end "weighty" chord in my system too. My only point is that a grand being played close by, even at full fortissimo (which I don't believe that opening chord is), is an overwhelming experience that includes the entire frequency spectrum right down to those amazing lower registers - - but - - in my personal experience with pianos, they don't "rumble" the room with bass which leads me wonder if the Tigris are giving you more than what's really there.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for letting me know. The rumble I am talking about is very gentle vibration reaching my feet. It is not like in a night club and sure, the Tigris might be adding something to it. I only had a chance to listen to a grand piano in my life I wish I can in the future. It's too bad I gave up playing the Piano as I did until I was 12.

[@skip1835]

@@ThomasAndStereo ah, now I follow, that's a great description, thanks for clarifying Thomas, I very much appreciate you taking time and responding back to me, thank you.

[@jasonong23c]

From financial sense , rather than spend on 70 Pais of speakers to emulate your friend 300k system, just invest in this 300k system.

[@Audfile]

You forgot something. Thomas is cheap, he told us. He didn't pay for all those, he just demoed most of them and moved on.

[@bulldozer9600]

Thing is too, just because it’s „as good as“ doesn’t mean you, me or the next guy will like it. I, for example, like how mine sounds. Is it perfect? Nope, to most it won’t be. Can it be better? Most certainly. But once it’s better for me it might not be for someone else.

[@irzyxelwj]

The differences between pieces and parts of audio is so much more complicated than most people realize. I'm still learning things. Take those Silverline for example. The design of just the front of those speakers is a shape and distance between drivers to minimize the baffle effect which should net you a better linear response. Compare those performance characteristics to speakers that aren't designed the same way is going to very by a huge amount. I mean, the front design of a speaker can change your +-dB on varying frequencies by 6dB when you factor in the room and factoring in a pair makes that greater. This is why I sometimes envy people who can spend huge amounts to have one system all built to work together and setup by a pro. But, at the same time this is a hobby and take away something I like to do. Mix and match and play with things.

[@giu_77]

great vid and interesting thoughts!

[@davidford6383]

Great comparison. I say this because everyone's ear is different. Everyone processes music differently. People that are music connoisseurs like us have a tendency of finding what is missing from the sound rather than hearing what's present and enjoying that. ( myself included) I think it's very difficult to be completely satisfied with a system and the sound you are hearing from it. When you don't have a budget I think that chase can be endless, but when are operating with a budget like me 😁. You have to be very happy with the system that we have and enjoy the quality of music that it produces. I recently come across your video's and enjoy them very much. Love the simplicity of them.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks , glad you enjoy them and taking the time to comment.

[@silviopimentel7247]

Awesome 👌 look at it all

[@jrlepage]

Just want to thank you (and several other KZbin channels) for setting me on a path towards audiophilia. I have always been the type to obsess over small details no matter what I’m doing, and this hobby is giving me a new outlet for channeling that energy. I thank you, but my wallet does not!

[@AkilJacob]

Angel is one of those tracks I used to Wow my family when I got my pair of RP8000Fs, a seriously beautiful track!

[@morganleblanc9703]

this was the most random thing I've ever been recommended on KZbin... I have no idea what's happening hahaha omg thanks thomas you seem like a good guy lol

[@ThomasAndStereo]

haha. welcome.

[@FreeD00M]

Well, welcome to Hifi ;-)

[@Snook_]

Great chat, perfectly articulated. I took clarity from your words here and subbed as your not full of shit.

[@micharogalewicz6249]

My Canton Vento 890 go deep. Sometimes it's like there is no music audible just some strange vibrations looming to break out. Just paired them with primaluna prologue premium pre + prologue 5. I like it.

[@cablebrain9691]

I'd love to see a review of the newest Exasound DAC, the e62. I've read some good things about it. Maybe a comparison against something like the new Holo Spring 3, and/or the Gustard X26 Pro and of course your existing DACs, especially the Exasound e28.

[@Ylojaketz]

I am happy to hear the character of each individual instrument, including the room that delivers the musical experience and whatever recording voodoo carries it to my ear. The sum of these makes every listening either a unique “one off” or a delightfully replicable experience. Being a musician as well means that I attach a certain level importance to hearing instruments via audio components that reasonably approximates what I know them to sound like when played live. However, every musician knows and expects that their instrument will sounds different in different rooms, in the company of other instruments and that it will vary even by the number of people present. So, expending too much energy, anxiety, money, effort and attention trying to freeze musical experience in time is just futile and discourages musical enjoyment and magic

[@Ylojaketz]

For a little musical enjoyment, listen to “Spain Forever” by Michel Camilo and Tomatito.

[@legrandmaitre7112]

What you're discussing in the first few minutes is "gravitas" Thomas. And I totally agree. Piano must have a serious bottom note in any system. Try early Nina Simone! I won't say what my speakers are except they're British and were £1800 when they were made about 25 years ago. The bass is soft, the mid range is fabulous. Treble is smooth but not as transparent as modern designs. I use little chunks of foam in the ports to tune the bass - various sizes and shapes - but too much takes a little air out of the sound, can sound a little claustrophobic. My speakers have a backwards leaning baffle.

[@akia123]

amazing video thank you

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you liked it!

[@NeilBlanchard]

You should try a bundle of drinking straws in the bass port. This actually lowers the tuning a few hertz, and adds friction (which effectively adds mass) and it lowers the peak of the port output. Socks almost totally blocks the port, making it an air suspension design. Also, you can control bass by placing the speaker so the distances from the woofers and the port to all the room boundaries - share as few common divisors as possible. So, the distance from the floor, back wall, ceiling and side walls need to be 1', 3', 5', 7', 11', 13', 17' etc. If the lower woofer is 1' from the floor, and the upper woofer is 2' - then raise the speaker by 6". If the speakers are 4' from the side wall, and the upper woofer is 4' from the floor, and/or the rear port is 4' from the back wall, then move them to change on of those relationships. If the port is 1' above the floor, it should be 3' away from the rear wall, and 5' away from the side walls. The objective is to spread out the room modes, so they don't reinforce each other.

[@anthonyhopkin]

+Neil Blanchard ::: Or you could try Open Baffle - see if that pleases. Greetings to one and all

[@NeilBlanchard]

@@anthonyhopkin Technically that is possible? But drinking straws in the port is completely reversible, but reconstructing the cabinets to be open baffle is not.

[@anthonyhopkin]

@@NeilBlanchard Not a modification - a different design philosophy. See GR-research/Spatial and others.

[@NeilBlanchard]

@@anthonyhopkin Okay, no problem.

[@donbustoarigato2997]

Completely understand. Though I'm more of a vintage guy, I do run multiple systems because they DO have their own sound. Unlike you I do not believe one system is better than all the others. My mood, I guarantee you would tire even of that $300K system after enough time. Nothing sounds the same after enough time with it. It ceases to surprise, amaze.

[@tymarq07]

There's no evidence that suggests that when we listen to something we all hear the same thing. Some people may hear the bass differently than others for example. Same thing with color, there's no science that what I call red is what you see as red. I like the review.. keep up the good work.