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As much as I try, I just don't get it........

A few YouTubers are always making changes to their systems, and having their audience listen ( I imagine you all know the few posters I am speaking about ). The show reviewers are posting some audio samples, and having their audience listen. I can go on and on. Honestly, however I try, I cannot determine what the big deal is, as these videos, with the " audio presentations ", are weak, poor, and tell me nothing. I listen to a lot of YT videos of my favorite artists, videos from some of my favorite recordings, some studio and some live, and many sound quite good.....but nothing from these others I speak about, do anything for me. This is why I admire Steve, at his Audiophiliac channel, Sean at his Zero Fidelity channel, and Paul McGowan at his Ask Paul ( from PS Audio ) channel ( and others ), who speak, and know, listening in this context, is useless. Am I alone in this finding ? Does anyone actually feel listening to some of these posters, with their " audio presentations ", get the impact, or " lack of ", of what they are hearing ? I am in no way demeaning these folks, but my audio and listening background, does not allow me to make good judgements in this way, unless I am in the actual room of the demo. Enjoy, be well and stay safe. Always, MrD.
mrdecibel
mammothguy54's avatar
mammothguy54
935 posts
 
@eganmedia  you have it exactly correct.  I concur 100%.

Also, the store that used an MP3 file connected via a phone does indeed make for a baseline of comparison.  However, for a store to use that as a source to demonstrate products of such a high quality is shameful.  I went through a very similar experience in Los Angeles recently.  The salesman using that lousy source did such an injustice to beautiful speakers that I was shopping for.  I bought speakers two weeks later, from another dealer, who demonstrated them properly.  I bought a brand different from the ones at the poor demonstration store.  So, even those brands from that store lost potential of a good sale due to a cheezy demonstration.  YT as a reference is even worse!
Just my two cents on the matter.
mrdecibel OP
2,937 posts
 
I appreciate all of the feedback. I did make a point stating there are many YT videos I actually enjoy listening to, and yes, YT is a great way to learn about new and unfamiliar music. However, if anyone can gauge the qualitive nature of a 3K power cord or a 15K power amp, using any one of the videos I am specifically talking about, more power to you. I simply would not trust any of it to make a purchase decision. I do have an assortment of headphones, including Stax, Sony Pro and AKG........YouTube > optical out of my 65 inch LG > dac > pre / power / headphone amp / speakers ( this is my bedroom system, as my main system is audio only ). I hear everything on these videos and what you folks are talking about.....I just cannot make a decision or decipher the value of a piece of gear this way. This is me. As much as I agree that headphones are a wonderful way to hear details, these YT channels I speak of, are imo, poor sounding, and not everything on YT is poor sounding. Again, thank you all for the feedback....Enjoy, be well and stay safe. MrD.
otooleme
30 posts
 
At best, you can say there is a difference, at worst you hear no change.  Audiophilia as a hobby is an experiential voyage.  The best and final place to make certain a change is great is your own system at home.  The second best place is a dealer showroom that is not crammed full of speakers in the room.  If you want to purchase your system from your armchair it is a crapshoot at best.  I have seen so many well-meaning aficionados bamboozled by changes in sound, not better sound.  Online auditioning represents the worst of this practice.  Again, find a quality dealer and trust him.
asctim
441 posts
 
I do find some of these recordings of speakers playing in spaces to be interesting. I don't expect to hear something great, but I am surprised at times how well it comes through, how little room coloration seems to be degrading the sound. If I'm hearing good tone with extended smooth bass and sparkly highs from microphones placed at the listening position it tells me there's got to be pretty good sonics happening in that room. I've also felt at times I could hear the sonic signature of the speakers interacting with the room in a way that was quite compelling, like a very pleasing filter effect, making the same song file played straight through my speakers seem somewhat on the dry side. I don't expect to hear differences from things like cables or pre-amps. However, if they did leave every setting and microphone and speaker placement the same and level adjusted to 0.1db, it would be quite interesting if someone could demonstrate a difference a change in amplifier or cable made. That would prove that something very significant had changed.
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
When I was young in the 60's, and my Dad and I would see a Zenith Television commercial. The spokesperson would say "look how sharp that picture is" showing their newest model. My Dad sarcastically comment's to me how great is certainly is.. (on our old 16"" black & white)
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