Common misconceptions of Hi-fi - some thoughts from Lou Fink:

1. In the early eighties two audio giants of the time, Linn and Naim had discovered the following. Both companies had decided that the only way they could improve the music reproduction of their systems was to rethink the parameters by which they would evaluate them. They realized that most of the terms used to describe HiFi systems, such as “imaging”, “soundstage”, “depth”, “smoothness” etc… were non-musical terms. Audiophile terms have nothing to do with music and simply describe artifacts of the recording and play back process and are not evident when listening to live music. They seem innocent enough, but Linn and Naim found that attempting to emphasize those factors always led to diminishing the system’s ability to faithfully reproduce the two musical factors: the TWO FACTORS most apparent in live music!!! They shared with their dealers their method of judging their equipment, which was easily demonstrated to the customer. They decided to look at music reproduction only from the standpoint of the same two parameters:

a. Pitch Resolution (keeping the tune)

b. Rhythmic Coherence (keeping the beat)

Thereafter, systems sold at Underground Audio are entirely capable of faithfully conveying the emotional intent of the music.

2. HiFi’s cost too much

During the Vietnam war years home music systems de-volved into just another mass-produced segment of the home appliance business. Previously, in the 1950’s, the HiFi system was considered in the same light as a fine piano for the home. It cost as much as a piano, because craftsmanship and ingenuity have inherent value.

With a good HiFi, everyone in the family can enjoy good music. We think that our real competition is not other audio shops, but television. Most people say that they really don’t listen to music any more; we believe that this is because the systems that they are trying to play music on are hopelessly incapable of playing the tune, therefore they give up and watch TV. Who wants to listen to a pitiful attempt at playing music in your house? By having good HiFi in your home you will quickly begin to experience music in a most gratifying way.

3. It is too complicated

When HiFi began in the 1950’s, systems were very simple to use and easy to setup. However, over time the audio industry’s ability to profit from gimmicky features rather than doing the necessary things to provide good sound proved too tempting for manufacturers. Today when you walk into most HiFi shops audio buzz words are thrown at you like tomato’s and you are expected to play along and be interested in how the “technology of the week” is going to save you from bad sound. We do not believe this is how HiFi should be presented.

Audio Underground designs systems with usability in mind. All of our systems consist of just three elements:

1. The Source(s)

2. The Amplifier(s)

3. The Loudspeakers

We insist on all the components having simple controls - no more, no less… For example most electronics these days have tone controls, equalizers, loudness buttons, and “surround modes” and so on….

We intentionally take a simpler approach. Our electronics only provide a source or input selector and a volume/balance control. Our turntables are simple, high-resolution straight-forward designs. The CD players have simple remotes for easy playability. Our loudspeakers are pleasingly simple designs and of reasonable size.

4. I do not think I can hear a difference.

One of the long-standing “urban” legends in the audio industry is that you will only appreciate a HiFi if you have a “golden ear”. This could not be further from the truth. One of the first things to realize about “golden ear” audiophiles is that they are not really listening to music - they are listening to SOUND! This type of listening, though interesting in a hobby setting, has nothing to do with good musical reproduction in your home.

We do not expect our customers to be audio “connoisseurs”. What we do hope is that they are really excited by the prospect of having realistic music reproduction in their homes. We are completely open to demonstrating the way to tell the difference between good and bad music reproduction. As stated earlier this is easily accomplished by showing you how to listen for the “tune” and “beat”.

5. I just like music – I do not need special equipment.

Another common misconception is that people think we listen to six special “audiophile” jazz records on our big expensive HiFi’s and do not listen to REAL music.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Our systems are designed for musical enjoyment, not for the reproduction of sound. Our dedication to this is evident through our fanatical pursuit of systems that can keep the “tune” and “beat” in the same way those good musicians do. A common result of someone finally getting a great HiFI is that their musical tastes broaden to many different kinds of music.

The reason for this is that when a system is doing a poor job, one tends to play familiar music. It takes too much effort to continually mentally repair bad attempts at playing music to explore anything un-familiar.