Learning hi-fi

These are my questions as I typed them, typos and all. Months are approximate.

• Nov 2025
  what is this?

  “is this a gold cable ? How to tell layman in one sentence”

  Also: “64 audio IEM u18s is what type of IEM and drivers”. I started by asking for plain English, one word at a time.

• Nov 2025
  will it work?

  “Does toxic cable medusa2 drive u18s 64 audio Iem”

  Before buying a cable, I checked it suited the earphones I already had. Then I asked how it would change the sound.

• Dec 2025
  how do the parts fit?

  “If i use M21 to WA7 3rd Gen vs SP3000T to WA7 3rd Gen vs SP4000 to WA7 3rd Gen. Sound signature ? In Layman”

  Still asking for plain English, but now about a whole chain. The answer changed how I saw it: over USB, the player only sends data, and the amp at the end decides the sound.

• Jan 2026
  use what I have

  “u18s 64 audio what modules provided”

  Before shopping for something new, I learned to change what I owned. Swapping one small module trims the bass.

• Feb 2026
  check the claim

  “I was told my sales person that FitEar IEM are very desirable by all audiophiles?”

  A salesperson’s line, checked before I acted on it. I didn’t buy.

• Jun 2026
  set the research

  “Research and compile a ‘Real-World Ownership Report’ for the Astell&Kern SP4000…”

  Eight months in, I no longer asked what things were. I set the brief: owner reports on heat, battery life, build and software, compared with the player I already had.

Hi-fi was the subject this time. I follow the same steps with new AI tools and new topics at work.

• plain English first

  Ask for the simple version and don’t be embarrassed by it. I still do.

• check, don’t trust

  Reviews, owner forums, known faults and sales pitches all get the same question: who says so, and do other owners agree?

• try it in person

  Listen in a shop. Same song, change one thing at a time. My ears decide, not the forums.

• live with it

  Six months with one player taught me more than any review. The second player made sense only after that.

• know when to stop

  Most of what I learned about ended in “I don’t need this.” That still counts as learning.

looked into

23 players, amps, earphones and cables I didn’t buy

bought

6 items, each after auditioning or checking the pairing

waited

6 months before adding a second flagship player

• Nov 2025

  Astell&Kern SP3000T

  My main player. It has a real vacuum-tube stage you can switch on or off. I compared it with the SP4000, PD10 and iBasso DX340 first.

• late 2025

  64 Audio U18s

  In-ear monitors with swappable modules that change the bass and how sealed they feel.

• Nov 2025

  Toxic Cables Medusa 2

  Chosen from a shortlist of six cables, after I checked it suited the U18s.

• Dec 2025

  FiiO M21 and MUSE HiFi M6 Double

  A lighter player for days I don’t carry the SP3000T, auditioned at AV One, plus a portable tube amp I tried at Jaben on a friend’s advice.

• Jun 2026

  Astell&Kern SP4000

  Added after six months with the SP3000T. One is for relaxed listening, the other for hearing every layer.

One thing I didn’t expect: I felt a faint tingle in my ear while the player was charging from the wall. It never happened on battery or a power bank. If you feel it, unplug and get the charger checked.