I love that "Magnepans" when translated to text using TH-cam's CC software becomes "magnet pants." All kinds of logo (and animated character) possibilities with that one.
This reminds me of the old cartoon, the mag might have been Stereo Review at the time. The salesman is shown speaking to three different customers at the store, pointing to three hugely different systems, saying,"I can recommend these speakers for you, I have a set in my own home." In the final panel, he is shown in his easy chair at home, surrounded by dozens of pairs of different speakers still in box (basically the speaker warehouse for the store).
That's just how crazy things get. An amp, powered by a separate power supply, with a separate preamps for every piece of equipment that goes into the amp. Then there is a CD player consisting of a transport with separate D to A converter, a turntable with its own pre-amp, and speakers with active crossovers, along with subwoofers with their own dedicated amps. Past the amps are a set of a minimum of two speakers to a maximum of 6 with one or two subwoofers. These playback the music the rest of the system is amplifying in as flat a manner as possible from as close to 20Hz to 20 kHz as possible given the limitations of the materials they are made of and the laws of physics as it pertains to sound waves. The next link in the chain goes to the listener with his own set of hifi ears, sound detection devices made of living tissues, and powered by their own power supply with analog sound detection and a frequency detection of 20Hz to 20kHz when in new condition. Over time this detection device degrades loosing some of its initial Band width. These sound detection units can detect a certain amount of distortion once it measures 1% or more. Below that it is difficult for these devices to pick up the minute differences between the source material and that which is played back to them. Ok, I'm having entirely too much fun here. Thanks Steve, for the break down of your system. How about you set up something where we can share our systems with you, and you can share them to your viewers as you see fit?any information provided might help younger viewers figure out what they want to buy for their own systems. For instance I chose to go with a pair of two way speakers using the best drivers available at the time. The woofers are 7" units made of Kevlar for its light weight and fast response which limits distortion. The tweeters are acid etched titanium domes inverted with phase caps. They are extremely accurate and articulate as are the woofers, which have an F3 of 45 Hz. From there on down to 23Hz is a match g sub, built with a Q of .81. There is a slight bump at around 50 Hz, but with its separate amp it's easy to dial up the volume for nearly flat response. Tu he woofer is mounted in a sealed cabinet which allows for a shallower roll of than a ported cabinet. Its F3 of 23 Hz is only slightly higher than its response at 20Hz, and the response at 10 Hz is still audible as it flutters. Too much fun!
Try a set of Apogee Duettas my friend, if you think traditional drivers sound impressive you’ll be blown away if you manage to get your ears on a set of those. :)
Well, l have a few sets of golf clubs. I use them all, but which are the ones I use when try to score low? It depends, but they are all my clubs. I have only one sound system, but I would have more if I could, but that is on the "Honey Don't" list. And if i do get a second audio system, there will be another thing added to the "Honey Don't" list.
I like Magnepans, they are indeed open and airy and not-boxy sounding. I had a pair years ago. But I grew frustrated because they did not image particularly well. And although I am a piano tech (and concert pianos don't "image" in stereo, either), the instrument placement accuracy---the sonic photograph---of, say, a symphony orchestra, can be much better made with a more nearly point-source speaker. I ended up at the end of my audiophile quest with horn speakers. The imaging tricks they could achieve were lots of fun for myself. But note: imaging is not important unless it is something that matters to you. The luckiest people, I think, have tin ears and no interest in beauty and therefore don't waste time and money on art and culture. And many of them have absolutely full and wonderful lives led without neuroses about the finest-this-or-that. Good for them! Everybody should do exactly what makes them happiest and share, if they like, to help like minded others. Like Steve above!
Magnepan is the most misunderstood speaker in the industry. Ive spent years and years with them figuring them out. Drop by my channel to see how to make these image, its easy once you know how. Most Maggie buyers are just like you... scratching their heads.
Sound comes from the rear of the speaker, so your room still matters as much as it does with standard speaker types. Most people don't consider the room, but will spend heaps swapping interconnects, cables and other various amplifiers and preamps. The room sound is bigger than all those :)
I agree Reid, its very VERY hard to reproduce sound as easily or efficiently without horn style speakers. If I had the money I would invest in OMA speakers they are doing things right....taking it back to hey dey of good sound and not interested in minimizing but capitalizing on horn tech.
Hi Steve I was wondering why would anyone give a 'thumbs down' for a basic description of what you own and use? as of today there are 129 of these punks.
Yeah, I really never got the thing with headphone obsession, why would you want 50 headphones when you have a regular high end loudspeaker system? Why would I want to put the speakers on my head when I can sit in a comfy chair and listen to the music from a like 10000dollar system.. The only thing would be if the wife is asleep. And then 1 pair would suffice..
I have been a long time reader of Stereophile and it is great to be able to put a person behind a name that I have read reviews by for years. Some really interesting and wonderful equipment there (and that doesn't even get into that rack of headphones in the background). Of the two things that bug me most about audiophile setups, one is clearly evident here and I am always shocked when I see it done by people who are seen as experts in audio and that is lack of consideration for cooling and heat dissipation. Both instance involve the Pass Labs equipment. The first might be considered a niggle, but why put the preamp's analog section on top of the power supply and its heat rather than have the power supply on top for it to radiate better and not add unnecessary heat to the analog section. The second is in my view a serious mistake and one I see often. That is that the Pass Labs 100.5, a Class A amp (read radiator) is under a stack of other amps. Maybe they aren't hooked up and run in this setup but I am assuming they probably are. And if so they are being subjected to unnecessary heat which can cause distortion and premature failure. Plus it defeats part of the Pass amps cooling design. I would recommend that anyone watching the video keep in mind that stacking other components on power amps is almost always a bad idea (I personally don't even do it with my one Class D amp) and certainly never on a Class A design.
Totally agree. Like plugging in the heater while listening to music. But you know, that's the fetish of amplifier classes, in this case, Class A. :) (Although an amplifier class alone doesn't tell much about the final sound quality of that amplifier, moreover, it depends on soo many other parameters and then even the integration into the whole chain).. Nothing against Pass or so, but this is wasting money. Not when buying it. When using it :)
Thanks for posting Steve. I think it is wonderful that your so passionate about audio. I have always loved audio myself since I was a small boy, so I get it.
You have predilection to nelson pass' gadget and one Bruce Herran. Very very good ones. You are different because you don't have tube amp or is not surrounded by those. Pass' amps are mostly mosfets.
The problem with vinyl is that every time you play it, it deteriorates, a diamond stylus scraping through vinyl does that. Also, vinyl only has about half the dynamic range of CD.
My system, I have a pair of Spica on stands. Bought the Spica in 1983. A Lansing stereo/ mono receiver. I think less than $20 in a thrift store. A crappy Toshiba direct drive TT with a Blue Point cartridge and surprisingly sounds pretty good. TT was $10 and I had the cartridge laying around for years. I play a lot of stereo and mono vinyl and my system isn't fussy and sounds great. Keep in mind my room is about 400 sf and I set up all the components carefully. Oh, cables. I keep em short.
A little late to the video... my system is similar. Zu Audio and Magnepan floor standing speakers. Bel Canto, Magnepan, and Audio Research are from Minneapolis.
Never heard a Magnaplan but have a pair of Martin Logan’s ESL’s. I also have a pair of LS3/5 clones made with real wood 3/4 inch thick. Superb little speakers. A little bass shy but I don’t miss it when I play them.
Zu audio is not to my tastes. Dynamic and efficient, yes. But the designs are entirely too bright with ragged on axis treble response and gobs of stored energy as seen in the spectral decay plot. Listening fatigue will definitely be a factor with Zu audio speakers.
@@DaddySizeIt just looks like one, also def 'does' drugs if not an addict and thats enough reason for me as indian to judge him, also i consider marijuana to be drugs
Most excellent! That TAD bookshelf speaker, while outta' my budget, would be the "best" apartment dweller audiophile music speaker available. Andrew Jones, even back to the KEF days, is a Hi-Fi warlock! Thanks for sharing your personal "stereo" system. I say stereo, sa I saw you don't do multi-channel or surround sound systems in your home. Seems you're a purist in that manner. KUDOS! ~ peace
Steve Guttenberg is a really cool guy just doing what he is passionate about why does everyone have a snide comment shut up and enjoy his videos and reviews .you may actually learn something or don't watch if you have nothing nice to say
We have similar taste. I always enjoy Pass stuff. I can relate to ZU. The few Magnepan speakers I have heard were in the right direction but just OK to my ear. Great collection.
Hi Steve...great video! Question if you can somehow still read this - I am very interested in hearing the Maggie .7's....I currently have a pair of B&W DM 602 with a B&W ASW 608 sub running a Sphinx V3 amp. I know the amp would be a decent match but would the B&W sub be a good match with the Maggie's? Or is it essential to get the Magnepan DWM sub? Thx for any help!
Please advise me . I don't want in my living room all these pre amps , amps , after amps , pre dac , dac, hundreds of wires etc . All I need is one HiFi integrated stereo amplifier , 2 floor speakers . Which one do you recommend it ? Right now I have an ONKYO a9050 , 2 KEF R500, and a SONY 4K dvd player connected to a SONY TV . Very happy with this system , but I would like to have even better . I am moving to a new place and I would like your audiophiles opinion on my new future system . Thank you for your help .
That's easy.Decware has the best products in the industry for the money[best value]and a lifetime warranty to the orginal owner.They do not market their products but they do make the best two watt amp on the planet.My NAIM 250 amp is not in the same league as the Decware amps.Everything you have heard about audio is mostly bullshit.Decware products peal away the layers to get to the heart of the matter......the music.Check out Tone Audio mag if you believe I am full of it.Merry Christmas Steve.
I got my LS 50s and Rogue Sphinx at your and Herb's recommendations. Excellent sound! Looking at Zu's for the rebel needs. Thanks for your sincere enthusiasm!
At every show I've attended in recent years I've listened to the Zu Audio speakers and every time they sounded awful, does anyone (who isn't a paid reviewer) actually like these speakers?
Thats what I though as well, they were the worst sounding speakers on Hi-end show in Norway 2015, 2017. Sound was very annoying, coloured, fatiguing with no imaging. I remember last year best were Piega Coax 711, amazing 3d effect, felt like all the front wall is speaker.
I'm wondering if just adding a pair of those Magneplanars would be an effective enough upgrade of my mid-level system. An interesting option that could be cheaper than replacing all gear with higher-end stuff.
At this point I’ve left far too many comments regarding Apogee Acoustics but it is well deserved. Hell to Magnepan, look on the used market for a set of Apogee Stages or Calipers and save yourself the headache of wondering why everything sounds like it has a blanket over it. There’s a reason Magnepan sued them out of existence.
Heck yeah Steve Badass Audio ! ohh i'm no cussing Lol About to give you a huge shout out on my Audio channel this coming weekend ! Thanks for all your hardwork and dedication into Audio HIFI , I have learned alot from you , Thanks again
Steve, I was given this Onkyo SR700 from a guy at a pawn shop today.I know you get what you pay for,but can this be paired with a good amp and turntable for a decent audio in a carpeted 12x15 room? I know from working with tube amps vs, solid state there is a give and take of quality of tone and sound,but I would hate to just throw away and it seems I could get much better sound than those all in one Walmart stereos. I gave someone else the did player. ugh!
In my career I worked with many musicians and conductors and asked them all - "How is it that you are able to listen to such bad sounding playback for your personal enjoyment?" The answer was always the same - I am able to fill in the sound with my mind, my brain. Must be nice. Think of the money saved!
Hi Steve, I saw that you use Parasound JC3+ and Lyra Delos together. I wonder what is your favorite Impedance level. I would be happy if you can share... Regards from Istanbul...
Hi Steve. Do you think that a "Made in America" brand might sway your choice and preference? Nothing wrong with that, just interested to know. Great setup btw.
What amazes me is anybody who can make a living in this poor tortured industry. It’s a fun hobby but try working in it. Of course I love high end audio and even owned a small audio retail shop in NYC. I specialized in reasonably priced equipment (that is, for high end gear) and specialized in entry level systems for budding audiophiles. But man was the market volatile. Any change in the political environment and people wouldn’t buy. Any change in financial markets and people wouldn’t buy. Any threats of bad weather and people wouldn’t buy. And of course we started losing more and more sales to the internet. And many high end manufacturers are desperate themselves as they try and maintain some kind of profit margin and regulate the race to the bottom. They are often forced to do what is lucrative and not what is ethical. All that said, somehow Steve manages to survive within the industry without selling anything but his knowledge and insights. He is a very pleasant person to converse with and very quick witted. And if you are wondering why he is standing slightly askew, it’s because he is legally blind and has a very narrow field of sight. But there isn’t a damn thing wrong with his ears. 🙂
People need to accept that Magnepan is not viable as a full range speaker. Treat it like a mid/high panel and reap the rewards. Even my 20.1 needed dual subs..and high pass the panels to get the low bass out of them and listen to the mids and highs totally clear up.
@@OCDHIFiGuy and that’s why they sued Apogee Acoustics into the ground, for making a superior planar magnetic speaker that wasn’t limited in the lower frequencies.
But you can work towards a goal and have a treated room, decent enough speakers, amp that can drive them, loseless files. The rest, I don't think matters so much. You can then enjoy the recording as is, and it'll sound great. Now if only I could stop being tempted by "cheap speakers" on the used market ;p
Why do we still have belt drive turntables after it was "replaced" by direct drives in the 70s? Seriously could you hear the difference between a high end belt drive from a vintage direct? Talking about just the turntable, not the tonearm or the cartridge. Just a question, trying to catch up with the new stuff.
My Krell Vanguard integrated 200w amp powers my Dynaudio Contour 1.3's and produces DELICIOUS music in a VERY small space with no need for all that mumbo jumbo! He's a funny little hobbit though!
What is the difference between two pair of yamaha ear buds mounted in an empty milk carton (for bass reflex) and high end audio? Would I notice any improvement?
Hi Steve, I thought Stereophile was a total sellout along with its editorial team. I still think that's the case BUT you are a pleasant anomaly amidst all that Audiophile BS nonsense. I truly enjoyed watching this video.
So true. check out how JA praises a standmount speaker with a single 5 inch driver goin' down to 28Hz like it's a freakin' subwoofer LOL In the fine print, last page, last phrase they put 28Hz at -16db or something like that Who knew you can have all that 28Hz bass from a single 5" mid/bass driver? throw away your subwoofers people!! :D
Do a closet review. Best shirts in the game.
I guess if you like gawdy shirts...
looks like he slept in it.
Speaking of closets.
He's got a couple set of headphones there.
one for each ear.
I love that "Magnepans" when translated to text using TH-cam's CC software becomes "magnet pants." All kinds of logo (and animated character) possibilities with that one.
This reminds me of the old cartoon, the mag might have been Stereo Review at the time. The salesman is shown speaking to three different customers at the store, pointing to three hugely different systems, saying,"I can recommend these speakers for you, I have a set in my own home." In the final panel, he is shown in his easy chair at home, surrounded by dozens of pairs of different speakers still in box (basically the speaker warehouse for the store).
Yes! I remember that. The cartoonist was Charles Rodriguez in Stereo Review.
This guy was amazing in police academy 3
My Email the ravages of time, my man.
The work of the "Stonecutters" is most odd.
David Marks calling out our ages when we see his name instantly think of Police Academy!!!
Is that really the guy that played in police academy or just similar name
Just similar name.
That's just how crazy things get. An amp, powered by a separate power supply, with a separate preamps for every piece of equipment that goes into the amp. Then there is a CD player consisting of a transport with separate D to A converter, a turntable with its own pre-amp, and speakers with active crossovers, along with subwoofers with their own dedicated amps. Past the amps are a set of a minimum of two speakers to a maximum of 6 with one or two subwoofers. These playback the music the rest of the system is amplifying in as flat a manner as possible from as close to 20Hz to 20 kHz as possible given the limitations of the materials they are made of and the laws of physics as it pertains to sound waves. The next link in the chain goes to the listener with his own set of hifi ears, sound detection devices made of living tissues, and powered by their own power supply with analog sound detection and a frequency detection of 20Hz to 20kHz when in new condition. Over time this detection device degrades loosing some of its initial Band width. These sound detection units can detect a certain amount of distortion once it measures 1% or more. Below that it is difficult for these devices to pick up the minute differences between the source material and that which is played back to them.
Ok, I'm having entirely too much fun here. Thanks Steve, for the break down of your system. How about you set up something where we can share our systems with you, and you can share them to your viewers as you see fit?any information provided might help younger viewers figure out what they want to buy for their own systems. For instance I chose to go with a pair of two way speakers using the best drivers available at the time. The woofers are 7" units made of Kevlar for its light weight and fast response which limits distortion. The tweeters are acid etched titanium domes inverted with phase caps. They are extremely accurate and articulate as are the woofers, which have an F3 of 45 Hz. From there on down to 23Hz is a match g sub, built with a Q of .81. There is a slight bump at around 50 Hz, but with its separate amp it's easy to dial up the volume for nearly flat response. Tu he woofer is mounted in a sealed cabinet which allows for a shallower roll of than a ported cabinet. Its F3 of 23 Hz is only slightly higher than its response at 20Hz, and the response at 10 Hz is still audible as it flutters. Too much fun!
Sounds about right ;-)
honestly, that power supply is probably the most important part of all of it
ken cohagen yeah and most of that is completely pointless
Ken,
Those of us that build our own equipment,
Are not happy,
That u left so many things out ..........
www.diyaudio.com
Try a set of Apogee Duettas my friend, if you think traditional drivers sound impressive you’ll be blown away if you manage to get your ears on a set of those. :)
So, this is not titled correctly. This is "Stuff Steve Has"--not Steve's system.
ATL Film Lab That IS a "system". A real system is organic, growing evolving. I have two keep my older gear in a "system "
for spares
It's no like he named the products. He's an audiophile that writes reviews not an engineer.
Bill Tomsyck I bet he does get a lot of gear wholesale or even free.
Well, l have a few sets of golf clubs. I use them all, but which are the ones I use when try to score low? It depends, but they are all my clubs. I have only one sound system, but I would have more if I could, but that is on the "Honey Don't" list. And if i do get a second audio system, there will be another thing added to the "Honey Don't" list.
I like Magnepans, they are indeed open and airy and not-boxy sounding. I had a pair years ago. But I grew frustrated because they did not image particularly well. And although I am a piano tech (and concert pianos don't "image" in stereo, either), the instrument placement accuracy---the sonic photograph---of, say, a symphony orchestra, can be much better made with a more nearly point-source speaker. I ended up at the end of my audiophile quest with horn speakers. The imaging tricks they could achieve were lots of fun for myself. But note: imaging is not important unless it is something that matters to you. The luckiest people, I think, have tin ears and no interest in beauty and therefore don't waste time and money on art and culture. And many of them have absolutely full and wonderful lives led without neuroses about the finest-this-or-that. Good for them! Everybody should do exactly what makes them happiest and share, if they like, to help like minded others. Like Steve above!
Magnepan is the most misunderstood speaker in the industry. Ive spent years and years with them figuring them out. Drop by my channel to see how to make these image, its easy once you know how. Most Maggie buyers are just like you... scratching their heads.
Sound comes from the rear of the speaker, so your room still matters as much as it does with standard speaker types. Most people don't consider the room, but will spend heaps swapping interconnects, cables and other various amplifiers and preamps. The room sound is bigger than all those :)
That's my experience with them also. I returned them and got a pair of Bowers & Wilkins. I'm very happy with the B&W.
I agree Reid, its very VERY hard to reproduce sound as easily or efficiently without horn style speakers. If I had the money I would invest in OMA speakers they are doing things right....taking it back to hey dey of good sound and not interested in minimizing but capitalizing on horn tech.
@@silversurfer3636 Thats why I own Mhorns as well as Maggies. Best of both worlds
Hi Steve
I was wondering why would anyone give a 'thumbs down' for a basic description of what you own and use? as of today there are 129 of these punks.
this cat gots like 50 pairs of head phones . I can't hang on to one pair .
Yeah, I really never got the thing with headphone obsession, why would you want 50 headphones when you have a regular high end loudspeaker system? Why would I want to put the speakers on my head when I can sit in a comfy chair and listen to the music from a like 10000dollar system.. The only thing would be if the wife is asleep. And then 1 pair would suffice..
@blsessex Yes i'm ok with that. I listen to music in the Open all the time. And if I choose not to, I have ONE pair of premium headphones.
I have been a long time reader of Stereophile and it is great to be able to put a person behind a name that I have read reviews by for years. Some really interesting and wonderful equipment there (and that doesn't even get into that rack of headphones in the background). Of the two things that bug me most about audiophile setups, one is clearly evident here and I am always shocked when I see it done by people who are seen as experts in audio and that is lack of consideration for cooling and heat dissipation. Both instance involve the Pass Labs equipment. The first might be considered a niggle, but why put the preamp's analog section on top of the power supply and its heat rather than have the power supply on top for it to radiate better and not add unnecessary heat to the analog section. The second is in my view a serious mistake and one I see often. That is that the Pass Labs 100.5, a Class A amp (read radiator) is under a stack of other amps. Maybe they aren't hooked up and run in this setup but I am assuming they probably are. And if so they are being subjected to unnecessary heat which can cause distortion and premature failure. Plus it defeats part of the Pass amps cooling design. I would recommend that anyone watching the video keep in mind that stacking other components on power amps is almost always a bad idea (I personally don't even do it with my one Class D amp) and certainly never on a Class A design.
Steve has an entire TH-cam Channel if you wish to see more of him :p. th-cam.com/channels/9wBmplRUhaCi-aNrkfgeTg.html
Totally agree. Like plugging in the heater while listening to music. But you know, that's the fetish of amplifier classes, in this case, Class A. :) (Although an amplifier class alone doesn't tell much about the final sound quality of that amplifier, moreover, it depends on soo many other parameters and then even the integration into the whole chain).. Nothing against Pass or so, but this is wasting money. Not when buying it. When using it :)
Steve is an amateur of course !
Thanks for posting Steve. I think it is wonderful that your so passionate about audio. I have always loved audio myself since I was a small boy, so I get it.
Wow. He sure has changed since I saw him in cocoon.
I’ve heard those TAD speakers at the Bristol show a couple of years ago and they are amazing!
OK Boomer.
You have predilection to nelson pass' gadget and one Bruce Herran. Very very good ones. You are different because you don't have tube amp or is not surrounded by those. Pass' amps are mostly mosfets.
The problem with vinyl is that every time you play it, it deteriorates, a diamond stylus scraping through vinyl does that. Also, vinyl only has about half the dynamic range of CD.
My system, I have a pair of Spica on stands. Bought the Spica in 1983. A Lansing stereo/ mono receiver. I think less than $20 in a thrift store. A crappy Toshiba direct drive TT with a Blue Point cartridge and surprisingly sounds pretty good. TT was $10 and I had the cartridge laying around for years. I play a lot of stereo and mono vinyl and my system isn't fussy and sounds great. Keep in mind my room is about 400 sf and I set up all the components carefully. Oh, cables. I keep em short.
Hi Steve, Thanks for showing us your system. I hope Stereophile does more videos like this.
Love Pass Lab amp, being using Aleph x2.5 preamp and X150 power amp for over 15 years and still my favorite.
A little late to the video... my system is similar. Zu Audio and Magnepan floor standing speakers. Bel Canto, Magnepan, and Audio Research are from Minneapolis.
Now thats a beautiful setup man I would never leave my home after hearing this Steve Guttenberg thanks for sharing 👌
What makes you think he ever leaves?
Never heard a Magnaplan but have a pair of Martin Logan’s ESL’s. I also have a pair of LS3/5 clones made with real wood 3/4 inch thick. Superb little speakers. A little bass shy but I don’t miss it when I play them.
Zu audio is not to my tastes. Dynamic and efficient, yes. But the designs are entirely too bright with ragged on axis treble response and gobs of stored energy as seen in the spectral decay plot. Listening fatigue will definitely be a factor with Zu audio speakers.
I have two pairs of Zu Druids (mK.IV, I think). Absolutely love them.
Lovely equipment Steve. Keep up the great work.
I actually value his opinion i have purchased 2 sets of elac speakers because of his honest non bias reviews ..thanks Steve
Revinto7 he’s a drug addict and a pretentious prick
@@goghman cite that claim that he's a drug addict?
@@DaddySizeIt just looks like one, also def 'does' drugs if not an addict and thats enough reason for me as indian to judge him, also i consider marijuana to be drugs
I need to change my pants now.
00:30 The power supply for my preamp. Do we need to go that far?
Most excellent!
That TAD bookshelf speaker, while outta' my budget,
would be the "best" apartment dweller audiophile
music speaker available.
Andrew Jones, even back to the KEF days, is a
Hi-Fi warlock!
Thanks for sharing your personal "stereo" system.
I say stereo, sa I saw you don't do multi-channel
or surround sound systems in your home.
Seems you're a purist in that manner.
KUDOS!
~ peace
Steve Guttenberg is a really cool guy just doing what he is passionate about why does everyone have a snide comment shut up and enjoy his videos and reviews .you may actually learn something or don't watch if you have nothing nice to say
We have similar taste. I always enjoy Pass stuff. I can relate to ZU. The few Magnepan speakers I have heard were in the right direction but just OK to my ear. Great collection.
Hi Steve...great video! Question if you can somehow still read this - I am very interested in hearing the Maggie .7's....I currently have a pair of B&W DM 602 with a B&W ASW 608 sub running a Sphinx V3 amp. I know the amp would be a decent match but would the B&W sub be a good match with the Maggie's? Or is it essential to get the Magnepan DWM sub? Thx for any help!
Would have loved (preferred) to see the entire room, and the system as a whole.
I agree completely
I agree completely. Am intrigued by the equipment and the room. I’ve read a lot of his stuff and it always makes sense.
Please advise me . I don't want in my living room all these pre amps , amps , after amps , pre dac , dac, hundreds of wires etc . All I need is one HiFi integrated stereo amplifier , 2 floor speakers . Which one do you recommend it ? Right now I have an ONKYO a9050 , 2 KEF R500, and a SONY 4K dvd player connected to a SONY TV . Very happy with this system , but I would like to have even better . I am moving to a new place and I would like your audiophiles opinion on my new future system . Thank you for your help .
Jeff Rowland Continuum 2 with DAC inside. Your choice of speakers..
I agree. What I did was: Mac Mini with Audirvana -> Musical Fidelity M6i integrated -> Tannoy Precision 6.4
That's easy.Decware has the best products in the industry for the money[best value]and a lifetime warranty to the orginal owner.They do not market their products but they do make the best two watt amp on the planet.My NAIM 250 amp is not in the same league as the Decware amps.Everything you have heard about audio is mostly bullshit.Decware products peal away the layers to get to the heart of the matter......the music.Check out Tone Audio mag if you believe I am full of it.Merry Christmas Steve.
Ryan,
U need a Bose Wave Radio .......
Ignore these other guys.
And that girl.
This has all your answers. th-cam.com/video/Fdb8wLd73Tg/w-d-xo.html Great video.
Nice collection of gear. I think that 100.5 probably needs to breathe a bit though. I've owned an XA 30.5 so I know these things just cook!
Thanks for sharing your stash. Great choices.
I got my LS 50s and Rogue Sphinx at your and Herb's recommendations. Excellent sound! Looking at Zu's for the rebel needs. Thanks for your sincere enthusiasm!
You poor misled Me Too follower. I will pray to St Antony for youse.
But we aren't shown a listening room. The room is an integral part, maybe the most important part of a music system.
Amazing! Steve needs more gear though lol.
At every show I've attended in recent years I've listened to the Zu Audio speakers and every time they sounded awful, does anyone (who isn't a paid reviewer) actually like these speakers?
Thats what I though as well, they were the worst sounding speakers on Hi-end show in Norway 2015, 2017. Sound was very annoying, coloured, fatiguing with no imaging. I remember last year best were Piega Coax 711, amazing 3d effect, felt like all the front wall is speaker.
good system, Mahoney.
I'm wondering if just adding a pair of those Magneplanars would be an effective enough upgrade of my mid-level system. An interesting option that could be cheaper than replacing all gear with higher-end stuff.
At this point I’ve left far too many comments regarding Apogee Acoustics but it is well deserved. Hell to Magnepan, look on the used market for a set of Apogee Stages or Calipers and save yourself the headache of wondering why everything sounds like it has a blanket over it. There’s a reason Magnepan sued them out of existence.
You seem to like the VOWELS of the voice sound coming from the same place as the CONSONANTS. Makes sense. Pity most speaker manufactures disagree.
Love the Nelson Pass labs pre amp with the power supply. Nothing like a clean DC feed! Dedicated Power supply's matter. :)
Why this guy need so many power amplifiers? F7, J2, Bel Canto, 2x XA100.5...
Hey Steve can I safely use a set of B&W DM6'S with my Marantz 4430 Quad?
$10,000 for a new pair for the druid speakers....utterly insane.
You could get a full Genelec system for that and it would launch everything from Zu into the heart of the Sun without even breaking a sweat.
Yes, but they're specially made in the kingdom of Druidia.
Nice system. And at my age I'm almost jealous. And as for David Marks comment, Yes he was amazing in Police Academy 3
That's it, I just needed a push. I'm going to buy the bifrost multibit.
He used to act when he was younger.
He was in a series of comedy movies called Police Patrol.
Quite funny.
Magnepans sound pretty strange Gave up panels 39 years ago,
I think in his more recent post on favorite speakers $1000 and above he mentions that he has also given up on panel speakers.
Then you haven’t heard a pair of Apogee Duetta Signatures hooked up to a set of capable amplifiers my friend.
Inquiring minds want to know, why so many headphones? You only have two ears. I can understand two or three different types, but around 20?
Non-audiophile question
Heck yeah Steve Badass Audio ! ohh i'm no cussing Lol About to give you a huge shout out on my Audio channel this coming weekend ! Thanks for all your hardwork and dedication into Audio HIFI , I have learned alot from you , Thanks again
should have fired the cameraman omg ... nice to see steves face when its about his audio ...
So no Amstrad then?
Steve has "laughing eyes" and always looks happy...
Please Steve, put everything together working and let us ear some music!
Tim Niland what do you perceive as budget or mid range?
I like the smallest Maggie the best, better imaging, and more natural sounding all-around.
I plan to get the lrs, do you need a sub?
i like tube amps better myself,unfortunately they require upkeep that isn't within my budget
Can I hookup a portable tweeter w. built-in crossover to my home stereo speaker selector?
So happy to see you with Magnepans.
ditto.
What benefit to the 12 dead cats and 26 bags of garbage offer to the overall system? Should I be moving all my garbage to one room for better sound?
it's interesting to see Steve's Pilot Show :)
Steve, I was given this Onkyo SR700 from a guy at a pawn shop today.I know you get what you pay for,but can this be paired with a good amp and turntable for a decent audio in a carpeted 12x15 room? I know from working with tube amps vs, solid state there is a give and take of quality of tone and sound,but I would hate to just throw away and it seems I could get much better sound than those all in one Walmart stereos. I gave someone else the did player. ugh!
is that a moving coil cartridge?
In my career I worked with many musicians and conductors and asked them all - "How is it that you are able to listen to such bad sounding playback for your personal enjoyment?" The answer was always the same - I am able to fill in the sound with my mind, my brain. Must be nice. Think of the money saved!
I was waiting foto the cornwalls and didnt appear !
He's clearly a Pass Labs fan. I need to check them out for myself.
Very nice video! Thank you.
I cannot show my System.
You would recommend I see a Psychiatrist..LOL
Now I'm curious 😁
The only affordable thing in his gear is the Schiit dac
Hi Steve, I saw that you use Parasound JC3+ and Lyra Delos together. I wonder what is your favorite Impedance level. I would be happy if you can share... Regards from Istanbul...
Steve, does your Schiit Bifrost have a multibit or delta sigma chip? Thanks.
Yes.
"newest piece" most recent piece surely. looks like a hermit and his room looks like a hovel.
is this Larry David?
raisit!
In one video, he said pretty,pretty good.
Larry lives in Los Angeles.
Hi Steve. Do you think that a "Made in America" brand might sway your choice and preference? Nothing wrong with that, just interested to know. Great setup btw.
What amazes me is anybody who can make a living in this poor tortured industry. It’s a fun hobby but try working in it. Of course I love high end audio and even owned a small audio retail shop in NYC. I specialized in reasonably priced equipment (that is, for high end gear) and specialized in entry level systems for budding audiophiles. But man was the market volatile. Any change in the political environment and people wouldn’t buy. Any change in financial markets and people wouldn’t buy. Any threats of bad weather and people wouldn’t buy. And of course we started losing more and more sales to the internet. And many high end manufacturers are desperate themselves as they try and maintain some kind of profit margin and regulate the race to the bottom. They are often forced to do what is lucrative and not what is ethical. All that said, somehow Steve manages to survive within the industry without selling anything but his knowledge and insights. He is a very pleasant person to converse with and very quick witted. And if you are wondering why he is standing slightly askew, it’s because he is legally blind and has a very narrow field of sight. But there isn’t a damn thing wrong with his ears. 🙂
What does you not being able to sell equipment have to do with anything? Yes, he is legally blind for the purpose of collecting disability.
@@omgrapist Do you sound clever in your own head? Not so much to others.
A sound demo would be nice
No headphone mentions :(
How do you like the XA100.5? Have you ever done a review on it?
I had the magnepan mg1 .....loved them just very limited in the low region.
My auduio best buddy and I rockef out with his Tympani 1D's ...powered y 350 w/ch amp!
People need to accept that Magnepan is not viable as a full range speaker. Treat it like a mid/high panel and reap the rewards. Even my 20.1 needed dual subs..and high pass the panels to get the low bass out of them and listen to the mids and highs totally clear up.
which amp are you using with your 20.1? also, how difficult did you find trying to integrate subs with magnepans?
@@OCDHIFiGuy and that’s why they sued Apogee Acoustics into the ground, for making a superior planar magnetic speaker that wasn’t limited in the lower frequencies.
@@epposh i used monos. 300WPC VTL MB 300 .... lol. I know how to power maggies..
How often do you use your headphones? Our integrated amplifier has a headphone input so I am all set with that aspect.
Steve has never steered me astray.
Pardon the term, but your system is BANGIN'!
What, no Radio Shack equipment? Nothing says "quality" like the Optimus nameplate...
justsomeguytoyou Their best reel to reel tape was pretty good, as good as any at the time.
you do like headphones don’t you!,I love my Staxs and Audio technicas ,Ive heard the first watts they are wonderful
I too love Audio Technica headphones which really give you great bang for your buck. Of course, I love my AD700 which are (of course) no longer made
I've never read a bad thing about the lyra delos and here it is yet again, my mind is made up.
I used to in to hifi but gave it up and go and went see more of the world outside my living room
Dambuster but you're still looking lol. Cannot escape! :)
Hifi is a bottomles money pit looking for the holy grail of all hifi that does not exist it only sound as good as the recording will allow it to be.
But you can work towards a goal and have a treated room, decent enough speakers, amp that can drive them, loseless files. The rest, I don't think matters so much. You can then enjoy the recording as is, and it'll sound great. Now if only I could stop being tempted by "cheap speakers" on the used market ;p
You send me the money and I will be very happy to spend it on things I like to by not hifi
Dambuster that's just giving you more reason to buy things you don't need ;)
Oh police academy but where's that guy that does the audio sound effects?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do,
We do...
Miss my old Magnepan MG II.These are nicer though....
Why do we still have belt drive turntables after it was "replaced" by direct drives in the 70s? Seriously could you hear the difference between a high end belt drive from a vintage direct? Talking about just the turntable, not the tonearm or the cartridge. Just a question, trying to catch up with the new stuff.
Lovely equipment
Very interesting can you reply with details of ur cartridge thanks. Ps love ur daily orogramme
Can you be a Audiophile and a Stereophile with all used equipment
Yes you can
My Krell Vanguard integrated 200w amp powers my Dynaudio Contour 1.3's and produces DELICIOUS music in a VERY small space with no need for all that mumbo jumbo! He's a funny little hobbit though!
What is the difference between two pair of yamaha ear buds mounted in an empty milk carton (for bass reflex) and high end audio? Would I notice any improvement?
Analog Planet, Sweet.....your Analog Planet channel looks cool, will check that out.
Zoom out, please.
Hi Steve, I thought Stereophile was a total sellout along with its editorial team.
I still think that's the case BUT you are a pleasant anomaly amidst all that Audiophile BS nonsense.
I truly enjoyed watching this video.
So true. check out how JA praises a standmount speaker with a single 5 inch driver goin' down to 28Hz like it's a freakin' subwoofer LOL
In the fine print, last page, last phrase they put 28Hz at -16db or something like that
Who knew you can have all that 28Hz bass from a single 5" mid/bass driver? throw away your subwoofers people!! :D
SpaghettiKillah You don't have a clue of that which you speak.
Pleased you said that.
Im not even sure that its even possible to make a 6in subwoofer that has an fs of 30hz? Dont know how a 5in can even produce 28hz?
Random Tube easyyy. Tang Band RBM subs. My 3.5" ones have an Fs of around 40Hz
That's the kind of system I dream of, lucky man.