Any Advice for those Listening to Youtube Reviewers?

if i could had listen before buying i would have done it...

I dont propose statistical analysis of users are the only and main tool to choose component...

Seeing them and listening them in some context is important...

For example my last purchase upgrade cost me 250 bucks in return fees, if i could have listen to it BEFORE buying i would have not purchase it and spare my money... Happily there was a good retrurn policy...

I had no other choices...

And i never proposed others people to restrict their choices...

I just explained how to do if you dont have the possibility to compare gear and listening to it...

 Vintage components and users analysis not reviewers was very good for me...

But it is not possible for all components and in all cases...

@mahgister

Not all people are able to listen to gear BEFORE buying...

Well, OK -- Not all people are willing to restrict their choices to what’s available from online sellers that offer return policies.

There are good reasons for this -- in the case of floorstanding speakers that are very expensive to ship back, for example. And, of course, these sellers typically only offer certain brands up to a certain price point. Those who prefer other brands and/or higher priced gear will naturally look elsewhere. This is all very sensible.

Having said that, there is still a lot (!) of gear available from such sellers!

If others are able to make buying choices that yield long-term satisfaction based upon dealer showroom demos or trade shows, I salute them.

For those who opt to make component and stand-mount speaker buying decisions based upon how a piece sounds to their ears, as part of their system, in their room, and whose budgets are a good fit, choosing from what is offered by TMR, Music Direct, Audio Advisor, Upscale Audio, etc. can be a very sensible approach.

 

@mahgister 

I just explained how to do if you dont have the possibility to compare gear and listening to it...

Perhaps I didn't read your post thoroughly. Sorry if I mischaracterized your message. 

No harm because we discuss... It is a pleasure...

My best to you...

😊

@mahgister 

I just explained how to do if you dont have the possibility to compare gear and listening to it...

Perhaps I didn't read your post thoroughly. Sorry if I mischaracterized your message. 

I listen to videos on YT mainly to entertain myself and keep myself informed. Of course, we can’t take these guys’ recommendations literally because they necessarily benefit from making these videos, otherwise why would they make them?

I love Steve Guttenberg’s musical choices and colorful shirts but he obviously is just a very sophisticated saleman. I love Steve Huff’s sound room where you see the nature outside, but he changes his reference equipment so often and uses so many superlatives that he discredits himself. I like A British Audiophile for his professionalism and because he’s down to earth, but his reference equipement is limited. I also like the young Jay’s iyagi because his enthusiasm reminds me of the wonder I had when I first became interested in audio, 40 years ago... I rarely listen to the others for different reasons. Some don’t have the required experience, others have questionable credentials, and some are just buffoons.

When I’m interested in audio equipment, I first read online magasines like The Absolute Sound, 6 Moons (and a few others)... then I read ALL the threads on Audiogon... some of our members have knowledge which far exceeds what can be found on YT and the specialized press. Before purchasing my DAC and my integrated amp, I spent hundreds of hours reading on this forum and, in both cases, I wasn’t disappointed with my purchases.