Ken Kessler.

It was stated up front that Kessler was talking on a video put on by a guy talking about the luxury life.  It's a big club and we're not in it video.  I found it interesting but it was a mile wide and an inch deep.

@richardbrand ​​@hotei     The tagline  "It’s About The Music" never existed(was a given fact) until a plethora of budget orientated YouTubers have spewed the notion that all one needs is mediocre audio components with little time, effort and money(plug n’ play) to enjoy music to the fullest level. Yes, some will fit this criteria even in the Audiophile hobby others that want to take a further pursuit should not be condemned. Maybe there is more admiration for music given the time, effort and money a serious Audiophile displays.

@dayglow 

plethora

Reminds me of a funeral condolence line where an elderly gentleman tried to comfort the widow by saying "plethora".

"Thanks" she replied "that means a lot to me" 

@tablejockey 

The host is pretentious and setting could be for a comedy skit goofing on "the good life."

I was surrounded by guys like the host at university.  Pretentious gits aka pseuds who knew little except the people who mattered, especially old-Etonians.  It is not what you know, it is who you know.

Nevertheless, I learned a lot about Ken Kessler from the "interview".  My takeaways include

• he is American, free of the British class system
• until recently, breakthroughs in recording technology have been driven by the needs of classical music
• in his view, Quad were the only manufacturer capable of producing leading amplifiers and leading speakers
• he does not use streaming
• he is clearly driven by his love of music rather than exotic gear

I first really came across Ken when I got his warts-and-all book about the history of Quad.  The book cost me close to A$20k but a couple of Quad electrostatics were thrown in with it. 

Since then, his reviews have helped me greatly with my decisions to purchase

• a Holbo Mk2 Air Bearing Turntable with linear-tracking arm
• a DS Audio optical cartridge

Together with a SoulNote Equalizer these have elevated my vinyl listening to levels I did not believe were possible, especially at prices that were more-or-less affordable.

So altogether, thank you Ken for an enjoyable interview, despite that annoying git.  I do agree with his display of Lagavulin 16-years old single malt, though

You can be a serious music lover without being an audiophile.  Being an audiophile is about the equipment and the music.  The level of gear you have and the joy it brings a very subjective.  I was a serious listener before I was a serious audiophile.  I love gear and the technology.  I have four systems in two rooms.  Each room has a tube and solid state system.  There is no right or wrong.  If you are judging someone because of how little or how much they spend on their equipment, then bad on you.  I like going to someone else's house and listening to their systems and their room.  It is such a cool hobby, I see no point in having a negative attitude about someone's gear or their music.  Lister on !