What makes you such an expert to answer questions about audio ?

30+ years in the AV business.

I know some of you like Maniac have years of experience in audio and often have good input about audio, but many I see really are doing a disservice giving really bad information about audio. Myself I have over 40 years audio experience, from recording engineering, disc mastering ( i cut records at JVC at Wally Heiders in Hollywood ) I do my own recordings on a restored Ampex 350-2 master music and also record and master music in the digital domain as well. My main job has been designed, installed, and calibrated some the very best in high end audio for over 40 years. I have spent my life learning all there is about audio, acoustics, ultimately to get the best from music and music playback. I have talked and discussed audio and music with some of the very best recording engineers like Bernie Grundman who I consider the best mastering engineer in the business and have been to his studio several times. Anyway I have a deep understanding of audio and just see so many really bad answers on here from people who have no clue about audio. There are a handful of you who I respect like Maniac who truly know audio. So what makes you such a expert that you think you can give advice about audio ?

I don't claim to be an expert, but I know a few things.

It started with albums in the early 60's, and the quest for good sound. In 1971 I was trying to build a crossover for my speaker system, I worked with dozens of electronic techs ( I wasn't at the time) and no one could calculate the values of capacitors or inductors required. So I quit my job, went to an electronics school, and found out how to do it myself. I became an electronics tech in the avionics field, radar, ILS, VOR, COMM units, the whole bit, but my main quest for good sound remained, and slowly my stereo took shape. Now, 40 years later, I'm done with it, and it is excellent. In the meantime, my free time was consumed with running sound for bands, consulting for systems at clubs, and setting up stereo systems for friends. Audio was never my "field", but it was my passion. Went to a tri-amped system about 10 years ago in my living room, and have never been happier with the way things sound. Other than that, I'm just a guy that likes music.

I started getting interested in "Hi-Fi" when I started getting interested in music when I was about 12. I was born in 1955. I am one of those people who start a hobby and learn everything they can about it. I didn't have much money so needed to build my stereo from bits and pieces, learning as I did so.

I have also worked professionally in the fields of sound reinforcement and commercial sound system maintenance.

I went to a prestigious music school and minored in Electronic Music.

Is that enough?

Nothing so I don't answer such questions, but you asked about expertise so I took my points.

3 years of working with old stuff from the 70s when I attended school,revox,sansui receivers audio color vcrs turntables.,audio & visual hware has saturated the market,state of the art eqpt has reached second hand high end audio,and thrift shops,my concerns are cost,,I decline to spend 2k$ when 50 bucks will get me similar value,older hardware sansui,kenwood,panasonic zenith were made tough thicker wiring,they could take drops from waist high & still work.newer stuff often pack so much circuitry w tiny solder connections,mousewhisker wires, but are extremely fragile,from headphones to well made turntables & vinyl records.

Same in every category. I am the Top Responded in Performing Arts, and in the top 5 in Classical Music. Multiple degrees, long - like you - full-time career in professional music, blah blah. People still argue with me - they think learning the guitar off YooToob will get them a huge career. This is what you get at anonymous sites. Everybody that owns an electric keyboard thinks they are a superstar, EVERYBODY things they can sing ( . .ouch . . .) and every MS and HS kid has spiral books full of dopey lyrics - "Hey - I wrote a song! How do a get like a record contract of sumfin?? Lots of folks - asking or responding - just want validation. And I think ALL Blue Heads shoudl be banned - they are the worst.

Who are you asking?

None of us work for Yahoo.

We are all independent, unpaid individuals

who do this for our personal satisfaction.

For myself, I make no claim to be an "expert",

but I do have a lot of Useful Knowledge

that I have gained from Experience.

Experience the audio personally

nooo Im a peasent go ask dj khaleed