Secret Hi-Fi Buying Guide: the best sources for choosing & finding audio gear & music

[@TheCookofthehouse]

I am following Anadialog for years now but I believe I never wrote you a line which in fact is very unpolite but it also means that I try to save you from one more stupid comment. However, In my humble opinion, there is a great Hi-fi site and monthly magazine that I follow for more than 30 years now and which I believe to be the most reliable of them all. I noticed you have not mentioned it. Did you forget to mention it? Have you never picked its monthly mag at a newsstand? Free from pressures, independent and technically and theoretically prepared Hi-Fi World is, in my opinion, absolutely independent in their opinions are most helpful in many many ways. Keep up your exceptional work!!! Best regards, Mario Tulio (not Italy but, Portugal indeed)

[@anadialog]

Thanks Mario for your comment. I stopped buying mags several years ago but I will give it another shot perhaps

[@simonpateman4438]

Brilliant, I’m just starting with buying a system so this will be so useful, thanks so much!

[@anadialog]

Thank YOU Simon!

[@paolomarchetti5928]

You're a top man...thanks for this outstanding video, once again...useful and really well done!! Thanks so so much.

[@HaJaCgn]

Thank you, chapeau to.your channel. Your pronounciation is great ... and your voice is VERY good to understand! Great and well done! Regards from Cologne Germany Hans

[@koutsa99]

Thanks for your videos! I would add Vinyl Engine and HiFi Engine : access to many many manuals, dedicated forums, databases.

[@anadialog]

Thank you Christos! Yes, I have suggested them several times in other videos. This one is more focused on shopping, and related suggestions. The engines are great for specs and use as you pointed out although there are also some personal reviews that can be helpful in this perspective!

[@BrotherhoodofSteel-zh7ty]

I have a question regarding earbuds. What should I look for in buying a good pair of earbuds? What earbuds would you recommend?

[@juandv930722]

try any range of shire they are super comfortable and work really great

[@nicomodesto4368]

Remembering me Jeff Porcaro! Even the title track seems different ;)

[@keithwood4031]

Nice content as always, thanks ANA.

[@NickP333]

A great place for buying new vinyl is Soundstage Direct. They offer great deals such as 10%, 20%, & even 25% off vinyl at certain times plus free shipping on any order over $50. When I buy multiple records at a time, I’ll order say 3 LP’s that average out to aprox $20 each + the free shipping. That’s a bargain considering the prices of records these days. They also have a large amount of gear too, but mostly expensive hi end stuff, but also some somewhat affordable gear, accessories, etc.

[@josereinolds7428]

Nick Pantazi

[@anadialog]

Thanks to Jose, I noted this post of Nick that I must have overlooked...thanks. Please state if you are affiliated to Soundstage. Thanks!

[@NickP333]

Hi Jose, Thanks so much for mentioning my post! Much appreciated! - Nick

[@NickP333]

Hi there! Thanks so much for noting my post! You’re actually 1 of the 3 “Hi-Fi guys” I actually subscribe to on KZbin. The other 2 are Ian from hivinyws and Paul from barakapdub. And, no. I am not affiliated with Soundstage Direct in any manner, shape, or form. I just order way too many records from m em! Haha! Keep up the awesome vids! All the Best, - Nick

[@JoshuaWestbrook]

They suck. I ordered 10 records that were in stock. Last April. They finally got to my house in June. And I’m not the only one. Google is your friend

[@ChristianGoergen]

If you‘d like to hear deviating opinions, go to Arthur Salvatore‘s „High End Audio“ or Peter Aczel‘s „The Audio Critic“ or Roman Beznov‘s „Thegoodsoundclub“ and if you want to have fun look for their correspondence with Michael Fremer. You‘ll love it.

[@anadialog]

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

[@montyhasanewphone]

Always enjoy your videos, I have only recently started watching your videos, I don't know if you have done one on the best quality inner sleeves for vinyl records, if you haven't as yet, please do one, I am very interested in this topic. Thanks and regards.

[@anadialog]

Welcome aboard! I mentioned this in a few videos but not a dedicated one, yes I will do it. I actually have been planning this for some while...you gave me the right motivation!

[@sidvicious3129]

Great job here, I use most of the sites that you mentioned, but you forgot to mention a huge one unless I missed it and that is Audiogon, they have a huge used audio base and forum base and some records are sold on the forum. Dealers use it to sell their wares and sometimes at reduced prices. I have bought from here and the products are as described and Audiogon rating system for used components is very strict. Very good information and great channel.

[@anadialog]

Hi sid! The last and most important site of all among the ones that I mention, Hifishark, collects ALL used hifi gear on the web, also from audiogon, so no need to mention it!

[@sidvicious3129]

You are right that the links from Audiogon are through Hifishark, but Audiogon has a huge install base and forum. Their forum is darn near on the same standing as Steve Hoffman and vinyl can be purchased through Audiogon as well, but I use it for the audio purchases and the forums. I had the Nakamichi Dragon deck as well but traded it in last year and I do regret it. There is also another product for getting rid of static from vinyl that I use called the Furutech Destat II and its between $300-400 dollars and it can be used on CD's as well.

[@anadialog]

Yes, I understand, especially for north America, it is a great resource! I was actually tempted to explore also the furutech but it is a ione based solution, exactly as the Milty gun so I decided to test something different as the Talisman...

[@shaun9107]

I miss those Hi Fi shops on the streets walking around . We have Richer Sounds in the UK but its all TVs now . Second hand stores are busy so thats good but thats me

[@anadialog]

I agree...they are still out there but very very few...and even less with that special atmosphere and care...

[@arthurwatts1680]

They put a group of hi-fi vendors, reviewers and bloggers like Tyll Herstens on a table at one of the shows a couple of years back and ran a series of questions past them. One of the discussions was around system building, and every single person at that table agreed that the single worst way to build a system was to combine 'Recommended Components' from magazines and hope for the best. TAS and Stereophile cop so much criticism for their reviews and Stereophile's measurements but the eye candy is usually good. I tend to trawl various fora to see how a given audio addict's system has developed over time, but I know I cant just plug KEF speakers into a Marantz amplifier and expect magic simply because both got glowing reviews.

[@anadialog]

NEVER said to assemble a system with that procedure! These sources help to find info and a durection when you are looking for a specific component...then it is up to you to find the correct matching with your system...moreover, the truly recommended sites and mags that I suggested in the video are not those two....thise two can give some aid but they are exagerately mainstream and high-end

[@arthurwatts1680]

Great - then we've BOTH clarified the dangers of shorlisting components based on recommendations from magazines !

[@TheJosa007]

I liked your sense of humor

[@vinylcity1599]

Hello, Another great video! This is George, from the former "analog Guy"! I changed my channel name and photo! Been a fan ever since you came online with "ana[dia]log"!

[@szabolcserdesz9159]

Worth to mention the audio-Markt.de in Europe which is one of the oldest site for used equipments and distributors often like to put on their exdisplay gears too. Check it out. 🤩

[@anadialog]

Great, thanks for adding a new source!

[@richardriley4415]

It's not hard to find out about good equipment. What is nearly impossible is to find out about price/value. As an example a recommended amp cost $8000. there may be an amp for $2000. that 98% of people could not tell the difference between. You will never hear that story. I've been considering upgrading some of my components but I'm nearly frozen because I'm not willing to spend 5 to 10 times more to get a marginal improvement. Ad based magazines are worthless in this regard.

[@anadialog]

Hi Richard, yes I understand and agree...in fact the guides for example of Absolute sounds are mainly sources of info...instead I do trust most Hi-Fi Pig or Michael Fremer's suggestions for instance and they both have ads...

[@arthurwatts1680]

I'm one of the 2% who *can* tell the difference between a 2K amp and an 8K amp - by my calculations, 6,000 dollars. The tough part is telling yourself how much happier you will be with the latter over the former, and there's absolutely zero agreement on that in this insane hobby.

[@anadialog]

True!

[@kacperuminski1547]

The only objective way to tell what's best for you is to do blind testing where you choose what you prefer. Speakers and acoustic treatment are exceptions since placement matters.

[@arthurwatts1680]

Good luck asking a high-end dealer to set up a blind test for you. In some of the shops in Singapore, they wont even let you in the door without an appointment and even then they'd want a local reference from someone they know and trust .....

[@q0w1e2r3t4y5]

Okay. Let's think about that 22 dislikers. What could they possibly dislike about this helpful video?

[@shubhamkhare5747]

what happens when we convert ACC file to FLAC file when. And if 16 bit 44.1khz is CD quality and 24 bit 192khz is hi-res sound than what is 24 bit 44.1khz sound..??

[@shubhamkhare5747]

And thanx for this video..

[@anadialog]

File conversion always brings degradation like happens in pictures, especially with compressed formats. Fir high-res there is no standard. Everything above CD quality is consideref high-res, so even 24bit/44.1khz is a high resolution file, due also to the bith depth, to which the term resolution is technically associated.

[@anadialog]

Thank you!

[@fastzed1008]

Nice one, tks for your work!

[@SLArmstrong]

Great information. Thanks!

[@tweakerman]

Michael fremer is a god, if there was such a thing lol, I totally respect, everything he says & his system is to die for, although he could soften his stance on digital a bit.

[@anadialog]

He he! Yes, he is a hardcore analog guy!

[@papafrank808]

ANA[DIA]LOG is a Whistleblower!

[@q0w1e2r3t4y5]

ssssssssh! :D

[@tweakerman]

Hello again, the problem with Hi Fi magazines, is they give the best reviews to the company's who spend the most on advertising with them, I've had first hand experience with this, anyway another great video👍

[@anadialog]

I agree tweakerman but not all of them do that...in my list maybe the most inclined to do that, and in fact I did not recommend their reviews, is absolute sound and hifi+..maybe a lIttle bit also stereophile...not the rest (IMHO).

[@ChristianGoergen]

tweaker man And in which regard is Michael Fremer‘s „ Analog Planet“ different?

[@tweakerman]

Hello, I just think, he comes across more genuine, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong though, I'm just going on instinct.

[@turntableman100]

Are they reliable because am always believed in (WHAT HIFI) But now I find a bit mix reviews for now. But i think is not as good as use to be!!!

[@shubhamkhare5747]

One more question.. If true hi-res song is 24bit 192khz but hi-res earphone is 40khz.. So way we using 40khz earphone. I think we need 192khz earphone.. Sorry for my bad english..😣

[@anadialog]

That is a common mistake: you are confunding the sampling rate of the audio file (192khz) with the frequency response of the earphones (40khz), which is the minimum to define high-res a piece of gear. Things though are connected, since a high sampling rate may deliver a higher frequency response (and more noise some would add).

[@QoraxAudio]

Michael Fremer has compared his Caliburn Continuum to the Technics SL-1200G and the differences are extremely small. Also a student has made an analytic comparison by means of an oscilloscope, found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHaqm2mfntJobdk What are your thoughts about that comparison?

[@anadialog]

Yes I have seen the videos of Mike...well, I must admut that the Caliburn doew have a finesse and richness that others lack. Yes, the Technics is good but that extra clarity and...faithfullness is very hard to obtain from our grooves and the Caliburn does that...most probably thanks to the incredible arm Mike has and the vacuum suction system...

[@QoraxAudio]

@@anadialog yeah the vacuum platter is a very interesting feature. Ive always wondered how a hose can be attached to a turning object without winding up the hose itself. Nevertheless, the difference is way smaller than I would ever suspect. I mean, the caliburn is almost a hundred times more expensive.

[@ogreunderbridge5204]

Buying Guide for high quality sound; Screw HiFi market speakers (due to typical dynamic response) www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/mm5/graphics/wavecor/wf132tu01/WF138WA01-SPL-_-IMP.png Rather go for studio reference monitors or smaller PA fullranges (same store as guitars), whom both are aimed for linear sound reproduction over the entire frequence spectre opposed to Hifi speakers that most always proves (by spectrum analysis, not made up opinion) aiming to please in small package by strained overexaggerated bass, overrepresented tweet and lacking body between. Linear sound graph optimation just cant be beat. kb.inmusicbrands.com/media/images/FREQ2.jpg For LFE, preferably go for 15-18 inch+ PA subs for their stiff mounts as they give a non lag, highly precise play and proper punch. Such large sizes in these are usually needed for good frequence depth. For smaller subs, go for HiFi elements with big stroke length as they can play quite deep despite their smaller sizes. Avoid big HiFi subs, as they most often only serves as rumblers (good for home theater and neighbour torture, little else). For crossover, go for an active unit with redirection option of full split to avoid overlapping reproductions between fulltone and LFE, that without would cause overrepresented dynamic graphs at meeting point as usual home midway appliance malpractice is. With full crossover redirection, your sub will fully relieve your fulltones the strain of playing what they are able to rather than do what they really are good at; Mid to high frequence spectre. Goes no matter which front speakers you may have. (Ideal,see blue line LR2 sum in comparison pic; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linkwitz%E2%80%93Riley_filter ) As far as the cable mystery go, it depends on two fact factors; Lead Resistance (resistance X mm2/lenght) and proper Shielding. No gold or any fancy sales retoric can change that ! Signal or amp-to-speaker vise. Fact is that a meter of 2 gauge copper leads electricity way better than any 1 gauge gold, or any other material available for earthbound mortals. Just buy some good thick gut of high copper purity with some high quality interference shielding (top shelf professional microphone cable as ex for signal is better than most for 1$ pr meter if bought on spool), good terminals (Neutrik´s or Monster´s are Kings!), learn to solder properly and rather spend your bulk money on good sourceplayers, preamps, poweramps, speakers, crossovers, room textiles for acoustic dampening, more music and beer. ...And Cashews !

[@bernhardmichaelfux308]

I give a F@** to the equipment! First thing that has Effect are the Speakers. They have to be OK, and all other Gear comes afterwards. Then we have to try and error ;-)

[@Lesterandsons]

Whe i see expensive cables and accessories, i go out immediately, i cant trust

[@anadialog]

I do my own cables and teach how in my videos. I only suggest true gamechanger material. This vid shows the best places to get further info on various materials. You judge way too fast!

[@Lesterandsons]

@@anadialog you are right i am fast. I improved my low cost audio cables a while, never heard a difference, so now I save money for good albums I really enjoy stereophile and other sites, where you can find deep measurements. I am a subjective-objectivist guy. In some high end shows, i have had emotionnal shocks. What,turns me on is great speakers more than anything else.

[@ole9421]

HiFi Shark, seriously? All the listings are from Ebay. No way, I buy direct from a brick and mortar store that's in the business of restoration. Luckily I have one located not too far away. I want to see it, touch it and hear it before I buy.

[@anadialog]

Absolutely false. All my used components come from HiFishark and I never got anything from eBay. That is the cool part, small used marked places scattered around the world. Look again!

[@ole9421]

@@anadialog I'm located in the U.S. Which location from the drop down menu would you recommend?

[@turntableman100]

What about (WHAT HIFI) ?!!

[@anadialog]

Hi turntablema100, I am not going to be popular for this but...I do not like What Hi-Fi. I have dozens of their paper issues and each time I am disappointed. Moreover, the few info they put online is not that good IMHO and in depth as it should be, plus a lot of it is home-theater....not my piece of cake!

[@turntableman100]

ana[dia]log I agree with you

[@woodstockg7588]

How bout 6MOONS.

[@anadialog]

It's in the batch! Maybe you skipped a part of the video...great site for indepth reviews!