Who is the Audiophiliac?

[@dougwalden]

Hi Steve, just watched this episode, thanks for your show! My audio epiphany was back around 1974 or 75. A friend of a friend had bought a Marantz (2230 I think) and a large set of Marantz speakers with the black foam grills. I can't remember the specific turntable but maybe a Dual...Anyhow, he had it set up in his bedroom (we were 15-16 or so), and he put on Gino Vanelli's 'People gotta move' and I was blown away with the sound. My parents always had a big console record player and we always listened to Bing, Elvis, Fats as a family, but the Marantz system was eye opening and I have always been into HiFi since that day...

[@billbones1000]

Happy holidays Steve! ALOT of stress this year, your little corner of the web has been a source of stability and comfort to thousands of people. All us regulars really owe you a huge thanks for what you have provided!!!!!!

[@guillermo5089]

I had to look at the date the video was posted because it felt like I was back to normal!

[@218maryland]

Couldn't have said it better!

[@docdeens4030]

Merry Christmas Steve. Thanks for all the info and for never being a snob about this stuff.

[@dilbyjones]

Doc Deens the ART of not being a snob

[@martyuczen1990]

Merry Christmas. Very cool that you got me thinking about music listening influences. Dad was a organist/pianist (50yr side gig!!) and Mom was in numerous musicals produced in town. Dads parlor trick was that he could pick up the keys on the radio and play along. So, we tried to stump him with obscure songs. And of course, when mom was in a play, the album was on 24/7. My first album that i played over and over was Star Wars. At the time, i was playing it to relive the movie scenes in my head. It was probably 2 decades later that i actually appreciated John Williams. As a teenager, i spent more money than any other kid i knew and probably most adults on audio gear and music. That obsession cooled for the last 25 years and is now reignited due to people like you who share their wisdom with us.

[@janoveblomqvist6512]

At that time Technics made HiFi that time was fantastic and often better than products in the expensive audiophiliac store.Thank You for being so engaged in Hi-Fi.

[@heinzr9734]

Steve, thank you. A lot of things come together that I like your channel so much. Of course first and foremost you yourself. The way of making your videos, you are a real story teller. That makes it so exciting. You understand, if I may say so, to make stories out of music or out of devices or out of stereo equipment. I think that's part of your success. You know and feel the listening and you leave it to us lovers of your channel to hear and feel for us as well. You don't dictate experiences but you encourage us to have our own experiences with sound. Paradoxically, this works much better as you name your preferences and you are not "pseudo-neutral"... because it would not work that way. Merry Christmas to you and all the viewers of your channel.

[@gracefulmender]

I have been subscribed go your channel since you had less than 50,000 subscribers and it has all been worth it. Thank you for providing the audiophiliac community someone that we could look to for help!

[@iliketohideincloset]

Hi Steve, always enjoying your show. Thanks for doing your thing. Much love from Germany.

[@sudipdutt9699]

Merry Christmas Steve sir!!! Thanks for introducing me to FIP radio. I am really enjoying it.

[@lavoltare6307]

What a delight to watch; Thank you Mr Guttenberg. Merry Xmas from Down Under.

[@vintagehifilover]

Merry Christmas Steve, thanks for sharing your wonderful story with us. Cheers VHFL 🍻👍🏼

[@davidpetersen7091]

Steve, I want to thank you for all you effort(s) regarding audio. I have watched you for years and have learned a lot and enjoyed your insights. You would have made a "great" teacher. It was nice seeing your wife this year. I found your discussion with her wonderful. Have a nice holiday. Mr. Pete--------------> aging hippie

[@donaldchisholm9931]

Merry Christmas Steve Thanks for helping get us through this awful year! Hopefully 2021 will be better. Cheers from Canada .

[@Wuppie62]

Always nice to hear these interviews and stories. Thanks Steve, for the info about Fip, the French (internet) music radiostation!

[@samuelrao5502]

I can't get enough of your videos man!! I spend hours a day watching your content and loving it!! Love your story man, you're a legend!

[@jerrys.8688]

Hi Steve, Happy Hanukah and Merry Christmas - been following you since I "found" you when subscribed Stereophile mag (circa 2000). Love your KZbins and your passion. Our love for listening to great reproduced music (artistically and technically) is a journey, you remind us to enjoy the trip! Thanks for sharing your insight.

[@thepsychobilly88]

I can't even remember how exactly I happened to stumble upon your channel, but I'm very glad I did! :) I love your style, general calmness and the down to earth approach you have in your videos. Christmas already went but I wish you a Happy New Year! Greetings from Finland -Thomas

[@reggieburris]

I follow you because of your depth of experience mixed into a relatively humble person. You are not afraid to rate inexpensive or expensive speakers (or any stereo product) and provide an honest opinion. Many so-called stereophiles or audiophiles lack that. They are influenced by price and swayed by brands. I appreciate you being you and your opinion goes a long way.

[@bikeracersl]

Hey Steve, Thanks for a lot o great content this past year.. I know I learned a lot & having one of your episodes to watch sure made my day in this crazy year. Merry Christmas

[@jonathansturm4163]

HUGE thanks for the heads-up on FIP. For many years here in Oz we had a music program of that nature. Back in the 1970s it was via the local TV station - outside broadcasting hours they played music while showing the test pattern. Then with the advent of digital TV they played the same sort of program on a station called Dig Radio. For me it was like listening to much of my (eclectic) music collection and around 20% of material I’d not heard before. Then the programmers decided the demographic of listeners was too small and they changed the content to only have about 10% of what I wanted to listen to! My other source of _interesting_ new music to listen to was mainly musician friends, but their numbers have fallen dramatically over the decades… The “random” pieces that Tidal plays following playing an album has been quite a disappointment. The program seems to drift either into movie soundtracks, or Rap, neither of which feature in my usual listening. And that includes such as Gavin Bryars’ Sinking of the Titanic, Eno, Cluster etc.

[@stimpy1226]

Thank you for all of the wonderful topics that you cover each and every podcast. You are indeed the great communicator of audio

[@Darrylizer1]

Thanks Steve! Your enthusiasm has been inspirational, fun, and your channel gives me some great information. I think I've got the audio bug again! Happy Festivus!

[@robertbuchholz8447]

Merry and Happy to you and Mrs. Audiophiliac! Very enjoyable interview,

[@CrazyHorse74]

Happy Holidays Steve and Mrs Audiophiliac. All the best to both of you in the New Year. 👍👍👍

[@manueljosebergesmontull2044]

Merry Christmas from Spain. Thanks for all the videos and all the fun.

Thanks for this lovely Christmas gift, Steve! You always excel on bringing this personal approach to your videos :)

[@donb.1426]

Merry Christmas Steve and Mrs Audiophiliac! Thanks for all the great videos and reviews!

[@jrd044000]

Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Guttenberg. I love your videos everyday and I am looking forward to watch your videos in 2021.

[@paullacotta5645]

Always fascinating stuff, Steve. I am so happy I discovered your channel this year. Merry Christmas to you and your wife!

[@DrGregC]

Summer of '69 - I was running a VM turntable with a crystal cartridge through my Fender Bassman amp. Beggars Banquet and Tommy. Loud. Not Exile & Klipsch, but close. LOL.

[@bk5921]

Merry Christmas Steve. Wishing you and Mrs. Audiophiliac the very best in 2021.

[@asianangie7209]

Happy holidays to you and mrs! Stay warm and safe!

[@aihuateoh3447]

Merry Christmas Steve & Mrs Audiophiliac! Always enjoy your video and reviews. Stay safe and healthy.

[@02cooper]

Merry Christmas Steve! Really love your work, thank you!!

[@joemaison3597]

Merry Christmas, Steve and thank you for the fun, relaxing videos. They help to escape from the dreariness of reality

[@garynewman2935]

Happy holidays Gutt! Thanks for help getting us through the year from hell. You have made me realize that I shouldn’t have givin away all my late 70’s audio equipment. Now because of your vids, I am once again trying to gain the knowledge necessary to dive back in and enjoy my retirement.

[@neilcoligan8621]

Merry Christmas Steve and here's to better days in 2021!

[@gurdyman1]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc, to you, Steve. Keep up the great work! Dave

[@stvitalkid7981]

My first experience hearing higher-fi was in a friend's basement when I was about 12. His older brother had a system with a Sansui integrated amp, Sansui speakers and a Dual turntable. We put "Reelin' in the Years" on, a song I already enjoyed from having heard it about a million times on local AM radio. I was transfixed by the clarity, and particularly noticed the sleighbells on track for the first time.

[@dougdavis5808]

Merry Christmas and thanks for all that you do.

[@StewartMarkley]

Steve, I always like to tune in to your videos because we have much in common at the same time as having nothing in common, from listening to you talk about how you got interested in sound/music to today's instant gratification from the ease of hearing new (or old) music. I also had a record (45) thrown outside by my mother from continuous playing, got into bass when I put my cheapo open-backed small speakers in a closet door opening and suddenly heard bass from a couple of small speakers (because of the baffling), got into pro audio in 1976 in NYC but doing console and tape recorder installations and repairs with Audiotechniques (after a six-year stint in the Navy on a submarine). But then my career got away from strictly audio for about 35 years working as an electronics tech and engineer, with periods in TV/radio broadcast manufacturing, audio and video research and streaming, and RADAR maintenance for the USAF at and around Area51, and coming full circle back to just audio with a guitar pedal manufacturer before retiring. I got into audiophilia in 1974 when I bought 4 Bose 901s and the new Bose 1801 power amp, which had a stupendous amount of fast bass but not enough power (even with 400wpc at 4 ohms), then went to the other extreme with 101dB sensitive Altec 604s (and Altec 416s for plenty of bass). This was my system speakers for years until I gave it all up for some JBL HLS610 horn speakers and my DIY 12” sealed sub to build a home theater system. Now that I am retired and downsized, I am again building a stereo system with my proprietary active DSP amplifiers design and DIY speakers using GR Research drivers. I really like your macroeconomic approach to reviewing equipment from the affordable to high end and also agree with you about the engaging sound of horn speakers. I believe that well-designed horns have a definite advantage in delivering highly dynamic and low distortion sound at realistic listening levels and music peaks that other speakers simply cannot achieve and that this is the reason for the lifelike sound they create. Also to comment about your like of the Magnapan sound, I also believe that the dipole sound field creates a sense of size and spaciousness that unipolar speakers do not and this works better for classical music, that is appreciated from a greater distance in the live setting, and the resulting sound better approximates the typical live performance. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

[@benjaminjensen7402]

Merry Christmas steve. Looking forward to seeing the New listening space in 2021.

[@WarinPartita6]

Very​ interesting, Steve.​ Thanks!

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Thanks for sharing this interview. Really great to understand a little more about your journey in audio and in life. What an interesting one you have had. Also appreciate your point at the end about the internet of music available. I am a big internet user, but have not extended it to finding music that interests me. Time to change that. Happy holidays.

[@JohnAndrews-lb8yk]

Merry Christmas, Steve...thanks for all the great audio advice.

[@williampearson4968]

Merry Christmas Steve and Robin! As noted for Audiophiles and Music Lovers "Even though we are in tough times in many ways we are in good times". Streaming is like a kid in a candy store as discovery of new music is virtually unlimited. Even You Tube is a music discovery channel -- as the videos are endless. Copper magazine brings to life many great musical stories! Whether we spend $1,000 or $100,000+ for our pleasure, it's all about the music!

[@rd264]

I will never ever stream. OMG Id rather DIE a horrible death than stream.

[@williampearson4968]

@@rd264 I'm with you as I have enough CDs and LPs to last a life time that I don't need to stream. I prefer to own physical media and not depend on some musical service which could discontinue the music that I want to listen to on a whim. I own PS Audio's Perfect Wave SACD Transport with the Direct Stream DAC with a I2S connection which puts me into musical heaven. Yes, CD's can and do sound great especially when uploaded to a pure DSD format!

[@kevinw.weiser9820]

Thanks again for another entertaining and engaging video Steve. I like/concur with your philosophy that music should be "engaging". I'm lucky to have a decent system, likely because I've never been "engaged" and I get to do what I like. On being an Audiophile, I'm quite happy to "identify" as an ardent audiophile, after all, I've been labeled far worse! Thanks again for your work, it is loved by many. Rock On!

[@laurencerothman931]

Love your story. Thank you for the entertainment and recommendations.

[@pauldavies6037]

Always interesting Steve you have a great job just doing what you love and sharing it with us

[@barrymccoy4511]

Steve - Merry Christmas to you and to Mrs. Audiophiliac!!!! Love you videos - been a fan for quite a while and support you on patreon - bought the Denafrips Ares II dac based on your review along!! Made a huge difference in my skimpy system (my $10 used Samsung Blu-Ray Player, my $150 Thiel CS 1.5s yard sale bargain, my Plinius 8200 intergrated amp purchased 8-9 years ago on Ebay for about $700 .(didn't know what I was getting but worked out well). Again, keep doing what you do and enjoy the holidays!!!! Thank you - Barry

[@Aswaguespack]

My adult next door neighbor had the first stereo in the neighborhood and was the first person I could consider a record collector and audiophile. I was about 7 or 8 and I remember sitting in his room as he played Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” and that became my introduction to orchestral instruments and led me into my life long appreciation for music and my vocation in music education.

[@paulpavlou9294]

Interesting journey Steve, keep the passion alive and keep the “The Audiophiliac Daily Show” coming. Happy festive season to you and your wife.

[@AllboroLCD]

How very enlightening! One thing I do miss about the old local record stores was going in and getting the free promo 7" singles of the month, and the posters/cut outs they were throwing away. I do miss that.......

[@treyhorn5645]

That was great Steve. Have a Merry Christmas ⛄🎄

[@FOH3663]

AM radio top 40 in the early 70's, magic! I still have the very same tiny transistor radio... red, white, and blue. Still have my Sony Walkman too, first generation! I commandeered the big family console record player into my room. First piece of actual stereo gear was a powered stereo tape deck from SoundDesign that accepted 8track and cassette in the SAME SLOT! Still have it...

[@bazjed5881]

Merry Christmas Steve from Australia 🇦🇺👌

[@theomindschrddr7983]

Happy Christmas to you Steve!

[@rickmathis8590]

Great interview, Steve! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

[@woohunter1]

There’s a few records my parents had while I was growing up in the 80’s that I would have loved to break! Merry Christmas Steve!

[@scottyo64]

The Partridge family with "I think I love you" was one I would have loved to break!

[@woohunter1]

@@scottyo64 my parents had Culture club and unfortunately, a pretty good system for its time.

[@dm1787]

Thanks for the FIP recommendation! A great station

[@rd264]

my 1st was listening to the beatles 'ticket to ride' or 'love me do' on my AM transistor radio in 1963 when I was 78.

[@terrykemp8131]

Have a very. Merry. Audiophile. Christmas and. Happy. Holidays. Steve🎅🎅🎅.

[@leecakin]

Merry Christmas Steve..... unbelievable sound quality on FIP

[@hectorvazquez7929]

Happy New Years Steve. Love you channel. I enjoy listening to vinyl. Someday I hope to have an audiophile system For now I listen on my parents Grundig Stereo Studio model 260U from the 70s

[@IKnewMickey]

There's nothing on earth like a mother's love. LOL!!!

[@michaelware1649]

That's what Zappa said!

[@millmoormichael6630]

Merry Christmas Steve & God bless!

[@steve121758]

Merry Christmas...love your product

[@nabdrumworks4719]

Merry Christmas to you both and all the best in the new year!!

[@MrDoneboy]

Happy holidays, Steve!

[@greymurdock2]

Thanks for all the great videos Steve! You mentioned your poor eyesight having a factor on you being an audiophile. I have 2020 vision, and ill say. I’d give up my vision before I would give up my hearing! Cheers! Merry Christmas and happy new year

[@JimGobetz]

Love the Buck Dharma head shot on Franks wall! Merry Christmas Steve and all

[@waynewhitwood4512]

Merry christmas steve thanks for keeping me entertained throughout the year :)

[@tommethans7827]

yeah Frank!!! Great to hear what you sound like

[@gregorypatton360]

Merry christmas steve and mrs audiophiliac!

[@nicolaslebarbenchon5700]

FIP is also my favorite radio station here in France. The initals stands for France-inter Paris. The programming was originally aimed to sooth the commuters driving in and out of the busy parisian trafic. The eclectic music genres is also great for easy listening at the office.

[@billd9667]

Merry Christmas, Steve! My first memory of music was Dion on a Dumont tube “hifi” record player, which was mono unless you strapped it to the matching TV’s speaker. I wasn’t impressed then, but the more I think of it today, the more I impressed I am with the ingenuity.

[@homerjones3291]

Always wonder if it’s a fool’s errand to try to create a large soundstage in an 11 by 14 foot room crammed with all kinds of stuff, or trying to put ginormous Klipsch speakers in a similar room. Reminds of a guy I knew who bought a large projection screen TV and was forced to move back in with his parents into the basement, and the TV ended up being like, 2 feet away from his couch.

[@jesusleon5764]

Great episode! Music first. Keep keeping it down to Earth.

[@404010ful]

Happy holidays Steve AM I used to tune in to CBS radio mystery theater and the static of AM would add some Mystic to the effect of that show since I live in Toronto . It would fade in and out. I use to work as a usher in one of the old movie theater it was set up as 70 mm mag Dolby Mag the sound was amazing compared to the standard 35mm.

[@breakoutpete210]

I’m a musician and a proud to be AUDIOPHILE 🔊. Hoping for a great musical new year to all🎼 ✌️😎

[@homerjones3291]

My mother brought home 2 Beatles 45’s - I think she said she found them on a step. “Ticket to Ride”, “If I Fell”, “And I love Her”, and “Yes It Is” were the songs. Played them to death over and over again on my phonograph with the giant tonearm and the needle that flipped from 33 to 45 records. Surprised as hell today that those records didn’t suffer the same fate.

[@NickP333]

Frank did a spectacular job with this interview in that it seemed more like a conversation between two friends, and your answers were of course very entertaining, Steve. Thanks to you both, and Merry Christmas! ✌️🎶🎅🎄✨

[@scottyo64]

Merry Christmas Nick!

[@NickP333]

@@scottyo64 Thanks, Scotty! Merry Christmas to you too, my friend!

[@elba_magellan]

This was nice. Depth in both the interviewer and interviewee.

[@edwardlewandowski]

Wonderful Steve so much insight.

[@Torontodude20000]

“Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star? We do, we do! Who robs cave-fish of their sight? Who rigs every Oscar night? We do!”

[@Torontodude20000]

@@mathewbuchanan7833 oh. I thought we were all members here.

[@seankelly6461]

Happy new year to you steve..may god bless

[@stillastillsfan]

You can’t get the presence of a big speaker with small speakers

[@yogarl7]

Merry Christmas Steve! 🌈🙏

[@michaelriner1181]

I guess I`m an audiophile since I watch your videos Steve! I think you might be an audiophile also if you can chronicle a series of eguipment or musical genre stages throughout your life. Watching your videos brings into focus for me how important this hobby has been to me , eventhough I may not have been aware of it myself. Thanks for what you do , and happy Holidays.

[@michaelwright1602]

Too funny, listening to static! I'm a truck driver, and love the sound of the CB radio STATIC. And had more than a few of the 6 Transistor radios... So true... Those were good times.

[@martyjewell5683]

That hotel was the Statler Hilton on 7th ave (Fashion ave) across from the Garden.

[@vladimiropinto6486]

Merry Christmas Steve and all.

[@Grampa-el3kz]

Wow. Great interview and very interesting.

[@thecheese2386]

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas

[@jcarlson2727]

nice shirt Steve, lol... Merry Christmas 😂

[@henriksrensen3220]

Merry Christmas Steve

[@vinylrules4838]

Merry Christmas, Steve! Your videos are always enjoyable and enlightening. Since you like horns and Maggie's so much, really wish you would review the the Tekton Moab speakers. They supposedly do the best of both of those designs.

[@randallvogt5040]

Hey! Merry Xmas! I like your series, I disagree with you a good deal of the time, I learn from you. Keep it going!

[@glenjo0]

Steve! Thank you!

[@greymurdock2]

Love the old picture of you from the seventies!