What about estate sales or yard sales. My friend picked up an extremely expensive Krell amplifier at a yard sale that the woman was willing to give him if he took it. The woman’s husband had passed away and she just wanted to get rid of this monstrosity and my friend refused to take it for nothing so he gave her a check for $100 and she was quite happy. This is a true story.
You don't need wallet full of money to experience amazing sound in your home. I bought last year old small Kenwood amplifier and a pair of Yamaha speakers from the 80's. Bieleve or not, but it sounds shockingly good with decent DAC. I paid for all of this an equivalent of 400 euro.
Ah yes. I bought a 1978 Luxman R-1500 solid state receiver which was fully rebuilt and looked like new. 120 wpc. 450 euros. It sounds amazing! I got a set of loudspeakers from my fathers inheritance. Smallish Tannoy floorstanders. Used a set of nice solid copper core UTP cables for loudspeaker cables, and wow! Add a 35 euro (including shipping) Sonos Connect gen1 and such a great sound and value for money!
I like Guido and his channel. Especially this video's topic is nice, because I think about the question of the expenses this hobby creates quite often. The video gives room to breathe and shows a way out of the price dilemma.
I agree completely! Unless you're as lucky as Stimpy's friend was, I agree, used and vintage stuff is great! It seems like two groups go after vintage stuff. Vintage people, who really love the 1970s stuff mostly, and audiophile people, who might like the 1970s Luxman tube gear, but not really the solid state stuff. But I use a 1965 Thorens turntable, which I like (also like the look of), 1979 and 1981 cassette decks (Nakamichis), 2006 dCS DAC & clock & pre-amp and 1991 Accuphase C-11/P-11 pre- and power amps. The Accuphases cost $5000 new, I got them for $1100 each.. And they sound fantastic! I also saw a lot of great stuff in your set as well so far! I love that! For high quality recordings... I like indie rock, ambient, dance, pop, new wave, (black) metal, etc. High quality usually is not a priority there. Which is a shame... You really are better off with jazz and classical...
Yeah, I really agree there. Up to late 90s really. Easy to work on, easy to rebuild. Great quality! And amps from the late 80s and early 90s still have really nice phono stages as well!
I’m glad I found my tube DAC and tube amp as my first purchase. I’ve always liked my attitude with tubes and pure silver cables. It took three separate purchases to find the right tubes. I found my speakers as a second purchase. My first purchase was affordable but didn’t have the capability of producing the sound I wanted. My current speaker has the ideal tweeter to my liking. I just gave away my first speaker to my niece as a birthday present. My favorite idea about used is that they’re probably burnt-in already. Should sound optimal right away.
Today, I’m going to tweak my subwoofer. Gonna add two silver RCA cables, add brass feet and add a Flux 50 NCF terminals. So far, every tweak I’ve done has produce an ideal and positive result. I told my friend, I can’t find anything that I need. He responded, “Don’t worry, you will.”
Really enjoyed this discussion. I love the slow steady incremental progress toward the ultimate sound, whatever that is for everyone. I agree with the caution against falling for the latest and greatest. I fell for the Prima Luna phono preamp hype and it was just awful. Huge regret but lesson learned.
GM ☕️❄️from Toronto. The answer as usual with everything in this hobby…IT DEPENDS 💵 Audiophiles enjoy good sound reproduction…phenomenal sound is available now with your phone and great IEM’s ..but much money ..great sound and fun. From there ..a good headphone stack ( amp/ DAC ) abd headphones. From there its speakers 🔊 and a room . At all these 3 levels there’s levels within each …find what you like for YOU! The dare and enjoy the weekend with good people, good food and great music.🎶
I remember those Altec 19’s new in a store in the late 70’s. They were impressive to look at. Didn’t get to hear them though but I kinda dreamed of them at the time in my teens.
Reviews are not only subjective but always under different conditions, too. The room the rest of the audio chain etc. My Mc 611 amps only met my expectations after I put them on good stands and up from the floor. Maybe the Prima Luna works under some conditions but not in your chain. I honestly don’t give a thing on reviews but I must admit I still read them just because it’s part of the hobby.
Over 50 years as an avid lover of hi fidelity sound. At no time did I ever feel the need to spend everything I earned on chasing some dream setup. Now aged 65 my recent all up spend was US$7,500.00 and it's just sublime!
My system Amps: Marantz 1090 (VG+) cleaned-up and re-capt but still all org. transitions ~€110. 2nd Amp DENON PMA-700V (VG+) after 7hours re-soldering ~€10 I got both for free but they were also broken. DENON DCD-1420 (Mint) flea market 10€ only 30 years of dust was the problem runs digital to my ASUS Xonar One (Used €200+€150 op-ams) Speakers: Canton Fonum 401 + Super Tweeter + van den hul snowline cabel + self made stand ~ 300€. RCA cabels: Mogami 2524 +Neutrik Jacks DIY power cabels some tweeks etc.. ~ €250 and a fully restored AKG 240 Sexttet EP DIY silver cable and Brainwave Pads ~ €200 but i spend most of HiFi money clearly on CDs in the last 20 years 🙃
I have said this before. Happiness is about managing expectations. You are right when you say you have to consider your significant other. We don't have room for me to have a huge elaborate setup. Heck, I have a receiver/amplifier sitting in the garage waiting for me to make space for it. In the meantime I run my tape decks through some Bose computer speakers as my "amplifier". They were cheap from a thrift shop, and they have great sound (to me). But I mostly use headphones anyway. At some point I'll figure out how to stack it with my two decks, but for me, it's the most HiFi I've had. 🤷♂️
Man, I feel you... my whole set up is in the garage. I have a little corner where I have 2 systems, 1 main with turntable and SACD player and the other one with 3 reel to reel decks (well, 2 connected, the last one is there but needs some work done before being used properly) It's fine most of the year but in the winter it's tough.. hehe
I agree the Prima Luna is overhyped it’s ok nothing special. Same goes for Line Magnetic 845 tube amp, Ming Da tube amp, even Esoteric F05, maybe the only things I’d go back to are Pass Labs XA25, and Luxman as a brand (had M900u). Currently enjoying the Rotel Michi X3 and some used Audio Research gear.
In my experience, good equipment will make the differences in recording quality noticeable. That said; I really like some music that was poorly recorded. To help poor records sound good, I have one of my two turntables set up with a Nagaoka MP110 cartridge connected to a Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE preamplifier. The Nagaoka - Lehmann combination breathes new life into lousy recordings. Another thing I like about having the Nagaoka is that it is a relatively low priced cartridge (150 US dollars). I don’t worry about scratches on my old records damaging an expensive stylus. It’s worth experimenting with cartridges and preamplifiers to find a combination that makes nearly all recordings (good and bad) enjoyable to listen to. Some recordings sound better on one format than another. For example; if a record sounds poorly recorded, try the music on CD. It’s not uncommon for music to sound better on one format vs another. However - ain’t nothin gonna make contemporary pop records produced to death by “dudes” sitting in front of computer screens sound good.
Just remember that there is little correlation between price and sound quality. By the speakers that make you happy and that you like to listen to and buy appropriate amplification which will drive those speakers regardless of brand name. The same principal applies to music sources.
To cut to the chase, high fidelity is possible at a very low budget. Computer + $100 DAC or interface + $300 monitors + a dose of smarts (e.g. sticking to measurements-based gear reviews, proper ripping of CDs to FLAC, moderate understanding of things like acoustics and how to use PEQ) = done.
The topologies for the tube amplifiers are from 40s. The only change now is the components . Capacitors, resistors etc. And ofcourse the transformers were better back then. Hashimoto, Tamura. So, if you buy great amplifier let's say from the sixties, change some crucial components, you will be happy for many years ,spending less amount of money.
I do all diy I make a KT88 amp I tweak my one wires I tweak my yamaha vintage recordplayer I make my own speakers Now I am making a pre-amp with tubes. I have a recapped and more Revox A77 and make my own recordings. It is just what makes you happy to listen to and how high the bar you put. I have misophonia and I do not like the digital high frequentie because it triggers me to be cranky.
Ciao Guido! A TIP for You and beloved audience that will leave you perplexed what just happened. Buy MIchelin auto expert tyre shine in your local auto cosmetics store for around 5 euro and apply on suspension, meaning the rubber ring holding the membrane of your bass and mid drivers of your vintage or not so much speakers. It will moisturize the rubber inside and shine it outside making it soft, strong and brand new again. Be ready to be amazed and Enjoy the music!
That seems a very interesting tip and it makes completely sense. I think I might try! I will let you know if I do and the results. Thanks for sharing that!
I would add that pro grade cables and equipment is a great way to get high quality for a lower price. Everything is standardised and have to achieve minimal fidelity. This makes a neutrik based xlr for 10 euros being a bargain. Because you know it is studio quality. This is not the case with a 10k hifi cable that could be anything from equal to to crap. Studio units have the same da converters and additional functionality vis-a-vis hifi gear. Usually for a lower price. Brands such as motu, Arturia offers the same fidelity as hifi. Additionally they are the same size all of them and are build much better and to standards of quality. Same size allows for a niter rack.
That is a common misconception and in my opinion a mistake to think that pro is best, it is not, it is surely functional hence it has a very good quality but not high quality, only in rare cases when pros patently disclose that they are aiming at the best like Chesky or Sheffield.
You can be an audiophile without a lot cash but you would always wish you had the funds 😅. If you are content with average Hi-Fi you are not an audiophile by definition (witch is also cool). Good hearing or a special sensitivity for sound is what real audiophiles share. Others won’t understand and might even laugh at us 😊
Thank you for the video, Guido. Great content as always. I decided to go for the vintage route. I found some used gear and I’m planning to invest up to 1000€ to restore it. In particular: a Technics SL-5310-E Turntable, a Sansui AU-6500 Amplifier and two Emerson EM-100 Loudspeakers. What do you think of this gear? Is it good? Do you think it’s worth to invest to restore it? Or is it better to purchase something else (new or used)? Thanks
Hi there and thanks! I must admit that I am not a big fan of direct drive turntables unless they are high-end. The Sansui should be great, never heard the Emersons so I can’t really say. In any case I wanted to signal that I did a 1000$ vintage system vid some time ago. Check it out! ruclips.net/video/ex4TnRS6npE/видео.htmlsi=jUmdgUhLT1OhxvE_
Hi, Guido excellent topics as usual. I do have a question for you that I forgot to ask you a while ago. When you made the switch from The Technics turntable to your current turntable was it a huge upgrade, sideways upgrade or just a different type of sound? I believe the tone arm was probably a huge upgrade in itself, but I just wanted to get your prospective.
Your comment 10 minutes in that "voltage is analog" is wrong. The binary ones and zeros are in no way ANALOGous to the input signal, and that, by definition, is what analog is. Those bits represent a number, which if not restored to the analog format, is not an analog of the input signal. That is the strength of digital. That said, I think your tips to audio enthusiasts are very worthwhile and if followed, should provide great value to many of your viewers. Thanks for the video.
@@mikeharkins2985 Thanks for your comment. I must insist, my statement is 100% correct. I did not say it is analog, I said it travels in an analog form, meaning voltage. In fact, the 0s and 1s are expressed in impulses instead of waves, but it is always voltage, hence subject to all the various issues an analog signal has.
My actual analogue system is based on the Pro-Ject XTension 9 evo, Ortofon MC Quintet Black S, phonostage DS3B (fully symmetrical in and out) and especially the RS2 Phono linear power stage😎
How do you like RS2 power stage? I have an Xtension 9 (although The 9s rather than the 9evo) with The quintet Black and have been considering getting the power supply.
ciao sono bellissimi i tuoi video, ma perchè non fai qualche recensione di amplifcatori e diffusori recenti che si trovano facilmente ,non altro non sempre credo sia semplice trovare apparecchiatura vintage come diffusori e amplificatori integrali e spesso sono persino qiasi impossibile da ripare
Perché lo fanno tutti e io non mi considero un recensore. Lo faccio ogni tanto e la parte vintage è unica, ad esempio non c’è un singolo video che recensisce le ALTEC 19 o molte altre cose che ho presentato, c’è bisogno di riscoprire i gioielli del passato e con un po’ di pazienza si trovano cose molto ma molto meglio del cosiddetto high-end di oggi
Most used gear I have bought I’ve sold for more $$ just 3-4 years later. Highly desirable equipment only increases in value over time. Some I wish I had kept because it’s doubled in value once again. After several intergraded amplifiers over the many decades I finally bought my forever amp, Luxman 590 AXII, like you mentioned for another good source is demo’s, that’s where this one came from. Last one available here in Canada at any dealer, just happened to be 15 mins from my place, 30% discount, it was used for a few auditions, not a mark on it. Demos come with a warranty as well so big plus there. Personally I think the key is patience, if you miss out on a deal something better is around the corner. 😊
. "Highly desirable equipment only increases in value over time". I call BS. Name some brand NEW HiFi equipment purchased TODAY that will "increase in value" tomorrow. I'm not asking about vintage gear bought today compared to their retail price 30 years ago. Buy a new Limited Number Mustang GT Special Edition as an instant classic collectible? Lol, there's a good chance it will be illegal to turn the ignition much more allowed on the road. Electronics are headed the same way. The EU has banned the sale of OLED TV's. In 2027, here in the USA, all wall-warts & external linear power supplies will be scrutinized for efficiency rating minimums. It isn't a matter of what will increase in value. It's a matter of, if the product has shortly gone to digital obsolescence, been made illegal (like gas stoves & window AC btu's) or which product loses it's value the slowest due to involuntary replacement. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
. "Most used gear I have bought I’ve sold for more $$ just 3-4 years later. Highly desirable equipment..." Keyword being "most", which is it? Either desirable equipment was not purchased or desirable equipment is subjective? And in the end of this multiple transaction string, was the capital gain reported or was there none realized?
I didn’t mention brand new gear, but if you want no BS facts here they are, 7 years ago bought a McIntosh MA6200 for $1,000, after 4 years sold it for $1,500, now lucky to find one under$2,500, that was followed next by another McIntosh MA6600 that I got from a dealer that was in on trade for $4,000, sold that after only 3 years for $4,500. I wanted a quick sale but could have gotten more. It obviously has to be well recognized brand names but no question the good stuff sells and sells fast. In both cases one week, the guy that bought the 6200 drove 350 miles to pick it up. Get the original paper work with the gear and now you’re golden. 😎
@@1999zrx1100 . But that's the trick isn't it. In order to follow the advice, one would need to know beforehand which pieces to buy that would increase in value. One can't say. I asked if it could be said, but only hindsight was noted. That doesn't help. And it was said, "most" of the time. What about those that depreciated? I did just learn not to buy a McIntosh MA6600 for $4,500 now though because it it has topped out & not a deal paying full asking. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
I didn’t say that. By definition High-fidelity is faithful to the recording, not the source. So the system is trying to get the maximum out of the recording.
@starlightgrecording559 Anadialog** How Good Are AudioQuest Cables** I am Happy About My Choices of My Vintage Direct Drive Turntables and and My phono Cartridges Like Audio Technica AT33sa MC Cartridge or My Ortofon 2m Blue or 2m 78rpm Cartridge!!! I am A Reel to Reel Buff Master Tapes Like You*** Moving Coil Cartridges or Preamps for MC Are Not Cheap Anadialog and The Audiophile Cables are not Cheap ether and All of my Turntables Are Used But in Good Shape!!! Bye From Gerard Stroh!!!
Thanks Guido, this is all good and you are, as usual spot-on. I just want to caution listeners here in the US. FB and Craigslist can give you some surprises and by that, there are some creepy people out there so be cautious. Buy and trade in public places and bring a friend. Enough said. This passion we share is emotional, like religion,politics, and anything that creates and sustains your drive. Learn how to listen critically. Ask questions and get help,from friends that are objective with no biase but a lot of experience in a variety of all those qualities, parameters that Guido just spoke about. Know what you want and keep the $$$ in check. Learn from mistakes and don’t make the same ones too many times. I repeat again, this is an emotional endeavor and the dangers can cost you. I say all this because I’m on a fixed budget, and have been doing this since the early sixties. One thing that Guido has brought up that is often overlooked is DIY and home made stuff. Again use common sense and listen carefully you may have stumbled on to a real gem.
@@j.m.w.5064 I started being an audio enthusiast when I was 12 years old and I am going on 78 now. I can only tell you that in this long journey, my statement is the only conclusion that I could draw over a lifetime of being a music lover. this is probably because I spent a tremendous amount of time going to live venues as well. I could still be very happy with my old Audio Research D76-A and SP3A-1 amplification section today if I didn’t have so many excellent quality recordings because in the end you can have a $5 million system that doesn’t sound that great with poor quality recordings.
😊Hi can u buy 2 pair of same NeoTech cable & Skin off one of your Neotech cable head & change to Pure copper head! & compare them Original vs yr modified Neotech cable side by side. Video demo have !!😊
Belles Power Modules will beat anything out there . Dave Belles hand builds each unit in New York & his amps, phono stages & pre amps are second to none . Dave is 85 yrs old, so buy some stuff from him while you can Best inter grated amp for the money in order of best #1 Belles Aria / Aria Mono & Aria 2 $2500-3000 #2 Exposure 2510 $2000-2500 #3 Naim NAIT 5si $2300
Right NOW is the BEST time to put budget "Hi-Fi" together!!! Soooo much inexpensive high-end gear out there…but,yes…a lot of research is needed to get the best out of your 💰!….Used market:YES!…but…then… that ever-present monkey 🐒 on your back can rear it's beautiful head and quickly turn into a gorilla 🦍😮😮😮
Audiophools always assume that expensive is better. However, sound quality is determined by what is inside the black box, not the price tag on the outside. Therefore, learn the basics of audio circuitry and you will be able to determine if something is good, not by the price tag, but by looking inside. There are a lot of scams in elegant boxes.
Absolutely not does it take piles of money. For me it’s more fun putting together nice systems without breaking the bank. I have a bunch of vintage stuff that was just given to me by people that knew I like the stuff. You would be surprised.
Once again, such considered common sense advice. This only comes with experience. I have walked this path, from component substitution and trial listening, to buiding components. (extensive experimentation with speaker building and crossover construction chiefly, but also class A power amp building). Those days for me are long gone. Fifty years ago I was a workaholic who played with HiFi and engaged in construction/experimentation, as a means of relaxation. I won't ever use the word "hobby". What you said about the law of diminishing returns for investment, (once you reach a certain level of fidelity), is so true. Now that I have more free time I will revisit a number of individual "systems" I still have and are satisfied with in different ways. Thanks again for this terrific episode.
The difficulty with point 5 is that it might be impossible to find such recordings for certain music. I don't want my hifi to dictate my music listening. Recently I bought a Dire Straits album. It sounds fabulous compared to most contemporaneous recordings. The sound was compelling, but the music was not.
"I don't want my hifi to dictate my music listening" True! I agree, but it is also true that an audiophile is also passioned about SOUND, at least I am. A quality recording of any genre or type instrument is always interesting an a good systems helps in appreciating more the quality of those sounds and music.
Always very eloquent. Your points make sense and one should not underestimate the learning curve that an incremental improvements journey will support to better appreciate what we have.
You hear a difference when for example you do some tweeks & songs that you heard years ago now your hear in new light, i.e you can hear the words of the songs better, that symbol more musical ( this has a bearing on the quality of the recording ) & you would be surprised some mono records sound amazing against some modern recordings. Also when you just spend a bit more for example some 200 dollar/ pound amplifiers with vintage speakers can save money, use some fair price cable & remember its not all about the Base...when your system sounds good it can be addictive ! you will never want to visit a noisy Night club as often
I can’t stand the word hobby either. Hobbies are for children, passions are for grown-ups. The term hobby trivializes what we are all about in the Audio Enthusiast community.
In the grand scheme of things what could be more trivial than the obsession over sound reproduction? (That's not to devalue it as a hobby). A hobby is an activity you do for pleasure in your spare time. People engage in hobbies with varying degrees of enthusiasm. If it's taken too seriously then maybe its not a hobby any more, but then one wonders what the adherent get out of it.
🙋♂️🤗THX GUIDO FOR SHARING AND EDUCATING US,ABSOLUTELY NO 😂, AND I TOO CAN VERIFY IT…I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN ON A BUDGET 😅 for over 55 years, I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY TOO 🤗💚💚💚
@@anadialog Maybe you omitted this: "Thanks for answering. When i spoke about built-in high end dacs i meant companies like dcs, ch precision etc. Anyway i checked specs of your T+A, it looks rather serious machine and regarding it one final question. Considering it is Delta/Sigma is it better in pcm conversion directly compared to Holo May which is R2R?"
Both PCM and DSD just sounded more fresh and alive even though the May delivers a terrific presentation. Yes, I was on the ladder DAC wagon but this time delta-sigma won.
In terms of fidelity to the source a topping dac for 100 euro measures as well and often better than the above brands. T+a uses the same purifi modules as my 1400 euro power amp and retails for 4000 euro. You could also splash 1900 euro for the Nad c298 and get an amp with the same fidelity to the source. So it may not be cheap, but you can get get a totl amp for 1400, if you avoid units that are branded as high end. Then may value other things. But just in terms of fidelity to the source you can have better fidelity than you can hear for less than 1500 euro
Beautifully done Guido! Lovely, very practical advice and insights, most helpful. For almost 40 years I stayed with a pair of vintage Sherwood Newcastle Discreet receivers running dual-mono for the high end and I used some powerful amp to run the low end. Something I've always done since the very beginning was biamp because I like the control of the balance between the lows and highs but WITHOUT tone controls. So, just in the last couple of years I made the leap to a very nice USED Ayon Orion II all tube Class 'A' amp to run my tall multi-driver open baffle dipole line arrays (custom designed by a stereo designer friend of mine) with 13 drivers a side. WOW! what a leap that was and I frigg'n *LOVE* the tube sound. So, for over 40 years I've been a DIEHARD Anlong ONLY person. Vinyl ONLY! BUT... I also had like over 8000 FLAC albums on my computer, so I finally, FINALLY gave in and got a nice, mid-level SMSL DO200 DAC which plays losslessly to my main system. Again, WOW how nice was that finally to be able to listen to all that stuff too! Like you said, each step was a nice progression and expansion of quality listening. Then I replaced the phono sections of the two Sherwoods which I had been using with a nice IFI Phono 2 which I had read fantastic things about. Again, WOW! What a leap forward that was! I experimented with an all tube, less expensive Little Bear T11 and rolled some tubes, and you know, that had quite a nice sound, different from the IFI, but very nice. So, that was a nice experimental step. Now, the really neat stuff! YES! *USED gear!* On the Steve Hoffman Forums where we all pretty much interact with each other and many there have excellent systems and great reputations, so I was able to score some bloody AMAZING deals on used very high end interconnects like high end Grovers for just a fraction of the price. AND... FWIW, I was able to score some normally very expensive high end power cords for my Ayon and for my Crown 2502 which drives my 2-15" dipole woofers. One power cord new was normally about $400 and I got it for like $100! Stuff like that, awesome used stuff worth many times what I paid for it simply because some other very well to do high end guy was upgrading his system. So, I've been very, VERY fortunate to get all this really great stuff that I normally could not afford 😊 Oh yes, and I made ALL of my room treatments. Using the exact same materials at a fraction of the cost and they are very effective. It's very easy, you just buy the high quality audio dampening fiberglass type stuff and simply cover it with material. I made some VERY effective bass traps by doubling up 2 panels of those.
Thank you so much for sharing these details and passages of your journey. Bi-amping is a great way, need room and resources to keep the whole system up to the best component! Love your Ayon open-baffle solution. Congrats! You really seem to know what you are doing and, most importantly, truly enjoying it!!
@@anadialogHey thanks for the nice reply Guido, I appreciate you taking the time to do that. Heh, I don't know about the 'Know what you are doing' part, but I sure as hell am enjoying it! 😁 And YES! It is indeed the best it has ever been!
Synergy is everything! I made a sideways move on a streamer dac comparable to the existing one. Was like going up to a different stratosphere, honestly. Speakers were transformed to their best performance.
Suggestion: I’d be careful assuming more investment results in diminishing returns. With some high end gear (Linn 360 speakers), there’s evidence that the higher resolution results in exponential increase in information. As a mental model, think of the higher resolution as an evolution from broad strokes (of music) to finer detail of music. That finer detail is across all the broad strokes, increasing detail and immersion exponentially. NB: I did not say increasing enjoyment exponentially (enjoyment not necessarily equivalent to immersion). New frontiers. Enjoyment may not necessitate big bucks. But the audio industry has advanced far enough that the diminishing returns argument may no longer be applicable or even relevant!
![ANA[DIA]LOG](http://yt3.ggpht.com/50CpmGNilS8aoMlarZVhI_GxRDoZdbj4ZgwCMZXg-Rq2PrEvCytlE6RVyLUrNY-rwE_sAlZ1Zw=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
The journey from your first Fisher receiver to the high stuff over decades is well worth every penny
What about estate sales or yard sales. My friend picked up an extremely expensive Krell amplifier at a yard sale that the woman was willing to give him if he took it. The woman’s husband had passed away and she just wanted to get rid of this monstrosity and my friend refused to take it for nothing so he gave her a check for $100 and she was quite happy. This is a true story.
You don't need wallet full of money to experience amazing sound in your home. I bought last year old small Kenwood amplifier and a pair of Yamaha speakers from the 80's. Bieleve or not, but it sounds shockingly good with decent DAC. I paid for all of this an equivalent of 400 euro.
Ah yes. I bought a 1978 Luxman R-1500 solid state receiver which was fully rebuilt and looked like new. 120 wpc. 450 euros. It sounds amazing! I got a set of loudspeakers from my fathers inheritance. Smallish Tannoy floorstanders. Used a set of nice solid copper core UTP cables for loudspeaker cables, and wow! Add a 35 euro (including shipping) Sonos Connect gen1 and such a great sound and value for money!
I like Guido and his channel. Especially this video's topic is nice, because I think about the question of the expenses this hobby creates quite often. The video gives room to breathe and shows a way out of the price dilemma.
I agree completely! Unless you're as lucky as Stimpy's friend was, I agree, used and vintage stuff is great! It seems like two groups go after vintage stuff. Vintage people, who really love the 1970s stuff mostly, and audiophile people, who might like the 1970s Luxman tube gear, but not really the solid state stuff. But I use a 1965 Thorens turntable, which I like (also like the look of), 1979 and 1981 cassette decks (Nakamichis), 2006 dCS DAC & clock & pre-amp and 1991 Accuphase C-11/P-11 pre- and power amps. The Accuphases cost $5000 new, I got them for $1100 each.. And they sound fantastic!
I also saw a lot of great stuff in your set as well so far! I love that!
For high quality recordings... I like indie rock, ambient, dance, pop, new wave, (black) metal, etc. High quality usually is not a priority there. Which is a shame... You really are better off with jazz and classical...
In my opinion , mid 80s to early 90s vintage can be the best, if you can find hi end stuff at the right price.
Yeah, I really agree there. Up to late 90s really. Easy to work on, easy to rebuild. Great quality! And amps from the late 80s and early 90s still have really nice phono stages as well!
I’m glad I found my tube DAC and tube amp as my first purchase. I’ve always liked my attitude with tubes and pure silver cables. It took three separate purchases to find the right tubes.
I found my speakers as a second purchase. My first purchase was affordable but didn’t have the capability of producing the sound I wanted. My current speaker has the ideal tweeter to my liking.
I just gave away my first speaker to my niece as a birthday present.
My favorite idea about used is that they’re probably burnt-in already. Should sound optimal right away.
Today, I’m going to tweak my subwoofer. Gonna add two silver RCA cables, add brass feet and add a Flux 50 NCF terminals.
So far, every tweak I’ve done has produce an ideal and positive result.
I told my friend, I can’t find anything that I need.
He responded, “Don’t worry, you will.”
Are they genuine tube devices or just sham buffers?
Good job!
Really enjoyed this discussion. I love the slow steady incremental progress toward the ultimate sound, whatever that is for everyone. I agree with the caution against falling for the latest and greatest. I fell for the Prima Luna phono preamp hype and it was just awful. Huge regret but lesson learned.
GM ☕️❄️from Toronto.
The answer as usual with everything in this hobby…IT DEPENDS 💵
Audiophiles enjoy good sound reproduction…phenomenal sound is available now with your phone and great IEM’s ..but much money ..great sound and fun.
From there ..a good headphone stack ( amp/ DAC ) abd headphones.
From there its speakers 🔊 and a room .
At all these 3 levels there’s levels within each …find what you like for YOU!
The dare and enjoy the weekend with good people, good food and great music.🎶
I remember those Altec 19’s new in a store in the late 70’s. They were impressive to look at. Didn’t get to hear them though but I kinda dreamed of them at the time in my teens.
All good advice.
Be happy with the system you have because we know that once you start the upgrading... you have opened Pandora's box. 😁
Yeah, the best system is the one you have... Just the way it is..
Reviews are not only subjective but always under different conditions, too. The room the rest of the audio chain etc. My Mc 611 amps only met my expectations after I put them on good stands and up from the floor. Maybe the Prima Luna works under some conditions but not in your chain. I honestly don’t give a thing on reviews but I must admit I still read them just because it’s part of the hobby.
Great channel!
Over 50 years as an avid lover of hi fidelity sound. At no time did I ever feel the need to spend everything I earned on chasing some dream setup. Now aged 65 my recent all up spend was US$7,500.00 and it's just sublime!
Bravo!👏🏻
Very funny.@@anadialog
Love your Longines compression diver’s watch!
Good eye!
My system Amps: Marantz 1090 (VG+) cleaned-up and re-capt but still all org. transitions ~€110. 2nd Amp DENON PMA-700V (VG+) after 7hours re-soldering ~€10 I got both for free but they were also broken. DENON DCD-1420 (Mint) flea market 10€ only 30 years of dust was the problem runs digital to my ASUS Xonar One (Used €200+€150 op-ams) Speakers: Canton Fonum 401 + Super Tweeter + van den hul snowline cabel + self made stand ~ 300€. RCA cabels: Mogami 2524 +Neutrik Jacks DIY power cabels some tweeks etc.. ~ €250 and a fully restored AKG 240 Sexttet EP DIY silver cable and Brainwave Pads ~ €200 but i spend most of HiFi money clearly on CDs in the last 20 years 🙃
Wow, very nice job there! Great value at a sustainable cost!
I have said this before. Happiness is about managing expectations. You are right when you say you have to consider your significant other. We don't have room for me to have a huge elaborate setup. Heck, I have a receiver/amplifier sitting in the garage waiting for me to make space for it. In the meantime I run my tape decks through some Bose computer speakers as my "amplifier". They were cheap from a thrift shop, and they have great sound (to me). But I mostly use headphones anyway. At some point I'll figure out how to stack it with my two decks, but for me, it's the most HiFi I've had. 🤷♂️
Man, I feel you... my whole set up is in the garage. I have a little corner where I have 2 systems, 1 main with turntable and SACD player and the other one with 3 reel to reel decks (well, 2 connected, the last one is there but needs some work done before being used properly)
It's fine most of the year but in the winter it's tough.. hehe
You are not alone!
I agree the Prima Luna is overhyped it’s ok nothing special. Same goes for Line Magnetic 845 tube amp, Ming Da tube amp, even Esoteric F05, maybe the only things I’d go back to are Pass Labs XA25, and Luxman as a brand (had M900u). Currently enjoying the Rotel Michi X3 and some used Audio Research gear.
Brilliant ! Absolutely.
In my experience, good equipment will make the differences in recording quality noticeable. That said; I really like some music that was poorly recorded.
To help poor records sound good, I have one of my two turntables set up with a Nagaoka MP110 cartridge connected to a Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE preamplifier. The Nagaoka - Lehmann combination breathes new life into lousy recordings.
Another thing I like about having the Nagaoka is that it is a relatively low priced cartridge (150 US dollars). I don’t worry about scratches on my old records damaging an expensive stylus.
It’s worth experimenting with cartridges and preamplifiers to find a combination that makes nearly all recordings (good and bad) enjoyable to listen to.
Some recordings sound better on one format than another. For example; if a record sounds poorly recorded, try the music on CD. It’s not uncommon for music to sound better on one format vs another.
However - ain’t nothin gonna make contemporary pop records produced to death by “dudes” sitting in front of computer screens sound good.
Just remember that there is little correlation between price and sound quality. By the speakers that make you happy and that you like to listen to and buy appropriate amplification which will drive those speakers regardless of brand name. The same principal applies to music sources.
To cut to the chase, high fidelity is possible at a very low budget. Computer + $100 DAC or interface + $300 monitors + a dose of smarts (e.g. sticking to measurements-based gear reviews, proper ripping of CDs to FLAC, moderate understanding of things like acoustics and how to use PEQ) = done.
The Budget Hole 🤣huhuhuhu Beavis
The topologies for the tube amplifiers are from 40s. The only change now is the components . Capacitors, resistors etc.
And ofcourse the transformers were better back then. Hashimoto, Tamura. So, if you buy great amplifier let's say from the sixties, change some crucial components, you will be happy for many years ,spending less amount of money.
I do all diy
I make a KT88 amp
I tweak my one wires
I tweak my yamaha vintage recordplayer
I make my own speakers
Now I am making a pre-amp with tubes.
I have a recapped and more Revox A77 and make my own recordings.
It is just what makes you happy to listen to and how high the bar you put.
I have misophonia and I do not like the digital high frequentie because it triggers me to be cranky.
Nice, congrats!!
I got a Fluance rt85 with a 2M Bronze running into a Yamaha R-N1000A with an SVS Evolution Bookshelfs and a PB2000. It is everything i need or want.
your the best i love ur shows
Ciao Guido! A TIP for You and beloved audience that will leave you perplexed what just happened. Buy MIchelin auto expert tyre shine in your local auto cosmetics store for around 5 euro and apply on suspension, meaning the rubber ring holding the membrane of your bass and mid drivers of your vintage or not so much speakers. It will moisturize the rubber inside and shine it outside making it soft, strong and brand new again. Be ready to be amazed and Enjoy the music!
That seems a very interesting tip and it makes completely sense. I think I might try! I will let you know if I do and the results. Thanks for sharing that!
@@anadialog You are welcome! Oh boy did it open hi res files and separation and detail in general!
I would add that pro grade cables and equipment is a great way to get high quality for a lower price. Everything is standardised and have to achieve minimal fidelity. This makes a neutrik based xlr for 10 euros being a bargain. Because you know it is studio quality. This is not the case with a 10k hifi cable that could be anything from equal to to crap.
Studio units have the same da converters and additional functionality vis-a-vis hifi gear. Usually for a lower price. Brands such as motu, Arturia offers the same fidelity as hifi. Additionally they are the same size all of them and are build much better and to standards of quality. Same size allows for a niter rack.
That is a common misconception and in my opinion a mistake to think that pro is best, it is not, it is surely functional hence it has a very good quality but not high quality, only in rare cases when pros patently disclose that they are aiming at the best like Chesky or Sheffield.
You can be an audiophile without a lot cash but you would always wish you had the funds 😅. If you are content with average Hi-Fi you are not an audiophile by definition (witch is also cool). Good hearing or a special sensitivity for sound is what real audiophiles share. Others won’t understand and might even laugh at us 😊
Thank you for the video, Guido. Great content as always. I decided to go for the vintage route. I found some used gear and I’m planning to invest up to 1000€ to restore it. In particular: a Technics SL-5310-E Turntable, a Sansui AU-6500 Amplifier and two Emerson EM-100 Loudspeakers. What do you think of this gear? Is it good? Do you think it’s worth to invest to restore it? Or is it better to purchase something else (new or used)? Thanks
Hi there and thanks! I must admit that I am not a big fan of direct drive turntables unless they are high-end. The Sansui should be great, never heard the Emersons so I can’t really say. In any case I wanted to signal that I did a 1000$ vintage system vid some time ago. Check it out! ruclips.net/video/ex4TnRS6npE/видео.htmlsi=jUmdgUhLT1OhxvE_
Hi, Guido excellent topics as usual. I do have a question for you that I forgot to ask you a while ago. When you made the switch from The Technics turntable to your current turntable was it a huge upgrade, sideways upgrade or just a different type of sound? I believe the tone arm was probably a huge upgrade in itself, but I just wanted to get your prospective.
As mentioned in the review of my Kuzma, no, it wasn’t a huge upgrade.
Amen.
Your comment 10 minutes in that "voltage is analog" is wrong. The binary ones and zeros are in no way ANALOGous to the input signal, and that, by definition, is what analog is. Those bits represent a number, which if not restored to the analog format, is not an analog of the input signal. That is the strength of digital. That said, I think your tips to audio enthusiasts are very worthwhile and if followed, should provide great value to many of your viewers. Thanks for the video.
@@mikeharkins2985 You do know where you are at this very moment, right???
@@mikeharkins2985 Thanks for your comment. I must insist, my statement is 100% correct. I did not say it is analog, I said it travels in an analog form, meaning voltage. In fact, the 0s and 1s are expressed in impulses instead of waves, but it is always voltage, hence subject to all the various issues an analog signal has.
My actual analogue system is based on the Pro-Ject XTension 9 evo, Ortofon MC Quintet Black S, phonostage DS3B (fully symmetrical in and out) and especially the RS2 Phono linear power stage😎
How do you like RS2 power stage? I have an Xtension 9 (although The 9s rather than the 9evo) with The quintet Black and have been considering getting the power supply.
Ciao belli ❤
ciao sono bellissimi i tuoi video, ma perchè non fai qualche recensione di amplifcatori e diffusori recenti che si trovano facilmente ,non altro non sempre credo sia semplice trovare apparecchiatura vintage come diffusori e amplificatori integrali e spesso sono persino qiasi impossibile da ripare
Perché lo fanno tutti e io non mi considero un recensore. Lo faccio ogni tanto e la parte vintage è unica, ad esempio non c’è un singolo video che recensisce le ALTEC 19 o molte altre cose che ho presentato, c’è bisogno di riscoprire i gioielli del passato e con un po’ di pazienza si trovano cose molto ma molto meglio del cosiddetto high-end di oggi
Most used gear I have bought I’ve sold for more $$ just 3-4 years later.
Highly desirable equipment only increases in value over time. Some I wish I had kept because it’s doubled in value once again. After several intergraded amplifiers over the many decades I finally bought my forever amp, Luxman 590 AXII, like you mentioned for another good source is demo’s, that’s where this one came from. Last one available here in Canada at any dealer, just happened to be 15 mins from my place, 30% discount, it was used for a few auditions, not a mark on it.
Demos come with a warranty as well so big plus there. Personally I think the key is patience, if you miss out on a deal something better is around the corner. 😊
. "Highly desirable equipment only increases in value over time". I call BS.
Name some brand NEW HiFi equipment purchased TODAY that will "increase in value" tomorrow.
I'm not asking about vintage gear bought today compared to their retail price 30 years ago. Buy a new Limited Number Mustang GT Special Edition as an instant classic collectible? Lol, there's a good chance it will be illegal to turn the ignition much more allowed on the road. Electronics are headed the same way. The EU has banned the sale of OLED TV's. In 2027, here in the USA, all wall-warts & external linear power supplies will be scrutinized for efficiency rating minimums.
It isn't a matter of what will increase in value. It's a matter of, if the product has shortly gone to digital obsolescence, been made illegal (like gas stoves & window AC btu's) or which product loses it's value the slowest due to involuntary replacement.
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
. "Most used gear I have bought I’ve sold for more $$ just 3-4 years later. Highly desirable equipment..."
Keyword being "most", which is it? Either desirable equipment was not purchased or desirable equipment is subjective? And in the end of this multiple transaction string, was the capital gain reported or was there none realized?
I didn’t mention brand new gear, but if you want no BS facts here they are, 7 years ago bought a McIntosh MA6200 for $1,000, after 4 years sold it for $1,500, now lucky to find one under$2,500, that was followed next by another McIntosh MA6600 that I got from a dealer that was in on trade for $4,000, sold that after only 3 years for $4,500. I wanted a quick sale but could have gotten more. It obviously has to be well recognized brand names but no question the good stuff sells and sells fast.
In both cases one week, the guy that bought the 6200 drove 350 miles to pick it up. Get the original paper work with the gear and now you’re golden. 😎
@@1999zrx1100
. But that's the trick isn't it. In order to follow the advice, one would need to know beforehand which pieces to buy that would increase in value. One can't say. I asked if it could be said, but only hindsight was noted. That doesn't help. And it was said, "most" of the time. What about those that depreciated?
I did just learn not to buy a McIntosh MA6600 for $4,500 now though because it it has topped out & not a deal paying full asking.
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
A McIntosh MA6600 sold last month on ebay for $3,000.
Voltage isn't all that's analog. Sound is too.
Just a reflection. You speak on fidelity to the source as hifi. But does that not exclude all tube gear from the discussion?
I didn’t say that. By definition High-fidelity is faithful to the recording, not the source. So the system is trying to get the maximum out of the recording.
10k its good to spend.but more is already question
@starlightgrecording559
Anadialog**
How Good Are AudioQuest Cables**
I am Happy About My Choices of My Vintage Direct Drive Turntables and and My phono Cartridges Like Audio Technica AT33sa MC Cartridge or My Ortofon 2m Blue or 2m 78rpm Cartridge!!!
I am A Reel to Reel Buff Master Tapes Like You***
Moving Coil Cartridges or Preamps for MC Are Not Cheap Anadialog and The Audiophile Cables are not Cheap ether and All of my Turntables Are Used But in Good Shape!!!
Bye From Gerard Stroh!!!
Thanks Guido, this is all good and you are, as usual spot-on. I just want to caution listeners here in the US. FB and Craigslist can give you some surprises and by that, there are some creepy people out there so be cautious. Buy and trade in public places and bring a friend. Enough said. This passion we share is emotional, like religion,politics, and anything that creates and sustains your drive. Learn how to listen critically. Ask questions and get help,from friends that are objective with no biase but a lot of experience in a variety of all those qualities, parameters that Guido just spoke about. Know what you want and keep the $$$ in check. Learn from mistakes and don’t make the same ones too many times. I repeat again, this is an emotional endeavor and the dangers can cost you. I say all this because I’m on a fixed budget, and have been doing this since the early sixties. One thing that Guido has brought up that is often overlooked is DIY and home made stuff. Again use common sense and listen carefully you may have stumbled on to a real gem.
Thank YOU!
Yes money does help ... Sometimes not always though . You get what you pay for to a point .
Indeed!
Without high-quality recordings, it’s not worth being an audio enthusiast.
or is it?
@@j.m.w.5064 I started being an audio enthusiast when I was 12 years old and I am going on 78 now. I can only tell you that in this long journey, my statement is the only conclusion that I could draw over a lifetime of being a music lover. this is probably because I spent a tremendous amount of time going to live venues as well. I could still be very happy with my old Audio Research D76-A and SP3A-1 amplification section today if I didn’t have so many excellent quality recordings because in the end you can have a $5 million system that doesn’t sound that great with poor quality recordings.
And here too, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get good quality recordings
Source first.
😊Hi can u buy 2 pair of same NeoTech cable & Skin off one of your Neotech cable head & change to Pure copper head! & compare them Original vs yr modified Neotech cable side by side. Video demo have !!😊
😊Hi End mean, if u r a Student who walk into Hi End Shop= they will kick u out off Demo Room. Thats how Hi End works😢
Belles Power Modules will beat anything out there .
Dave Belles hand builds each unit in New York & his amps, phono stages & pre amps are second to none .
Dave is 85 yrs old, so buy some stuff from him while you can
Best inter grated amp for the money in order of best
#1 Belles Aria / Aria Mono & Aria 2 $2500-3000
#2 Exposure 2510 $2000-2500
#3 Naim NAIT 5si $2300
Right NOW is the BEST time to put budget "Hi-Fi" together!!! Soooo much inexpensive high-end gear out there…but,yes…a lot of research is needed to get the best out of your 💰!….Used market:YES!…but…then… that ever-present monkey 🐒 on your back can rear it's beautiful head and quickly turn into a gorilla 🦍😮😮😮
Audiophools always assume that expensive is better. However, sound quality is determined by what is inside the black box, not the price tag on the outside. Therefore, learn the basics of audio circuitry and you will be able to determine if something is good, not by the price tag, but by looking inside. There are a lot of scams in elegant boxes.
Absolutely not does it take piles of money. For me it’s more fun putting together nice systems without breaking the bank. I have a bunch of vintage stuff that was just given to me by people that knew I like the stuff. You would be surprised.
Once again, such considered common sense advice. This only comes with experience.
I have walked this path, from component substitution and trial listening, to buiding components. (extensive experimentation with speaker building and crossover
construction chiefly, but also class A power amp building). Those days for me are long gone. Fifty years ago I was a workaholic who played with HiFi and engaged in construction/experimentation, as a means of relaxation. I won't ever use the word "hobby".
What you said about the law of diminishing returns for investment, (once you reach a certain level of fidelity), is so true.
Now that I have more free time I will revisit a number of individual "systems" I still have and are satisfied with in different ways.
Thanks again for this terrific episode.
The difficulty with point 5 is that it might be impossible to find such recordings for certain music. I don't want my hifi to dictate my music listening. Recently I bought a Dire Straits album. It sounds fabulous compared to most contemporaneous recordings. The sound was compelling, but the music was not.
"I don't want my hifi to dictate my music listening" True! I agree, but it is also true that an audiophile is also passioned about SOUND, at least I am. A quality recording of any genre or type instrument is always interesting an a good systems helps in appreciating more the quality of those sounds and music.
Always very eloquent. Your points make sense and one should not underestimate the learning curve that an incremental improvements journey will support to better appreciate what we have.
You hear a difference when for example you do some tweeks & songs that you heard years ago now your hear in new light, i.e you can hear the words of the songs better, that symbol more musical ( this has a bearing on the quality of the recording ) & you would be surprised some mono records sound amazing against some modern recordings. Also when you just spend a bit more for example some 200 dollar/ pound amplifiers with vintage speakers can save money, use some fair price cable & remember its not all about the Base...when your system sounds good it can be addictive ! you will never want to visit a noisy Night club as often
Indeed. Mono was actually one of my first videos. I love that type of sound also because great care was put in those recordings.
will have to fine that video @@anadialog
I can’t stand the word hobby either. Hobbies are for children, passions are for grown-ups. The term hobby trivializes what we are all about in the Audio Enthusiast community.
In the grand scheme of things what could be more trivial than the obsession over sound reproduction? (That's not to devalue it as a hobby). A hobby is an activity you do for pleasure in your spare time. People engage in hobbies with varying degrees of enthusiasm. If it's taken too seriously then maybe its not a hobby any more, but then one wonders what the adherent get out of it.
🙋♂️🤗THX GUIDO FOR SHARING AND EDUCATING US,ABSOLUTELY NO 😂, AND I TOO CAN VERIFY IT…I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN ON A BUDGET 😅 for over 55 years, I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY TOO 🤗💚💚💚
Simple question, simple answer - YES, you must be rich to enjoy quality sound.😢. But you didn't answer me about Holo May and T+A D200.😢
I did check the comments
@@anadialog Maybe you omitted this: "Thanks for answering. When i spoke about built-in high end dacs i meant companies like dcs, ch precision etc. Anyway i checked specs of your T+A, it looks rather serious machine and regarding it one final question. Considering it is Delta/Sigma is it better in pcm conversion directly compared to Holo May which is R2R?"
Both PCM and DSD just sounded more fresh and alive even though the May delivers a terrific presentation. Yes, I was on the ladder DAC wagon but this time delta-sigma won.
@@anadialog Thank you very much. 👍
In terms of fidelity to the source a topping dac for 100 euro measures as well and often better than the above brands. T+a uses the same purifi modules as my 1400 euro power amp and retails for 4000 euro. You could also splash 1900 euro for the Nad c298 and get an amp with the same fidelity to the source.
So it may not be cheap, but you can get get a totl amp for 1400, if you avoid units that are branded as high end. Then may value other things. But just in terms of fidelity to the source you can have better fidelity than you can hear for less than 1500 euro
Great video. Thanks.
Beautifully done Guido! Lovely, very practical advice and insights, most helpful. For almost 40 years I stayed with a pair of vintage Sherwood Newcastle Discreet receivers running dual-mono for the high end and I used some powerful amp to run the low end. Something I've always done since the very beginning was biamp because I like the control of the balance between the lows and highs but WITHOUT tone controls.
So, just in the last couple of years I made the leap to a very nice USED Ayon Orion II all tube Class 'A' amp to run my tall multi-driver open baffle dipole line arrays (custom designed by a stereo designer friend of mine) with 13 drivers a side. WOW! what a leap that was and I frigg'n *LOVE* the tube sound.
So, for over 40 years I've been a DIEHARD Anlong ONLY person. Vinyl ONLY! BUT... I also had like over 8000 FLAC albums on my computer, so I finally, FINALLY gave in and got a nice, mid-level SMSL DO200 DAC which plays losslessly to my main system. Again, WOW how nice was that finally to be able to listen to all that stuff too! Like you said, each step was a nice progression and expansion of quality listening. Then I replaced the phono sections of the two Sherwoods which I had been using with a nice IFI Phono 2 which I had read fantastic things about. Again, WOW! What a leap forward that was! I experimented with an all tube, less expensive Little Bear T11 and rolled some tubes, and you know, that had quite a nice sound, different from the IFI, but very nice. So, that was a nice experimental step.
Now, the really neat stuff! YES! *USED gear!* On the Steve Hoffman Forums where we all pretty much interact with each other and many there have excellent systems and great reputations, so I was able to score some bloody AMAZING deals on used very high end interconnects like high end Grovers for just a fraction of the price. AND... FWIW, I was able to score some normally very expensive high end power cords for my Ayon and for my Crown 2502 which drives my 2-15" dipole woofers. One power cord new was normally about $400 and I got it for like $100! Stuff like that, awesome used stuff worth many times what I paid for it simply because some other very well to do high end guy was upgrading his system. So, I've been very, VERY fortunate to get all this really great stuff that I normally could not afford 😊
Oh yes, and I made ALL of my room treatments. Using the exact same materials at a fraction of the cost and they are very effective. It's very easy, you just buy the high quality audio dampening fiberglass type stuff and simply cover it with material. I made some VERY effective bass traps by doubling up 2 panels of those.
Thank you so much for sharing these details and passages of your journey. Bi-amping is a great way, need room and resources to keep the whole system up to the best component! Love your Ayon open-baffle solution. Congrats! You really seem to know what you are doing and, most importantly, truly enjoying it!!
@@anadialogHey thanks for the nice reply Guido, I appreciate you taking the time to do that. Heh, I don't know about the 'Know what you are doing' part, but I sure as hell am enjoying it! 😁 And YES! It is indeed the best it has ever been!
sometimes a system at a hi fi show is not set up for maximum enjoyment
I would say in most cases! ;-)
I allways found nightclubs could do with a few lessons from the hi fi world too@@anadialog
But used and upgrade for the same money.
Synergy is everything! I made a sideways move on a streamer dac comparable to the existing one. Was like going up to a different stratosphere, honestly. Speakers were transformed to their best performance.
Suggestion: I’d be careful assuming more investment results in diminishing returns. With some high end gear (Linn 360 speakers), there’s evidence that the higher resolution results in exponential increase in information. As a mental model, think of the higher resolution as an evolution from broad strokes (of music) to finer detail of music. That finer detail is across all the broad strokes, increasing detail and immersion exponentially.
NB: I did not say increasing enjoyment exponentially (enjoyment not necessarily equivalent to immersion). New frontiers. Enjoyment may not necessitate big bucks. But the audio industry has advanced far enough that the diminishing returns argument may no longer be applicable or even relevant!