7 IMPORTANT lessons I learned in my 20 Year Audiophile Journey.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Welp. As usual, I missed a couple points that I wanted to make in this one-take vid. First, about Negative Reviews: It sounds like I'm against them in the video, which is totally NOT the case. No product is perfect and criticisms are necessary to set the right expectations for potential buyers. Even negative reviews provide value in that they hip people to major problems while also providing manufacturers with a lesson learning opportunity. When done right, negative reviews can add a tremendous value to the community as a whole. The problem arises when those negative reviews stem from either a reviewers mistake or from less than noble intentions. As I always say, the best thing to do is to check out many reviews instead of relying on just one person for all of your audio purchasing decisions. Unless of course that person knows you really really well and / or you frequently agree with em'.

[@nneeerrrd]

pin your comment before it gets buried

[@heriacosta5452]

Hello Sean, thank you for sharing your opinions on Hifi. Could please tell me how do The Audiolab 6000A and the Sound Artist LS3/5a would work together listening from 6 feet away? Thank you Heri Tijuana, Mexico.

[@ericelliott227]

Ah, reviews, both "professional" and consumer....over too many years I have learned how to read and watch reviews about all kinds of products. One thing I keep in mind is that reviews are only opinion at the end of the day, nothing more. However, those opinions have value. I have learned to recognize hit pieces and unwarranted or paid pieces as well. On the other side of the coin, I have written too many reviews my self if you know what I mean. I learned to do it correctly because I feel the whole purpose of a review is to help others, so honesty is the key. I have written somewhat negative reviews of Hi-Fi before. Not many, but it will happen eventually. What I do is try to find any positive aspect to offer and I try to be constructive instead of just hitting. This is far more helpful to people and to the manufacture. If the manufacturer is open enough, they may look at the product again and make improvements or something based on feedback for many, not just one person. Think of it as adding your voice to others when you all run into the same issue. Honest manufactures appreciate it, dishonest ones go meltdown. Take all reviews with consideration of your own needs and with a grain of salt. When you see a review that checks all the boxes you will know it and can add to your notes. The problem I have today is far too many "professional" reviews that are more advertisement than informative. That is why I like Sean's channel here. I feel like I am getting useful information in a fair and balanced way. I'm tired of the constant praise for every product under the sun or extreme bias against a product with no merit. For example: "all class D amps are bad". I've heard some pretty kickass class D amps (far and few between I might add) before the improvements done these days. Now days, there are some class D amps where you would not know they were class D just by listening! I left the audio world completely in 2021 and was only dipping my finger in it in 2020. I have a system I'm happy with. My only concern is that my speakers can not be replaced, so if anything happens to them, I will have to give up the whole system as I know of nothing that could come close enough to the ones I have, but maybe there are. However, it is impossible to shop for new speakers these days so I will never find out. (One can't try speakers in home or shop now generally. If you had unlimited funds and a shipping and receiving department in your place, you could try speakers at home, but most of us have neither). The only thing I would still want to experience is an Accuphase Integrated. Unfortunately, I can't justify even trying to get one.

[@joesugarman1355]

Negative reviews? This industry has far too many positive reviews. Everything sounds great! I think positive reviews stemming from "less noble intentions," as you put it, or cozy reviewer-manufacturer relationships are a MUCH bigger problem than negative reviews stemming from the same motivations. We need more negative reviews, not positive ones.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@joesugarman1355 - I think you make a fair point about cozy reviewer-manufacturer relationships. This can absolutely have an influence over what a reviewer says about a product, whether they realize it or not. Throw money into the equation, and things can go sideways real fast. I agree with you 100% that this is a problem! Where I will push back a little bit on is the industry having too many positive reviews. A lot has changed in the past 10-15 years. In my experience, most products that I've tried so far are decent once you consider specific goals. It's actually somewhat difficult to find something that's outright trash (personal tastes and objectivist standards not withstanding). Whether you and I will ever see eye to eye on this is one thing, but I think we can both agree that a consumer shouldn't just blindly trust what they see or hear from the hifi media, with the (possible) exception being when you find a reviewer who hears the same thing you do on a consistent basis and has proven to be a reliable resource to you. With all that said, good luck on your journey and have fun!

[@goahead3995]

I am an audio nut for about 30+ years. Rule #1, in world of audio, the law of diminishing returns is a very common place. Plus technology evolves. Current $5k speakers may sound as good as $20k speakers 20 years ago. My biggest tip is this: Upgrading can be a Neverending journey. One day, put a huge stop to it. And enjoy the music itself, not constantly analyzing the sound quality.

[@RUfromthe40s]

true ,but about speakers never if today 5k sounds the same of 20k speakers 20 years ago that couldn´t be more wrong and 20 years ago the speakers were the same as today ,only some materials changed and the much you return the better the speakers sound and price decreases compared to today´s more expensive speakers and there´s also around 50 years speakers that today just aren´t built like they used to and were much cheaper ,as an example some brands just re-released 70´s models for incredible high prices and in the 70´s they were expensive but not for the price of a new apartment and bmw. today i notice not so good speakers being sold by a fortune and most of them are remakes of older speakers but with cheaper material and 10X the price, regards

[@LorenzoNW]

I’ve also been an audio nut for 30+ years. At one point, I thought past $10K was diminishing returns, then $20K, then $40K, and then $100K. When I talk with people who still think anything above $10K is diminishing returns, I receive one of two answers. Either they never listened to more expensive systems and just made the assumption or they listened to very expensive systems that are a poor value for the money. Regarding costs now vs. the past, prices are rapidly escalating due to a number of factors, both domestic and international. T-7 loudspeakers from Chapman Audio Systems were around $10K in standard finish 2-3 years ago. That’s a phenomenal deal considering how good they sound. Currently, they start at $15K.

[@bencausey]

Advice: do not begin a serious listening session with high volumes. Your hearing naturally shuts down a bit during and after loud volumes; and then if you try to listen to a softer song, you’ll have to crank it to levels it’s not meant to be cranked to.

[@izumispa2993]

Who asked for your advice? Crank it at ALL times is MY advice,

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

Very well said, thank you

[@ronaldweed6103]

I must agree,especially when high volumes brings distortion,hate DISTORTION because of high volume

[@revolverswitch]

replay gain saved me so much of this trouble.

[@deevnn]

Yup...it's like starting a wine tasting with Limburger cheese...it blows out your palate.

[@Matt-ur8uz]

I have had systems that cost as much as a very good used car and find I struggled to enjoy them, NOT because they didn’t sound good, in fact they sounded great. It is just, for me, once I passed a certain dollar amount, I wanted the system to sound magical all the time with every recording. I would think “for this much money, everything MUST be perfect” and it never was. The slightest imperfections would bug the hell out of me. I now have LS50 meta and a decent mid-priced integrated and am much happier. It sounds awesome in my room and for the money, it’s minor shortcomings hardly bother me at all.

[@asplmn]

This is so very true. I ended up the happiest with the DIY path. Not only does my system sound phenomenal, but it cost me a whole lot less to get there too. Plus, it's unique. :)

[@donnystrife1908]

Been there!

[@Justwantahover]

The better the system, the worse some bad recordings can sound. If all the recordings were A1, even modest systems would sound great (and it would actually be worth buying hi end stuff). But how most recordings are (2D) why buy hi end? Some artists like Imy2, has home recordings that are usually 3D but the same artist's official recordings are 2D. Like most officials seem to be. And it's the same story with most "amateur" cover bands. Their home recordings are usually light years in front of their own official recordings. Look up NOVA band "How Insensitive". The version with the sepia tone picture of the band in a lounge room (on the thumbnail). It is the BEST recording I ever heard! Super 3D and airy and everything sounds perfect. Amazing! The best official recording that I heard is Jennifer Lopez "Hold You Down". This is an exception and it's actually 3D. Rare for an official. I think the top amateurs have more advanced but cheaper equipment. Since the pros have more expensive gear that they are still paying for and at the same time is being superseded already and they can't warrant replacing it. Just a theory. Another theory is that the official recorring studios are simply too small and sound 2D cos of lack of ambience (or the room has been over treated and sounds dead). Top amateurs sound better cos the room is more natural. There is a difference between producing music and reproducing it. Instruments don't have 1" thick wood and stuffing inside, so room treatment should be different for bands compared to systems. Maybe the recording engineers are overlooking that. Cos (in general) official recordings SUCK compared to top amateur recordings (badly).

[@thomosburn8740]

I got a pair of Magnepans in the early 1990s and I discovered that the only way for the stereo to sound better for the following 25 years was to listen to a lot less pop & rock music, ha ha. I ended building a world class collection of folk, classical and small combo jazz recordings.

[@20CycleMonger]

Thanks for sharing your acquired wisdom: I've stopped at the LRS and LS50s with a pair of RELs. Honestly, the best improvement has always to add the subs. Once the music has a decent foundation I'm Happy 🎵🎶😊🎶🎵

[@emokidsparade8126]

great analogy with photography. someone who knows how to photograph well will be able to do it with just about any rig: a phone, SLR, etc. having the most expensive thing doesn’t mean the best results, and that totally applies to audio as well.

[@paulgaerisch]

I started when I was 17. I’m now 64. I’ve learned a lot. It comes down to listening. Take your favorite music that you know well, and listen. I did this when I bought speakers. Regardless of the electronics if it sounds good to you that’s all that matters. Try to listen on a system that is considered the best and then find something in your budget that comes close to it. Even if it’s a low cost system, if it sounds good and makes you want to keep listening, your done! Nothing is perfect, so sometimes it’s a matter of what makes you smile and say, “ that’s sounds fantastic”. 👍

[@LorenzoNW]

The key is “if it sounds good and makes you want to keep listening”. Many newbies will be wowed by a stereo within the first minute or two of listened. But often, that “wow factor” is coloration, which gets old a fatiguing after a while. So take your time when auditioning a stereo. If the stereo shop owner is put-off by you wanting to listen for at least 15 minutes, find another shop. I’m fortunate to live in Seattle and have bought stereo gear from The Audio Connection over the years because the owner is knowledgeable, friendly, and honesty. He’ll ask what your budget, set up a system, and just let you listen as long as you want. That’s why he’s been in business for over 30 years while all the big box stores went bankrupt.

[@chipnadeau5095]

This is a hobby that can easily become an obsession. I buy new and used gear. Getting the "deal" is invigorating! Reading about new equipment and watching KZbin videos about "the latest" is addictive. Finding the" right gear" that creates synergy within your system is never ending. Sourcing the right movie scenes and songs so that you "can test" your latest acquisitions is really flat out fun.Talking to your audio friends about "everything audio" makes you feel inspired. I have a true "love hate" relationship with audio and I believe that now and again it is just best to set it all aside. Listen to what you have and enjoy it. After all it is just a hobby, right?😮‍💨

[@JDG1971]

I myself have been a fan of High-end and music for 35 years. I've learned to arrange the listening room as best as possible, and then take the time to listen to how the music sounds. Of course with the years many different equipment, speakers, cables etcetera... My music taste has expanded enormously. So for me, sound is obviously what it's all about. Actually, you are never done with this hobby. But, I did reach a peak, what I might call this is what I want to hear. So in terms of satisfaction..... Yes, I am sure. So everyone has to walk this road for themselves, and then hopefully you'll get to where you want to be. Lots of fun and success to everyone in this hobby. Greetings from the Netherlands Limburg Maastricht... ✌🏾🌍😘

[@mat_v]

Biggest mistake I made was being lured into the audio science cult for a couple of years, ended up buying a few dacs and a couple of amps that left me with a system that didn’t excite me. Spent money unnecessarily and sold some gear I actually liked in the process. Lesson learned. Listening > measurements.

[@dgregory4178]

Yeah, it is a cult. I remember I bought an Adam T7v monitor and then soon after bought a more expensive Adam A5x. The A5x sounded significantly better across the board but when I shared this thought on the forum, there were members who said that was impossible because they measure nearly the same. Huh? Seriously? I was actually told that I wasn't hearing what I was hearing! Now inversely the "lifting of veils" and $500 crystal crowd doesn't have the answers either. The answer is in the middle, maybe a bit more on on the Audio Science side. lol

[@thomosburn8740]

Great, useful tips here. Two things I would add is: (1) that if your respected-by-all gear doesn't sound right, it could be that your listening room needs treatment WAY more than the stereo needs replacement/upgrades. A $100 pr bookshelf speaker will sound GREAT in a tuned/slightly dampened/slightly diffused/added bass-trap room but a $5000+ pr full range loudspeaker will sound TERRIBLE in a room with glass or drywall sound reflection, standing waves or null spots for certain bass notes. - and - (2) the kind of music you like and play daily (modern electronica and hip-hop come to mind) is not recorded and mastered with high end gear in mind. It will sound great on earbuds or a car stereo, but a $5000-+ pr of speakers just reveals the compression and distortion baked into the recording.

[@Projacked1]

My best advice; before you decide that the sound of your speakers 'suck'....Take a whole week and every day change the placement. I would higly advice to listen to placement with the eyes closed! It's the ONLY way to listen honestly when doing it. Looking at speakers will bias your ears. F.e.; Not enough bass-> Move them closer to each other, or the distance from the wall. Go back to listening position and close your eyes.... Too much treble-> experiment with toe-in and width, again close your eyes! My Tannoy's are bass heavy by nature, and after 2 years of experimenting with placement, I finally have what I need. There are always small issues that you do not hear at first. In my case , they needed way more width inbetween, and more distance from the wall. Even better , the bass-response is SO much better in the room, you can avoid a lot of standing wave issues , just take your time. Comparisons/ switching between headphones/speaker are also good indicators. Take your time! It can be baffling to hear what a few milimeters of change can do. Peace from Holland my fellow audio-freakazoids

[@2ridiculous41]

You're looking rather happier, mate and that is a good thing! One thing I learned is decide if you want a system room with a seat or a living room with a system. Big difference.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Great one!

[@marcgabor9690]

Some good advice. Insured shipping is no joke. I sold a Hasselblad on ebay, was only shipping it 90 miles away using fedex or ups and thought, "in all these years when have I actually lost a package?" well something fishy happened, buyer claimed they never got it. I don't know if it was fraud, if the package was stolen off their doorstep or what, but long story short was that it wasn't insured, and I had to reimburse the buyer. I felt like the biggest idiot and have never shipped anything uninsured since then.

[@michaelschafer6379]

A few years ago I updated my system ... new speakers, the rest secondhand Yamaha pieces ... and I instantly fell in love again with music ( even albums that my brain rated as "meh" excited me again ). Next came the small system in the sleeping room: from 80's Technics compact to 2000's Yamaha compact to vintage Yamaha receiver, Dual turntable and new Wharfedale speakers. Last not least: a free old flat screen from my parents ... I wanted to "upgrade" it with a budget receiver and speakers ... but ended with a 90's Harman Kardon amp & CD-player + Focal speakers ( all moveable on a free TV-table ). No idea if it's Hifi, or Audiophile ... but each system makes me enjoy music a lot and I missed them a lot while a 5 day holiday.

[@tommccarthy3385]

Very sensible. Some people in this hobby seem to forget that a) we're doing this for fun and b) there's room for more that one opinion.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Absolutely! It's easy to lose sight of that after you've invested so much time, effort, and money into a hobby.

[@murphy_boy]

Thanks for this video. 1. Bad sound? It could be you 2. know when to call it a day(golden rule) These two points are enough for me.

[@195516Z]

Awesome video. Excellent advice. I'm in my seventies and am still on the "journey" but truth be told, in the autumn of my life, I just want to enjoy the music.

[@JG-gg9wk]

at 70, your at the Winter of your life

[@195516Z]

@@JG-gg9wk Is that the best you can do? I pay you a compliment and you insult me?

[@jackruth2733]

I have been at this for: count em 40+ years. A big mistake I made was; not listening to the experts. This was most evident with speaker placement. My tendency was to park my speakers any old place where it was most convenient. Scoffing at the notion that I had to waste valuable time experimenting with placement. My advice find a way to have fun experimenting with placement and room treatment.

[@howardskeivys4184]

I’ve been seriously into audio since the early 80s. In my experience, you listen to 10 different experts, you get 10 different opinions. My hifi has to fight for it’s right to be in our family lounge. My pair of large rear ported floor standers are located 25 inches from the wall behind them. This is the furthest I can pull then from the wall without upsetting the aesthetics committee, aka the wife. They sound superb. When the wife is away for a few days, visiting family, I pull the speakers further out into the room. It makes a subtle difference. Smoother bass. Slightly more focused image and soundstage. But the difference is not sufficient for me to negotiate with the wife to make the further out location the permanent home of the speakers. Experts offer opinions, which may or may not be useful to your situation.

[@bobb.9917]

The whole sheBANG is a process!

[@donnystrife1908]

I still kinda just put the speakers where they fit or look good... Room treatment tho. A couple of bass traps can do a lot!

[@howardskeivys4184]

@@donnystrife1908 when I first got into audio in the early 80s, it was impressed upon me that the big money should go on source components and with sound logic. It’s a hypothesis I adhered to for many years. Until one day my local dealer had a pair of speakers reduced from £7500 to £4000. I bought them. It was the biggest single hifi purchase I’d ever made and the difference it made was massive. I concluded that the big money should go on speakers. At around the same time, I started getting into the web and KZbin reviews and noted that a substantial portion of the audiophile community had drawn the same conclusion. Now, it seems that the advice is that the big money should go on room treatment. That’s a very grey area to me. I have an 18 by 20 by 7.5 feet room. Dry walls, wood clad concrete floors and a concrete ceiling. I have absolutely no room treatment other than a large plush rug, placed between and in front of my large floorstanders. I believe that the soft furnishings in my room deaden the room sufficiently to negate the need for further room treatment. If I’m going to invest money in upgrading audio performance, my money would go on components.

[@donnystrife1908]

@@howardskeivys4184 when I first treated my room. I over treated. It sounded bland and lifeless. Now just two basstraps and a rug. The best sounding room I've heard had thick carpet and padding. Wool rugs on the walls.

[@kenrickhadley4499]

Sean, this video of yours only solidified a feeling i had of why i keep coming here when i don't have enough information to help myself. Integrity lives here, and the patience and willingness to generously help neophytes like myself learn and enjoy this journey in the limited time we are given. Thank you ever so much.

[@howardskeivys4184]

I’m showing my age now, but I’ve been seriously into audio since the early 80s. I have built 3 hifi systems. The premium system is in our family lounge. The secondary system is in our spare bedroom and is chiefly composed of components which started life as part of the lounge system, but have been upgraded. The 3rd system is a little active system I use for background music in my office. I recently undertook a major upgrade to the system in the spare bedroom. The speakers I was using. In that room were the Q Acoustic 3050I. They were impressive. It seemed natural to me that the logical progression would be the Q Acoustic Concept 500. I had watched and read dozens of reviews. All, brimming with positivity. So, I visited 3 local ‘bricks and mortar’ dealers and listened to them with a wide variety of amplification and source components. I was, disappointed. They just sounded, well, dull, lifeless, possessing no character! I was so glad I hadn’t impulse purchased them on some discounted on-line deal. So, that is my first bit of advice, listen before you buy. If you can build a relationship of trust with a dealer and get a free, unconditional home trial, then all the better. Listen to the views and opinions of others. But, remember that the end of the day, it is going to be you who will be you spending hours and hours listening to and hopefully that system, so, ultimately, it’s your opinion that is paramount. Buy components which are ‘price appropriate’. If, for example, you’ve invested £15000 in your amplification, it would be inappropriate to spend £199 on your CD player and £249 on a pair of speakers. Regardless of what you buy, or what you spend, there will always be better. Often that journey to find ‘better’ can be a bumpy ride and prove expensive. The higher up the ladder you climb, the more you will realise the severity of the law of diminishing returns. When you reach the point of contentment, that is the point at which you should stop. I am fortunate enough to have married a very attractive and beautiful girl who has stacks of other positive virtues. Are there more attractive, more beautiful girls out there? Damned right there are. Would I be happier if I traded my wife in for one of these more attractive, more beautiful girls? Maybe! But I’m extremely content with my lot, so, I’m not going to risk changing things and that’s a lesson well learned. Of course manufacturers will constantly try and tempt you with new products and new technologies, it’s how they survive. I know it’s heart wrenching when you’ve just paid £2400 for the latest XYZ101 integrated amplifier, then a month later they bring out the ‘new and improved’ XYZ101- mark 2 for £2500 and reduce the price of the original, which you purchase, to £1900. Don’t suffer from ‘purchase regret’, chances are the new amp is identical to the old amp, with a few cosmetic changes. The manufacturers do it to boost sales. At the end of the day, don’t get hung up on equipment, just enjoy the music. Remember, nothing is perfect. Not even my wife. She absolutely hates, no, detests my audiophile interest and the equipment I employ to satisfy that interest. Then again, I hate shopping. She loves it. So whenever I want to sit down to an extended, uninterrupted listening session, I give her my least maxed out credit card and send her out for some retail therapy.

[@Plastpackad]

Trusting reviewers is something we have to do when Hifi-shops are far and few. I learnt that most of them have blind spots and will miss certen aspects. Some reviewers are more into sonic marvels like super transparency and/or gears/figures/measurements but lack the experience of live music. They don´t really know how a violin or a grand piano sounds in real life. They don´t hear when a system is off in tone and timbre. In short, get to learn as much as possible about your reviewers in order to evaluate their reviews.

[@ZeroFidelity]

You're absolutely right! Most reviewers, hell, most people, have "blind spots" when it comes to sound. I'm pretty familiar with live, unamplified music and many things relating to sound. But I still have my blindspots, namely listening at loud volumes, testing out remote controls, and testing all of the features on an integrated amp. Also, haircuts.

[@daleboylen6427]

Caveat Emptor

[@jimshaw899]

Long ago, I started to call this "reviewer calibration." First, I want to know what kind of music a reviewer prefers. Next, I want to know about his listening room. It's surprising how many reviewers evade disclosing this information -- and then I take their reviews with less than a grain of salt. (For me, it really leaves only a couple of reviewers left, and both of those happen to be "measurements guys" as well as enlightened listeners.) *Bad advice is much worse than no advice.*

[@ZeroFidelity]

​@@jimshaw899 - Which reviewers purposefully evade showing off their system, referencing music, and referencing their own personal bias? Almost every KZbinr I can think of either does this on a regular basis, or has done it before on their channel. As I've always said, there are many reviewers out there, and people are free to follow whoever, for whatever reason. As long as you find somebody who can provide value to you, that's all that really matters.

[@jimshaw899]

@@ZeroFidelity The ones with the most subscribers. The ones who don't know a decibel from a damping factor. The ones whose only apparent music player is the devices they're reviewing at that moment. The ones who say, "I listen to a variety of music," but it's all rock and pop. Check your mirrors... :)

[@rainman3269]

Best Audio Reviewer on KZbin ... He just is ... Cheers for the ongoing reviews and important Audio and life lessons ... Kind Regards Brother ... 🎶

[@TheMack]

Nice video and good advice! In my 30 years as a Music Enthusiast, I have learned to ask two questions: "How much do I enjoy my music/system today?" and "How would I like it to be?". If there is a big gap between those questions, there are two paths: either you lower your expectations and be happy with what you have, or go the opposite way and do something about it, change it. If you want to change it, it might take a few small steps, but it can also bring you on a longer journey. The aim is to bring the gap between those two questions closer together. This goes for anything in life, not just Hi-Fi. Like you mentioned, music is supposed to bring emotions, inspiration, fun and something to look forward to. That is, the music YOU love to listen to, not anyone elses. That's a good place to start, or go back to, if the journey's been long =) When you have bridged that gap, stop. You have reached the destination, something some might never will, or they get lost on the way. Anyway, keep it light, love your music and enjoy!

[@craigtomlinson2075]

Kudos for sharing! Missed your videos, welcome back!

[@billywindsock9597]

Pearl Audio Sibelius speakers. Fantastic kit. Can't wait to find out what you have found out while using them. A really special sound.

[@louiesipes2257]

Hey Billy🙋‍♂😊

[@reticulatedralphie7176]

The mistake I make the most is the hyper focused goal. I focus only on what I want from the product, and not on the accommodations that the product will need. For example, I decided that I wanted a pair of Wharfedale 85's, so I found Linton vs Denton sound comparison videos. Based only on the sound I decided that the Denton was (dad joke intended) my cup of tea. After many hours of experimentation, I found that I needed the supplied rubber feet, a pair of raised front bases from another set of speakers, and two sets of decouplers to get them to the right height. At this point I realized that the Linton's would have given me 95%+ of the sound I wanted, and they wouldn't have needed any tweaking because they're a little bit taller. For me sound is the ultimate goal, but it's not the only goal.

[@ranelime]

Just wanted to say how much I appreciate this video. Not just the content but just catching a glimpse on how you see this "hobby" and your journey in it. Personally, I can relate to a lot of the stuff you said and learn from the other stuff. I don think that in this ever flowing stream of reviews it is hard yo see how other people experience this hobby and their actual insights (not just about stereo). This so much call to purchase, it is easy to think of this hobby as a linear process. "I buy more expensive stuff, I'm in a better situation". When it can be something else, like a humbling, educational experience that let you grow, appreciate the things that matter and even appreciate the things you don't have. Feel a part of a community in which your system has its own voice in it.This is something that I came to learn. Every system has something to offer and appreciate. I do agree that switching to headphones or just disconnecting for a while makes you see that easily. Even if it's for a few seconds, it is a pleasure to notice your ears adjust to a new sound. Thanks Sean.

[@seanb3303]

I would add be skeptical if the review has no comparisons. Some companies don’t allow comparisons of their product or don’t allow anything negative to be said about the product without their permission. I’m learning more about agreements that reviewers have to sign to get product sent to them.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I've been doing the review thing for awhile and while what you say is true / has indeed happened, it's __incredibly__ rare. As in, maybe 1 outta 30 companies may try to pull that card. And in those rare instances, I know of one reviewer who told the company to F off. In fact, I believe it was Jay who *purposefully* compared a company's product to the brand they told him not to mention. Sh*t like that doesn't fly over well in the YT space. Now I'd love to say we do it 'for the people' in those moments, but really, it's more about making a point to the company. Don't try to tell us what to do. Things will NOT go the way you want them to.

[@seanb3303]

@@ZeroFidelity Good for Jay. I know Andrew Robinson also fights against companies trying to control reviews or trying to go around his wife to get to him before sending product…Another YT reviewer you know very well mentioned that Parasound is extremely controlling of reviewers. Other examples would be Magnepan and other brands that are actually high-end. They have too much to lose to send a product to a reviewer that they don’t have an excellent rapport with. About all companies want a Steve Guttenberg review because it’s a slam dunk and if it’s not he sends the product back with no review.

[@ZeroFidelity]

​@@seanb3303 I'll say this much. One of those people you mentioned tends to fabricate stories to make themselves look better. I won't say who, but I don't mind saying I'm getting rather sick of their made-up stories. It's all designed to gain credibility points, which sadly works on you since you have zero idea what's true and what isn't true. Moving on: Parasound isn't controlling at all. Not even a little bit. Are they selective about who they work with? Absolutely. But once the product is in your hands, they are hands off unless you have a specific question. Maggie works the same way. And no, they don't have 'too much to lose'. Magnepan and Parasound will sell gear regardless of who is reviewing their product. The ONLY companies that actually have something meaningful to lose are the small ones. As for Steve: He's probably the most drama free reviewer in the YT space and also has a very quick turn-around time. OFC he has a reputation and decent influence, which is why companies want to send him something, but he is far easier to work with than many other reviewers, be it on KZbin or not. So yeah man, I'm not sure who is feeding you this info, but their wires are a bit out of polarity!

[@thomosburn8740]

This is where I am with the Mag-Lev turntable. You can't hear them in person outside of one salon in Australia. Pro reviews have been few, and the one relatively detailed review (discussed the stock cables and cart, suggesting that you replace both of them) did not address the two BIG elephants in the room: pitch stability and rumble.

[@realbogus]

I feel you. I have been an audiophile for nearly 45 years. As a tweener, I learned that my ears were hypersensitive to sound. Bad audio gave me headaches. But as a kid, I was broke, so I had to buy what worked and not break the bank. That meant finding gems in mainstream brands... hell, I still have my Realistic STA2080 and it still sounds great! It all became a value game. What I did spend money on was car audio because I was driving a lot... but I was always careful with what I bought... and what I don't. Your points are very valid, and don't apply solely to hifi...

[@colanitower]

Starting the audiophile journey with reel-to-reel in the 1980s, I found that the music collection is the centerpiece. On average I like just 2 or 3 tracks on an album so my music collection on tape became a collection of tracks, not albums, giving hours of good music without having to change media every 2 or 3 tracks. This makes "The lower resolution is a lot easier to enjoy" even more true. The collection of tracks moved from tapes to digital files on a harddrive, but it remains the constant factor apart from adding songs every now and then. Second for me (but fun too) is to get matching gear for best playback quality given budget and taste.

[@leejankowski6608]

I simply like learning and I often am not watching your videos to purchase better and better sounding instruments of sound reproduction but more so, I have come to appreciate your learning and your desire to share with us in ever more profound ways. Thank you.

[@thirdkey9]

Appreciate the shared wisdom and perspectives on arriving at the desired system “destination”. Witnessed a few friends getting to that place with audio and motorcycles, only to soon miss the pleasure, excitement and peace of a sweet outcome by staying on the carousel. Then lamenting the re-sale or trade and realizing that the the next best thing was sexier but lacking soul and both daily & long term enjoyment. A good reminder that the truth can suffer from too much analysis and how cool it is to hit pay dirt and then, to just enjoy the ride and collecting great music.

[@borodinskyful]

The biggest lesson for me is that a speaker is already a compromise and worst still most people including myself do not have an acousticly treated room.... therefore it's critical to use a DSP or maybe buy a speaker with an inbuilt DSP and calibreate the speakers to the room. The difference it makes is unbelievable. I wasted so much money box swapping / cable swapping / enhancement tweaking when I should have just bought a DSP or better yet bought a DSP and acoustically treated the room. A tradional audiophile system without even basic tone controls to me is like buying a mechanical watch.... sure it's nice to look at and play with but it's really not all that accurate at keeping time. A system with a DSP can be likened to buying a modern super accurate digital watch and ultimately does a better job. I love my Genelec's

[@bigjay1970]

Very True!🤔🤫😉🤗😇

[@ufarkingicehole]

Synergy is king!! Its one of the most overlooked factor. Amazing speakers can sound ok with an amp that doesn't really match. An ok pair of speakers can sound amazing with the right front end.

[@firvaldur]

Great advice. I have two preamplifier's that I use in my main system. I use one preamp for half a year or so‚ or til I start listening less‚ then I take the preamp of the system‚ and use the other. And bliss until year's or month's later‚ I switch again. It is nice‚ almost like experiencing a new stereo system again‚ more importantly the music 😊

[@JohnScheppler]

I totally agree with we need to talk as adults as audiophiles. Audio is subjective and each person has a different take which isn't right or wrong. Also if we talk and not just argue might be able to help each other instead of just walking away mad. Love and Enjoyment of the hobby is the end goal for everyone.

[@CharlieParkour]

Hey man. That was nice a genuine. It felt honest and frank. Nicely done!

[@mariocassar3117]

Wow, I’ve been an audiophile for the last 40 years, and it’s been expensive. One thing that I learned was that more expensive items are not guaranteed to sound better than cheaper items!

[@jimshaw899]

This is the first time I've heard ANY audio pundit voice the "time to get off the merry-go-round" situation. Bravo. I'm there; I got the gold ring. Long ago, I expressed the opinion that a music playback system -- first and foremost -- should NOT be annoying. (No one has picked up on that.) If your music playback annoys you, then you'll soon be back on the carousel. If it doesn't annoy you, it's OK to hang out at the audio amusement park, but stay off the equipment merry-go-round. The tickets are too expensive and the ride makes you dizzy. ..... Barring a fire or a power surge, I'm done trying to improve my music system. What I'm NOT done with is seeking new and improved recordings, by new and improved musicians, to replace the thousands of (largely pre high resolution) recordings in two big bookcases. *I'm on a music hunt, not an equipment hunt.* And that's why I have largely moved to high res streaming music. Yeah, I haven't taken my hundreds of vinyl discs to the landfill, yet. And the CDs and R2R tapes are still here and playable. It's not that I have passed on all of those kinds of vintage media. It IS that, in the face of newer and better artists and recordings, the old stuff is just that: *OLD.* Music vinyl and CDs do not get better with age. They may become nostalgic, like when I was listening the other day to a 1950s disc of the Kingston Trio at the Hungry I (and loving it). *But, I was enjoying this in spite of the ragged fidelity, not because of it.* I'm off the carousel; I caught the gold ring. Y'all have a nice ride. :)

[@marcgabor9690]

Also, similar to checking if your wires are crossed, if you are using a sub, always check the phase. For whatever reason when I use my sub with one pair of speakers, I need to flip the phases -180 and with the other pair of speakers I keep it at 0. It's not unheard of for a speaker to get it's internal wires crossed up when doing work on the crossover or re-foaming surrounds. Sometimes it just comes from the factory like that.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

... It's about 28 years for me now ... and honestly.. every part of the hobby 'offline' is the better part. During the progress of the joy in audio ... online interactions ... have been the worst part of the entire experience. Any time I am in a room with people and listening... It's the best feeling... the Most joyful.. and the most amazing and rewarding experience ... to share music. ... Something about text only conversations with strangers ... just ... missing something. Thanks for these insights. Im sure many people could use these reminders.

[@chuckisidro8624]

Great video Sean! I think It would be helpful for a not-so-experienced audiophile to honest about what type of sound he/she prefers (warm, bright, detailed, solid state, tubes…etc). Searching for products would be more much easier. IMHO.

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

If you got more hobbies, don't spent too much on hifi. Because if you have the money, you also need to have the time for listening. This is my problem. If you don't want room treatment, then don't buy expensive hifi. Scale it down to a system which isn't picky with placement and environment.

[@DruvisR]

My biggest discovery and surprise was the sound of the d class. Fast, dynamic sound, controled bass other than boomy, detail at high and mid frequencies. And an unrealistic price-performance ratio.

[@williamdirks5805]

A agree with you, as far as you go--bass, detail, etc. My surprise about Class D was the consistently positive reviews followed by me consistently finding that they sounded incredibly dry and unpleasant.

[@seanb3303]

If I want to really get a feel for a product I will start a forum post asking people what they moved onto and why.

[@ZeroFidelity]

An interesting approach! Thanks for sharing!

[@hailtothevictorz]

Great video, Sean, glad to see you back in action and hope it's a regular thing again. I also can't wait to hear your review of the Sibelius speaker, something I have such a great interest in, I almost pulled the trigger on them the other night, only just convincing myself to hold off at least long enough to contact the company and have them answer some of my questions and concerns with equipment matching. It'll be great seeing how you both align and differ from Thomas's opinion.

[@joergwittenberg2178]

Thanks for the review, Sean. We all make failures, but with the years we can look back and laugh about it. Now we are experts in this hobby and we learn always more about hifi. Today there are many ways to get informations about products and gears and speakers and you can get more help with problems. This really helps to do it right and to find the synergy and the best sound of your system, to build your best system for enjoying your favorite music. 👍😊

[@Antoon55]

knowing when to stop upgrading your system is very important indeed. I build my system 25 years ago and it took me 9 months of trying stuff at home. After that I just enjoyed music. Well I did add a chromecast audio for streaming when streaming was invented. Recently I moved to another home and the listening room sounded so good I decided to go for the next upgrade. The funny thing is I ended up with a recap of my speaker filters and power amp, kept my cables. This old stuff is still very good (Duntec/Krell). I swapped the preamp for a good streamer/dac, subscribed to Qobuz and Roon and I am happy as a clam. Good for the next 25 years :)

[@davestevens4193]

Nice job Sean! Having been an audiophile for about 50 years a couple of points...the room. Ah yes, the room and the WAF. They do go together. Also synergy. Sometimes components just don't sound good...together.

[@renatomorais8136]

How does the WAF sounds in your room? ;p

[@isaacsykes3]

Great video once again, I must say that we've missed you here lately. That said, I the best advise that I was ever given as an audiophile was to understand that until I tamed my room, I had never really heard my gear. So, to keep it short, if your room sucks, more than likely any component you use in there will as well.

[@benkrake3678]

I have made the mistake of talking about speakers I haven’t heard, and making the comparison to the Klipsch RP-600M and the Dynaudio Emit M20, saying that the M20’s would sound dull compared to the RP-600M’s. Back then my foolish understanding was that speakers that are laid back are dull, and speakers that were more live sounding are more engaging. Man was I wrong about that! I finally got the chance to compare these speakers side by side at Dennis White HiFi in Adelaide, South Australia and I was blown away with the M20’s. So much so that I bought a pair, and have been happy with them ever since, and that was 2 years ago! So glad I went with the M20’s because though they are laid back, they are smooth but still have the sparkle and detail on the top end, and have enough bass that I don’t need a subwoofer for my room size, not to mention because they are smooth and laid back, they are not fatiguing at all, and feel that the RP-600M’s would be, with my particular set up.

[@gewamser]

Excellent video….been there done that. The most profound point of them all was the last one. Because I have many audiophile friends with incredible systems, I have great base lines to compare my own, all within my budget, and 40 years of experience. I LEARNED at what point I am “satisfied” with the sound, and at what point my return on investment starts diminishing…now, that doesn’t mean I don’t try occasional upgrades, or replace old gear, or try new tech…but overall, I KNOW what sound I like, and how to maintain it. I have bought certain gear you recommended, and it exceeded my expectations, and your reviews often are in consensus with others I respect…that is GOOD for you! I run four well maintained Heresy 1’s and an old Kyrocera R651 with an outboard DAC, that sounds almost as good a MAC 4100, a beautiful rich warm sound, with great detail and clarity. The DAC made a 15% improvement in fidelity, and with 4 speaks, 1 in each corner, sound stage really isn’t an issue. I love the vintage sound. I play all genres of music. Thanks

[@genkifd]

i find being relaxed before & during a listening session helps. Just came back from the Melbourne Audio Show and never felt at anytime my system was missing something. even listening to hundred of thousands worth of equipment.

[@garyjones5947]

Food for thought, and echoes some of my own much more limited experience. Great video. Thanks.

[@BradRocker]

So glad we have your articulate and intricate help on so many issues that happen in the audio world.

[@Nonsensei-OG]

Nice points about having biases, positive and negative, but also being aware enough of them so as to keep learning from new experiences and from people without the same viewpoint.

[@Michael-bj4sz]

I like these kinds of videos and rants about this and that. I also like videos regarding types of equipment, set up on different types of speakers, you know something besides just audio reviews. Maybe some conversations with Steve Gutenberg. Glad to see you back doing videos and hope your health is as good as it’s going to get. That last comment may relate to myself, maybe both of us.

[@robertocalderonabogado1427]

30 years in audiophile took me to conclude pro audio equipment like Electro-Voice, Nexo or Turbosound sounds much, much better than costly audiophile gear, if you really enjoy EDM (Electronic Dance Music).

[@aeon7748]

I’ve got a budget audiophile setup and I’ve tried many times to perfect the speaker placement with regard to my listening location as well as applying room correction. I’ve finally reached a point where I’m happy and I think this is very similar to the seasoned photographer taking better pictures without expensive equipment! It’s crazy how much speaker placement can affect the sound quality of your system. It makes me wonder if people who review speakers are testing their placement and room as much as the speaker itself.

[@PauldeSilvaG]

Brilliant. Totally agree with all your points, being on both sides of the audio industry curtain. We are certainly on the same wavelength on this. I've subscribed. Looking forward to more. All the best.

[@craigtomlinson2075]

I’m a firm believer in finding the best sounding speakers you can afford and use your money to feed them the best source signal you can afford, but leave the speakers alone ! Once you max out the sound quality the speakers can deliver, THEN move up the ladder with the speakers. Basically that’s find how strong the weakest link is, then, upgrading it. Just my $0.02.

[@TheTomryan123]

I had that "off the merry-go-round" experience in 1997 with the ProAc 2.5s. I would think about them and music while at work, out with friends, etc. I would even sometimes walk by the music room and just look in at them. Weird. A number of years later I had the same experience with Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors. Now I'm having it with Buchardt S400 MKIIs. And still have my trusty E.A.R. 890 Paravicini tube amp. This is the one I bought from the late great reviewer Art Dudley.

[@janisori9793]

As always, this was a very informative “podcast.” I am a big fan of all of your reviews. I have been a music lover,listener and a musician all of my life, but just recently invested in stereo equipment. I was thrilled to learn that reviews, not only written, but on YT, we’re readily available to help me sort through the vast amount of gear out there. Your cautionary tales are very helpful. I am pretty near done with my process and am one of the people you describe who just wants to get back home to listen to music. I think, however, no matter who’s saying what about which speaker or amp, one has to use common sense and take responsibility for their own choices/decisions. Hell, this stuff is costing a bundle. I feel very fortunate that I can even enjoy this hobby a little. At the end of the day, though, and listening (which is loads of fun, by the way) to everyone’s take on YT, I make my own choices. Let’s not forget how much fun the prices can be to find the great sound, and let’s not blame people who are just trying to give us their informed opinion. Again, I’m grateful to you all for you help and advice. I love what I got (3 different systems for three different rooms) and in this unsettled world, music has become a lifeline. I’m happy to stay here for a while! Thanks again!

[@janisori9793]

That’s “process” not “prices.”

[@bencausey]

Thanks Sean. My advice is, be patient when setting up new speakers. Don’t jump to early conclusions. In that last hour of effort, you will probably stumble across the right configuration and go from “this is crap” to “I can’t believe I almost gave up!”.

[@ZeroFidelity]

You are 100% right with that one!

[@sudd3660]

this is great lessons, general enough to apply to everyone. the first decades i only use passive speakers and integrated amps. now dsp has come a long way and i use it more and more, first tried it with only free software as in equalizer apo, it did wonders. now i have dedicated dsp gear for even better results. this is my latest lesson.

[@administratormagmamin8397]

..."thinking you know how a gear will sound without listening to it"....LOL....thanks for reminding me of all my failures man! Love it

[@JukeboxAlley]

I've been wondering what happened to you, good to see you in the game again, what ive learnt in this hobby is that it's very very addicting, and almost always can't help yourself from trying something new out even if you got it sounding just perfect with what you already have, and it's hard to explain why we do this and it's so addicting, but its been my favorite hobby of my life, up there with drag racing, different motorcycles over the years, model cars, love em all, but once u go down the audio road in a serious way, I don't think theres any taking that out of that person, ever. Even in an elevator or store you find yourself analyzing the audio around you in every place you go, it changes alot of things in life and alot of people just don't get it, but for those of us that get it, you know who you are out there, and we do totally get it, your not alone!

[@trauma50disaster1]

I'm glad you enjoy it! I'd like to take a dozen of your types and have a mystery audio remake show. The team would get permission and in your listening area do blind a/b tests with different priced equipment and see how low price we could go.

[@homerjones3291]

A fault that I’ve fallen into a number of times is to be too hasty in judgement of a new piece of gear. I’ve sent stuff back after only putting in a matter of hours listening. Another is to immediately look to replace something in your system when you’ve had one “bad” listening session. I’ve had to step back recently from considering new gear because I just can’t afford the constant buy-it-sell-it-at-a-loss and then buy the newest shiny object.

[@rolandlickert2904]

Chill out and listen to it a be longer don't chase the absolute sound in my 52 years in audio it does not exist! Take your time a system has to grow on you.

[@LorenzoNW]

Yep, I remember getting my integrated amp upgraded with Deulund Silver Bypass capacitors. After 150 hours break-in time, my stereo sounded like crap! I called the person who did the work to complain about the upgrade. He told me to not bother him until I had 250 hours on the Deulunds. 100 hours later, pure magic! Also, if the sound quality is inconsistent, that may be due to poor power conditioning. I have an Audience aR2p-T4 power conditioner plugged into a Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) wall receptacle. And I have a Furutech Flux-50 NCF plugged into my CD Player. Before having good power conditioning, the sound varied from good to frustrating, depending on the time of day and power usage in my area. Now my stereo sounds consistently great.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Love this direction Of the video Content Real Value !! Great Job umm no white board 😆 (cheatsheet) we all make mistakes ! example i had a bad rca cable LH side i thought the amp was bad until i rolled rca cables 😆

[@Projacked1]

Your inner voice might be spot on! hahaha Also, the last point you made....spot on.

[@codygrayland]

48yrs here...love your channel, Sean.

[@williamdirks5805]

1) Pay attention not just to what reviewers say, but also what they DON'T say. It takes time to learn this. You can read reviews that sound absolutely glowing (and many in Stereophile or on the Audiophiliac do, for example), and then later find that the product reviewed has ended up in their "Class C" rather than "Class A" ranking. They may focus on certain very positive aspects of performance to make their review sound good (thus pleasing manufacturers so they can get more product in for review) even when the overall experience isn't that good for them. 2) Learn to understand measurements -- and what aspects of measurements have value to you. For me, listening at very close range, off-axis speaker measurements are VERY important. For most people, listening at a greater distance, they may not be. For me, resolution is key in DACs. For you, it may not be. 3) Don't believe it when people say that ONLY measurements matter, that you can't trust your ears. You CAN, but one quick listen isn't enough. 4) A final thought. Ask yourself, do "gorgeous" level meters (as on Accuphase amplifiers) do anything for your LISTENING experience? (Sorry Sean, it needed to be said.)

[@timali4976]

Good content imo. I have found in my journey that you and 4 or 5 other reviewers helped me form a path to follow in my search for a somewhat modest but enjoyable hifi system. This kind of video is always appreciated in my case because most times dealers here has no gear for demo and the advice is much needed. So far I have had all hits and are having fun with them. The point on taking time with your gear and taking a break from your gear is golden in my experience so far. Since I got a second pair of speakers it's been teaching me a lot about speaker placement and just how different one company can sound to another. I like both pairs but they are different. ... I might be in trouble here lol.

[@zencinema3245]

Nice. All valid points. One I always think of is does twice the money give you twice the sound quality.

[@musicmaniac2165]

Well said man. Maturity is a lifetime process as is music listening. Your last point is what works. My opinion doesn't mean I know better it just means I know something. Thanks for your words

[@edjackson4389]

I always notice a pretty good jump in sound quality from cold equipment to fully warmed up equipment. I've done comparisons many times and warmed up (playing at medium volume for 30 min) is almost always better. The bass will be fuller and the mids and highs will be smoother. Have you guys noticed this? Is it my imagination? I never hear anyone bring it up.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I've approached a handful of (actual) electronic engineers/amp designers about this very topic. One of them claimed that there should be no difference regardless of the topology. The rest told me that there are usually measurable differences within the first 30 minutes of the amp being powered on, mostly due to the time it takes for specific components to reach their intended operating temperature. After the 30 minute marker however, it's assumed the perceived differences are more psychological than physiological. My experience has been all over the map quite honestly, which leads me to the anecdotal advice of: You do you, girl! hehe.

[@franciscocunhaetavora9132]

Is it the equipment warming up or your hearing warming up?

[@BradRocker]

I've had the same results with my systems audio after warmup.

[@denno800]

This is physically explainable and has to do with transistor temps. Transistors need a certain temp to "sound" good. That's why it's also important to set the amplifier's idle current correctly (it should be that way from the factory) and warm up the power amp transistors. Warm transistors show less transition distortion than cold ones. This can be measured.

[@edjackson4389]

@@franciscocunhaetavora9132 Nowadays I leave the room during warmup because Im not happy with the cold sound. Have a little dinner return 30 min later and it sounds great. Bass sounds more effortless, vocals and electric guitar sound smooth and clear

[@Burevestnik9M730]

Amir from ASR measured cables crossings etc. with Audio Precision instrumentation and nope, no interference whatsoever. it's a myth

[@Maxiinti]

Thank you one of your best information videos please more of this 🔊🤘🙏

[@stopthefomo]

OMG me too! I am definitely happy with my current end game multichannel system Because modern DSP is a game changer. Yep I’ve called it a day

[@sauleomarova7730]

tell me what kind of equipment you got and I will replicate it. I need good system fast.

[@rebel_soul_eldin]

@@sauleomarova7730u want a stereo or multichannel setup?

[@ghostownaproach]

I have a DSP that I got for a pair of Bose 901 Series 1 speakers because I have been using a Series IV Bose EQ with them and after trying to dial in a setting on the DSP thinking it sounded about as good as I know how to get, then going back to the Bose EQ for comparison, the Bose EQ sounded way better. I must not know how to dial the DSP in right.

[@rolandlickert2904]

I'm in Audio for 52 years and as you can imagine I had a few systems on the way and each system had its own sound some a warmer some are more revealing, however, in the end, a masterful recording made them all shine. In the old days you visit an Audio shop and listing to certain systems with music you knew well and that was a process that could take a week or more to come to a conclusion and even then you still had to take into consideration the room's acoustic. As I frequently change working /country working places I did experience how the system can be affected with the room set up . However, one has not to spend a million to compensate for it. Synergy with components plays a big part and I did learn a great deal from an Audio salesperson back then.

[@CaptainLouis]

I watched most of your videos and this one was very insightful. Thank you. I appreciate your work.

[@timmulder9112]

Back in 1978 I assembled my first Hi-Fi system I had a pair of DLK speaker with two 8-in woofers and a tweeter and I had a pioneer SX 550 receiver with the sl23 techniques turntable. To be honest I was perfectly happy with that system for years. I miss those DLK speakers and the vintage sound I have spent years trying to recapture that nostalgia that I remember back in those days. And I experimented with different systems different receivers different speakers different setups and that was never quite satisfied. I have to say that I have had a stereo shop called "Music for Pleasure" With their help I have put together a system now that I am completely satisfied with. I combine my own experience with sound systems with their expertise and I have put together electronics with speakers that match wonderfully in my surround sound home theater that I have in my basement. I have a combination of vintage and modern technology combined together. I can listen to stereo as it was meant to hear and also watch movies and surround sound Dolby Atmos DTS whatever format in movies and and live music concert venues. I won't take the time to tell you what my system is unless somebody is curious enough to ask me and I would be more than glad to share. Thanks to zero fidelity you have kept up my interest to be curious enough to find out what other people think about their systems. Again thank you very much Sean.

[@bobb.9917]

YES! I made some costly mistakes with non-returnable gear that I thought would be great for my system…but it wasn't. 😬 Audio is challenging, that is what makes it interesting and fun. I learned a LOT about components and how much that they each can effect the chain AND I learned a LOT about what sound that "I" prefer. I am back on track and can’t wait to find time to listen to my system. It sounds GREAT "to me"! My wallet will recover eventually! 🤓

[@aegisofhonor]

I had an issue a couple months ago with receiver settings where no matter what I did, the base on my speakers were NON-EXISTANT. Checked my cables, checked the connections, checked the equipment, nothing seemed to work. Then I checked the settings on my receiver and it turned out it was on a special "center channel" mode I had tested out that I forgot about that without a center channel present, it caused the sound stage to drop out flat. Once I restored it to the original "pure stereo" setting, it worked just fine as before.

[@mmdusa]

Your voice, your wisdom, your sage advice and even your weird humor is sorely missed when you don't create content. I don't think you realize how much we depend on you (for better or worse) to keep us on the correct path. No, you don't owe us anything. But as with any great instructor or professor, we are richer for your advice and learning from you. You have knowledge. Please continue to share so the next generations will not think that Airpods and Bose are the endgame. Peace.

[@ZeroFidelity]

I'm not even sure I deserve half of what you just said, but I really appreciate your kind words!

[@markcarrington8565]

As long as I can afford the incremental spend, I will never consider my hi-fi journey is over. I have two systems and one is clearly better than the other, however, I love listening to both of them. My budget comes from buying broken amps and CD players, fixing them and selling them on. This means I’ve listened to many different pieces of gear over the last 3 years and been able to keep the components that were a genuine step up from what I was using previously. Occasionally, I thought I’d reached a point where I wouldn’t need to make any further changes, only to have a piece of gear really shock me by the improvement it made. It’s the surprises that keep my interest alive and I’m now delighted at the quality of the two systems for the money I’ve spent. Not everything I buy is second hand, however, I do take the biggest gambles with used kit. If I get it wrong, I can usually sell it on at zero loss and try something else. Not scientific, but hey, it’s better than having to rely solely on reviews. Not saying reviews are pointless, by any means, they are important too. But, the more you listen to gear, the more you can relate to what the reviews are saying and that means potentially avoiding costly mistakes.

[@Carl-bd1rf]

All good points. Sometimes it’s best to pull back for awhile then when you dive back in if you’re excited to hear your system and it sounds good to you then all is good. I also liked the idea of scrapping everything at the point you can’t find enjoyment in the music and starting over! This hobby is supposed to be fun!!

[@TheTuckmon]

Good honest talk. Different that most. I agree we are supposed to enjoy the hobby.

[@AT-wl9yq]

I can give some advice if you are selling and shipping gear. If something happens in shipping and there's a claim, never refund the purchasers money. The minute you do that, you lose. They have the damaged equipment, and you need their help to settle the claim. If you just give them their money back right away, its not their problem. The minute you find out that there was an issue in shipping, call the shipper and file a claim immediately. They will give you a claim number that you can use to check the status of the refund. You also want to request that the refund go directly to the seller. Now you call the buyer back and give them all the info. They'll be able to see all the details and the payment is going directly to them. That will put them at ease, and they also know they have to do their part working with the shipper. I shouldn't have to say this, but don't play any games with the amount you declare. If you are using something like Paypal, declare the exact amount you got paid and list any serial numbers. In the event of a claim when you show something that specific, there's really nowhere to go. Otherwise, if you just ball park it, you'll have to find them retail prices and book values, and then the debate begins. Good recordkeeping and the fact you're having the refund go directly to the buyer, shows the shipper that you're not trying to make money, and you just want the buyer to get their money back. I almost forgot, you'll be speaking to the buyer throughout this process. Thats not always the case with online transactions. Make sure the buyer can get in touch with you. Take the call immediately. Always make them feel like they can contact you any time they want. Its worth it because on every single damaged shipping case I've ever done, I still got positive feedback on every single one. Never neutral or negative feed back ever. If possible use Fedex Ground over UPS. Never ship or buy anything from Canada. Its an absolute nightmare. Its so bad that when I had a piece of Classe gear that had to go back for a warranty repair, I had to ship it to someone in upstate NY, and they have a person drive everything back and forth themselves.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Excellent Advice! Laughed (and cried a bit) at your comments regarding Canada. What a pain, eh?

[@MRPC5]

I bought an open box subwoofer that I thought was absolutely terrible. Turns out the previous owner set the eq to something crazy. Reset your used gear!

[@amargnwalkr]

As a noob, I really appreciate these types of videos.

[@LorenzoNW]

As a noob, I really hope you live in an area that has a stereo shop run by an honest, knowledgeable, and friendly owner. Sadly, they're far and few between. Fortunately, I live near The Audio Connection in Seattle. And I learned most of what I know about stereos from there.

[@audiomacaudiomac5019]

Here is another one. Read the manual to understand the feature and the correct indicator for that feature. In the case of the Denafrips Pontus II DAC, there is a phase button that I thought if I turn it on (LED on), then it would be in a reverse phase state. Not correct. I have been using the Pontus DAC with the phase LED off. When I finally read the manual and found out that I need to turn on the phase to be in a positive state, I was dumbfounded. I turned it on and music was brought back to life. Phew ... I almost got rid of a fine product.

[@richardardern171]

Firstly, I really enjoyed you sharing your lessons learned in this video. I would be interested in more! I am relatively new in this hobby and living with my first new hi-fi system, (in a small room) after a break of more than 20 years, and treat videos like yours as part of my ongoing education. Really appreciate your efforts.

[@kobush18]

Nice indeed About speaker cables polarity it is not mandatory to put red plug in the red terminal and black in the black, you can do red in black as long you do the same, (it's no like in batteries case) then the phase will be ok. You can do the same mistake on the amplifier terminal as long mistake is done both on left an right channels, its ac current and they don't see colors, just don't make the mistake on one side only, that's wrong.

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

(bro, Pearl Sibelius, I can't wait for the review) I've only been a home AV enthusiast for a dozen years or so, and I only just built my first proper stereo about six months ago. I would recommend that any system builder should have specific, discrete goals for any system they build, so it's clear from the start when the shopping will end. Also, with regard to budget, I think your audio system should be something you have to work (by saving up, trading other valuables, etc.) to have. If you can put your hand on it the same day you first thought of it, then you could probably aim higher. It should be special _from your own perspective._

[@ridirefain6606]

On my end, the biggest mistake I make is hanging onto a component that are a maintenance nightmare, but I do not want to part with it because I enjoy its sound too much. Spent hundreds, nurturing DIVA components that should have been traded off far sooner than I did. You want to believe in these notable brand's big buck pieces, but if the thing is in need of repair more than half the time, then what good is it?

[@administratormagmamin8397]

OK, just came to me...another one....READ THE GEAR INSTRUCTION MANUAL AND, WHEN POSSIBLE, GIVE THE MANUFACTURER A CALL, ASK THEM HOW TO GET THE MOST JUICE OUT OF THIR PRODUCT....whenever I did this I did not regret it!

[@ZeroFidelity]

EXCELLENT advice! I failed to do so with the Plinius Hautonga and I spent WEEKS/MONTHS screwing around with it, only to finally read the manual and figure out why things weren't going so well. D'oh!

[@administratormagmamin8397]

@@ZeroFidelity Yeap, and it usually happens when you assume you know how things work. The more the experience, the less you tend to read, and its those two lines in the manual that make a world of difference. I can think of at least 5-6 occasions.

[@kenbooth5671]

Using reviews I put together a system that I just love now and not always having the urge to want to change it. Douk audio tube preamp a Rega brio amp used a set of Kef ls50 speakers used and two used Klipsch 10 in subs Stands filled with sand on top of the subs on each side of my couch the sound is awesome I'm satisfied now and very happy with it!

[@kenbooth5671]

Also got a used power conditioner

[@Scott-nr8go]

Thanks for all your reviews and advice!