Steve Crutchfield on affordable audio
From Who am I and why do I think the things I do? · · OldGuyHifi
“You don't need to spend a lot of money — you can have a really good audio system and not spend a lot; I put together an affordable system for a college professor and he became the most passionate audiophile I ever knew.”
On , Steve Crutchfield, CEO at Chicago Trading Company, spoke about affordable audio during Who am I and why do I think the things I do? on OldGuyHifi.
About Steve Crutchfield
In a March 2024 video on his "Old Guy Hi-Fi" YouTube channel, Steve Crutchfield introduced himself and shared his philosophy on audio and audiophilia. He stated that being an audiophile is defined by enthusiasm for music rather than the cost of equipment, and that "you don't need to spend a lot of money" to have a good system. Crutchfield expressed concern that older enthusiasts may create barriers for younger people, noting that listening on phones with wireless earbuds is not what he considers high-fidelity listening. He also advised that trade shows are poor places to judge sound and recommended buying from retailers with liberal return policies. Crutchfield described his own system, which includes a Cambridge AXR-100 receiver, Schiit components, and Elac speakers, noting that he shopped carefully for B-stock and open-box items to get the sound he wanted without paying full price. He encouraged viewers to focus on music as a way to improve health and lower blood pressure, stating that "the only person that's got to like your system is you."
This quote was transcribed and extracted with AI assistance from a verified, first-person interview, then reviewed by our team to confirm the speaker and the exact wording. See how we verify →