@Crank, You missed BUDs! "Big Ugly Dishes", lol, which had unwatchable images for hockey, football, etc., games up until HD appeared on the scene, around the turn of the century. I still remember watching my first hockey game in HD, on a Samsung 46" at home, and I was impressed! I'm now looking at 4K as I type this, and still very happy with the picture on my SONY XBR65X900F. It's not OLED but I am happy with the picture on it for just over $1,000.00 CDN.
The answer was so relevant in today's world, I almost forgot it was about high end audio. Probably the finest words Paul has ever spoken on this channel. ❤
He is very kind. Don't know what he's like to work for though.🤣 If I picture myself on the peon side of his office desk I can imagine he could rip you pretty good.
I've found that when it comes to listening to other people's systems, it helps to have them talk about their system itself: what component highlights they have, what kind of sound they were hoping to achieve, the background of how they put everything together, etc. The more info you know from the owner's perspective, you will be able to understand better why things are the way they are...budget constraints, availability, spouse acceptance factor, not enough room...all these things and more are issues we've all had to consider/overcome. When one understands this, then you can fairly say, "Yes, considering all you had to deal with, your system is pretty good! Here's where it can sound better..."
Paul, I am an audiophile who is also in medical school. I agree with your viewpoint. Dignity is a skill that we have to develop as we want to preserve relationships, and provide leadership in our fields. I appreciate the guidance. Thank you.
I was recording a client a few weeks back, and he said that our ears, the physical make up of them, are unique to everybody. It made me think how we all don't hear the same. I deal with this when mixing music in the studio. People just hear differently, and their expectations often colour their listening experience. Like food, context is everything.This is a very good topic for both music makers and audiophiles. Another great answer from Paul.
Your friends will appreciate you much more for your honest opinion than giving them empty platitudes. Especially when you learn how to do it with tact. Being "blunt" is the cold hard truth and it's usually not well received.
I love your insight on this Paul. Self control is such an important value in our interpersonal relationships, and our relationships with others really should be the most important thing in our lives. 👍 Kindness and love cost us nothing but mean everything to those who receive them.
I'm glad an audiophile friend was honest to me about my "crappy" system. He said: "Yeah, it's better than most people have but it can be so much better, did you ever tried other speaker cables? No? You can build them yourself like so and so..." So I did. And I heard the difference. He said: "Cool! Let's swap the polarity of the power cable to your amplifier". I was staring at him if he was crazy, but I did. And after a couple of minutes, I started noticing the difference. A couple of months later he borrowed me a Cambridge DacMagic. He said: "Try it instead of the analog outputs from your CD player and PC audio card". WOW! Every improvement made me more en more enthusiastic! He helped me with everything, borrowing me amps, loudspeakers, cables. He really openend my eyes (or better my ears). I'm still thankful he did!
Hi Paul. This was by far the best lesson to learn from you! Don't shout out loud the first impression of something at somebody, taking away his proud and dignity within a second. I am an engineer, too. And, if somebody asked me today what my biggest carreer mistake was - shouting things out loud, regardless how right I was (and I was right so often).
Asking someone "how does this sound" is unfair. It's a loaded question with no right answer. I never ask it because I didn't build my system for others, I built it for myself. It sounds the way I like it to sound. I really could care less how it sounds to someone else.
This world need more people like you, Mr. Paul. The world would be different if we could follow this adviced daily in many other different circunstances. Thank you.
when it comes to hifi, it's always good to remember to discuss it in terms of different preferences...and talk about strengths that are obvious. As someone who thinks of himself as kind, thoughtful and smart, i have been guilty of speaking too bluntly, too quickly and hurt the feelings of some people I care about while spewing an opinion...not particularly about HiFi, but nonetheless. As I've gotten older (more mature is debatable, lol) I've gotten a lot better at saying..."it's just not my cup of tea." It helps when you're discussing their musical taste as well as their stereo.
One "life rule" that i have taked to my heart. Is this... "Everyone Is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Allways... " / Robin Williams So by that said. Be honest but be kind. Be glad for your friend if he or she is happy with their hifi rigg. Just choose youre honest words in a kind and humble way when you say what you think.
Totally agree, everyone's experience is different, but we need to highlight the good stuff, and be constructive with any criticism. Good approach for any endeavor.
I won't name any names, but an audio salesman decided he could go and build 'his own speakers as well'. He took some cheap drivers, simple bass reflex cabinets and created... a box. A 3-way box with a dome tweeter, dome midrange and 12" woofer. i saw those cabinets and noticed two things. First of all, way too big a woofer way too up high for the size of the cabinet. and in attempt to get the tweeter at ear height and the speakers to be 'wife acceptance factor'-ready (if you say that you are not my friend anyway), he put the tweeter right at the edge. I looked at them and could already tell that the woofer just wouldn't perform in that cabinet, and the tweeter's diffraction issues would be HUGE. And they were. Combined with some horrible filtering, there were huge gaps in the frequency range (even though he swore they measured fine). And he meant to ask 20.000 euros for a pair. I tried to explain to him the issues (he was there for feedback, I should add) with the diffraction, the ill-fitting woofer, the audible gaps and the general cheapness of the sound (I used kinder words). He kept saying that it was the space (which we had used many times before) and that I would have to listen at his place for a good impression. The guy absolutely refused to listen. So I ended it with "I don't see this design sounding great anytime soon". Which was about as dignified as I could be, because this man was just putting himself above everything and everyone. Anyway, I heard the 'finished' design at an audioshow recently (ua-cam.com/video/N5o9Shue9vk/v-deo.html they are not in the video) and well... A pair of simple rack system bookshelfs does a better job. It's painful.
Good comments in the video. However one thing not mentioned and very important to note is that many people, including many audiophiles, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Years in the hearing aid field and being a sound system operator has taught me this. Interestingly, I discovered at a church I was attending years ago there was an elderly gentleman who was in charge of running the sound board. Many attendees including the pastor noted that the church's sound was particularly loud and sharp (painful for some of the audience). Eventually we discovered he had a severe hearing loss, was in denial about needing a hearing aid, and was basically using the system to correct his own hearing problem. They eventually asked me to step in and see if I could make it better. It was rather difficult at first because this person had invested a sizable amount of his own money into the church's sound equipment. So there were feelings of ownership, obligation, etc. Eventually, they came to an agreement and I was able to bring the church's audio to a more listenable experience for the average person. But that idea also carries over into many people's personal lives. Folks tend to tailor their personal audio system according to what sounds good to THEIR ears, not someone else's. And practically speaking, that's the way it should be. But don't expect someone with different hearing (better or worse) to think it sounds just as good - especially when the purpose of the system is to serve a lager audience. In that case, you really need to 'shoot down the middle'.
I’ve been struggling on what to do for my desktop/office 2.1 and headphone arrangement. A mini-EQ and optical out of two software selectable sources ended up solving a lot of problems. I still feel like an idiot for spending money and trying radically different swings. Your advice for kindness and honesty is top notch, not just in audiofileahilicalism, but also words to live by, my dude. There, ya dun bring out the hippy in an old veteran. Hit the deck and give me fifty! Here’s yer upthumb…
I have that blunt personality as well (got it from my Dad, a flight instructor). Now at 60 I've learned to temper it somewhat. When I was in the music business full time I was treated bluntly, mainly because getting it right was important and there were plenty of pickers who could get it right if I wasn't up to the task. Now I am in the aviation business and getting it right is a matter of life and death. We are blunt with each other as a rule. My main technique these days is the "bad news sandwich" concept. Start with something positive, insert the critical points and end on a positive. People seem to be receptive to that.
Hi Paul, this expression comes to mind after watching/listening to you. "Mean what you say, but don't be mean when you say it." I'm also 'up there' in age and have insulted many peeps over the years by being too 'blunt'. * I don't like to use the word 'audiophile' bc it could sound pretentious, but I have 50ish years experience with audio equipment, and I am actually partially deaf now from an excellent, but powerful Zapco system in my delivery truck during the 70s. Of course, having aged, and being sober a LONG time, I listen to my music at a much lower volume now, and I now prefer QUALITY over quantity. I enjoy your YT blogs and I can always make time to learn more about hi-fi systems. Keep up the good work! (=
Always look forward to what Paul has to say whether I like it or not. If someone shoots from the hip and it’s not hateful, or factually flawed, then confrontation should be considered a topic for constructive discussion ran than a petty refutation of someone’s beliefs real or imagined. Not everyone can deal with constructive criticism without feeling slighted unfortunately.
Right on Paul! An environment of “checked” ego, balanced feedback and constructive feedback makes us all better and stronger. We are far away from this in our current world. My inner circle of audio pals are very open minded……and we all have opinion.
I fully agree with what Paul said. The first thing one needs to do to "let people down gently" is to NOT have that goal in mind in the first place. The second thing one must do is get out of one's own head. Third, one needs to consider or put one's self in the shoes of the inquirer. Audiophiles are incapable of doing these things. Audiophiles live by a code which says, criticize everything whether or not you know anything about it. Put down anyone not able to run to your level and who has different tastes. Tell everyone they are wrong for their experiences and beliefs if they do not match yours. If someone is excited about their system and wants to show you inquiring about your opinion, the proper thing to do is be open, honest and helpful. For example: First of all, don't lie. Step one, put yourself in their shoes, observe their excitement etc. Consider that the system they now have may have taken an enormous amount of work, saving, sacrifice or what have you. Step two, let them show you without criticism (keep your bias in check and notes to yourself if you have any that are helpful, take the time to truly listen). When the person then asks you what you think be mindful of their work and if you notice anything off that is not hard to fix or improve, preface with positive and suggest such things asking them if they would like to know how to improve what they have, NOT replace! (Bare in mind, if something was clearly not working the person would not be showing you their system and asking for opinion). Also bare in mind that they are asking for exactly that, "opinion" so couch it as such clearly, don't try to turn your opinion into fact. Bottom line, be helpful rather than a strict critic.
This also applies to my teenage self walking into a stereo shop and asking what I could get with $300. The shop owner felt bad I'm sure, but he was really nice about it and could tell I had the desire and passion, just not the money!
I LOVE that Paul and I are so far apart politically, but that he speaks to me like a loving and educated Father. I can't help but listen, even when he's talking about something that I totally disagree with. Well done, Paul. Well done.
Well said Paul. The reality is that everyone has different tastes and experiences. With the different experiences there are different standards so maybe instead of being too blunt maybe you could ask the person if they tried different speaker positions and if they are willing to experiment, etc. to see if afterward they think there's any improvement. If they think it is improved then maybe they would be open to other suggestions that would be inexpensive so to speak, to their billfold and your relationship.
Great topic. I mostly adjust; If one loves a BigMac and thinks its fantastic tasting food, I'll perhaps state that I dislike the cheese. But if someone is enjoying the BigMac, yet is tasting the onions and burger, appreciating the concept, but is talking about the promise of a better burger or a really nice meal, then there is a starting point to discover together. In every such a discussion I have learned that there are more ways to look and figure out the right questions, before looking jumping to premature conclusions.
While I am little more than a shut in now, in the past I too have been called upon to listen to a host of systems over the years. When I hear a system that is truly horrific I quickly assess what I would do to address it's short comings if it were my system. Often it's just reduce the volume for a moment and gently address the detail and sound field, any room distortions or source quality issues. If they have heard my systems over the years then they will understand that all systems are a work in progress. I begin with complimenting what is good about the system, and then gently making a suggestion that might easily show a pleasing audio improvement right then. If I do this right then they will often come to me for suggestions later on and we can build an audio camaraderie that can last for years. Yes this might turn out to be far more complicated and often does. Another trick is to shift the focus from yourself and point them towards the great minds in audio, like Paul , who give sound advice and are easily accessible. Then you might get a call some night after they make some room treatment or speaker placement/ seating change based on what they saw and applied to their system. It might be something like "You've got to hear this! Come over now". And with a smile in your heart you listen again and the journey continues in a shared positive experience. True concern and patience can yield wonderful results. Thanks Paul.
Great video Paul. Dignity is so important. And the challenge to get the best sound of whatever setup we have can be just as exciting as we applying our skills with our peers systems to help get the best performance out of their setups regardless of what they may have or not have...we're audiophiles so if it's a $100,000 setup or a $1,000 setup...there's always a sweet spot that we must find to give value to our own skills but also to help others enjoy their music as well...but I do draw the line when it comes to speaker bars 😣
@ Lee, What is a 'speaker bar'? I think you mean 'sound bar'? I have no interest in them either, bc I'd rather set up a usable 5.1 system first. I have been MUCHLY disappointed over the years with my 'high-end' HT systems mainly bc there has been VERY little quality source material out there. Having said that, the DD/Atmos material has improved in recent years!
@@mr.blackhawk142 Yes sorry...I definitely meant speaker bar. You can't do much to improve audio if you're locked in with a small bar of speakers that you can't physically adjust apart from built in software features that mess with the sound artificially. Bars have their benefits like in small spaces like your local pub lol "but" you can also build a nice spacial apartment surround sound system using separates which blows away any reviews of people trying to sell you on a Soundbar 😉
Spot-on! I'm suddenly reminded of a cartoon by the late Charles Rodrigues in an issue of Stereo Review, with one guy demoing his system to another where his speakers are sitting inside barrels, whiskey barrels or the like (and I'm sure WHY???!!! is the question we've probably all asked ourselves at one time or another on hearing a friend's system), and the other guy just says something like, hey, if you like the sound of your speakers in barrels, then why not! And yeah so sue me, I LOVED Stereo Review in the 1980's and each day when one arrived in the mailbox the first thing I looked for was those cartoons by Rodrigues, those cartoons were like Christmas come early! :) EDIT: I've more than once brought a person to tears on putting a set of headphones on their heads and playing something on vinyl with my latest setup, whatever that setup is, and I'm suddenly wondering if in each case those really were tears of joy, or maybe something else entirely.... :D :D :D :D :D
Gentle honesty is the best approach. BTW, I'm still scratching my head over what your engineers are going to do with so many channels of spring reverb. And, wondering how those units can sound good without all the mechanical isolation classic spring reverbs used to have (AKG BX-10, BX-20).
Well done. I learned to pack any uncomfortable (Bad) message as a sandwich. First the positive message, then the negativ part, after that a positive one.
The other way of looking at this is through the word "tact". But indeed fully agree the way to do it is "on the hand these are the positives", "on the other hand these are the negatives" and "overall I think this...".
I always liked for me to have a prof Audiophile comes by for a listening, and tell him to be honest about what he is hearing. And then i will ask him to maybe suggest some ways to refine what i already have. Speaker position, cables and polarity, and so forth. I know for a fact that i have a good system, but i tend to be doubtfull? So for me to have someone comes along, fiddling with my gear, should be more than welcome ✌️♥️🇩🇰
I have harman/kardon and I know most people will say it is cheap and old and whatever consumer standard stuff but tbh I dont care because it is mine and I like it because of my reasons and if I would not have my harman/kardon I would have nothing. So for me it is great and you should not care what other people do or why they doing it, what they listen to etc. There will always be something better and bigger BUT I would never exchange my harman for the PS Audio (not being bad or unfair, it sure is a good thing, just not down my alley). BUT I have to say I love the PS Audio FR30 (?) speakers, those look great, but I have my Klipsch for my reasons (money, space) and they are okay. I have my small system, I try to make another vintage 80ies one, I dont care about if people like it, I just do it because it is my hobby or my interest now to collect harman/kardon as a company. #harmaneverything
Being an auto tech, dispite all the offers to friends and family to inspect a vehicle BEFORE purchase, they only bring it after purchasing for inspection and want me to tell them my honest personal and professional thoughts. It's the color of baby poop = "What a unique color" Shaking like a paint mixer from a misfire? = "it's got the heart of a warrior!"
Thanks Paul, back in 1990 I built my first speaker with focal drivers, I invited some hifi geeks over and got a bad review But learned some much about parts and crossover design. On the plus side they loved what I did with cabinet design , rounded 1/2 corners, very thick hdmfd with tar sandwich of 1/4 soft wood in a trapezoid box with epoxy glue. Those focal are hard to tame back in the day. Also how a better amp would help. Old Adcom stuff , moved to tube pre amp and sumo class A amps with some mods 🙂😵💫
That said, I never heard anything Focal that wasn't painfully harsh. So if that was the bad review; Fair :D. I have yet to hear their headphones though, quite curiousa bout those.
@@rollingtroll I heard a pair rather briefly. I don't remember which ones but I remember them costing upwards of about 4k. Firstly super comfortable. Then the sound came. They were really extremely pleasant to the ears but I heard nothing I would call lifelike. Super sweet, almost, no, absolutely gooey highs but the most surprising bass I've ever heard from headphones.
Thank you! I have a friend that doesn't have any hifi background, and he got his first "stereo" that wasn't a all in one unit with speakers that come with it as a set, and I wondering how to tell him "it sounds less like crap than the last thang he had, but still sucks compared to anything I'd consider HiFi much less audiophile grade" I guess I'll just point out the bass that rolls off every beat, and the muddy sounding mids and highs, especially when there is a lot of different tones playing at once.
One thing you have to remember is people often buy their Hifi to suit the way they want it sound to the type of music they mainly play which is not necessary best actual quality and also if they have spent a fortune they expect it to by the best even though somebody know it sounds terrible just keep smiling and nodding your head
Wonderfull sublect. . I must say while I present my new construction persons hesitate to show any impression People else openly refuse to sit in centre at all (!) , change thema or cover the sounds with talking about other things .Or explain that what they hear it is exceptional success of shape of my not treated room - easy :). Because it took me many years of learning and hard days of wood job, such neutrality after the show is like slap in face. Looks like they enjoy only music which obviously not always is their favourite Sometime when I directly ask, they try rise any possible doubt , ex that speaker box seems to them visually not rectangular or sound of my stereo speakers could be not identical That is why in opposite case I avoid such desinterest for their porchased gear in set by them locations and always say something positive or indicate what exacltly in my opinion seems doubtfull in sound and what could they do. Never smile at any their inventions even if they look strange . Once after a months from meeting I've heard " when I am back to my home I feel sick of comparison". But at time no any word about sound. May be they do not feel confident to express anything? I learned to be proof to lack of opinions about my system
Nice approach for life in general, it is always better to walk the line and be dignified and classy, and yet honest. The question is funny to me as it seemingly comes from a place of insecurity. Seeking advice on tweaking and improving one's system from someone more knowledgeable is a sign of maturity, but most don't do that, they want a quick "wow that sounds great!" stamp of approval from a "guru". Seeking the affirmation of a "guru" to feel better about one's system is a little silly, because in the end the only thing that matters is if one likes the sound of their system. What one person likes as it is "accurate" to them may sound lifeless and "flat" to me, for example. We all like different things, and we all have different budgets too. For example, some obsess over esoteric tube amps with single digit wattage output. That is great for them, but I simply don't get it. I like the sound of my system for the random collection of good but not super high end (my amp is a Yamaha A-S1200, the DAC a Topping D90 model for example) components it is comprised of. I know it could sound incrementally better, but funds are limited as there are competing interests for them. Not going to drop esoteric audiophile stereo stuff cash on audio when I have multiple motorcycles (both dirt and street) to buy, ride and maintain. A pretty nice audio system and TV in the basement, and cool bikes in the garage then. I can't complain as my priorities have all been balanced against each other vs. the assets available to realize them. That said, there would be a Luxman L590AX integrated amp in my rack if the good ship "FU Money" ever comes in ;)
So Paul is letting people down gently kind of like this: Paul that's a really nice hand-built spring reverb you have there, I bet that cost you a fortune. I see it's using a tube rectifier, I'll bet it sounds unique. I think the last time I actually heard a spring reverb used on anything was Phill Collins's song In the Air Tonight way back in 1981. Spring reverbs are rather unique sounding how do you think you will be able to use it to get that "natural, you are in the room sound" that you are looking to attain with Octave Records recordings?
A long time ago, I had no trouble telling a snobbish hi fi store that their equipment sounded flat and boring, and they had no trouble telling me that I had a tin ear, lol.
Too many times that this has happened to me it has been to listen to a Klipsch system. I personally loath their speakers but I go and listen to the system generally being driven by a low end receiver. I would then invite them to hear my JM Labs/Sunfire system (sorry a home theater setup) and I would tell them to bring their favorite music. The reaction would be jaw dropping and I would never have to comment on their systems.
Wow.... Well done ! The world sure can use more dignified people like you. The severe polarization we are currently experiencing in the USA is just not good for the country, and frankly, not good for the world either.. What happens in the US matters to the rest of the world.
The polarization comes from the top 1% in society. It is to their advantage that Americans are divided so that their focus is on each other and missing the fact that they are enjoying the major tax cuts etc. One had to be blind not to see the sham being played out. As for audiophiles, I don't really know anyone else who is into it so I have no worries about trashing someone else's system or they mine.
I got in trouble when a woman asked me what I thought of her speakers (Polk I think they were) that cost $5000. I thought they looked cheaply made with a plastic bottom. I said to Her "I think you could have done better for that money". Hey I paid $2000 for my Acoustats and they are about the best sounding speakers I've heard.
After Axpona what I am trying to work on is accepting that others just listen for different things. I have what I feel are well honed understandings and expectations that I have found others to hold differently. As mentioned in the letter, the Klipsch kind of thing. Like you I lean Maggies. A friend with his original JBL L88's. He pulled his old system (Pioneer SX 9??) out because of me. Asked what I thought. I told him to just buy a pair of LRS. But he wants to come over to hear my 1.7i. Working on that. But he does have major room issues. Maybe a better box would be better for him? Knowing he won't get that sound field of the Maggies I hold so dear. So I am trying to accept "better" even if it might not be in the specific direction I prefer. Other question. If you are moving Octave to straight digital and not transcoding thru analog for mix, when with the analog reverbs get used?
From the other side: My system is what it is, and it provides what I need. Nothing but my own inclinations will make me change it. Whether anyone else likes it or not doesn't concern me.
Thank you so much for this video. Funny thing is when I finally assembled my rig I had to admit to myself it was not what I expected. Still haven’t got over this after almost a decade. So this not too little Bluetooth speaker from respected Dane company came of help and does until now.
My experience with this is always the same - if someone is already oblivious to a serious flaw with their system or setup, they'll still be oblivious to it after you try to explain it to them, especially anyone who thinks of themselves as an audiophile. In fact, most will even double down and try to argue back that you are wrong. There's virtually no way to get through to most people anyway, unless they are truly open to your point of view or ask for your opinion in the first place.
I'm just starting out in the hifi world there is a ton to learn it's hard to get In to it like on forums on the net and ask questions or what not with out feeling like I'm in the wrong league by the occasional snootyness person. I'm just trying to learn how to identify what what I'm hearing and the jargon that relates to it. Baby steps.
_How to let people down gently_ When giving out the price of your products, reveal one digit at a time, and wait as they go through that whole stages-process of denial...grief...acceptance; and then put down the next digit. Rinse and repeat. That'll do the trick. 👍
What you are describing is what we used to call.."constructive criticism"..which is short supply these days..especially on social media.
This needs to be played on every Jumbotron, tv broadcast, radio station, HAM transmission and podcast.
@Crank, You missed BUDs! "Big Ugly Dishes", lol, which had unwatchable images for hockey, football, etc., games up until HD appeared on the scene, around the turn of the century. I still remember watching my first hockey game in HD, on a Samsung 46" at home, and I was impressed! I'm now looking at 4K as I type this, and still very happy with the picture on my SONY XBR65X900F. It's not OLED but I am happy with the picture on it for just over $1,000.00 CDN.
Dignity is key to unity. Unity is key to happiness. Great video Paul
The answer was so relevant in today's world, I almost forgot it was about high end audio. Probably the finest words Paul has ever spoken on this channel. ❤
In today's world people may have opinions that cost lives. Not so much the case in audio :D.
Paul is a classy guy.
He is very kind. Don't know what he's like to work for though.🤣
If I picture myself on the peon side of his office desk I can imagine he could rip you pretty good.
I agree. This pertains to so many other situations......not just the audio world
Very humble answer and something you rarely hear today from people so Thank you for bringing that back to light 👍
I've found that when it comes to listening to other people's systems, it helps to have them talk about their system itself: what component highlights they have, what kind of sound they were hoping to achieve, the background of how they put everything together, etc. The more info you know from the owner's perspective, you will be able to understand better why things are the way they are...budget constraints, availability, spouse acceptance factor, not enough room...all these things and more are issues we've all had to consider/overcome. When one understands this, then you can fairly say, "Yes, considering all you had to deal with, your system is pretty good! Here's where it can sound better..."
I check out if i can play my música on it. Vynil or digital.
"Here's where it can sound better... CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM!" 🤣🤣🤣
Your advice does not only work well with audio - it does for literally everything in life!
best answer here
he said in previous video. Speaker = subjective
Paul, I am an audiophile who is also in medical school. I agree with your viewpoint. Dignity is a skill that we have to develop as we want to preserve relationships, and provide leadership in our fields. I appreciate the guidance. Thank you.
Dignity, kindness, generosity. 3 words that should be a part of every conversation. Thank you!
What a kind and thoughtful answer. Feels so out of place here on UA-cam.
I was recording a client a few weeks back, and he said that our ears, the physical make up of them, are unique to everybody. It made me think how we all don't hear the same. I deal with this when mixing music in the studio. People just hear differently, and their expectations often colour their listening experience. Like food, context is everything.This is a very good topic for both music makers and audiophiles. Another great answer from Paul.
Your friends will appreciate you much more for your honest opinion than giving them empty platitudes. Especially when you learn how to do it with tact. Being "blunt" is the cold hard truth and it's usually not well received.
I love your insight on this Paul. Self control is such an important value in our interpersonal relationships, and our relationships with others really should be the most important thing in our lives. 👍 Kindness and love cost us nothing but mean everything to those who receive them.
I'm glad an audiophile friend was honest to me about my "crappy" system. He said: "Yeah, it's better than most people have but it can be so much better, did you ever tried other speaker cables? No? You can build them yourself like so and so..." So I did. And I heard the difference. He said: "Cool! Let's swap the polarity of the power cable to your amplifier". I was staring at him if he was crazy, but I did. And after a couple of minutes, I started noticing the difference. A couple of months later he borrowed me a Cambridge DacMagic. He said: "Try it instead of the analog outputs from your CD player and PC audio card". WOW! Every improvement made me more en more enthusiastic! He helped me with everything, borrowing me amps, loudspeakers, cables. He really openend my eyes (or better my ears). I'm still thankful he did!
Hi Paul. This was by far the best lesson to learn from you!
Don't shout out loud the first impression of something at somebody, taking away his proud and dignity within a second.
I am an engineer, too. And, if somebody asked me today what my biggest carreer mistake was - shouting things out loud, regardless how right I was (and I was right so often).
So sad to hear about the passing of Bascomb King, my sincere condolences to his Family and the PS Audio Family. He will be missed
Wow I didn’t hear about his passing.
Paul is the reason I own PS audio products. I love his honesty and direct approach. I only wish I didn't have pay a fortune in the UK 😬
I bought your stuff because of the bare truths you expound on your youtube extravaganzas. Glad I did, This one is another beautiful truth.
Asking someone "how does this sound" is unfair. It's a loaded question with no right answer. I never ask it because I didn't build my system for others, I built it for myself. It sounds the way I like it to sound. I really could care less how it sounds to someone else.
"Dignity!" Paul, you are a true gentleman...
Best advise ever not just for hifi but also in life.
This world need more people like you, Mr. Paul. The world would be different if we could follow this adviced daily in many other different circunstances. Thank you.
Wise words, Mr. Paul. Thank you.
when it comes to hifi, it's always good to remember to discuss it in terms of different preferences...and talk about strengths that are obvious.
As someone who thinks of himself as kind, thoughtful and smart, i have been guilty of speaking too bluntly, too quickly and hurt the feelings of some people I care about while spewing an opinion...not particularly about HiFi, but nonetheless.
As I've gotten older (more mature is debatable, lol) I've gotten a lot better at saying..."it's just not my cup of tea." It helps when you're discussing their musical taste as well as their stereo.
You're a class act, Paul. Great words of advice for anyone.
Very classy side of Paul!
Totally agreed with your observations
Paul, I'm a loyal viewer of your videos. Today, I became a friend.
One "life rule" that i have taked to my heart. Is this...
"Everyone Is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.
Allways... " / Robin Williams
So by that said.
Be honest but be kind. Be glad for your friend if he or she is happy with their hifi rigg.
Just choose youre honest words in a kind and humble way when you say what you think.
Totally agree, everyone's experience is different, but we need to highlight the good stuff, and be constructive with any criticism. Good approach for any endeavor.
Perfect. Enjoyed this one!
Great advice Paul.
I won't name any names, but an audio salesman decided he could go and build 'his own speakers as well'. He took some cheap drivers, simple bass reflex cabinets and created... a box. A 3-way box with a dome tweeter, dome midrange and 12" woofer. i saw those cabinets and noticed two things. First of all, way too big a woofer way too up high for the size of the cabinet. and in attempt to get the tweeter at ear height and the speakers to be 'wife acceptance factor'-ready (if you say that you are not my friend anyway), he put the tweeter right at the edge. I looked at them and could already tell that the woofer just wouldn't perform in that cabinet, and the tweeter's diffraction issues would be HUGE. And they were. Combined with some horrible filtering, there were huge gaps in the frequency range (even though he swore they measured fine). And he meant to ask 20.000 euros for a pair. I tried to explain to him the issues (he was there for feedback, I should add) with the diffraction, the ill-fitting woofer, the audible gaps and the general cheapness of the sound (I used kinder words). He kept saying that it was the space (which we had used many times before) and that I would have to listen at his place for a good impression. The guy absolutely refused to listen. So I ended it with "I don't see this design sounding great anytime soon". Which was about as dignified as I could be, because this man was just putting himself above everything and everyone.
Anyway, I heard the 'finished' design at an audioshow recently (ua-cam.com/video/N5o9Shue9vk/v-deo.html they are not in the video) and well... A pair of simple rack system bookshelfs does a better job. It's painful.
I love it when audiophiles (using their eyes) prepare themselves to be disappointed while sitting onto my couch, only to be terrifically surprised
When I hear people say Paul is simply a salesman and he doesn’t care about his customers and viewers, I come and rewatch this video 😊
Good comments in the video. However one thing not mentioned and very important to note is that many people, including many audiophiles, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Years in the hearing aid field and being a sound system operator has taught me this. Interestingly, I discovered at a church I was attending years ago there was an elderly gentleman who was in charge of running the sound board. Many attendees including the pastor noted that the church's sound was particularly loud and sharp (painful for some of the audience). Eventually we discovered he had a severe hearing loss, was in denial about needing a hearing aid, and was basically using the system to correct his own hearing problem.
They eventually asked me to step in and see if I could make it better. It was rather difficult at first because this person had invested a sizable amount of his own money into the church's sound equipment. So there were feelings of ownership, obligation, etc. Eventually, they came to an agreement and I was able to bring the church's audio to a more listenable experience for the average person. But that idea also carries over into many people's personal lives. Folks tend to tailor their personal audio system according to what sounds good to THEIR ears, not someone else's. And practically speaking, that's the way it should be. But don't expect someone with different hearing (better or worse) to think it sounds just as good - especially when the purpose of the system is to serve a lager audience. In that case, you really need to 'shoot down the middle'.
I’ve been struggling on what to do for my desktop/office 2.1 and headphone arrangement. A mini-EQ and optical out of two software selectable sources ended up solving a lot of problems.
I still feel like an idiot for spending money and trying radically different swings. Your advice for kindness and honesty is top notch, not just in audiofileahilicalism, but also words to live by, my dude.
There, ya dun bring out the hippy in an old veteran. Hit the deck and give me fifty! Here’s yer upthumb…
My rule of thumb is to always find something to compliment before you criticize. It doesn't have to be much, just some little thing. Goes a long way.
I have that blunt personality as well (got it from my Dad, a flight instructor). Now at 60 I've learned to temper it somewhat. When I was in the music business full time I was treated bluntly, mainly because getting it right was important and there were plenty of pickers who could get it right if I wasn't up to the task. Now I am in the aviation business and getting it right is a matter of life and death. We are blunt with each other as a rule. My main technique these days is the "bad news sandwich" concept. Start with something positive, insert the critical points and end on a positive. People seem to be receptive to that.
Hi Paul, this expression comes to mind after watching/listening to you. "Mean what you say, but don't be mean when you say it." I'm also 'up there' in age and have insulted many peeps over the years by being too 'blunt'. *
I don't like to use the word 'audiophile' bc it could sound pretentious, but I have 50ish years experience with audio equipment, and I am actually partially deaf now from an excellent, but powerful Zapco system in my delivery truck during the 70s.
Of course, having aged, and being sober a LONG time, I listen to my music at a much lower volume now, and I now prefer QUALITY over quantity. I enjoy your YT blogs and I can always make time to learn more about hi-fi systems. Keep up the good work! (=
Always look forward to what Paul has to say whether I like it or not. If someone shoots from the hip and it’s not hateful, or factually flawed, then confrontation should be considered a topic for constructive discussion ran than a petty refutation of someone’s beliefs real or imagined. Not everyone can deal with constructive criticism without feeling slighted unfortunately.
Right on Paul! An environment of “checked” ego, balanced feedback and constructive feedback makes us all better and stronger. We are far away from this in our current world. My inner circle of audio pals are very open minded……and we all have opinion.
Great true honest words from a master.
Thanx, L0L, I am also a master debater! (;
Nicely said Paul.
Very nicely told Paul! And don't forget: There is no absolute taste.
Never lie to me and I will never be hurt!
I fully agree with what Paul said. The first thing one needs to do to "let people down gently" is to NOT have that goal in mind in the first place. The second thing one must do is get out of one's own head. Third, one needs to consider or put one's self in the shoes of the inquirer. Audiophiles are incapable of doing these things. Audiophiles live by a code which says, criticize everything whether or not you know anything about it. Put down anyone not able to run to your level and who has different tastes. Tell everyone they are wrong for their experiences and beliefs if they do not match yours.
If someone is excited about their system and wants to show you inquiring about your opinion, the proper thing to do is be open, honest and helpful. For example: First of all, don't lie. Step one, put yourself in their shoes, observe their excitement etc. Consider that the system they now have may have taken an enormous amount of work, saving, sacrifice or what have you. Step two, let them show you without criticism (keep your bias in check and notes to yourself if you have any that are helpful, take the time to truly listen). When the person then asks you what you think be mindful of their work and if you notice anything off that is not hard to fix or improve, preface with positive and suggest such things asking them if they would like to know how to improve what they have, NOT replace! (Bare in mind, if something was clearly not working the person would not be showing you their system and asking for opinion). Also bare in mind that they are asking for exactly that, "opinion" so couch it as such clearly, don't try to turn your opinion into fact. Bottom line, be helpful rather than a strict critic.
This also applies to my teenage self walking into a stereo shop and asking what I could get with $300. The shop owner felt bad I'm sure, but he was really nice about it and could tell I had the desire and passion, just not the money!
@ IC, That was ME in the 70s! L0L I used to hang at high end hi-fi shops in Vancouver a lot, but couldn't afford most of their gear!
Lovely words.
I LOVE that Paul and I are so far apart politically, but that he speaks to me like a loving and educated Father. I can't help but listen, even when he's talking about something that I totally disagree with. Well done, Paul. Well done.
Thank you, Richard. That's the spirit of friendship and kindness that means so much regardless which side of the political fence you're on.
Well said Paul. The reality is that everyone has different tastes and experiences. With the different experiences there are different standards so maybe instead of being too blunt maybe you could ask the person if they tried different speaker positions and if they are willing to experiment, etc. to see if afterward they think there's any improvement. If they think it is improved then maybe they would be open to other suggestions that would be inexpensive so to speak, to their billfold and your relationship.
An excellent message.
Great topic. I mostly adjust; If one loves a BigMac and thinks its fantastic tasting food, I'll perhaps state that I dislike the cheese. But if someone is enjoying the BigMac, yet is tasting the onions and burger, appreciating the concept, but is talking about the promise of a better burger or a really nice meal, then there is a starting point to discover together. In every such a discussion I have learned that there are more ways to look and figure out the right questions, before looking jumping to premature conclusions.
Excellent Paul
While I am little more than a shut in now, in the past I too have been called upon to listen to a host of systems over the years. When I hear a system that is truly horrific I quickly assess what I would do to address it's short comings if it were my system. Often it's just reduce the volume for a moment and gently address the detail and sound field, any room distortions or source quality issues. If they have heard my systems over the years then they will understand that all systems are a work in progress. I begin with complimenting what is good about the system, and then gently making a suggestion that might easily show a pleasing audio improvement right then. If I do this right then they will often come to me for suggestions later on and we can build an audio camaraderie that can last for years. Yes this might turn out to be far more complicated and often does. Another trick is to shift the focus from yourself and point them towards the great minds in audio, like Paul , who give sound advice and are easily accessible. Then you might get a call some night after they make some room treatment or speaker placement/ seating change based on what they saw and applied to their system. It might be something like "You've got to hear this! Come over now". And with a smile in your heart you listen again and the journey continues in a shared positive experience. True concern and patience can yield wonderful results. Thanks Paul.
Great video Paul. Dignity is so important. And the challenge to get the best sound of whatever setup we have can be just as exciting as we applying our skills with our peers systems to help get the best performance out of their setups regardless of what they may have or not have...we're audiophiles so if it's a $100,000 setup or a $1,000 setup...there's always a sweet spot that we must find to give value to our own skills but also to help others enjoy their music as well...but I do draw the line when it comes to speaker bars 😣
@ Lee, What is a 'speaker bar'? I think you mean 'sound bar'? I have no interest in them either, bc I'd rather set up a usable 5.1 system first. I have been MUCHLY disappointed over the years with my 'high-end' HT systems mainly bc there has been VERY little quality source material out there. Having said that, the DD/Atmos material has improved in recent years!
@@mr.blackhawk142 Yes sorry...I definitely meant speaker bar. You can't do much to improve audio if you're locked in with a small bar of speakers that you can't physically adjust apart from built in software features that mess with the sound artificially. Bars have their benefits like in small spaces like your local pub lol "but" you can also build a nice spacial apartment surround sound system using separates which blows away any reviews of people trying to sell you on a Soundbar 😉
Spot-on! I'm suddenly reminded of a cartoon by the late Charles Rodrigues in an issue of Stereo Review, with one guy demoing his system to another where his speakers are sitting inside barrels, whiskey barrels or the like (and I'm sure WHY???!!! is the question we've probably all asked ourselves at one time or another on hearing a friend's system), and the other guy just says something like, hey, if you like the sound of your speakers in barrels, then why not! And yeah so sue me, I LOVED Stereo Review in the 1980's and each day when one arrived in the mailbox the first thing I looked for was those cartoons by Rodrigues, those cartoons were like Christmas come early! :) EDIT: I've more than once brought a person to tears on putting a set of headphones on their heads and playing something on vinyl with my latest setup, whatever that setup is, and I'm suddenly wondering if in each case those really were tears of joy, or maybe something else entirely.... :D :D :D :D :D
Gentle honesty is the best approach. BTW, I'm still scratching my head over what your engineers are going to do with so many channels of spring reverb. And, wondering how those units can sound good without all the mechanical isolation classic spring reverbs used to have (AKG BX-10, BX-20).
Very thoughtful, thanks
excellent advice sir.
"Dignity, always dignity" - Gene Kelly
“Wow, that’s really remarkable!” - I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of that line, in many situations.
Sounds amazing... with Valve!
Well done. I learned to pack any uncomfortable (Bad) message as a sandwich. First the positive message, then the negativ part, after that a positive one.
Paul is a recovering realist
The other way of looking at this is through the word "tact". But indeed fully agree the way to do it is "on the hand these are the positives", "on the other hand these are the negatives" and "overall I think this...".
Bloody good advice.
It takes a brave audiophile to ask another audiophile too give feedback on his setup.
I always liked for me to have a prof Audiophile comes by for a listening, and tell him to be honest about what he is hearing. And then i will ask him to maybe suggest some ways to refine what i already have. Speaker position, cables and polarity, and so forth. I know for a fact that i have a good system, but i tend to be doubtfull? So for me to have someone comes along, fiddling with my gear, should be more than welcome
✌️♥️🇩🇰
I have harman/kardon and I know most people will say it is cheap and old and whatever consumer standard stuff but tbh I dont care because it is mine and I like it because of my reasons and if I would not have my harman/kardon I would have nothing. So for me it is great and you should not care what other people do or why they doing it, what they listen to etc. There will always be something better and bigger BUT I would never exchange my harman for the PS Audio (not being bad or unfair, it sure is a good thing, just not down my alley). BUT I have to say I love the PS Audio FR30 (?) speakers, those look great, but I have my Klipsch for my reasons (money, space) and they are okay. I have my small system, I try to make another vintage 80ies one, I dont care about if people like it, I just do it because it is my hobby or my interest now to collect harman/kardon as a company. #harmaneverything
Well said !!
Being an auto tech, dispite all the offers to friends and family to inspect a vehicle BEFORE purchase, they only bring it after purchasing for inspection and want me to tell them my honest personal and professional thoughts.
It's the color of baby poop = "What a unique color"
Shaking like a paint mixer from a misfire? = "it's got the heart of a warrior!"
As another blunt engineer, I can appreciate your answer. Hard to know when someone genuinely wants feedback vs just wanting praise.
And P.S. I too an am engineer, but not blunt 🙂. Instead strictly practical when it comes to design.
Thanks Paul, back in 1990 I built my first speaker with focal drivers, I invited some hifi geeks over and got a bad review But learned some much about parts and crossover design. On the plus side they loved what I did with cabinet design , rounded 1/2 corners, very thick hdmfd with tar sandwich of 1/4 soft wood in a trapezoid box with epoxy glue. Those focal are hard to tame back in the day. Also how a better amp would help. Old Adcom stuff , moved to tube pre amp and sumo class A amps with some mods 🙂😵💫
That said, I never heard anything Focal that wasn't painfully harsh. So if that was the bad review; Fair :D.
I have yet to hear their headphones though, quite curiousa bout those.
@@rollingtroll I heard a pair rather briefly. I don't remember which ones but I remember them costing upwards of about 4k.
Firstly super comfortable.
Then the sound came.
They were really extremely pleasant to the ears but I heard nothing I would call lifelike. Super sweet, almost, no, absolutely gooey highs but the most surprising bass I've ever heard from headphones.
Well said.
Thank you! I have a friend that doesn't have any hifi background, and he got his first "stereo" that wasn't a all in one unit with speakers that come with it as a set, and I wondering how to tell him "it sounds less like crap than the last thang he had, but still sucks compared to anything I'd consider HiFi much less audiophile grade" I guess I'll just point out the bass that rolls off every beat, and the muddy sounding mids and highs, especially when there is a lot of different tones playing at once.
Best vid yet God bless you brother eloquently said 🙏👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐😇
One thing you have to remember is people often buy their Hifi to suit the way they want it sound to the type of music they mainly play which is not necessary best actual quality and also if they have spent a fortune they expect it to by the best even though somebody know it sounds terrible just keep smiling and nodding your head
Wonderfull sublect. . I must say while I present my new construction persons hesitate to show any impression People else openly refuse to sit in centre at all (!) , change thema or cover the sounds with talking about other things .Or explain that what they hear it is exceptional success of shape of my not treated room - easy :).
Because it took me many years of learning and hard days of wood job, such neutrality after the show is like slap in face. Looks like they enjoy only music which obviously not always is their favourite Sometime when I directly ask, they try rise any possible doubt , ex that speaker box seems to them visually not rectangular or sound of my stereo speakers could be not identical
That is why in opposite case I avoid such desinterest for their porchased gear in set by them locations and always say something positive or indicate what exacltly in my opinion seems doubtfull in sound and what could they do. Never smile at any their inventions even if they look strange .
Once after a months from meeting I've heard " when I am back to my home I feel sick of comparison". But at time no any word about sound. May be they do not feel confident to express anything? I learned to be proof to lack of opinions about my system
Well said Paul ;-))
Nice approach for life in general, it is always better to walk the line and be dignified and classy, and yet honest.
The question is funny to me as it seemingly comes from a place of insecurity. Seeking advice on tweaking and improving one's system from someone more knowledgeable is a sign of maturity, but most don't do that, they want a quick "wow that sounds great!" stamp of approval from a "guru". Seeking the affirmation of a "guru" to feel better about one's system is a little silly, because in the end the only thing that matters is if one likes the sound of their system. What one person likes as it is "accurate" to them may sound lifeless and "flat" to me, for example. We all like different things, and we all have different budgets too. For example, some obsess over esoteric tube amps with single digit wattage output. That is great for them, but I simply don't get it.
I like the sound of my system for the random collection of good but not super high end (my amp is a Yamaha A-S1200, the DAC a Topping D90 model for example) components it is comprised of. I know it could sound incrementally better, but funds are limited as there are competing interests for them. Not going to drop esoteric audiophile stereo stuff cash on audio when I have multiple motorcycles (both dirt and street) to buy, ride and maintain. A pretty nice audio system and TV in the basement, and cool bikes in the garage then. I can't complain as my priorities have all been balanced against each other vs. the assets available to realize them.
That said, there would be a Luxman L590AX integrated amp in my rack if the good ship "FU Money" ever comes in ;)
So Paul is letting people down gently kind of like this:
Paul that's a really nice hand-built spring reverb you have there, I bet that cost you a fortune.
I see it's using a tube rectifier, I'll bet it sounds unique.
I think the last time I actually heard a spring reverb used on anything was Phill Collins's song In the Air Tonight way back in 1981.
Spring reverbs are rather unique sounding how do you think you will be able to use it to get that "natural, you are in the room sound" that you are looking to attain with Octave Records recordings?
How to politely shi!t on someone is always a uplifting experience
A long time ago, I had no trouble telling a snobbish hi fi store that their equipment sounded flat and boring, and they had no trouble telling me that I had a tin ear, lol.
Be kind and care.
Too many times that this has happened to me it has been to listen to a Klipsch system. I personally loath their speakers but I go and listen to the system generally being driven by a low end receiver. I would then invite them to hear my JM Labs/Sunfire system (sorry a home theater setup) and I would tell them to bring their favorite music. The reaction would be jaw dropping and I would never have to comment on their systems.
No one’s spirit was crushed during the making of this video… except Klipsch. J/k
Wow.... Well done ! The world sure can use more dignified people like you. The severe polarization we are currently experiencing in the USA is just not good for the country, and frankly, not good for the world either.. What happens in the US matters to the rest of the world.
The polarization comes from the top 1% in society. It is to their advantage that Americans are divided so that their focus is on each other and missing the fact that they are enjoying the major tax cuts etc. One had to be blind not to see the sham being played out. As for audiophiles, I don't really know anyone else who is into it so I have no worries about trashing someone else's system or they mine.
I got in trouble when a woman asked me what I thought of her speakers (Polk I think they were) that cost $5000. I thought they looked cheaply made with a plastic bottom. I said to Her "I think you could have done better for that money".
Hey I paid $2000 for my Acoustats and they are about the best sounding speakers I've heard.
After Axpona what I am trying to work on is accepting that others just listen for different things. I have what I feel are well honed understandings and expectations that I have found others to hold differently. As mentioned in the letter, the Klipsch kind of thing. Like you I lean Maggies. A friend with his original JBL L88's. He pulled his old system (Pioneer SX 9??) out because of me. Asked what I thought. I told him to just buy a pair of LRS. But he wants to come over to hear my 1.7i. Working on that. But he does have major room issues. Maybe a better box would be better for him? Knowing he won't get that sound field of the Maggies I hold so dear. So I am trying to accept "better" even if it might not be in the specific direction I prefer.
Other question. If you are moving Octave to straight digital and not transcoding thru analog for mix, when with the analog reverbs get used?
From the other side: My system is what it is, and it provides what I need.
Nothing but my own inclinations will make me change it.
Whether anyone else likes it or not doesn't concern me.
Thanks, Paul. Be kind out there. People are going thru tough times. Especially the kids. As Bob Dylan said, Have you seen Dignity?
Holy moly
Thank you so much for this video. Funny thing is when I finally assembled my rig I had to admit to myself it was not what I expected. Still haven’t got over this after almost a decade. So this not too little Bluetooth speaker from respected Dane company came of help and does until now.
My experience with this is always the same - if someone is already oblivious to a serious flaw with their system or setup, they'll still be oblivious to it after you try to explain it to them, especially anyone who thinks of themselves as an audiophile. In fact, most will even double down and try to argue back that you are wrong. There's virtually no way to get through to most people anyway, unless they are truly open to your point of view or ask for your opinion in the first place.
I'm just starting out in the hifi world there is a ton to learn it's hard to get In to it like on forums on the net and ask questions or what not with out feeling like I'm in the wrong league by the occasional snootyness person. I'm just trying to learn how to identify what what I'm hearing and the jargon that relates to it. Baby steps.
Paul, if PS Audio goes bust (highly doubtful!) you’d make an excellent life coach! 😉
Say the truth. Just be very careful in how you are going to say it. Wise words.
Good rules for life pretty cool .
Honesty hurts so good!
_How to let people down gently_
When giving out the price of your products, reveal one digit at a time, and wait as they go through that whole stages-process of denial...grief...acceptance; and then put down the next digit. Rinse and repeat. That'll do the trick. 👍
paul for president !
He should become a Canadian.