beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio

Our good friend Harris Fogel from http://maceditionradio.com comes by to do a show!  Harris has been globetrotting to all of the audio shows, so he gives a quick rundown of what he's seen.  

Then we get into the "Chi-Fi" (Equipment made in China) and chat about a few of the choice items.  

Fosi Audio TB10D: https://amzn.to/3YnWocL
Aiyima T9: https://amzn.to/3x0KDNU
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+: https://emotiva.com/products/airmotiv-b1-pair

Geshelli Labs https://geshelli.com/product/jnog2/   Capital Audiofest https://www.capitalaudiofest.com   THE Show https://thehomeentertainmentshow.com   Copper Magazine https://www.psaudio.com/copper-magazine/   Marantz CD 60 https://www.marantz.com/en-us/product/cd-players/cd60   Schitt Audio https://www.schiit.com   PS Audio - The Loudspeaker Book and SACD https://www.psaudio.com/products/the-loudspeaker/   JBL Spinner BTS Turntable https://news.harman.com/releases/harman-luxury-audio-to-unveil-jbl-spinner-bt-turntable-at-harman-explore   HARMAN Luxury Audio - JBL Classic Series https://news.harman.com/releases/harman-luxury-audio-to-introduce-new-jbl-classic-series-integrated-amplifier-streaming-media-player-cd-player-and-turntable-at-harman-explore

I review the Marantz CD-60 CD Player before we wrap it up.

Thanks for listening! 

 

Our good buddy David Solomon from Qobuz (http://qobuz.com) is a MASTER of picking the RIGHT songs to show off his systems.  He and I trade in this episode, talk about our favorites, and why we love them.  

David's playlist on Qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/9292025

My 10:

*Trouble?s What You?re In (Live from Union Chapel, London - Oct 5 2011) - Fink *The Sweetest Taboo - Sade Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) | Eagles Lonely Lonely - Feist Bali Run - Fourplay Best Time - Chris Botti Tin Pan Alley (AKA Roughest Place in Town) - Stevie Ray Vaughan Time - Pink Floyd Fascinating Rhythm (Album Version) - Dave Grusin Gold Dust Woman (2001 Remaster) - Fleetwood Mac   HIs 10: Calypso Mino Abdullah Ibrahim Sotho Blue Paper Tiger Lonnie Smith Boogaloo to Beck Looking for A Home Keith Greeninger Blue Coast Collection Raleigh and Spencer Tony Furtado Tony Furtado Band Harlem Nocturne Illinois Jacquet Swing's the Thing Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um Warriors Too Many Zooz Too Many Zooz Firebird Suite The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Quarter Chicken Dark Yo Yo Ma Cakewalk Flim and the Bee bees Tricycle   Want to transfer your stuff from another service to Qobuz? http://soundiiz.com

So great to be back on the mic! On today's solo show I talk about attending the NAMM show, and how the convergence of the Pro audio and HiFi Audio industry is happening.  Then I move onto T.H.E. (The Home Entertainment) Show in Long Beach before discussing the brilliant new Tears for Fears Album in Tidal's Dolby ATMOS, and how immersive and mesmerizing it is.  

Here are the ceiling speakers I discussed:

Micca M8C. https://amzn.to/3tAEOoV   Micca R8C https://amzn.to/3NN6yPm

HEY! We're back!  David Solomon of http://qobuz.com and I sit down in the lobby of the Hilton hotel Long Beach, where T.H.E. Show 2021 was taking place.  We talked about how Covid affected (and still affects) the industry, as well as the importance of setup vs. gear.  

The return of Patrick Norton, who's moved himself out to St. Louis from Oakland CA, and a review of the GoldenEar Triton 2+ and the JDS Labs Atom AMP and DAC.   Book reco: DIY Acoustic Panels: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Acoustic Absorbers and Diffusers

Dr. Paul Anderson is back in the house, chatting about his most recent iteration of his system, which includes the Dali Oberon 1, a MUCH cheaper DAC than his $7k Aesthetix, and more!  We review the Parasound Halo Hint6 and the BAVSound Upgrade for your BMW, Mini, or Supra. 

It's an amazing thing to be able to "re-introduce" our friends to music again.  Think about this: In a sea of Spotify, mp3's, and bluetooth, Some people under the age of 35 LITERALLY may have NEVER heard their music the way it was recorded.  You have the chance to see their face light up when they feel the energy and passion the artist intended when they recorded it.  That's what this episode is about.

I also discuss the Jabra Elite 75t and determine whether it's the best true wireless earbud on the market today. 

Keep listening to good music! 

On today's episode I tell a story of how I (almost) got scammed buying a pair of KEF LS50's, used, how I'm setting up a new listening room from scratch, and did a bake-off of the LS50 Passive vs. Wireless.

On today's ep. I chat about my new Long Beach House, and break down the system. (Check out http://instagram.com/beginneraudiophile for pics) Then I get into why headphones have gotten so important over the last couple of months.  Finally, I chat with Eric Johnson, founder of HELM audio, about their new program for first responders. 

LONG overdue, on this ep I bring vintage audio expert Mark Ceresuolo on, and we talk all things vintage audio, from which companies made the great gear, some origin stories, and what to look for in vintage receivers, speakers, and turntables.  

During the course of creating this show, I set a mental "cap" that no piece of equipment would cost more than $3000.  With few exceptions, I've stuck to that directive.  Today however, we push right up to the edge of that limit with three different units:  The $2999 Peachtree Nova 500, the $2499 Vincent Audio 247mkII, and the roughly (It's discontinued now) $2500 Parasound Halo.  

Now...the truth is, we'd be happy to have ANY of these units on our shelf.  Have a listen to see which one we picked as the best of the three! 

On today's solo episode, I talk about CES 2020, the state of audio, and what's up with the show.  Then I break down ported vs. non-ported subwoofers.  Finally, a review of the Jabra Elite 65T True Wireless earbuds, and the 85H headphones.

 

Everyone has a story.  Many of us that were kids in the 70's and 80's had that friend or that kid in school that had all the cool stereo gear.  Today my pal Brooks Hollan (@life_of_brooksie) and I talk about being a kid in a very influential time for planting musical seeds.  We then review the AudioQuest Cobalt...is it the best portable DAC? 

On this show we talk about some new gear from Elac, Pro-Ject, Audioquest, Amazon Music and more!  

On this solo episode, I update you about the SVS install I did in Utah, cover the new Emotiva AVR in the news, and review the Hifiman TWS600.  After a listener question involving the Amazon Echo Dot, we go listen to some great tunes!

Check out http://kit.com/solohour for the earbuds, and any other gear I talk about in this episode.

Check out all the gear at http://svsound.com 

Today I share the story of a home theater install I did for my good friend Jase Bennett (@jasebennett) of The Ohana Adventure.  They have a youtube channel of over 2.6 MILLION (!) subscribers.  Jase and his wife have 6 kids, and he wanted an amazing place for all of them to watch movies.  We were really shocked by the result of this install!

have a look at http://beginneraudiophile.com/gear to check out our recommended gear, and some of the gear we used in the install.  

Also, if you are looking for incredible bang for the buck, look no further than SVS Sound! http://svsound.com 

Today Dr. Paul and I talk about a "hypothetical" audio conference, and how we might reinvent it.  With the advent of lifestyle systems, powered speakers with great DACs and sonic integration, it's time we re-think how people consume these audio conferences, and how manufacturers approach them.  

We'd love your suggestions on how you would like to experience an audio conference.  What would you like to see included? How much would you pay to attend?  Where should it be located?  Hit us up here with your suggestions: http://beginneraudiophile.com/contact/

This episode brought to you by SVS.  Check out the amazing offerings, including the Prime Wireless Bookshelves, at the SVS Website Here.  (http://svsound.com)

Michael's got a new Mac Pro (from 2009) that he's just upgraded, and tells a story of hefting a giant SVS subwoofer up the steps with no help from Fed Ex.  Speaking of, this episode is sponsored by SVS.  Check out all of their amazing offerings at http://svsound.com. 

Patrick had to move his bookshelf speakers, so they dug into the basics of speaker setup and room treatment. Then we dug into a few of your questions, including adding an amp to an AVR, outdoor speakers, and some DAC info. 

On today's episode Patrick Norton and Michael O'Neal chat about an innovative way to break in your new speakers, Michael Reviews the Optoma UHL55 4K Portable Projector, and we answer a few of your questions! 

This episode is brought to you by SVS Sound.  From the Prime Wireless to their legendary subwoofers, SVS has what you need to absolutely transform your listening experience. Try their subwoofer matching tool at http://svsound.com.

Airpods?  Airpods, really?  What do you do when you want great sound in addition to the functionality of True Wireless Earbuds?  Today we find out, with this momentus showdown between the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, and the Master & Dynamic MW07.  Both priced at $300, do they fit the bill of lifestyle vs. audiophile?  We unbox the Cleer NEXT and are very pleasantly surprised.  Then we talk about the BlueSound Vault 2i, PowerNode 2i, and Node 2i.  Finally, we dig into your questions and head out to listen to some great music.  

Today's Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by SVS Sound!  Check out their dazzling array of subwoofers, SVS Prime Wireless, and the brand spankin new SVS Pinnacle at http://svsound.com

Today, 30 year audiophile (and one of the two guys that got me into the hobby) Matt Rockwell and I sit down for a chat in his house in Boulder.  When I met Matt, he had a $300k+ system.  Now, a few years later, he's "pared it down" to a simple $36k system.  I know that sounds like a lot, but this was a fascinating conversation about audio, art, gear, and the true essence of the hobby.  

Note...Matt speaks quite softly, so I've done my best with the audio.  

Here's Matt's current system:

Speakers: Green Mountian Audio http://greenmountainaudio.com/eos-hd/

Subwoofer: Rel https://rel.net/shop/powered-subwoofers/serie-ti/t9i/

Integrated Amp: Jeff Rowland https://www.jeffrowlandgroup.com/continuum-s2/

  DAC: http: Aesthetix Pandora with Signature Upgrade //aesthetix.net/digital.php   Digital Source: Custom Ubuntu 18.04 Linux, Real-Time Kernel.  Running Roon/Tidal and JRiver Media Player     Headphones: Speaker Man - Ether : https://www.mrspeakers.com/headphones-22/ether.html   Headphone Amp: Amp Sound : https://ampsandsound.com/products/kenzie-headphone-amp   Speaker Cables: Analysis Plus Oval 9 https://www.analysis-plus.com/product/home-audio/speaker-cables/black-mesh-oval-9/   Digital Interface: Off-Ramp-4 https://www.stereophile.com/content/empirical-audio-ramp-4-usb-format-converter   Power Conditioning: Running Springs Jaco : http://www.tonepublications.com/review/running-springs-audio-jaco-power-conditioner/   Power Cables: Shunyata Venom : https://shunyata.com/products/power-cables/venom-hc/   Interconnects (RCA and XLR: Audo Magic Liquid-Air : https://www.audio-magic.com/files/128166265.pdf   Today's Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by SVS.  SVS makes some of the best bang for the buck in high-end audio.  Check them out at http://svsound.com

On today's episode we try a slew of USB audio cables to see if they make a difference in sound.  We also check out current audio news, and bang through a few user questions. 

Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/beginneraudiophile 

Today Dr. Paul Anderson and I go through the best "bargains"  (in quotes because some are quite pricey...but still relative bargains to the competition) in audio in 2019.  Please pardon my cough...I was nursing a bit of bronchitis on this episode! 

Remember to follow our Instagram account at http://instagram.com/beginneraudiophile.

Dr. Paul Anderson is back on the show!  We are setting up his new place in LA, and spent many hours dialing in the room.  We chat about what it takes to set up a new room, in terms of speaker placement, what to listen for, etc.  We had some really surprising results, especially with subwoofer setup and what it did to Paul's Harbreth monitors.  

Then, we listened to a number of different DAC's (digital audio converters) and the results were also REALLY surprising!  Everything matters! 

Howdy! On this episode, we pin down Andrew Jones from Elac for a juicy interview on his philosophy behind creating speakers, and lots more.  Michael gives the rundown on NAMM, the North American Music Merchants show.  Those are the people that MAKE the music we listen to.  

We have a brand new Youtube channel!  Click here to Subscribe and check out the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds Unboxing! 

Back from a week in Vegas, we've got a doozy for you this episode.  After a quick hit of CES (The Consumer Electronics Show) in Vegas (Check out pictures at @beginneraudiophile) Michael talks about Air Motion Transformers (which were a big theme this year) and True Wireless Earbuds.  Then we jump into a GREAT interview with Dan Laufman, founder of Emotiva. 

In this episode, Michael O'Neal (@beginneraudiophile) and Patrick Norton (@patricknorton) catch up on some Black Friday (I know, I know...) purchases.  Michael talks about his home theater install, Pat talks about an amp and a set of gaming headphones he's testing out, and we answer a few questions. 

 

Roon.  What is it?  Do you need it?  

The best way I can describe Roon is that it's a simplifier. We have all of these disparate music sources and end points in our house, and Roon talks to them all, and puts them into one cohesive system.  Today we chat with Dipin Sehdev, VP of Marketing of roonlabs.com, and discuss how and why Roon originated, what it's meant to do, and how easy it is to use.  

Dipin was also nice enough to give us a free 30 day trial of Roon.  (Normally it's 2 weeks, so double your pleasure!)

On today's episode Michael O'Neal (@solohour, @beginneraudiophile) starts by talking about how to get Hi Res music to play on an iPhone.  (It's not as simple as you might think!) Then Patrick Norton (@patricknorton) jumps on to talk amplifiers.  Mike reviews the SR8012 Receiver, and they wrap up with a couple of listener questions, including how to build your system...speakers first or front end first?  

We've just gotten back from the CEDIA show, displaying the latest in home theater, automation, commercial installs, lighting, in-wall speaker systems, projectors, TV's, and more! 

Patrick Norton (of Tekthing and The Screen Savers) and Michael O'Neal (The Solopreneur Hour Podcast) spend the show discussing the highlights of CEDIA, in no particular order. 

Audiophilia: Is it on the rise, or is it declining?  Well...both, kinda.  Join Patrick Norton and Michael O'Neal as they discuss how, in some ways, the industry is on the rise, and in some ways, on the decline.  We also talk about T.H.E. Show, Newport, and Patrick is reviewing the Sennheiser HD1 Headphones.  

Then, Michael reviews the Klipsch "The Sixes" bookshelf speakers, and wraps up with the Jabra Sport Elite True Wireless Earbuds.  

Today?s theme:  Good headphones vs. ?Good Stereo? The News:

LAAS CANCELED

ROON 1.5 is out

DIY Audio Amp Camp Amp https://diyaudiostore.com/collections/frontpage/products/amp-camp-amp-kit?variant=7072933085218

Kirby Meets Audio on YouTube

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/

Mini DSP 

Education Segment

Good headphone setup vs a good stereo speaker setup. 

Sony MDR7506 + Audioquest Dragonfly or Schiit Fulla 2?

http://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-2

Mr. Speakers Aeon https://www.mrspeakers.com/headphones-15/aeon.html

https://www.jdslabs.com/products/151/the-element/

https://www.jdslabs.com/products/175/el-amp/

https://www.jdslabs.com/products/174/el-dac/

https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Uni-fi-Bookshelf-Speaker-Black/dp/B01CRYWVG

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk5.html

GEAR REVIEW

Micca MB 42X

Balanced Woven carbon fiber woofer for enhanced transient and impactful bass High performance Silk dome tweeter for smooth treble and accurate imaging and Frequency Response: 60Hz-20kHz (Typical In-Room) Highly optimized 12Db crossover with Zobel network and baffle step compensation Ported enclosure delivers extended bass response with low distortion Dramatically transformed sound signature that is incredibly open, balanced, and dynamic Sensitivity: 85dB 1W/1M $89.95 9.5 (H) x 5.8 (W) x 6.5 (D) https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2?ref=ast_p_ep https://www.fakespot.com/product/micca-mb42x-bookshelf-speakers-black Listener Questions

Paul
 Hello Michael, I emailed you a couple of weeks ago in regards to your opinion if I should upgrade my polk subs to an SVS 13 ultra. Well, I took your advice and I purchased the SVS SB 16 ultra. Not just one,  but two SVS SB 16 ultras. I absolutely Love both of them, it was a great upgrade. Thank you for the great advice, I will keep these for a very long time. I do have another question. You mention the benefits of buying gear from Craigs list or ebay. I read on several sites to be aware of counterfeits. Is counterfeits something to worry about in the Audiophile world . If so, which audio items would you not buy from craigs list or ebay.

Thanks for such a great podcast!

PICK OF THE WEEK

TRON Soundtrack by Daft Punk

http://www.chesky.com/album/sessions-17th-ward-cd356

Loudness wars: http://www.chicagomasteringservice.com/loudness.html

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/14445-another-gem-ruined-by-rick-rubin-and-vlado-meller-ratm/https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/14445-another-gem-ruined-by-rick-rubin-and-vlado-meller-ratm/

Dude.  We're getting the BAND back together!!  Dr. Paul Anderson and I (The OG!) are back for episode 25 of BA.  After catching up, we chat about the incredible KEF LS50 Wireless, and offer our first impressions.  Then, we dive into a few of your questions before the GREAT BOOKSHELVES + SUB VS. TOWER SPEAKERS BAKE OFF.  (The results might not be what you think...)

 

Today the boys wrap up what they saw and heard at CanJam 2018 in Los Angeles, including tons of mini product reviews.  We strapped on Sennheisers Orpheus $50,000 headphone system to mindboggling results.  And chatted with Joe Harley about being one of the founders of Audioquest, what gives you "bang for the buck" in audio cables, what it's like to hit a home run with a device like the DragonFly, and more!! 

 

Patrick Norton and Michael O?Neal catch up on the latest news, what gear is in the review funnel, and talk about the Elac Debut 2.0.  Then we talk about how to set yourself up to audition gear at a stereo show or a conference.  Michael reviews the Marantz SR7009 and we talk about how to [?]

Episode 22 of Beginner Audiophile is jam packed! Patrick Norton Co-Hosts this one with Michael O?Neal.  We talk about the reality vs. myth of amps vs. watts in amplifiers, dig into reviews of the Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless and the Hive Home Security System, answer a few listener questions, and announce the winner of the 1moreusa.com [?]

On today's ep. Harris and I talk about what we saw and heard at CES.  We've also got a new contest where you can win a pair of 1moreUSA Triple Driver Earbuds!

Patrick Norton (http://tekthing.com) joins me, through a hacking cough, to wrap up all things audio and home theater we discovered at CES (The Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas at the beginning of January 2018. Gear Guide: RHA T20i Hi-res in-ear headphones with DualCoil driver  JDS Labs The Element DAC Schiit Fulla 2 DAC Audioquest ? Continue reading 20: CES Wrap-Up Part 1, with Patrick Norton ?

Today?s episode is an excerpt from a fantastic New Yorker article entitled ?Audiophilia Forever: An Expensive New Year?s Shopping Guide? written by David Denby. (Click here to read the entire article) It does such a great job explaining what an audiophile is, the recent history of audiophile music and recordings, and the ?state of the [?]

On today?s show we chat with Matthew from Vinyl Revival in Melbourne Australia.  We had a great convo about the renaissance of ?good? audio, getting huge bang for the buck out of your turntable, and his choices for systems costing $1000, $2500, and $5000! Be sure to subscribe, and follow us on Instagram as well. [?]

Fellow audio nerds!  We?re back.  After a long (inadvertent) haitus, BA is back.  Michael gives a breakdown of how audio works based on a great analogy by Steve Guttenberg, then digs into a bunch of your questions.  Then, Harris pops in with a breakdown of the NY Audio Show!  Enjoy!

Ahhhhhh?.subwoofers. That ?Punch you in the chest? feeling when your favorite song really moves you. Although subwoofers are easy to plug in and turn up loud, that doesn?t give us a true audiophile experience. We want to feel it?but only if it?s being called upon.  So, in this episode, President and Managing Partner of SVSound Gary Yacoubian and ? Continue reading 17: Everything You Want to Know About Subwoofers, But Were Afraid To Ask ?

On this episode of Beginner Audiophile Harris and Michael talk about what a pro-audio show is like, and our secret to maintaining consistency as we audition gear.  Michael then reviews the Sonus Faber Principia 1 Bookshelf Speakers, and we get into the picks of the week! One thing to add: If you are using a [?]

Today we?re talking a bit of turntables, and what it takes to set one up.  Turntables used to be the ?gold standard? for listening, until digital files came along.  Now, we are romanticizing the process?and it?s well worth it.  After talking turntables,  We also dig into a question or two, and give you the picks [?]

On today?s episode, after we catch up, we talk about unboxing some new Sonus Faber and Pro-Ject gear, including Michael?s first Turntable.  Then we jump into how to audition new audio gear, especially speakers.  We review the 1moreusa Quad Driver earbuds, and finally wrap it up with our picks of the week! Make sure you ? Continue reading 14: How To Audition New Gear, Unboxing Some Cool Stuff, & Reviewing Some Awesome Earbuds ?

On today?s show Harris and Michael talk about songs and albums they use to ?test and tune? their systems.  We also briefly talk about a couple pieces of gear we are testing: The AudioControl Rialto 600 integrated amplifier, and the NEXDrive Spectra Headphone DAC/Amp.  Mike talks about his home setup with Kodi and Airfoil, and ? Continue reading 13: Songs To Test and Tune Your System With, Backing Up Your Audio, and More! ?

On today?s show, after catching up with Harris and Michael, we talk about DTS-PlayFi and other wireless home technologies, give some feedback on the ELAC UB5, Harris reviews the AudioQuest Dragonfly and the Night Owl carbon headphones, and introduce you to some great new music that just came out.   Gear Guide & Links Niagara ? Continue reading 12: Wireless Technologies, USB DAC Review, New Music Recommendations ?

On today?s show we have a special announcement!  We have a new Co-host, Mr. Harris Fogel!  (Star of Episode 9)  Harris has been in the biz for many many years, and will offer years of ?insider? perspective.  This episode was great?we caught up with Harris and his home reference systems, then we chatted about the ? Continue reading 11: A BIG Announcement, LA Audio Show Wrapup, Anthem MRX 1120 Review, and YOUR questions! ?

Just back from the LA Audio Show, and we got some GREAT interviews with William Kline of Sonus Faber/Mcintosh, Ari Morguelan from 1MoreUSA, Chris Sipes from Paradigm/Anthem, and Gregg Chopper from Cambridge Audio, all of whom shared amazing insights about their products, the industry, and where we?re going. Most importantly, they all had to answer ? Continue reading 10: 4 Epic LA Audio Show Interviews, starring Sonus Faber/Mcintosh, 1MoreUSA, Paradigm, and Cambridge Audio ?

Harris Fogel (http://maceditionradio.com) joins us for a chat about how he became an audiophile, what kind of gear to look at, and how he?d spend $1500 to get great sound!           Gear Guide, Topics & Highlights: Philip Glass ? Glassworks Album Polk Speakers Ampzilla Dynaco Hafler Amps Luxman Turntables TIDAL audioquest ? Continue reading 9: Getting The Most Bang For Your Buck on Stereo Gear, With Harris Fogel ?