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Podcast #38 – Buying your first (and second) hi-fi system

  • Looking to put together your first (or second) hi-fi system? Before you get to setting a budget and building a shortlist, why not reduce the tyranny of choice and find out what would best serve you by asking yourself these ten questions:

    1. Would you classify your listening space as small, medium or large?

    2. To what degree do you see a hi-fi system as a household appliance?

    3. Are you a loud listener or do you prefer to listen to music at lower volume levels?

    4. Do you like the look of floorstanding loudspeakers or do standmounts have greater visual appeal?

    5. Would your downstairs neighbour object to you running a subwoofer?

    6. Do you know what an open-baffle loudspeaker is (and why you might want one)?

    7. To what degree are you a minimalist?

    8. Do you like to tinker with technology?

    9. Is your couch movable?

    10. Would anyone in your household object to acoustic panels being hung on the walls?

    Srajan Ebaen and I sat down last month, just before Munich High-End, to discuss how one might best approach buying a first (or even second) hi-fi system.

    Listen via SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn or the embedded player below:

    As mentioned in this podcast…

    DALI Spektor 2:
    🛒 (US) https://amzn.to/388qsEW
    🛒 (DE) https://amzn.to/3wj4uam
    🛒 (UK) https://amzn.to/3P9LZ0G

    Rotel A11 Tribute:
    🛒 (US) https://amzn.to/3P8j2BW
    🛒 (DE) https://amzn.to/38dTfrB
    🛒 (UK) https://amzn.to/3P8cfbG

    Topping E30:
    🛒 (US) https://amzn.to/3KVcO5p
    🛒 (DE) https://amzn.to/3FoiMKK
    🛒 (UK) https://amzn.to/37qHTjv

    Mark Levinson No. 5909
    https://darko.audio/2022/01/mark-levinsons-no-5909-is-a-999-bluetooth-headphone/

    Mytek Liberty II
    https://darko.audio/2022/05/reviewed-myteks-liberty-ii-dac-vs-the-original-liberty/
    https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/mytek-liberty-2/

    Lyngdorf TDAI-1120
    https://darko.audio/2021/11/a-short-film-about-the-lyngdorf-tdai-1120/

    NAD M10 V2
    https://darko.audio/2022/04/a-long-film-about-the-nad-m10-v2/

    Dutch & Dutch 8c
    https://darko.audio/2019/05/unfinished-business-with-the-dutch-dutch-8c/

    Grimm LS1
    https://6moons.com/audioreviews/grimm/1.html

    Kii Three
    https://darko.audio/2018/08/a-short-film-about-the-kii-three-loudspeaker-system/

    Vicoustic room makeover
    https://darko.audio/2021/11/vicoustic-room-makeover-installation-day/

    Mola Mola Tambaqui
    https://darko.audio/2020/08/a-short-film-about-the-mola-mola-tambaqui/

    Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links.

    Written by John

    John currently lives in Berlin where he creates videos and podcasts for Darko.Audio. He has previously contributed to 6moons, TONEAudio, AudioStream and Stereophile.

    Darko.Audio is a member of EISA.

    Follow John on YouTube or Instagram

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