The HiFi Hobbyist Podcast

Two AIs walked into a bar and discussed the NAD3020 amplifier

This week’s podcast is a discussion about the NAD thirty twenty amplifier, probably the best-selling hi-fi amplifier in history, and arguably, the most influential budget Hi-Fi component in history. It follows on from the story of my relationship with the amplifier on the main HiFi Hobbyist site and last week’s podcast covering the amplifier in more detail
This week’s music is Liszt’s piano transcription of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, and a recording of Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto No5, both supplied by musopen.org. This recording has been placed in the public domain.

The NAD 3020 amplifier: the most popular hifi amplifier of all time

The NAD 3020 is almost certainly the best-selling hi-fi amplifier in history. Including its various iterations, it reportedly sold 1.1 million units. I bought one of those 1.1 million units in 1980. On the main hifihobbyist.net website, I have told the story of my forty-five-year-old relationship with this iconic amplifier. In this podcast, we will tell the story of its origins, technical innovations and its legacy.
This week’s music is Liszt’s piano transcription of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, and a recording of Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto No.5, both supplied by musopen.org. This recording has been placed in the public domain.

Two AIs walked into a bar and discussed the CD

In this weeks podcast, we feature a discussion of last week's podcast about why HiFi Hobbyists are prone to impulse buying. This discussion is generated using technology and then checked by the HiFi Hobbyist before publication.

The past, present and future of the CD

This podcast deals with the past, present and future of the CD. It was inspired by a recent videocast at hifihobbyist.net that asked if a CD revival was underway. The podcast goes into much more detail and is accompanied by Mozart's Clarinet Concerto.

Two AIs walked into a bar and discussed the causes of impulse buying

In this weeks podcast, we feature a discussion of last week's podcast about why HiFi Hobbyists are prone to impulse buying. This discussion is generated using technology and then checked by the HiFi Hobbyist before publication.

Why do we impulse buy HiFi equipment?

This podcast from the HiFi Hobbyist describes a recent experience of impulse buying and then explores the science behind impulse buying to try to understand more about the reasons why it happens

Professor Peter Smith RIP in memory of a wonderful man and a life time of gigs

This is the first of our one-off special edition podcasts.
Professor Peter Smith was a remarkable academic and teacher, a wonderful human being, and the most remarkable live music fan, a passion he recorded faithfully on his blog at myvintagerock.com. Peter died after a short illness on 27th May 2025. I am proud to have been his friend for thirty-five years. He lived his entire life in Sunderland but was loved all over the world by his former students and colleagues. His daughter posted a wonderful tribute on myvintagerock.com.
Back in the early days of the hifihobbyist.net, I published a conversation with Peter about his life of attending gigs and his meticulous record of each one. We reproduce that interview here and encourage you to read more about the man and his music at  mmyvintagerock.com.
This podcast, aimed at music lovers and audio enthusiasts, has developed from the hifihobbyist.net website where you can view videocasts, read blogs and, prior to the launch of this podcast, listen to generated discussions about the material. Because they are aimed at music lovers, the podcasts feature an eclectic range of music to accompany the words. The choice of music is like the Scottish weather: if you don't like it currently, there'll a be different choice along shortly (in the next episode). All our music choices are licensed appropriately and specific choices are designed to complement that weeks topic. This week we have chosen loud punk style music for our friend Peter Smith!

Two AIs walked into a bar and discussed turntable mats

In this weeks podcast, we feature a discussion of last week's podcast about the role of turntable mats. This discussion is generated using technology and then checked by the HiFi Hobbyist before publication. This podcast, aimed at music lovers and audio enthusiasts, has developed from the hifihobbyist.net website where you can view videocasts, read blogs and, prior to the launch of this podcast, listen to generated discussions about the material. Because they are aimed at music lovers, the podcasts feature an eclectic range of music to accompany the words. The choice of music is like the Scottish weather: if you don't like it currently, there'll a be different choice along shortly (in the next episode) All our music choices are licensed appropriately and specific choices are designed to complement that weeks topic.

Turntable mats – snake oil – or scientific innovation?

This podcast looks in depth at the role that turntable mats play in the replay of vinyl records. This podcast, aimed at music lovers and audio enthusiasts, has developed from the hifihobbyist.net website where you can view videocasts, read blogs and, prior to the launch of this podcast, listen to generated discussions about the material. Because they are aimed at music lovers, the podcasts feature an eclectic range of music to accompany the words. The choice of music is like the Scottish weather: if you don't like it currently, there'll a be different choice along shortly (in the next episode) All our music choices are licensed appropriately and specific choices are designed to complement that weeks topic. Mussorgsky and Ravel are still the music choice of the week.

Introduction to the HiFi Hobbyist

This is our introduction to our new podcast series from the HiFi Hobbyist. This podcast, aimed at music lovers and audio enthusiasts, has developed from the hifihobbyist.net website where you can view videocasts, read blogs and prior to the launch of this podcast listen to generated discussions about the material. Because they are aimed at music lovers, the podcasts feature an eclectic range of music to accompany the words. The choice of music is like the Scottish weather: if you don't like it currently, there'll a be different choice along shortly (in the next episode) All our music choices are licensed appropriately and specific choices are designed to complement that weeks topic. We start with some Mussorgsky and Ravel.