The Complete Guide to High-End Audio Book

Do you remember home stereos? Do you ever actively listen to music, instead of merely having it play in the background while you do something else? Do you have any interest in learning how to listen to music that sounds better than what you hear when you stream music on your phone through a pair of earbuds? Then this is the book for you.

The organization of the book is clever, given the wide range of knowledge readers are likely to bring to the book. After some introductory chapters, the book proceeds through a home stereo system component-by-component. The chapters start with a general overview and some thoughts on what to look for when buying the relevant pieces, before digging deeper and deeper into the technology and important issues around each unit. The reader only needs to go as deep as they like before proceeding to the next link in the chain. While the focus of the book is on home stereos, there are also very helpful chapters on home theaters and personal digital technology (portable players, headphones, etc.).

I consider myself an audiophile, but I still learned a tremendous amount from this book. It will be a regular trusted resource as I continue to upgrade my home system in the years to come.

Note: this review relates to the Fifth Edition, published in 2015 (not the Third Edition pictured).