consumer guides

Consumer Audio is a field rife with baloney. The higher end you go, the sillier *some* of the hype gets as well. There are a number of honest, high quality boutique audio manufacturers that can get lost in the shuffle with all the dubious claims made by some firms. Audio shops can also be very intimidating as well - especially when you don't know how to ask the right questions or what they might be. How can a budding audiophile put together the a great sounding system he or she can afford while avoiding spending a lot of money on things that don't matter and cut through the baloney?

First thing - aside from reading materials - is locate a store where you can rely upon the experience and knowledge of the people to steer you to the right system - and one that is interested in your business long term (Audiophilia is a life long pursuit with upgrades, subtractions and additions over a few decades).

Second thing - self education. A lot of people pick up magazines and read the reviews - and this set would likely be interested in a book like this, written as it is by the founder and editor of The Absolute Sound.

This book, unlike most audio magazines, does not review equipment, but is a road map through the embarrasement of riches that high end has become. How do you evaluate speakers and, as the author said - find the 2% of speakers worth owning? How can you evaluate a system to find if it is right for you? If you are going to buy a high end CD player - what things make a high end player sound good? How does the current round of SACD and DVD-Audio disc players work - and are they worth it to a prospective audiophile? How does a turntable work - and what considerations do you have to give when you go and purchase one? How important are interconnects? How much of your budget should you spend on source, preamps, amps and speakers?

Some people when reading the book may be distressed that there might be some technical details in the explanations might not be to their liking or there are a few errors. To dismiss this book (the only one of its kind in wide circulation, BTW) is to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. Given that the author has listened to, evauated, panned a lauded more equipment that most readers will ever see in a show room let along personally evauate, the "how to put an enjoyable system together that sounds great that will fit your budget" part of the book (and a valiant attempt on EXPLAINING the technology behind the components and speakers!) makes it a "must buy" to someone contemplating dropping some kilobucks on a sound system.

I purchased the second editions and was able to use it to put together a great sounding system for less than I though. I especially liked his explanation on how to allocate the budget for your system.

If you are the type of person who has a "critical ear" and is interested in learning about what is the full spectrum of options available in buying and setting-up a high quality audio system, I highly recommend this book. It will prevent you from buying equipment that you may soon become dissatisfied with and in the long run, it will save you a lot of grief as well as money. The author makes a point to emphasize that "high end audio" refers to the quality of the component/system and not the cost. However, like most things in this world, you will find that the two are usually closely related.

The body of the book is not overly technical, however it does provide several appendices for those who wish to delve into the theory behind the concepts. It is also quite through and is intended for the reader who wishes to get into some depth on the subject. If your interest is only in a basic overview, I would suggest that you look elsewhere.

I have read the book thoroughly and still find myself referring back to it on many occasions. It is by far the best book on this subject that I have been able to locate and should be of value to those interested in home theater as well as two-channel audio.

This book is:
Almost what the High-End Audio industry needs

It's important for me that a book be written on the advantages of high-end audio. It's the business I'm in and it is dear to me on a personal level. There are many excellent portions and handy information pieces scattered about the book and that's the good news.

I will refrain from personalizing my complaints and stick to the issues as I see them. To write this book as the author, you should know Ohm's Law. Harley does not. This is made evident in several examples. Amperes, voltage and wattage are all part of a greater equation that appears to mystify the author. The basic laws of physics and simple electrical concepts need be firmly grasped prior to making an endeavor such as this. There are many elements of "Dark Science" in the high-end audio realm and a mystique that is largely relevant. This book does a strong job of handling that delicate balance between science and myth, that is so important to this industry. Along the way however it forgets to "check the science"

That's too bad, but not a total loss...

A serious explanation of negative feedback as used in power amplifiers would have been pretty easy to put down for the record. Most power amp manufactures have fascinating solutions to the problems associated with negative feedback. A breakdown of a few of the key developments in this area would have been excellent. An opportunity missed. Instead he uses an example of a negative feedback amplifier and calls it just the opposite! At that point in the book I admit I was a bit frustrated.

The good parts are many!
It's an enjoyable read when the author sticks to what he actually knows, acoustics and auditioning gear. I learned much and felt the key points were illustrated clearly and in the contexts of meaningful application. I am not saying "don't buy"

I guess I'm saying this book missed a huge opportunity simply by not getting some important parts right. That's all.