The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

This has to be the definitive book on the topic. There are so many people blathering uninformed opinions on the internets. Find your answers here.

The more I read this book, the more I like it. At the time I bought it, I already had the fourth edition of Harley's book; I'm happy to report that the twice revised sixth edition has expanded signifiantly to cover new technologies such as high-resolution streaming audio, downloads, and network-connected audio products, and much more.Harley's attitude toward the reader can best be appreciated when you compare his book to certain other audiophile books and online columns. At one extreme of this spectrum are two-channel purists who believe all receivers are bad and you must buy the specific separate components that they recommend; at the other extreme are generalists whose aim is primarily to teach you to set things up right without advocating or condemning any specific audio component. Harley wisely takes a middle ground, managing to be objective most of the time -- what to buy and not to buy (e.g. how to choose a loudspeaker) -- and subjective only where necessary, as when discussing soundstaging or musicality. He establishes his place on this spectrum with just the right mix of information and advice, avoiding snobbery at one extreme and overcooked generalizations at the other. He covers everything that could interest you, and probably many things you have never heard of. He is thorough -- exhaustive without being exhausting.Above all Harley speaks to music lovers, not audiophile equipment collectors. A musician himself, Harley always compares what he hears from the speakers and electronics with what he has played and remembers about live music he has played himself.This sixth edition of Robert Harley's "The Complete Guide to High-End Audio" is a classic that keeps improving. It is probably is the best source available on this subject anywhere.

Harley was unique in his depth and breath of understanding of the high-end Audio market and high-end Audio performance. This book is the lexicon of all that knowledge.Highly recommended for the beginner to the expert.

This is a comprehensive book on hifi that covers a lot of ground - basics to theory. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself taking some of the more anal recommendations with a grain of salt. For instance, I’m sure it happens, but I’m not going to take my brand new speaker apart to make sure the driver mounting bolts are secure. Nor am I going to lose sleep over my cables touching the floor.

It covers all topic on high-end audio theory and devices.

A lot of information to go over not a light read

Excellent throughout. A little technical at times but still easy to follow. Highly recommend.

This book does a great job of explaining specific hi fi topics that can't be found on the Internet. I'm an audiophile but not an audio designer or engineer. This book bridges that gap.