One thing nice about going to shows and listening to oligarch priced audio systems is the average guy will feel great about his system at home for a mere pittance.

@mikemurel1917

26 күн бұрын

Totally agree. It also has made me listen much closer to the music. Like in the 70's, with pro4aas and a joint in the dark late at night. Listening to whole Lotta love.❤

@Phloored

25 күн бұрын

Right on!

With the recent passing of Andy Singer I was thinking about the time back in the 90’s when I was at Sound By Singer. Singer told me he has 2 kinds of customers, those who love music and those who work on Wall Street looking to spend their bonus money.

@connorduke4619

26 күн бұрын

Great quote!

Nice new logo and intro.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

I'm glad you like it

@pulDag

25 күн бұрын

Sound is too generic though

"An opulent outcropping of egoic expression." Outstanding.

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Thx. ;-)

@reasoned007

24 күн бұрын

sounds like a book's title....hint for OCD

Thats the most positive ive ever heard you speak of jays audio lab

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

Are you high ? You think my videos have anything to do with him ? You're on Crack.

@IdoneusCS

24 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy i am terribly sorry, you caught me red handed.

@OCDHIFiGuy

23 күн бұрын

Clearly you hit a nerve. Lol

@daveuk1324

22 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy Don't worry Jay's lost his way (bless him)...

Nicely said, I appreciate the overall attitude that you’re speaking of. Bravo…we could all stand to pay closer attention to our own side of the street. Rock on 🤘🏼

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Absolutely!

“Real is sometimes no fun.” Boy is that true on many different levels!

@OCDHIFiGuy

18 күн бұрын

Right ?

digging the new intro and logo. Rock on brotha

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Thanks Dan !

As the Marantz Rep at the time, around '70, one of my dealers was also a McIntosh dealer. His market was both esoteric and monied in a college town. He said he could always tell the McIntosh customer. "They'd walk in in their elbow patched cardigan. I'd turn an amp on, the blue meters would light up. They'd pull out their check books!"

good discussion, thanks Mikey.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Thanks Joe !

Extremely well said...! Superb clarity on whatever you have spoken..!

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

Thanks !

Thanks Mikey. Follow-up video please on how far can one go up the ‘chain’ to still be considered to have ‘value’ vs hi fi jewelry. Anything above $50 or 100k that u wouldn’t characterize as someone only buying for display?

You just opened my mind. 😮. I hold a value oriented perspective. But what you are explaining makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the great video commentary. Hi Fi equipment has gotten more and more expensive over the past 40 years since I bought my first stereo, and I've tended more and more to just building my own equipment to get the sound that I want at an affordable price. Listening to you explain the concept of display stereo equipment was very illuminating and corroborates my own thoughts on the subject!

Imo this is the best video you have done man, love seeing you grow and reflect over previous attitudes. Darko has been making this point you are making here and I could not agree more, would I ever buy the latest top of the line by sonus faber? Probably not, but I love that exist, i love seeing a nice video about it the same way i love seeing a bugatti in the street, is just nice, life is short, music is amazing and hifi is amazing at every level

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Absolutely. Thx for your feedback !

Once you listen to the all new German Physiks Unicorn Horn Speakers.. nothing else matters ! Audio Heaven on Planet Earth !

Love the new intro!!

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Thx Rich !

Great video Mikey. Well said. It’s liberating to just accept it and let it go . Also love the new intro

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Yes! Thank you!

Good discussion bro.

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

Thx.

I love the new intro Mikey! 👊✌️

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Thanks!!

Nice Mikey, only problem is it's dragging up prices of "our" kit too. Well, that and the pandemic.

@OCDHIFiGuy

23 күн бұрын

Yeah, and Global Warming... or is it the Ter or ists?

Hey, I have a Gucci framing hammer and does McIntosh fit the bill for display with it's giant blue VU meters? My entry teacher into audio called McIntosh hifi for dentists

Nice show Mike. Well done. P.S. I really enjoy Ball watches, great history. Let it play man, let it play 😊

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Ball is a great brand 👏

Hi Mikey, I just had to let you know you got to me in a big way with this vidio. "Fantasy is real" And you laughing like the Bodasatva of audio. I am learning to enjoy the world of being an audiophile. Thank you. Laughing and Listening in Greer SC Ted.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Rock on Ted !

Awesome

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Thx !

I think you're 100% right about everything you said and it's not healthy !

Mikey all you say is true,I grew up working for the ultra wealthy for many years I was always jealous until I truly got to know many of them personally and found most of them are truly unhappy,being able to buy anything in this word is a fantasy for the have nots but to them it’s meaningless that’s why they don’t care about audio or anything as passionately as us and that is the simplest explanation I can tell you,the saying money is happiness is far from the truth,bottom line in joy life to (your)fullest it doesn’t last very long

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

For sure !!

Interesting opening OCD. Slick. My problem with it... is from the manufacturing end of it- do they really care and are they phoning in their HiFi designs?

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

What does that mean ?

I remember when I came to realize the same thing. Logic tells you if it cost more, it must be better, but it turns out it is only flasher. I have worked in various electrical and mechanical jobs in my life. And the nerd in me wanted to know how it was technically better how it was engineered better. Then I get a look and realize it is only cosmetically better. Just like you said about people who buy exotic cars. They don't put any real milage on those cars they don't drive them they only own them to have something to brag about.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Yes, though if you spend 200K on a new sports car, you are nearly always guaranteed an amazing driving experience. Not with Audio however

@johnbrentford5513

24 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy If I am not going to use it and enjoy it, I would not buy it. These car collectors would hate me I would buy an all-original Hemi car worth millions and put 100K miles on it in just a few years.

@oliverbeard7912

24 күн бұрын

Hi John. I completely agree .Learning a little about the nuts and bolts and how that translates to what we hear is very important. Then we can think more objectively. The role is simply to pass the signal as truthfully as possible.Although I'm not a complete objectivist,I do think linking specs to what we can hear can enable audio enthusiasts to potentially make more informed choices.This does mean honest portrayal of those specs from brands too,which in itself can be asking alot from some.

@redleather100

24 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy I agree with you there on the sports car , you spend 200k on a Ferrari you know what your getting , 200k on a hi end power amp you have no idea and you may not even like the sound . And look at how much goes into making a sports car , it doesn’t even compare, but like you say if you can afford it 🤑

Nice video Mikey, definitely some food for thought. Personally, I never hated on anyone with more means than I or for those who wish to purchase "display audio". I'll admit that as an avid audiophile I don't understand it. To me it has always been the love of music which is what landed me into this hobby, and while I can appreciate the craftmanship of equipment - it has always been a mere tool for me to enjoy music by being able to "pull" musicians right into my room. That being said, there is a part of me that disagrees with superfluous spending from a altruistic point of view. I realize this perhaps is a bit of a double standard for me to point out given that I have have an expensive system, but I do think that a million dollar show-off system is a waste of resources. In addition, if all you care about as a person is to impress others with your disposable income, I think your value system is deeply flawed and more indicative of psychologically deeply rooted issues.

@daveuk1324

22 күн бұрын

100%

Cool shirt!!!!

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Thanks B

Years ago I visited a high end store where they had a Krell system. I asked the owner 'who in his right mind would pay so much for hifi?' He replied 'a wealthy person that does not want a yacht', and I understood. Personally I am more annoyed at the price of $300 dongle dacs that should cost $30.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Lol. Right ?

I love these sentiments. I find an endearing value in these various phantasmal aspects you touched upon, at a certain point the ostentatious expression is it’s own form of art, and audio is just one of many mediums where that gets expressed. I found your Picasso Tube metaphor to be dead on. What a perfect analogy, serious props man, you hit that like Michael Jordan hitting airtime. Engineering is really an unsung artistry, kind of astonishing that people would so easily gloss over that, like the engineer just stands there with a bucket and pours parts into a cabinet, that’s car audio not hifi. Lol In the economics world they have a term for the rising demand of a product increasing with price. It’s called a “Veblen good”. Where the higher price attracts more interest and desire in the sense of quality and superiority that the price implies. It’s an arms race to see who can price themselves higher than the competition and still have buyers who can afford it. Very little room for second best, but lots of room for art and style.

Uber expensive high end audio keeps manufactures in business. It provides them with liquidity to pay their employee's and develop products to sell to the rest of us. Their profit on a $200K amp is much higher than a $20K amp, even though it doesn't cost much more to make.

I think you are looking at Richard Mille, They got crazy prices but some of their watches are truly different and innovative : using velcro as strap, mounted skeleton bridges to withstood shock and using plastic body to reduce weight. I would buy their ultra thin watch but I don't earn that type of money lol.

I love super expensive stuff because it shows the ultimate possibility that humans can create. The other thing I love is how the new ideas give everyone a direction for improvement. I love the challenge of trying to reach those high levels of performance through innovation. What can I do to a 140dollar Sony receiver to improve the sound without spending thousands. What can I do to limit vibration to the amplifier speakers source. I wish I knew how to understand values of resistors capacitors and circuits to change those pieces remove or other wise to improve the sound. Looking at life in that way raises the quality of existence. Same with automobiles _ trying to improve a car or other choice in any industry through learning to understand how some device functions in order to improve it for my own satisfaction of engaging life more in depth. Everything is wonderful 😊😊😊!!!

Such a good video. Enlightening our inner intelligence will help us be better souls. Then even our ears will hear better sounds :) Mazel Tov.

You are absolutely right, you know how we enjoy strictly good sound; at least speaking for myself. Some people enjoy looking at an amazing piece of art. I even got to this prior to you talking about display audio lolll It's like buying buying art, you spend millions and you look at the portrait once a day or less. I think becuase so many people on the internet are snobs in general and I do not mean this in a bad way but the way it's portraited. "well you clearly dont know what good sound is cause my system costs 50k" creates a situation where we not have disdain towards people who own crazy systems. Come to realize the uber wealthy people who own million dollar systems aren't even on the forums or care to even let you know they own this or that. It's not a competition for them, what are they competing against when they have all the money in the world. It's either the people who are super rich and mentally deranged doing this or the peasants who would have never dreamed of owning any of this stuff and hit it big to get it and now want to show off or that might be the only reason they got it because some jackass did that to them when they were getting into the hobby. My thoughts are this, first I think people open up a rabbit hole with their own doings. You should be happy with what you got, I came from sound bars. I have been into home audio for 4 years now, every system I have had since I got out of sound bars as quality audio has been better and better. It's simply how it works, the thing is you need to realize where you stop. Clearly you reach a point where the margins are so small and the invest jumps so high it's ridiculous and if you are really into the hobby and you wish to blow your money do your thing. Before you spent 5 grand and got a 50% better audio experience, now you spend 30k to go up 10 more percent is insanity. I am really happy where I am at and fully accept this concept to be happy where I am at and stop chasing. I have spent nearly 30 grand in 4 years, actually the first year I was already 15k in. The funny part is all the crap I bought at msrp would have probably hit nearly 45k or more if I did not purchase used/open box/demo. I am not a wealthy person, but I do make good money and I have the luxury to do this and I only do it because I really enjoy it. Like you stated to me this is relaxation at the end of a long day, I am seeking the best audio experience and everything else second to that. Some people enjoy spending money foolishly on all these toys, and if they can afford it more power to them. This is the only thing in my life that I found that brings me and it's the only thing I dump so much money. I am far from being a materialistic person, I hate clothing, jewelry, and a lot of other things your average person uses to flaunt. Even if I won the lotto I would never buy any of that crap and I say that whole heartedly, it's just not my thing and I absolutely hate unnecessary attention. The fortunate thing about audio is when you buy you can also sell. It's definitely a pain and it's very difficult to deal with people, but honestly if I used a product for a year and lost 30% of what I paid whether it was new or used I am happy. For me it's strictly about the experience and learning, being so new to the hobby I want to try all the things to find what I enjoy the most and then focus my money on that rather than buy this and that to later find out tube amps are my thing and just blew thousands on solid state for example to never find the joy that a decent tube amp can bring for example. This isn't even a topic about what I like, but the facts here that are present. You dont go out there and buy a 5k tube amp when you dont know if you like tubes or not, you might hate it after buying it. Dont blow your money foolishly with the idea that more money means better products, there's too many variables to this hobby for it to work out in that fashion. Like you stated previously, hifi is not an investment. If you believe in that you are greatly mistaken, sure there are some pieces which do end up turning out to be a unicorn and worth a lot of money once they are out of production but it's rare to find that or even double the money you spent. So this needs to be approached with a very thoughtful sense.

Another interesting video Mikey. The cool shit thing. If there is a market someone will make for it. I have some idea of marketing so this conversation appeals to me. You like me and the rest of the tribe are are into the real deal. I like vintage and the stuff you recommend. I wish the playback designs gear was in Sydney to listen to...none at our last show. Aussie Audiophile is a great guy. Ide buy Jbl 4350 and Duntech Sovereign plus 4x18 inch subs plus an Accuphase pre power and voicing eq setup with a Dohmann Helix 1 turntable even if I came into multi millions. I like bass treble and obnoxious woofers ...sorry I do. PBN 777 is a my idea of a speaker too. At a real level I bought a Sony esd cd player and I think many new players at 16 bit would be equaled or bettered by it it's the 557 or the 577. Mega heavy and over engineered or is it? I like to know the upper limit of what's possible too. But showy metal for the sake of it is not my jam. Small companies that are pushing up and taking risks for the pursuit of better are ones I respect. A few brands of ridiculous pricing for what you get are obvious but I won't name my top list.

When is the F&F sn1000s coming?

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Within 30 days.

I have just the opposite attitude to this.All about the sound,not the flash.Still use an Arcam system from the 90's along with Ruark speakers and a REL sub,from the same era.Its about the music."If it aint broke don't fix it"is my strong belief.

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

For sure. I'm somewhere in the middle. "Good enough" is never my desire..

Richard Mille watches! I’ve been in some Multi million dollar homes and most people talk about the $10k Japanese toilets more than anything else. People pay big bucks for “talking pieces” in their homes. The way I wrap my head around it is most wealthy people invest heavily and easily triple their net worth every decade.

Jay believes in all expensive shit

@TheNoseman1

25 күн бұрын

Jay thinks because it is expensive it must be good. He's no audiophile, but someone whom wants to be and thinks because he has the gear he is. It's like saying you can afford a Ferarri F40 and that makes you a good driver. The fact Jay goes through so much gear tells me he has no idea what he is doing as he is not identified, qualified and informed. Real audiophiles know what they are looking for and change only when some real improvement comes along, and know it is an improvement (and knows how to tell). Jay is none of that but I applaud his high end rotation as you see more new stuff.

@CarlVanDoren

24 күн бұрын

Yes, info is good! 😊 Sonically? Not swallowing.​@TheNoseman1

Great video, Mikey. People can spend their money on whatever they like and justify that expenditure to themselves. What I take issue with is those who spend CRAZY money on things like cables, music servers or speakers that won’t perform in most home listening environments (particularly since dedicating listening rooms are all too rare) and then preach from the pulpit on various audio forums. I think this sort of behaviour is a disservice to those who are new to serious music listening or those of more modest means. Particularly when they claim to be experts while lacking any rational thought or knowledge. There’s an old saying in audio. The best thing is always the next thing. As always money makes the world go round. Good points on the fantasy element of any luxury market segment. But sometimes a dose of reality is also good. Even if I had a million dollars to spend on hifi, I don’t think I could live with the excess of such a decision. And besides, ain’t it fun to put together a system that is fairly priced that belts the mutton dressed as lamb shit that is poorly set up in a terrible room?

Growth and understanding is never a mistake. Ultra high end has a purpose for us folks that have to work for a living. You can compare and contrast and get ideas for your own gear. There is nothing wrong with someone speeding money on what they like, whether that be a certain look for a room, or for trying to get the feeling of live music in their space.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Absolutely

When it doesnt make sense i try and srudy it and learn something new about how they market and sell thier product

@OCDHIFiGuy

21 күн бұрын

OK.

Pricing is whatever the market will bear. In the olden days, "HiFi" was priced as consumer electronics i.e. based on manufacturing and distribution costs, etc. At the mid level it is still priced this way and there is some great gear available for fair money. But now, high end gear is priced as luxury goods like fine wine, art, watches, super cars, etc. If you love audio, then take time to search for value and don't get ripped off. It you're super rich and don't give a shit, then more fool you and pay the premium! I'm thinking particularly of certain daft Euro brands, and yes I do include Børresen and that DAC that looks like a coffee machine 😄😄

I have heard about this before - Uber hifi for background music during a cocktail party wtf!

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

It's cool looking.. that's wtf... lol

"The illusion has become real, and the more real it becomes the more desperate people want it"-Gordon Gekko

@OCDHIFiGuy

18 күн бұрын

Isn't that the truth ?

There is a bookshelf pair of two way speakers made with solid gold cabinetry that costs several million dollars, and I bet they don’t even sound particularly good.

@OCDHIFiGuy

23 күн бұрын

Does not surprise me

Oligarch audio. Nice intro.

Love the way you opened my eyes. There is a line between true sound and looks. Also, audio is very subjective.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Value is a relative term and Uber rich humans play on different sets of values...

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Absolutely. Look at Jeff Bezos wife. Clearly she values dressing like a stripper.

The way I heard the story of the Boulder 3000 series is several customers from the Asian market wanted a bigger, more expensive amp than the 2000 series and were willing to pay up front enough money to cover the development costs. Maybe the customers don't care about the sonic but Boulder does, they don't phone it in, the engineering is there in the amp. SOTA surface mount, way beyond what Constellation or D'Agostino etc. are doing. I own a Boulder 3060 for the same reason I have an MPD8, because I have never heard another amp beat its sonic, even amps that cost a lot more I applaud those folks from Asia because it would not exist without them.

@OCDHIFiGuy

23 күн бұрын

OK. So I'll bite. What did you pay for that $114K stereo Amp ?

@MichaelM-to4sg

23 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy That’s the great thing about an open market. I wouldn’t buy a Boulder amp or preamp, they happen to be within 25 miles of my home and I support local industries and am fortunate enough to afford their products, if they were priced 10% of their current retail. Sound quality is the only priority I have in choosing equipment and Boulder amps fail that valuation. Aesthetic quality is not a consideration as equipment is in a closet, except the amps which are located adjacent to speakers and those are hidden by a welded steel cage affixed to amp stand to prevent damage by dogs and cats. Im sure for some persons musical tastes and presentation preferences, Boulder may offer some appeal, it definitely is not I. Hail freedom of choice 👍

@daveuk1324

22 күн бұрын

@@MichaelM-to4sg Jay's Audio Lab loves Boulder 🤩🤩

@chuckmoore5382

22 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy That is your question? So you are only about the money! Cha-ching!. It took me over two years to afford it, all the while looking for an alternative -- none exist AFAIK. The MPD8 extracts and sends to the amp an astonishing amount of musical information.

Nouveau riche/New Money Gaudy, Gauche, Tache and Over the Top! You know Mikey, like Ultra High-End Equipment! Strictly for Showing Off! You are just Too Real for "Them" ✌️

Great points, one proviso - a LOT of people hate on "Bugatti/Pagani" hifi out of envy/spite and not foremost because they feel that "display" hifi is a rip-off. Also, there is a LOT of bling hifi that sonically is awesome - Burmester sounds great for example. I guess thinking about it now I don't think it's ALL just "fantasy".

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Consider the possibility that the very practice of playing back past musical events is 100% fantasy to begin with. 🤔

Which audio brands are "display audio" brands? I nominate McIntosh, Sonus Faber, Gryphon, Wilson, Dartzeel, D'Agostino...

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

It's whatever you buy to show and not use..

@eugeneswanepoel877

25 күн бұрын

Goldmund

Real world audio VS fantasy world audio, that is what I say.

It's the gen·tri·fi·ca·tion of the audio hobby. One doesn't have to miss the meaning but often does. When i see an old neighborhood that's thriving get gentrified, the place transforms and people are displaced because the prices go up, landlords celebrate and the soul of the place is forever gone. You look into the eyes of those people who are displaced and tell them to just let it go. Easy for you to say. I believe the industry loses some heart when it starts becoming about high end for the sake of it. You can't replace the old authentic culture. I love to see beautiful product and audio as much as the next guy. I'm just of the mind that thrives off the music experience. I guess just be the best you can be and enjoy what you have. I come from a place where i would hang out with my friends fathers who were building hi fi gear from kits in their garage and blast it on the fourth of July at a yard party. They cared about the sound too and interacted with the equipment on a different level. I just felt so connected to the music. On the one hand the gen·tri·fi·ca·tion of the music industry displaces genuine enthusiasts and the scene loses some heart and soul. On the other hand people deserve to make a living.

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Interesting perspective! Thx !

@Phloored

25 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy it's springtime, i get a little testy. 😄 Swear to God every spring. And I'm old!

If you have that kind of money, just hire the band to play in your living room? lol

@OCDHIFiGuy

23 күн бұрын

True enough

If fantasy is real, then I've lived the most fulfilled life of any human being on earth.😃

@spandel100

25 күн бұрын

👍

Maybe because people who care more about their ego than anything else have caused massive avoidable harm? Sure, there are people who just bash things that they don't like or understand, but sometimes people legitimately bash things that they understand and are harmful.

Thanks for the context Mikey, I have always sought the best sound, not the crazy stuff. I would be the person who buys the Lexus of audio, not the Bugatti... or Pagani.

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

There you go. Same here.

Try walking into a 20,000 square foot house that has a pool, tennis courts, massive wine cellar, theater and 6 car garage filled with foreign exotics. You soon realize practicality or value has nothing to do with it. It's all for SHOW and EGO especially when they tell you they don't play tennis! (true story)

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Yep... dildocity....

@MichaelM-to4sg

23 күн бұрын

But why do you care or even offended by this? It’s freedom of choice. If an individual chooses to build such a home with such amenities, that’s their choice, it has nothing to do with you or anyone else. It’s similar with ultra expensive audio gear. The companies that produce 7-figure speakers are only producing half dozen pairs, primarily for Asian market, thus each unit is hand crafted. The jigs to machine them are often one use items only. The components used are one-off. Whether all of that hand labor produces a better experience should not matter, the labor costs are extraordinary and often require resources pulled from normal production processes to fulfill. How the consumer chooses to use that product is completely superfluous. Is a Rolls Royce 100x better than a Toyota? Probably not but the materials and hand labor involved as well as the margins required to make RR economically viable results in such a price difference. It’s up to the consumer to determine if that cost is worth it to them and them alone. For your own audio system choices, you’re likely tethered to your own limited budget. Why worry about what is beyond your budget? The only consideration of those ultra high end components is if/when the technology developed in those specialty products may or may not trickle down to products within your budget and whether that technology produces a more enjoyable experience for you to warrant purchasing. Stop worrying about the “others” beyond your means and live in your own world.

@scottbayne5710

23 күн бұрын

@@MichaelM-to4sg I’m not offended. I own many expensive things for simply display and not use. They are for show and ego. That’s the point. It explains what Mikey is talking about in this video regarding audio gear. It’s like owning a tennis court but not playing tennis.

@MichaelM-to4sg

23 күн бұрын

@@scottbayne5710 What wrong with owning a home w/tennis court and not playing tennis? One of my former business partners has a home in St Helena (Napa CA area) with clay court tennis court complete with underground irrigation to keep moisture correct, he doesn’t play tennis. He does allow local high school to use it for practice so at least it’s used on occasion but he and his wife have never played tennis in their lives. The property also has a 40+ acre vineyard they lease out to vintner to grow and harvest wine that he has nothing to do with nor investment in. They bought the property with those amenities knowing they had no interest in them but wanted the spectacular views and privacy. I myself recently bought a vacation home in Hanalei Bay (Kauai) with tennis court and have no interest in tennis. In my case it’s getting demoed for a guest cottage and yoga studio/sound room but if I didn’t want the added space, I’d likely have left it unused hoping it would add property value upon resale. Regardless, it’s not anyone’s business if you or I nor anyone else makes use of something like a tennis court. I personally spend minimum of 20 hours/wk listening to my music systems, I have systems in a living room and my office at our primary residence. Most friends have no idea how much $$ I’ve invested in these systems and I’m not willing to tell them if they were to be rude enough to ask. The reality is it’s MUCH less than the systems’ are insured for since most of my equipment is over 20 years old. At same time, I would have no problem spending 6 figures on speakers for example, if it were to bring me a level of listening pleasure exceeding my current setups. In fact when I finish the Hanalei Bay home, the budget for that system will be well into the 6-figures, not for show to those that visit or to appeal to my ego but rather to appeal to what I value in our lives. The ability to listen to music every day in a manner that best suits our tastes is worth the investment. If that bothers anyone, so be it, their opinion and values mean ZERO to me.

Horacio Pagani did a talk at my college when the Zonda came out. This was an art and design school, not an engineering school. Point is, looks matter.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

For sure

Most of us struggle to grasp this concept because it seems absurd that the extremely wealthy feel compelled to purchase and consume in such excessive ways. I've waited 25 years intil I was able to have a vintage Steinway M, and I've been a serious pianist since I was 10. How many homes of the wealthy have a Fazioli or Steinway D as a piece of furniture in their living rooms....

@OCDHIFiGuy

15 күн бұрын

That's it... great parallel..

Good stuff costs money 💰 Mikeys gear ain't cheap 😮 Spend what UR willing to lose

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Amen !!

Many seemingly "overpriced" gear funds the development and manufacturing of more reasonable priced gear.

@OCDHIFiGuy

13 күн бұрын

And cartel money funds local schools.

Great comments, what you didn't say is, if you wanted a $2 million Pagani, a $500 thousand Rolex, they wouldn't sell you one because you do not have a purchase history with these companies. You have to have a purchese history with them to be allowed to purchase another latest model.

@OCDHIFiGuy

19 күн бұрын

OK. So expensive hifi is sold to any asshole with money. Good point.

@grahamlester1386

19 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy They are buying HiFi and technology at at premium price point, not music.

A big hi to Jay 😜

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Jay understands his audience very well. ;-) 😉

My problem isn't with the uber high end or even the high end. It's with overpriced, clearly mid-fi gear. The stuff marketed to the average consumer, mostly made in China. Some morons pay it and that influences the market price to go higher or remain too high for certain products - even used for goodness sake! Inflation is one thing, when it comes to increases in pricing but greed is another & it exists in every tier of the hi-fi industry. The Chi-fi industry is a perfect example of somewhere you used to be able to go to get near-on the same sound quality, in a slightly less well built chassis & because you knew it was mass produced in sweatshop-like conditions, it was a much cheaper, almost as good, alternative to the Western brands. Now they too are charging 10-20 grand for DACS & amps, 3-6 grand for headphones & IEMs, etc. and my country still has a "luxury tax" (Edit: its 5%, thought it was 30, but still...) on buying imported goods priced above $1000. Because the shipping from the US and EU wasn't bad enough on some of these products, was it!? smh... It IS getting harder to afford good sound quality gear. In fact, almost the entire hobby is getting too expensive, not just gold plated, diamond encrusted custom speakers for celebrities, influencers & crypto bros.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Wow. I feel like I'm listening to my own thoughts. You have an exact understanding of the charade ChiFi has become. Bravo 👏

@SpirallingOut

24 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy I guess what I'm trying to say to the Chi-fi industry is, if you're going to exploit global trade concessions and your manufacturing workers, don't think you can exploit consumers too. To my government, if you're going to call one of the biggest threats to the climate and our regional stability "our closest trading partner" while our closest ACTUAL allies remain almost impossible to buy from then STOP lecturing China, or anyone else for that matter, on human rights abuses. The voters can see right through your meaningless words. In other words... S**t or get off the pot!

Mikey, Some interesting points. I think the video gives two impressions that aren’t necessarily true: 1) That no ultra high-end audio’s price is justified by its sound. While the ultra high-end is almost never going to be about optimal audio performance for the dollar (value), I believe there are plenty of ultra high-end audio products that are among the best in the world in their category and provide a near-unique feature set. Case in point are the flagship Borresens you’ve talked about. And that could be worth paying for if you can afford it and value it. 2) That “display audio” is purchased only for egocentric reasons. I think you’re overlooking the fact that there is intrinsic value to beautiful objects. I think there are buyers who treat it like furniture that enhances their home environment mainly for their own private enjoyment.

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

That's an interesting perception. Not what I meant, but I like healthy debate, so I'll engage. When I spoke of Borreson, I mentioned that one could see excellence in fit and finish. Something like Constellation for instance is so obvious it's overpriced. Borreson cloaks that it is overpriced much better. In other words, the ratio of fluff is much higher with Constellation as an example. Once a speaker goes past 200K its no longer about sound. Care to debate this statement ? For fun.. I'm not hung up on anything. 2. Intrinsic value to beautiful objects how ? Like hot porn stars ? Solid Gold Baphomet statue ? The context here is owning things. Acquisition of that which is not needed. Shiny objects for $.5M So you think there's value there ? Just because it's pretty ? I'll debate this side for sport.. Acquisition of exclusive objects in order to "own them" is meaningless and empty. Lol. Let's start there.. again. This is for fun, I don't even necessarily believe the side which I'm willing to argue...

@a.s.2426

24 күн бұрын

​@@OCDHIFiGuy Thanks, Mikey! Appreciate the reply ... Wasn't necessarily looking for a debate:) But ... 1) You said, "Once a speaker goes past 200K its no longer about sound. Care to debate this statement?" Regarding the $200K figure you mentioned for speakers, specifically: Why not $199K or $201K? A single unchanging number like this is provocative but entirely arbitrary and has no obvious connection to sound. My original contention -- if I were to expand upon it further -- would be that every model of speaker (or every model of whichever type of component) sounds different from the next. No two have an identical sonic signature. In that sense, every speaker (or component) represents a unique sonic proposition. Take the absolute best, most desirable sonic signature in a speaker you've experienced and look at its price tag and THAT would be the price line above which it's no longer "about sound", by definition. That price line will vary by individual, their sonic preferences, manufacturer prices, and other factors. For example, for you, I suppose that $24K (or whatever) is that number for a DAC because that's the price of the MPD-8. Could that number conceivably be more than $200K for a speaker? Sure it could. For someone. Case in point, the Borresen flagships, which at $550K for some audiophiles (according to themselves), present the best sonic they could possibly buy. So $550K is their number. 2) You said, "So you think there's value there ? Just because it's pretty ? I'll debate this side for sport.. Acquisition of exclusive objects in order to "own them." My response would be that aesthetic beauty has been among the highest values in many cultures for centuries. If you could live your life surrounded exclusively by aesthetically beautiful things would you not prefer it? Sure, such beauty occurs in nature and is free or relatively free to consume. But what about beautiful art, architecture, furniture, clothing, watches, etc., etc. Man-made stuff. It costs money to experience it. And let's not forget music as a form of beauty. Even musical recordings themselves cost money. And what about audio sonics as a form of beauty? Why not just listen to your favorite recordings on your computer speakers? Ironically, the idea of paying to "possess" beauty should hardly be a foreign concept to you as a hi-fi aficionado and (especially) as a dealer because it's one of the main things we are doing when we pay for better sonics. We are buying beautiful sound. Far from being "meaningless" and "empty" the sonic delta between those computer speakers and a refined hi-fi rig (such as your "big rig") contributes to making life worth living.

The rich have been doing it for years with all types of products so hifi doesn't surprise me, I do think that products not just hifi should only be sold to people if they intend to use them, but business is business I guess, do I dream of a million plus system? Hell yes, can I afford it? Nope, but if I could all of a sudden, I would appreciate it invite people to come listen with me ( trusted of course ) as music should be shared 😁😁😁😁

Boulder sounds good tho😊

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Not to me.

@Music_time82

25 күн бұрын

No it doesn't. I've Owned alot. Zero emotion zero engagement

@REX4340

25 күн бұрын

@@Music_time82 i guess you listen to digital...

@Music_time82

25 күн бұрын

@@REX4340 vinyl is a wank with alot if inherent issues. Don't talk that silliness around here.

You are obviously not into cars 😂. I disagree with the Pagani comparison. I can assure you there are plenty of people who buy Paganis who love driving, because to them it's pretty much the ultimate expression of driving and art combined. But I get your point ofc. Good vid as always 👍

@OCDHIFiGuy

23 күн бұрын

It's my view as an outsider. I'd rather drive Ferarri ...

i kinda see it this way, if you ever become that rich you pretty much are meant to make those irrational purchases, imagine a world where no one buys paganis because teslas are quicker for example, i would not want to live in that world. Love the tshirt btw ✌

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

True, and thank you..

Flip side...I know a guy, I work for him, worth hundreds of millions.... he just got 6 Sonos Era speakers in his 7000 sq ft home, and is THRILLED with them. Whatever makes ya happy! Cheers!

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

Yep, not an Audiophile... nothing wrong with background music.. lol. Zero fantasy there...

Only upward wealth transfer folks can buy such ultra expensive Hi Fi systems!

@OCDHIFiGuy

21 күн бұрын

That's happening a lot these days.

I'd love to see the break down of the parts and labour, this high end audio IMO is a joke. It's think of a ridicolous number and make that the price tag, if I was rich I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a hifi system, crazy.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Lol. You were not listening. Actual cost means nothing. The higher the price and the less value it actually has, the more desirable it is for some buyers.

As I recall just last year your buddy at “ Jay’s Audio “ was going on and on about American only wanting to buy American made speakers, as if the imported ones were worthy, yet of late……, he’s showing off his new speakers, hence Sonus Faber. And besides this a guy of his means wants to sell the the buying public, yet seemingly seems as if every time I look at his videos, I spot new shit, how in the hell would I trust the opinion of someone whom can’t get their own system sorted out?. What a bunch of BS!, give me someone that holds onto pieces for upwards of 10-25 years, only then do I trust said types, synergy is very very real.

Audiovegans are real! Really annoying.

Let the free market decide which ultra high end provides value and which ones do not... Think Rolls Royce vs Audi vs Buick vs Honda....They each have their place.. RR is very exclusive and is actually a BMW now.... But it works.. Some people buy just for bragging rights... Think of the very high priced turntables north of $300K... It's mostly BLING...

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Yes, and bling is a very valid buying reason for some.

Ok, ok, ok… .OK

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Mmmkay

All truth.. Rich people dont know how to create great sound usually. I knew an old man who created his own, (kinda ugly) amazing systems that have never been beaten to this day. More Frankenstein looking than mikes, and if he built it for me he would have charged around 40k.. thats the truth of audio.

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

Yes, many times that is true...

one of the better sounding speakers is the JBL 4311b...i am quitting the whole hifi thing

TBH ... Through my personal process of discovery ... between the "bookends" of what is considered reality .... This world Ayn't real.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Nope. The fun part is we create it.

I agree with you but I don't. The problem is the trickle up effect; that is, if a TOTL model is $500K, then everything else below it is held relative to that and then priced accordingly. You see this in sports with players basing their salaries on the top players. In audio, the worst offenders are Magico, Wilson, Sonus Faber.....almost anyone making the "display high end" you allude to. And it affects the rest of us whom want good audio. The Magico M7 is half the M9 but only difference is the bass which can easily be ameliorated with subs. Justify that. And the M6 is not a $186k USD speaker. They charge it because the can and get away with it. The worst offender is TAD: the CR1 has over doubled the asking price in 10 years with no improvement in crossover, drivers or technology, and this is my "want to have" speaker. As they say, they will price what the market will bear. And those whom can vote often don't care as price is no object. Again, beware of the trickle up effect. No company sells for less when it can get more.

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

Tell me about Fischer&Fischer of Germany. A REAL value...

For 99% if not more of people, the gear YOU sell is an unspeakably expensive inexplicable conundrum. And the idea that you can sit there and imagine a band or orchestra is there in your room is PURE fantasy. Look over there.. the drummer is not there, the violins are not sitting between your rack and speaker. It's a case of choose your fantasy.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Well that's too ridiculous, 41.

@2ridiculous41

25 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy yes, exactly.

Ha, not many in this industry/hobby are willing to take on this 900 pound gorilla in the room. The ultra high end has always been acknowledged as a realm of the few and now a realm of the few who have no respect for money or the love of recreating live music in the home. They might as well hang their speakers and gear on the wall like a painting or a piece of art. Nice work Mikey!!

The more money you have the more priorities change concerning material things. Value, irrelevant. Sound, sufficient. Looks, 80%. Support the true rich for they will do the most to positively impact this world.

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Or destroy it. Klaus Schwab ? Bill Gates ?

@philipteater3714

25 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy I do not assess them as TRUE. True means abundance in ALL things. A much higher vibration. I do not sense that you YET perceive. But you are on the path

refuse to spend more than $5 million

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

There you go..

Some men love 300 kgs women

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Some men love 300 kgs men

@artyfhartie2269

25 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy With big Boulders?

@ericmc6482

25 күн бұрын

People buy very expensive guitars to just hang in their den.....

If it’s only art, then does it need to function as an audio component? Sell pretty box. It’s not my schtick.

Went to a dealer open day last week and before long everyone was sharing and discussing music e.g. do you know that David Gilmour has a new album coming out in Sept. That's what it's all about. The rest is BS!

Rats....I thought there would be pictures of a $100,000,000 system. ;)

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

There will some day, believe me..

If you are more into the music then the gear you don’t have to have the flash. Seeing the Dixie Dregs tomorrow night YO! Rock on!

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

Have fun !!

Everything is relative Mike. Be honest, if you were a very high net worth individual, and had say $50m in a trust, why wouldn't you buy the best, most cool looking system for your $10m apartment/house? Of course you'd still expect it to sound great, want it to be all class A, use materials with integrity, etc., but would you really care if the monoblocs cost an extra $50k, or the speakers were $200k instead of $100k? Probably not that much, as long as it sounds great and looks cool. There are thousands of billionaires in the world. Think of how many people there are below that level. After the 2008 crash, when ordinary people were losing their homes and banks were getting bailed out, I read an article *then* that said there were 300,000 people in the United States alone with a net worth over $30m. That's just the US market, now add in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Well, there you have it.

@OCDHIFiGuy

24 күн бұрын

That was kind of the point of my video. Don't knock it because ones poor ass doesn't understand it.

@igottheshaft

24 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy I agree, I was just illustrating the actual amount of wealth out there. Those numbers were staggering, and it's probably much higher now all these years later. You should consider doing some no holds barred videos for rich guys who are a part of your tribe. It doesn't have to be your main focus, but why not get some of those dollars for your business? Mikey unleashed. I would watch it out of sheer curiosity.

isn't it a false economy for these manufacturers instead of selling it for 100,000 say they sold it for 10000 they would sell more units. I don't see the logic

@OCDHIFiGuy

26 күн бұрын

It's nearly always preferred to sell less units for more. Then you have time for AutoCross and Scuba Diving. Competitive shooting and Golf. Travel and fine dining... who wants to work all the time selling a ton of units every day..??

@hoobsgroove

25 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy yeah if it's a one-man band but if it's a company you can still do it all that and more not convinced good try tho 😀

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

It's not a try. Not every owner wants to do cheaper high volume. China will always beat you in that game..

It's all about intent . Art is not about $$ . makers of stereo gear that want to sell industrial art or whatever can do just that and sell it for high and low $$.If they want big $$ in selling stereo gear that's cool too just don't be disingenuous .This tmk didn't exist with within the hobby even 20 yrs ago . This get crazy $$ for making and selling stereo art or whatever is a current phenomenon .

@OCDHIFiGuy

10 күн бұрын

It's called intentional price hyperinflating for the purpose of discounting in order to feed control freaks egos, and STILL profit 300% after a 40% discount. Lol.

@5Antvin

9 күн бұрын

@@OCDHIFiGuy hey man got to pay for those Italian suits to wear at the shows!

Then call it High End Artistic audio,, not High End Audio Reproduction, Simple

@OCDHIFiGuy

25 күн бұрын

Sure.. whatever. Then who decides where the line is drawn ?

@raymaksimavicius4902

24 күн бұрын

Not who decides. Its the ears that decide. The truth is in the listening...😊