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People are chasing that dopamine of that "ah hah!" Moment in hearing an improvement in their audio.

I feel most good audio systems would sound perfectly fine if recordings were up to par.

Hey Mike. It would be cool to add to your website complete package audio systems at different price points (eg $15k, $30k, $60k) that are guaranteed to connect you to the music.

Spot on! 100 % spot on! Thanks for all your insights that you share. You are a huge factor behind many peoples development as music listeners and hifi enthusiasts I think. At least for me. You take the squirrel out of my brain. Huge thanks! Best regards from Sweden

VERY important message to put out there, for sure!! There is one more tell-tell-sign I would like to add (but it's hard to achieve), is when you play music/records/albums that has subpar(terrible) audio quality, but you still play it with a smile on your face. That one took me 30 years, but it is possible.

This video really resonates with me. I have had far too many people demo a system where the session was all about what the system could do and not about how great so and so's new release is. Constant interruption to either switch out an interconnect, switching the artist to play the next demo track (To include cuts of jet engine noise?), to tweaking speaker placement. That for me, was nothing but an exercise in controlling my irritation. We were working as sound engineers optimizing the gear, instead of just having fun listening to our favorite albums.

Your best video yet! Thank you

This is an adventure. Every time you explore one go for more..........

For me Mikey it is all Simply to bring New Songs into my Soul and Good Memories from the Old Songs! Hopefully Peace, Joy and Harmony and Sooth the Beast at the Same Time! Keep Rocking Brother! ✌️

Under $15000??? That might be a small amount for many of you but to me it's an enormous amount to spend on a hifi system. I have built my system for about $6000 containing Krell, Sim audio and Magnepan. Everything seccond hand. $15 k is an enormous amount.

Hey, Mikey. I can’t necessarily relate to the car parallel, but my 4 main guitars were not planned buys. They were all picking up the instruments and just thinking, “f*ck…guess it’s coming home with me”. Truly connecting with an instrument happens so rarely (at least to me), that I’ve cut them down to 2 Les Pauls, a Tele, and an acoustic. I’ve only got 2 main amps left, and you’ve got what was number 3, but that I just didn’t use anymore. Again, glad to keep it in the family. I feel similarly about my system, which was like $7K at most. My record collection is worth way more than my system, but I love music so much, I want a music library I can grab any of my favorite tunes and albums from. Granted, it took over 30 yrs to put together, but I know every time I put a record on, I’m gonna love it.

Loved the smashing pumpkins ref

AMEN, there is however a time period to get there when starting new. Knowing you have something really great and trying to tune it precisely is a task. with limited knowledge the temptation is to throw more gear at it. I enjoy my set up and am tempted to add to it all the time and I know it could be better. I know it's not perfect and it never will be. IMO no system can do everything perfect but really good ones can do a lot. I don't want to buy crap, i want quality beyond my means. So, it's a commitment. The value of this channels philosophy to match equipment with the goal of a particular quality of sound to fit in that budget is key to the success here.

You on point here mike. Glad Dr. Mikey is here ..lol. By the way just got turntable and yes LPs bring one closer. TBH it takes time to learn how to do this .

I think a consultant should respect all formats. What’s not desireable for the consultant…even a turntable (not a lesser player) might be ideal for the client Yes, people need to avoid the buy/sell/buy/sell mentality of always chasing something better. Put together a system that engages you with the music and makes you want to play more and more music. Those who buy/sell/buy/sell are most likely listening to the gear, not the music I’ve owned my power amp since round 2009. Later added a second for vertical bi-amping when a friend who listens to music (and gear) sold his. The review for this amp (Conrad Johnson Premier 11A) was the best: “Are there better amps? You won’t care” and I think the goal should be to feel that way about every component in one’s system and enjoy the music

Great words of advice from Mikey!

I've had good rigs since 1972 and have achieved an extremely musical system over these many years . Good choices by auditioning each and every piece has fine turned the system to deliver an incredible musical and satisfying experience that never fails to satisfy. All who have heard this rig have enjoyed themselves immensely and have asked to come back for more listening to extend the experience. I never sit in front of the rig and say "If only this or that was better or different it would improve the experience or satisfaction." Make good choices when building your rig and you will never regret it. I have a great room and acoustics, dedicated 20amp (4) circuits feeding the system and a perfected setup that I have spent hours dialing in to perfection. Expensive, yes, outrageous, no. Best money I ever spent on myself.

Absolutely 100 percent right

With these NAT Audio amps behind you, we are pretty much guaranteed to achieve audio nirvana, regardless of speaker. NAT amps are definitely on my audio bucked list. Then I’d only need a set of amps for the summer time. Apart from that, I completely agree. I shopped for my ideal speaker for 1.5 years, visiting countless dealers. Finally I found a speaker where I was thinking: Yeah, other speakers look more beautiful to me but I’ve never been as grateful for what I heard as with these speakers. It took me another half year to pull the trigger since they were a lot more expensive than I wanted them to be.

You know your system is good when your only complaint is that you can't turn it up louder due to the neighbors.

Mickey has the best hair in all of HiFi,by far...LOL

This is spot on mister.

Right On, I remember back 1999 walking in to stereo store and hearing Leonard Bernstein's Overture to Candide on a Krell 300i integrated amp. The music played so effortlessly, it had dynamics and those b&w 804 nautilus were so sexy. That was moment I became an audiophile. No turning back!

Ehhh... about five years ago, I bought a pair of cheap interconnects from China to put into my traveling system (work). They were the best wires I've ever purchased. Since that experience, I stopped upgrading, and my goal was to have a system where I only see my speakers; literally. I don't want to see any equipment, and it must be super easy to operate-just a flick of the switch with super nice sound. Easier said than done, but I did it with my 3 setups. I haven't seen my audio equipment in years. Run all systems through 1 app, 1 server-done.

Epic rant!

My GOD you are so right.

You are right about that - when every time you listen to your system you say to yourself - WoW - this is it , game over , no matter what other people have or advertising.

I’ve reached ‘zero audio anxiety’, finally, after 3 years. I haven’t felt a need for new equipment or tweaks in the past 3 weeks. My final tweak was a carbon fiber wall outlet plate. Even that had a significant difference. It’s all about music from now on.

It's a fked up ride to be honest...cracks down the budget...But I pay way more respect to the musicians after this "hobby", that took all my free time and money. The instruments, the soundstage under over and between,the deepness, the sharpness, the voices, the dynamic,the blackness, the airiness and a billion more stuff...If the music comming from the set crushes your mind and fills the eyes, I guess thats the high end...and in some months you watch some OCD recommendations and start missing something. Can't sleep.... If I only get this flat cable... everything is gonna be fine

I've had my eye on 2 Luxman M-10X (in mono), their accompanying C-10X, and a pair of TAD-CR1......thoughts?

Search for the Best sound, I can't ever sell anything I bought, 6 systems set-up along with 3 closets full, 18 pairs of speakers. 1976-1979. What happens when you were a teenager in late 1970's and could not afford this equipment. You Ride a Ducati as well, just the sound of the engine is pure pleasure.

Them preamp birds 🐦 be craziness 😮

Spot on.

If the recording or mastering is not good then no system of money thrown at it will change that. In 40 years I've learned when it is good it is good, and then after that, you change for change's sake for a different spin on the recording due to where they voiced their product. You need experience to understand that. Audio can take you around and around, chasing your tail. Today if I want a different reproduction I know I can change my power cords, it can be that simple, fix your room that is a huge part of what you hear. I've seen a 100K system in a room that did nothing for that system, it was a waste of money, spend money on room acoustics that will pay you back more than buying new gear or spending way too much for audio jewelry to justify the asking price.

I like change I don’t have one yet, but I expect GaN is in my future…we shall see Being old I have seen so much change I just don’t get attached to things and embrace the change I do Iike listening to full albums I don’t care about how others spend their time or treasure other than hoping for their well being

Hi Mike...a bit off topic but with subs you recommend low level connection vs the Rep Hi level right? Thank you

What do you think of GaN power amps? I heard they’re amazing.

The only time i really hear my system is when i can play it louder than a whisper. Usually in the winter when the ll is on vacation in fla. Then it plays nice

The common mans goal is simply to make a ONE TIME purchase of good gear to outfit the home with audio that sounds just as good at high volumes as it does low volume. A content man can completely forget the gear is even there and get to very core of what were all doing here... enjoying the music while we still can before the recording industry as a whole totally implodes on itself. Thanks Sony for your scorched earth crusade to own as much music publishing you can at ANY cost : /

You mean it’s not to go on an endless quest to empty my bank account 😆 HIFI should make YOU HAPPY..no one else. Great video 👍

Killer t-shirt !

If you are serious about suggesting price points for different system affordability, I would recommend something that would appeal to younger people with a limited budget, and a smaller space. One of the things that keeps this hobby alive is appealing to a group outside of the older males that seem to dominate it. Something that could have a core system, with ad-ons to make it a killer system would be ideal.

The audio hamster wheel is real. My remote is about worn out due to listening to clips of song after song. Is my system right? Is my system right? Change something - test again. Never done! Bass, treble, crossovers - adjust - test - adjust - test. SUX! Next option - sell everything - buy clock radio. Well, okay, 80's BoomBox then. 😁

Money is immaterial... Whuuu-uuut? Boy that really came across a bit weird. Maybe I think about money too much. Perhaps admittedly so. I get what your saying. This was a good bit of wake-up advice to stop the constant chasing for something else.

"smashy Mikey listens toPumpkins"

Hey, you stole my line! I develop high-end amps and my standards saying is: as long as you keep saying "that sounds so good" you are not there. Being drawn fully into the music is the thing.

Yet the Buddha says that it is indeed normal for humans to keep “upgrading” in search of greater happiness only to live, as a result, in a perpetual state of unhappiness.

Demon's favorite line for audiophiles "Yeah, sure it sounds good...now. But maybe it could sound even better if......" 😈

So what does the Ducati give you that say a Yamaha might not?

Word!.......WEN SN 1000.1's? $ aside, do you expect them to rock more than the TAD R1's? Play some Deep Purple Space Truckin' when they arrive!

AAA advice! Maybe even 4 A if there was such a thing!🤔😬🤓😎

at 7:00 Bingo.

I wonder if you lent a puritan to one of your tribe, it might help them to get what they are looking for. I think quiet mains helps a lot.

I just gave my buddy my system for nothing why because i want to rebuild it again and make it better its fun

Ironically your sound on this video is kinda bad. If you were going to reveal your intention on this at the end, sorry but couldn't last that long.

Thought this might make a good t-shirt for the tribers........... "Have You Heard Any Strange Lately" 11 Stereo :)

I just gave my buddy my system for nothing why because i want to rebuild again and make it better its fun