beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
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Michael O'Neal and his co-hosts bridge the gap between the clueless big box stores and the snobby stereo shops. Every show is filled with gear reviews, commentary, and interviews aimed to find out what makes a real world difference in your listening experience, how to get the most bang for your buck, and frankly, how to begin experiencing your music in the way it was intended.
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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.   ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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 ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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.  ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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!  ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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 ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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.  ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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.   ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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!  ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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.
  ..read more
beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
2y ago
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?  ..read more