Why I'm quitting being an audiophile reviewer
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
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In this video, I talk about the changes in the channel that you've probably already seen and that you'll continue to see moving forward. I hope you enjoy the future content on the channel. Thank you for watching, commenting and sharing!!
My top recommended HEADPHONES (prices in USD)
HarmonicDyne Athena - $179 - bit.ly/3QvQdlq
Moondrop Para - $299 - amzn.to/4c1C4F9
Sivga SV023 - $449 - amzn.to/3UKXsZ5
Meze 109 Pro - $799 - amzn.to/3y6l6qi
Sony MDR-Z1R - $1,800 - amzn.to/4dy4szZ
ZMF Atrium - $2,499 - www.zmfheadphones.com/
Meze Elite - $4,000 - bit.ly/3UMIDWb
Focal Utopia (2022) - $4,999 - amzn.to/44xEHvx
My top recommended IEMS (prices in USD)
KZ ESX - $30 - amzn.to/4bpMyxC
Tangzu FUDU - $89 - amzn.to/3UvOrlk
Simgot EM6L - $129 - amzn.to/4a3SLy1
Meze Audio Alba - $159 - bit.ly/AlbaIEM
Thieaudio Elixir - $209 - amzn.to/3ULd9zr
7Hz Timeless - $220 - amzn.to/3QslVA8
Yanyin Canon II - $379 - bit.ly/YanCanII
Xenns Mangird Top - $530 - bit.ly/XENNSTopLin
Sennheiser IE600 - $700 - amzn.to/44AxcUQ
Sennheiser IE900 - $849 - amzn.to/4b66wxy
Westone Mach 70 - $1,400 - amzn.to/3ULUK5P
My top recommended TRANSPORTS (prices in USD)
WiiM Pro - $168 - amzn.to/4bpTDOw
SMSL PL200 CD - $669 - amzn.to/3Wsd0lJ
Eversolo DMP-A6 (Master Edition) - $1,299 - amzn.to/44sBMUR
Eversolo DMP-A8 - $1,980 - amzn.to/3QxRU1B
My top recommended DACS (prices in USD)
Topping E30 II - $149 - amzn.to/3JQyGkd
Topping E50 - $199 - amzn.to/3WucWSO
SMSL DO200 Mk2 - $469 - amzn.to/4a5Di0C
Topping D70 Pro OCTO - $599 - amzn.to/4a8bubZ
Geshelli J2S AK4499EX - $680 - bit.ly/J2SAKM
Schiit Bifrost 2/64 - $799 - www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
Gustard R26 - $1,650 - amzn.to/3QyZ0mB
Schiit Yggdrasil - $2,299 - www.schiit.com/products/yggdr...
Chord TT2 - $5,295 - chordelectronics.co.uk/produc...
My top recommended HEADPHONE AMPS (prices in USD)
Schiit Magni - $119 - www.schiit.com/products/magni...
xDuoo MT-604 - $169 - amzn.to/4bpNYrW
xDuoo TA-26S - $319 - amzn.to/3UJbfzx
Geshelli A3 Pro - $499 - bit.ly/GLA3Pro
Aune S17 Pro - $699 - amzn.to/4a75v7b
Schiit Mjolnir - $1199 - www.schiit.com/products/mjoln...
Burson Audio Voyager - $5,300+ - bit.ly/4a8Mwcq
My top recommended DONGLE DACS (prices in USD)
Moondrop Dawn Pro - $50 - amzn.to/3y2dd57
Simgot DEW4X - $80 - amzn.to/4b68rlK
Questyle M15i - $349 - amzn.to/4doMSyp
My top recommended WIRELESS 'PHONES (prices in USD)
Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe - $40 - amzn.to/3UIXQr4
Soundpeats Air4 Pro - $79 - amzn.to/3Wyj4tj
Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 - $130 - amzn.to/3WwMpEf
Sennheiser Momentum 4 - $379.95 - amzn.to/3WrEqZ0
HiFiMan Svanar Wireless - $499 - amzn.to/4amOhmx
Join the Passion for Sound community on Patreon: / passionforsound
or here on RUclips: / @passionforsound
Join the public Discord server: / discord
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Join my Patreon: / passionforsound
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Or make a one-off donations: paypal.me/lachfen
Like the music in this video? You can get it here: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Things are changing
01:49 Being an audiophile
03:39 I quit!
05:08 Wrap-up
#audiophile #audioreview
Love your content, sir. Always truthful. Keep going and definitely don't give up.
I have never seen a reviewer who is more careful in his choice of words, when describing the sonic characteristics of products and who has made it clear from the very start, that all statements are only his subjective opinion... and not a fact set in stone. That's exactly why I'm watching.
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with all respect, i only been talking abt my situation and only seek for better (my) situation, yet things been stretched to various topic which is silly and irritating
if others lacking here there so be it, i mean another sillyness why you want everyone to think and do the same things
Agreed
Click bait title 😂
It's a necessary evil, but I'll always maintain a seed of truth in the titles and aim to pay off your click with an enjoyable video. 🤞
Yeah, and that is def annoying to many more than any dusagreement with a review viewpoint.😮
To some extent, ALL video titles, at least the successful ones, are clickbait. There’s a lot of competition for our attention. Creators can’t share their videos unless we click on them. So it’s all clickbait, get over it.
@@isoseismic thank goodness for trolls 🧌
@@PassionforSound Sorry my friend, but click bait is click bait. You are no better than the rest. Or maybe that is your goal?
Out of 40k subscribers, you are talking probably about less then 200 people leaving insignificant comments! that's less the 0.5% of your subscribers. So, 99.5% of us subscribed for a reason, and that's because we trust your opinions and have faith in your capabilities to hear differences in audio devices. you've worked hard to get where you are, dont let any haters change the commitment you have for this channel. This hobby would not be the same without you!
Please stop with the sub numbers. The mass mass majority of his view don't come from subs at all, and out of the existing subs, only around 30% are actually clicking on his content. It had been statistically and factual proven that only a very small percentage of your videos audience is actually your sub base, generally around 10 to 15%. The dislike of his videos is a majority consensus as seen by the number of negative comments to positive ones, as well as the amount of support negative comments get compared to positive comment generally being higher in his controversial videos. You might lie, but the statistics don't.
I second that opinion. Naysayers can take a hike.
I dont justify everything made against him. I can't say that the criticism is a tiny minority either. When there is a controversial video, generally, the top comment is negative. Most of the comments, in general, are negative. In your reality, only 5 to 10% of the comments actually are negative, which, if we actually look, isn't the case.
@@benstain2674 If the majority of his viewers are negative then they got issues. Who continues to watch someone they are revolted by for months on end?
@@mikeg2491 because they're always different people. Did you not listen to what he just said?
I don't always agree with your findings, but I do really respect your work! Please keep doing it!
Well said, as usual. You are absolutely correct that our relationship is built on trust. I have bought products that you have reviewed and they delivered as you explained. Because of the length and depth of your reviews I do have a feel for your tastes and I can get some comfort in spending decisions because of it. When you live a couple of hundred miles from a good audio shop, what other resource do you have? Don't let the a-holes get you down! You rock and blow a mean horn!
Haha. Thanks Ken. I'm actually more inspired than ever lately so lots more fun to come.
This man, i feel the same
When he talks about audiophile network switches, fuses or other such BS, he shows himself as a crooked snake oil salesman
@@user-gf7kj5vj3p .These products are on the market and thus an appropriate topic. No doubt this stuff is highly obscure, but it does provide a valuable insight into our hobby.: the search for perfection in audio reproduction, and the businesses that go after it. Considering all reviewers are just offering their opinions, that's the job. So ascribing other interests for a review is unwarranted. Trust the guy on his volume of work, which you apparently did, over items a lot more costly. We viewers have a way of politely disagreeing without trash talk. Lachlan is sincere in what he does, or is such an excellent actor he needs a film where he can play a sensitive hit man...
@@user-gf7kj5vj3p nah man, those things actually work. But you dont have to buy them if you dont hear the difference. My wife buys a fuck ton of shit she thinks makes a difference that I dont see.
Please don’t quit. You are one of the nicest RUclipsrs out there. You have always answered all of my comments so politely and it is because of your reviews and answers to my comments that I ended up buying 2 products. All the best from Denmark 🇩🇰
I'm not going away, just changing my emphasis a bit. It's always nice to know I've been able to help!
@PassionforSound we all appreciate the hard work you put in
One phase for these folks: “different strokes for different folks!”. There is no way to please them all. Thank you for making great video as usual Lachlan!! Hello from Vancouver Canada.
Thanks for your support!
So sad. I became a supporter just to get info on the Yggdrasil relay clicking. Great content here. People need to grow up, be more respectful and listen harder. ❤.
Thanks for your ongoing support! There's more wonderful people like you in the community than haters so it's all worthwhile. 🙂🙂
I love relay clicking too! I almost purchased the Ragnarok 2 just for the relay volume control clickies! (I still might , as it dropped dramatically in price recently ). 😃
I have noticed people.becoming more critical especially the measurement crowd. Speakers and gear need to be listened to, measurements can help yet are not the answer unequivocally. Also a lot of people saying all reviewers get paid or given gear by manufacturers. To be honest so what if one does as long as it is an honest review. All reviews are the opinion and taste of the reviewer and we need to only listen to who we feel gives the best for us review. You don't like someone, move on. It is easy to send hate online, it is not face to face. I call them keyboard warriors. All brave without being seen. Pretty easy yet sad lol.
I like your reviews, I do not buy based on any one review. I need to listen to many if there are any on the gear I like and do my research myself then decide. I feel gear these days is like a dac choice. Often it is a lateral move not an upward move. So get the best gear for yourself you can be happy with and just relax and enjoy the music. Critical listening is not for me. Gonout and listen to a high-school band or a live venue and get in touch with real music and we all.shoupd become our own reviewers and use, yes use, other reviewers as opinions not facts for us. No offense! Lol
Now get the Laiv Harmony dac review and comparison done!!!!! Lol
Take care!
Great concept, Lachlan! I like what you are doing and the refreshing new take on your channel. So Happy Listening and see you next time on Passion for Sound :)
I see what you did there! Nice one 😁
I plan to watch even more of what you produce. 😎👍
Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy it!
I agree with the average nice guy. I like your new approach!
Screw all the lil butt hurt goofies. You are one of the most balanced, nuanced and careful reviewers out there. Keep going going, mate. You bring all the new gear first and you're timely and on point always in a humble way
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You’ve been extremely helpful to me. I love my Chord Mojo 2 and my Burson headphone amp, both chosen thanks to your guidance. As you say, it’s just your opinion and preferences, but the sensitivity and thoughtfulness of the way you express yourself give me a clear sense of what you’re experiencing, and perhaps what I might experience as well.
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Thats why I seldom share my cables experience with people..😂
😂 You can always share them here. I will always be open to those discussions!
Yep..there are certain things we just have to keep to ourselves 😂
@@PassionforSound ya we had a short discussion about Effect audio during your Penang visit.
Eventually everyone will secretly believe in cables, but are afraid to share it. This is the silence before the storm. All we need is a big reviewer who isn't afraid to speak the truth, and then everyone will open up and share their findings.
@Chriskeon75 oh cool! It's always hard to connect RUclips handles with the people behind them 🙂
I agree being an audiophile is looking for being moved in different ways by the sound, like body moves, pressure on the heart, crying a river, engaging sound aggression on the ears, attention grabbing, "audiovisual" beauty, etc. Different gears provide different flavours, positive or negative, or no special flavour at all. Sometimes, it can be coming from a subtle change in the presentation of the sound, sometimes it can be from a huge change. Thanks to your kind of channels + sound demos vs original tracks (which is necessary to make decisions after getting an idea or confirmation of the sound from the reviews), it's much less expensive than it could quickly become with decisions that don't bring the special flavour looked for. It's not a matter of price but if it works on your ears and mind or not, even if higher end gears tend to bring more special sounds to the party. Don't read too much the comments section, everyone is on a different page in their audiophile journey. I think comments are more here to provide an idea on how others think about the gear, not to convince the reviewer of anything, even if it sounds like it, other people don't care much about them, they are just personal views and eveyrone understand that. Keep the good work, maybe extend to more than headphones, especially amplifiers because I think that's what bring most of the special flavours to sound. Speakers sound is mostly related to whether one like the tweeter material or not. There's a lot of misbelief in that hobby coming from people that most often didn't experience themselves what they are talking about and bring general misconception to the party. I did most of my purchase listening online demos and reviews with a HD650 and it works well enough to make right decisions, a good pair of headphone first investment needed to start a journey looking for full audio systems. Then it's all about getting trust on what each gear brings to the table relative to each others, not about listening exactly to their sound online in someone else room, even if it's much more accurate than what people often think, especially when we know what we are looking at. I like your channel and bring more of your personnal experience in your reviews, what moved you in particular in the sound provided, is a good idea.
Good for you mate. Focus on what makes you happy. I find when you describe what a certain part of a song sounds like is the best reference point in any review as I can always find the song myself.
Thanks for all your work and reviews I appreciate you.
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Thank you for your efforts to produce the videos and edit your content. It has only been a little over two years that I have been buying equipment - headphones, IEM's, headphone stands, DACs, Amplifiers and some cables - to enhance my experience of my music collection. Your videos have been helpful. I have spent many hours listening to and reading reviews and educational material. I appreciate your honesty and especially the ongoing reminders that this is a subjective experience. As you mentioned, over time I have been able to relate what I hear and see from you and others to my own experience and interpret, as best as I am able, accordingly. I look forward to your future content.
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Thanks for all you do.
My absolute pleasure and thank you!
as a fellow reviewer all I can say is the "hide user from channel" button is your friend, the minute anyone is toxic, seems to have a cult like mindset, is rude, obsessed with forcing their audio ideologies on others or anyone that seems to have forgotten this is supposed to be fun I just hide them from my channel. It stops ALL their comments from being visible to anyone including the channel creator so they can continue to view & leave comments but nobody including myself will ever see it. Also remember negative people tend to be vocal but they are often times the minority. Thousands of people will watch our content, think happy thoughts but not say anything. I always like to remind people that I make content for the people that enjoy my content, if someone didn't enjoy my content that meants it was not made for them.
It doesn't work. Louis rossman proved it.
Also no, content can have false statements or be considered poorly made beyond its core objectives, both of which PFS has done. Thats the 'kids movie argument' where your not allowed to say its flawed because your not the target audience. Videos can be bad in general terms.
Videos can be criticised for reasons outside of the objective set by the video. Both him and you have made poor videos in the past despite the context of those videos being the same as they normally are.
@@williamsteven5613 it 100% works when I do it, I have never seen a comment from the same person again after hiding them from my channel, they can still watch my videos but I no longer can see their comments.
@@williamsteven5613 often times "false" or "wrong" in audio is a matter of ideology and not a stone cold universal truth, that's where content creators tend to have a hard time with some stubborn viewers who believe their personal truth to be a universal truth. Like "bright speakers are annoying" can be a personal truth for some user but it's not true for everyone.
I want to take just a moment of your time to thank you. I recently decided to upgrade my headphone DAC/Amp to get more out of my small collection of headphones. Your channel was one of a handful whose opinion I respect and appreciate. Because of your information and advice, I am quite pleased with the upgrade purchase decision I made. The reality for me and I presume other audiophiles is there is no way to sample many pieces of equipment before buying something, so the service you provide is priceless to me and for that I thank you for your insights and guidance.
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Lachlan, I really appreciate your reviews and the information you provide.
Thanks to you, I became aware of Schiit Audio and presently own a Schiit Freya N preamp, a Schiit Gyallahorn power amp and a Schiit Modius DAC and am extremely pleased with them all. I’ve just ordered 4 x CryoTone 6N1P tubes for my Freya N (Apos don’t currently supply these). I’ll be ordering 2 x Schiit Tyr Monoblocks later this year.
A pair of new Chord speaker cables bought a few years ago revealed sounds to me that I’d not heard before, from CDs and vinyl I’d listened to for years. Cables can/do make a difference!
Years ago, one of my AV technicians at RMIT University told me I was talking rubbish when I said that painting the edge of my CDs with green made a difference. It sure did … I happened to do this when a Telstra techie was in my home fixing my phone and he asked, “what did you just do? … The bass is tighter and everything sounds cleaner.” No snake oil.
Thanks for your reviews and comments. Keep up the good work.
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Im just recently getting serious about trying to explore all aspects of audio, although I have always loved music and off and on subconsciously sought to dive deeper. For me, I always wondered what MY thing was that I turned to as my outlet, in both good and bad times. Some people turn to eating, and some dedicate all their time to the gym, some to gaming, etc. For the longest, I thought, "I don't have that one thing I turn to," but then eventually realized it was always music. When I was depressed, at a loss, going through losing someone, happy, celebrating, whatever it was...music always seemed to not only have enhanced those moments, but leave such a mark that even years later I would still have said feelings attached to a specific song. That is why I am trying to find out more and experience more of this hobby. Love the channel and thank you for all the hard work you put into both the videos we see and what we don't see behind the scenes.
Amen brother good luck.
As someone whos autistically gone down the rabbit hole, dont believe the subjectivity thing. Im gonna sound like a prick for saying this but its complete and utter bullshit and no amount of sugar coating is going to change that. Well engineered speakers should be anechoically flat, and have good directivity + phase response. And I can ASSURE you that if you heard a genuinely good speaker that hits all of the "objective" marks, then your jaw would drop immedietly. If it doesn't, then theres a flaw in the sound that needs to be worked out.
@niccster1061 Im not educated enough to know that much about all the audio gear itself, lol. Also, my focus isn't really the gear, although I still like nice things xD. I am more so chasing after just the overall experience, the fun in the process of learning, and just the nice feelings it can bring, regardless of wether it is perfect or not, if that makes sense.
@@Tanner_SD in terms of sound, you'll no doubt have more fun with something that performs better. That being said, whatever gives you joy gives you joy 🤷♂️
@Tanner_SD it seems I missed replying to your original post - sorry! I'm so glad that you've found your "outlet" in music and that I've been able to help with some of my videos. Happy listening!
I’ve got you on RUclips speed dial and always enjoy checking out your content Lachlan! You are curious and discerning and excited to travel through the mysteries and challenges in the enjoyment of music listening. I like your videos that question different approaches as Rob Watts has one path while the R2R guys do things differently… as one example. Negativity is an aspect of social media that can make enjoyment difficult - for myself I avoid a lot of interactions in social media due to this. It really helps to have enthusiasts share their stories and you are a great addition to the dialogue in the world of music with headphone listening Thanks!
Thanks Van! I always appreciate your comments. 🙂
I've always found your reviews to be thoughtful and thorough. I'm looking forward to watching your new style videos. Good luck!
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I have a lot of respect for you doing this. I haven’t seen many of your videos until recently, but this is great.
I used to be a content creator until this same thing sent me down a spiral. There was a lot of outside influence for that as well, but the fun was taken out of creating content by unrealistic expectations and people generally being negative and judgy.
I’m thankful a creator like yourself can make something so true to yourself.
Keep up the great work, brother!
Sorry to hear that they got to you. It can get overwhelming for sure!!
Your one of my favorite reviewers. I believe your up front and honest. I trust you. I have been watching your videos for a few years. I have some of the devices you reviewed. I bought some of them before I seen a review you may have made on them. You are very accurate with what you say about the hardware. I have even learned some things along the way. I believe certain people hold on to every word and looking for that got ya moment. I asked you one time why you sounded like you were whispering. You kindly replied that you had a little one sleeping just in the next room. I was curious. I never really expected you to respond. You cared enough to. That was enough for me. I don't know if you thought I was attacking your character or not. But, you responded like I wasn't. I felt bad asking in the first place. You humbled me. God bless you brother!
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Honestly I always found your reviews helpfull. Especially on the IEM and the price range video's that you did. I'm actually thinking about buying some new ones one of these days. So please keep doing what you do, I like that you bring up brands that I never would have heard of anywhere else.
This is such a good explanation of how subjective our hobby can be. Not only do our ears vary person-to-person, but they also change with age. It’s great you’re focusing on what appeals to you about the hobby, because there’s always somebody who is going to know more than us about acoustics, circuits, and audio. What we can’t forget about is what got us into this in the first place, and that’s getting the most from our listening experience. Being right feels good, but giving people a place to share their opinions is even better.
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Well said Lachlan. Like MagicMaus29, you are one of 2 reviewers whose videos I look forward to and value in terms of what you produce. This is not about what is right as you said but for many of us, myself included, it is trying to get an insight on different types of gear from someone whose tastes aligns with yours in circumstances where it is just impossible for any one person to try, much less purchase, all of the gear we may be interested in or tempted by! Please keep up the great work!
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Click bait. I'm unsubscribing! ;-)
Used to have a FB profile with 45k followers. It's impressive how people demand that you be their voice, or vocalize exactly their opinions, otherwise you are not worthy of their little precious time. This is a kind of self-esteem and self-righteousness I wish I could have, but was never able to properly develop. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Brazil!
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You do not need their kind of self-esteem (it is actually their weakness), and you have no need to be self-righteous.... because you are YOU and you don't have to prove anything to anyone. 🎇
I Love this. It means your Channel content is now perfectly Aligned with your channel title. Passion for sound. It always has been and can only get better from here. The other point I would like to make is all of your videos have always been transparent and unbiased and genuine. I have full respect. ❤ It’s all about the Passion for Sound.
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Much love man, I respect you and your opinions and love the fact that you answered all my questions.
I always enjoy you and your work. God bless.
I couldn't believe I heard the difference from adding an old Monster Power HTS 2600. People just need to have an open mind.
I make life easier on myself by not trusting any "reviewers" on RUclips. If you are uploading sponsored content, dropping affiliate links, accepting gifts/trips/perks/etc. from companies, then that makes you a marketing partner. That's 100% of RUclips (or internet?!) where the subject is a product or service. Best thing to do is watch and read multiple videos and sites/articles and develop your own opinion.
Hi Lachlan! I'm relieved to see that you will continue to post new videos. Your honesty and integrity are second to none. I'm still enjoying the Meze, Chord, Burson and 64 Audio gear that I purchased based on your videos. BTW I'm surprised at how much I am enjoying my latest purchase, a Focal Bathys. This headphone is especially great for me because I have a bit of high frequency hearing loss. The Focal app includes a hearing test, and enables the user to adjust the Bathys' EQ to match one's hearing loss. The feature is called Sound Personalization. It works incredibly well for me.
Thanks Bobby! Nice to hear from you. I've heard lots of good things about the Bathys. Glad you're enjoying them. 🙂
Lol... I remember heated discussions on equipment going back to the 60's and nothing really changes. The bigger the person's ego, the more "right" they think they are. The person I remember getting the most pleasure from his music was my uncle. He collected 78's of historic opera. As far as I remember he didn't change his equipment from the early 60's until his death in the 90's. He spent his effort and money sourcing records and listening to them. I guess with 78's there is a limit to quality in any case, but he never looked for the remastered recordings on 33 LP and never owned a CD player.
Thanks!
My pleasure! Thank you!!
i have read plenty of articles that explain why fuses can make a difference, the Holo Bliss comes in different versions, with increasingly expensive fuses, it's a tiny detail, but, high end sound is all about marginal gains, i have a stabilized power supply, good power cables, 5000 dollars worth of cables in total, and i know they make a difference, if i change just one cable i might not hear it, but the whole set of cables matters, of course it does !!
Keep doing what you’ve been doing and thanks for sharing your views with us. I totally agree with you sometimes and sometimes I don’t but I always enjoy your perspective. Thanks.
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Great video, Lachlan. You and I don't always agree either. And that's OK! I appreciate the work you do for our hobby. Keep it rolling! 🍻
Likewise, Brian! Keep on creating, mate!
I hope it brings the fun back for you :)
Already has! Thank you 🙂🙂
I didn’t know you review audiophiles! How do I rate?!
(Just playing around)
😂 nice play on words!
I think for me I found that the way you describe the sound of a headphone or another piece of gear is not only very clear but also exactly how I have perceived that device when I have heard it myself.
As such if I am interested in a piece of gear and you have reviewed it I take your comments on board probably more than with other reviewers. Of course when investing in something (especially an expensive item) I will look for all of the information I can.
For my personal audiophile journey I have basically gone full circle listening to more technical equipment and ultimately settling on two setups. Both of these setups bring me absolute joy in the music without any fatigue.
These are:
Samsung Phone/Tablet > Chord Mojo 2 > Meze Empyrean
and
Grimm MU2 > Feliks Envy > HifiMan Susvara
I know it seems unlikely with Susvara but both of these setups I can listen to for many hours at a time with zero fatigue. I absolutely can just sit and enjoy the music and the hours fly by. They are both extremely addictive setups at very different price ranges of course.
Thanks for your input that helped with the journey.
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In the words of Ronnie Barker in Porridge "Don't let the B@stards grind you down". I am a long term subscriber Lachlan and love that you take risks that infuriate the church of Audiophileology 😅 You have my vote! 🙏
People might not agree about music, but we all must agree with basic physics and things like USB specs x)
I have come full circle, I entered by teen years in the late 70s and gained my appreciation listening to first generation 70s receivers - I was fortunate to live through the receiver wars and have fond recollections of my mom's Marantz and Sansui receivers, marantz speakers and technics turntables. I remember spending summers in a space we had in the house, that was for all intensive purposes, a listening room and becoming an audiophile. I then went digital, then converted to just streaming (Sold my vinyl and had my CDs sealed up in boxes) to now returning to my origins, classic vintage receivers, vinyl and analog. I have returned to where I started, and I'm so excited and looking forward to continuing my journey, albeit after a 30+ year pause. To me, being an audiophile is getting that same feeling of excitement, pleasure, and being lost in the music as I listen to amazing artists creating legendary songs.
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Very interesting and thought trough video, thx for your great work and keep on as you promised❤
I definitely will. 🙏♥️
Cheapaudioman went from authentic beloved curmudgeon to overproduced shill. Your old videos were so much better when you were just a regular dude sharing your experiences. This has nothing to do with being an audiophile. This silly video is an example of this channels randification into clickbaity shill territory.
Yeah he lost me recently with power cables video i think it was, i have never heard such a load of pish in my life.
@@paulcridland5230 I don't even care about that. I.might evern agree with him. It's thr shill factor that bugs me. It's gone up by a factor of 10.
@@danisold I hear you :)
@@paulcridland5230 They make a difference, so whats the issue you have with his vid lol
These comments about me being a shill always make me laugh. I can only assume the people saying this haven't paid attention to the parts where I specifically raise what I don't like about a product or who I think it won't be good for. Perhaps our understanding of the word "shill" is different.
While what you are saying makes sense by itself, in the context of recent cable comparisons - I completely agree with some of the comments. Spreading snakeoil and misinformation
I follow your channel because I'm more of an objectivity focused buyer unless I can hear it myself, because I understand that sometimes something randomly clicks and we don't know what we don't know. I walked away from listening dozens of headphones including an Orpheus deciding that my hd600 was enough, and that the Grado sr225 had something special even if it wasn't flat or compliant with U shaped preference. So even though I remain skeptical unless I can hear and understand, or understand measurement and theory, it's interesting to see different thoughts and experiences
Edit: I think I might sometimes seem like a hater but I wouldn't be subscribed if that was the case. But having done enough double-blind and triangle tests there are definitely ways some things can be better and we don't need to ignore what science we do have pretty locked-down, for example analog and digital signal transmission (yes there are fringe debates for everything but we know how copper VS silver works, glass VS plastic, short/long distance balanced VS unbalanced)
Well said mate. Your channel is always informative and shares our passion for music. Don't be discouraged by the negatives. Glad to see you are continuing.
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Why people take what a gentle and broad minded YT reviewer says personal and react rudely, is the pain of the modern world. I watch and read many reviewers to accumulate information on sound. It has helped me immensely to choose the gear I have, without having the possibility to listen to it all beforehand. Not to mention it is fun to hear others talk about gear and what they like. Look forward to more fun reviews!
The term audiophile means different things to different people. When I hear the term audiophile, I think of someone that is more of a critical listener. To me an audiophile is someone that tries to get engulfed in the listening experience. I want to be incapsulated within the sound field. I want to hear every nuance. I WANT THE EXPERIENCE LIKE IT IS HAPPENING NATURALLY IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. I think we are always searching for the next best thing, or how to improve our listening experience. The thing that most people do not realize is that your speakers can sound different due to humidity, or lack of in the air. We get different results. Also, your hearing is not the same day by day, or even from morning to evening. Our hearing is not a constant. Which most people believe. Your health can play a big part. You could have caught a cold, not only your voice changes, but so does your hearing. Some days you may need to wear a hearing aide, but later that day, or the next day you may not. If you live in the mountains, or a valley, the air pressure changes, and the way you hear things. ALOT OF VARIABLES COME IN PLAY IN HOW YOU HEAR. In some locations the atmosphere is thicker/heavier than others which influences sound waves. Just my two cents. Not yelling, just trying to put emphasis on the subject. Thanks for listening. CHEERS! 🙂
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Great description! Looking forward to the growth.
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Please try to get the smsl h400. I want to know if it's better than the a70 pro.
Lachlan your reviews always rock the show and I’ve enjoyed every single one I’ve ever seen. There’s always a tiny percentage of the general public that no one can please, but rest assured your regular readers like me know how awesome your chops are so keep your chin up and keep those reviews coming. You do it better than anybody …
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Well said. For me, I have found that many of the different audio reviewers and commenters have something interesting, informative and unique to say about audio from their varied personal experiences and perspectives. It all goes toward informing and shaping my own knowledge, thoughts and feelings about audio equipment and how I personally hear and appreciate recorded music. I have learned not to expect objective perfection, because in audio, as in most things, it only exists as a personal subjective concept and not a universal reality everybody agrees on. Variety is indeed the spice of life.
There was an earlier point in my audio journey where I found myself highly skeptical about some ideas and concepts which seemed 'fantastical' in my mind. I found your channel and it helped me develop confidence and trust in my own judgement of what I was hearing. Then it just happened for me...pop! I reached a level of equipment (not cheap; Mid-Fi maybe), and listening maturity ( e.g. exposure to different equipment; reduction of listening bias; openness to ideas; honesty with myself as to what I was hearing) , that I could hear (feel) the differences in cables. Just like that. I was 'kind of sounds made up' using amazon basic interconnects, but then came Canare and I was 'hhmmmmmmmm? interesting', and then came Mogami Gold XLR's and I was 'yea there is a difference and the cost is not to bad at all', and then I tried DIY with 'Belkin' wires and I was like 'wow, just a smudge cleaner, wasn't expecting that' , and then came the Gotham 4-1 Ultra interconnects, and I was like 'Whoa, that is a clear difference AND worth the cost.' Those were only about $40 a pair (x2: Dac -> Preamp -> Monoblocks). Anyway, what this channel has done for me over the years, is help me ease into the "To Me" part of my experience. And - feeling/believing that- has really increased my enjoyment of the hobby. So to Lachlan: Thank you so much sir. And, "HATERS GONNA HATE, AIN'TERS GONNA AIN'T" - James Franco in The Interview. Rock on!
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Your comments on "alignment" and being able to tell what you might like based on taking what you know about a reviewer's preference is spot on. I've used that criteria for years in reading movie and record reviews--find someone whose preferences you understand and interpolate from there. Don't sweat "science guy", they are always full of advice on what's possible and what's not (of course never having heard anything being discussed) and are usually "experts" on not just engineering, but physics, psychology and rhetoric. The good news is they have plenty of forums to participate in that focus on "scientifically justified" audio. Not sure why they feel the consistant need to spew their opinions everywhere else but I often find it's actually just to justify a lower spend than others.
To be honest its all about having fun along the path your going. I went through a few brands of speakers till i found one im settling with, changed various equipment to suit what I like and had fun changing speaker wire and switched from RCA to XLR. Even had fun experimenting different fuses one equipment that takes them. People will have different views but its about having fun and tailoring sound to what you like not whats expected or what some would say reference. Dont let a few people get you down when there are much more who support you :) its always nice seeing others input or review on thing's.
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Very well spoken. It is a delight that you confront people who seem to get a kick out of bullying people just for the sake of bullying. It is also a delight that you seem to be taking your channel in a more subjective and personal direction. This will personally suit me very well, and even though some will complain even more remember to take it in it’s stride. Because what can a reviewer do beyond expressing his/hers true views? The most important thing is to be true to oneself and find enjoyment in life. Greetings from Denmark
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To me there are 2 types of audiophiles and it comes down to, do you listen to the music or do you listen to see how the equipment behaves with the music. What I like in reviewers I listen to is be upfront and open. When you tell me that something is open, or bright, or bassy, or claustrophobic give me an example (pick a song and tell me where you are listing to). Also, like you said this is a hobby that is very subjective hobby and we all like different things. Last but not least, our hearing level is different so what we hear or don't hear is different (I have tinnitus, it sucks, but because of it I have to fight with what I think I am hearing so if you say something is at the 3500Hz level there is a very good chance I will not hear it since that is the freq of my ringing so my brain tries to throw out that info automatically).
I am able to relate to the words you to explain the sound. Great reviewer
Are you able to explain why some audio equipment creates more engagement? Meaning when I listen to music on NFAUDIO NA2 and Polk speakers, they make me wanna dance, while Hifiman XS and TANGZU Wu Zetian, I listen and look for details.
That's a really interesting question! I think it comes down to 2 main factors: (1) tonality / tonal coherency - does the music sound right and natural, and (2) how tactile is the delivery? Some setups deliver the music with feeling and energy (not aggression) which brings the musical experience to life more. That's how it seems to me, anyway. 🙂
@@PassionforSound Thank you, any IEM that you recommend with those characteristics?
There are a few. What sort of budget are you wanting to keep to?
@@PassionforSound $200 - $300 AUD
Good timing for that budget point: ruclips.net/video/_FUSqaux2wk/видео.htmlsi=gv4lfsRYXDxBtpl1
You're loved and respected in my circle of audiophile friends. Keep doing you my man! You're appreciated.
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Love your channel and your speaking / presentation skills, looking forward to more content.
Thank you for sharing... Stay strong with no emotion in the storm....
I love your content, all my audio gear comes from reviews that you've done... thank you for your work
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Just subscribed. And yes I agree there are so many trolls out there in the so called "audiophile world" with an opinion. It doesn't matter if others don't like a certain iem, headphone or amp, as long as YOU enjoy it and it gives YOU happiness when you experience how it sounds. ❤
I was predispositioned to enter this hobby. My older brother collected video game soundtracks, I became a classically trained french horn player, and cheap audio stuff from walmart always left me disappointed and broke. Playing in concert halls has shown me that I value detail and an almost dead neutral tuning. I own DUSK and to me that set is my fun set with tons of subbass and a nicely extended treble. To other people it's a subbass boost, nothing crazy. I own and love the HD600 and Focal Clear and to me those are very nicely tuned sets for all of my listening needs.
How we all experience sound is entirely different from one another. I will passively pick up more information just by proxy of how much I've played music live. I will also have very different preferences from audiophiles who don't play or produce music themselves. I have found that my FR preference range is actually fairly wide and I can listen to and enjoy a lot of different tuning styles without much issue. I'm also 28 and can still hear up to 19k hZ without issue. I have two differently shaped ears that changes the tuning of over ears slightly and cause fit issues.
What I'm trying to say is that who you are is so important to the audio equipment you ultimately pick. That's what makes this hobby subjective. I compare it often trying different craft beer, or comparing fragrances. I like the conversation it brings, and I love that I now have $20 IEM stocking stuffers. Just having one piece of equipment that a reviewer has covered gives such a huge amount of context to what you hear vs. what others hear.
Side note, I've helped a ton of my friends and family find equipment that works for their situation. Some unique cases I've had include:
- a wrestler with chronic cauliflower ear
- my brother who had multiple ear infections and has upper frequency hearing loss
- someone with huge ear canals that literally eats up the Truthear Zero:Red and 14mm eartips. Everything is sibilant and never has enough bass.
Everyone's ears are so different that what everyone perceives as "good" can be affected by factors you would never experience.
Love your work! Please keep it up mate… more appreciate it than the few who use it to project their frustrations etc upon….
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We need more sound enhancing DAC USB cables reviews, keep them coming 😃
I have one produced, scheduled and ready to go. Stay tuned! 🙂
I’ve been listening to all sorts of gear for many years now and found myself to lean more towards the objectivist camp.
That being said, I really don’t mind that others are enjoying music in their own way. In a similar vane to what you say in the video, I think everyone should just pick what they think sounds the best for them and enjoy the music more than the gear.
Who cares if someone thinks a silver coated cryogenically treated USB cable sounds better than a cheapo Amazon basics usb cable? Who cares if someone else thinks lifting cables off the ground with Japanese roasted bamboo blocks makes the music sound more lifelike?
Heck, I have an Yggdrasil OG and a JDS Labs Element 3 and I enjoy each unit just the same depending on my mood for the day. I’m not sweating over peoples differences. I like what I like and that’s it.
Cheers
You're doing a good job and your reviews are enjoyable. The issue isn't how you review or the observations you've made, but there are just too many folks doing reviews. The state of hi-fi has never been better, with most products providing a level of sonic quality that's hard to argue with. With that, the audio chain that delivers the signal to your speakers can impact what you ultimately hear. I like hearing about those subtle differences because you might discuss something that gives me a clue about an issue I'm hearing, that I don't have a solution for.
The audio review category on YT got its boost during the pandemic. Excerpt for John Darko, I'm not sure how most reviewers make a decent living, so when I saw your thumbnail title, I thought you were heading for greener pastures.
I agree that you should review in a way that makes you happy, as it is your time.
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I very much enjoy your videos and do watch nearly all of them. I can totally understand, that ignoring the stupid haters sometimes is very difficult, but please keep trying ;-)
Besides just enjoying your content, your reviews also helped me several times making buying decisions. The last thing i bought based on your review was the Yanyin Canon II and i simply love it. Over time i just got to know what you like and that chances are high i could like it too. You have been a great companion on my audiophile journey and I am looking forward to your future content. I hope you will find more enjoyment creating your videos again.
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Ironically, this is one of the best videos you've done so far. Over time I have purchased gear as a result of your praise. I have also saved a lot of money by buying the correct gear FOR ME due to your insights when comparing gear. This has all been very helpful and entertaining. With all that said, I think an updated focus for your content is a smart move. Showing the back story of how you look at new and old gear, talking about music, and having loads of fun along the way will definitely hold my attention. And it will for others, too, I'd wager.🙂
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Totally agree about knowing what the reviewers tastes are in relation to my own. I know a lot of reviewers prefer a brighter tonality than I do, so when they refer to the gear as a little relaxed sounding, I get interested.
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Fellow Aussie here, keep doing what your doing mate, while I'm not bothered or interested in cables making differences, I've never tried to compare as a casual enthusiast, I still love nice cables, it's a hobby why wouldn't I.
But that shouldn't mean if someone disagrees with you whether they think it makes a difference from their own opinion or belief they refuse any content is just dumb.
If you're not into it don't watch that video. Simple. Your headphone and amplifier reviews are absolutely fantastic. Do what you love and what you're interested in! Keep up the great work
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I guess my tastes in audio very much align with yours Lachlan, I have been subbed to your channel since I first got into this hobby a couple of years ago. Keep the great content coming. I’m not going anywhere. Cheers..!
Hey Lachlan, you do you man. I've always found your reviews very insightful. In fact your Great Dongle Fondle series and review of the Questyle M15 + your response to my comment is one the the main reasons I ended up purchasing the M15 which I absolutely love and get sooo much enjoyment from!!...As you have said there is no right or wrong in this hobby don't let the mean comments get to you.
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Thanks a lot for your honesty+credibility which is sometimes missing those days💗🎶
My pleasure ♥️
You are the only reviewer who said the Meze Empyrean V2 weren't great while pretty much everyone else said it was the best thing since sliced bread. After listening to them at Axpona, they are just way too bright for just about anything I've tried with them. My thoughts on them aligned closer with yours. I had a similar feeling about my experience with the Aune X1S GT I bought for work. Great for brighter headphones that can pull out more detail, but don't pair well with headphones like the ZMF Atrium.
Always enjoy the vids mate, do what makes sense to you .
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So glad you’re staying in it, Lachlan. You are a superb communicator and I really like the way you value various aspects of gear and music. You do wonderful work, I hope you continue to explore and enjoy your niche in the joy of music.😊
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Good afternoon Lachlan! I have been watching your videos for years, but never really left any comments. Thank you very much for your time and effort in making awesome reviews!
Respect!
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I am sorry to see you go. What is your next project? What have you loved most about me? What would you like me to improve? Enjoy the surf?!!!!
A good thoughtful reaction to the pressure that people bring to this hobby. I’ve always preferred the terms audio and music enthusiast. People seeking to maximize the musical experience in whatever ways they can afford and that bring them joy while listening.
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Just for the record, I am not a head-phone guy. So, why do I try to listen to
your reviews? Because I learn about products and manufacturers and the audio
nature of their offerings. I had never heard of Burson until you introduced me to
their products. That's one example of why I like your presentations. I may not
be an audio engineer but I have been listening to audio since the 1950s when
stereo was (about to be) new. I have always kept abreast of the technological developments
over the years and I just love it. A good reviewer (which you were until now) serves
an important role in today's audio world. They (you) bring forth today's audio offerings
and opinions thereof - wherein once this knowledge could only be attained by
visiting a local brick and mortar. Whatever your "new audio incarnation" will be,
you'll always appreciated. Same goes for Randy, Ron, Tarun, Erin, Sean, Zeos,
and, I'll stop>
Thank you, Charles! I'll still be producing lots of reviews, but with a slightly different style and tone. Hopefully you continue to enjoy my work.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Trends seem to suggest that audiophilia now means listening to graphs.
You are doing great work. I really enjoy your videos. Keep it up and lets have fun 😁
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I recently got an Elekit TU-8200r based on your review, and I frickin' LOVE it! Scrolling through some of these "objectivity"-oriented HiFi forums and sites, they almost seem like medieval inquisitions for pieces of audio kit...mind-blowingly silly stuff.
Glad you're enjoying the TU-8200R! I'm actually going to bring mine back into my signal chain soon thanks to some new tubes I want to try. I'll post some videos about them if I think it's worthwhile. 🙂
Lachlan old ( new ) buddy ole pal, I respect your perspective which can get quite specific at times in a good way!
I love when you venture into cables blind testing!
I love your penchant for borderline over the top extensive analysis!
I do appreciate somewhat more concise and fun videos but I would still love to get the spirit of the thing you are reviewing conveyed and compared with similar and higher level stuff so i get a feel for what it does and at what level of price / satisfaction it sits!
I’m very sensitive to subtleties so they matter to me.
As you know, most of your viewers will not get to experience what a reviewer experiences in volume or variety of products.
So you provide a wonderful service to the community of audiophiles, audio enthusiasts, etc.
It’s cool you have taken the creative risk of morphing a bit in your expression.
Looking forward to more videos, and discovering the spirit of what you are hearing!
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Thanks Scott. I'm trying to be a little more concise, but still cover all the details that matter. For example, my review of the Dethonray Listening M1 is still 20 minutes long because that's what I felt was needed to properly cover it. I hope you enjoy the new style and that it still ticks all the right boxes for you!
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Sounds like a very proper in depth run at the dethonray m1!
I’m a fan, and supportive of all of your efforts Lachlan!
I noticed you back in the days of Bottlehead circa 2013. I was hot rodding my Crack using PIO caps, 12B7H (custom speedball) and 5998 tubes with a stepped attenuator to power the HD800. Good times. I was literally moved to tears a few times by that rig. I may just build it again for these HD650s I've got kicking around.
Anyhoo, Hello! Don't stop, you've come a long way.
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You have helped me find things that have improved the sq in my system.... i can hear the diff between rca coaxial and usb !!
So glad I've been able to help!
O que mais vejo no nosso hobby são "experimentadores de equipamentos" e muito poucos "apreciadores de música". Parabéns pela sua decisão e que o canal se mantenha firme no seu propósito.
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Man I panciked when I saw the title. I've always loved your content mate, thoughtful, sincere and enthusiastic. And such a soothing manner. Bugger the haters. Keep it up!
Sorry if I caused you any stress! Hopefully I can pay it back with extra fun and enjoyment in the upcoming videos...
For me, I trust that you have Far greater knowledge of anything audio related than I do and you're one of the few reviewers I trust. Even though you typically have very different taste in music, I trust in your ability to understand the nuances between different sound related gear and your only bias is your perceived ideal which you measure against. I have bought two or three IEM's based on your recommendation and very much considering Westone Audio - Mach 70 also largely because of your views. For me, I am interested in hearing the highest resolution of audio and video I can afford with the hope of hearing as close to the original recording as possible, as if the performance was right in front of me, in a otherwise silent studio so i can hear every detail my single full hearing ear can coupled with the systems ability to reproduce this. Really, I am hoping to experience the feeling i had near 2 decades ago listening to the sound demo in an A/V store of quality hifi that I couldn't afford at the time. For this reason I'm really sorry to hear about all the negative nelly's who have spoiled this part of your hobby but I'm Very glad you are continuing your reviews. 🤔😃 besides, I like many of us are no longer able to go to a physical store to try this gear in person and even then it isn't under ideal circumstances so we need honest reviewers such as yourself who can trial the gear on our behalf.
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I remember when I first found the channel, I was so excited to find someone who had the patience and skill to evaluate op amps. It wasn't just that it filled a needed niche, your ability to try to evaluate honestly and communicate it well has made this my favorite audio channel.
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Lachlan I think you are such a great lad and you have done such a great job with your videos. Thank you brother
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I admit I don't always take reference from your videos, especially when you talk cables since I usually can't hear the difference between ones of the same nature (e.g. $50 copper vs $300 copper cable). However, I do think you try your best to convey what your experience was, and I can still appreciate that. Like you said, it's a subjective hobby. What you hear may not be what I hear, and it's all about finding the right reference point for yourself. You are just one of the many people out there to help paint a clearer picture on the products of this hobby. Keep doing you! At the end, being an audiophile, by definition, just means intensively enjoying the sounds you can hear. As long as you can find enjoyment, no matter what the means are, whether that be budget equipment or $1000 dac/amps, then nothing else really matters.
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