This is a great video! I love it. Have so much to say how did I miss it… I trained myself to stop spending money on automobiles and performance upgrades on automobiles. I shifted my resources to where I spend most of my time… Listening to music on a high-end system. Really really good advice in here and I have a followed a lot of it over the years
I bought my first HiFi in ‘74 at the age of 14, it was pretty basic. First quasi home theater in ‘94. You have given a lot of good advice on this video and I completely agree about the keyboard Warriors. Don’t let anybody tell you what you should or shouldn’t like. My wife and I moved into a new construction house almost 10 years ago with a full finish basement. Part of that basement was a 28 x 14 media room. I got the hi-fi bug at a very early age, but wanted to make the room equally as good for music as it is from home theater. I’ve got some really good equipment and took a lot of time to try to do everything right including sound control. I feel like I’ve achieved that goal and enjoy my system a great deal, that’s what it’s all about.
One mistake I made in building my stereo system for music was falling for thick and beefy power cables. I bought three of them, each three feet, and then learned that I fell for snake oil. The original cables were reinstalled.
As soon as I saw the Focals it was insta click. I started in the early 70’s, and at some point owned pretty much all types of speakers and some classics. Around 1995 I was at the sterophile show in San Francisco and heard the JM Lab Utopias for the first time. I came back at the end of the show to listen longer, and met 2 very well known guys in the industry who had the same idea, a reviewer and manufacturer. Mr. M had some very fine single malt scotch and we had a wonderful 90 minutes alone. At that time I had just gotten some Thiels, and they lasted me 25 or so years, a record. I have since gotten some Kanta No2’s, and love them with my BAT gear. But that little voice is coming back…
#1 rule for me is to stay within budget limits. I have bought a Demo pair of bookshelf speakers, and an Open Box integrated amplifier. Both at reduced price, and looked brand new. I would purchase Open Box items again. I always do extensive research, looking for high value at reasonable price. I do not buy stereo gear on credit unless it’s a no interest deal if paid off within set time limit, like six, 12, or 18 months. It’s satisfying to save & pay cash upon purchase. You’re done. Plus it saves one from impulse buys. My main goal is to enjoy music through decent gear that sounds best for what I can afford. One usually can put a quality stereo rig together in that sweet middle area for price. Mid-Fi rigs. Good - Better -Best. I’m usually buying in that higher edge of the Better category. Not Flagship, which I can’t afford, and not Entry-Level either. Usually one can gain much by spending $100 - $300 more, but staying well below the top tier level. For a beginner, the main goal is to get something to listen to music on and go from there. Enjoy the journey & have fun! 👍🏼😎🎶
You mention acoustic room treatment. Then in the next breath, you mention room correction. So, which of those do you prioritise? Do you need both? If so, does that mean that neither of them are a complete solution?
@@Audioholics in a dedicated listening room containing just the speakers, electronics, listening chair and maybe, veer fridge, I can appreciate that acoustic treatment help. But back in the real world, where the hi-fi has to fight for it’s right to be, in the family lounge, I would maintain that the soft furnishings, arm chairs, sofas, carpets, curtains, rugs, cushions, people and their pets, ensure RT60 levels are within acceptable limits. As for room correction, generally only considered effective up to 400hz. Can’t that same bass management be achieved by multiple, well placed, subs. Negating the need for that additional processing stage to the signal source. Isn’t hi-fi the art of remaining true to the creators intent? Isn’t therefore every additional processing stage the signal is subjexted to, deviating from that goal?
Oh, and agree room is perhaps most important component. When I finally had my purpose built listening room with dedicated power, the difference was insane. I have sadly divorced and moved. Although my system is better, I can’t quite achieve the insane level of imaging I did in that room. Any investment in damping etc. is well worth it.
I have purchased from Boutique Brands in which case I couldn’t listen so I try to Speak to the Designer by phone or email. That way I can ask questions from the actual Designer. The rest of my gear is well established brands (Musical Fidelity, Rega)with great reviews. Listening first will always be best if you can.
After 38 years of upgrading, Emotiva pre tuner, an ol bob carver amp 380 watts, rel sub w 200 watts. 600 watts for home is insane. I am finnally at the pt I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING. I need My fix every day for 3 hours of kidney shaking beautiful Music. it drops my bp 30 pts
Learn from my costly experience: If you want clean sound in a large room at concert level volume you need 2 things: A separate amplifier and big towers. I bought a Monolith 7x200 all channels driven and it was a game changer. Receivers won't cut it for six pack long listening sessions at concert level especially if you are using surrounds. Plus a good amp will last decades and won't be obsolete like a processor or receiver in 10 years as Theo noted in the video. Regarding the speakers, any conventional speaker that can be shipped UPS may not be large enough to fill a large room. I tried that and it didn't work. Finally got some SVS Ultra Towers and they are more than enough speaker. If you want to build something like that in stages, make sure you get a receiver with pre-outs so you can add an amp later if you want.
Any Idea when Anthem will have an upgrade to their line? I love the styling but I know it's been out for a few years now and don't want to miss out on the Technology updates inside the unit, inputs and outputs. such as I2s, that I have on the back of my DAC to connect to the Anthem. Thank you.
I can do a lot of speakers but NOT an ugly one. An all Utopia theater used to be what I wanted but increasingly, active-day controlled-time-aligned speakers is what I’m working towards
Im still rocking a intergra dtr 80.2. Been thinking of getting a new one. My question is what would be your recommendation for a replacement that has similar specs and up to date features? Thanks in advance.
I get all my gear off the used market because it lets me buy better gear for less.
This is a great video! I love it. Have so much to say how did I miss it… I trained myself to stop spending money on automobiles and performance upgrades on automobiles. I shifted my resources to where I spend most of my time… Listening to music on a high-end system. Really really good advice in here and I have a followed a lot of it over the years
I bought my first HiFi in ‘74 at the age of 14, it was pretty basic. First quasi home theater in ‘94. You have given a lot of good advice on this video and I completely agree about the keyboard Warriors. Don’t let anybody tell you what you should or shouldn’t like. My wife and I moved into a new construction house almost 10 years ago with a full finish basement. Part of that basement was a 28 x 14 media room. I got the hi-fi bug at a very early age, but wanted to make the room equally as good for music as it is from home theater. I’ve got some really good equipment and took a lot of time to try to do everything right including sound control. I feel like I’ve achieved that goal and enjoy my system a great deal, that’s what it’s all about.
One mistake I made in building my stereo system for music was falling for thick and beefy power cables. I bought three of them, each three feet, and then learned that I fell for snake oil. The original cables were reinstalled.
Don’t forget refurbed, some units just returned for no reason have to be sold as refurbed.
As soon as I saw the Focals it was insta click. I started in the early 70’s, and at some point owned pretty much all types of speakers and some classics. Around 1995 I was at the sterophile show in San Francisco and heard the JM Lab Utopias for the first time. I came back at the end of the show to listen longer, and met 2 very well known guys in the industry who had the same idea, a reviewer and manufacturer. Mr. M had some very fine single malt scotch and we had a wonderful 90 minutes alone. At that time I had just gotten some Thiels, and they lasted me 25 or so years, a record. I have since gotten some Kanta No2’s, and love them with my BAT gear. But that little voice is coming back…
Kanta 3!!!! and not looking back
#1 rule for me is to stay within budget limits. I have bought a Demo pair of bookshelf speakers, and an Open Box integrated amplifier. Both at reduced price, and looked brand new. I would purchase Open Box items again. I always do extensive research, looking for high value at reasonable price. I do not buy stereo gear on credit unless it’s a no interest deal if paid off within set time limit, like six, 12, or 18 months. It’s satisfying to save & pay cash upon purchase. You’re done. Plus it saves one from impulse buys. My main goal is to enjoy music through decent gear that sounds best for what I can afford. One usually can put a quality stereo rig together in that sweet middle area for price. Mid-Fi rigs. Good - Better -Best. I’m usually buying in that higher edge of the Better category. Not Flagship, which I can’t afford, and not Entry-Level either. Usually one can gain much by spending $100 - $300 more, but staying well below the top tier level. For a beginner, the main goal is to get something to listen to music on and go from there. Enjoy the journey & have fun! 👍🏼😎🎶
You mention acoustic room treatment. Then in the next breath, you mention room correction. So, which of those do you prioritise? Do you need both? If so, does that mean that neither of them are a complete solution?
You need good room acoustics for room correction to be more effective. You need both.
@@Audioholics in a dedicated listening room containing just the speakers, electronics, listening chair and maybe, veer fridge, I can appreciate that acoustic treatment help. But back in the real world, where the hi-fi has to fight for it’s right to be, in the family lounge, I would maintain that the soft furnishings, arm chairs, sofas, carpets, curtains, rugs, cushions, people and their pets, ensure RT60 levels are within acceptable limits.
As for room correction, generally only considered effective up to 400hz. Can’t that same bass management be achieved by multiple, well placed, subs. Negating the need for that additional processing stage to the signal source. Isn’t hi-fi the art of remaining true to the creators intent? Isn’t therefore every additional processing stage the signal is subjexted to, deviating from that goal?
@@howardskeivys4184 Just do that then, personally I'll be treating my room & using room correction.
Oh, and agree room is perhaps most important component. When I finally had my purpose built listening room with dedicated power, the difference was insane. I have sadly divorced and moved. Although my system is better, I can’t quite achieve the insane level of imaging I did in that room. Any investment in damping etc. is well worth it.
Is it worth getting back together with the ex to get that room back?
I have purchased from Boutique Brands in which case I couldn’t listen so I try to Speak to the Designer by phone or email. That way I can ask questions from the actual Designer. The rest of my gear is well established brands (Musical Fidelity, Rega)with great reviews. Listening first will always be best if you can.
For high end audio prices I can build my own ultra festival in the backgarden.
After 38 years of upgrading, Emotiva pre tuner, an ol bob carver amp 380 watts, rel sub w 200 watts. 600 watts for home is insane. I am finnally at the pt I WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING. I need My fix every day for 3 hours of kidney shaking beautiful Music. it drops my bp 30 pts
Learn from my costly experience: If you want clean sound in a large room at concert level volume you need 2 things: A separate amplifier and big towers. I bought a Monolith 7x200 all channels driven and it was a game changer. Receivers won't cut it for six pack long listening sessions at concert level especially if you are using surrounds. Plus a good amp will last decades and won't be obsolete like a processor or receiver in 10 years as Theo noted in the video. Regarding the speakers, any conventional speaker that can be shipped UPS may not be large enough to fill a large room. I tried that and it didn't work. Finally got some SVS Ultra Towers and they are more than enough speaker. If you want to build something like that in stages, make sure you get a receiver with pre-outs so you can add an amp later if you want.
Any Idea when Anthem will have an upgrade to their line? I love the styling but I know it's been out for a few years now and don't want to miss out on the Technology updates inside the unit, inputs and outputs. such as I2s, that I have on the back of my DAC to connect to the Anthem. Thank you.
I can do a lot of speakers but NOT an ugly one. An all Utopia theater used to be what I wanted but increasingly, active-day controlled-time-aligned speakers is what I’m working towards
It's a journey, imo you should start below average and then add increments if you feel like it.
Not gonna happen 💰💰💰💰😢 but I love it, tap that like 👍 button people
Im still rocking a intergra dtr 80.2. Been thinking of getting a new one. My question is what would be your recommendation for a replacement that has similar specs and up to date features? Thanks in advance.
Get the DRX-8.4 otherwise you are going to take a hit in amp power. BTW, I have this one and it's great!
. A ladder/branch, decision path illustration might help visualize the journey. 👍
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
Good video