Audio Tips - The Quick and Dirty

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Audio Tips - The Quick and Dirty

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BadMonkeyFinger - Audio Gear and Music

Күн бұрын

I made this video to share some basic tips in an effort to help people who are newer to the world of audio get the most out of their systems. Hopefully someone or other finds it useful.
Addendum:
I forgot to mention that there is no such thing as the 'best' system for all situations and music styles. All gear and speakers have their strengths and weaknesses. That's important to bear in mind, so as not to go crazy on an impossible pursuit to 'perfection'.
(I mention this because I am one of those audiophiles who truly sits there and applies full focus to the music, and the way it's being presented, so I can see how easy it is to get caught in that web of hi fi 'perfection')
00:00 Intro
01:36 Tip #1 - Pick the correct size speaker
02:20 Tip #2 - The room is the biggest factor in sound quality
03:40 Tip #3 - Speaker positioning
06:05 Tip #4 - Tone controls suck
06:59 Tip #5 - Select speakers you like, THEN choose your amp
08:10 Tip #6 - Use best source possible
08:47 Tip #7 - Match components
09:19 Tip #8 - Remember why you got into high-end audio gear

Пікірлер: 43

@Victrola777 7 ай бұрын

I have been an audiophile for 45 years. (61 yo now) and I have learned and agree with everything you say. But, I have once again come back to tone controls so that I can use all of my 30 pairs of speakers when I want a change.

@DougMen1 Жыл бұрын

I love all the classic speakers you show. I had some MA Silver 5i monitors, and some ADS L780s too.

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind comment. And yes - older gear can still be excellent; it's a blast to buy used, try for a while, then sell again, and rinse and repeat. So much good equipment and speakers have come and gone through my hands, it's amazing. Fun stuff! Cheers!

@mikeeygauthier2959 Жыл бұрын

I just upgraded the FUSES (studio monitors and a preamp/dac. Fantastic!

@nc3419 Жыл бұрын

👍👍👍👍. That's good advice at any budget. System and room synergy. If the toes don't tap, its a scrap.

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Damn, man - I've gotta borrow that saying. :) Thanks for stopping by and dropping the kind words.

@timothyfreeseha4056 Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you added caveats. While recommendations provided by reviewers & manufacturers are mostly reliable guidelines, your ears- believe it or not , tell your truth. You'll know when you get it right. Also, for myself, stands and or surfaces matter. Ignored the manufacturers suggestions about both room considerations and stands & found out the long, hard way that said recommendations- once implemented , did in fact produce the result they suggested. Having more than one type of speaker taught me that one size does fit all. Finally, your video sussed it all out! Well done!

@timothyfreeseha4056 Жыл бұрын

Does not fit all

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Hey there! Thanks for commenting. I fully agree that even the stands on which equipment/ speakers rest can impact sound quality. I was a heavy skeptic way back in the day, but it all became very obvious me on a couple of occasions. When I moved from wooden speakers stands to metal stands, the sound my my then-speakers (NHT 1.3) very noticeably changed (they sharpened up and lost some of their 'warmth' - warmth which must have been some sort of colouration due to the speaker's interaction with the wooden stands). Also, when I placed my Epos ES14s on flat-top stands, they lost a degree of focus, and bass became more 'wooly' than it otherwise was when placed on their dedicated, open-frame stands. I even noticed sonic changes when I changed stands for my Unison Research Unico integrated amp. (I'd better not say this too loudly - many people will think i'm nuts - but the amp just sounded better when it was placed on a stand that I had made out of plywood. The newer stand was some junk Ikea shelving unit, that looked very thick, but was actually mostly hollow inside (the LACK stuff). The sound changed in a way that I couldn't quite put my finger on... when I switched back to the old, plywood stand everything sounded 'correct' again. I had never experienced that previously, and to be honest, I doubt I would have believed anyone if they had told me the same story. Geeez...once again, i'm rambling! lol Thanks again for chiming in, and for offering up kind words. I appreciate these things more and more the older I get. Cheers!

@jonpatrick66 Жыл бұрын

Good job 👍

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Thank you - appreciated. :)

@metroboom25289 Жыл бұрын

Ive just been to a hifi show and i concur the importance of room in influencing the sound of a system. Ive heard terrible sounding rooms and good sounding ones. Big speakers in insprropriate size roooms, to small speakers in a large room that sound much better than high budget gears pooorly set up

@trog69 Жыл бұрын

I like your content and I have much the same experience with audio gear as you, though I did go about a decade of sticking with the same gear and not caring that much about it. That changed when I decided I'd upgraded my gaming PC enough and now wanted to go back to better sound quality. From a cheapo Denon AVR to a better one, I found that having a good 2ch. setup would bring all the sound I needed for my casual gaming ( Skyrim/FO4/Witcher 3/etc.) So, I ditched the AVR and went with separates. I admit, I have been exceedingly fortunate with my online purchases, and have had many sellers go out of their way to help get their gear into my hands, particularly when I bought a pair of Adcom 555's, a NAD 208 thx, Emotiva xda-2 balanced preamp/DAC and the aDs L810s and my end-game speakers, the 910s. ( the seller of the NAD 208 let me make payments, and shipped the amp to me when I still owed two payments. His trust paid off as I finished paying for it that month. ) I'm also a poor retiree with great credit. heh I still look for more, different electronics, but the aDs 910s are perfection to my ears and wallet, as replacing them with similar spec'ed full-range loudspeakers would cost far more than I could afford even if I found something better. I write all this to assert that large loudspeakers do not necessarily "overwhelm" a small room. I have these very large stand-mounts ( 130lbs/each with stands, because the dual-10.5" bass drivers are installed into their own separate enclosures inside the cabinets. ) and, when cranking the music, the bass ( on TOOL's "Chocolate Chip Trip" for instance ) feels like it's going to crack the foundation, yet instrument separation and soundstage is still very well done. ( Okay, the one downside to the 910s is the large front baffle which makes for a less-than stellar soundstage.)

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Hey there! Thanks for chiming in. :) Sounds like you have a pretty wicked setup going on, there. Very nice! Isn't it awesome when dealing with fellow audiophiles who are trusting and trustworthy? Love that! I find that certain audio communities are like that, to some extent or other. Canuckaudiomart.com is one of them. I feel like I can fully trust most of the people on there (the ones who have accounts). Way back in the day, I purchased a pair of Epos ES14 mkII's from a guy in another city. We agreed that I would give him half payment via EMT well in advance of picking them up, then pay the balance when I go see him (months later). Because he was so accommodating, I was able to acquire that beautiful pair of speakers. Very nice of him. Btw - I appreciate your comment about large speakers in a smaller room. You, in fact, right; it's not a 'hard fact' that larger speakers will sound bad in a small(er) room - you are absolutely correct. Perhaps they'd be more difficult to properly set up, but you are correct - there are ways around the issues (and it's not a 'one size fits all' situation). I'm curious to know, out of personal interest: Between the NAD 208 and the Adcom 555, which do you prefer and why? And lucky you!!! Not only do you have the L810s, but ALSO the 910s?!! I'm super-jealous! hahaha!

@araghazarossian289 Жыл бұрын

Best video I ever seen honest short no bullshit

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Thanks, man. Very nice compliment. Much appreciated.

@joergwittenberg2178 Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir, very helpful tips. I agree with you that most of the expensive gears isn't really an upgrade. I own cheap speakers and some expensive and I've made the same experience, some of the cheaper ones sounds better than the expensive in my room

@nc3419 Жыл бұрын

Funny you should say that. I've found that to be true at the SPLs I listen at. I think alot of speakers at a higher price point may be designed to perform best when given alot of power and are played more loudly, but I do not want a concert in my room. Just enough to satisfy and not damage my hearing. Not saying the more expensive ones don't perform, but some inexpensive ones do some things very right that you just don't want to give up.

@metroboom25289 Жыл бұрын

This is my opinion only, analog sources still sound better than dgital sources especiallly the current fave of digital stteaming devices. Sure it sounds clean, great clarity and revealing, but my God, there is still that digital, how should put it, ‘glare’ that puts me off the way cd sources sound in the high frequency region that gives me headaches

@nc3419 Жыл бұрын

@@metroboom25289 Many feel that way. I just can't replace all my CD/SACDs with vinyl. But some digital recordings get very close to a good analog presentation.

@daveloewen453 Жыл бұрын

Love how you take the time to educate us , thank u

@fredfungalspore Жыл бұрын

Good tips you make good Sense...

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.

@russellparker4568 Жыл бұрын

Ive never understood folk with expensive gear including fancy cables set up badly. Seriously, whats the point? I once watched a youtube video with a chap with some serious gear, it may have been atc towers or something like that, the guy had a full blown drum kit sat in between the speakers all inside a conservatory with windows all around 🤦🏻‍♂️. Anyway, excellent advice, great video. 👌🏻

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind comments. Yeah, I agree - lots of people have more money than common sense. Even a mediocre system can sound great if care is taken with respect to setup. Thanks for watching. Cheers!

@alanwilson307 Жыл бұрын

Great tips, have to agree with the speakers too big for the room, I had a beautiful pair of large speakers but they sounded overwhelming to say the least in my (recently just moved )smaller house, have downsized now and it is way better, budget speakers have also made a big impact the last 2-3 years often embabarrising far more expensive speakers (IMO), thanks for the video, you have my subscription, cheers from Australia.

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your kind comments. Yeah, I've had the same experience with speakers too big for the room. I understand there are exceptions to the rule, of course, but that's generally been the case for me (overwhelming). And re: newer, budget speakers: I CANNOT BELIEVE how good they've become! Today, you can buy a new pair of speakers for 300-500 bucks that could conceivably out-perform speakers costing 2-4 times from as recently as 5 years ago or so. It's amazing to me... I get a kick out of inexpensive gear that competes with much more costly stuff. (I'm DEFINITELY a 'bang for the buck' kinda guy). Thanks for your subscription. I love audio so much that creating videos for this channel is a pleasure - great way to spend my free time - and I'm glad there are some people out there like you who enjoy them. Once again - I appreciate the kind words. Cheers!

@fredzep01 Жыл бұрын

Rocket surgeon, that is a high bar indeed, those guys perform surgery on humans in space while tending to a failing rocket engine, at the same time, Hahaha. I love Monitor Audio, they're the only speakers I will buy, also I won't own amps that have tone controls.

@jonboy9912 Жыл бұрын

I have new /old stock Cambridge Audio equipment through Mordaunt Short 3 way floor standing speakers rated at 120 wpc and an Audio Tecnika LP7 Turntable. The Amp is a 65 wpc A500 and the CD is a C300 both 12 years old but never used until I unpacked them two years ago. I collect 70's heavy and folk rock on vinyl or CD when the vinyl's too expensive. I know its impossible for you to judge but based on the above have I got the right stuff on a budget for the kind of music I like? I agree with your comments on tone control the A500 has a bypass button!

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

You're right - it's impossible for me to know if your system is right for you. I have not had the opportunity to listen to any of the items you own, unfortunately (though it seems like more than decent gear). Also, I don't know your sound preferences...sometimes, we listen for different things. What I find appealing might be something that's not of importance to you, and vice-versa. One thing I CAN tell you, though, is that as far as 70s rock and folk rock are concerned, my experience is that that type of music is best served by speakers of that era. JBL L100 and Pioneer HPM100 are speakers that come to mind, but those might be hard to come by/ too costly on the used market. But that said, I have noticed that all of the ADS models I've owned (L420, L470/2, L570/2), which are all quite inexpensive used, all sound really good with rock music, somehow making it easier to listen to / better than through more modern speakers. Right now, I use my L420s to listen to rock from the 70s to 90s. They seem to do better with that music than any of my other current speakers (Epos ES14, Rega Ela Mk1.25, Rega Ara). With respect to your existing gear, try to ensure that you optimize its setup before making any judgments. In the past, I've often made snap judgments that turned out to be incorrect assessments. I know - I know - this doesn't really answer your question, does it?! lol Sorry about that, but that's all I've got for ya! Cheers!

@jonboy9912 Жыл бұрын

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Thank you for taking the time to send me such a comprehensive reply that answers much of what I asked if not all - that was impossible! I chose the UK made Cambridge Audio amp and cd because the company is renown in the UK anyway for making mellow sounding gear that resonates well with rock music. The fact that I had the chance to literally buy new - old stock that had been dry stored in a guy's loft for 10 years after his divorce having never even been unwrapped was a bonus! I got the speakers because they are also British with a great reputation and were £850 new and I bought 3 years old for £100 in excellent condition. I had previously given away my Celestion CS7 3 ways together with my Pioneer gear to a relative after pressure from my wife about floor and storage unit space issues. I had these new from 1978 and regret my actions as these would have complimented my amp so much. I find that the Mordaunt Short speakers lack the bass I need but are excellent in the mid and upper regions. I have smaller Celestion bookshelf speakers on my second system that I enjoy so I will try to find another set of the Celestion speakers, but they are so pricey! Thanks again for your advice that has made me think more about my gear and I look forward to more content.

@TheTomryan123 Жыл бұрын

What, did you get your first system when you were 3?

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

:) I got my first system at 11/12 years old. I initially got into it when i was still in single digits, after falling in love with my neighbour's dad's stereo, which consisted of a Luxman suckface, a Dual 515, and a pair of A/R's. It's been a life-long affliction since then (I'm nearly 51 now).

@daveloewen453 Жыл бұрын

This guy is awesome

@Bob_Betker Жыл бұрын

Are those Royd Minstrels at the 2:30 mark? If yes, you don't see many of those around any more.

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Yep, they sure are. Those things shocked the hell out of me when I first set them up. I heard them in passing at a local shop WAY back, but didn't have a sit-down to really listen. In 2011, on a whim, I picked up a used pair (the ones at 2:30). The cabs were in so-so condition, and one tweeter was missing its foam ring, but I cleaned them up and crafted an almost identical foam ring to match the other speaker. When I hooked them up, my jaw hit the floor. Crazy boogie factor (PRaT), coupled with awesome imaging, and enough bass to avoid any need for a sub (in a small to medium room). Yes, they were a little unruly and not super-refined, but man they were fun! Truly an excellent sonic match to my modded Sugden A48b. That Sugden mated so well with the Minstrels because it ever so slightly took some of the edge off of their unruliness. Their shape and size are PERFECT for today's smaller housing in the city (condos are like shoeboxes! - at least where I live, anyway). I should never have sold them, tbh. I reluctantly sold them simply for not having enough space to keep everything, what with my ever-changing collection of gear and speakers. And yes - you're right - not so easy to find, anymore. I mean, they're out there, but certainly not plentiful (I know because I'm loosely looking for another pair). Cheers!

@Bob_Betker Жыл бұрын

@@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio I've got a pair sitting in my living room right now. I've had them for about 7-8 years, had them shipped in from the UK when postage rates were reasonable. I had a pair of Royd Conistons back in the 80's and early 90's that I loved. Wish Joe was still making speakers.

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

@@Bob_Betker Yeah, wouldn't that be something if he were still around... Nice to hear from another Royd fan.

@daveloewen453 Жыл бұрын

❤

@xcvbxcvb2179 Жыл бұрын

Tilting the speakers can improve sound.

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Yes, it sure can - good point! My Monitor Audio Silver 5i's really benefitted from tilting them back a few degrees. The sound projected into the room much better than when level. Thanks for adding to the tips. :)

@thomask1424 Жыл бұрын

You became an audiophile at 5?

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio Жыл бұрын

Lol - Actually at 9-10, I became enamoured with my neighbour's Luxman suckface system, Dual CS 515 TT, and AR speakers. I just couldnt believe the sound. Then, I started playing with my own gear at 11 or 12. It never stopped from there. I am now nearly 51.