beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio
Michael O'Neal and his co-hosts bridge the gap between the clueless big box stores and the snobby stereo shops. Every show is filled with gear reviews, commentary, and interviews aimed to find out what makes a real world difference in your listening experience, how to get the most bang for your buck, and frankly, how to begin experiencing your music in the way it was intended.
Episodes
February 6, 2023 • 42 mins
Our good friend Harris Fogel from http://maceditionradio.com comes by to do a show! Harris has been globetrotting to all of the audio shows, so he gives a quick rundown of what he's seen.
Then we get into the "Chi-Fi" (Equipment made in China) and chat about a few of the choice items.
Fosi Audio TB10D: https://amzn.to/3YnWocL Aiyima T9: https://amzn.to/3x0KDNU Emotiva Airmotiv B1+: https://emotiva.com/products/airmotiv-b1-pa...
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November 30, 2022 • 86 mins
Our good buddy David Solomon from Qobuz (http://qobuz.com) is a MASTER of picking the RIGHT songs to show off his systems. He and I trade in this episode, talk about our favorites, and why we love them.
David's playlist on Qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/9292025
My 10:
*Trouble’s What You’re In (Live from Union Chapel, London - Oct 5 2011) - Fink *The Sweetest Taboo - Sade Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) | Eagles L...
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June 13, 2022 • 36 mins
So great to be back on the mic! On today's solo show I talk about attending the NAMM show, and how the convergence of the Pro audio and HiFi Audio industry is happening. Then I move onto T.H.E. (The Home Entertainment) Show in Long Beach before discussing the brilliant new Tears for Fears Album in Tidal's Dolby ATMOS, and how immersive and mesmerizing it is.
Here are the ceiling speakers I discussed:
Micca M8C. https://amzn.to...
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June 14, 2021 • 67 mins
HEY! We're back! David Solomon of http://qobuz.com and I sit down in the lobby of the Hilton hotel Long Beach, where T.H.E. Show 2021 was taking place. We talked about how Covid affected (and still affects) the industry, as well as the importance of setup vs. gear.
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November 6, 2020 • 51 mins
The return of Patrick Norton, who's moved himself out to St. Louis from Oakland CA, and a review of the GoldenEar Triton 2+ and the JDS Labs Atom AMP and DAC. Book reco: DIY Acoustic Panels: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Acoustic Absorbers and Diffusers
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October 26, 2020 • 40 mins
Dr. Paul Anderson is back in the house, chatting about his most recent iteration of his system, which includes the Dali Oberon 1, a MUCH cheaper DAC than his $7k Aesthetix, and more! We review the Parasound Halo Hint6 and the BAVSound Upgrade for your BMW, Mini, or Supra.
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October 16, 2020 • 34 mins
It's an amazing thing to be able to "re-introduce" our friends to music again. Think about this: In a sea of Spotify, mp3's, and bluetooth, Some people under the age of 35 LITERALLY may have NEVER heard their music the way it was recorded. You have the chance to see their face light up when they feel the energy and passion the artist intended when they recorded it. That's what this episode is about.
I also discuss the Jabra Eli...
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On today's episode I tell a story of how I (almost) got scammed buying a pair of KEF LS50's, used, how I'm setting up a new listening room from scratch, and did a bake-off of the LS50 Passive vs. Wireless.
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On today's ep. I chat about my new Long Beach House, and break down the system. (Check out http://instagram.com/beginneraudiophile for pics) Then I get into why headphones have gotten so important over the last couple of months. Finally, I chat with Eric Johnson, founder of HELM audio, about their new program for first responders.
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April 20, 2020 • 66 mins
LONG overdue, on this ep I bring vintage audio expert Mark Ceresuolo on, and we talk all things vintage audio, from which companies made the great gear, some origin stories, and what to look for in vintage receivers, speakers, and turntables.
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February 13, 2020 • 47 mins
During the course of creating this show, I set a mental "cap" that no piece of equipment would cost more than $3000. With few exceptions, I've stuck to that directive. Today however, we push right up to the edge of that limit with three different units: The $2999 Peachtree Nova 500, the $2499 Vincent Audio 247mkII, and the roughly (It's discontinued now) $2500 Parasound Halo.
Now...the truth is, we'd be happy to have ANY of t...
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February 6, 2020 • 45 mins
On today's solo episode, I talk about CES 2020, the state of audio, and what's up with the show. Then I break down ported vs. non-ported subwoofers. Finally, a review of the Jabra Elite 65T True Wireless earbuds, and the 85H headphones.
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Everyone has a story. Many of us that were kids in the 70's and 80's had that friend or that kid in school that had all the cool stereo gear. Today my pal Brooks Hollan (@life_of_brooksie) and I talk about being a kid in a very influential time for planting musical seeds. We then review the AudioQuest Cobalt...is it the best portable DAC?
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September 30, 2019 • 33 mins
On this show we talk about some new gear from Elac, Pro-Ject, Audioquest, Amazon Music and more!
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September 3, 2019 • 31 mins
On this solo episode, I update you about the SVS install I did in Utah, cover the new Emotiva AVR in the news, and review the Hifiman TWS600. After a listener question involving the Amazon Echo Dot, we go listen to some great tunes!
Check out http://kit.com/solohour for the earbuds, and any other gear I talk about in this episode.
Check out all the gear at http://svsound.com
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July 18, 2019 • 40 mins
Today I share the story of a home theater install I did for my good friend Jase Bennett (@jasebennett) of The Ohana Adventure. They have a youtube channel of over 2.6 MILLION (!) subscribers. Jase and his wife have 6 kids, and he wanted an amazing place for all of them to watch movies. We were really shocked by the result of this install!
have a look at http://beginneraudiophile.com/gear to check out our recommended gear, and s...
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June 18, 2019 • 56 mins
Today Dr. Paul and I talk about a "hypothetical" audio conference, and how we might reinvent it. With the advent of lifestyle systems, powered speakers with great DACs and sonic integration, it's time we re-think how people consume these audio conferences, and how manufacturers approach them.
We'd love your suggestions on how you would like to experience an audio conference. What would you like to see included? How much would ...
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June 5, 2019 • 71 mins
Michael's got a new Mac Pro (from 2009) that he's just upgraded, and tells a story of hefting a giant SVS subwoofer up the steps with no help from Fed Ex. Speaking of, this episode is sponsored by SVS. Check out all of their amazing offerings at http://svsound.com.
Patrick had to move his bookshelf speakers, so they dug into the basics of speaker setup and room treatment. Then we dug into a few of your questions, including addi...
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On today's episode Patrick Norton and Michael O'Neal chat about an innovative way to break in your new speakers, Michael Reviews the Optoma UHL55 4K Portable Projector, and we answer a few of your questions!
This episode is brought to you by SVS Sound. From the Prime Wireless to their legendary subwoofers, SVS has what you need to absolutely transform your listening experience. Try their subwoofer matching tool at http://svsound...
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Airpods? Airpods, really? What do you do when you want great sound in addition to the functionality of True Wireless Earbuds? Today we find out, with this momentus showdown between the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, and the Master & Dynamic MW07. Both priced at $300, do they fit the bill of lifestyle vs. audiophile? We unbox the Cleer NEXT and are very pleasantly surprised. Then we talk about the BlueSound Vault 2i, P...
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