Dave Okafor
Value & Giant-Killers Contributor
Based in Gold Coast, QLD
I'm Dave, and I'm the cheapskate of the team — and proud of it. My whole thing is finding the gear that punches three times above its price, the so-called "giant-killers," because most people don't have forty grand for a system and shouldn't feel bad about it. I've heard the megabucks stuff, and a lot of it is gloriously good; I've also heard $800 setups that get you 85% of the way there. I'll always tell you where the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
22 published articles · most recent August 19, 2026
I'm Dave, and I'm the cheapskate of the team — and proud of it.
My whole thing is finding the gear that punches three times above its price, the so-called "giant-killers," because most people don't have forty grand for a system and shouldn't feel bad about it.
I've heard the megabucks stuff and a lot of it is gloriously good. I've also heard $800 setups that get you 85% of the way there — and I'll always tell you where the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
Articles by Dave Okafor
Class D amps have won the value war. Here's why I'm still not 100% soldClass D amps now deliver serious power for giant-killer money. Dave Okafor breaks down what you actually gain, and give up, versus solid-state and valve gear.
Subwoofer output limiting: the setting that quietly ruins cheap subsMost budget subs sound worse the harder you push them because of built-in limiter behaviour, not the driver. Here's how to find the real ceiling.- Watts on paper vs watts that matter: matching amp power to real speakersWhy the watts-per-channel number on the box tells you almost nothing useful, and how to actually match an amplifier to a speaker without overspending.
- Budget subwoofer, right spot: why placement beats price every timeA cheap subwoofer in the right spot will beat an expensive one shoved in the wrong corner. Here's how to find that spot without buying anything.
DAC chip specs are marketing. Here's what actually decides sound qualityESS, AKM or a "flagship" chip name tells you almost nothing about how a DAC sounds. Here's what genuinely separates a good one from a dud, on any budget.
Cheap headphones, expensive amp: the value equation nobody talks aboutMost budgets go straight to the headphones. I reckon that's backwards for a lot of desktop rigs — here's the maths on why the source and amp deserve first dibs.
Phono stage budget: how much do you actually need to spend?Phono stages range from $50 to $5,000. Dave Okafor cuts through the hype to show where the money genuinely matters — and where it really doesn't.- Streamers under $500: do you really need to spend more?Dave Okafor asks whether budget network streamers can genuinely hold their own against pricier rivals — and what you actually lose if you don't spend up.
- IEM versus full-size headphones: where your money goes further under $500Trying to decide between IEMs and full-size headphones on a tight budget? Dave Okafor breaks down where each format punches hardest below $500.
- Second-hand standmounts vs new floorstanders: where your money goes furtherWhen your speaker budget sits between $800 and $3,000, the choice between a used standmount and a new floorstander isn't obvious. Here's how to think through it.
- Tidal vs Spotify vs Apple Music vs Qobuz: which streaming service is worth paying for in Australia?Four streaming services, very different price points and audio quality claims. Dave Okafor cuts through the marketing to find out which one actually deserves your money.
- Cheap DACs vs expensive ones: where the money actually goesSpending $150 or $1,500 on a DAC? Dave Okafor breaks down what you actually get for the money — and where the law of diminishing returns kicks in hard.
- How to build a multiroom audio system without blowing your budgetMultiroom audio doesn't have to cost a fortune. Dave Okafor breaks down the real options, the traps, and the ecosystems worth your money in Australia.
- Do you actually need an external DAC, or is your device good enough?Dave Okafor cuts through the DAC upgrade hype: when a dedicated converter genuinely improves your sound, and when it's just expensive placebo.
KEF Coda W review: real hi-fi from an all-in-one active standmount under $1,000KEF's revived Coda W packs 12th-gen Uni-Q, 100W Class D per side and a full input suite into an active standmount at US$999/pair. Is this the giant-killer the market needed?
Dali Sonik 1 review: entry-level standmounts that punch far above their priceThe Dali Sonik 1 costs AU$849/pair and delivers a level of refinement that embarrasses plenty of speakers at twice the price. Dave Okafor puts them to the test.
Pioneer's SPHERA brings Dolby Atmos spatial-audio music to any car via CarPlayPioneer's SPHERA DMH-WT8000NEX is the world's first aftermarket in-dash receiver with Dolby Atmos via Apple CarPlay — and at $1,299.99 USD, it's a genuine game-changer.
Australia's biggest hi-fi show locks in Melbourne for October 2026The StereoNET Australian Hi-Fi & AV Show returns to Melbourne's Pullman Albert Park in October 2026 — here's what's confirmed and why you should already be planning your trip.
Synergy Audio Visual takes over ATC hi-fi distribution in AustraliaMelbourne's Synergy Audio Visual is now the official Australian distributor for ATC's hi-fi range, unifying AU and NZ coverage under one roof.
Auracast moves into theatres as UK venues commit to assistive broadcastShakespeare's Globe, the National Theatre and Southbank Centre have committed to Auracast by 2030. Here's what broadcast audio means for public spaces — and for you.
Auracast, LE Audio and LC3: the broadcast era of Bluetooth beginsGoogle's Android 16 update put Auracast on Pixel phones. Here's what LE Audio and LC3 actually mean for your headphones and wallet.
Lossless over Bluetooth stops being a flagship luxuryXiaomi Buds 6 and EarFun Wave Pro X bring bit-exact CD-quality Bluetooth under EUR 150. Here's what aptX Lossless actually requires — and why it matters.