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You are so spot on Steve. The number one mistake is most definitely THE number one mistake to avoid. Every overdose of excessive noise (music included) in one's life is cumulative and whittles away at degrading your hearing over time. So every chance you have to shield yourself from excessively loud noise take it! (leaf blower, driving nails with a hammer, concerts, shop power tools, the subway train, ear buds / headphones, cranking Altec Lansing Voice of the Theater speakers, etc., etc.) And the sooner you get your hearing checked the better. Studies show that hearing impairment (especially the ability to hear the spoken word clearly) hastens cognitive decline. Because of my hearing loss, the most expensive audio components I own sit right behind my ears and while they help, they can't cure my tinnitus. Every quiet moment in all recordings for me have a slight ringing to it.
I'm a classical pipe organist. Thank you for telling people to listen to unamplified instruments. I routinely point out to people who say that no stereo will ever sound like live music that the concerts most of them go to are just listening to a glorified stereo and they routinely call me an idiot. Amplified music is amplified music. Sound from speakers is sound from speakers. It doesn't matter if the preformed is in front of you.
Word from the wise! I have only a few regrets in my audio experience. Though I do have to admit that the hearing damage thing is very real. I lost a good portion of hearing from a Deep Purple concert back in the 80's . Ritchie Blackmore burned a guitar on-stage and their opening act was Bad Company. They were really loud and so was a RUSH concert I attended a year later. Sooo, sometimes the pain is worth the gain, but not always.
Decades ago I determined to protect my hearing, both at work (heavy industrial customer environments) AND at concerts. The last couple of (RUSH in particular...) concerts I attended were much more enjoyable with the plugs in! I heard details of the music better - and without the pain!
#1 - use a db meter where you are sitting. 90 db max for 30 minutes only, 95 db for maybe 1 song, or part of one that you really need the effect. Otherwise keep to 80-85 db max for longer listening periods even less if you can.
I was using the NIOSH iOS app, was keeping levels 85 max but still got some ringing that I really noticed today. Fingers crossed. Would be great to have a show about how to really be sure your levels are safe
YES…I made mistakes…some expensive ones…after much research, watched reviews, etc…etc…I bought expensive mono bloc power amps from over seas which left me wanting and then I tried to fix it with that manufacturer's preamp (all non-returnable)…and after spending $6K I found that I just did not "love" the sound. I also found that metal dome tweeters are not for me, either. 😂 I took a financial bath selling it all. This pursuit is elusive… I did learn so much thru my experiences, tho. Mainly, I learned what sound signature that "I" liked and was patient and careful.. I spent quite a bit more the second time around…worked on my room acoustics and speaker placement, as well. Lately I smile a LOT and just look for music. It’s a journey…and I have to play the game and be part of a process…and oh….I had to learn patience and kindness with myself. 😎
Except from ageing and hearing loss I have one more big No; vacuum cleaner on speaker cover that is mounted on the speaker. I had to replace a tweeter that simply popped out. An other time a cleaning cloth grabbed on to my cartridge needle and bent it back to the middle ages. Cleaning a High End system is like walking on a minefield.
One mistake I make all the time is thinking there is always something better out there and not just settling with the choices I have made. So I spend more time looking at new kit than actually being content and enjoying what I have.
I lost my vinyl due to a house fire but had steadily started replacing them with CD’s because I preferred CD’s from the onset and to this day I still buy CD’s because for me it’s always been the pinnacle format. However I never would have simply gotten rid of my vinyl by choice just because I now had it on CD. Even still I simply don’t care enough about vinyl to start rebuilding a vinyl collection. I have a few I’ve picked up here and there but it’s not my main focus. I tried the streaming thing but wasn’t a fan. For me there’s no substitute for compact disc hard copy media.
Being overly critical of what you already have and forgetting to enjoy the music is a big one for most folks. Took me a bit to get past it myself, but I have learned in my older age to cherish the things we do have and enjoy them to their fullest.
#12 (there are already some contenders for #11): Consider carefully when purchasing a single device that has two or more functions (or at least be sure the functions can be fully decoupled). As a general rule for someone on an audiophile journey, it is best to assemble functionality from separate components. This provides the most future flexibility and makes your system more resilient to failures. This is in addition to the commonly recognized quality advantages of separates.
With the downside that certain groups of high end audio don't talk well with each other e.g HDMI vs i2s vs analog -particularly true with respect to audio equipment not wanting to integrate with visual. I've amassed a suitcase of cables and wires that is testimony to this lack of standardization. I now realize that before I buy I have to look long and hard at the backside of every unit and visualize exactly how unit A is going to connect with unit B.
Also, buying acoustic panels which are clearly designed wrong (pretty at the expense of functional) or paying hundreds to thousands for interconnects which measure electrically same or worse than Amazon branded cables... Yeah, expensive mistakes :)
Steve, your last point definitely rang true for me. Some years ago I went to a concert by the local orchestra and the final work on the programme was Respighi's "Pines of Rome". The final movement of the work is entitled "The Pines of the Appian Way" and it depicts soldiers marching along the Appian Way. Extra brass (from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band - trumpets, trombones, tubas) is called for in this section and it got so loud that my ears shut down - literally! It's the only time that has ever happened - and I certainly hope it won't ever happen again
Selling what you like to get something that you think will sound better...I almost made that mistake when I was on the verge of posting my '83 ADS speakers on Ebay. Glad I didn't.
Oh dear! That "Top 10" list needs 100 slots!! 😁 99% of them audiophiles spend too little money and too little attention on room treatment. It's been a whole life struggle to bend open that wallet for enough accoustic tiles, but the dam thing pops open easily for the next electronic gizmo!!!
In the early 90s I bought Lenny's Mahler 2, blasted my head off with Koss headphones and have had permanent ringing since. Please be careful, especially with headphones.
You learn way more from your mistakes than you do from not making them. Be careful with "mistake" lists because you can't know if you got it right if you haven't tried and experimented and listened to things in your own house for extended periods of time. It's what the hobby is about. Imagine if everyone got it right the first time?
Bravo! Just buy the stuff and learn. I come across people that are paralyzed with option overload all the time. And they think they're smart and say things like "I only want to do this once" when considering big ticket audio gear. I just kinda shake my head and think how much they're depriving themselves from the joy of discovery. Just get the stuff and enjoy the music!
@@erics.4113 "Buy the stuff and learn" becomes obscenely expensive at the very high end; you can only lose 35% of MSRP reselling used so many times. It's like buying a new car and trading it in after a week because you wanted something else. You can do it, but it will cost you, BIG TIME.
@@VideoArchiveGuy this is a hobby pursuit and a luxury one .. I don't think it's supposed to be financially practical. The point I was echoing from the OP was that your knowledge and experience is the real asset!
@@VideoArchiveGuy most of my gear I've bought used and been able to resell at break even for the most part and some even at a small profit. I only buy new when I know EXACTLY what I want and why.
Definitely protect your hearing. I've been a rock drummer for 35-years, I was the kid who listened to the walkman way too loud, and I've had tinnitus for close to 25-years. I shunned hearing protection for being lame until I realized the ringing wasn't going away any longer.
One of the best videos you posted Steve. Love the topic. I won't name the manufacturer but it was the late 90's and I saw this Double Cassette deck at Best Buy for a great price and I was looking for one and I was torn between buying a used deck or this new one at Best Buy. I bought the new one and even though it was a high quality audio brand I thought, I guess this model was not. I was very disappointed with the sound quality and recording quality as well. but the mistake I made is I did not take it back to the store within the 30 days, for some reason I thought maybe I would learn to like it more then I did. Well, I did not have it long, maybe 5 months and I gave it away and bought a used deck online and it works and sounds fantastic. You live and you learn!!! Also, in the late 80's I was very low on money so I sold about 50 record albums to a used record store. Do I regret that now as I have no idea what titles I had, so I have no way of re-buying them now. But, I am sure everyone has stories like this
Thank you for bringing up the hearing risk. I always managed to "recover" from the worst offenses (nightclubs with crappy systems, concert arenas, etc) but then my young son thought it would be funny if he screamed full blast in my ear as a joke - that was a bridge too far and was the last straw and I now have some ringing forever in my left ear. I miss the way music sounded to me before the ring - I urge all to take Steve's advice seriously, and enjoy music their whole lives with their natural hearing.
The hearing loss thing is real. I remember a Deep Purple concert back in the day. They did the same set from "Made in Japan" and at the time I think it made the Guinness Book of World Records for how loud it was. My ears were ringing for a good 24 hrs. A lot of loud concerts, both big and small venues. Would I do it again, now that I know what I know and considering the tinnitus I deal with? Yeah, probably. Might skip a few that sucked though.
My most serious transgression into auditory excess was seeing the Who at Shea stadium in the early 80s during their "first" farewell tour. The wall of speakers behind the stage had to be at least 40 feet tall. We were on the field. My ears rang for two days.
#11 Buying retail. I buy audio equipment at estate sales, and records too, and if I decide I do not like it then I sell it at a profit and not a loss. Yes, more patience is required and you do not get to pick and choose as much, and I will never have the latest and greatest, but I have equipment people chase after anyway.
Hi Steve, Thanks for your list of common mistakes that we audiophiles make, I would add another. Make sure to audition equipment at your dealer. Buying on the strengths of audio magazine reviews can be a big gamble. I have done that and fortunately I’ve got away with it when buying gear without a listening session, but it has a lot of risk ! ( I appreciate that sometimes an authorised dealer for the manufacturer of gear that interests you might not be nearby, and often this makes an audition difficult.)
Read the return policy is a big one in the age of buying audio gear online. I’ve lost money when not fully considering a distributor or retailers return policy. So watch out for restocking fees and pay attention to the return policy…is what I’ve learned over they years. Otherwise be prepared to sell it to recoup losses.
I was shocked to find out that as a 50 year-old audiophile, I haven't made a single one of these mistakes. That being said, I've made other major ones- there's a lot of ones to make out there! One of the more sensible things I've done has been, when selecting used gear, selecting w/in lines known to be compatible (eg, electronics, speakers) from their use by stores whose overall sound systems I've really liked. Also, not searching for the 'absolute sound,' but instead for what I thought was 'pretty damn fine & higher-end/highly-listenable sound.'
You missed a big one....... Buying expensive gear in which its serviceability in the future is uncertain..... I cannot count how many people I've encountered who purchased an expensive product, the company then went under... And later when the component needed service, the owner had no options..... Or only had options by shipping it abroad, and the turnaround time and potential expense were ominous. Another one is not trusting his own ears to assess the sound..... Often, one makes a change not based on what he/she hears, but has a "gut feeling" that the grass may be greener with different gear...... And often regret making that change. (This is related to Mistake #9 in your video.)
#11: Be true to your audience. If you are an audience of one, don't let Home Theater marketing trends decide your system or layout that typically deals with group seating or a much larger sweet spot. Often times, you can avoid things like crappy room effects if it's just one set of ears that will be listening. You don't need the same expansive room treatment for a pair of speakers, like you might for 5 or more. You don't have to sit back in the room so far if there is no screen that needs to be seen. The same money would buy a killer near field two channel system, compared to a mediocre HT one. As an audience of one, I tend to now choose a super high performing desktop 2.1 system instead, but with bigger, more powerful speakers than is typically prescribed or trended for those situations. Everyone else in my house prefers their earbuds, since they never put their phones down.
Exce!!ent topic Steve. Number one hit home for me. Being a teenager in the '80s and into audio and cars I chased the elusive 1K watt car stereo peak. Hifonics, Rockford Fosgate, ADS, Soudstream to name a few. Loved loud music with a passion! Then afterwards hitting the NYC club scene was a must. Webster Hall, Palladium, Red Zone, Sound Factory. My God its a miracle I still have good hearing!
The only mistake I made was #1. That may have been from shooting, as well as music. I never target practiced without protection, but sometimes I fired a shot without. So I have tinnitus. I reverse engineered JBL 4343 speakers, and built a pair with my stepfather. Mine are better than the original. I tri-amped with amplifiers that I still have. I'm re-capping them. I'm also in the process of rebuilding my Sony PS-X75 turntable. I don't know if the processor chip will hold up, so I bought an Arduino Mega 2560 and support to replace it if it fails. I have a banana box of vinyl. I bought good records, but not many. I could never afford a large music collection. Now I go to Goodwill and buy CDs for $1.99. I polish any scratches, clean them, rip them, download cover art, and copy them to my NAS. I have over 900 FLAC albums on my phone.
Hi Steve, You summarize it perfectly. Sold all my vynil and later regretted it. I don't think I will make the same mistake with my CD collection, so much invested to just throw away. As for equipment bought and sold, yes it has been an erroneous journey and sincerely wish I could have kept every single amp and speaker traded in, but somewhere along the line we have to make decisions and just move on. I am now very satisfied with my equipment and just want to relax and let the music flow.
I went from stereo to surround, but never got rid of my stereo setup. The surround sound setup sounded AMAZING with movies. I splurged on a Klipsch 7.2.4. Atmos setup. It could not touch my stereo setup for music, and the stereo had far less power and smaller speakers. I ended up setting the stereo up in the living room, and made the 2nd family room into a small theater room.
Number 2 - Absolutely!!! I'm 67, I never got rid of my vinyl, no way am I getting rid of my CDs - in fact I still get a real kick out of collecting them. Two new Mosaic box sets this week... Viewer system - Marantz Ruby Ki... that is a fine CD player. I should know!
At the end of the day it's you and only you that needs to like and appreciate the system you have which will help you avoid a few mistakes on Steve's list.
#10 - Yes, been there, done that, always more expensive than just buying what you wanted in the first place. #9 - Came close, that's why in-home demos are vitally important. #8 - Again, a reason for an in-home demo. #7 - Reel to reel is a lifestyle, not a music format. 🙂 #6 - Been there, done that as speakers are impossibly hard to demo (again revealing why in-home demos are so very important whenever possible.) #5 - Thankfully never went down that route; I've heard enough horror stories from others who have been distributors or are in the business. #4 - Broken speaker - usually because of something else stupid you did, like play with a cable with the amp on, or accidentally dropped the tonearm on the platter. Whoops. Corollary - dropping a prized LP, damaging it. #3 - My stereo system IS my home theater, but stereo is paramount. #2 - I've spent many years not only buying LPs I used to own, but also CDs I used to own before labels stomped the dynamics out of them due to brick wall compression on the "remastered" version. Like you, it's wonderful to pull out an LP I bought when I was 18 and hear how AMAZING it sounded, because I used to play my new LPs once and only once, to record it to cassette. It's like I set up a savings account when I was young that I forgot all about. #1 - YES. I have long worn ear protection to all bars and concerts, and I can't fathom how people can even stand to be in the Honky Tonks along lower Broadway in Nashville when the SPL hits peaks of 120 dB. If you can't hear the next morning, permanent damage has been done. Concerts are the same way - front row at a recent popular touring concert? 115 dB+ for two hours. If the security personnel are wearing hearing protection, so should you. Thanks for the list - completely accurate!!!
Steve, Love your videos - I am a subscriber. I enjoy all the Posters' comments' as well. As a 71 YO, Who listens and plays Music for both entertainment in the Mancave (Hate that term but suits the situation now since COVID & Retirement), and to play my drums to - about 1 hour a day as a Hobby. Your No. 10 is and should be taken to Heart. I catch myself playing My Music a bit too high when playing the drums (I don't use headphones). Pertaining to some of the other No-Nos cited, I will repeat another post I made with some add'l info. During COVID, I created a "sound room" in my finished basement. I purchased lots of stereo equipment and created two systems - one in the front ; the other for the rear. I watched reviews by you and some others about the equipment and Speakers. Without listing all the Stuff, What I did was using IOTA SA3 /PA3 /Emotiva A300 Amp Stack connected to 2 different pairs of Bookshelf Speakers in the Front AND a Denon DRA-800H AVR (only used for Stereo sound so far), connected to Different Pairs of Bookshelf Speakers in the rear. Here Lies the Big No-NO. I play the systems independently (usually). In the front I have 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2s and 1 Pair of Elac Debut Reference 62s. They play wonderfully together. In the rear, 1 pair of Fluance Signature series and 1 Pair of KEF Q350s connected to the Denon. My observations are this: The 2 Elacs play like a Tower together; the other 2 sound and play together very well. I have experimented with Moving and matching the 4 pairs and settled on this configuration. When they are both played simultaneously - Whoa Nellie - Like a Concert Hall in my Basement. But this is a Real Audiophiliac No-No.
When I look back at the AMPS and SPEAKERS that BLEW UP and I mean they Exploded. It was all due to the times and the distortion of measurements used in the 1960s. It wasn't until many years later I found out about 4 ohms speakers, 8 ohm, 16 ohm or the fact that I couldn't just add more speakers, more speakers and more speakers all to the same wires. .... I started working when I was about 6 so I had money saved. I walked into our many stereo stores aimed at the Mexican Market and I bought stuff recommended to me. .... BUT a 13 year old kid with a new product and no mentors means I made many mistakes. IT WAS FUN THOUGH:) even when things blew-up! - m.
My huge music collection is my DNA and tells a life story of mine. If that's not worth, i don't know what? At least for me, it's a treasure, having thousands of CD'S & Vinyls. I own these items, but i don't own the internet 😉 ✌️♥️🇩🇰 ud
Just my own experience, BUT....Every time (without fail) that I have witnessed an "Audiophile" speaker getting blown, it was by some uninformed musician who thought it was "Okay" to play an instrument through stereo speakers because "Their rated for a hundred watts"....
I am happy I kept my vinyl and stored it (last purchase was 1989). When I started collecting vinyl again, in 2021, I took it out of storage and then sound great. My CD's are collecting dust and my FLAC files are on memory sticks!
Thank you for the power conditioner point. After this video, I replaced mine with a non-surge protector, non-RFI/EMI power strip and was shocked at how bad my Furman conditioner was robbing the sound and I had never thought to take it out - just thought you had to have some sort of protection. Wow. Thanks for that advice along with #1.
Regarding mistake #1: There's hearing protection for musicians, which will let you enjoy the music quality while reducing the loudness at concerts. You can also get them custom-made for your ears at any local hearing specialist. Especially if you go to concerts often, getting custom-made hearing protection is a good investment and not crazy expensive (like audiophile equipment is 😅 )
#1. The stereo I had when I was 17 was the best sounding stereo I ever had because I played drums in loud bands and worked in a noisy warehouse during the day. My hearing was pretty much trashed by 1984 when the warehouse closed and I quit alchohol. It's been a drag trying to find equipment that can sound good through the junk you're constantly hearing. You can still hear differences between speakers and gear up to about $2000 with Tinnitus, but it's not worth creating a TH-cam channel to talk about it...
#10 -> I disagree, but it depends on the price. I would suggest tiering. If you cannot afford a $2000 headphone, it's OK to settle for a $300 one. If you aren't able to afford a $300 one, it's OK to settle for a $50 one. TBH the number of options are so high that you should be able to select your headphone in any price range. #9 -> you can try on headphones before purchase. If you don't like what it sounds like, return. #8 -> agree. I feel like this one is not even required these days -> modern day electronics can produce clean energy, unless you're an extreme audiophile (I know, it sounds cringey). #7 -> in 2023 it doesn't matter. Digital is convenient and pretty much lossless. #6 -> again, free returns. Try it before you buy it. Agree with the rest! :)
#13 Do not get too attached to one dealer, since no one dealer is going to always have the best products for you. We have only one dealer in my city today and I make about 50 percent of my purchases from them and the other 50 percent online.
Never had a large vinyl collection to dump. I did buy CD's when they came out. In the 80's onward starting collecting LP's at great used prices. CD's now are so cheap to buy used but replenishing vinyl is costly nowadays. I bought used Tube stuff in 90's when more people wanted Solid State and got them at great used prices.
Reel to Reel is true. I bought one because my Dad had one. Then bought large variety lots on eBay and now have 200+ prerecorded tapes. The problem with R2R is that you have to listen to the whole thing. Fast rewind stretches the tape and ruins the sound. Tapes aren't like a LP or CD where you can select a few songs and move on to the next. A prerecorded R2R tape is a 45+ minute commitment. Aside from that, it is cool to thread the reels and listen to music that rarely made it onto vinyl...because nobody in their right mind would buy those records. 🤣
Steve, this was a brilliant list and absolutely on target on each one. I have talked myself blue with people trying to tell them practically everything you just spoke. Brilliant, really, simply brilliant. Hope you enjoy mine sometime.
Wise counsel Steve - especially on the need to take care of our ears. Some amplifiers enable you to set a volume ceiling and it is a feature well worth using as it can prevent you turning up the volume to ridiculous levels ....
I don't understand how concerts work. Don't they put themselves out of business? They are always so loud, that there's no chance, that you leave that place without a permanent hearing loss.
#2. I was elated when people started selling their records to buy CDs. I'd stop in to a local record store at lunchtime and leave with 3-10 albums in excellent condition (except for the uber-permanent price tags the store put on everything). That was a great couple of years. My dark period is when I first discovered used record stores in the early 70's and started dragging my older more-obscure records down to the store to pay for new obscure records. Still hurts when I go to the shelf looking for a record and realize I sold it to buy something like Mott The Hoople Live.
@@MrEnglish150 I love Mott the Hoople, and I loved Luther Grosvenor in Spooky Tooth, but I went sour on his guitar work with Mott. He was the showman they needed at the time but, for me, his solo style didn't jell with Mott. I did rebuy the album when the expanded CD came out, but it still bugs me.
I found a years back at a GoodWill store for 1 dollar that classic Andy Warhole Velvet Underground with Nico - Banana Peel LP that someone dumped - still have it.
I disagree on #3. I've had some great preamps, but invested in a 14k Lyngdorf processor, and it sounds great on both music and movies. I listen to a lot of ambient and electronic music and two front and two surround speakers together creates amazing ambient retrieval. Might not be for the purists, but I am more than satisfied with the SQ.
I suggest that older audiophiles such as I leave a detailed list of the value of each component owned and how best to sell it if no descendant wants it. I've seen too many people who have no idea about the value of their deceased parents' gear or how to sell it if they do not want it.
Why would anyone get rid of LP's is beyond me! I never dumped my turntable or LP's, or cassettes, just started buying CD's because I couldn't get new music on LP's anymore at that time!
Steves right about the audio business. You have to make or sell product and if your into great things products will mostly be a compromise to make money and it kills the love you have for the hobby. I would suggest staying small and earning your place in the market Ive been building speakers for over 25 years many own them but Im fairly unknown and to me that's a great place to be in audio. Still there but not discovered to the point you fail.
I would like to add another mistake, one I just did. One where your so intent on getting a device, because you just want it that much, that you ignore the telltale signs that there is something wrong with it. And you tell yourself, ‘Yeah, I can fix this.’ and go ahead and buy it anyways, and end up with a hefty repair bill 😅
Unfortunately, I've had bi-lateral tinnitus for years and I'll turn 60 this summer. I'll never know whether it was my previous hobby of flying small propeller planes, working at a a factory with a punch press, mowing 5 acres of lawn or going to concerts. If Medicaid paid for hearing aids, I'd get them in a heartbeat, but right now the out-of-pocket cost is prohibitive. My first vinyl album was K-tel[s Goofy Greats. I wish I still had it, but Herbie Hancock and Charlie Daniels are good substitutes.
Steve, I may or may not have gotten a reply from you regarding this comment asking me to Whatsapp you at a particular phone number. It shows in my G-mail, but not on this video. At the moment I am leery due to an issue with a different You-Tube audio equipment reviewer. Either it's a scam and not him using his likeness or he's an extraordinarily incompetent businessman (I do like his channel, though). Perhaps if you found another way to contact me privately either by FB or some other way I might feel safer about contacting you.... I've seen your message about scammers.
First, I say Mistakes are OK as this is your journey in Audio. How many products have you purchased (for me 40yrs of gear) then sold, purchased, traded and sold again? It's an Audio Life Journey when you start with limited $$'s then you build up your income, buying and Trading-In then 20-40yrs goes by and at this point you finally find out what you like. Well, maybe you do.
I bought a pair of $6500 speakers from a small customer builder based on lots of glowing reviews, but I'd never heard them. I totally regretted it, and sold them 6 months later for $4200. A very expensive le$$on!! So then for my next pair, I went to the dealer 3 times and did extensive listening and I was SURE these were my holy grail speakers. Got em home, and they sounded terrible in my room. Doh!!
Circa 2012 I paid about $500 + audiologist fees for a fitting. I absolutely loved them and thought they helped protect my hearing until one fell off on the way home from work and was lost. Have the prices come down in recent years?
Number 8: Not all Power Conditioners are bad, some are and some aren't and it has nothing to do with money. Do the homework and you can find one that is good. My personal take on Power Conditioners: Don't buy a Power Conditioner to change the sound of your system, buy one for protection. Buy a Power Conditioner/Surge protector. Number 7 Reel to Reel: I would not necessarily call this a mistake. Reel to Reels are cool, but very expensive to have and operate. If one has the funds and really wants one and knows what they are getting into, get one. That said, this would be a huge mistake for newcomers and the unaware though. Number 4 is something I see most audiophiles do! Somehow they think that the louder they play, the better the sound. It is actually the opposite. The louder the volume the less detail is heard. Plus you don't destroy your hearing long before it degrades naturally. I'm guilty of number three many moons ago. Now days, I want nothing to do with home theater. I'm happy with a good 2-channel system and a soundbar for any movies or whatever. Number 1 is number 1 for good reason! I'm glad I always did my best to protect my ears, because now my eyesight is so poor, my hearing overcompensates for it.
Never get rid of ANYTHING, and when Others Are making that mistake, be standing by with cash in hand. If they want to buy it back, tell them you're not selling.
Number 2: not so much. Didn't dump my vinyl, but don't play it anymore. Stopped buying vinyl in the late 80's. Don't regret it. Have a great digital setup that sounds better than vinyl, and with streaming and a music server, is way more convenient that records and makes is easy to enjoy all my music.
I don’t think of all of these as mistakes. Some, yes, others definitely. Read through, and I will explain at the end. Then you, add ip your score to decide where you land. 10) not really, because it’s something that you can use to learn, and grow with. Don’t go and buy a box that you have not really listened to, and played with for a long enough period of time, to justify the cost of what you are purchasing. 9) DEFINITELY, even if you have something that you don’t like how it sounds, eventually. NO DON’T. Not unless you have to have the money. Just no. 8) yes/no it’s according to how advanced you are in your journey. Everyone wants to be more than they really are. If you are going to, make sure you either get the best one, with the best the best specs, components, reviews that include various components that are in your collection, especially the ones that you are currently using/most used. 7) definitely not, perfection is not perfect. There are reasons why there is such a variety of different equipment. Imagine there are photographers that use vintage cameras to capture images that aren’t best, but they capture images that possess that vintage texture. So that popcorn that comes from old vinyl, in certain setups it is amplified, and might be eq’d out, or improved. While some might have it render in a sound, that is pleasantly enjoyable, others might not be that noticeable. 6) I don’t agree, but do agree with part. The speaker might not be benefiting from your room, and it might be harmed, in your room. But buy it, with the same conditions as above. If you get it home and just can’t get it to work. That’s fine. 5) yes and no. According to your situation. But yes, it is difficult. 4) Agree, and learn to rebuild drivers. 3) No then yes, have both. 2) agree fully 1) 1,000 agree, with the exception of certain occasions. If you’re favorite band, group or singer is reforming a a certain place or going on a date with a certain person. Or if you have, a certain setup that sounds ridiculously amazing, but at higher volumes. But if you don’t feel the mood for loud, encompassing environment. Sometimes you just want to to sit back and chill. Sometimes you want to be enveloped by loud music. As you disappear into the music. You want to feel like you’re somewhere, doing something, others you want to lean back and relax, and you have it turned up and are listening to the minute details, and you are lost in the sparkles being produced, and the rest you want to listen low. It’s not that time that you want to feel the music, but you do want it to be a gentle flow in and throughout your head, body, and soul, referring to above. Don’t overdrive your equipment. It’s there for you to enjoy, not for you to abuse and sometimes destroy. My thoughts are that switching from one piece to another, will change the music. Let’s make it food. You have an ingredient. One from the area that location that produces the best, second is from somewhere else, might be good, but it’s not that brand, or certain places but no complaints. Lastly, synthetic, chemicals. It might chemically the same, even identical, but it is different. Changing that one ingredient. It might slightly different, but it might make a world of difference. It is also dependent on how you prepared everything, and how good of ingredient was chosen. It is the same with audio equipment. That multichannel receiver, will sound better with one speaker, or more. Change your equipment somewhat often, where you can hear the difference in between. EQ some so that it’s improved, for one song or the setup currently being used.
Right off the bat the first piece of advice is to stretch your budget and spend more money! Give till it hurts. This sounds more like a recommendation from an industry mouthpiece than someone with the audiophile's best interests in mind. My recommendation is to research as much as possible, seek advice from non-industry related audiophiles and buy giant killer values. They are out there.
The worst audiophile buyer's remorse I ever had was after spending $11k on two pieces of legendary gear that starts with an M and ended up selling less than a year later. They just didn't live up to my expectations. And, yeah, I'm STILL kicking myself in the keester for not keeping all my vinyl when I switched to CD's.
Number 11: Audiophiles who like to find dream vintage systems from decades ago can find that getting old equipment fixed and up to spec (or better than spec) can be an endless money pit. Parts are getting harder to find for 40+ year old systems. And there are fewer audio technicians who really know how to service them properly. (And they don't work for free). Not to mention the cost of shipping the equipment if they do not live in your state or province.
If recording artists / engineers do not put time and money into producing good recordings, why should audiophiles spend lots of money on reproduction equipment ??
I have only one regret about dumping my vinyl for CD's back in the day when CD's first came out. I only wish I had waited until now to sell them so I could have made a ton of money off of them.
The last couple of concerts I went to, I installed cotton balls, discreetly, worked great until I shoved one in too far and had to get help with the tweezers later. But they do work well in cutting out the harsh highs that will destroy your hearing. The bass pounding through your organs is another thing. Try top fuel drag races if you really like that, just saying ☺️. Also, wear some hearing protection when running your noisey record cleaner so your ears are still nice to enjoy the record.
#1 audiophile mistake: buying expensive digital cables. #2. buying expensive analog cables. Also my HT has the fronts through a preamp and I can run it pure 2 channel.
*There’s an Audiophiliac/Steve Guttenberg imposter scamming my viewers, There’s no FREE gifts. DON’T respond! I don't do giveaways or ask for money (except for my Patreon)*
No it's real, I won a brand new Corvette
I have numerous systems currently, would like to share pictures of them to you
@Art Vandelay For being a world renowned architect, that's not funny. You did the wing of the Guggenhiem in the 90's right?
@@muahaha5929 it was a lebaron
Two here today trying to scam me, thanks Steve
You are so spot on Steve. The number one mistake is most definitely THE number one mistake to avoid. Every overdose of excessive noise (music included) in one's life is cumulative and whittles away at degrading your hearing over time. So every chance you have to shield yourself from excessively loud noise take it! (leaf blower, driving nails with a hammer, concerts, shop power tools, the subway train, ear buds / headphones, cranking Altec Lansing Voice of the Theater speakers, etc., etc.) And the sooner you get your hearing checked the better. Studies show that hearing impairment (especially the ability to hear the spoken word clearly) hastens cognitive decline. Because of my hearing loss, the most expensive audio components I own sit right behind my ears and while they help, they can't cure my tinnitus. Every quiet moment in all recordings for me have a slight ringing to it.
I'm a classical pipe organist. Thank you for telling people to listen to unamplified instruments. I routinely point out to people who say that no stereo will ever sound like live music that the concerts most of them go to are just listening to a glorified stereo and they routinely call me an idiot. Amplified music is amplified music. Sound from speakers is sound from speakers. It doesn't matter if the preformed is in front of you.
❤
Word from the wise! I have only a few regrets in my audio experience. Though I do have to admit that the hearing damage thing is very real. I lost a good portion of hearing from a Deep Purple concert back in the 80's . Ritchie Blackmore burned a guitar on-stage and their opening act was Bad Company. They were really loud and so was a RUSH concert I attended a year later. Sooo, sometimes the pain is worth the gain, but not always.
I seen over a hundred rock concerts during the 80's and enjoyed every one of them. I wouldn't change a single thing.
Decades ago I determined to protect my hearing, both at work (heavy industrial customer environments) AND at concerts. The last couple of (RUSH in particular...) concerts I attended were much more enjoyable with the plugs in! I heard details of the music better - and without the pain!
#1 - use a db meter where you are sitting. 90 db max for 30 minutes only, 95 db for maybe 1 song, or part of one that you really need the effect. Otherwise keep to 80-85 db max for longer listening periods even less if you can.
And why is that?
80db is already way to loud in my house, because I have neighbours.
I maxed out around 50db.
@@Lasse3 permanent hearing damage is found to occur past those levels.
I was using the NIOSH iOS app, was keeping levels 85 max but still got some ringing that I really noticed today. Fingers crossed. Would be great to have a show about how to really be sure your levels are safe
YES…I made mistakes…some expensive ones…after much research, watched reviews, etc…etc…I bought expensive mono bloc power amps from over seas which left me wanting and then I tried to fix it with that manufacturer's preamp (all non-returnable)…and after spending $6K I found that I just did not "love" the sound. I also found that metal dome tweeters are not for me, either. 😂 I took a financial bath selling it all. This pursuit is elusive…
I did learn so much thru my experiences, tho. Mainly, I learned what sound signature that "I" liked and was patient and careful.. I spent quite a bit more the second time around…worked on my room acoustics and speaker placement, as well. Lately I smile a LOT and just look for music. It’s a journey…and I have to play the game and be part of a process…and oh….I had to learn patience and kindness with myself. 😎
Ahhh, the golden age of used lps, late '80s through the'90s. Bought many, many lps in those years.
Except from ageing and hearing loss I have one more big No; vacuum cleaner on speaker cover that is mounted on the speaker. I had to replace a tweeter that simply popped out. An other time a cleaning cloth grabbed on to my cartridge needle and bent it back to the middle ages. Cleaning a High End system is like walking on a minefield.
One mistake I make all the time is thinking there is always something better out there and not just settling with the choices I have made. So I spend more time looking at new kit than actually being content and enjoying what I have.
I lost my vinyl due to a house fire but had steadily started replacing them with CD’s because I preferred CD’s from the onset and to this day I still buy CD’s because for me it’s always been the pinnacle format. However I never would have simply gotten rid of my vinyl by choice just because I now had it on CD. Even still I simply don’t care enough about vinyl to start rebuilding a vinyl collection. I have a few I’ve picked up here and there but it’s not my main focus. I tried the streaming thing but wasn’t a fan. For me there’s no substitute for compact disc hard copy media.
Being overly critical of what you already have and forgetting to enjoy the music is a big one for most folks. Took me a bit to get past it myself, but I have learned in my older age to cherish the things we do have and enjoy them to their fullest.
#12 (there are already some contenders for #11): Consider carefully when purchasing a single device that has two or more functions (or at least be sure the functions can be fully decoupled). As a general rule for someone on an audiophile journey, it is best to assemble functionality from separate components. This provides the most future flexibility and makes your system more resilient to failures. This is in addition to the commonly recognized quality advantages of separates.
With the downside that certain groups of high end audio don't talk well with each other e.g HDMI vs i2s vs analog -particularly true with respect to audio equipment not wanting to integrate with visual. I've amassed a suitcase of cables and wires that is testimony to this lack of standardization. I now realize that before I buy I have to look long and hard at the backside of every unit and visualize exactly how unit A is going to connect with unit B.
Separates…DEFINITELY! 👍🏼
Also, buying acoustic panels which are clearly designed wrong (pretty at the expense of functional) or paying hundreds to thousands for interconnects which measure electrically same or worse than Amazon branded cables... Yeah, expensive mistakes :)
Steve, your last point definitely rang true for me. Some years ago I went to a concert by the local orchestra and the final work on the programme was Respighi's "Pines of Rome". The final movement of the work is entitled "The Pines of the Appian Way" and it depicts soldiers marching along the Appian Way. Extra brass (from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band - trumpets, trombones, tubas) is called for in this section and it got so loud that my ears shut down - literally! It's the only time that has ever happened - and I certainly hope it won't ever happen again
I've learned not to let go of any of my audio related things
Hearing loss never goes away and the best hearing aids only do so much but I’m glad I have them.
Selling what you like to get something that you think will sound better...I almost made that mistake when I was on the verge of posting my '83 ADS speakers on Ebay. Glad I didn't.
Oh dear! That "Top 10" list needs 100 slots!! 😁 99% of them audiophiles spend too little money and too little attention on room treatment. It's been a whole life struggle to bend open that wallet for enough accoustic tiles, but the dam thing pops open easily for the next electronic gizmo!!!
In the early 90s I bought Lenny's Mahler 2, blasted my head off with Koss headphones and have had permanent ringing since. Please be careful, especially with headphones.
Biggie - keeping your speakers against the wall or even, horrors, in the corners against the wall. Unless you have corner horn speakers of course.
Always check with the manufacturer; some speakers OTHER than K-horns are designed to be placed in the corner or against the wall.
You learn way more from your mistakes than you do from not making them. Be careful with "mistake" lists because you can't know if you got it right if you haven't tried and experimented and listened to things in your own house for extended periods of time. It's what the hobby is about. Imagine if everyone got it right the first time?
Bravo! Just buy the stuff and learn. I come across people that are paralyzed with option overload all the time. And they think they're smart and say things like "I only want to do this once" when considering big ticket audio gear. I just kinda shake my head and think how much they're depriving themselves from the joy of discovery. Just get the stuff and enjoy the music!
@@erics.4113 "Buy the stuff and learn" becomes obscenely expensive at the very high end; you can only lose 35% of MSRP reselling used so many times.
It's like buying a new car and trading it in after a week because you wanted something else.
You can do it, but it will cost you, BIG TIME.
@@VideoArchiveGuy this is a hobby pursuit and a luxury one .. I don't think it's supposed to be financially practical.
The point I was echoing from the OP was that your knowledge and experience is the real asset!
@@VideoArchiveGuy most of my gear I've bought used and been able to resell at break even for the most part and some even at a small profit. I only buy new when I know EXACTLY what I want and why.
Definitely protect your hearing. I've been a rock drummer for 35-years, I was the kid who listened to the walkman way too loud, and I've had tinnitus for close to 25-years. I shunned hearing protection for being lame until I realized the ringing wasn't going away any longer.
LOL drummer here, and my walkman was always on 10. High pitched ringing in my ears 24 hrs a day for about the same time as you.
One of the best videos you posted Steve. Love the topic. I won't name the manufacturer but it was the late 90's and I saw this Double Cassette deck at Best Buy for a great price and I was looking for one and I was torn between buying a used deck or this new one at Best Buy. I bought the new one and even though it was a high quality audio brand I thought, I guess this model was not. I was very disappointed with the sound quality and recording quality as well. but the mistake I made is I did not take it back to the store within the 30 days, for some reason I thought maybe I would learn to like it more then I did. Well, I did not have it long, maybe 5 months and I gave it away and bought a used deck online and it works and sounds fantastic. You live and you learn!!! Also, in the late 80's I was very low on money so I sold about 50 record albums to a used record store. Do I regret that now as I have no idea what titles I had, so I have no way of re-buying them now. But, I am sure everyone has stories like this
Worst audiophile mistake : Wasting money on AudioQuest snake oil cables.
Yeah cables are a big rort
Got to go kimber kable
Worst mistake is taking advice from a cable denier.
Depends on whether or not YOU hear the difference, not Freddy, though it's not clear he's ever heard the cables himself.
Yah but what else will I do with a 9volt battery if not to power my audioquest para magnet Wayne shaft with genuine Hershel lines speaker cables
Love all your videos but this I think is one of the best to date...great advice 🙂
Thank you for bringing up the hearing risk. I always managed to "recover" from the worst offenses (nightclubs with crappy systems, concert arenas, etc) but then my young son thought it would be funny if he screamed full blast in my ear as a joke - that was a bridge too far and was the last straw and I now have some ringing forever in my left ear. I miss the way music sounded to me before the ring - I urge all to take Steve's advice seriously, and enjoy music their whole lives with their natural hearing.
The hearing loss thing is real. I remember a Deep Purple concert back in the day. They did the same set from "Made in Japan" and at the time I think it made the Guinness Book of World Records for how loud it was. My ears were ringing for a good 24 hrs. A lot of loud concerts, both big and small venues. Would I do it again, now that I know what I know and considering the tinnitus I deal with? Yeah, probably. Might skip a few that sucked though.
My most serious transgression into auditory excess was seeing the Who at Shea stadium in the early 80s during their "first" farewell tour.
The wall of speakers behind the stage had to be at least 40 feet tall. We were on the field. My ears rang for two days.
Excellent, excellent, excellent video Steve.
#11 Buying retail. I buy audio equipment at estate sales, and records too, and if I decide I do not like it then I sell it at a profit and not a loss. Yes, more patience is required and you do not get to pick and choose as much, and I will never have the latest and greatest, but I have equipment people chase after anyway.
Hi Steve, Thanks for your list of common mistakes that we audiophiles make, I would add another. Make sure to audition equipment at your dealer. Buying on the strengths of audio magazine reviews can be a big gamble. I have done that and fortunately I’ve got away with it when buying gear without a listening session, but it has a lot of risk !
( I appreciate that sometimes an authorised dealer for the manufacturer of gear that interests you might not be nearby, and often this makes an audition difficult.)
First mistake is being an audiophile in the first place! Never go full Audiophool!
Definition of a fool : someone coming on an audiophile channel to trash audiophiles.
Get a life fool...
Tropic Thunder reference?
Read the return policy is a big one in the age of buying audio gear online. I’ve lost money when not fully considering a distributor or retailers return policy. So watch out for restocking fees and pay attention to the return policy…is what I’ve learned over they years. Otherwise be prepared to sell it to recoup losses.
I was shocked to find out that as a 50 year-old audiophile, I haven't made a single one of these mistakes. That being said, I've made other major ones- there's a lot of ones to make out there! One of the more sensible things I've done has been, when selecting used gear, selecting w/in lines known to be compatible (eg, electronics, speakers) from their use by stores whose overall sound systems I've really liked. Also, not searching for the 'absolute sound,' but instead for what I thought was 'pretty damn fine & higher-end/highly-listenable sound.'
That's a great Top 10. Top work, Steve. Thank you!
Your vids are always a great watch.
You missed a big one....... Buying expensive gear in which its serviceability in the future is uncertain..... I cannot count how many people I've encountered who purchased an expensive product, the company then went under... And later when the component needed service, the owner had no options..... Or only had options by shipping it abroad, and the turnaround time and potential expense were ominous.
Another one is not trusting his own ears to assess the sound..... Often, one makes a change not based on what he/she hears, but has a "gut feeling" that the grass may be greener with different gear...... And often regret making that change. (This is related to Mistake #9 in your video.)
#11: Be true to your audience. If you are an audience of one, don't let Home Theater marketing trends decide your system or layout that typically deals with group seating or a much larger sweet spot. Often times, you can avoid things like crappy room effects if it's just one set of ears that will be listening. You don't need the same expansive room treatment for a pair of speakers, like you might for 5 or more. You don't have to sit back in the room so far if there is no screen that needs to be seen. The same money would buy a killer near field two channel system, compared to a mediocre HT one.
As an audience of one, I tend to now choose a super high performing desktop 2.1 system instead, but with bigger, more powerful speakers than is typically prescribed or trended for those situations. Everyone else in my house prefers their earbuds, since they never put their phones down.
Exce!!ent topic Steve. Number one hit home for me. Being a teenager in the '80s and into audio and cars I chased the elusive 1K watt car stereo peak. Hifonics, Rockford Fosgate, ADS, Soudstream to name a few. Loved loud music with a passion! Then afterwards hitting the NYC club scene was a must. Webster Hall, Palladium, Red Zone, Sound Factory. My God its a miracle I still have good hearing!
The only mistake I made was #1. That may have been from shooting, as well as music. I never target practiced without protection, but sometimes I fired a shot without. So I have tinnitus. I reverse engineered JBL 4343 speakers, and built a pair with my stepfather. Mine are better than the original. I tri-amped with amplifiers that I still have. I'm re-capping them. I'm also in the process of rebuilding my Sony PS-X75 turntable. I don't know if the processor chip will hold up, so I bought an Arduino Mega 2560 and support to replace it if it fails. I have a banana box of vinyl. I bought good records, but not many. I could never afford a large music collection. Now I go to Goodwill and buy CDs for $1.99. I polish any scratches, clean them, rip them, download cover art, and copy them to my NAS. I have over 900 FLAC albums on my phone.
Hi Steve,
You summarize it perfectly.
Sold all my vynil and later regretted it. I don't think I will make the same mistake with my CD collection, so much invested to just throw away.
As for equipment bought and sold, yes it has been an erroneous journey and sincerely wish I could have kept every single amp and speaker traded in, but somewhere along the line we have to make decisions and just move on.
I am now very satisfied with my equipment and just want to relax and let the music flow.
@Alpham45 ????
I went from stereo to surround, but never got rid of my stereo setup. The surround sound setup sounded AMAZING with movies. I splurged on a Klipsch 7.2.4. Atmos setup. It could not touch my stereo setup for music, and the stereo had far less power and smaller speakers.
I ended up setting the stereo up in the living room, and made the 2nd family room into a small theater room.
Number 2 - Absolutely!!! I'm 67, I never got rid of my vinyl, no way am I getting rid of my CDs - in fact I still get a real kick out of collecting them. Two new Mosaic box sets this week...
Viewer system - Marantz Ruby Ki... that is a fine CD player. I should know!
Thanks for #1! Constant noise and hearing loss are simply not taken seriously in our society and it's a shame.
Been there, done that, did it again, went back...omg...i'm hopeless LOL
At the end of the day it's you and only you that needs to like and appreciate the system you have which will help you avoid a few mistakes on Steve's list.
That shirt made me chuckle relative to the message; PMMV. Nice job on the video, Steve
#10 - Yes, been there, done that, always more expensive than just buying what you wanted in the first place.
#9 - Came close, that's why in-home demos are vitally important.
#8 - Again, a reason for an in-home demo.
#7 - Reel to reel is a lifestyle, not a music format. 🙂
#6 - Been there, done that as speakers are impossibly hard to demo (again revealing why in-home demos are so very important whenever possible.)
#5 - Thankfully never went down that route; I've heard enough horror stories from others who have been distributors or are in the business.
#4 - Broken speaker - usually because of something else stupid you did, like play with a cable with the amp on, or accidentally dropped the tonearm on the platter. Whoops. Corollary - dropping a prized LP, damaging it.
#3 - My stereo system IS my home theater, but stereo is paramount.
#2 - I've spent many years not only buying LPs I used to own, but also CDs I used to own before labels stomped the dynamics out of them due to brick wall compression on the "remastered" version. Like you, it's wonderful to pull out an LP I bought when I was 18 and hear how AMAZING it sounded, because I used to play my new LPs once and only once, to record it to cassette. It's like I set up a savings account when I was young that I forgot all about.
#1 - YES. I have long worn ear protection to all bars and concerts, and I can't fathom how people can even stand to be in the Honky Tonks along lower Broadway in Nashville when the SPL hits peaks of 120 dB. If you can't hear the next morning, permanent damage has been done. Concerts are the same way - front row at a recent popular touring concert? 115 dB+ for two hours. If the security personnel are wearing hearing protection, so should you.
Thanks for the list - completely accurate!!!
I don't go to "the gym" but I'm reliably informed that the ears are blasted there too. "Wellness", but not for the ears; madness I tell ya!
Steve, Love your videos - I am a subscriber. I enjoy all the Posters' comments' as well. As a 71 YO, Who listens and plays Music for both entertainment in the Mancave (Hate that term but suits the situation now since COVID & Retirement), and to play my drums to - about 1 hour a day as a Hobby. Your No. 10 is and should be taken to Heart. I catch myself playing My Music a bit too high when playing the drums (I don't use headphones).
Pertaining to some of the other No-Nos cited, I will repeat another post I made with some add'l info. During COVID, I created a "sound room" in my finished basement. I purchased lots of stereo equipment and created two systems - one in the front ; the other for the rear. I watched reviews by you and some others about the equipment and Speakers. Without listing all the Stuff, What I did was using IOTA SA3 /PA3 /Emotiva A300 Amp Stack connected to 2 different pairs of Bookshelf Speakers in the Front AND a Denon DRA-800H AVR (only used for Stereo sound so far), connected to Different Pairs of Bookshelf Speakers in the rear. Here Lies the Big No-NO. I play the systems independently (usually). In the front I have 1 pair of Elac Debut 6.2s and 1 Pair of Elac Debut Reference 62s. They play wonderfully together. In the rear, 1 pair of Fluance Signature series and 1 Pair of KEF Q350s connected to the Denon. My observations are this: The 2 Elacs play like a Tower together; the other 2 sound and play together very well. I have experimented with Moving and matching the 4 pairs and settled on this configuration. When they are both played simultaneously - Whoa Nellie - Like a Concert Hall in my Basement. But this is a Real Audiophiliac No-No.
When I look back at the AMPS and SPEAKERS that BLEW UP and I mean they Exploded. It was all due to the times and the distortion of measurements used in the 1960s. It wasn't until many years later I found out about 4 ohms speakers, 8 ohm, 16 ohm or the fact that I couldn't just add more speakers, more speakers and more speakers all to the same wires.
.... I started working when I was about 6 so I had money saved. I walked into our many stereo stores aimed at the Mexican Market and I bought stuff recommended to me.
.... BUT a 13 year old kid with a new product and no mentors means I made many mistakes.
IT WAS FUN THOUGH:)
even when things blew-up! - m.
My huge music collection is my DNA and tells a life story of mine.
If that's not worth, i don't know what? At least for me, it's a treasure, having thousands of CD'S & Vinyls. I own these items, but i don't own the internet 😉
✌️♥️🇩🇰 ud
Just my own experience, BUT....Every time (without fail) that I have witnessed an "Audiophile" speaker getting blown, it was by some uninformed musician who thought it was "Okay" to play an instrument through stereo speakers because "Their rated for a hundred watts"....
I am happy I kept my vinyl and stored it (last purchase was 1989). When I started collecting vinyl again, in 2021, I took it out of storage and then sound great. My CD's are collecting dust and my FLAC files are on memory sticks!
Thank you for the power conditioner point. After this video, I replaced mine with a non-surge protector, non-RFI/EMI power strip and was shocked at how bad my Furman conditioner was robbing the sound and I had never thought to take it out - just thought you had to have some sort of protection. Wow. Thanks for that advice along with #1.
Regarding mistake #1: There's hearing protection for musicians, which will let you enjoy the music quality while reducing the loudness at concerts. You can also get them custom-made for your ears at any local hearing specialist. Especially if you go to concerts often, getting custom-made hearing protection is a good investment and not crazy expensive (like audiophile equipment is 😅 )
#1. The stereo I had when I was 17 was the best sounding stereo I ever had because I played drums in loud bands and worked in a noisy warehouse during the day. My hearing was pretty much trashed by 1984 when the warehouse closed and I quit alchohol. It's been a drag trying to find equipment that can sound good through the junk you're constantly hearing.
You can still hear differences between speakers and gear up to about $2000 with Tinnitus, but it's not worth creating a TH-cam channel to talk about it...
Rough Story! So sorry...
A power conditioner, was the best, least expensive upgrade I ever got. I turned my friend onto one, and he agreed.
Man I was listening so loud the other night I think I ripped a hole into another dimension.
#10 -> I disagree, but it depends on the price. I would suggest tiering. If you cannot afford a $2000 headphone, it's OK to settle for a $300 one. If you aren't able to afford a $300 one, it's OK to settle for a $50 one. TBH the number of options are so high that you should be able to select your headphone in any price range.
#9 -> you can try on headphones before purchase. If you don't like what it sounds like, return.
#8 -> agree. I feel like this one is not even required these days -> modern day electronics can produce clean energy, unless you're an extreme audiophile (I know, it sounds cringey).
#7 -> in 2023 it doesn't matter. Digital is convenient and pretty much lossless.
#6 -> again, free returns. Try it before you buy it.
Agree with the rest! :)
Earplugs are your friend!!!
I had custom molded earplugs when I was in my 20s. I always have some sort of air plug in my pocket.
#13 Do not get too attached to one dealer, since no one dealer is going to always have the best products for you. We have only one dealer in my city today and I make about 50 percent of my purchases from them and the other 50 percent online.
Never had a large vinyl collection to dump. I did buy CD's when they came out. In the 80's onward starting collecting LP's at great used prices. CD's now are so cheap to buy used but replenishing vinyl is costly nowadays. I bought used Tube stuff in 90's when more people wanted Solid State and got them at great used prices.
Always use ear and eye protection when appropriate. Dont' take it for granted!
Reel to Reel is true. I bought one because my Dad had one. Then bought large variety lots on eBay and now have 200+ prerecorded tapes. The problem with R2R is that you have to listen to the whole thing. Fast rewind stretches the tape and ruins the sound. Tapes aren't like a LP or CD where you can select a few songs and move on to the next. A prerecorded R2R tape is a 45+ minute commitment. Aside from that, it is cool to thread the reels and listen to music that rarely made it onto vinyl...because nobody in their right mind would buy those records. 🤣
Steve, this was a brilliant list and absolutely on target on each one. I have talked myself blue with people trying to tell them practically everything you just spoke. Brilliant, really, simply brilliant. Hope you enjoy mine sometime.
Wise counsel Steve - especially on the need to take care of our ears. Some amplifiers enable you to set a volume ceiling and it is a feature well worth using as it can prevent you turning up the volume to ridiculous levels ....
Or... you could just not turn it up too loud.
@@YouSoundButtHurt People get carried away when they are enjoying their tunes or drinking alcohol.
That setting is a must-have for me. I will not buy an amp without it.
I don't understand how concerts work. Don't they put themselves out of business? They are always so loud, that there's no chance, that you leave that place without a permanent hearing loss.
#2. I was elated when people started selling their records to buy CDs. I'd stop in to a local record store at lunchtime and leave with 3-10 albums in excellent condition (except for the uber-permanent price tags the store put on everything). That was a great couple of years.
My dark period is when I first discovered used record stores in the early 70's and started dragging my older more-obscure records down to the store to pay for new obscure records. Still hurts when I go to the shelf looking for a record and realize I sold it to buy something like Mott The Hoople Live.
Mott the Hoople Live is a fantasic record!
@@MrEnglish150 I love Mott the Hoople, and I loved Luther Grosvenor in Spooky Tooth, but I went sour on his guitar work with Mott. He was the showman they needed at the time but, for me, his solo style didn't jell with Mott. I did rebuy the album when the expanded CD came out, but it still bugs me.
I found a years back at a GoodWill store for 1 dollar that classic Andy Warhole Velvet Underground with Nico - Banana Peel LP that someone dumped - still have it.
I disagree on #3. I've had some great preamps, but invested in a 14k Lyngdorf processor, and it sounds great on both music and movies. I listen to a lot of ambient and electronic music and two front and two surround speakers together creates amazing ambient retrieval. Might not be for the purists, but I am more than satisfied with the SQ.
I suggest that older audiophiles such as I leave a detailed list of the value of each component owned and how best to sell it if no descendant wants it. I've seen too many people who have no idea about the value of their deceased parents' gear or how to sell it if they do not want it.
Confucius say: “those who buy right, ONLY CRY ONCE “.
Why would anyone get rid of LP's is beyond me! I never dumped my turntable or LP's, or cassettes, just started buying CD's because I couldn't get new music on LP's anymore at that time!
Steves right about the audio business. You have to make or sell product and if your into great things products will mostly be a compromise to make money and it kills the love you have for the hobby. I would suggest staying small and earning your place in the market Ive been building speakers for over 25 years many own them but Im fairly unknown and to me that's a great place to be in audio. Still there but not discovered to the point you fail.
I would like to add another mistake, one I just did. One where your so intent on getting a device, because you just want it that much, that you ignore the telltale signs that there is something wrong with it.
And you tell yourself, ‘Yeah, I can fix this.’ and go ahead and buy it anyways, and end up with a hefty repair bill 😅
Unfortunately, I've had bi-lateral tinnitus for years and I'll turn 60 this summer. I'll never know whether it was my previous hobby of flying small propeller planes, working at a a factory with a punch press, mowing 5 acres of lawn or going to concerts. If Medicaid paid for hearing aids, I'd get them in a heartbeat, but right now the out-of-pocket cost is prohibitive. My first vinyl album was K-tel[s Goofy Greats. I wish I still had it, but Herbie Hancock and Charlie Daniels are good substitutes.
Steve, I may or may not have gotten a reply from you regarding this comment asking me to Whatsapp you at a particular phone number. It shows in my G-mail, but not on this video. At the moment I am leery due to an issue with a different You-Tube audio equipment reviewer. Either it's a scam and not him using his likeness or he's an extraordinarily incompetent businessman (I do like his channel, though). Perhaps if you found another way to contact me privately either by FB or some other way I might feel safer about contacting you.... I've seen your message about scammers.
First, I say Mistakes are OK as this is your journey in Audio. How many products have you purchased (for me 40yrs of gear) then sold, purchased, traded and sold again? It's an Audio Life Journey when you start with limited $$'s then you build up your income, buying and Trading-In then 20-40yrs goes by and at this point you finally find out what you like. Well, maybe you do.
I’ve seen that viewer system of the day on TH-cam, he has a channel, and has his new JBLs in a while back.
I bought a pair of $6500 speakers from a small customer builder based on lots of glowing reviews, but I'd never heard them. I totally regretted it, and sold them 6 months later for $4200. A very expensive le$$on!! So then for my next pair, I went to the dealer 3 times and did extensive listening and I was SURE these were my holy grail speakers. Got em home, and they sounded terrible in my room. Doh!!
Related to number one, custom molded musicians earplugs are the best purchase I ever made
Circa 2012 I paid about $500 + audiologist fees for a fitting. I absolutely loved them and thought they helped protect my hearing until one fell off on the way home from work and was lost. Have the prices come down in recent years?
@@carltoncotter2614 Yeah I think I paid $150. But I've generally heard $200 is the going rate.
Number 8: Not all Power Conditioners are bad, some are and some aren't and it has nothing to do with money. Do the homework and you can find one that is good. My personal take on Power Conditioners: Don't buy a Power Conditioner to change the sound of your system, buy one for protection. Buy a Power Conditioner/Surge protector.
Number 7 Reel to Reel: I would not necessarily call this a mistake. Reel to Reels are cool, but very expensive to have and operate. If one has the funds and really wants one and knows what they are getting into, get one. That said, this would be a huge mistake for newcomers and the unaware though.
Number 4 is something I see most audiophiles do! Somehow they think that the louder they play, the better the sound. It is actually the opposite. The louder the volume the less detail is heard. Plus you don't destroy your hearing long before it degrades naturally.
I'm guilty of number three many moons ago. Now days, I want nothing to do with home theater. I'm happy with a good 2-channel system and a soundbar for any movies or whatever.
Number 1 is number 1 for good reason! I'm glad I always did my best to protect my ears, because now my eyesight is so poor, my hearing overcompensates for it.
Never get rid of ANYTHING, and when Others Are making that mistake, be standing by with cash in hand.
If they want to buy it back, tell them you're not selling.
Number 2: not so much. Didn't dump my vinyl, but don't play it anymore. Stopped buying vinyl in the late 80's. Don't regret it. Have a great digital setup that sounds better than vinyl, and with streaming and a music server, is way more convenient that records and makes is easy to enjoy all my music.
I don’t think of all of these as mistakes. Some, yes, others definitely. Read through, and I will explain at the end. Then you, add ip your score to decide where you land.
10) not really, because it’s something that you can use to learn, and grow with. Don’t go and buy a box that you have not really listened to, and played with for a long enough period of time, to justify the cost of what you are purchasing.
9) DEFINITELY, even if you have something that you don’t like how it sounds, eventually. NO DON’T. Not unless you have to have the money. Just no.
8) yes/no it’s according to how advanced you are in your journey. Everyone wants to be more than they really are. If you are going to, make sure you either get the best one, with the best the best specs, components, reviews that include various components that are in your collection, especially the ones that you are currently using/most used.
7) definitely not, perfection is not perfect. There are reasons why there is such a variety of different equipment. Imagine there are photographers that use vintage cameras to capture images that aren’t best, but they capture images that possess that vintage texture. So that popcorn that comes from old vinyl, in certain setups it is amplified, and might be eq’d out, or improved. While some might have it render in a sound, that is pleasantly enjoyable, others might not be that noticeable.
6) I don’t agree, but do agree with part. The speaker might not be benefiting from your room, and it might be harmed, in your room. But buy it, with the same conditions as above. If you get it home and just can’t get it to work. That’s fine.
5) yes and no. According to your situation. But yes, it is difficult.
4) Agree, and learn to rebuild drivers.
3) No then yes, have both.
2) agree fully
1) 1,000 agree, with the exception of certain occasions. If you’re favorite band, group or singer is reforming a a certain place or going on a date with a certain person. Or if you have, a certain setup that sounds ridiculously amazing, but at higher volumes. But if you don’t feel the mood for loud, encompassing environment. Sometimes you just want to to sit back and chill. Sometimes you want to be enveloped by loud music. As you disappear into the music. You want to feel like you’re somewhere, doing something, others you want to lean back and relax, and you have it turned up and are listening to the minute details, and you are lost in the sparkles being produced, and the rest you want to listen low. It’s not that time that you want to feel the music, but you do want it to be a gentle flow in and throughout your head, body, and soul, referring to above. Don’t overdrive your equipment. It’s there for you to enjoy, not for you to abuse and sometimes destroy.
My thoughts are that switching from one piece to another, will change the music. Let’s make it food. You have an ingredient. One from the area that location that produces the best, second is from somewhere else, might be good, but it’s not that brand, or certain places but no complaints. Lastly, synthetic, chemicals. It might chemically the same, even identical, but it is different. Changing that one ingredient. It might slightly different, but it might make a world of difference. It is also dependent on how you prepared everything, and how good of ingredient was chosen.
It is the same with audio equipment. That multichannel receiver, will sound better with one speaker, or more. Change your equipment somewhat often, where you can hear the difference in between. EQ some so that it’s improved, for one song or the setup currently being used.
Right off the bat the first piece of advice is to stretch your budget and spend more money! Give till it hurts. This sounds more like a recommendation from an industry mouthpiece than someone with the audiophile's best interests in mind.
My recommendation is to research as much as possible, seek advice from non-industry related audiophiles and buy giant killer values. They are out there.
Great video Steve and a very good list.
The worst audiophile buyer's remorse I ever had was after spending $11k on two pieces of legendary gear that starts with an M and ended up selling less than a year later. They just didn't live up to my expectations. And, yeah, I'm STILL kicking myself in the keester for not keeping all my vinyl when I switched to CD's.
McIntosh
Marantz?
@@ArtVandelayOfficial 👍
@@Kryptic1046 👎
Monkyo
That t-shirt, awesome, disturbing and thought provocative. Nice!
Number 11: Audiophiles who like to find dream vintage systems from decades ago can find that getting old equipment fixed and up to spec (or better than spec) can be an endless money pit. Parts are getting harder to find for 40+ year old systems. And there are fewer audio technicians who really know how to service them properly. (And they don't work for free). Not to mention the cost of shipping the equipment if they do not live in your state or province.
I agreed: difficult to finding good Techs to fix vintage systems SS or Tube.
A good deal on the wrong product is no bargain.
Great Review, thank you. All really valid points 😎👍
Love the Audio “Immaculate Conception” T-shirt Steve!
I've had pretty good luck with power conditioners.
Although if you bought a bad one I could see it being current limiting.
If recording artists / engineers do not put time and money into producing good recordings, why should audiophiles spend lots of money on reproduction equipment ??
I have only one regret about dumping my vinyl for CD's back in the day when CD's first came out. I only wish I had waited until now to sell them so I could have made a ton of money off of them.
A huge audiophile mistake evidenced by the viewer's photos, expensive setups, good looking rooms but horrendous room acoustics.
Hi Steve
Greetings from the Netherlands!
The last couple of concerts I went to, I installed cotton balls, discreetly, worked great until I shoved one in too far and had to get help with the tweezers later. But they do work well in cutting out the harsh highs that will destroy your hearing. The bass pounding through your organs is another thing. Try top fuel drag races if you really like that, just saying ☺️. Also, wear some hearing protection when running your noisey record cleaner so your ears are still nice to enjoy the record.
I recommend Etymotic Ety ear plugs for concerts
I made mistake #2 in 1986 Boy that was a huge one! Luckily I recovered from it
No 10 is number 1.
If your hearing is screwed it doesn't matter how good your system is, so you can disregard no 1 to 9.
Very important to choose a product with great customer service. Either that or cheap enough to replace or fix
#1 audiophile mistake: buying expensive digital cables. #2. buying expensive analog cables. Also my HT has the fronts through a preamp and I can run it pure 2 channel.