58 episodes

Michael O'Neal and his co-hosts bridge the gap between the clueless big box stores and the snobby stereo shops. Every show is filled with gear reviews, commentary, and interviews aimed to find out what makes a real world difference in your listening experience, how to get the most bang for your buck, and frankly, how to begin experiencing your music in the way it was intended.

beginner audiophile | hifi | gear reviews | stereo | hi-end audio Michael O’Neal and Awesome Co-hosts

    • Technology
    • 4.4 • 163 Ratings

Michael O'Neal and his co-hosts bridge the gap between the clueless big box stores and the snobby stereo shops. Every show is filled with gear reviews, commentary, and interviews aimed to find out what makes a real world difference in your listening experience, how to get the most bang for your buck, and frankly, how to begin experiencing your music in the way it was intended.

    57: How Does Equipment THIS Cheap Sound THIS Good??? WTF?

    57: How Does Equipment THIS Cheap Sound THIS Good??? WTF?

    Our good friend Harris Fogel from http://maceditionradio.com comes by to do a show!  Harris has been globetrotting to all of the audio shows, so he gives a quick rundown of what he's seen.  
    Then we get into the "Chi-Fi" (Equipment made in China) and chat about a few of the choice items.  
    Fosi Audio TB10D: https://amzn.to/3YnWocL
    Aiyima T9: https://amzn.to/3x0KDNU
    Emotiva Airmotiv B1+: https://emotiva.com/products/airmotiv-b1-pair
    Geshelli Labs
    https://geshelli.com/product/jnog2/
     
    Capital Audiofest
    https://www.capitalaudiofest.com
     
    THE Show
    https://thehomeentertainmentshow.com
     
    Copper Magazine
    https://www.psaudio.com/copper-magazine/
     
    Marantz CD 60
    https://www.marantz.com/en-us/product/cd-players/cd60
     
    Schitt Audio
    https://www.schiit.com
     
    PS Audio - The Loudspeaker Book and SACD
    https://www.psaudio.com/products/the-loudspeaker/
     
    JBL Spinner BTS Turntable
    https://news.harman.com/releases/harman-luxury-audio-to-unveil-jbl-spinner-bt-turntable-at-harman-explore
     
    HARMAN Luxury Audio - JBL Classic Series
    https://news.harman.com/releases/harman-luxury-audio-to-introduce-new-jbl-classic-series-integrated-amplifier-streaming-media-player-cd-player-and-turntable-at-harman-explore
    I review the Marantz CD-60 CD Player before we wrap it up.
    Thanks for listening! 
     

    • 42 min
    56: Top 10 Songs to Show Off Your System, with David Solomon from Qobuz| Beginner Audiophile

    56: Top 10 Songs to Show Off Your System, with David Solomon from Qobuz| Beginner Audiophile

    Our good buddy David Solomon from Qobuz (http://qobuz.com) is a MASTER of picking the RIGHT songs to show off his systems.  He and I trade in this episode, talk about our favorites, and why we love them.  
    David's playlist on Qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/9292025
    My 10:
    *Trouble’s What You’re In (Live from Union Chapel, London - Oct 5 2011) - Fink
    *The Sweetest Taboo - Sade
    Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) | Eagles
    Lonely Lonely - Feist
    Bali Run - Fourplay
    Best Time - Chris Botti
    Tin Pan Alley (AKA Roughest Place in Town) - Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Time - Pink Floyd
    Fascinating Rhythm (Album Version) - Dave Grusin
    Gold Dust Woman (2001 Remaster) - Fleetwood Mac
     
    HIs 10:
    Calypso Mino Abdullah Ibrahim Sotho Blue
    Paper Tiger Lonnie Smith Boogaloo to Beck
    Looking for A Home Keith Greeninger Blue Coast Collection
    Raleigh and Spencer Tony Furtado Tony Furtado Band
    Harlem Nocturne Illinois Jacquet Swing's the Thing
    Goodbye Pork Pie Hat Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um
    Warriors Too Many Zooz Too Many Zooz
    Firebird Suite The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
    Quarter Chicken Dark Yo Yo Ma
    Cakewalk Flim and the Bee bees Tricycle
     
    Want to transfer your stuff from another service to Qobuz? http://soundiiz.com

    • 1 hr 26 min
    55: NAMM Show & T.H.E Show Update. Is Dolby Atmos The Future of Hifi?

    55: NAMM Show & T.H.E Show Update. Is Dolby Atmos The Future of Hifi?

    So great to be back on the mic! On today's solo show I talk about attending the NAMM show, and how the convergence of the Pro audio and HiFi Audio industry is happening.  Then I move onto T.H.E. (The Home Entertainment) Show in Long Beach before discussing the brilliant new Tears for Fears Album in Tidal's Dolby ATMOS, and how immersive and mesmerizing it is.  
    Here are the ceiling speakers I discussed:
    Micca M8C. https://amzn.to/3tAEOoV
     
    Micca R8C https://amzn.to/3NN6yPm

    • 36 min
    54: What's More Important, The Set Up or The Gear? With David Solomon of Qobuz

    54: What's More Important, The Set Up or The Gear? With David Solomon of Qobuz

    HEY! We're back!  David Solomon of http://qobuz.com and I sit down in the lobby of the Hilton hotel Long Beach, where T.H.E. Show 2021 was taking place.  We talked about how Covid affected (and still affects) the industry, as well as the importance of setup vs. gear.  

    • 1 hr 7 min
    53: How Do We Audition Gear Moving Forward? | GoldenEar Triton 2+ Review and More!

    53: How Do We Audition Gear Moving Forward? | GoldenEar Triton 2+ Review and More!

    The return of Patrick Norton, who's moved himself out to St. Louis from Oakland CA, and a review of the GoldenEar Triton 2+ and the JDS Labs Atom AMP and DAC.
     
    Book reco: DIY Acoustic Panels: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Acoustic Absorbers and Diffusers

    • 51 min
    52: Dr. Paul Returns! | Parasound Halo Hint 6 Review | BMW Audio Upgrades

    52: Dr. Paul Returns! | Parasound Halo Hint 6 Review | BMW Audio Upgrades

    Dr. Paul Anderson is back in the house, chatting about his most recent iteration of his system, which includes the Dali Oberon 1, a MUCH cheaper DAC than his $7k Aesthetix, and more!  We review the Parasound Halo Hint6 and the BAVSound Upgrade for your BMW, Mini, or Supra. 

    • 40 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
163 Ratings

163 Ratings

Bugsnest ,

Mark Cerasulo

The Cerasulo episode was amazing. Between him and hearing the Nelson Pass interviews that Steve Gutenberg put out on YouTube, I have nothing but admiration for these enthusiasts who have made hi-fi audio their life’s pursuit! Way to go!!

manypalms ,

Good show, misleading name

There is nothing beginner about this podcast. The second guy talks about multi thousand dollar headphones and cables. The lead guy swears by HD audio downloads when it’s been proven that you can’t hear the difference in double blind tests. How do you upsample analog recordings from the 70s? It’s hard to take their gear reviews serious when they believe in placebo nonsense. No difference from the golden ear, magic cable people.

TJH110 ,

Questionable authority

So you’re purist enough to pronounce Porsche with two syllables but not enough to stop yourself from putting a SUBARU engine into a 911 (of all things). How can I trust anything you say about now? You’ve lost all your credibility with me ☹️

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