The absolute best way to know if your audio system any good

Do you wonder about your sound, is it any good? The Audiophiliac is here to help answer that question.

#audiophiles #speakerplacement

[HareDeLune]

"Yer system is really good if ya can't stop listening to it!"
I think that's the best advice I've ever heard. Ever!

Genius in it's simplicity.

[yogarl]

One of your very best video's Steve! The message, the tone, the delivery...so down to earth and real. "It's all about the music." Period!

[thesinwi]

Steve has been around for a long time, and I just gotta say I appreciate him so much. He's not here talking at you, he comes here to sit down, drop the needle, and enjoy a conversation with you. Kudos Steve. This is why I come here. No BS, no hub bub about I have a million dollar system. If you have a 100 dollar system, and you can listen...… then you to … have arrived.

[draganantonijevic]

In individual terms: the system is good if you enjoy it.

[rcpdox]

A breath of much needed sensible advice. Way to go!!!

[MrKgriffiths]

My problem is that I love my system but my neighbours hate it

[riversx]

When I travel for an extended period I always think about how I’m going to miss my system.

[johnlebeau]

It happened to me when I caught myself choosing what I was going to listen to based on how good it sounded and not what I wanted to hear. That was almost 30 years ago and it caused a big change in both me and my system. Most of my system now is homemade, or at least handmade, vintage except for my DAC, low powered, single ended and tubed, including my DAC. The first thing to go in the great purge was my turntable, it's replacement, now long out of production from a company that no longer exists, will be inherited by my children, as will most everything else currently in the system. The system, while not cheap, was also not particularly expensive. I typically listen in the evening, and have to use the clock to determine when to stop so I can still get adequate sleep.

[scottk]

At almost a year old, this video is describing my issues...I need to just listen and stop thinking. So much good advice here, I find myself doing the things suggested on my own, somewhat comforting, thanks Steve!

[glennhooper]

Possibly the wisest YouTube segment I have ever heard. Cuts through the mist and nails it!

[moonphaser]

You understand the audiophile condition very well and offer great advice, experience shows!

[JPA]

Absolutely agree. I find myself not even wanting to turn on the tv. I recently made some upgrades over the holidays, thanks to some gifts from my wife (which included a new TT cartridge) and she mentioned yesterday that she's gotten used to Jazz playing every evening and she loves it. Said she loves the vibe the house has lately. A couple years ago it was a toss-up as to whether the TV, stereo, or my laptop was the main source of attention, but in the last year or so, the stereo trumps all else.

[krisandersson]

Your answer suprised me (in a good way).

[pseudoty]

Excellent point. I upgraded my amp 2 months ago from a Yamaha avantage 5.1 setup to a Marantz PM8006 2.0 all other things being equal and I now find myself staying up an extra 90 minutes an evening to fit some more listening time in. I was getting ear fatigue from the Yamaha but with the Marantz the sound is so pure with low to no distortion that I just can’t get enough.

[odizcvw]

Great advice. WRT cables. Try making your own to see if it clears up some issues and open a new window to the sound.
Interconnects with 24 gauge magnet wire in packing tape makes a very revealing cable. Just run 2 parallel wires 1/2 inch apart and dirt cheap RCA connectors. If you find that great (as I did) and want more? Then build a new set with 99.9% silver wire as the conductor. Then upgrade to KLEI RCA connectors. With each of these changes you will open a window deeper into the music. Costs next to nothing if you have a soldering iron. If not, time to get one.
But watch out. This is how I started down the road to DIY all my gear. It's wonderful. You can then make small incremental upgrades and seldom have to outright replace your gear.

[JacobFrey]

Love the way you touched on cables, Steve. Well done, no matter how you feel about it.

[wildcat]

Good advice. I have a rule with myself, that I can't upgrade something until I can explain exactly what is bothering me about the old one. Just buying something else in the hope it will be better is not good enough. Using my old system as a reference I then loan components and try to fix the "issue" without upsetting the things that were OK before. When I get it right, I usually have a really late night as I can't help but listen and keep pulling out tracks just to hear what they now sound like.

[ELcinegatto]

Breath of fresh air! You are always hitting the nail on the head Steve!

[maestro]

Love this one Steve. I spend more time at my computer(work and play) than in my listening room. Although I spend less time at it, I love the way it sounds but I love to tinker too so that keeps me coming back to re-listen my whole library all over again.

[brydon]

We all get caught up with new gear and wanting new gear. It's easy to forget what it's all about - enjoying the music. Moving speakers around really helped me find a much improved sound. I can't believe what a difference it can make. Like a totally new setup. Thanks Steve.