Top 10 Hi-Fi mistakes & how to avoid them
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- New to Hi-fi? Think you're an expert? Well check out these top 10 mistakes that most audiophiles do and learn how to avoid them.
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I started the sound journey in 1987. I was writing in magazines etc when I was younger and had the chance to listen and test extreme and very expensive setups, I also own one. Back in 200x I was invited to listen to a system that was really expensive. The guy had invested ridiculous amount of money to his setup. I listened very carefully and of course I was amazed with the sound quality, best system ever heard (and till then I had listened to the very best class due to my work). I noticed he had bought some wooden devices with spikes he had the speaker cables on them. I knew these and I knew they were expensive. At the time I was skeptic with such improvements (for example very expensive 220V power cables) and smiling I told him that that was money out of the window.
He smiled back and offered me to do a blind test. I would close my eyes and he would remove them and then back on etc and I would try to see If I could here the difference.
Well, I was SHOCKED. I felt that the sound stage was demolished every time he removed them (or at least I was guessing that the collapse was happening during the removal).
I also made him do it while I was watching (in case he does something else lol). It was a stunning experience and a big lesson for me. From this point on I started to give attention to every detail in my system.
I have also read every book I could on audio and electronics including Self's, Cordell's etc. According to a theory that also exists in these books nobody can listen a difference of 0.1% below THD in amps.
So here is example #2:
I own a very expensive set of power monoblocks and I was very happy with them through the years. Ideal measurements, many zeros id THD, a lot of weight, 1KW at 2Ohms, I had the chance to acquire them with constant improvements in many years. I have listened many others and couldn't find something really better, so I decided to build my own and end up designing SETs, pure ClassA 1KW in total. I was amazed by the sound of them from start and felt they were much better than previous.
Every Friday night, me and my wife we listen to music on the special place we have for this and she has no idea about electronics (she knows I am doing "something" with electronics - she pays no attention) but she has very good ears.
So I told her that I had to change the amps and bring some cheap ones, because our previous monoblocks had to be repaired (lol). When I put first record on, she stares at me and says. WTF, this sounds AMAZING, are you sure these are cheap? Keep them and sell the other (lol). During this first session she cried when we played "E Lucevan Le Stele" from Placido Domingo.
I have learnt dealing with hi-end for more than 30 years that there is so much more in sound than numbers. And I am Ph.D Electrical Engineeer, so I know the consequences of what I am saying.
Yes, harmonics is one of them, and TIMING is much more important.
Alleluia! Finally someone with a degree and experience that goes beyond the book and simple measures. Great respect man!
Never laugh at improvements.😂. Youll eat your words
@@anadialog Thank you very much! Just bought a coffee and sent you an e-mail
How nice, thank you so much! I greatly appreciate your support man!
Indeed it’s not just numbers some installations are more lively, exciting or prone to induce more strong emotions (also headphones!), Others are “perfect” neutral, dull, great numbers also…There should be much more research about this. I have different speakers but also an old pair of transmission loudspeakers from the seventies: Bowers and Wilkins DM2A, made by hand and the sound was tuned by expert listeners panel, not computers. Decent numbers also. I know what I miss on those speakers compared to more modern speakers: detail. The bass is better by the way. But somehow I cannot part with them because they sound very personal and emotive when I listen to my favorite vocalists. It’s almost as if they are there with you and engage you.
Mistake number one having no disposable income and getting interested in decent equipment.
Indeed!! 😂
Yup, exactly.
That's a mistake commonly made, especially now that the pandemic took all sources of income of most people.
High_Hopes 😷
Hahahaha yes
Fair Play!
Another great video!
I'm going to type a few things quickly:
1. Break-in, I guess people are not used to this kind of ritual, but this is the same thing as a new pair of shoes, it needs wearing them to make them feel good, when you buy a new vehicle, the manual does mention a break-in period, your first 1000 km or so you should be gentle, let those engine parts settle in, my motorcycle for instance, first service was around 300 miles because the manufacture wanted to make sure everything settled in properly (plus ... 2 wheels... better be safe than sorry).
2. Cables, oh yes, they make a difference but I don't think we are telling the whole story here. We have to talk about cable material (copper vs silver for instance, copper, copper covered in silver etc...), positive and negative cable running attached or separated, braided cables or non braided, the location and how many other cables will be around, and cable gauge (how thick or thin a cable is). I think there is space for many episodes just on cables.
I was skeptical about cables at first, I used the cables that came with my first hifi system , which were just normal copper cables with positive and negative running attached to each other, very basic, very common cable type, nothing fancy. I don't know how old those cables were, but I can tell you that they were not new and the copper was not shinny, so from there I decided to buy brand new roll or copper cables, did some experiments with different lengths (another talk point), did I hear anything different between one and the other ... no, but also the system was compose of Yamaha A-S202 (bottom range) and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers so it was what it was... but I did not quit there and then, I thought people can't be making this stuff up, so I did a bit more research and ended up getting a pair of Van Den Hut Clearwater cables, now I heard the difference straight away, tiny differences but it was there - they continue to be my go to cables and my preferred cables to date, the only moment I have preferred another cable was a recent pair that I made myself, all braided and I believe it calculated 9 AWG, made with copper cable, nothing fancy - so I do believe that the material, thickness, length and how the cable is ran can impact on the sound - I was also told to run my cables always in the same direction, if one side has been on the amp, then it should always be connected on the amp, seems that the burn-in of the cable also has impact - but that I don't have enough experience with, in fact any vulgar copper cable I have that is not terminate I must have connected in opposite sides a hundred times
3. Try the equipment as much as you can in your own environment, same way you expect to have a test drive in a vehicle, if you have a local hifi shop they should be able to provide you with gear on a loan, in my case I'm fortunate that the local shop is quite local and they allow me to put down a deposit (normally half the retail price) and take it home to test, send it back and get the money back if I'm not purchasing (I don't use this enough, but I should).
I wanted to write so much more but it's too lengthy already, thanks for taking the time to read.
Thank for sharing that!
Ive learned everyone has their own budget and taste. And your right what works in one house maynot work in someone elses. Ive got a few setups and love them but slowly getting my perfect setup. Once thats in place ill be done. Great video.
Power cleaning makes total sense, my only problem with it is that the gear getting sold in the audio space is very overpriced for what it actually is and does. The audiophile marketing, as it too often does, drifts too much into forgetting there is some actual science and reasoning behind whats going on and then uses that to jack up the price. It creates weird class barriers where they should not exist rather than helping people get the most out of their situation in addition to stiffing productive discussion about the technology. I've seen the same thing happen in other niche spaces where a device suddenly gains a higher price for no other reason than the name of the hobby is on the packaging. Dirty AC is such a common enough problem that its just disappointing that there are people claiming you need to spend 4-5 times what you need to in order to mitigate the problem and thus discouraging both consumers and manufacturers.
This is the same in any hobby area. Repacking standard stuff, put on package that it is dedicated for that particular hobby and sell it 2x and more times overpriced.
As someone who is just getting into vinyl, this is the best channel I found so far! Your personality is great, just cosy to watch, I almost want to light up my fireplace and I don't even have one
Now that is super duper comment...think I am going to frame it! Thank you so much!
Gay.
Mistake 11: Bad quality media (bad quality/pressing records).
Klaus / yes!
snakeoil, yep if a good salesperson tells you something really works, and you have just overspent on this you will believe that it works even though it does not. a friend of mine bought a very expensive pair of audio cables from the USA, and believed they sounded great, i had a set of japanese cables that were 10% of the price that sounded the same. We did a blind test where he did not know which cable he was listening to, to his surprise he preferred my cheap cable. i tested all the measurements ad they were the same, he was annoyed, took a knife to the fancy braided outer sheath and was surprised to find that the actual cable was the same Japanese cable inside the fancy sheath. Sound quality is always a matter of perception and belief.... great video by the way.
Though I'm skeptical, I could be convinced that burn-in is a real phenomenon in acoustic components because it's reasonable that the moving materials might shift on a molecular level in response to forces imposed on them and that maybe that could take some time to happen.
As an electronics engineer I have never heard anyone speak of nor had any experience which would lead me to believe that electronic components perform any different from the first time they are powered up. As an example a couple of years back I was on a team designing a 1000W RF power amplifier. The output power spec has a margin of +/-0.5 dB over all frequency channels and temperature range (0C - 50C I think) which are all compensated for through a calibration procedure as part of the production test procedures. A 0.5 dB deviation in power comes out to 6% difference in amplitude level. These circuit involved hundreds of components. Had the component variations between the time it was tested on the production floor and after hours of operation amounted to just 6% then we would have seen power level faults and products returned from the field as a result.
Furthermore, if burn-in of electrical components was real, the assumption of the pro-burn in camp is always that the burn-in will drive the device from harsh to pleasing. How come there never seems to be a possibility that any given device is optimal from the factory and operating it longer will degrade the performance?
Here's a response I made to someone else's comment:
"If electronics really sounded different after a burn-in period then manufacturers would be able to measure the effects and post measurements. Also, have you ever heard anyone who believes in burn-in say the gear sounds worse instead of better? (Note that I'm talking about electronics and not speakers.)"
My experience has been some equipment requires burn in and some doesn't. And you don't know until it happens. I have a set of Revel M22 speakers that my dealer assured me required burn in. But right out of the box they were effing amazing and still are 14 years later. Meanwhile, some diy rca cables I made required about 3 months of burn in and then they were better than anything else I have tried - EVER. Sooo yeah.
@@michaelorlowski7722 Do you believe in goodwill? God?
Another excellent video. Thank you! Your comments on tweaks are well taken. It may even be more complicated, however. Since some tweaks may compromise others. So, a new tweak may sound even better if an earlier one is removed or changed. Also, the importance of vibration control is essential and can be verified by ear and and measurement. Burn in time is a bit more complicated since we are also adjusting our fairly malleable perception. Thanks again, my friend: Bella!
A variant of mistake 9: confirmation Review fever. The Compulsion to read reviews of the product you have just purchased in order to reinforce in your brain how good or cool it Is
My speakers are quite low to the ground, unfortunately, due to a distinct lack of free space. That's certainly the only major issue I've noticed with my system. I'll make sure to rectify that once I move house. Another insightful video!
I bought my first hi fi set up in 1975 when I was in the Navy and still have a lot to learn. It has been a fun journey!
The difference between a very cheap cable and a better but not expensive cable Is huge but the difference between a middle of the road and a more expensive one negligible
Another great video! Good points! I'm glad you're still doing videos! I haven't seen a video from "Michael fremer's analog planet " since this "C-19" stuff broke out! I hope he's ok, I really enjoy his content as well as your wonderful channel!
He's fine, I'm sure. Fremer does have a habit of going a few months without recording every now and then.
on the snake oil thing around 20 minutes in, i think its also important to consider that the last 10% of getting your setup 100% "perfect" will always involve very minor almost un-noticeable differences for the sake of perfection whereas leaps and bounds are made early on with things like turn tables and not different types of wire /cables/ etc.
Its not "upgrade itch"... Its "GAS" ( Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
Or CSD (Compulsive Shopping Disorder)
I find one of the biggest mistakes is in turntable choices. We have to remember that all records are mass produced, whether it is a run of 10 or a run of 10,000. It makes more sense to consider who is pressing the records, the vinyl mix they are using and who did the mastering. But, one thing you must remember, the vinyl used for records is the least costly of the process, which costs a few cents.
For the overall record quality, RTI in the U.S. and Pallas in Germany are probably the best. In recent history, we lost one of the best and oldest record pressing plants, Rainbo Records. They continually maintained and upgraded their presses and had people operating them who had been in the business for decades. In the past, both Rainbo and Optimal Media pressed the same LP's using the same masters provided to them from the same source. It's like the grass is always greener on the other side. Some said the Optimal pressings are better, but remember they were using the same masters. The difference is in the vinyl mix used. Rainbo used a superior mix of vinyl as many North American pressing plants use. The only better may be RTI and QRP.
The problem with QRP is that they have a problem aligning the stampers, so one side of a record may be off-center. They may even have more defective returns than others. They pressed the U.S. version of the Beatles "White Album" which had a particular problem with LP2 being slightly warped and off-center on one side. Many copies were returned and record stores pulled remaining stock. Optimal did the rest of the world pressings. Comparing LP1 between QRP and Optimal, because of better vinyl, the QRP pressing was superior.
Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions decided to bring back the UHQR LP. In doing so, they put more man labor into the pressing process. Plus, they introduced a new vinyl mix. Their first release was a Jimi Hendrix album, UHQR-0001. The first copy I received was virtually unplayable with surface defects and off-center issues. It took almost a year before I received a replacement, which was great. I found out from Acoustic Sounds that they had a defective return rate of 16%. Considering that some copies have remained sealed, the defective rate could even be higher. Whomever is the first to open one may get a rude surprise. With the number of pressings which were made, 16% defects numbers into the 100's and cost Analogue Productions thousands.
Just to try them out to see how they had improved, I got their latest UHQR "Kind Of Blue" by Miles Davis, UHQR-0004. The first copy I received had a lot of surface noise, ticks and pops. The replacement that I received last week was excellent. But, here's the kicker, the most recent Columbia-Legacy LP's are better sounding. I would think that the Classic Records and MoFi versions would be the best.
So, you don't need to spend a lot of money on a turntable. Some over-priced turntables don't take advantage of lessons learned from the experience of turntable manufacturers before them. Dating back in the late-1940's, the premier turntable manufacturers started using tubular curved tone arms. Later, "S" style tubular tone arms became popular. Here's the key. Sound travels best in a straight line. If you throw a curve into it, sound stays at it's originating source. With a tone arm, that keeps it at the cartridge. We had already started retrofitting our radio station turntables with tubular curved tone arms, and then Technics hit the streets which basically put the traditional turntable manufacturers out of business.
You don't have to invest in a superwhammy Frankenstein turntable to get great sound, especially if they have the old technology straight tone arms. If they could have improved on their tone arms, when Technics re-introduced the SL-1200's, wouldn't they have done so? We are starting to see other premium turntable manufacturers finally seeing the light.
Oh, then there are the cartridges. If you want to guess what they might sound like, look at their specs. Remember, those cartridges were designed to sound like they were meant to with the original stylus that came with them. If you change to another brand or type of stylus, it is going to sound different.
Nice input, thanks
Mistake number eleven: we must never allow ourselves to think about the millions of people listening to MP3's on their mobile phones through earbuds that are bobbing their heads up and down in pure enjoyment of the music - our priorities are different to theirs !
Sure, and I respect that! We all started at that point (lo-fi) and many just stay there. No problem. BUT a pork chop will never be a beaf steak!
@@anadialog Lol. Fair point.
@@anadialog Actually, I like a good and tender pork chop better than a beef steak!
It's kind of a happy accident (was it?) that perhaps the most important mistake is "number 2" 🤣. Speaker positioning is such a big thing and such an easy thing to play around with. And play round with where you're seated too! That makes a million times more difference to whatever cable you buy or whatever expensive gear.
Especially when you're stressed for money, just move things around and listen again to what you have. It makes a huge difference. Put things on the wall and such to tame your room acoustics.
Get that right, and go from there.
True!
position of speakers and or room conditioning may not be possible so one must enjoy what they have . Almost every possible problem exists in my room . the room is 3 meters wide with giant tv at the foot of the bed the ceiling drops down to 1 meter high on the righ and 5 meters on the left . the speakers are on either side of the tv up against the wall . rugs blankets pillows and all manner of stuff interferes with the sound AND YET , it sounds fantastic . the soundstage is incredible arching up over the tv , the bass bounces off of the walls and the mids and highs are at ear level . the clarity and separation is superb and occasionally on a well engineered recording the soundstage becomes 3 D
So ,,,,,,,, it shouldn't work but it does and when that happens in life l don't mentally sabotage my joy by following the 'rules'
If the music is not doing it for you that day or few days. Don't start messing, it's probably your state of mind. If your system has brought joy to your life before, made your feet tap, make you want to dance or smile leave it along, you are probably having a bad day or week not your setup. To help, try get something that is easy to maintain, as an example, I have had floating sub-chassis turntables that have worked for me but they are so prone to going off and then it's the whole process of setting up again. In the end, a reasonably high end quartz direct drive has proved to be far more consistent. Thankfully aside from turntable most equipment is not prone to going off the boil when the wind changes direction.
On the subject of rooms and speaker placement, for me, and of course, this is just my preference, you can go to far with treatments, I know it will not be for some people but I like having my speakers angled in but reasonably close to side walls, about 0.5M seems to allow the wall reflections (within reason) make the music live in the room.
Hi Guido regarding loudspeakers. The greatest improvement I have found after doing all the usual things is the heat of the room. In a warm room the sound is transformed.
Interesting. There are hifi components, maybe a little to esoteric for me, that treat the listening air environment. After all sounds travel through it!
Yeah man. Youre ears are the measurement of good sound. It has to suit each ones feelings and then it doesn‘t matter how much the gear costs, but I have to admit, that I a am hooked to reviews too😂. I buy old AUDIO illustrates, when there are reviews of some of my gear, for example the Dragon or the AVM evolution V 3 from 1994. I looooove to read those vintage tests abd reviews. They are written so nice and have a lot more technical details than the ones today.
1st misstake of all is: You Site in your Listening room at Home and think on buying a New Audio System. Now you've made your First massiv failure - buy first a new house with a good listening Room!
Maximizing the capability of what you already have rather than always looking for new gear
Its suprising what decent audio cables can do rather than replacing a component like phono preamps,amplifiers or turntables
Thank you for a good video, very REAL content!
One tip I give people, and it applies to any kind of modular system that you might upgrade, is be honest with yourself about your upgrade options. For instance, purchasing an expensive amp and pairing it with entry level speakers makes sense if you really are going to upgrade those speakers in the foreseeable future. It's a waste of money if you know that you aren't really going to buy those upgraded speakers, barring some unforeseen windfall. I have had people tell me they needed that expensive component because they are next going to buy XYZ, even though we both know that's not going to happen. You aren't impressing anyone by saying what you plan to buy. Don't confuse wishes with reality.
Burn-in is usually used to find defective component not to improve the sound quality...
...although, all components greatly benefit after a period of initial intensive use. It is a renowned practice, just google it and you will see that major brands and pros of their sector acknowledge this peodesure, and, therefore it is meaningless to debate.
Love this channel, and respect what you say, but also like to find out for myself.
You recommended some speaker cables awhile back £140 a pair, I bought these OCC copper they were absolutely excellent and a great improvement for the money, certainly for my budget.
Some wise words...thank you from a budding audiophile!
Thank YOU Marc!
I very very much appreciate the time and effort you go to in order to make such informative and entertaining videos for the VC. Hugs to you from Australia 🍻
Thanks Steve! A big hug from Italy!
Watching this doesn't take my fever for new active monitors away (Behringer Truth 2031).
But still great videos as usually.
mr. Finglish (Bäd English Recs)
I totaly agree. Indeed the power cleaning is in my opinion a good start to get the most out off your system. Better I do own a seperate powerline group for my gear.
Btw, I like the T-Shirt. any idea where I can buy it? Greetings from the Netherlands
Wow, that is probably the best way to go!
T-shirt? Yup, I made it ;-) here is my store, just scroll down... teespring.com/it/stores/anadialog-gear
my husband must watch this video
The upgrade itch is not bad...It just takes time.
Yes, but it must be kept under control. The risk, and trust me I've seen it, is to send back or sell stuff and buy something worse for the heck of it!
Great information.
Mistakes plus being able to see them as such leads to progress. Seeing them as wins is also a way.
Great advices delivered with a lot of honesty. U really got me in the review fever. It's just a bad habit. Thank you, keep it up!
Astro boy right? Love the honesty
Regarding bottlenecks: I have never seen a HiFi system that cannot be improved with better speakers or headphone. I have seen plenty of systems that cannot be improved with better electronics. So if you want to improve your sound, the obvious and the easiest way always is to upgrade the point where signals becomes sound waves in the air. That can never be too good, or too well fitted with the listening environment.
Very good advices! I don't say it is common sense, it is good sense! Thank you for all!
Capacitors needs to be used for a time to sound the best and if you don't use them for a long time, they will need another burn in time. Mechanical stuff need time because is mechanical, speakers, headphones and mics moving parts need time and use to bend and move to set in. Anything else is audiofool nonsense like burn in time with cables.
Hi I would be really interested in a video explaining ground loops, how to identify them and how to avoid them please
Good topic, sure!
Wish I saw this before I bought my $5000 Snakeoil Audio phonograph...
Great Vidio, thanks for all these very use full information, I completely agree with you.
You got one more sub. Good video keep it up.
About snake oil cables...Shielded cables (SUB-WOOFER) against non shielded cables..thats as far as i go,the rest i can't tell the difference.
Hi, first time to watch your video, they are very imformative and useful.
I want to ask what tube amp is that beside your TT? And do you have a DAC recommendation with a "finesse" sound? Thanks in advance.
Sir, you get down right to the nitty-gritty
When it comes to stereo equipment.
Great video! Solid advice!
Is "burn in" a one-way street were the sound only gets better? Why not worse with time? Speakers, tubes or anything mechanical, seem to be likely beneficiaries of a break-in period.
Inspiring list. And I like to add some...
Mistake: "Drawing the wrong conclusion"
You try something and you hear or measure something, but you draw the wrong conclusion. Examples:
- I changes the sound, so it must be better.
- Oversampling DAC is worse, so oversampling is worse (It is the filtering!).
- DAC is worse, so digital is worse (It is the -analog- output stage and/or power supply).
- Adding negative feedback sounds worse, so negative feedback is worse (No, there is a bandwidth problem in de feedback loop or there is still too less feedback or there is voltage feedback in stead of current feedback).
- (And a nice one:) You change loudspeaker cable and you hear a difference, so you have a revealing system (No, your damping factor is much too high and makes your amplifier not in control).
"Mistake no 1: multi tweaking " is a mistake in itself
One change at a time is good for tweaking (that's why it is called multi tweaking) (is local optimisation), not for real improvements (is global optimisation). Actually when applying only one change at a time, you get stuck. Examples:
- If you change from moving coil to moving magnet, you also have to change your phone amplifier.
- If you change from cinch to XLR you have to change the cable, the preceding component and following component.
- If you go for an active crossover, you need an other or more amplifiers and other speakers.
- If you go for current-drive amplifiers (damping factor less than 1/10), you need other passive crossovers or active crossovers and an other way of damping the resonance: other drivers and/or other enclosure and/or passive EQ and/or active EQ.
Wow, love you, just subbed. You have me hooked.
After all the mental damage TV has done to the world , its time to smash it .
Mack some xtra room .
Nasty thing got a curse on it.
Yes, burn that ugly attention claiming TV.
It's gotta burn! Burn baby burn! Disco inferno! Whoohoo!
Another mistake is use mp3 for listening music and pretend that format is the best and all the sound quality that are in fact better than mp3 you can’t hear that
Marco Meneguzzo haha yes. #vinyllover
Did you change your video editor software or it's just a filter? It looks very cinematic ;-)
I always like to fiddle around with filters! ;-)
Very informative and interestingly presented. Thanks so much.
Mistake number 11: Do no buy/listening to new music: new records, new artists, new genres
It's not a mistake, because I don't care about "new music"!!! I'm 38 and I listen to 70s, 80s and 90s stuff bc that's the music I grew up with and the music I love and relate to... people in their teens must care about new stuff not us.
@@net_news New music in your collection or in your brain and that's includes al material since 1890 wax cylinders until
Saturday, May 23, 2020 new albums.
New music in your life does not necessarily imply that it is current but do not close that door either
Explore explore! SERIOUSLY! You only live once.
It doesn't stop you loving all the music you grew up with.
@@nebulusnebulus6503 well, I totally agree then :D
especialy while drunk .🤣🤣🤣
Mistake #1: mismatching your speakers to your room. Then mismatching your amp to your speakers.
The quest of SYNERGY!!
Mistake. Start moving your speakers about late at night then realising that daylight has broke.
😂
Hello, what's your opinion of the Technics 90's components and speakers?
I must be honest I do not know them that much to make an overall comment. I can just say that IMHO the old turntable models did not have the low level of noise and rumble that the new models have. In fact they are a complete redesign where only the cosmetics have been preserved.
Agree, but I'm curious: are you now using snake oil under your turntable? ;)
Aha! You've noticed! Testing out a plinth...coming up!
@@anadialog Yes! ;) Waiting for the news about the plinth, I assume it is a vibration control platform. I'm dealing with this issue right now with my turntable. Keep up the good work.
Looks like a butcher’s block.
Burn in with speakers can make sense with a cone, but burn in with electrical components is bs. It has more to do with your expectation of what you're hearing. It's all in your head.
The system need not to have individual components that are priced equally. That is HiFI BS from the olden days when electronics was of poor quality.
I have paired my 3000 (electrostatic) and 4000 EUR (magnetoplanar) headphones with a headphone amps that cost 2000 and 1700 respectively, a 2500 CD player, and a DAC that costs 800. It is a very balanced system. I could have eschewed buying one of the headphones, however, and have instead continued using a 1700 priced one and gotten a 2000 or 3000 EUR DAC to feed the system. My system would sound much worse in that case. Once the gear is of sufficient quality for its type, it is always better to invest in the transducer stage or room treatment. Every dollar spent there brings more bang for the buck than chasing diminishing returns from mature gear.
Or another idea: spend that DAC or transport money on a second system for those situations where you want to listen more casually or the main system is reserved. I am now setting up a decent computer audio system for casual streaming in another room. More joy received than updating my main system''s DAC.
Interesting that components like DACs need to embed and the burn in.
If electronics really sounded different after a burn-in period then manufacturers would be able to measure the effects and post measurements. Also, have you ever heard anyone who believes in burn-in say the gear sounds worse instead of better? (Note that I'm talking about electronics and not speakers.)
What about a video on phono cartridge break in......that would be interesting.....no one speaks about that
Well, is there something to say besides do it, it's a good idea and it takes around 50 hours?
@@anadialog I was aiming more at a Myth or Reality kind of thing :-).
Most of these type of vids are horrible. This was excellent .
Thank you so much Don!
True x 10!!!
Never under estimate
the power of your stereo system.
the first perennial mistake, listening to the equipment not the music
Here's my take - feel free to disagree.
1. By spending 10% (of your time and money) it is possible to reap 90% of the benefits.
2. Hifi is not wine tasting. A great bottle of wine is the work of art. Hifi equipment is not. It is a tool for reproducing the work of art (the recording) as accurately as possible.
3. Do not make hifi your passion. It is a means to an end. Do not sweat the small stuff. Small differences are small differences. Obsessing about them is a sign of obsession, not connoisseurship.
4. If you live in an apartment buy a pair of active near field monitors from one of the respected brands: Genelec, Adam, Neumann etc. Use the tone controls in them according to their position in the room. You do not have to try the speakers personally, since better ears have done the task before you. Remember, this is not about wine tasting but about accuracy.
5. Buy a nice pair of headphones (Sennheiser, AKG, BeyerDynamic).
6. Avoid subjectivist audio fora and audio press. They are providing non working solutions to non existing problems.
And that's it.
Snake oil is all too prevalent in this field I'm afraid, hence the term "audiophool"...
Where did you get the cool T Shirt? Link plz.
Right here! Its part of my gear. I designed all of them: teespring.com/it/analog-skull-cassette?cross_sell=true&cross_sell_format=none&count_cross_sell_products_shown=19&pid=373
@@anadialog awesome. Thanks
Cables are tweaks. They can be effective tweaks but that's all they are, just tweaks.
Another excellent video with great advice. 11th mistake, not subscribing this channel! :)
Essential mistake- not appropriate quality source of sound chosen.
Sadly, sometimes....its deliberate! ;-)
I had a story with my previous B&W 700 series powered by Parasound Halo intergrated. Both devices were over performing with highs that was very comfortable. However when I changed the system to Mark Levinsin together with JBL Synthesis I was facing with impression of shortage of highs. Although the promblem was in inappropriate quality of network player which I changed and the sound became natural and more detailed. Of course sometimes I feel missing some highs but now it is clear that it depends on source and on recorded material. Equalization of sound gives very positive first impression however natural characteristics of sound can not be enjoyed when using it.
I agree!
CD mats snake oil or not I don't think so ever tried
All these mistakes are relevant maybe you want to take a few of these and SHOW the viewers how each one is done, e.g. reducing vibrations in details and possibly a video showing step by step instructions. Talking is fine, showing takes your video a step further, newbies will benefit most. I am an old hand.
I did that for almost all the mistakes. If you watch again the video I suggest several times to check the link that appears on screen (if you don't see it change browser). For example, vibrations, here is the link to my video: ruclips.net/video/UYMbi7v2pNU/видео.html
#8. Break in, not brake in
I am Italian so I make some mistakes here and there, sorry about that.
@@anadialog You don't have to be Italian to make mistake. Everyone is entitled to one once in a while. I believe yours was just a momentary lapse.
Funny, but all your recommendations can be applied to a programmer work. Surprise? Was initially for me.
The most important piece of equipment in a hi fi system is the source . Therefore, you should spend as much as you can afford on the source.
I must disagree, IMO loudspeakers are way above all the rest!
@@anadialog have to agree, start out with good speakers. I have a great set of speakers that I will probably keep forever, however, I will change amps, preamps, cables, streaming devices, turntables....
As a camera-op, your specs making mad reflections are really distracting!
Funny what bugs different guys. To me its youtubers who constantly throw their hands around, flailing fingers in our faces, like long time meth addicts. Its so phoney & distracting. Unless the guy is Italian. Then its just what they do naturally.
Yes, I can confirm that...we gesticulate too much! :-) Sorry about that!
@@anadialog not at all sir. As I said, it's natural for you. Contrived & distracting when others do it to attempt to make their subject matter seem more interesting.
:-)
Mistake # 11 listening to this video.
No salesman here. Just a fellow who deeply loves music and sound. I have no idea why you keep posting negative comments under my videos based on nothing apparently....what I do know, is that you keep on coming back and watching them ;-)
@@anadialog no offense taken, I love music too. Just expressing my thoughts.
🤟
Why do they put erasers on pencils? If you like what you own, enjoy it. Screw the snakeoil salesmen.
Those statements have no merit period.
This is Gerard Stroh in usa America in tracy California!!
I am A Big Audio File Buff!!
I Have 10 Turntables In My Bed Room And My Sound System is in The Front Room and My Speaker System Is All Homemade
and my speakers I have are 4 15 inch speakers for my woofers are 800 watts and my 2 18 inch Subwoofers are 800 watts each
and My 3rd 18 inch Subwoofer is 1200 watts each and I run all my speakers on seperet Power amps and my high's and my 4
8 inch Mid Speakers are 240 watt's each And run With My 4 15's inch speakers on my Main Power amp is over 1500 Watts on the mains and my subs are run on seperet power amps also!!!
my turntables are hook up to A 16 channel mixer And I have The Gains On The Mixer are Set Up to The Phono Cartridges and I EQ The Channels For The Phono Cartridges And I Learned How To Do That In High School In The 70's and all my Turntables Have XLR Pannel Jacks Installed On The Turntables And I Use Micrephone Mic Cables for The Turntables and From The Mixer Is Hook Up To the Front Room To The Main Mixer and It's All Balance and It Sounds Awesome!!
I Like The Ortofon Phono Cartridges I Have The Night Club E Phono DJ Cartridges!!
I Just Got The Ortofon 2m Red Phono Cartridge And It Sounds Awesome and I Plan to Get The Ortofon 2m Blue Cartridge Soon!!
I Love Your Channel Keep It Up And Stay Safe!! Bye!!!!
Why is your video yellow-ish and looks like the contrast and saturation are on high?
I mean, look for example at the feet of the turntable; they've almost disappeared in a black hole 😅
Good advice though, especially the outbalanced gear.
Most people have a phono preamp that's not up to the job.
Filters! Love to play with them...
@@anadialog Are you into photography as well?
Because, apparently it's common that audiophiles are also into photography.
You're right! Not really, I love to take pictures and I used to develop b&w film but not anymore...no time!
@@anadialog Nice.
A fun crossover between film and audio is the variophone tape; B&W film for synthetic audio creation and reproduction.
Cool!!
Just a touch too much sanctimonious, sorry
While I don't particularly enjoy compressed music quality, this guy could easily compress his message to his viewers by easily a half of the length posted here.
Welcome to show business.
My mistake: spending more money on a few old vinyls than on my turntable
Advice worthy of any hifi salesman... A sum of unfounded beliefs, false good ideas and non common sense. It's not because the tone is 'convincing' that it's not a bunch of outdated ideas. :(
Explain point by point. Can't just label everything as dung!
You seem to be mistaking brain burn-in (getting acclimatized with and learning about a component's sound) with physical changes in a component. The latter has never been demonstrated to happen, and would be a sign of a manufacturing or material choice flaw in drivers and electronics. Indeed, pro audio gear makers tell the products do not change under any burn in. The brain burn in is obvious, however, and it means that one's auditory memory adapts to the sound signature. You simply hear gear differently. And if you do not listen to it for a long time... well, the same thing can happen.
And, of course, headphone pads will wear in and change the sound a good deal. But that is another thing entirely to what people normally mean by burn in.
That is unfortunately a big misconception. If you listen to enough gear, it is immediately clear that physical burn-in is taking place. If it was brain, as you hypothesis, then there would be more or less a common period of time. Well, I have cables or speakers, that changed in 48hrs and cd players or Dacs that changed in 6 months. And I can affirm thos with extreme confidence since also other people had the same impression but casual listeners.
@@anadialog To me this reads like a logical fallacy. You have established a change in perception, not a change in the physical performance of gear. As I said, perceptions do evolve. But just because something sounds different -- a psychological phenomenon -- does not mean it is different -- a change in the physical level. It just means something "sounded" different. One does not corroborate the other.
My gear sounds different to me between days and times of day. That does not mean it is performing differently at random.
If you can establish these differences in controlled tests, then I believe you. Of course, old gear can start to sound different due to e.g. capacitors' wearing out (for which reason I marvel at people who rhapsodize over vintage HiFi electronics, which can no longer sound very good unless someone has maintained them), but genuinely-aging gear is not the same thing as brand new gear that operates to spec and then changes its sonical profile after, say, 100 hours of use.
That said, aplenty of manufacturers claim a burn-in period. It is typically 150 hours, or in other words a tad beyond the return window. That is handy. Pro audio gear makers do not claim any burn-in requirements of benefits, of course. And then there is Denafrips who claim to run a 150 hour burn-in at the factory before shipping.
HiFi reviews are useless at best and utterly misleading at worst. When was the last time you watched or read a professional review of a HiFi piece where a) the piece did not perform above its price range, or b) was not a total must buy? One wonders who makes bad products in this industry when no-one has ever reviewed one. It is amazing, really: The only field of engineering where everyone is at the top of their game non-stop.
Or maybe 95% of the reviews are sponsorship-influenced. Both large and small review channels on RUclips do, after all, have very cozy manufacturer relationships, it seems. And even messaging boards are heavily sponsored. Heck, even audio science review has become Topping's marketing front-end.
I rely on no reviewer these days. It is all BS.
Not all bs but I do agree that most is not reliable...
Power and Amplifiers! WOW... No one would make a cup of Earl Grey with muddy Water! So why would we let use our Amplifier - and all that happens inside of it is: to modulate the Netpower in Order to make Musik - why should we use muddy power for our amp to use? What´s the Water for the Tea, the Power is for the Amplifier!
You talk to much
You watch too little
(p.s. its 'too much' not 'to much')