You didn't go
looking for this
Hobby. It found you.
One pair of headphones turned into a pile of gear, an empty wallet, and a never-ending rabbit hole. Welcome to The Reluctant Audiophile.
This isn't an expert channel.
It's a confession.
I'm not here to tell you what's best. I'm here to figure that out (badly), question everything, and occasionally justify another questionable purchase.
Join me for honest reviews, expensive mistakes, and the occasional win.
HONEST REVIEWS
Real opinions from a very real journey.
WORTH THE MONEY?
We question the price, so you don't have to.
AUDIOPHILE CULTURE
Taking the hobby seriously. Not ourselves.
THE ARSE SCORE
Because five stars were clearly too sensible.
Every review gets judged using the only scoring system honest enough for this ridiculous hobby.
Audio
How good does it actually sound when you stop staring at graphs and start using your ears?
Regret
How likely are you to wake up tomorrow wondering why PayPal was allowed unsupervised access to your life?
Spend
Does the price make sense, or is this another financial crime dressed up as “resolution”?
Enjoyment
The bit that matters most. Did it make me want to keep listening, or start browsing returns policies?
The higher the ARSE, the better the gear. Probably.
The Manifesto
The Reluctant Audiophile
Manifesto
A collection of opinions that are either completely correct or wildly irresponsible.
No. 01
"I believe frequency response graphs are maps, not destinations."
No. 02
"I believe a £50 IEM can sometimes beat a £500 one."
No. 03
"I believe spending more money and enjoying music more are not the same thing."
No. 04
"I believe most of us have bought gear because somebody on the internet told us to."
No. 05
"I believe anyone spending £400 on a USB cable should be interviewed."
No. 06
"I believe 'just one more upgrade' is the biggest lie in audio."
No. 07
"I believe goosebumps matter more than measurements."
No. 08
"I believe every audiophile secretly knows this hobby is ridiculous."
No. 09
"I believe I'd do it all again."
You didn't go looking for this hobby.
It found you.
Self-Diagnosis
How Far Gone Are You?
A completely unscientific assessment of your current condition.
Still normal.
Run while you can.
Start Here
New to the hobby?
So was I.
The Story
How a perfectly sensible person accidentally became an audiophile.
READ MY STORY →The Rules
The ARSE Score, the manifesto, and why enjoyment beats measurements.
LEARN THE RULES →The Gear
Reviews, mistakes, recommendations and financially questionable decisions.
SEE REVIEWS →Warning
Reading any further may result in:
- Unnecessary DAC purchases
- Strong opinions about cables
- Browsing audio forums after midnight
- A sudden interest in balanced outputs
From The Reviews Desk
Latest ARSE Scores
DACs & Amps
FiiO K13
"Warm, musical and dangerously easy to enjoy."
DACs & Amps
Topping DX5 II
"The DAC that finally made me understand what people mean by ‘reference’ — once they stop shouting about it."
IEMs
Simgot EA500LM
"The £90 IEM that makes most £400 ones look slightly embarrassed."
REVIEWS
Headphones, amps, DACs and more.
OPINION
Thoughts, takes and questionable logic.
GUIDES
Stuff I've learned (the hard and expensive way).
LIFE IN AUDIO
The stories behind the pile of gear.
Don't miss the next expensive mistake
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