*PLEASE READ CAREFULLY* THIS IS A TEST -- With this video, we are trialling a new way of doing things: the comments section below has been switched ON but will be *moderated by a third party*. The upshot? You get to leave a comment below the video and I don't get tied up by comment moderation to stay focussed on making the next video or podcast as well as keeping the Darko.Audio website and Patreon up to date. That means more content for EVERYONE. Our new third-party moderator is under strict instruction not to approve racist or sexist remarks, URLs, (the seeds of) conspiracy theories or the unsubstantiated ramblings of grumpy geezers.
Exactly! For instance, Steve clearly spends way too much on all of his fancy shirts when clearly my shirts from the local bargain basement store do the job every bit as good.
Every morning I get dressed I wish I could afford as many great shirts as Steve 😀 But yes, John has it spot on here. The worst of the "All you need..." people are those clearly speaking out of envy. Oh, and the worst of the worst are the "Your expensive stuff * can't * sound any better than my cheap gear, you idiot" ones.
Hello, That is pop on John, over the years (75 now) I've had an instances where relatives have visited taken one look at my system and basically called me an idiot, but with a few more expletives thrown in for good measure. They had cars worth, in the region of, £ 20,000 mine was worth about £ 8,000. They had £ 300 systems mine was worth almost the cost of their car. I have also had chats about diminishing returns when I upgraded my cartridge ( same slapped forehead same expletives). It's all about perceived value. These days and with failing hearing I'm just glad I can still hear the bloody thing. Thanks for that I may just show them your post.
A year later and this might be my favorite Darko video, and there are no device reviews or comparisons in it. What we have here is simply the ultimate truth of every person’s circumstances. Brilliant, Sir.
This is one of my favourite ever UA-cam videos. As others have said it speaks to life not just Hi Fi. Its about being content and understanding that chasing does not always bring satisfaction - there's always something better or newer or....
What a morning !. Last week I replaced my old Skoda Octavia with a newer and bigger Superb. I am an idiot. I own three Professional Sony cameras..... my client uses my photos/video on the internet. Way overkill. Thats three more “idiots” to me. To top it all off, I became a Patreon of Darko last night, and the first thing he does is calling me an idiot at 7 o’clock in the morning. Love it. Thanks John. I agree I am an idiot, and a proud one !
Wow! That was spot on! And not just for Audio, all of the different parts of our lives. I feel like you summed up a lot of what people feel and don't know how to say/express it. Great Video!
So true.. there are $15K cars, $50K cars, $150K cars and $1.5 million cars... they all get you from point A to point B. Yet, the experience is different as one goes up the ladder (from utilitarian to exhilarating to.... well, orgasmic) !
Well put. Great way of showing you're not an idiot without saying your not an idiot...Along the way hopefully teaching idiots and non idiots. Maybe I'm an idiot with the double negatives.
Thank you for this interesting video John, congrats! This is also yet another call out for people to take some time to actually enjoy what they do have and not constantly hang on analysing the flaws of their stuff. It is good to know that there are better things to look forward to, but if that thought prevents someone from enjoying the present moment, then it is just toxic and inhibits a sense of happiness. Happy music listening to everyone!
99% of the gear you own, i would never be able to afford but none less I love watching these videos. I don't think id be able to afford that JOHN DARKO coffee mug even..LOL. keep it up Sir! great video
This made me feel better about preferring CDS and Blurays to Spotify and Netflix. Other people's comments about me "wasting money", being "stuck in the past" or them not thinking there is any significant difference in quality were getting to me. You are right, though. They are talking about their circumstances, gear and priorities, not about mine. To me, it is worth collecting CDS and Blurays, for many reasons. I guess I am "stupid" from certain people's perspectives, but equally, they, too, are "stupid" from other perspectives than their own. And it needs to be about what is right for me. Not what is right for somebody else. Thank you. I needed this.
Beautifully put! And I love this solution to community that does not expose you directly to the torrent of internet sludge that would otherwise come your way.
I only recently subscribed to your HiFi channel. And now you spend the first half of the video without even touching "audio". How great is that?! ThX. I'll stay 😎
Well put. Enthusiasts can easily forget what others value. During my 15 year stint of selling hi-fi, I saw a lot of Bose Wave Radios in high end/executive homes and initially couldn't understand why. You have to remind yourself that not everyone is as "into it" as you are.
Spot on, John! Thanks for turning the comments back on. We all like what we like, and that's it! If it makes you happy, and is within your means.....so be it! Even if it's slightly beyond your means.........
Man, I've learned so much from your channel in the short month that I've been watching your videos. It's been exponentially beneficial to my learning experience. I took on a second job so I could afford to upgrade my entry level system because the knowledge You've shared has so intrigued me. I'm using your reviews and suggestions to narrow my options and make a selection for my first real system. Keep brining the vids - live your content!
Thank you for this excellent video. We could all use more of the care and tolerance that you're advocating for here. At the very least, you've given me a good frame for approaching disagreements like these! Love your work, hope to keep watching for a long time.
In all my years one thing I started to learn the older I get is that is better to get an expert, preferably a friend to make the decisions for you so this way you can enjoy the product and the media you play on it without losing focus on what's important, the media itself...You get rid of all distractions and focus better on what you are actually listening.
I enjoy watching youtubers extolling the merits of older gear and why it’s relevant today to still seek out, learn to appreciate properly, and then enjoy, various bits of kit to see if they are decent performers in today’s world and how they compare. So when you hear “‘all you need is”, step back and check out the possessions you already have and try to understand more about them is my tip. Once you have done that maybe upgrade if you can.
Great analysis John. Insightful and intelligent commentary. I was once a wealthier man, so it's a bit easier for me to understand and thus avoid avoid the pitfall of considering someone an "idiot" for their purchase decisions. Good life lesson that many people in general would be well served by learning. Enjoy watching your channel, even though the higher end equipment is not really a viable purchase option for me at my current income level. Perhaps in the future, one can hope!
Great video - agree 100%. One thing that is happening here is self-justification. When we say "You're an idiot" what we are really saying is "I am not an idiot." I made a good decision when I spent X on a whizbang Mk 3. Anybody who does something different to me has to be wrong. So the internet is full of "my car is better than yours", vinyl vs CD vs streaming, XBox vs PS, headphones vs speakers, Sony vs Nikon, Manchester United vs Chelsea. We join clubs and tribes so we can agree with each other that our doohickey is miles better than the other doohickeys. We read or watch reviews of products that we already own because we want to see our decisions being validated. It all comes down to a basic human need to protect ourselves. That includes protecting ourselves from criticism that we made a bad choice. I bet we've always been doing it, since the time when Ug argued with Ogg that a spear was better than a club.
You have just described the whole problem with social media. People become less empathetic when they could hide behind a computer or phone and comment to anyone about anything without actually engaging with or thinking about that other person's circumstances. It's so easy to dismiss and call someone an idiot - insulting commenters too easily dismiss. When we are forced to really engage with someone who we disagree with, I think it makes us more empathetic. I'm surprised you called that Maserati owner an idiot to his face - that comment could have easily started a fist fight and in the US of course, you very well have gotten shot. Great video, excellent examples and should be applied to all YT channels and other social media platforms of all subject matters across the board.
I have been watching your videos for awhile and always enjoy. They are thoughtful, and provide insights for consideration, in addition to objective technology analysis, as well as your enjoyable subjective evaluation. Really quality work sir. Thank you for your efforts.
John, thank you for preparing your detailed message shared in this video. I watched it once, and was left confused. After a second viewing, your message was clear.
Great video. Especially in times when we are thrown measurements by these websites and a lot of people boosting their ego depending on measurements. Every person is different everyone has different priorities. Respect each other choices.
Great analogies John! I feel like this seems to come up more in hifi than it does is so many other hobbies. And you've chosen a really eloquent way to address this ongoing issue in the audio community.
Spot on John and very well illustrated. With hi-if, it all boils down to how good it sounds to the person buying the equipment. I still have my original Pioneer AP710 system from the early 90s and it sounds wonderful to me paired with a CA Azure 851N network streamer to bring it into the modern age. As long as the components are well made and built to last and they sound great to you, that should be all that matters.
Another crucial aspect, aside from finances, is recognizing that everyone is at a different stage in their journey. At the outset of a hobby, splurging hundreds on your first headphone might seem absurd to most people. Yet, once you're captivated, the desire for an amp and a DAC sets in. Gradually delving deeper into the hobby, you transition from a casual participant to an enthusiast, uncovering more avenues for exploration. Your perspective shifts from mere monetary value to viewing the hobby as a means to learn, experience, and evolve.
“One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”. Brilliant and succinct, on par with the coarser “It’s my money, and it’s none of your business what I do with it”.
Love this video, very good perspective and insight on human nature that applies to many aspects of life. How's the saying go, "Those that seek to suppress your dreams are those that have forsaken their own"? Thank you John!
I'm a real estate appraiser. This was the most brilliant context for creating what "Value" vs. "Cost" is. This should be mandatory ntroductory training for all Business Valuers, Equipment valuers and real estate appraisers. I just bought an NAD 33. And I am now so settled about it after listening to your video... Peace of mind is what I got!!! Thanks John
Brilliant! Love that this topic is being discussed more as of recent. The attitude and perception of people you described is what presently does and continues to keep more new people from investing and enjoying this hobby of hifi. Great message.👍
Thank you for the conjecture...am looking forward to those DAC's you'll be reviewing, as it's awesome to learn about the refinements and progressions in Audio. Have working and sounding great components that weren't affordable when they came out and yet years later, now acquired, sound as they did🎶
Love your videos and agree with your views. Buying audio products for me is an experience and as you say it’s you perception on how good they make you feel as you listen to them. Thanks for making such great videos.
What a great piece! In a parallel world, now I've retired I am considering replacing the classical guitar I bought with my first salary years ago. I'm planning to leapfrog past higher quality factory instruments to a commissioned luthier guitar. The difference in cost will be ~3.5k Sterling compared to ~800 to 1k. Anyone who heard me play would know this is completely unjustified, but hey this is my Maserati!
Great!!! I used a similar argument with my graduate economics students some time ago, except the “idiot” part (🤣). You nailed it from the economics point of view perfectly well!
Yes, we all value things differently and need to be tolerant of other peoples decisions. Luckily I realised this in my late teens, but many live their whole lives thinking that ‘it’s my way or the highway’. I work in film & television and appreciate the quality of your films. Keep using proper cameras and pushing for excellence.
wow so interesting so true. So my general problem is I have enough money to buy more expensive gear, but how much more will I enjoy music if I get it? I havent really chosen to listen to music much in a "serious" way for at least 10 years. Then I found this channel and Really like the dragonfly cobalt and ipad solution with roon John proposed - how cool (playing through my biamped Kef Q55 and Arcam AVR 300 to my ears beautifully balanced even if its 15 years old) The trouble is the dragonfly has packed up after a year of overuse, so i bought an allo digione signture and am now using the DAC in the Arcam which sounds great and has the ipad next to it showing whats playing, which sounds great. But then my question is - how much would a chord qutest improve my enjoyment? and is this anything to do with my enjoyment or are they just interesting conversations? its not like buying a car or a TV, its more nuanced than that. And especially now - how do we inform this decision? or when things open up should i support more live music? or? or or? its just interesting harmless interesting fun, and thanks John for find a way to make this interesting and getting me interested in music again, because buying new gear (even a new cable) encourages us to listen again which is fun all over again.
@John Darko you nailed it perfectly with this video utilizing two great stories. I 💯 percent agree, we must never recommend out of our own pockets but understand the perceived value potentially of a product/service for the person that may be interested in it! You rock man, keep up the great work that you and Oluv are doing. You continue to lead the charge for sensible audio education!! Much love ❤️
I love the way you understand and transmit your overlook Of the Hifi world. And give us the chance to dream and chose the best we could affor in ours worlds. Big fan Of your work.
We’re all idiots since life is all about “point of reference”. The law of diminishing returns generally applies to people who have a greater disposable income. If we were to apply Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”, nothing in this materialistic world is something we all really need... since the definition of “need” is at a different level altogether, not directly tied to accumulation or level of wealth. Thanks for the video. I thoroughly enjoyed your discourse. Namaste.
John, Great video!! I want to put a slight twist on the subject, so I'm an Engineer and have a good understanding of the audio technology and am very interested in buying more high Ferrari type audio gear. I would fall completely for the promises of incremental upgrades but at that point I run into a big problem. My value proposition has a stipulation that spending loads of cash for high end audio equipment is fine as long as there are many race tracks to run my Ferrari on, meaning plenty of new and interesting music. I'm 62 and for whatever reason I have a huge problem enjoying much of the new content I run across, maybe I have a narrow band of acceptable types of content. It seems that my musical tastes have ran somewhat flat. I'm curious if other people are seeing this same issue. Back in the day I would go to the record shop to look for new releases and they would be playing tracks from the new arrivals and most visits I would purchase one or more LPs and have a new favorite song that would last for a few weeks. Now I listen to new content several times before I can make an assessment whether I like it or not. Your thoughts? Thanks
I’m 60 and am having a different experience. I’ve just bought a (for me) high end Hi-Fi, and through this channel am discovering a new world of music, specifically electronic. I still love my ‘old’ stuff but also thoroughly enjoy this new category. But not all of it, my taste is the more melodic. Finally I’d also like to say the Hi-Fi is critical to my enjoyment. I love the stereo imaging, sound stage, clarity. I would not get the same enjoyment from a Bluetooth single speaker
Perfect. It's all about romantic longing for something just out of reach, and finally attaining it after struggle. It's what keeps the species alive. and Audio alive too.
Totally agree with your view and speech, John. I tend to approach life that way, I mean, in general terms. Different perspectives provide different views and conclusions of the same thing or idea. And it's easy to asure that different people get different perspective so will get different conclusions. That doesn't mean that everything in life is relative. Absolutely not. But taking aside pure concepts like family love, there're not many things that you can call absolute
Excited to see what streamer DACs you got coming out! Love the big-picture perspective, something so rational yet so under-valued for our current times.
Hi John, I totally agree with you. We can learn from each other in this hobby and make it easier for other “non audiophiles” to see what the fuss is all about
*PLEASE READ CAREFULLY* THIS IS A TEST -- With this video, we are trialling a new way of doing things: the comments section below has been switched ON but will be *moderated by a third party*. The upshot? You get to leave a comment below the video and I don't get tied up by comment moderation to stay focussed on making the next video or podcast as well as keeping the Darko.Audio website and Patreon up to date. That means more content for EVERYONE. Our new third-party moderator is under strict instruction not to approve racist or sexist remarks, URLs, (the seeds of) conspiracy theories or the unsubstantiated ramblings of grumpy geezers.
Love it!!
Exactly! For instance, Steve clearly spends way too much on all of his fancy shirts when clearly my shirts from the local bargain basement store do the job every bit as good.
😁
Every morning I get dressed I wish I could afford as many great shirts as Steve 😀 But yes, John has it spot on here. The worst of the "All you need..." people are those clearly speaking out of envy. Oh, and the worst of the worst are the "Your expensive stuff * can't * sound any better than my cheap gear, you idiot" ones.
What ever you say, just dont bring up the word klipsch ......bagel street..
Steve - stop calling people idiots :)
Very well said! Thank you!
Hello,
That is pop on John, over the years (75 now) I've had an instances where relatives have visited
taken one look at my system and basically called me an idiot, but with a few more expletives thrown
in for good measure. They had cars worth, in the region of, £ 20,000 mine was worth about £ 8,000.
They had £ 300 systems mine was worth almost the cost of their car. I have also had chats about diminishing
returns when I upgraded my cartridge ( same slapped forehead same expletives).
It's all about perceived value. These days and with failing hearing I'm just glad I can still hear the
bloody thing. Thanks for that I may just show them your post.
Funnily, the next video suggested by YT was John Darko's "Don't buy a new car. Buy a dCS Bartok."
Same
Great video John. I am always interested in a discussion of “what is enough?”
A year later and this might be my favorite Darko video, and there are no device reviews or comparisons in it. What we have here is simply the ultimate truth of every person’s circumstances. Brilliant, Sir.
Just buy whatever you want and be happy with it regardless of what others can think...
This is one of my favourite ever UA-cam videos. As others have said it speaks to life not just Hi Fi. Its about being content and understanding that chasing does not always bring satisfaction - there's always something better or newer or....
What a morning !. Last week I replaced my old Skoda Octavia with a newer and bigger Superb. I am an idiot. I own three Professional Sony cameras..... my client uses my photos/video on the internet. Way overkill. Thats three more “idiots” to me. To top it all off, I became a Patreon of Darko last night, and the first thing he does is calling me an idiot at 7 o’clock in the morning. Love it. Thanks John. I agree I am an idiot, and a proud one !
John, this video is absolutely FANTASTIC, and goes way beyond the world of cars, camera's and hi-fi. It's life. Thank you.
Wow! That was spot on! And not just for Audio, all of the different parts of our lives. I feel like you summed up a lot of what people feel and don't know how to say/express it. Great Video!
So true.. there are $15K cars, $50K cars, $150K cars and $1.5 million cars... they all get you from point A to point B. Yet, the experience is different as one goes up the ladder (from utilitarian to exhilarating to.... well, orgasmic) !
Excellent video, thoroughly enjoyed your stories (that may or may not be true!) haha
Well put. Great way of showing you're not an idiot without saying your not an idiot...Along the way hopefully teaching idiots and non idiots. Maybe I'm an idiot with the double negatives.
"We are all idiots"
That's a slogan I can get behind tbh
Love this video, John. I’m definitely an idiot.
Thank you for this interesting video John, congrats!
This is also yet another call out for people to take some time to actually enjoy what they do have and not constantly hang on analysing the flaws of their stuff. It is good to know that there are better things to look forward to, but if that thought prevents someone from enjoying the present moment, then it is just toxic and inhibits a sense of happiness.
Happy music listening to everyone!
All of us are unique! The greatest takeaway from this insightful video. Thanks for creating and sharing 🙏🙏🙏
I love when this "thing" called hobby turns philosophical.
You should try playing a musical instruments, everything turns philosophical pretty easily
99% of the gear you own, i would never be able to afford but none less I love watching these videos. I don't think id be able to afford that JOHN DARKO coffee mug even..LOL. keep it up Sir! great video
Thank you for enabling the comments! Sometimes you receive much more information from other's comments on the topic than the actual video.
Do you think so?
This made me feel better about preferring CDS and Blurays to Spotify and Netflix. Other people's comments about me "wasting money", being "stuck in the past" or them not thinking there is any significant difference in quality were getting to me.
You are right, though. They are talking about their circumstances, gear and priorities, not about mine.
To me, it is worth collecting CDS and Blurays, for many reasons. I guess I am "stupid" from certain people's perspectives, but equally, they, too, are "stupid" from other perspectives than their own.
And it needs to be about what is right for me. Not what is right for somebody else.
Thank you.
I needed this.
imo this is one of the best takes on subjectivity ❤️
Nice to see the comments switched on John 👍
I don't like videos often, but this was incredibly insightful and full of wisdom. Thank you!
Beautifully put! And I love this solution to community that does not expose you directly to the torrent of internet sludge that would otherwise come your way.
I only recently subscribed to your HiFi channel. And now you spend the first half of the video without even touching "audio". How great is that?! ThX. I'll stay 😎
"Don't buy a new car, buy a dCS Bartok!" I listened to you (after a demo of course) and I bought it! Thanks for nudging me to get it. Great video!!!
🤗👏👏👏👍THANKS JOHN…REWATCHING LOVED IT 💚THE FIRST TIME AND EVEN MORE THE SECOND TIME…💚 especially the ending 😁💚💚💚
Well put. Enthusiasts can easily forget what others value. During my 15 year stint of selling hi-fi, I saw a lot of Bose Wave Radios in high end/executive homes and initially couldn't understand why. You have to remind yourself that not everyone is as "into it" as you are.
Spot on, John! Thanks for turning the comments back on. We all like what we like, and that's it! If it makes you happy, and is within your means.....so be it! Even if it's slightly beyond your means.........
This is great. Helpful audiophile advice as well as parables! 🙏
Man, I've learned so much from your channel in the short month that I've been watching your videos. It's been exponentially beneficial to my learning experience. I took on a second job so I could afford to upgrade my entry level system because the knowledge You've shared has so intrigued me. I'm using your reviews and suggestions to narrow my options and make a selection for my first real system. Keep brining the vids - live your content!
I absolutely love how the wall has been painted behind you. Plus your camera seems to have done really good job putting in video :)
Thank you for this excellent video. We could all use more of the care and tolerance that you're advocating for here. At the very least, you've given me a good frame for approaching disagreements like these! Love your work, hope to keep watching for a long time.
All I want to say is you make fantastic videos. Thank you
Thank you so much for doing these videos! Enjoyed this one a lot!!
In all my years one thing I started to learn the older I get is that is better to get an expert, preferably a friend to make the decisions for you so this way you can enjoy the product and the media you play on it without losing focus on what's important, the media itself...You get rid of all distractions and focus better on what you are actually listening.
this topic needed to be discussed , thanks john darko
I enjoy watching youtubers extolling the merits of older gear and why it’s relevant today to still seek out, learn to appreciate properly, and then enjoy, various bits of kit to see if they are decent performers in today’s world and how they compare. So when you hear “‘all you need is”, step back and check out the possessions you already have and try to understand more about them is my tip. Once you have done that maybe upgrade if you can.
Great analysis John. Insightful and intelligent commentary. I was once a wealthier man, so it's a bit easier for me to understand and thus avoid avoid the pitfall of considering someone an "idiot" for their purchase decisions. Good life lesson that many people in general would be well served by learning.
Enjoy watching your channel, even though the higher end equipment is not really a viable purchase option for me at my current income level. Perhaps in the future, one can hope!
Great video - agree 100%.
One thing that is happening here is self-justification. When we say "You're an idiot" what we are really saying is "I am not an idiot." I made a good decision when I spent X on a whizbang Mk 3. Anybody who does something different to me has to be wrong.
So the internet is full of "my car is better than yours", vinyl vs CD vs streaming, XBox vs PS, headphones vs speakers, Sony vs Nikon, Manchester United vs Chelsea. We join clubs and tribes so we can agree with each other that our doohickey is miles better than the other doohickeys. We read or watch reviews of products that we already own because we want to see our decisions being validated.
It all comes down to a basic human need to protect ourselves. That includes protecting ourselves from criticism that we made a bad choice. I bet we've always been doing it, since the time when Ug argued with Ogg that a spear was better than a club.
You have just described the whole problem with social media. People become less empathetic when they could hide behind a computer or phone and comment to anyone about anything without actually engaging with or thinking about that other person's circumstances. It's so easy to dismiss and call someone an idiot - insulting commenters too easily dismiss. When we are forced to really engage with someone who we disagree with, I think it makes us more empathetic. I'm surprised you called that Maserati owner an idiot to his face - that comment could have easily started a fist fight and in the US of course, you very well have gotten shot. Great video, excellent examples and should be applied to all YT channels and other social media platforms of all subject matters across the board.
That's right. Social media kills empathy.
I have been watching your videos for awhile and always enjoy. They are thoughtful, and provide insights for consideration, in addition to objective technology analysis, as well as your enjoyable subjective evaluation. Really quality work sir. Thank you for your efforts.
Thank you for making this video, John. Could not agree more.
John, thank you for preparing your detailed message shared in this video. I watched it once, and was left confused. After a second viewing, your message was clear.
Great video. Especially in times when we are thrown measurements by these websites and a lot of people boosting their ego depending on measurements.
Every person is different everyone has different priorities. Respect each other choices.
Really great video John, made me think!
That's is why my $400 sound system sounds good enough to my ears and to my pocket...
Great analogies John! I feel like this seems to come up more in hifi than it does is so many other hobbies. And you've chosen a really eloquent way to address this ongoing issue in the audio community.
Spot on John and very well illustrated. With hi-if, it all boils down to how good it sounds to the person buying the equipment. I still have my original Pioneer AP710 system from the early 90s and it sounds wonderful to me paired with a CA Azure 851N network streamer to bring it into the modern age. As long as the components are well made and built to last and they sound great to you, that should be all that matters.
Fantastic commentary! Love your videos.
Another crucial aspect, aside from finances, is recognizing that everyone is at a different stage in their journey. At the outset of a hobby, splurging hundreds on your first headphone might seem absurd to most people. Yet, once you're captivated, the desire for an amp and a DAC sets in. Gradually delving deeper into the hobby, you transition from a casual participant to an enthusiast, uncovering more avenues for exploration. Your perspective shifts from mere monetary value to viewing the hobby as a means to learn, experience, and evolve.
“One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”. Brilliant and succinct, on par with the coarser “It’s my money, and it’s none of your business what I do with it”.
Much respect for turning the comments section back on!
John/Olaf,
I absolutely love your options, reviews and insights. Please keep it up.
Thank you very much!
Love this video, very good perspective and insight on human nature that applies to many aspects of life. How's the saying go, "Those that seek to suppress your dreams are those that have forsaken their own"? Thank you John!
I'm a real estate appraiser.
This was the most brilliant context for creating what "Value" vs. "Cost" is.
This should be mandatory ntroductory training for all Business Valuers, Equipment valuers and real estate appraisers.
I just bought an NAD 33. And I am now so settled about it after listening to your video...
Peace of mind is what I got!!!
Thanks John
Brilliant! Love that this topic is being discussed more as of recent. The attitude and perception of people you described is what presently does and continues to keep more new people from investing and enjoying this hobby of hifi. Great message.👍
What a fantastic video to explain one of the current issues in the hifi arena. It's a shame people will still look down on even this great analogy.
Thank you for the conjecture...am looking forward to those DAC's you'll be reviewing, as it's awesome to learn about the refinements and progressions in Audio. Have working and sounding great components that weren't affordable when they came out and yet years later, now acquired, sound as they did🎶
Excellent metaphor and analysis. Thank you!
Thank you for saying what needs to be said.
Love your videos and agree with your views. Buying audio products for me is an experience and as you say it’s you perception on how good they make you feel as you listen to them.
Thanks for making such great videos.
Hi John, great video. Very true. May I ask you what is that super wall painting technique behind you.
What a great piece!
In a parallel world, now I've retired I am considering replacing the classical guitar I bought with my first salary years ago. I'm planning to leapfrog past higher quality factory instruments to a commissioned luthier guitar. The difference in cost will be ~3.5k Sterling compared to ~800 to 1k.
Anyone who heard me play would know this is completely unjustified, but hey this is my Maserati!
Don't normally do this, but great video John. Absolutely nailed it. We all see what we want to..
Great!!! I used a similar argument with my graduate economics students some time ago, except the “idiot” part (🤣). You nailed it from the economics point of view perfectly well!
Yes, we all value things differently and need to be tolerant of other peoples decisions. Luckily I realised this in my late teens, but many live their whole lives thinking that ‘it’s my way or the highway’. I work in film & television and appreciate the quality of your films. Keep using proper cameras and pushing for excellence.
wow so interesting so true. So my general problem is I have enough money to buy more expensive gear, but how much more will I enjoy music if I get it? I havent really chosen to listen to music much in a "serious" way for at least 10 years. Then I found this channel and Really like the dragonfly cobalt and ipad solution with roon John proposed - how cool (playing through my biamped Kef Q55 and Arcam AVR 300 to my ears beautifully balanced even if its 15 years old) The trouble is the dragonfly has packed up after a year of overuse, so i bought an allo digione signture and am now using the DAC in the Arcam which sounds great and has the ipad next to it showing whats playing, which sounds great. But then my question is - how much would a chord qutest improve my enjoyment? and is this anything to do with my enjoyment or are they just interesting conversations? its not like buying a car or a TV, its more nuanced than that. And especially now - how do we inform this decision? or when things open up should i support more live music? or? or or? its just interesting harmless interesting fun, and thanks John for find a way to make this interesting and getting me interested in music again, because buying new gear (even a new cable) encourages us to listen again which is fun all over again.
Well said! Must be content (and enjoy the process of learning and tinkering!)
You covered this topic so very well!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
🤔 VERY TRUE AND WISE WORDS ....THANKS FOR SHARING 😍😍😍
Thank you for mentioning the law of diminishing return.
@John Darko you nailed it perfectly with this video utilizing two great stories. I 💯 percent agree, we must never recommend out of our own pockets but understand the perceived value potentially of a product/service for the person that may be interested in it! You rock man, keep up the great work that you and Oluv are doing. You continue to lead the charge for sensible audio education!! Much love ❤️
Very enlightening discussion, well done and thank you.
Painfully true! Far too much in life is judged by its price.
Great video, John!
I love the way you understand and transmit your overlook Of the Hifi world. And give us the chance to dream and chose the best we could affor in ours worlds. Big fan Of your work.
John, love your video’s... and taste! So I have a strange question, were can I buy the wallpaper thats behind you! I love it!!!!
We’re all idiots since life is all about “point of reference”.
The law of diminishing returns generally applies to people who have a greater disposable income. If we were to apply Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”, nothing in this materialistic world is something we all really need... since the definition of “need” is at a different level altogether, not directly tied to accumulation or level of wealth. Thanks for the video. I thoroughly enjoyed your discourse. Namaste.
Wise. Thanks for those thoughts. From audio to daily living we all need to heed to those words.
John, Great video!! I want to put a slight twist on the subject, so I'm an Engineer and have a good understanding of the audio technology and am very interested in buying more high Ferrari type audio gear. I would fall completely for the promises of incremental upgrades but at that point I run into a big problem. My value proposition has a stipulation that spending loads of cash for high end audio equipment is fine as long as there are many race tracks to run my Ferrari on, meaning plenty of new and interesting music. I'm 62 and for whatever reason I have a huge problem enjoying much of the new content I run across, maybe I have a narrow band of acceptable types of content. It seems that my musical tastes have ran somewhat flat. I'm curious if other people are seeing this same issue. Back in the day I would go to the record shop to look for new releases and they would be playing tracks from the new arrivals and most visits I would purchase one or more LPs and have a new favorite song that would last for a few weeks. Now I listen to new content several times before I can make an assessment whether I like it or not. Your thoughts? Thanks
I’m 60 and am having a different experience. I’ve just bought a (for me) high end Hi-Fi, and through this channel am discovering a new world of music, specifically electronic. I still love my ‘old’ stuff but also thoroughly enjoy this new category. But not all of it, my taste is the more melodic.
Finally I’d also like to say the Hi-Fi is critical to my enjoyment. I love the stereo imaging, sound stage, clarity. I would not get the same enjoyment from a Bluetooth single speaker
Wisdom, not just for gear, but for life. Awesome JD. Thanks
Thanks Dr. Phil Darko. Clear and truly spoken.
Very well said!! Thank you!
Perfect. It's all about romantic longing for something just out of reach, and finally attaining it after struggle. It's what keeps the species alive. and Audio alive too.
Through my eyes and ears I experience the greatest digital sound stage ever,AUM!
Too good. Loved it absolutely 👍🏻
Totally agree with your view and speech, John. I tend to approach life that way, I mean, in general terms. Different perspectives provide different views and conclusions of the same thing or idea. And it's easy to asure that different people get different perspective so will get different conclusions.
That doesn't mean that everything in life is relative. Absolutely not. But taking aside pure concepts like family love, there're not many things that you can call absolute
Wise words indeed, thank you for a new perspective 😀
Excited to see what streamer DACs you got coming out! Love the big-picture perspective, something so rational yet so under-valued for our current times.
Hi John, I totally agree with you. We can learn from each other in this hobby and make it easier for other “non audiophiles” to see what the fuss is all about
Expensive Car, DAC and camera= rare triple idiot...
Getting more keen on DIY projects while aging only few can replicate.
Great vid keep em coming!
Totally agree, excellent video John. Grazie.
Love. The answer is love.
(Also, I like the work you do)
Love your videos!!
As Crosby, Stills, and Nash once sang, "Love the one you're with".
Actually, that song came out on a Stephen Stills solo album. Good point, though, and one with which I thoroughly agree!
If I loved the one I'm with from the get go, I'd still have my cheap Mitsubishi music centre.
@@mrpositronia And I still have my 50 year old Pioneer SX727. And still HAPPY
The Beatles stated: All You Need Is Love :)
Not sure my wife would agree......
EXCELENTE TRABAJO !!!
MUCHAS GRACIAS
WHO KNOWS THE SPECIFICS OF ALL YOU NEED IS YOU !!!
HONESTLY !!!
Both me and my wife loved this video. We hear you!