The two of you together works for me. More please. I’ve enjoyed a few solo calls with Herb and expect there will be more. As you guys mentioned, the chat touches on life as much as audio… an easy and very enjoyable connection. Love it. Rob in Toronto.

My heart warms for the opportunity to learn in real time from industry icons. In audio its the best time to be alive!

Steve, I’ve had the upgrade itch for most of my 40+ years of being an audiophile. My last 3 upgrades, amp, preamp and 27 year old highly modified VPI turntable, (it still says VPI but that’s all that’s original). All I want now is a “real” phono amp. Anyway, please don’t get offended; my favorite videos of yours are the ones that include Herb. Y’all’s friendship is so honest, and the way you you play off each other’s thoughts is just amazing-y’all bring out the best of each other.

More of the two of you is always a good thing!

“Upgrading to who you are…” freaking brilliant. You two could host a q&a two day sessions and I know there are more people than me who would post to be there…just a thought.

Steve, Herb you are inspiring! I love your videos together, I can listen to you for hours.

What a joy to watch. Steve and Herb are so full of common sense and wisdom.

Love watching you guys together! Clearly great friends that respect each other and share a passion for audio.

Terrific show. You’re both great together, so natural. I love when Herb said:...”upgrading to who you are...” Yes, audio components and systems ebb and flow to reflect who are at that moment in time. And yes, often it’s not sound-first driven. So many other factors come into play that keep us on the merry-go-round. Thanks for the making it fun gents.

I had so much fun watching this Video. Greetings from Germany.

I always love your candid discussions with Herb. This one surpassed the rest though. Herb’s analysis on the reasons people upgrade rings true to me. And Steve, your suggestion regarding managing expectations on the upgrade trail is good sage advice.

Herb was ON FIRE!!!! Love you guys! 🔥🔥🔥

Dynamic Duo. I am in this spot right now and am a bit stuck so super glad on your share & timing. Thanks for the wisdom and perspectives.

"Constant upgrades"....welcome to the world of Hi-Fi.

This was fantastic! I loved hearing you two tell your stories and banter back and forth. I felt like I was standing in a circle with the two of you while you tell me of your thoughts and experience. I'd love to see both of you again!

“I believe in upgrading to who you are”! Wow! Here is some brave soul talking abt the truth in anything, not just audio.

Really enjoy it when Herb is also on the channel. I greatly appreciate the laid back and down to earth viewpoints you both offer. Especially, just because it costs more does not always mean you get more vibe you both seem to give. Great stuff.

Steve and Herb...just the best!

Great video, I love it when you two guys come together, so much knowledge, and you compliment each other.

Always Love it when you and Herb are together! We look to you for decades of experience, but then there is Herb!! Thank you!!

This episode really hits home! You guys nailed it. All my years in HiFi have left me very similar conclusions. Bravo gents 👏🏾👏🏾

I am upgrading my 40 Yr old tt LP 12 to the current version while i am still here and can, and the new one will be passed on when I'm gone.

Definitely my favorite videos, with you and Herb just talking about anything, audio or not.

I love watching you guys reminisce on old sets you had, really heart warming stuff.

Awesome content Steve. Thanks to Herb and yourself for keeping us neurotic audiophiles grounded in the simple truth and reality of HiFi.

“Crime, misdemeanors” 😂🤣😂

Wonderful video with excellent advice, your friendship and love for each other always shines through when you do a vid together, thank you guys 😁

HERB!!!!❤

My last major upgrade was speakers. Had owned a pair of Spendor SP1/2s for 20+ years and loved their sound but wanted a bit better power handling. Found a pair of Stirling Broadcast LS3/6s and got just what I wanted - kept the great sound balance but were able to play just a bit louder. Yep, the same parameters, same designer (Derek Hughes) with more modern drivers. Hit the spot.

Always great to see Herb! A appropriate video for me since I'm deciding to pull the trigger on a new pair of speakers... it's alot of money for me but I do need something more appropriate for the room size. The struggle is real!

More Herb appearances really works for me ! I'd luv to hear more about Herb's 300B ventures, both recent and of old (aka Good Ol' Days) Thanks Steve.

Love you two !

Always great to see Herb back, and always a pleasure to hear you guys chat. Thanks, Steve and Herb. 🔊🥳🎶 Edit: I think it’s time to see a new vid of the state of Herb’s system and what he’s been listening to. 😃🎶👍

I already listened to Herb and got me a LS3/5a kit from Falcon Acoustic and started near-field listening. That was a great journey and many enjoyable hours and those speakers are now sold and replaced with upgrades. Thanks Herb!

good ol herb always refreshing to watch. he pointed out very philosophical views on the hobby.

I couldn’t agree more with what you said in regards to knowing what you want your upgrade to achieve. I find myself wanting to upgrade just because sometimes.

Awsome talk with Herb once again! That special cosy atmosphere whenever you're at Herb's home is striking. And how quiet it is in there... That's a true audiophile spot for intimate listening. You can hear these birds chirping, attracted by community garden right behind the walls - what a great place to live and to work on these reviews. Herb is blessed.

Man you’re hitting the nail on the head with the whole downgrading / gear that suits you personally part. Aesthetics and use-factor are underrated imo. I love the comment about breathing easier with relatively more affordable gear!

So great to see and hear Herb again! More Herb please!

Guys, you are both great. Thank you

One of your best videos, Steve! 👍🏻

Thanks to you, Steve and Herb👍😁. Really enjoyed this video. Have a nice weekend and keep healthy. Greetings from Germany 😊

One first must have a goal , and the choices you make are based on your personal goals . Room and the speakers to me make the biggest differences. That's a beginning.

Thanks to both of you for sharing your friendship with me/us.

I recently upgraded to a Music Hall Classic TT with an Ortofon Blue cart. I'm very happy with it, very. All in for $785.00. I still have my Pioneer, that I've had for years, on my other system.

Fabulous conversation between friends and audiophiles, only wish I had friends who were interested in talking about music and how it sounds. You guys are the best!

It was great to meet Herb and you at AXPONA 2023 Love the videos you both do together.

LOVE it when Herb is on!! Maybe start a second show with you two??? YES

Awesome interview. You and Herb are a pleasure to listen to. BTW, made me chuckle when Herb mentioned the Kenwood 500 series DD TT. Still one of my daily driver fav's.

Love the two of you together...and I purchased a Thorens TD-160 a year ago and love it but I love the way you two explained the quietness of the Linn LP 12.....That would be the next and last TT that I would invest in. Later for that..I also love the idea of using a stethoscope to listen to the sound waves that are present on the TT platter or plenum Thank you!

Herb’s take on this from around the middle of this video, I love that. For me personally, it works a little different though. Years ago my standard was set by a hifi shop my father always visited. Its brands and sound signature have become some sort of reference point and I work from there. I now own two different (vintage) hifi systems that each make for a good fit to their respective rooms, convey good synergy and I managed to solve most if not all the sonic problems I have come across at some point, with simple cheap tweaks involving (non boutique) cables and placing speakers mostly. When I come home from (bigger spending) audiophile friends or a hifi show I know there won’t be that itch. I feel settled, and that’s due to the reference point I developed years ago. I like to switch loudspeakers sometimes, I own a few different pairs because I feel that there’s always some compromise in selecting one LS or another. Just a fact of life.

Guys you are Fantastics, I love Herb for his Humour and his knowledge. and Steve happy to follow you everyday, your are great.

Great conversation guys. Two eloquent gentleman with decades of experience. Bravo.

18:27 This is so true. I have high end collecting dust in my closet while I'm enjoying mid level equipment way more.

I was about halfway into this one, just grinning as usual and feeling very fortunate to be watching and listening, when.... as to the theme of upgrades, I was reminded of those aluminum cones!!! It was around 1985/86 at Stereo Exchange, and the sales guy sold them (easily) as part of a new HK TK60 I was about to leave with, along with a pair of essentially new Rogers LS/3Aa's. I used the cones for about a week, and then removed them to hear the difference. There was, and I've never forgotten what he told me about the cumulative results of making small changes that each by itself, would likely not be audible. Absolutely correct. And today, I'm running a T60 and T40, both sitting on a sandwich of 3/4" MDF, between which are four steel ball bearings. And Frank Van Alstine's name came up again in this video. I modified these turntables using his plan to move the DC transformers out of the plinth. I did a few other things as well. Upgrades in this case made these pretty quiet turntables even quieter - and yes, I used a stethoscope. But the proof is when the stylus tip touches the vinyl. :)

Like others noted, I could watch these guys for hours !

Great talks. I love stories like these they are really great for passionate people in this hobby.

love you guys 😉 the birds are singing with spring in Brooklyn :)

Its a lot of fun thinking back to those early days of getting started with this addiction. 1981 for me, Soma speakers, Dual CS 508, Sanyo Plus 55 receiver. Great days.

Could listen to you guys all day long. Nice reflections and humor on the background of long friendship 🤝

Lot of fun watching and listening to you guys on this one ... the wisdom is invaluable. I cracked up quite a bit ... Herb is hilarious, and Steve, you are quite the guy. Love your stuff, long time fan. I plan to send a viewer system picture soon.

Inspiring observations....thanks:)!!!

Please in the upgrades subject, do not forget the "ILB factor". Hey honey, "It Looks Beautiful"!

The ‘upgrade’ I want without ‘thinking about’ an upgrade is a TUBE amp!! I really would like to upgrade with a Decware tube amp…I do Love my system, however, I would like to get a warmer sound from my system…the system I have is loud and in your face…I do prefer higher volumes, but to have a bit of a well rounded roll off would really change my way of listening to my music… I typically listen to low key music, Fleetwood Mac, Carley Simon, Carol King, Dire Straits, and elevate to Van Halen, Van Hagar, amongst similar genres…I’m excited about a Decware…maybe the Triod or the Sarah…your thoughts?? Thank you in advance

Anything with herb in it is a great video.

Great video! Going to watch it again 👌can you guys do some more? Thanks 🙏

Absolutely brilliant loved it 😊

I really enjoyed watching this video. I have purchased multiple audio components based on Herb’s recommendations. Please make more videos together!

Hi Steve, great video! I recently bought and returned 3 DAC’s. I wanted to make my digital library as enjoyable to listen to as my vinyl. I use an Oppo UDP 203 on its own, and I also went optical to my McIntosh c50 preamp DAC. There’s a difference between the two DAC, but both still fell short of my VPI Prime and Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge. Then I bought the Ares 12, and now I am getting closer to the vinyl. But the best upgrade I have made is the WiiM Pro streamer into the Ares, the music from Amazon into the Ares is on par with the vinyl playback! I also built a pair of class D mono blocks through our audiophile club that sound much better to me than my McIntosh mc352 and as good as my Carver Crimson 275 tube amp. But I hesitate selling the 352 because of its looks, love the big meters! To me being an audiophile who upgrades is a combo of sound, looks and ease of looks.

Good chemistry between these two boomer audiophiles. Their passion for the hobby is infectious.

The Steve & Herb Shows are the Absolute Best of the Audiophilac videos.

I just upgraded my whole system... KEF LS 50s, REGA amp... I'm happy. For now!

I've got 4 pairs of speakers totaling $18'000 and recently found a refurbished pair of Snell Elll's for $375. The Snell's sound (in my room) is something I prefer over all of the others.

Two of the best, thank you gentlemen. But it's hard to argue with "more expensive is better". It's up to you when you want to turn off the faucet. Of course, that Pioneer 1080 is probably more expensive today than the separates Steve rejected it for.

great episode

The only thing that would make this better is if you were having this discussion over lunch at Veselka.

Have to laugh a bit about a 40$ piece of wood not being a lot of money in the 80s. To a lot of us it was . Heck even these days I seek out the 40 to 100$ piece of wood from the obscure Amish wood shop rather than pay hundreds or thousands.

I haven't changed anything but the cart on my turntable in over a year. Something I had planned since I bought my VPI. Even though I used it for over a year, my Ortofon 2m Blue was just a temporary cart from my U-Turn

Awesome lessons. Could apply to much of life. I bought my stereo equipment in 1978. Chose stuff by what they were, how they were built, against what friends and sales told me. Refurbished and working/sounding better than new. Young tech talked me to less expensive cartridge than I wanted. CD player is only 28 years old and I want to upgrade. JBL L65s were $150 more than the L100s in 1978. The current L100s sell for $3300. At same ratio, if they remade the L65s, they would be $4200. Upgrade? Different maybe. I like the Zu DW6 business model and design. Similarly Schiit. And a turntable that is more quiet. The most help has been some music recommendations.

Really enjoyed this Steve and Herb! I can relate to this topic. I have my dad’a Mc225 and the first pair of audiophile speakers Dahlquist DQ10s, which require a lot of power to drive them effectively. When I drive them with the 225 they sound amazing up to about 70db. So I am trying to find the right speaker to match with my Amp…Zu DW6s are a possibility.

Great discussion! I will have to think a bit more when the upgrade bug hits.

I have an Adcom GFA-555 mark one amp, and I keep reading about it’s grainy treble . Personally I don’t have an issue with the treble so maybe my threshold FET 10 is helping it, but I keep thinking something like a Bryston B3 cubed would sound so much better, even though I don’t realize the need...Maybe it’s just a soft done tweeters of my a ADS L880 that makes it sound so good

This was all most a transport back in time but in the future. One can always learn from the knowledge transported into wisdom.

We need more Herb

I'm not sure about this. I'm thinking of upgrading from my WAMM Master Chronosonics to Minimus-7's. Do you think I should? I'm remodeling the rest of the bathroom, so it seems like I might as well upgrade while I'm at it. Besides, I think the bass traps in the corners are broken.

Great to hear two greats talk about their adventures into hifi and system building. My simple enlighting moment was realising just how different some recordings sounded - i.e., either sublime, so so or bloody horrible! Therefore I always took three of my favourite albums of various quality and pressings. and took them everywhere....to hifi dealers, shows and friends to test, listen and compare different gear! Eventually found a set up that just made all three albums sound musical and engaging. ...which I bought with a college grant (😂) And apart from cartridge rolling I was happy for decades! ...and even though I would follow hifi developments and occasionally borrow or try out other old and new components... I never felt overwhelmed or the need to upgrade, side grade or change! Then sold it all (and all my albums) to go travelling, exploring, living and working overseas and decades later I returned and decided to built a system based on digital streaming ...but quickly realised whilst the hifi tech sources, amps and speakers are still interesting amazing diverse and fabulous...the quality of some music and recordings seemed to have gotten even worse!

I agree with the comment below, This was so much fun to watch.

Herb, your Art. Please create an episode where you show and talk about your Art. Only you talking, no interviewer comments. Please. This is so important, brother. (I am a painter and I know stuff, like for ex. your pictures are real good, even in the background of these videos, at low res internet. (UGH) Please. I'll come to Brooklyn and produce a video for you, free, if Steve doesn't want to create and feature your work. By the way, listen to the new Paul Simon record "Seven Psalms" and send good thoughts when you do and as you love it.

I absolutely love your unfolding new series (please?) for your excellent channel :) Like Herb (and probably many others) I'm also guilty of jumping to see the Viewer System of the Day, then returning to the show :) Perhaps I'm looking to see if my turn had come in the VSD lottery :) It's about the music, baby!

"Didn't use a glass" that was classic..

You should know or learn what you like. To me better is like Herb says ‘the more you leave hifi sound’. It should be more emotional or be more real to be better for me. Not hearing sound but hearing and feeling it. And like Herb and Steve say also: know what you have and be happy with it. Keep up the good work Steve and Herb.

Audiophile OG's! 👏

Great video. Thanks. My issue is not wanting to upgrade as much as the curiosity of what upgrades get you. I don’t have audiophile friends. I have to figure it out on my own 😂😩

The audiophile community in NY is a Woody Allen movie waiting to happen. Film makers take note 😊

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be able to fully absorb myself into the music with those birds chirping in the background!😵‍💫🤯

I try to do an upgrade every day. Not changing components left and right, but doing a little something creative to improve my sound each day. I Iook at my system as something dynamic and changing, not static and complacent. Most of my improvements costs me my time, not a lot of money. I, like a lot of people, like the idea that they're improving and moving up. People in prisons where they let them lift weights, do so because it is important to them, to think they're improving, getting better in some way, even ones who are in for life. Growing and improving is the thing. I always know that however good my sound is now, it will be well better by years end. I'm bound to come up with many more creative ideas. Sometimes I think, "What if my ideas stop?" But so far I always come through. The recordings that show the biggest improvement are the ones I haven't played for a year. In December when I play most of my Christmas music. A lot of it is very well recorded and how many modern songs could stand up to artists doing 400 different versions of it, like Let It Snow and Winter Wonderland etc? For me, audio upgrading and improving my sound is a way of moving up. I am lucky that I have the know how, materials and creativity to have somewhat of a new stereo each day; that I partake. People who just sit back and enjoy what they have must think us tweakers can't do the same thing. The difference is, however amazingly realistic our stereo sounds today, we know it's going to sound even better tomorrow; ad infinitum.

Great stuff.

You never mentioned the Goldmund Methacrylate turntable platter or their screw on record weight with his base layer made of Methacrylate as well. They work wonderfully well on my SOTA Saphire TT

Hi Steve! Great video and timely too as I'm thinking of upgrading from an inexpensive pair of Moukey speakers (nice for what they are) to something brighter and fuller sounding (maybe the RP 600M or 600M II), but I'd like to actually listen to a pair before buying. As you, I also live in Brooklyn...(sorry for just not being aware of this), but are there any hifi stores left in NYC where one can walk in and listen to speakers before buying them? Many thanks for you great videos!

As always, wisdom from HR.