Jay's "Ugly Truth" video

Comparing amplifiers as Jay was doing means little , not only because Synergy matter, but because the impressions of an amplifier are not only gathered through many other components synergy it is listening through a Brain/ears room and with a room acoustically controlled for specific ears or not...

Jays never get it really, he treated acoustic as a secondary component; for me it is the primary one...As Jay most reviewers are not acoustician and not informed really about it out of panels sellers publicity...

Putting panels on a wall is not the same as creating an acoustic room to serve a specific audio system for some specific ears and not another... Small room acoustic is not great Hall acoustic by the way ... Two completely different applications of acoustic laws... Size, geometry and topology and acoustic content matter , then a 13 feet room by15 and by 8 foot for ONE listener spot has nothing to do acoustically with a concert Hall for a crowd ...

Gullible people think that amplifier choice or dac choice or even speakers choice matter most than the room installation choices... Then they are ready to put 100000 bucks on an amplifier choice and 200 hundred bucks on few panels and call this acoustic job done.... After that in this same room they compare with the same components another amplifier and decided they can pick for us all the better amplifier for all ears/room and for all other existent pairing components...

They sell amplifiers, knowing it or not , most reviews are selling publicities; i trust only average users reviews and in great numbers not singular one and only for vintage products because they had been tested by many not few reviews for a very long period not a very short period and sometimes vintage are mythical products not new hyped one which will die way before being mythical good one...

And audio wise people look for the best ratio S.Q. / price not for the higher price tag thinking that higher the price better the sound will be...

Jay’s video seems long winded to the point of time committed to the hobby affecting personal relationships. ANYTHING that get between me and my wife should be addressed, it’s a lifelong partnership.

…. you always been able to maintain a healthy balance and avoid being overtaken by obsession..

No, but getting much better. 7-8yrs ago I started from scratch so started deeply researching components and I’m mostly done constructing my analog+digital audio chains. Still keeping track of quality interesting components especially the ones that punch beyond their price points. Also planning out future endgame upgrades. I’m fortunate to have some financial flexibility, keep blowing through my budget.

I’m very interested in sonic bargains, and will pay more if it’s a possible endgame component. For electronics, I started looking at Audio Alchemy, Elac Alchemy, Aesthetix Mimas, Krell K300i, then just throw my budget out the window and picked up a Constellation Inspiration Stereo amp (ignoring the fact that I had to later buy the preamp) based on TAS 50 Greatest Bargains
in High-End Audio I subsequently purchased the matching preamp.

My purchase of the Koetsu Coralstone was unbudgeted. Prior research led me to believe that the Coralstone was the best Koetsu stone cartridge. I already have the musical Koetsu Rosewood Sig Platinum. So when will heard that the Coralstone was to be discontinued, I was afraid I’d never hear it. But a mint Coralstone Diamond came on sale at a very deep discount…..

I also have a new Lyra Etna. Still trying to decide if upgrading to the Lyra Etna Lambda SL.

I have the VDH Grail SB phono preamp because Fremer says the Grail is a sleeper (bargain) and that “current” phono pre are quiet. But I’m curious of trying a “voltage” phono + a quality SUT - another rabbit hole.

I’m in the process of deciding how much to spend on products that increase sonics: audiophile fuses, outlets, audiophile Ethernet switches, Ethernet filters, Ethernet cables, better Power cables. I’ve already decided to purchase Center Stage component footers and a Townsend speaker platform.  This exercise is driving me crazy.

Maybe those in the market for component upgrades are more likely to be obsessive.

The obsession goes on…..

Jay’s video seems long winded to the point of time committed to the hobby affecting personal relationships. 

Yes. Exactly. And if you are seriously in this hobby and not a lonely wolf, you have probably been there, done that. If you have not…. kudos to you, but seriously doubt it.

The key is to address it. Is the hobby worth more to you than family? The answer varies. For me the answer is a sounding NO. So you learn and adjust. Prioritize. Simple. If you don’t, I am very sorry. But you do you.

Serious question for some of the posters in this thread: did you actually watch the video?

Admitting you have a problem is the first step in getting better.