The most important component in your HIFI system? Angie, 40 years of experience reveals the secret!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- #hifi #DACs #audiophile #stereo #audioreviews #highfidelity
Patreon account: / thomasandstereo
Link to distribution site: Audiopathways.com
The gear mentioned in this video
Wadax Atlantis reference DAC / music server
VAC statement preamp
Audio research
Rockport speakers
Avantgarde speakers
Mcintosh vintage gear
Esoteric Grandioso T1 turntable
DCS Vivaldi Apex Dac
Transparent cables
HRS rack
My video on Poweramp being most important: th-cam.com/video/02hS6IAFgg4/w-d-xo.html
Time stamp
Avantgarde 00:50
Preamp discussion 13:11
Rockport 18:18
Adrian, Jay's old boss used to work for her. I worked just up the street at another shop (Stereo Factory).
@@sc51153826 Yeah she is the boss of bosses.
She so knowledgeable. You think she would adopt me? Or marry me? I usually don’t get to charged up about the people on uTube (which she isn’t) that talk play and critique high end stereo gear, but her no uTube channel no bragging and probably knows more her little finger than some. You were so lucky getting to spend time and listen to her and her gear. 👍👍👍
Nowadays with digital music, the pre-amp becomes an extra stage of signal distortion. As much as I want to adore pre-amps, there is no actual benefits from it, when the output of a DAC is volume controlled and with sufficient level to drive a power amp. Exception is when you want a pre-amp to do other than voltage amplification. Obviously a tube pre-amp can enrich the sound with even harmonics that indeed can be very pleasurable. For some music, it's a true enhancement. For a vinyl setup, the high level amplification of the cartridge signal is hugely important with the RIAA filter included and I can only agree with this point.
@ThinkingBetter well, depending on your Dac, the impedance difference might not be 10x, so your amp might not perform at its best without a preamp.
This is a perfect example of "It's never enough". For audiophiles, you will always feel the need to upgrade as far as your budget allows.
Never
they dont listen to music, they listen for faults--- its very sad as they never enjoy music
Taking aside the systems featured in this video, I would entirely agree with the observation that the preamp is the most important component in a system. Having enjoyed music over a 50 year period and now living with an endgame high end system, my preamp takes up 45% of the cost of my entire system. When introduced into the system it simply allowed the music to breathe through a big ‘open window’. Thank you for an interesting video Thomas and all the best, Peter.
Thanks Peter for sharing.
How’s that preamp deal with an MP3 file from your phone?
****Source first***** Nothing else matters if the source material is flawed either in quality (i.e. - compressed files) or in delivery to the preamp (i.e. - a good file that’s converted to analog poorly or from a noisy source going to the preamp).
I agree with the OP here. The preamp is regularly one of the most expensive parts of the system because of the complexity and need for precision. But I also feel that it's the place where more can get lost by short changing yourself than the other areas. Yes of course you have to have a good source. With digital I think it's not that hard to get really excellent stuff at a wide gamut of prices. Obviously the more you spend the better it gets. But at all levels there is competent equipment from many different makers. DACs seem about the same to me. Even lower cost DACs do what they do without a lot of effort. But preamps are what take that microphonic level of audio out into a signal that's suitable for pumping into kinetic reality. Obviously power amps do the heavy lifting, but it's the preamp that drives the engine, towing speakers along for the ride. Preamps are the difference between good and great reproduction and control. Speakers can't be their best without good amplification. Power amps can't make the precision moves without the precision signal and they don't hold on as well with the precision guidance of a really good preamp - appropriately matched of course.
Ultimately I'm a speaker devotee, but I think the area where a lot of people miss out on missing separate component potential is in their preamp. We all know that it all matters. What we often forget is that the first stage of amplification is where precision is captured or lost.
@@AndyBHome Well done for summing it up in your great post Andy 👍🏼 This crazy hobby never finishes, till we finish it 😉 Enjoy Peter
@@AndyBHome you sound very rational and are probably correct. I have no doubt that if you were to demo for me a system with a good preamp match vs one with a bad matching preamp or no preamp, that the good preamp would sound much better. But for me, it still doesn’t make sense why something between the source and power amp would make the music sound more real and better overall. Doesn’t that mean that the preamp is compensating for a less than ideal source or power amp?
Yes The Preamp is the heart and soul of the system.
You're living the dream and thanks for sharing Thomas. What an amazing down to earth lady.
Thanks for watching.
My current setup is a simple 80's one . A pair of Fried Studio IV with an Onkyo tx-7000 that was looked over by Stephen Monte and team from Quest For Sound in Bensalem PA. People are blown away at how well the simple setup works and have offered thousands over what I paid for it and to get the speakers restored with help from Oskar Wronding of Denmark and Hiquiphon.
Sometimes the next tier of audio is simply making what you have sing with joy!
I will admit that listening to Stephens 10" home brew speakers in person at QFS was fantastic on single ended goodness. One day...
No words!!!!! She just took my expectations to another universe! Rock on young lady!!! Blessings love and light always ✨️ 🙏
Wow... Simply amazing!!!
Thank you for sharing with us this amazing tour!👌😍
Angie is the Queen of Hi-End 🎼🎵
She waspath experience and knowledge in each audio commentary. Wow ... She's just amazing ❤
Thank you too!
Ma sha Allah. She is well to do. Amazing video. Tks
Thank you.
I LOVE horns! HLCD's are my favorite.
Nice camara work! Awesome vid!
Thanks a lot!
The most important component of a system is the room treatment.
Thomas 😂😂 man I am reading all the hateful comments below and you coming to defend Angie. It sucks doesn’t it? It REALLY SUCKS to argue with people that think the ultra high end is snake oil ! And by the way welcome to my life! I have to fight soooo many comments like these on a daily basis. I think I must have a turtle shell by now because they slide off my back.
Yup, your whole channel is based on high end audio, I can only imagine the pain you have to deal with. However, you bring value to many open minded people, keep it up.
What is a 'clock' you are talking about?
Not in my wildest dream I could imagine a system like that... wao
Wow, I used to live in Ontario and talked to Angie many times about equipment and music and even though I couldn’t afford her really high end equipment she showed me pieces that I could afford and they always sounded excellent I’ll always remember one I walked in and she told me she was breaking in a Set of Focal Grand Utopia speakers for a customer and said I should just go in and have a listen. What a treat and what a perfect audio perfectionist. Thanks Angie
This is the first time I see a woman passionate about HiFi audio! Just amazing! And she is not just someone with loads of money who asked somebody to build her a million dollars stereo system, she knows everything in detail, highly impressive! Respect lady!
Bro my audiobrain felt like a worm in comparison to her 🤣
@@EtonieE25 exactly!
Sad but true.
Take my wife, please.
@@matrixplace I soooooo wish she lived up the road from me as I’d be in her house every day making the coffee, cooking lunch, dinner and doing the housework JUST to have a play n listen to some of that equipment!! 🤣👍
What a women!!!! 🙂
She likes to party !
Angie is a gem ... Very nice video and glad you were able to capture this for our community.
Thank you!
Absolutely!
I remember Angie back in the eighties when her store was on Queen Street where I bought my Sound Lab A3s. I once visited her "new" location in Richmond Hill years ago. Congrats to her she has done amazingly well.
What a treat! I love seeing all this gear in a real home, with records strewn everywhere. This woman is clearly a music lover. Every time she thinks to clean up some of the clutter, she gets sucked into the music coming from her system. And the vintage pieces in mint condition are such a treasure.
That's not clutter. It's "room treatment".😊
No she's not listening to music ,,,she just loves the thrill of spending millions on gear ,,,I do the same thing
I love her! Thank you for this. As an older woman who is also an audiophile often there are not many like me out there to set an example inviting for younger women into this hobby. She's just wonderful and I'd very much love to have a conversation with her some day.
When you have an audio system like Angie has. You do not listen for faults. If you ever heard a fault, it would be gone faster than you could blink an eye. The trick however when having such an audio rig, is to have source material that is of master caliber recordings. Having a system that is very revealing, and not very forgiving means you better have great material for playback. With a system like this you do not listen for faults over listening to music. Once you have all the annoyances removed, you can really enjoy the music. That is exactly what I have noticed in my audio adventure. If you have a killer audio system, and your constantly listening for faults, you either have a subpar system, or you yourself have issues. When I add a piece of hardware to my rig, if I cant tell a difference, or I have a negative experience with the new addition, then I remove it from my system. It goes, because it is useless to me. I believe your system is only as good as it's weakest link. I do not believe in a single piece of audio gear that is more important than another piece of audio gear. If you have a complete and solid system, any change would change the sonic character of the entire system. Examples: Power amp, pre-amp, speakers etc. If you remove any of these items in your system with something of less caliber in material, and/or build quality, the audio quality of your entire system will suffer as well. I never understood the concept of a piece of audio gear more important than another when if removed from the system the entire audio experience suffers. In this concept all the audio equipment in a system as a whole is just as important as another piece of equipment in your audio system. Your audio rig is only as good as it's weakest link!
Thomas, excellent job. She is a legend and we'll not see the likes of her again. Wonderful that you asked great questions and let her wax rhapsodic on so much incredible equipment and history.
Thanks, I am glad that it was entertaining overall and she is just so good at talking.
Angie lives that Endgame Goals life and i’m proud of her for doing this
Yeah, happy for her.
Wow! I am speechless!
First of how very nice of Angie to invite and show, demonstrate and talk about her equipment! Very passionate!
Would love to listen to all of it! I’m sometimes amazed by my own system that is less than 00000000,1 of what is shown here!
Very inspiring! Thanks to both of you for a very good video!!
Angie is the best. I've had the pleasure of listening to these systems one Sunday afternoon. That experience really recalibrated my perception of what a high end system should be like. This video should be a reference on how to build an ultra high end system. Well done Angie and Thomas.
Thanks for sharing, yes, love the word recalibration.
Angie and her staff are great. I've been there a few times and was treated so well even though my budget was modest at best.
Good to know!
My bryston 3B SST has never sounded so good as when I removed my solid state pre amp and put in a tube pre amp in front of it. If I had kept my solid state pre amp and kept switching my bryston power amp for other power amps no matter what I put in instead it could not add the missing dynamics, liveliness and tone and 3d dimensionality that my tube pre amp has brought to the system. So for me, the pre amp has to be right first! That's where the magic is. 👍
Nice, thanks for sharing.
The most important component in your HIFI system is the music.
I certainly agree with Angie concerning the importance of the pre-amp.
I don’t. Bottom line: EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT. Not just the pre-amp.
Most important.
Way more important that one might think…but really EVERYTHING is important - that’s why a system is also called CHAIN!
Some of these people don't listen too good.
Obviously she believes everything is important.
Look at what she has.
She believes the preamp/processor is the most important.
Viva la preamp! Most impactful change in my system. .. a great preamp is a revelation, system changer. Full stop
I didn't even think this level of audiophilia was even possible.
THE MASSIVE ATC SCM ASL MONITORS , AND ATC'S EXTRA SEPERATE BASS UNITS also sound like live music in recording studios or in large apartments with sound treatment as in the recording studios . Also there are classical venue's that use ATC SCM ASL . ATC can also custom make their ATC SCM ASL monitors .to a specific specification if a customer so wishes , and has the money to spend on customised active ATC SCM ASL dynamic monitors .
I bought my first turntable from American sound of Canada. The whole team there is very nice and treat you the same regardless of budget. Even back then Angie said the preamp is the most important part of a system, i have changed preamps using the same gear many times and yes it does make a big difference.
Ah, thanks for sharing. I still think it is the poweramp😅
@@ThomasAndStereo Im using your old power amp, the W 5.3, it drives my Maggies quite well. So maybe in this instance a better power amp would make a difference since the speakers are demanding.
@@dajikbatarang1I miss that poweramp.😊
The preamp may indeed be the "most" important part of a (VERY high end) stereo system, IF, ALL of your other gear, especially your speakers and amplifiers are ALREADY up to the ("given" or "expected") EXTREME levels of resolution, dynamics, and detail that are absolutely needed first, in order to actually hear noticeable differences in "air" or "presentation" that different preamps would deliver...
But for MOST, more "average" or "typical" listeners, especially any non audiophile people, the SPEAKERS in any audio system make the MOST overall difference in sound quality, because without really great speakers to begin with, and especially if your speakers are actually rather crappy, then it won't matter in the slightest how good of quality your other components are in your system, because if your speakers are the weakest link, (and in most relatively "cheaper" stereo systems they are), then you're never gonna be able to hear any of the more relatively subtle nuances in sound quality that your other components may change or improve upon in the first place.
So, for extreme audiophiles the preamp may indeed be the most important part of your audio system, but for average people, especially people who are NOT audiophile minded, their stereo system's (or "home theater" system's) speakers make the largest and most important differences in overall sound quality.
My philosophy wrt components is, no single component can make the system, but a single component can ruin the system. The biggest improvements I had was from good interconnects and a good preamp. Though there was also a time in an older system the amp upgrade was huge
Good philosophy.
100% agree on preamp. Bedsides the speakers upgrading my preamp made the biggest difference on my system (C2700).
Love it , always need to view state of the art . Amazing knowledge here , how did she research so much ? Not sure I could even converse with her , just listen . One can always learn and she’s generous with her knowledge , no snob here . I have inexpensive equipment but content with the affordability and having my wife remain 😂. Glad she’s able to enjoy such quality. It promotes music !
Yeah, over 40 years of experience.
I go back 50 years with experience and I can tell you it depends on the listener. I've seen people with mediocre equipment upgrade the speakers and that made all the difference and yet other a turntable cartridge change made it for them. That's what makes audio equipment so unique particularly the high end stuff, the sweet spot depends on the listener.
Don't forge the room.
Yes! Absolutely 100% agree. I always laugh at those commenters who talk about measurements. I thought we got into this hobby to ‘listen’ to music not ‘measure’ it.
Wow Thomas, and I thank both her and you for doing this. This lady has Michael Fremmer, OCD Mikey, Jay’s Audio Lab and most of the people on the planet beat! She is extremely knowledgeable. If a sound demo was possible these are the rooms and her system is the one for it.
Yup, she is well known in the high end audio circle with the magazines and manufacturer. I also made a video on her store.
Does most important include the speakers? Cuz I’d say speakers
Regardless of the gear being cost prohibitive for most…the knowledge base is undeniable. The insight stemming from her years of experience is invaluable.
You have to surrounded by rich people to learn about all this high end gears, off course she has a passion to what she does!
You can go the other route and be a designer. My brother went that way. You can cherry pick components, but speakers... to not get cost prohibitive you have to go old school and build your own and be ready to invest years and years of art of science.
Traditional audiophiles just need to go to therapy and address their criticalness and consumerism. It stems from generational trauma in my experience. Then see after a year of therapy if they are obsessing over their system and dropping millions. It's a trap folks! Nothing can remove the human condition.
Nah, meet actual real audiophile in life, they are just like any normal people, some weird, some fun, some OCD, some rich, some poor...
Everyone has their own hobbies and spend what they want depending on their pockets and obsession of their hobby. I've done it with my hobbies also. Just enjoyable.
She is the legend!
Business is dominated by man mostly . She is the only one that I ever heard off with so much knowledge.
You should do more of this kind of vids Thomas . Move to Toronto and share your opinions with Adrian in Audio Excellence!
That would of been awesome!
It is not everyday I get invited to a house like this!
The most important component for the true audiophile is the quantity of disposable dollars available for the purchasing of ever more esoteric, boutique and expensive doodads.
Hello Thomas,
I absolutely love your videos and this one is too good.
You are one of the very best youtubers out there for HIFI gear. Very informational videos I must say.
You being so experienced I request you to guide me.
I currently own the Choras 826 powered by a Nad C388 150w per channel Integrated amp, streamer being blusound node with the JL Audio E110 sub. I am planning to buy the Focal Sopra N2s and upgrade my amplifier later.
Just wanted to know if the power on my Nad is enough to drive them at moderate volume? do not want to risk damaging them.
Also, what amplifiers would you suggest with them when I plan on upgrading later.
Thank you so much for your help in advance man.
Cheers
If you look at the specs of the speaker, there is a minimum watt recommended, as long as your NAD fits that spec, it should be ok. Usually today's amp have no problem driving it to decent volume. When I say can an amp drive it, I don't mean it in terms of volume. Rather can the amp make the speaker sound alive? You can drive it to loud volume with no dynamic contrast, with loose uncontrolled bass and this that an amp can drive the speaker, for me, that is an amp that cannot drive the speaker properly. Sopra 2 is hard to drive.
@@ThomasAndStereo Understood, Thank you so much for your help mate. Have a great day ahead and keep posting for us. :)
Hahaha I’m so happy with my simple “budget” setups. But hell, whatever floats your boat.
Angie is my favorite hifi nerd now.
Damm, I got demoted to 2nd place.
@@ThomasAndStereoSorry Tom, 3rd place! 🤣
Why do audiophiles always like to point out how much everything costs
As if that is what is important in the equipment to indicate how much they have invested.
If she tries to sell it now on the second-hand market, she will suddenly realize that she has lost 50 percent of the value and the hand is still tilted 😂
Because this is a fantasy video and it is more fun with the price tag mentioned. Also, she is THE distributor for these products so these are used as demo for certain people.
@@ThomasAndStereo Just bullshit. A million devices and splits for no reason.
Clock for the left Clock for the right. Power supply for the left Power supply for the right. Who needs all this bullshit??
So unnecessary and ridiculous. A simple amplifier, a nice streamer and a pair of speakers is all that is needed. Everything else is one big bullshit and intended for showing off and nothing more.
Unbelievable. This is quite a video. This sweet little old lady owns all this equipment in a 47 year journey? I have no words. Incredible story. Being from Toronto, this makes me proud.
Glad you enjoyed it
Don't say old lady, just mature and very experienced!
Just goes to show the profit (mark up) on Hi-Fi gear she has sold.
@@billybunter3753 Well it is proportional to the risk. You take more risk, you make more.
haha... little old lady from Pasadena?
Thomas, can you make a longer version? I (an I believe also all of us) could watch and listen such presentation for hour or a two :)) it is better than any hi-fi show report ;)
Ah, the extra footage I had is 2 other systems but are also avantgarde, well one is Rethm. The problem is after showing the main 2 big system, the rest look like toys. $70k Wadax DAC in the other systems...big deal after seeing the $300k Wadax DAC!
😒@@ThomasAndStereo
Great video Thomas! I watched and couldn't believe it's true. And I have learned about the importance of the preamplifier. Thank you and please continue with this kind of videos! Greatings from Romania , Europe!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yes this one was a tough call by demolishing the myth that hifi is the men's hobby and an advanced hifier looked like like a school boy in front of the teacher. Bear with it Thomas.
I am at a kindergarten level.
LOL, her money to blow, but really? Sickening how much money is thrown around like water, and prices forgotten as if loose change........ could only listen to so much snobbery
You see her blowing money, I see her making money, she is the distributor after all. You click on a video titled 1 million dollar system, you should expect insane prices.
Years back I would quickly have said the speakers were most important. Now with the benefit of 46 years of audio interest behind me, I am firmly convinced a preamp can make or break a system. So my answer is, and for more than 20 years has been, the preamp is the most important component.
Ah, thanks for sharing.
@@ThomasAndStereo absolutely!
In the past I have heard poor speakers sound really good when using quality source. Does not seem to work the other way around though, high quality speakers do not respond well with poor quality source.
Thomas, at the forefront of audio reviews!😂
For me, the most important part of the system is the room.
This must be the most epic grandma I have ever seen 🙂
😂 Epic indeed.
Incredible, a video about million dollar audio systems..and yet the audio quality of this video is awful
It will change when I can afford a million dollar system.
Speakers are the only component which can alter the sound radiation pattern. something some of us consider vital whether it be wide dispersion, dipole/biipole, omni, etc.
What is sound radiation pattern? My speakers sound stage was dramatically changed with Rotel separates. Much much wider and much more height. Also much more instrument separation.
@@Drivehead103which way the sound leaves the speaker eg straight out of front of speaker, out of front and back of speaker (in or out of phase), in all directions (omnidirectional), rtc
Thomas definitely teared up when he heard the system.
And now , do we just give up?😢
This is totally different level of audiophile engineering :) Angie is master of the HIFI integration geniuses not just million-dollar sales expert . No wonder she stands highest stage in Canadian HIFI industry for such long time. Very impressive video 👋👋👋👍👍👍
The room is the most important part
Having spent a day with a Dissanayake preamp I totally agree with Angie. A great preamp can totally re-shape a system. I never heard my power amps sound like that: imaging, detail, the "texture" of bass were simply of another dimension compared to what they were with the previous, simply good preamp.
Yup!
@@ThomasAndStereo ...i think my B&W 801 (new xover etc) need a better preamp than my Yamaha aventage AVR (RX-A3070) and a better dac of course ( with 3 ext amps ). I think sell my home cinema for a serious 2 channels setup...
@@KillerKojakwhat about the amp?
Too much. It almost makes me feel ill watching this. It really is too much my friend. Futility of life in full display. One cartridge is $20,000? If you’ve been to third world countries this just hits me hard.
One thing I noticed, these so call people who can afford $20k catridge, can be the most 'generous' people I have met. I know, I have met some of them. That is why I say, just watch the video for entertainment and don't judge people you have never met. You have no idea what some of them have done for the poor and helpless, I do, I was one of them that got helped in one of my worst moment in life.
I consider Angie one of the finest representatives of the audiophile community that I’ve had the pleasure to meet…and deal with professionally as a client along with her crew at American Sound🙂
Thanks for this one …as always take care.
Well said!
@@ThomasAndStereo I just purchased a Bryston headphone/ preamplifier for my headphones from them.
And yes, over the years I’ve always recommended that people (even tho it’s out of their budget) at least take a look and listen at the store …you never know what’s out there …anyway, onto the weekend.
Thanks again for the video.
@@carminedesanto6746what hps do you use?
I wish she was my grandmother 😊
Astonishing & Wonderful.
A huge thank you to Angie for allowing us into her home 🙏🇮🇹
I hope they have great security. There has to be at least 10 million worth of gear in their house.
I filmed her little dog and was originally going to use it in the video calling it her security system.
$1 Mil insane. Has to be a must hear system. Would love to hear something like this one day
She's so knowledgeable
They are very heterogeneous systems, great stuff (phasemation) and not so great. The Avangarde especially suck, unfortunately so the system is ruined. The towers speakers I can't even listen to but that's me.
You wouldn't hear a difference compared to a $10.000 system, I guarantee the snake-oil factor is huge in the $1 mill+ setups.
@@rabarebra thats where the name "Esoteric" comes in haha
Clock what now? Lol what a load!
Wow I most certainly wish I could afford some of these products. But thanks to people’s like Angie we are able to see these products and get a great description as well. Love learning something new each day.
You and me both.
@@ThomasAndStereo🤗 ME TOO
The most important component is an air core inductor. Danny Ritchie probably.
No matter how impressive this might look and sound, it's just too much. Give me a vintage Japanese amp and a pair of Kabuki speakers, a decent DAC, a good tape deck and I'm happy.
Sure, many great great systems at modest price.
I could build up a system for about £100, (perhaps £200) that I would be perfectly happy with, I think most people just want to show off how much money they have.
LOL
For you to think you're the judge & jury of what's acceptable is hilarious.
Should I tell you what car you should drive?
My goodness. You think she is showing off to you. Lol
@@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391
Some may indeed buy to impress; she's all about sound quality. Thomas pointed out the most expensive equipment wasn't with the most expensive system, because of sound reproduction "synergy".
My kind of woman
I'm sorry, don't shoot me, but if she has the resources to spend a million bucks on the system, perhaps she might have spent a few bucks decorating the room itself and maybe do a little cable management?
Bang!🤣🔫
Amazing systems. A room for dynamic and another room for horns are how dreams are made of. For me, power amp, preamp, cables then speakers because I change the speakers more often. But, I am learning the importance of the preamp.
I disagree, the speakers is.
Sure, after the speaker, what would be the most important?
@@ThomasAndStereo the room
The most important part to create extraordinary sound is not the amp or preamp even though they are important, but this part is without a doubt to me the most important and can make the difference between the level of enjoyment one will have in a listening experience..... And that is the musician and the songs they record.
I rather listen to a song I like on a lesser system than to listen to a song I don't care for on a higher end system.
With that being said there have been times that a system makes me like a certain song better.
All that money spent on a system in a tiny room. Bad investment.
The upstair room has high ceilings and opens up to dining room behind, so it is not small at all.
I still dont understand what they mean the preamp does. Better volume knob? Avoid bad digital volume? Some preamps, like linestages, alos have gain. Is that it? I know Paul McGowan is a big fan of preamps, but he is also seeling them. Can Thomas or someone make a good argument?
Ok, I can only speak from my experience. Let's say my upcoming Galion Tube preamp. I tested it with the Matrix X saber 3 connected directly to my power amp, and then I added in the tube preamp. What I got, was more air in the soundstage, a wider soundstage, and the bass hit harder. Voices are slightly leaner. Now I cannot say the same with all tube preamps, so perhaps my best guess is that it colors the sound to a more pleasing level. So if you add a good preamp to your system, it will most likely open up the soundstage. I think one of the arguments was the preamp changes the impedance, allowing the power amp to work better. That is preamp and amp matching is not as straightforward, something like the rule is 10x the difference in impedance between both. I will leave it to the experts to correct me, all I can do is share what I noticed sonically.
Very nice but you can't take it with you. Think about it.
Then just enjoy the moment.
Ty for introducing us to Angie! What a treasure
I've been passionate about high-fidelity audio since 1973. In around 1980, I began pondering.... my next visit to Toronto I will... and he decades passed and then, it happened: this incredible production found its place in my listening room. I'm truly grateful for the effort you and your team invested in creating this masterpiece. I'll definitely be watching it repeatedly; it's truly exceptional, setting it apart from the rest!
More money than sense. Going to check if this gets deleted, reading comments I expect it will.
This sounds almost like some knew he did something bad and waiting to see if there are consequences 🤔
@@ThomasAndStereo No this sounds like someone that was in a position to rotate expensive stock through their system and has sub-sequentially lost the plot. The market is full of BS, always has been. There are some constants such as Solid state end stages (power amps) are more efficient than tube end stages (faster). But before anyone has an opinion, the budget class should be established (what can one achieve on a certain budget). This person lost that hands down. If dollar to quality were a ratio that mattered instead of hype then a 100 dollar MS pioneer system would win.
I prefer the decware sound philosophy... AFFORDABLE.
now THAT... is pure insanity...cmon now!!! you know what $1000000 can buy??? wow!!
interesting comment on the use of sub woofer, i wonder if the crossover point Angie use in her sub, 80hz, 50hz ?
I don't doubt this system sounds really good, but I don't doubt either that you could get the same sound for a _fraction_ of the money, and that even with what she thinks is a subpar preamp. 47 years of experience and she has so many unnecessary things, snake oils, says that the preamp is the most important component and still uses those "magical" audiophile words, so I don't really think she knows how the stuff actually works. No wonder audiophiles still get a bad rep from normal people.
Get the same sound for a fraction of the price? So far, with all the systems I have listened to, not yet but, given that you are so confident in your statement, you must have , so maybe one day I will too.
@@ThomasAndStereo Yeah just take one of those subs as an example, I think she said that it cost 80000 USD which is just insane. You can get a very good driver, some wooden boards, get a Hypex based amplifier and a MiniDSP for say maybe 2000 USD. Sure it might not look as good or have the same name, but it will sound just awesome.
I mean all this gear costs so extremely much mostly because of the name, so you're just paying for the status symbols and not actual performance. Audiophilery in a nutshell.
@@gurratell7326 well, first of all, there is no one to show off to because most audiophiles don't live in a pack. Better off buying a car if the goal is to show off. 2nd, if you think you can make a system for less money, go for it.
@@ThomasAndStereo Is not this showing off? And do you think you are the first person seeing that system other than her?
The problem is not really that I can build something better for the fraction of the cost, the problem is that she and many companies are earning shitloads of cash by misleading and fooling people into buying extremely expensive stuff that really aren't doing anything than what stuff for the fraction of the cost can do, aka they are selling snake oil. And it sometimes even goes so far that these sales people are fooling themselves with whatever they are selling, I mean it really seems that this lady believes that preamps are the most important piece in the system, while she didn't even mention the room which is _infinitely_ more important than the preamp.
I really think it's a shame that these people can keep doing what they are doing because there are SO many myths in audio that still prevails because of this, it really ain't either magic or rocket sciences as many still believe.
And tbh, I'd say that the most important thing in an audio system after speakers and the room is a DSP, which she have in her subs which you seemed very surprised over, which also say's quite a lot.
There are still way to many people that yet haven't understood how important it is to control the frequency response, it can really transform any system into sounding so much better.
@@gurratell7326 It is just HIFI, no need to go to war for it. Here let's do it this way, all high-end systems are snake oil, and with that, you can live happily ever after in your world.
The most important component is you. It's your mindset, approach and gratitude. It's not having the best of everything (an unattainable and endless pursuit) it's making the best of everything that creates the best experiences.
Well said!
I agree. The room and room treatments are also very important.
Thank you and Angie for this virtual tour of ultra high end audio systems. Not something we'll find at any audio show. Angie sold me my first pair of decent speakers (Totem Staaf) back in the '80s. I was too shy to ask for a discount but she gave me a good price anyway. Congrats on 40+ years of service in the Toronto area.
Wow, Totem staaf. I think Sean favorite speaker.
Do you know what the [ most excellent ] 🎄present would be, besides “ ♩♪ a partridge in a pear tree ? ♫ ♬ ”
Video or audio footage of the following …
• Angie Lisi ( Audiophile Afficionado,
Retailer )
• Peter Qvortrup ( Founder, Audio
Note )
• Holger Fromme ( Founder,
Avantgarde Acoustic )
• Kevin Hayes ( Founder, Valve
Amplification Company [ VAC ] )
• Richard Fryer ( Founder, Spectral
Audio )
• Rolf Jörgen Olofsson ( CEO, Marten
AB )
• Shari Markel ( President, Analysis
Plus Pro Audio )
• Jeffrey Smith ( Founder, Silversmith
Audio )
• Yasuhisa Toyota ( World Renown
Acoustician )
• Danko Cerenko ( World Leading
Auditory Specialist )
• Larry ( Enthusiast, ‘ Real HiFi Help ’
TH-camr )
… sat down, all together, enjoying Thanksgiving at Jonathan Weiss’ ( Founder ) Oswald Mill Audio ( Pennsylvania ) dinner table - while being enveloped by his $280k, flagship, ‘ Imperia ’ field coil conical ( straight-sided / non-beaming ) horn loudspeakers.
Ohhhh, boy ...
What a treat, that would be.
Many of the aforementioned employ, unconventional, approaches ; in their, respective, arenas.
‘ Quite an [ extraordinary ] conversation, I suppose.
🍺🍺🍺 - and, ‘ early Merry Christmas
5:20 "I expected to be bombarded by bass".....😂😂 Ofcourse not....That's the whole point....Balanced dynamics....
I have one question if you was invited as you was to listen to $1 million system and at magic point, you started listening and realised that the sound was not to your liking because when an dividual blows that amount of money into a hobby, they are very unlikely to do a very big U-turn if things don’t work out possibly even to the point of deluding themselves that it sounds amazing i’m guessing it would sound amazing, but what is $1 million amazing and what is just amazing is a massive price difference would you have the guts and the balls to say to the owner of the million dollar Canadian I think that sounds amazing but I don’t think it sounds $1 million system i’m pretty sure some of these systems don’t sound as good as the price tag would lead you to believe
Well I am not the center of the universe so even if I don't like the sound, it matters not. What matters is the owner likes it and I will respect her taste regardless. To be arrogant and tell her she is wrong, who am I to do it? Also value is different for everyone. My wife thinks a $500 system is stupid, for her, TV speakers is just as good. The world will be a more peaceful place if we don't judge and infringe our values on others.
@@ThomasAndStereo I agree I live in the UK. I’ve got what I think is a good stereo all in with the amp the deck the speakers about £6000 which my wife thinks is well overpriced, but I think it sounds awesome and I do wonder at what point the sound gets as good as it’s really going to get with the exception of the odd little tweak, which is never going to make or breaker system after that pointing money, how much of it then becomes fashion jewellery because of the shiny aluminium the extremely highly polished wood on the speakers the extremely expensive rare wood, making the speaker cabinet. If you’re just out for really brilliant sound at what point does it become silly and you are then paying for a fashion choice, rather than extra sound quality.
@@Rob1972Gem I ask myself that question all the time. I think you already know the answer. You stop when you can’t get better sound to your ears or when you die (which ever come first).
The immersive experience she’s talking about @ 16:58 is like being stoned without actually having a puff! 🤔
answer = preamp @13:18
For such an incredible system, I would think she would have a better and bigger dedicated listening room, but I’m not rich so I’m not sure how that works
Most important component: Your ears.
And your brain too.
Got a marantz head unit from the 80’s that is still impressive and puts out such true watts. This is quit the system here and I totally get every piece Angie has. Hardly ever hear of females being into SPL. Or speaker and sound. I dig it!!!🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
This conversation is a gem. Thank you!
I totally agree with her, the Preamp is the key. For all the sound qualities, especially instrument separation, soundstage, you need a good preamp, period.
It looks like Avantgarde Accoustic from my neighborhood. The factory is about 15 Minutes from my home...and soon in my home. But just UNO SDs..