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

There is unintended value to these "sound demo" videos.  I have been introduced to many new artists and songs via this medium. Examples for me include; Leonard Cohen, Yao Si Ting and Niles Lofgren.  It is always interesting to hear what specific music another audiophile likes, irrespective if I also like it or not.

Mark

I complained about this on Facebook, where these "audiophiles" would record their Pioneer speakers with their cell phones and post it to the world as the greatest sound ever.  I was severely criticized for my comments - even given the old "OK Boomer" line.  I guess people like the sound of compressed cell phone videos over quagly computer speakers.

@millercarbon That was a really nice, graduated ladder of listening growth -- the audiophile's bildungsroman. Another poster here with really great ears also uses YT, but not to evaluate anything in an absolute sense; rather, he does what you describe (I think), namely to "see in" to the system on YT, to grok its personality.

Right. There’s no such thing as evaluating anything in the absolute sense anyway. All we can do is evaluate relative. That’s why its so important to be willing to change things. The biggest waste of time in audio is to drive to a dealer or show or friend or whatever and listen the the system and not change anything. Which is of course what everyone does. What you must do instead is have them change something. Anything. Almost does not matter.
Easiest and maybe best is to bring along one of your interconnects. Ask to compare to one of theirs. Then you hear what was in the system, yours, and theirs. Three comparisons! Or ask about the power cord or IC in the system, what do they have for less or more, and try that. Seriously. Almost does not matter what it is. Point is the minute you hear one thing change like that you immediately get a handle on the whole system.

All you can really hear by the way is the relative difference between the two power cords. There’s no such thing as an "absolute" anything. Its all relative. All the same, its a tremendous advantage to listen and compare. Total game-changer.

That’s the real reason why when I have audiophiles over I like to remove the cable elevators. Or turn active shielding off. Its not to demo the elevators. Its not to test the listeners. Its to give them the chance to hear and learn.

To me its shocking how few people try these things. But then given that is the case, its no surprise the number who never advance past that second intermediate level, can’t find any value in YT videos. These things go hand in hand you know.

Another one, whining and blaming the room and setup for not being able to evaluate what they heard at a show. As if there is some reference room somewhere we all use, and only the show room is different! Stalled out at Level II....

"I guess people like the sound of compressed cell phone videos over quagly computer speakers."

Nothing about youtube, but about the above statement. On two occassions, at Harman store when asking to hear different Revel speakers, the source was.......mp3s from a Samsung phone connected via 3.5mm headphone output.

When a place that has access to some decent products (Mark Levinson, Revel, JBL) demoes them that way, no wonder YouTube videos are sufficient to evaluate the sound of tube amplifiers and what not. For some.

You just make your mind up in advance, frequently heavily influenced by price, and then convince yourself that what you hear via laptop is what you want. Win-win-win. (wallet-ego-seller).

To what others have said... headphones make all the difference for starters, and yes, you can become educated over time listening to various things and learning what music sounds like. (I know that is an odd statement, but true) I am a drummer, I listen and buy cymbals at times, based on YT videos. I’ve heard enough cymbals in my day to know what I am listening for, and what I need from the sound. Snare drums are similar, but are slightly more challenging. I have an “educated” ear in that regard and can discern very well what I prefer and don’t. Stereo gear is not much different. The more you listen to recorded music, become familiar with how it sound as a whole, you can start to pull out the good and bad from various “systems” on video.