AudioSage — free audiophile app, looking for beta testers (Android)

[ctbarker32]

Hi everyone,

I am a long time member here and have interacted with many of you over time. As a dedicated Audiophile I am always looking for ways to improve my knowledge and stay up to date on the news.

I built a free Android app for the North American hi-fi community — upcoming show listings, industry news aggregator, and show report links all in one place. Working on getting it through Google's mandatory beta requirement (need 12 testers). Android users — would appreciate 2 minutes of your time.

I have created a google groups list. You join the list and the first message tells you how to access without giving out your email.

https://groups.google.com/g/audiosage-beta

What it does:

• AI assistant (Gemini-powered) trained to answer hi-fi questions — cartridge matching, phono stage gain, speaker placement, system synergy, etc.
• Aggregated news from Stereophile, Analog Planet, Darko Audio, Positive Feedback, Enjoy the Music, and others
• North American audio show calendar
• Quick links to the major audiophile forums and used-gear marketplaces (SHF, Audiogon, Reverb, etc.)
• Daily "Today in Hi-Fi" briefing

It's completely free — no ads, no subscription, no account required.

Honest feedback — good or bad — is very welcome. The whole point of the testing phase is to catch things before a wider release.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Redacted]

Laudable.
I already have too many apps though!

 

[ctbarker32]

I appreciate your response. I am really in need of testers to get my app to the store. If you could just join as a tester using the google groups link and then join. You don't even have to download. I just need registered testers. Thank you for you consideration.

 

[Redacted]

Fair enough - I've joined the group and have become a tester (but without the app)
I like people who make things more than most of the others!
I also like circumventing big tech....

 

[kemmler3D]

• AI assistant (Gemini-powered) trained to answer hi-fi questions — cartridge matching, phono stage gain, speaker placement, system synergy, etc.
• Aggregated news from Stereophile, Analog Planet, Darko Audio, Positive Feedback, Enjoy the Music, and others
• North American audio show calendar
• Quick links to the major audiophile forums and used-gear marketplaces (SHF, Audiogon, Reverb, etc.)
• Daily "Today in Hi-Fi" briefing

Nothing personal but this just sounds like a more efficient way to consume misinformation. ASR generally looks very skeptically at 99% of the output of these sites. Darko even blocks traffic from ASR. "System synergy" is considered a form of snake oil here. Etc.

 

[kemmler3D]

Fair enough - I've joined the group and have become a tester (but without the app)
I like people who make things more than most of the others!
I also like circumventing big tech....

It's not circumventing big tech, it's just pointing Google at a subset of audiophile writing.

 

[Redacted]

Circumventing their rules about having enough registered testers by not actually downloading or testing the app.
It's no big deal for me to help a member who's been on ASR for over 7 years....

 

[ctbarker32]

Nothing personal but this just sounds like a more efficient way to consume misinformation. ASR generally looks very skeptically at 99% of the output of these sites. Darko even blocks traffic from ASR. "System synergy" is considered a form of snake oil here. Etc.

I understand your skepticism but I believe my app has something for everyone and there are links to this forum and news sites such as Enjoy the Music that primarily do news reporting. Plus, the built in AI advisor is genuinely useful to almost everyone for quickly answering technical questions as well as finding products to consider such as "Top CD players" which just lists trending products without trying to push an agenda. The AI is tuned to be hifi gear aware not just a generic AI. For free, and a little bit of you time you might find some features helpful by bring many sites together under one organized app. Thanks for your consideration.

 

[Burnsy1]

I'm giving it a whirl.

 

[ctbarker32]

Nothing personal but this just sounds like a more efficient way to consume misinformation. ASR generally looks very skeptically at 99% of the output of these sites. Darko even blocks traffic from ASR. "System synergy" is considered a form of snake oil here. Etc.

Maybe I could add a filter to the app that only features sites that are more like ASR (Audioholics?) for instance? Maybe a slider scale between pure factual science measurement based and ears only at the other extreme to tune what the app presents. This could happen but only if I can get over the hurdle and get it posted to the store.

 

[ctbarker32]

Nothing personal but this just sounds like a more efficient way to consume misinformation. ASR generally looks very skeptically at 99% of the output of these sites. Darko even blocks traffic from ASR. "System synergy" is considered a form of snake oil here. Etc.

How's this for responsive programmng. I've added a slider in the settings that you can use to tilt the app to your philosophy. It's not in the app yet but I will post soon. Why not install and give a try when I post the update?

 

[john61ct]

Joined tested, left feedback in Play.

Nice work!

 

[john61ct]

ASR isn't "anti test with your ears"

Just not to trust them too much if you value objectivity, don't think one person's subjective impressions should count for others.

Even Dr @Floyd Toole harnesses subjectivity (in service of objectivity!), by using controlled level-matched blind ABX testing panels with enough rounds for statistically valid numbers.

"the final arbiter of sound quality is two ears and the brain — a human listener"

Is perfectly valid for your own personal product selection and system tuning!

 

[Timcognito]

Different from https://daily.audio/ ?

 

[ctbarker32]

Different from https://daily.audio/ ?

Daily audio is great. My app has greater ambitions. And I do have a link to DailyAudio in the app. Give the app a try you might like it?

 

[john61ct]

I switch between 3+ devices throughout the day and only rely on apps with good sync'ing, especially for keeping up with forums / news feeds etc

I had a lovely convo with Gemini on one phone, but even after 30min it does not show up on the other instances.

All are logged in using the same gMail identity.

 

[ctbarker32]

The "philosophy" filter will be in tonight's build. Why not signup as a tester and give it a shot. It's pretty cool.

[email protected] - Google Groups

groups.google.com

 

[john61ct]

So is lack of sync'ing History per login, as intended?

 

[ctbarker32]

So is lack of sync'ing History per login, as intended?

I'm not sure what you are asking. If you are asking about the Assistant UI that has a a history tab. All your previous searches will be saved in History and will instantly recall. If you do several searches in one session the all of them will be saved under one history. If you want to save each individual search then hit new chat each time for each new search. The history is saved and recallable even after exiting app and returning. If you see no history perhaps you are hitting clear by accident. Maybe the clear and X to close are too close to one another?

 

[ctbarker32]

New build is live. In play store go to manage devices and find AudioSage in list and select you should see update button. You will know you are in the new build because you will see the "philosophy" popup. Once you choose you will be in that mode until you change in the about screen. There is a bug that doesn't instantly refresh the home screen but the "philosophy" is in effect and you will see in Assistant, etc. and in what Industry sites are listed.