Darko's 'Best of 2023'

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Күн бұрын

This episode is brought to you by Marantz:
www.marantz.com/en/
🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan
🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video - and other videos - can be found on PATREON: / johndarko
0:00 Intro
0:33 Electronic music
2:06 Room treatments
4:59 Portable audio
6:37 Dynamic range
7:40 Touchscreens
8:41 What about music?
9:45 Streaming troubles
11:43 The 'best' speakers of 2023
👉 As seen in this video...
Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View
🛒 amzn.to/475czzt
Alva Noto - HY-brid II
🛒 amzn.to/48544pq
Laurel Halo - Atlas
🛒 amzn.to/3RxiEiE
Fever Ray - Radical Romantics
🛒 amzn.to/3NAfjOq
Zu DWX
📺 darko.audio/2023/08/zu-dwx-vi...
Klipsch 'The Sevens'
📺 darko.audio/2023/07/klipsch-t...
KEF R3 Meta
📺 darko.audio/2023/09/kef-r3-me...
Vicoustic room treatment
📺 darko.audio/2023/02/the-jaw-d...
Resident Advisor on Tidal lay-offs
📖 ra.co/news/79912
Fast Company on Spotify lay-offs
📖 www.fastcompany.com/90992072/...
Streaming platform by Roon
🛒 roon.link/affiliate/darko
Cables and power products by AudioQuest
🛒 howl.me/ckbW8ZBoZAg
Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel
🛒 howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi
Room treatment by Vicoustic
📖 vicoustic.com/
Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a '🛒'.
#bestof2023 #2023 #hifi
__________________________________________________________________
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3) All comments here are moderated by a third party
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darko.audio/2021/10/how-our-y...
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darko.audio/2020/10/why-im-sw...
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• What the bloody hell a...
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__________________________________________________________________
🎧 Check out the Darko.Audio podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
open.spotify.com/show/1mnKixp...
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__________________________________________________________________
Web: Darko.Audio
Instagram: / darkoaudio

Пікірлер: 831

@aaronfrench8322 6 ай бұрын

I personally believe physical CDs are probably the most underrated modern format for listening to music. There’s something about CDs quality, sound, and consistency that I just absolutely love! And yes I still personally still stream via Tidal and Spotify and enjoy vinyl as well, but when I put on a CD, there’s just something different and special there for me!

@ErwalDeeas 6 ай бұрын

Just went from a sound bar to a pair of Klipsch The Nines. You are 1,000% percent correct on "don't get a sound bar, get a pair of stereo speakers".

@andrewbrazier9664 6 ай бұрын

That's a huge step up 🎶👍

@dajuice4200 6 ай бұрын

I went to the fives from a soundbar. It is worth it. Did you hear the sevens?

@caidNL 6 ай бұрын

@@dajuice4200 I also went for the fives, with the flat response I'm pretty happy with the result Vs how little space they take up !

@bruno_mart 6 ай бұрын

Unless you’re married and planning to put them in the living room.

@dan-sc7fm 6 ай бұрын

@@bruno_martanother reason not to get married.

@2shoestoo 6 ай бұрын

Cds, vinyl and streaming all day everyday. Retired and always have music playing while doing hobbies.

@John-the-Bass 6 ай бұрын

Yes, I still listen to CD,s. I like the quality

@58markmc 6 ай бұрын

No room treatment. I've been married for 42 years-that's why I'm still married.

@ivantrump4022 6 ай бұрын

The moment you make streaming ’considerably more expensive’, everyone will just stop paying for it and everyone will pirate all their music.

@cardinalfang7725 6 ай бұрын

Glad your vision sounds like it's improving. I still buy CD's. Between black friday and today I've purchased another 70+. Every release that I would buy still comes out on CD. The day I find it too much of a chore to get up and change a CD is the day I realize I've become a world class lazy ass.

@gebo1103 6 ай бұрын

I’m an old fashioned guy (well, a tribute to my age), but I’m very open to the technology of our days. I play CDs, Vinyls, and I stream music. However, my favorites are my vinyl records. When you look at the cover of an album, read the informations about the musicians and the recording, and look at the photographs... and then placing the LP on your player and „preparing“ it for the playback - you feel a connection to this music you won’t get by streaming it. CDs are a bit inbetween. Definitely more comfortable to handle than vinyl, but still with that little booklet about the recording - and it’s music you can touch and hold in your hand before playing it. Sound quality? Not really a matter of the source you are getting your music from, but much more a matter of how good a recording is mixed and mastered. My humble opinion.

@munkienl1 6 ай бұрын

I read a funny article in the Dutch press today. A Dutch company that made central heating installations went bankrupt. They had an app to control the heating. That app stopped working. The heating system can't be controlled manually... Same thing with the hip Van Moof electric bikes. My CDP was made in 1988 and it still gets the job done. And it has a PLAY button which still works. My turntable was made in the early 1970's.

@andyvdr 6 ай бұрын

As one that also struggles with vision issues-glad you made it out the other side. My ‘23 was a long recovery from a motorcycle wreck. Here’s to a positive 2024 for all.

@turboplopp 6 ай бұрын

Best episode EVER! Thanks for speaking out on streaming and room acoustics, couldn't agree more!

@noblesavage23 6 ай бұрын

I bought a place in the Hollywood Hills that was built in 1966 with original "popcorn or cottage cheese" ceilings. The acoustics are outstanding. I would imagine that's why some folks refer to them as acoustic ceilings.

@SMccrate01 6 ай бұрын

Thanks John for the recommendation of Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View! Streaming on Amazon HD and it is right in my wheelhouse, really great weekend afternoon music!

@JohnJones-wo1bc 6 ай бұрын

I am very pleased to hear that you are on the mend, John. I wish you all the best for 2024.

@dirkholl2512 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for a great wrap up to the year. I kept my full CD collection over the past 32 years and have been adding to it substantially over the past year again after purchasing the Audiolab 7000CDT 😊

@chrisdzak3903 6 ай бұрын

2023 was the year I discovered Darko. I listened to John and avoided the sound bar, and now I have two systems. Thanks for giving me the directions to find my speakers even though the ones I own are not ones you recommended. It was the knowledge of my own budget/ears that drove my decision. I’ll keep watching for fun now instead of research, though I’ll still buy new stuff.

@tallpaull9367 6 ай бұрын

I love streaming and never dealing with CD’s anymore.

@mattupload5808 6 ай бұрын

Thank you, John, for a great year. We appreciate you and your team. All the best for 2024!

@barrymiller3385 Ай бұрын

I tend to use cds mainly for classical music now. It is not always easy to find a particular recording on streaming services. But when I buy a cd now I tend to rip it straight away and play it off a hard drive attached to my streamer.

@NicolaDiNisio 6 ай бұрын

Yes, I do have a fully acoustically treated room. Basotect panels, including in the ceiling. Helmholtz resonators (43 Hz node in my room), acoustic carpet (for mids reflections) and finally a sub used to subtract bass. Yes. I. Wrote. Subtract. Bass 😅. The sub is strategically placed and setup to further fight that 43 Hz node I have at my listening position. And it does wonders. I spent many hours with REW and the UMIK 1 to find the best position and tuning. Now I'm really happy with my room and setup. And I can see that by the number of hours I spend listening to my music 😊

@blairholmesproductionsinc.9432 6 ай бұрын

Yay John! You’re so right on in the topics you address! Yes- the gear is a huge part of enjoyment and as you’ve said before, looks are important too! As a musician (on the side) the streaming services are dreadful for the artists. I agree that a new model is the answer - and should favor the artist far more than it currently does. My “best of 2023” has your show at the top. Thank you!

@Spleen250 6 ай бұрын

Merci à toi!!!!

@judebronner9520 6 ай бұрын

excellent video! I loved the variety in your favorites of 2023, and how it did not solely cover speakers/amps!

@adamhindle9215 6 ай бұрын

Room treatment. Yes, definitely. I have homemade sound diffusers behind the speakers and a diffuser/absorber behind the listening position. The system itself sits on an isolated wall shelf, and the speakers are isolated from the floor. Lots of experimentation and a much improved response. As said, it's amazing to see so many expensive systems in bad rooms.

@janokero 6 ай бұрын

I have CDs, and I am keeping them, I am coming back to listening to music after a period where I got married, had a child, lived at rented places, with father in law taking care of him after mother in law passed away suddenly, now in spring will be 2 years that we have our own house and I did come accross my CD colection when unpacking boxes. And when we moved in I was lookong forward to get back to my music and to start buying new music, as I stopped about 13 years ago when my daughter was born. But Then Streaming services cought my attention, and Tidal lossless quality is really good deal. We pay family membership monthly less than price of 1 CD and almost unlimited resource of CD quality music. So I purchased streamer for my old stereo and showed my wife and daughter how to use it. I also bought little streaming amp and 2-hand speakers for kitchen, paired living room with kitchen and we are having a blast at home. So I guess what I am saying is that I am not giving up my CDs, but I fell for the convenience and sheer variety of streaming, also very favourable pricing.

@pseunok 3 ай бұрын

in Japan here, still listen to CDs, love the format, good combo between high quality and the whole physical / tactile thing. Anything that i cannot listen on CD, i love burning on a MD

@earlfenwick 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for another great year (for us at least) John. Glad you're doing better. I guess it's about time to Patreon you. 😊

@danwheetman6914 6 ай бұрын

All the best John. May the returning Light fill your home and your Heart with music and Joy. Wishing you a Cool Yule and a very Happy New Year.

@gavinhall4112 6 ай бұрын

Just to say Jon, that I'm ever so grateful for your videos, and the podcasts help keep me company on my frequent and long commute by car. Wishing you and the team every blessing this Christmas, and look forward to whatever you bring us in 2024.

@claudiomartinez7188 6 ай бұрын

Darko, personally, when buying the Eversolo A6 this year, it wasn’t because of the touch screen, it was for the big colorful screen. I only used the touch screen for initial setup and sometimes when the unit doesn’t respond from the mobile phone app. Cheers and happy holidays!

@58markmc 6 ай бұрын

All my CDs have been transferred to my Bluesound Vault and then boxed up and put away. I plan to start buying used CDs for cheap to add to the vault. I do have a collection of vinyl still.

@kojo_agyei 6 ай бұрын

We truly appreciate your work, Darko!!!

@lokerola 6 ай бұрын

Yep, I have a small basement listening room and treatment is critical. I have diffusors and sound absorbers on all walls and a few on the ceiling. I love the sound.

@clintsheesley8449 6 ай бұрын

I only use physical source material. Vinyl, CD and cassette. I'll never stop because I don't want to.

@atishaysingh5114 6 ай бұрын

Great Job Darko... Merry Christmas, Happy New Year... Happy Holidays...😊

@axelviarhilmarsson6317 6 ай бұрын

Yes I play mainly CDs - followed the LP flow and bought some 200 records in 1/2 years. But found very quickly that it was not justified (for me) to justify the LP playing (via my old Technics SL-10 with the original MC pickup) instead of CDs - the CDs are so handy, easy, and "longer" then the LP /dont have to be turning a record every 20 min/. Bought very good CD player (Yamaha CD-S2100) and amplifier (Yamaha A-S2200) and I have to listen to all my CDs again - the "sound stage" is just so nice now, better than my previous system. Playing this via my old faithfool Sonus Faber loudspeakers with a large Sonus Faber subwoofer (3x10 inch). Thanks for your streaming Darko.

@syanhc 6 ай бұрын

Thank you❤

@alwynralphs8433 5 ай бұрын

great vids John, hope the eye gets even better this year. well done for all the hard work team darko.

@darrensworkshop6783 5 ай бұрын

I only use streaming to find new music then buy the CD and fully listen.

@user-pf9nk7uy3z 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for a year of great videos! I appreciate your approach to equipment reviews, composition of shots and tasteful presentation. Well done sir!

@stuartneil8682 6 ай бұрын

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year John. I’m Looking forward to your videos next year. 🎉

@RedSinter 6 ай бұрын

Yes, I DO AND I'M NOT STOPPING!

@shunpillay 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for a great year of videos John. I enjoyed every minute. Hope you have a better 2024.

@sap1281 6 ай бұрын

I got back into cds this year. I have Amazon HD streaming and was never really satisfied with the sound quality. I tried 3 different streaming devices with the same results. Something seemed wrong. I thought it was my system even though I have decent equipment. Then I compared (supposedly) HD and Ultra HD songs from Amazon to the same songs on cds that I own. It was night and day difference. The cds sounded better. Not just a little bit better. A lot better. Now I use the streaming to see if I like an album then go buy the cd.

@lonestar1664 6 ай бұрын

Because of the all hassel of treating room acoustics and spending countless money down the drain, I switched to headphones and head-fi. the best decision I have ever made.

@elbebe1000 6 ай бұрын

Happy holidays and than you for such a great information and job.

@kferrandCRB 6 ай бұрын

I’ve only been watching this channel a few months and I’m in no way a hardcore audiophile it I must say I really enjoy the videos - thanks!

@boballard6040 6 ай бұрын

I'm in a small 10' x 11' room. I hung up (4) 4' x 2' x2" foam wrapped panels which really helped the acoustics. I still listen to cd's (in my car as well) and vinyl.

@chrisfrank9288 6 ай бұрын

Happy new year to the Darko Audio team!

@stevecurtis9886 6 ай бұрын

I still buy and prefer CDs. But, I'm old (65). Use a modestly priced Marantz player in my overall modest system for my small listening area. If I can't find the CD, I do purchase downloads from various services.

@celtic-audiophile 6 ай бұрын

2023 was the best ever year for jazz. A number of major audiophile series Blue Note and Tone Poet, Verve, etc and so many small labels, I bought about 400 new albums.

@LongBlackLimousine 6 ай бұрын

I love my Eversolo Dmp-a6. Love having the album cover displayed while playing. Great channel❤❤

@adsph 6 ай бұрын

First John I hope your eye is on its way to a full recovery. This was a good year in that I dove back into hifi. Fully. Your channel, website, and pod cast have provided much to me. In particular streaming. Streaming was new to me this year. Then dac’s, oh my. You have helped me navigate it all. Thank you so much.

@psyphonyxaudio 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!! =)

@TheKizersoze13 6 ай бұрын

Those Kefs are what I was looking at after I treat my small room.

@HonestSonics 5 ай бұрын

That Laurel Halo album is stunning. Stunning

@minormist 3 ай бұрын

I added room treatments this year to my front wall, corners, and side wall reflection points. It was a huge improvement, as significant as new speakers, for significantly less money. This year, I’ll treat the ceiling and maybe upgrade my rack.

@taidee 6 ай бұрын

Thanks you JD.

@simplereef4854 6 ай бұрын

I hope you feel better after your procedure. Always a fan of your channel. Keep up the good work.

@johnricketts4732 6 ай бұрын

Hi John, always enjoy your videos and am delighted your eyesight is getting better.

@AronGunningham 6 ай бұрын

Merry Christmas Team Darko. Wishing you an all round more comfortable and enjoyable 2024

@donaldcadoret4653 6 ай бұрын

I play CD's and stream from Qobuz, John. Thank you so much for all your hard work. I love all that you do.

@paulkent6846 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for your end of year review and in fact all your contribution throughout the year. I bought 2 new cd players in 2023, my logic is to own everything up to and including the 1980s on vinyl, but everything from 1990s onwards on cd. You can pick up the older vinyl for ‘reasonable’ prices, but second hand 1990s cds can be bought for less than £5 as opposed to £25+ for the equivalent vinyl. That works for me anyhow. Cheers again.

@danilaros 6 ай бұрын

Hi. Welcome to Portugal🙂 And keep going with fantastic work!

@Kenny-Somafunk 6 ай бұрын

Fully treated 34m2 room with £2.5k of GIK treatment with PEQ applied through Roon after REW/umik mic sweeps, iMac/Roon core to Cambridge Audio CXNv2 streamer to Dynaudio LYD 48 3 way Active Monitors and Dynaudio 18s subwoofer. no need for a CD player and my room sounds perfect with an RT38/dry for my choice of electronic/techno.

@robmaxwell3678 6 ай бұрын

I was glad to see so many types of components reviewed this year. Hopefully 2024 will see an Oppo-like Blu Ray audiophile grade player worthy of a review.

@user-mz6lt2pr9s 6 ай бұрын

Glad you’re feeling and seeing better. Thanks for the videos this year. To answer your questions I don’t have a fully treated room for my 2.2 music listening room. I Have an acoustic tile ceiling and heavy carpet on the floor. The walls are covered with pictures and sports memorabilia so I do get wall reflections. The room opens up behind my listening chair so no reflections or need for treatment behind me. My Arendal 1723 towers sound great in the room. Best I auditioned over the years. I bought a Rotel RCD 1572 MKII CD player and got back to listening to and buying CDs again this year. I use a Bluesound Node to stream into my Rotel preamp with a better DAC. Stream with Qobuz. Agree the bargain of about $12 a month is a deal for the consumer. Don’t go for powered speakers anymore due to amp issues over time. Passive speakers and preamp and amp for me. Use Sonos Beam 2 with mini subs for my 2 TVs. The family is happy and the sound is okay when I occasionally stream music through them.

@mikegalgano4567 6 ай бұрын

Thanks to you and your crew for entertaining videos. Merry Christmas and hopefully you can leave your eye problems in 2023. Cheers & Happy New Year 🎉

@sonicmainliner 6 ай бұрын

After owning a bluesound powernode for a while I can confidently say that if the app is good, you will never miss having to touch the equipment to do something

@paulgyro 6 ай бұрын

Your comments on rum acoustics are spot on! The room is about 50% of the overall sound.

@4p-is-3 6 ай бұрын

A glass of rum is the best upgrade to any system.

@dan-sc7fm 6 ай бұрын

Yes, I did a lot of research into home acoustics and treated all six surfaces. I went the DIY route by constructing fifteen 2'x4'x7"thick acoustical boxes. Total cost, including floor treatment, was aprox. 2000. dollars. Worth every penny. Huge difference.

@Antbim 6 ай бұрын

Been watching your videos for few years now, John. Absolutely awesome content and impeccable production quality. Have listened to all your advice and then went full contrarian 😀 and went ahead and bought a full on soundbar+surround+subwoofer setup and quite satisfied with it. Although must admit have my eyes on adding a dedicated stereo setup for music, maybe a KEF LS60. Wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope you leave your eye troubles behind in 2023.

@sultantoure4220 6 ай бұрын

What a video thank you for all you’ve done !!!!!

@josephstark4944 6 ай бұрын

Love your work, John. Great year of content

@philr9753 6 ай бұрын

...Yes! I listen to CDs. 👍

@Michael-xz1nk 6 ай бұрын

Pretty sweet...two pairs of the gorgeous white and blue KEF R3 Meta's...all the speaker most people will ever need.

@superpeca 6 ай бұрын

Errr actually, 20$ earbuds are not shit anymore :) it's a lovely time to enjoy music on a budget... Love the work John, keep it up!

@Rudi-Mhz 6 ай бұрын

Room Akustik is a good Topic. I was renovating my Rooms in the Basement and roundet the ceiling . Some elements could be added easy as deko in a room. And i think the Streaming is a good opportunity to look deep in the world of music. What i love, is beamed on vinyl ! And thank you for the good Videos about Hifi and more.....

@PaulDoldenDetails 6 ай бұрын

Thanks JD for all your work in 2023 I’m still listening to CDs and streaming via a WiiM mini but looking to change my 1990s Sony 930r amp to the WiiM amp in March anyway Merry Christmas and a Happy new year 🙌🏻🇬🇧

@daniel7actitud 6 ай бұрын

Hi Darko. I just bought my first (active) Hi-Fi speakers, Kef LSX II plus KC62 subwoofer. I think the next step will be acoustic treatment of the walls, when I can afford it, you know this is an expensive hobby. Thank you for your videos, they help me a lot to learn about this fantastic world of audio.

@estudiopmf 6 ай бұрын

In relation to your comment about CDs, I still listen to them on a regular basis, in the last two years I have purchased more than ever. In the early 80s I had a big vinyl collection but I sold it (regrettably) to fund my university studies, I moved to cassette tapes for a while which I never really liked, so when cd’s appeared I took to the format with enthusiasm. Easier to store, better sound quality and in many cases the album art and design was still important. I recently added a Marantz cd50n to my set up and it’s great, it has a nice sounding dac (in my system), with digital inputs too, so I stream through that using Qobuz too through Roon. As a matter of interest, the cd50n has just shown up in Roon as Roon ready, (but uncertified) so I guess Heos will soon have Roon ready status. Thanks for your entertaining channel and best wishes for new year!

@Dr.Struve 6 ай бұрын

Thank you John, for bringing up the issue of music streaming. The price of streaming has dropped about 40 % per user since 2010 when factoring in inflation and multi user accounts. While the business model works for major labels and is loved by consumers (incl. me) Most artists, composers and songwriters are paid very little. The split of the income from streaming is today as follows: service: 30 %, label/artist 55 %, composers/songwriter 15 %. Out of the 55%, the label takes a much bigger share than the artist (in most cases). The solution could be to raise the prices by at least 50 % and use the following split: streaming service 25 %, label 25 %, artist 25 %, composers/songwriter 25 %. This would ensure that more money flows back to the creators of the music.

@ozziegurkan 6 ай бұрын

CDs are great and more versatile than vinyl because you can also losslessly create your own digital library from it. So, you can take those CDs and “backup” the music unlike vinyl with lossless flac files and then Roon ARC them.

@tobr7853 6 ай бұрын

There are record players with USB ports for this too

@danstewart9506 6 ай бұрын

With me , your music attitude is great ! At 73 years old , I listen to mostly electronic even though I still have vinyl from my purchase in 60s ! I listen to Tidal cd quality !

@janwillemkuilenburg7561 6 ай бұрын

O YES, I have ‘room treatment’ , like furniture with soft textiles, curtains, a carpet, plants, furniture with stuff on top, etc. It is big, like 5.20 m wide x 12.00 m long x 2.90 m high. At the rear wall is a big void to the upper floor and halfway a big void to the lower floor. The acoustics are amazing and I am happy that no further treatments are needed.

@gobig1977 6 ай бұрын

John, please please give us even more electronic music! Love your channel and the content you provide. Such a gem and you are awesome!

@iikatinggangsengii2471 6 ай бұрын

those should be taken as previews, should buy ones from your faves

@iikatinggangsengii2471 6 ай бұрын

its bcs youll notice/wow more from the differences it/they make

@asan1050 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for posting.

@marceloarenas5486 3 ай бұрын

Everything you've said: 100% agreed!!

@thomaskirst9095 6 ай бұрын

I have acoustically treated my listening room. It had a larger impact on the sound of the music than any other change (power conditioning, cables, speaker stands, network components) I've made outside of the 'core' Source ---> Amplification itself. The best ROI for finishing a system.

@GoldenLion137 6 ай бұрын

Yes I still play and love CD’s. So thank you for reviewing players/transports. One thing - please remember to say if a player is hapless or not. It would be appreciated. Thanks

@osliverpool 6 ай бұрын

I've acoustically treated my room, with a mix of diffusers and absorbers on walls and ceiling - all pieces I built myself. And I think it makes a big difference to definition and spaciousness, and less harshness - and also, I can play music a fair bit louder now without it sounding too loud.

@soundinhaler 6 ай бұрын

Hi John, I like to check out the Quietus as a source of new music recommendations. Lot of interesting stuff on the outskirts of the mainstream. wishing you a splendid 2024.

@KomodoSound 5 ай бұрын

Personally I specifically trust your reviews because I enjoy electronic music. Most audio reviewers feel forced to review equipment with jazz and classical, to appear serious. I have tried classical and jazz but I find them boring, they don't speak to me in the same way because they don't relate to the world that I'm living in. So I always find myself going back to electronic music. I bought the RME ADI 2 DAC based on your recommendation and it definitely made the beats sound crispier. I also like that you review equipment in a price range that is premium but that I could eventually buy if I save up a bit for it, so still somewhat attainable.

@garybartlett7690 6 ай бұрын

Great review. You and a British Audiophile are my favourite reviewers. Happy Christmas.

@AdiMaco 6 ай бұрын

I used to listen to prog in the '80s, '90s, and 2000s on tape cassettes, vinyl, and CD's, but these last 5 years, at least, I was listening mostly to jazz and classical.

@kenmace933 6 ай бұрын

Thank you John and your team for the fantastic content this year; I enjoyed you covering different topics and hope that continues. Best of luck with the health. As for your questions: CDs are my main source supported by my own FLAC files on the NAS. No room treatment beyond the room decor; it's very difficult to imagine a before and after with treatments and I'd imagine down here in NZ, the cost would be exorbitant. Merry Xmas!

@911dion 6 ай бұрын

My old Philips CD player has kind of blown up and I have a LOT of CD’s that I want to enjoy. So I’m going to be checking out those CD player/transport reviews John. Thanks!

@mehmetcamat4458 6 ай бұрын

I agree with you John I have a pair of R3 Metas hooked to Hegel H190 supported with KC62 sub and they sound incredibly good. I enjoy them very much.

@geepee280 6 ай бұрын

Keep up the good work John, very informative and well presented, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay well, Peace.

@kurtcleveland3539 6 ай бұрын

Room treatments are hugely important as you say. I have extensive stuff including corner bass traps, absorbers/diffusors, etc. Using REW and USB microphone you could easily measure differences such as reverb time and frequency response. Fortunately I also have a DSP-based LMS (loudspeaker management system) that allows very fine tuning of many aspects of sound including subwoofer integration. I would say it's impossible to "fix" these sound issues without some method of measuring RT60, FR, etc. Very happy with the results.