Building a BEGINNER AUDIOPHILE SETUP Audio Advice with Andrew Robinson

👉 QUESTIONS? Click THANKS☝️to highlight your question & give thanks for the help you receive!
👁️ for something? Click View Products 🛍 or OPEN the description box below!

BUILDING A BEGINNER AUDIOPHILE SETUP Audio Advice with Andrew Robinson
For a list of recommending beginner hifi systems, check the description below.

The following list is meant to be a starting point in helping you find the hifi equipment that works best for you. This is not an exhaustive list so feel free to leave your favorites in the comments below!

► RECOMMENDED SPEAKERS FOR YOUR FIRST HIFI SYSTEM

POWERED SPEAKERS (no power source needed)

PASSIVE SPEAKERS (require power source)

► RECOMMENDED POWER SOURCES FOR YOUR FIRST HIFI SYSTEM

► RECOMMENDED TURNTABLES

► RECOMMENDED MUSIC STREAMERS

► MY REFERENCE AUDIO AND HOME THEATER SYSTEM

POWER

LOUDSPEAKERS

SPEAKER STANDS

TURNTABLES

RECORD PLAYER CARTRIDGES

HEADPHONES

SOUNDBARS

TOP SMART TVs

BLUETOOTH / DESKTOP SPEAKERS

► SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM


► STAY CONNECTED


FTC: This video is not sponsored. Some links above are affiliate, meaning we make a small percentage if you buy through the link but it won't change the price for you! Thank you for helping to support the channel

#audio #hifi #audiophile

[domsdomsdomsdoms]

hmm.. i like how this dude isnt just giving audiophile knowledge but audiophile experience. his advice isnt just for instant gratification but looks ahead long term, as well as considering real issues like budget and fall out rate. it’s like helping people enjoy the most out the hobby while avoiding mistakes alonh the way. and it deals with heart issues like impatience etc to avoid making dumb decisions. we all need that..

[edouardgibout]

I've been looking into changing my Bose Sound Bar to an HiFi system for some weeks now. It is a big change. I am not an audiophile but music is a big part of my life and I want to improve my experience.
I've been discussing with vendors, reading blogs, watching videos. I feel I just received the best advice from you today. Thank you, it really helped in my decision process.

[benjamin]

I like the humbleness of how you approach this subject. 0 pretentious attitude. You have been to the upper levels qnd still relate 100% to someone with zero knowledge in the field. Great job sir.

[justinroundy]

Let's put this out there: if you want an integrated amp and stereo speakers, the vintage market is a great thing for poor folks like me. I have a nakamichi RE-3 (integrated amp with built in phono preamp), Technics SL-1300 turntable, shure srh440 headphones, and pioneer cs-G515 speakers. I've been happy with that a looong time, and I think it would cost a pretty budget to do any better with the stereo.

I did have to get the amp serviced eventually, it just needed certain bits cleaned out, nbd. A lot of this stuff doesn't really wear out, so if you can't afford to support the new stuff right away, you don't have to.

My "big upgrade" of the last few years was getting a schiit fulla2 for my desk 😅

[tomprowda]

Andrew, as a very experienced music lover and long time audiophile I greatly enjoy your reasoned and sensible approach to newbies in this wonderful hobby. You have a great way of explaining complex issues in an easy to understand way, something I always tried to strive for when I sold audio. My interest in music and audio started at 7 years old (thanks, Mom & Dad!), my ears have been a blessing and a curse at times, lol! The quality of gear at very affordable prices is truly astonishing these days; no one needs be scared or shamed they can't afford to spend thousands on a quality system! Great series!

[cassietessier]

Got my first turntable today, it came as a bundle on amazon with speakers. They are Presonus Eris speakers. And that’s all I have. The Audio Technica LP60X has a preamp built in, and the speakers are Active ones. Got everything hooked up and the sound is amazing. Only spent $200 on the whole thing. But for my first I love it and will eventually upgrade. Once I understand this world I got into ☺️

[audiofun]

Years ago I started my hi-fi journey with $500 Audioengine 5 active speakers and a $100 DAC connected to my computer. Loved the sound. Over the years I gradually upgraded to a $10, 000 system, that includes both digital and analog-front-end. Each upgrade solved a specific aspect of music reproduction I wanted to improve, so each time the result was noticeable and very satisfying. I never thought about upgrading until I felt I wanted to improve something in my system. One of the huge “upgrades” was finding perfect speaker placement, far away from the wall behind. That moment I felt like my system jumped 10x in value, the improvement was incredible. My current system sounds almost perfect to me and I am not planning the next upgrade until I become more experienced in critical listening and learn how to appreciate more expensive gear.

[NotASingleGoodNameLeft]

He is absolutely right. I just got my first setup: B&W 607 S2 Anniversary Edition Speakers, Cambridge audio AXR85 Integrated Amp and I added to that an iFi Zen DAC. It sounds amazing compared to all the soundbars/mono things I heard before. If you are new to this like me PLEASE check some stuff about room placement. I had terrible almost non existent bass because I was sitting in the middle of a square room getting all those reflections cancelling the sound. Once I moved my chair and speakers to a decent position the sound came to life.

[ramonmalaya]

Andrew, you gave great advice. One of the things people forget to take account is the size of the room. Great floor speakers can sound horrible in a small home office. Likewise expensive high end bookshelf speakers will sound horrible if overdriven to fill a large room with sound. Starting with the modest system and grow from there is always sound advice than to swing for the fences and end up frustrated with a system than is seldom used.

[deamon]

Andrew, I love how you explained each audio component and provided a simple approach to Alex on how he should think, by sharing your professional experience from your perspective.

[ghddfmd]

I’m a salesman at a local stereo shop in Mesa, AZ and I haven’t even finished the whole video and already know this is gonna help me tremendously with sales. ❤️ YouTube needs more people like you!

[Modm]

Lots of people upgrade and sell perfectly good 2nd hand hifi equip on-line. Just because its 20 years old doesn't mean that it does not deliver. My amp is 10 years old (budget Marantz) my tuner and Cd player are around the same and my speakers (all budget purchases at the time Marantz amp, tuner, cdplayer Tannoy R1 bookshelf and Revolver 350- inherited from me da- floorstanders and Aiwa turntable-my wife bought about 10 years ago).
This system sounds perfect (turntable coming to the end of days though).
I'm gonna upgrade speaker cable as this was budget csmbridge audio cable when i got it. Otherwise a ok.
You'll definitely get fantastic sounding hifi 2nd hand and working great. Best of luck and enjoy

[TBNTX]

Great lesson for new-comers to vinyl, Andrew. Terrific insight.

I've been a long-time vinyl fan (decades-long), and I'm HAPPY about the re-disovery of vinyl. I've even sent a Fluance turntable with their powered speakers to two of my family members with some LPs that connect them with past family music.

Fluance offers turntables + powered speakers starting below $400, and these are very good starter systems. I presently own their RT85T turntable and their Reference series 5.1 Surround-Sound speaker system, but I've been building-up my audio system for a long time.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not affiliated with Fluance in any way. I mention the company for reference purposes, and to help new-comers find an affordable way to begin listening to LPs.

Music matters.

Keep up the good job, Andrew, .

[stephenbrown]

Hello Andrew. It is very easy to get caught up with the latest technology . I know I have. One recent example is my Interest in audio receivers from the 1970s era. This began after I started listening to my albums on my stereo system. It had been 10 years or more since it was used. I have realized that what I have does not need to be replaced.

I am looking forward to enjoying hearing the music from my original stereo system.
- Nikko NR750
- Technics SL-QD22
- Advent Baby 2 speakers
- Sony DVP- S7700
- Onkyo TA-RW255
Keep up the good work and looking forward to future audio videos.

[DouglasMilewski]

Family members often have stereo equipment that's sitting around. Start with free and work your way up. That's how I got started all those years ago.

[mahmudhashim]

Been an audiophile for years, I remember how I got started and the many mistake that I made.
First this video gave you and honest review, he and audiophile like many of us and he dosent look at you and wonder of how much dollars that you might be spending like the sales staff in the audio shop.
However being having less knowledge and tight budjet, you should also consider used

Music have many genre, what is your prefered music. This will determine which speakers to go for.

Enviroment is important. Whether you intend to set up in a living room, bedroom or basement or others. The ideal space should be comfortable to you and whoelse is living with you. Speakers should idealy blent with the rest of your furniture.
Remember there is no perfect system setup. You are building the setup you peference is the upmost important. The sound should be to you liking. Others may have their opinion but goes with your own choice.
Hope you are happy and wellcome to the group.

[freekderks]

Recently went from vintage 70's speakers and amp gifted from family to my first high(er) end self bought setup. Spend a little bit more than I intended, but glad I did. Got myself a pair of B&W 707s2 speakers along with a NAD c368 (incl bluos module) integrated stereo amp. For most audiophiles this must definately be considered a 'beginner setup', To me this sounds like heaven and is exactly what I was looking for. This feels like an amazing start of my journey without ever regretting spending around €2000, - on my setup.

I can only wonder if I would have felt the same if I would have spend twice as much on my first setup. I doubt it to be honest. The amount spend and the level of enjoyment are perfectly in balance for me!

[donalddeorio]

I've been doing this since I was 17, I'll be 62 in December, music was always important to me. I set each of my sons off with a basic system. I've also helped some young people I worked with in Home depot to get started in audio. I would direct them to go listen first, usually at Best Buy they have some decent stuff. Then I'd select some used components from Ebay and we had a lot of success. Half of my system which is separates was purchased on Ebay. That's an option for those on a tight budget.

[zh]

I
like how
you structure
your sentences
because
it
makes it easier to understand what
you think.

[keithmoriyama]

My advice? BUY USED!
I bought a used pair of Castle Winchesters $4K circa 1990 (adjusted to inflation 8K to 10K today) Paid $400. in absolute mint condition from the widow across the street. Yes this was a lucky buy, but deals exist every day.