Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you like to hear me talk, have I got the video for you! For 55 minutes, watch and listen as I go through the basics on every audio and video component that I'm currently using. How much each one cost me, why I chose it and how and why I'm using it; maybe you'll discover something for yourself that you didn't know about or just never thought of, or maybe you'll just enjoy making fun of the guy using a subwoofer/satellite system to listen to SACD's in 2025.
I (badly) explained this in the video, but I'm someone who looks for objective specifications and measurements, then buys the thing with the best of those, the features I want and the best price taking those criteria into account. In other words, I look for value in my components and I care about things that can be measured, not "audiophile" subjectivity that amounts to crystal auras and yes, snake oil. I do think there's something to be said for the look and feel of a component, though, and my favorite components are the ones that not only perform well, but are satisfying to use.
If there's anything in my current setup that I'd like to upgrade, it's - you guessed it - the speakers. I'm pretty happy with my 5.1 system but not so much with my stereo speakers, though I'm still deciding on whether to combine my two systems or not. So that upgrade is waiting a bit.
Chapters are provided for you to skip between different components that you may care more or less about.
I have made some similar videos in the (now distant) past, but my system has grown over the years and frankly both YouTube and I have changed a lot in the last decade, so this one is much longer than those older ones.
As promised, watch this vid for some specifics on why the Xbox Series X is not a good Blu-Ray player: youtube.com/watch?v=JFpakgvCKck&ab_channel=HDTVTest
As a good little capitalist YouTuber, I'd be remiss if I didn't throw in some affiliate links for the products I mention here. I get a few cents if you buy anything from these links, so I thank you if you use one, and they cost you nothing:
General Ebay link for any of the vintage/old stuff: ebay.us/qaqrCp
Onkyo TX-NR7100: amzn.to/3PPK42V
Monoprice 9273: amzn.to/40pA4Dw (Monoprice themselves have it cheaper, though)
Solupeak Switchbox: amzn.to/4jdlvKr
A reasonable looking HDTV antenna: amzn.to/42aiJ2y
HiSense 120L5H (seems to be the new model, but check the reviews): amzn.to/3DOZ4v2
Xbox Series X: amzn.to/3DOBAWN
PlayStation 5: amzn.to/4h86OXs
Nintendo Switch (OLED): amzn.to/4h82qYp
Sony UBP-X800M2: amzn.to/4j2AHtQ
Sony STR-DH190 (check Sony's site too as they may have a better price): amzn.to/4j6KKOD
Fluance RT-82: amzn.to/4abUjHU
00:00 Intro
2:25 Logitech Harmony Elite
4:07 Onkyo TX-NR7100
8:16 Infinity TSS-450
11:16 Monoprice 9273 Subwoofer
12:47 Solupeak Switchbox
13:44 Q Acoustics 3030i
16:12 Radio Shack HD Antenna
16:56 HiSense 120L5F
22:23 Xbox, PS5 and Switch
24:30 Sony UBP-X800M2
27:16 Pioneer Elite BDP-52FD
28:59 Technics SL-1200 Mk5
33:47 Technics RS-TR355
36:24 Sony STR-DH190
41:51 Pioneer PDM-430
43:48 Fluance RT-82
48:22 Sony TA-1010
51:10 Pinnacle PN5+
54:19 Outro
If you like to hear me talk, have I got the video for you! For 55 minutes, watch and listen as I go through the basics on every audio and video component that I'm currently using. How much each one cost me, why I chose it and how and why I'm using it; maybe you'll discover something for yourself that you didn't know about or just never thought of, or maybe you'll just enjoy making fun of the guy using a subwoofer/satellite system to listen to SACD's in 2025.
I (badly) explained this in the video, but I'm someone who looks for objective specifications and measurements, then buys the thing with the best of those, the features I want and the best price taking those criteria into account. In other words, I look for value in my components and I care about things that can be measured, not "audiophile" subjectivity that amounts to crystal auras and yes, snake oil. I do think there's something to be said for the look and feel of a component, though, and my favorite components are the ones that not only perform well, but are satisfying to use.
If there's anything in my current setup that I'd like to upgrade, it's - you guessed it - the speakers. I'm pretty happy with my 5.1 system but not so much with my stereo speakers, though I'm still deciding on whether to combine my two systems or not. So that upgrade is waiting a bit.
Chapters are provided for you to skip between different components that you may care more or less about.
I have made some similar videos in the (now distant) past, but my system has grown over the years and frankly both YouTube and I have changed a lot in the last decade, so this one is much longer than those older ones.
As promised, watch this vid for some specifics on why the Xbox Series X is not a good Blu-Ray player: youtube.com/watch?v=JFpakgvCKck&ab_channel=HDTVTest
As a good little capitalist YouTuber, I'd be remiss if I didn't throw in some affiliate links for the products I mention here. I get a few cents if you buy anything from these links, so I thank you if you use one, and they cost you nothing:
General Ebay link for any of the vintage/old stuff: ebay.us/qaqrCp
Onkyo TX-NR7100: amzn.to/3PPK42V
Monoprice 9273: amzn.to/40pA4Dw (Monoprice themselves have it cheaper, though)
Solupeak Switchbox: amzn.to/4jdlvKr
A reasonable looking HDTV antenna: amzn.to/42aiJ2y
HiSense 120L5H (seems to be the new model, but check the reviews): amzn.to/3DOZ4v2
Xbox Series X: amzn.to/3DOBAWN
PlayStation 5: amzn.to/4h86OXs
Nintendo Switch (OLED): amzn.to/4h82qYp
Sony UBP-X800M2: amzn.to/4j2AHtQ
Sony STR-DH190 (check Sony's site too as they may have a better price): amzn.to/4j6KKOD
Fluance RT-82: amzn.to/4abUjHU
00:00 Intro
2:25 Logitech Harmony Elite
4:07 Onkyo TX-NR7100
8:16 Infinity TSS-450
11:16 Monoprice 9273 Subwoofer
12:47 Solupeak Switchbox
13:44 Q Acoustics 3030i
16:12 Radio Shack HD Antenna
16:56 HiSense 120L5F
22:23 Xbox, PS5 and Switch
24:30 Sony UBP-X800M2
27:16 Pioneer Elite BDP-52FD
28:59 Technics SL-1200 Mk5
33:47 Technics RS-TR355
36:24 Sony STR-DH190
41:51 Pioneer PDM-430
43:48 Fluance RT-82
48:22 Sony TA-1010
51:10 Pinnacle PN5+
54:19 Outro
