Robert Harley – Complete Guide To High-End Audio (6th Edition)

The Industry Standard: Robert Harley’s The Complete Guide to High-End Audio Updated for its 6th Edition, Filled with Tips to Help Music Lovers Save Time and Money

Some books become so universally read, respected, and praised that they become a standard reference source for everyone in a field or hobby. That is certainly the case with Robert Harley’s landmark work The Complete Guide to High-End Audio, which has been the world’s best-selling book on high-performance audio since 1994. More than 200,000 copies have been sold in five languages.

Now the guide has been thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded for its sixth edition. Published in 2021, the new edition contains the latest information on dozens of topics: the vinyl revolution, computer audio, music servers, wireless streaming, networked audio, high-resolution downloads, portable audio, headphones, desktop audio, loudspeaker technology, power conditioning, and more. This revised edition contains everything you need to know about purchasing and getting the most from any true, high-end audio system.

Harley, the editor-in-chief of The Absolute Sound magazine, helps you to become a better listener and better buyer of high-fidelity components. For decades, music lovers and devout audiophiles have turned to Harley’s book for education, enlightenment, and entertainment. Written in language that’s easy to understand, Harley shows readers how to select the best audio equipment to fit a budget; how to identify the weak links in a system; how to make smart decisions about upgrades; how to set up and tweak a system for maximum performance; how to read equipment reviews; and most of all, how to become a more perceptive and appreciative listener. This book simply makes hi-fi more fun.

With its 15 fact-filled chapters and three appendices — covering everything from the basics to technical matters — this book will allow you to benefit from Harley’s more than 32 years of reviewing experience. This indispensable book will save you time and money, and it will enable you to avoid common pitfalls. One key to Harley’s success is his astute ability to write prose that is aimed at beginners and experienced listeners alike.

“The best book ever written about hi-fi…. All your answers are here, written in the graceful, meticulous, easy-to-understand prose of a genuine master.”
—Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound

“Before you make a mistake, buy Robert Harley’s book.”
—Sam Tellig, Stereophile

“This is one valuable book, rich in information and insight.”
—Dennis Krishnan, High-End Magazine

“Its impressive breadth and depth make it a valuable guide to audio’s gold mine…. You’ll learn valuable things from Harley’s book, not just at first reading but as you come back to it over and over.”
—Peter Moncrieff, International Audio Review