10 CRUCIAL questions for FIRST-TIME hi-fi buyers
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- čas přidán 11. 06. 2024
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🎥 Camera: Jana Dagdagan
🎬 Editor: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan
🛋 My listening room in 2022:
darko.audio/darkos-listening-...
🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video - and other videos - can be found on my PATREON: / johndarko
0:00 Intro
1:34 #1 - Room size?
2:36 #2 - Appliances?
3:36 #3 - How loud?
4:36 #4 - Appearances?
5:47 #5 - Subwoofer?
6:50 #6 - Open-baffle?
7:49 #7 - Minimalist?
8:45 #8 - Tinkerer?
9:33 #9 - Couch?
10:14 #10 - Permission?
11:49 Want to dive deeper...
👂🏻Podcast #38 - Buying your first (and second) hi-fi system
darko.audio/2022/06/podcast-3...
AND
👂🏻Podcast #34 - Buying used gear
darko.audio/2022/04/podcast-3...
👉🏻 As seen in this video...
KEF LS60 Wireless
darko.audio/2022/05/a-short-f...
DALI Spektor 2
darko.audio/2022/05/a-short-f...
KEF KC62
darko.audio/2021/05/a-long-fi...
Lyngdorf TDAI-1120
darko.audio/2021/11/a-short-f...
Samsung The Frame 2022 55"
darko.audio/2022/06/a-short-f...
Naim Uniti Atom
darko.audio/2018/07/wheel-lov...
NAD M10 V2
darko.audio/2022/04/a-long-fi...
JBL 4349
darko.audio/2020/07/jbl-launc...
Klipsch Forte IV
darko.audio/2021/12/a-short-f...
Klipsch 'The Fives'
darko.audio/2020/01/the-fives...
Technics SL-1210GR
www.technics.com/de/produkte/...
Ortofon Concorde Century
www.ortofon.com/concorde-cent...
#hifi #beginner #10questions
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As a audiophile, with a lot speakers, amps, dacs, streamers, cables behind me. I can tell you one thing - this video, this questions are gold. Ask this to your self before spending any money on hifi gear. Well done, JOHNY!
Spend the money where you spend the time.
For me the struggle is my ongoing internal battle between 7. Minimalist & 8. Tinkerer.
I love these “clickbait” format when it’s from someone who you trust and it’s actually good stuff.
Most important questions:
# 1 - Are you willing to move furniture so as to optimize the music system or will the music system be placed so as to make the furniture look good? (If the latter, don’t spend much on this hobby. You’ll never realize the capability of your music system. Just get something to play your tunes and be satisfied.)
# 2 - Will you actually sit in the sweet spot for any length of time or will that be a rarity? (If the latter, don’t spend much on this hobby. You’ll never realize the capability of your music system. Just get something to play your tunes and be satisfied.)
Generally speaking, there are three categories of listeners. Active, passive and a combination. Unless you have a dedicated listening room, you have a room that serves multiple purposes and is furnished accordingly.
Ie. Seating for several people, chairs, couches, bookshelves, coffee tables, lamps, rugs or carpeting etc etc etc.
Most people will sit in one spot and listen actively focusing on music but will also have music on in the “background”…parties, friends over for coffee, home office work etc.
Most systems will function well playing in the background. (you are really concerned more with volume and overall balance).
If you need a “sweet spot” optimize things the best you can and the rest will fall into place.
The closest to the best of all worlds is one of those multi room systems like “Sonos” where you have speakers in walls and ceilings for eg.
I am a pretty “active listener” my brother in law loves music but is not as interested in listening into the music..IMOP this category of listener is really looking for overall good sound ie balance and not so much a sweet spot. He had a Sonos system installed and I would say it does a pretty good job distributing music. I mention Sonos only because it is my only experience with this sort of thing. There are likely others. An added bonus, for his lifestyle is it works well for home theater.
I have listened to Revel M20 small two ways on stands for years and they sound great in my sweet spot (near field) and let’s say good to very good around the medium living room and even in an adjacent room.
Like life, for most of us, it is a matter of trade offs. You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get what you need. (Is that Socrates or Jagger?)
Oh the amount of CZcams videos I’ve seen or forum pictures of £3k plus speakers and a coffee table in the middle or windows behind is bonkers. Absolutely no effort in speaker placement, it really does make you wonder how much these people are missing out on and how awful their systems must sound.
I wish I could‘ve read your comment earlier before I bought a KEF LS50 WII with KC62 that now sounds absolutely terrible in my room :-(
That was extremely helpful. You have a great channel and I appreciate all of the insight as I am very new to this hobby/audio lifestyle.
As always, JD presents a very complicated topic in very simple, easy to understand presentation. Thank you JD! I wish I had watched this video before I bought some mis-matched components that don’t really satisfy my needs. I’m going to go back to the drawing board, answer the 10 questions, and then have a clear direction when I start to audition gear . Did I mention; Thank you John!
Dude, you made me write comment under a utube video ..this one is the best i've ever watched on youtube. I now have a guide to fwd whomever is around asking for help. Much appreciated!
Thank you for such an insightful video. This is one of the more helpful hi-fi videos I've ever watched. Stereo equipment has much more to do with these questions than minute performance distinctions found in product A versus product B.
I stumbled upon your channel while looking for reviews of a KEF speaker. I really appreciate your style and approach to audio and audio purchases. I’ve gone from having separates and semi-expensive B&Ws to a minimal setup with Sonos, but thinking of getting back into the hobby. I really appreciate your approach and encouraging people to ask the types of questions you pose here and not to get caught up in all the hype or worry about what others say or think. Thank you.
Your 1 of the best out there Mr Darko love your honesty, looking forward to the dynaudio's 👍🏿
Another insightful, intellectually honest, intelligent video. These brighten my day!
Very well put. Brilliant, thoughtful content.
Hi John,
I like very much your videos and particularely your genuine passion and enthusiasm !
Best regards !
Just what I needed to hear. Thank you!
One of the most important questions is:
Is your system meant to be an investment, something for (very) long term use?
It's related to going separates, system flexibility, buying slightly larger speakers than the current room permits, etc... anything related to system growth and maintainability.
As someone planning out my first hifi system (and I’m going to demo some speakers and amps as per your advice to not buy blind), I’m actually going to open a word doc and answer these questions with my fiancée so that we make the right decisions! Man, your videos have been on fire lately (particularly that Jan video you just uploaded)
Remember it may take some brands a lot of listening-in time to warm-up. My Monitor Audios are amazing but took months to warm-up. Look at what you need is it cinema too or just audio and is it just vinyl or what? I started in 2006 and am very happy now. It's a great journey!
Welcome to our madness:)
If You have the possibility borrow the gear and try it at home, in the store is easier off course, but its a different room, a different setting, at home You are really confronted with the questions asked in the video.
The top of any list of questions to answer is how the family will repel or embrace a hi-fi system. They have to live with it too.
I LOVE your attitude towards Hifi Audio! I think if we were to get a cold Berliner Kindl (or beer of choice) in a nice "vinyl music playing"-pub (minimal techno, of course!) in Berlin, we'd have so much to talk about man! Take care Mr. Darko! Have an awesome summer!
Great video John and your podcast with Srajan (on the same topic) was terrific as well! Love the channel!
Love your channel. Full blown and professionally diagnosed audiofile here, only kept in line by my modest budget. I appreciate your unbiased delivery of the information. Great video with some of the most useful and temperate advice on the topic of starting this hobby. Well done.
Very helpful set of guiding questions. Thanks! The options can seem daunting (like the yogurt aisle at the grocery store) and narrowing the field is a big help. Sales staff at audio stores would serve folks immensely by using these questions to potential customers. I like to tinker, with one subject, "cable management", often being a real challenge. My two channel and AV stuff share the same space. Hiding the Medusa head of cables is quite the wrangle. I settled on an inexpensive wicker like basket 🧺 that allows for cables to easily pass into the basket from all sides (and back out if needed) and plug into a power strip inside basket. The sides are high enough to hide the snakes, but allows easy access as needed.
That’s an interesting idea.😏
One of the main issues I have, especially when discussing speakers, is that everyone asks me about my listening position. I don't have one. I generally pace around the room or even from room to room while I'm listening. Makes it challenging to figure out because a) the speakers need to sound within a range of good throughout the space, and b) I don't want speakers too far out into the space so I don't have to walk around them. My preferred speakers should sound decent within 8" to 12" (about 20cm to 30cm) of the corners of my 12' by 15' room (about 3.6m by 4.6m).
I tend to agree with this, probably about 10% of music listening would I be sitting in a set position, most of the time there’s just stuff to do and it’s enjoyable to have music on. So I’m always toeing my speakers in and out (and usually out) to compensate.
You need to look into speakers with good off axis performance. Generally a speaker with a wave guide will give you better dispersion in the upper frequencies over s standard dome tweeter.
I'd have to concur. When I'm passively listening to music, I'm typically streaming it to multiple rooms throughout the house. When I'm intentionally listening to music and sitting down, if it's after the kids are in bed, I'm using headphones, or early evening and relaxing, I'll be sitting in our media room over the loudspeakers. I don't think i've ever had a dedicated listening room, nor do I think i would want one.
Have you tried something like the Ohm Walsh speakers? Sounds like it would fit you well.
Close to the wall, you generally want something front ported. And if you want good off-axis response (walking around) you probably want speakers with wide dispersion up top, instead of something focussed that will only sound best if you're sitting directly in the beam of sound.
My bookshelves that do all of this best are the ELAC unifi 2.0 ub52.
3 way, concentric driver for mid and treble. They sound good sitting or standing and moving around the room and are front ported so can be placed closer to a wall, however they will get punchy if too close. But maybe you'll like that if running without a sub.
I can't say you'll like their sound and there are better ELAC (unifi reference) with the same topology that may also suit your needs.
These are budget speakers too, so although they are very good, you can certainly do better if you want to spend. Just a few thoughts that may help give some direction.
Can I just say you’ve done a cracking job with the decor in your room it looks very welcoming. I also agree with number 10 too. I truly think the way forward with amplifier’s is to have some room correction software built in because it makes your options for speakers much larger as you can remove excess bass and hi frequency energy that might be an issue otherwise. If you like the look of a speaker but it has a bright sound it can be reigned back to sound less fatiguing.
Great advice and great channel. I've recently completely re thought out my living room system and gone down the 'appliance' route. I don't seriously listen in this space (I have a music room for that) it's mostly 10mins here and there. I've paired an old pair of Celestion Ditton 33's which I've had years with a Sonos ZP120 which I've just bought for £70 - that's it nothing else apart from stands and speaker cable. All in cost £250 and it sounds better than it has any right to and is as minimalist as hell along with being ultra user friendly
Agree with your list John especially when it comes to your neighbours .
In my 60's and been tinkering all that time. Have finally put a system together that does not need an upgrade. My only advise is if you are more about the music rather than the sound then your budget can be modest. If your looking for clarity and performance then I would look for a system that will last for years without an upgrade and spend your hard earned cash on vinyl and cd's if that's your focus.
Appreciate your channel and your content. Keep it up.
Such good advice. Thanks John.
11. What source material do I already own?
Number 2
This was outstanding! I learned a few things
Great video !
Great Q&A. John! You are absolutely correct about minimalistic systems vs separates. I, personally, would buy a pair of actives, streaming 'speakers, like the Borchardt A500's, or, if I had the wherewithal, the LS60's that I see in your room. N.B you are a lucky person to live in an apartment where you have no neighbors that can be bothered by high SPL's (elicited from your sub, which, if I recognize correctly, is the KEF KC62.) As always, a great post! Keep up the good work!
Excellent video John, you raise some important questions. I was lucky I was introduced to you and others before investing in my first system, although I did buy unheard but with in home testing policy. Bit luckily I was happy with the choices.
Feeling pleased that at long last I recognised one of your album covers - FSOL, Lifeforms. Excellent. Great video too, BTW.
So good that you do this for people. It is so hard to decipher the jargon if one is new..👏👏👏👍
I think another important question to ask is Do you want a home theater? I wanted one and I don't have room for two separate systems. So I started my system with audiophile speakers and a av receiver, along with a nice tv. I then expanded that later with a separate dac and amp. I made sure to buy a av receiver with pre outs so that I can use my amp with both systems.
Good point. I have an HT system that I also listen to two channel music on as well. It is possible to get the best of both worlds if you get a AVR that also does two channel well. They do exist and are often overlooked by "audiophiles".
That Mathmos lamp in the background is looking lovely.
Excellent video. Absolutely spot on. A must watch for first time buyers and more experienced hifi aficionados as well. Number 10 should get more attention by reviewers. The Lyngdorf TDA-1120 and RoomPerfect do magic in my room with my 25 year old speakers.
Well said. I listened to the podcast twice to wring every ounce of goodness out of it.
Having more than one hi-fi system is good too. I have three, passive standmounts for TV; headphones for vinyl; and active (DSP) standmounts with powered sub for the desktop.
Great video John. Good advice for anyone thinking about getting new gear even if it’s the tenth time going through the process.
love this video
After buying my first hifi system last year I can confirm the quality of your tips, especially how important your room is. Really like your content. Another tip is to look for used gear to save money
# 1 may have been a bit off as to technical, but perhaps was more aesthetics. Large speakers perform fantastically well in small rooms.
thank you 😊
Some excellent points there John🎧👍
Very interesting. Enjoyed the video.
We are at a point in time where shopping for equipment is harder. The equipment is generally very good but it’s hard to physically encounter the pieces we want to audition. There is less hype and more common sense and more voices like yours shifting peoples’ objectives to the realities of installing equipment and perhaps tailoring it to the room and living amongst it. We live amongst people who don’t even have physical copies of recordings that need space to store and reduce their space for living. You are good at giving a nuanced perspective on how to live with music in the home and you show that we are in a different age of music in the home that serves the music and our lifestyles at the same time. Excellent!
Great episode.
Great channel, great content!
Helpful 💖
Great video 👌👌👌
Thinking about the software room correction you mentioned, I would love to see a tutorial style video on how to use REW and a mic (calibrated or not) with Roon to optimize sound for a room. I saw your article a while back linking advice but a walkthrough would be awesome.
great video by all means,!
Would love to see a video on what your ideal minimalist setup would be.
I’d love to see your opinion on those AirPods Max in the thumbnail.
Good video John. I do find your posts interesting and informative. I might not necessarily agree with all that you say, but I am very glad you are saying it. Regards from an old man who loves music and all the ways you can enjoy it.
Very helpful
I dig that shirt!
Very interesting and informative session
Great algorithm, well done.
Vintage HiFi rules. I run a sansui AU 717 which I use to drive 4 leak sandwich 600's. Garrard 401 turner with a SME arm. Niiiiiice warm round clean HEAVY sound
I watched this thinking I will be looking at you and looking at hifi gear but end up looking at myself! As always very well done John.
A very enjoyable segment. For those of us who don't have a dedicated listening space there are also some speakers that are made to set right up tight against the wall - like my Larsen speakers. That was a big reason why I initially took an interest in them. They are made to work with the room rather than fight against it (with acoustical treatments, bass traps, etc.). My previous speakers were the hulking Tekton Double Impacts that dominated my living space. Ohm Walsh speakers also like to be close to the wall as well.
Funny - I have a similar setup. My „stereo“ speakers were originally build as rear speakers of a high end surround system. As rear speakers they sound best when mounted on or placed directly in front of a wall.
Very good video 👍🏻
Nice one
I know what I want but have no idea where to begin. I want a bookshelf sized stero system built into a TV bench, with everything hidden and fullstreaming capabilities. No tinkering, ever. And I want a beautiful decorative turntable on top. Then I want a dolby atmos surrond setup added with built-ins in the roof. Feels like a hopeless project to tackle as a first time buyer.
Very
nice
Love your attitude to hifi. Love to listen to your podcast, BUT they are to looooooong. Please make them in episodes/chapters what ever, so one can take a piece every day.
Wait... Did I just see googly eyes 👀 on that plant, lol... Thank goodness... Now I know where I stand with that plant.
(Luv the subtle Christopher Walken SNL skit reference, kudos)
1st question was spot on. That was the first thing I thought of before even watching this.
I’m a lifelong 79 year old tinkerer, not a first timer. DACs, amps and streamers, plus subs and opshop goodies like my $6 Pioneer CD deck - which has turned into my go to reference because even I can hear the sound is clearly superior to my other sources. Lots of good tips - like I will try open baffle with some spare speakers and an extra amp I have, and, oh, I have a spare DAC too come to think of it. This is one of your best posts. Thanks.
Lots of great questions. Thanks. I really enjoy watching your videos.
I would love to know more about equipment that can sound great at lower volumes. And if the Ls50 meta would be a speaker consideration for this..at least for the speaker department.
Great advice for all HiFi buyers. No matter how knowledgeable they are. Thanks.
We keep seeing the KEF LS60’s - I am really hoping for the second part of your review soon.
Thank you for the most valuable suggestion being in India its very difficult to get such honest suggestion as being 1st buyer it helps and watch ur every videos
Thanks
6th floor in Berlin. That's a winner right there. Another enjoyable video.
Thank you for your great channel. I’ve followed you for a while now - I love your approach of music first. Jokingly, I thought based on your video here, I want a Kii Audio 3 with BXT . But budget doesn’t allow. I’m really enjoying my Devialet 200 with my Monitor audio gold standmounts. Rega sources and BlueSound streaming. All the best - your fan from Melbourne
At 10:30 John I got a big Yes from swmbo sitting on the far side of the room 🙂
Open baffle i have experimented with. They are different and do need space between them and rear wall.
To No. 3 - How Loud: One can argue that high sensitivity speakers are better suited to low volume listing and also high volume listening. Especially speakers with high sensitivity and high power handling like Klipsch and Zu do both really well.
Always think a good starting point is Used kit, you can live with it and swap out as you go along working towards what works for you.
Another great video. I would also add one. That is, where you want to end up? I know that's a difficult question for someone starting out on their 'Journey' but buying the right kit to enable better trading in/up to the next level of performance at a dealer so you don't "waste" too much money getting to where you want to be.
I liked your companion podcast with 6moons' Srajan Ebaento that goes with this video. The bit about components (eg tweeter size) and what it implies for sound behaviours fitting to someone’s personal preferences. I would love to go to a hifi store and do one of those tryouts but i would feel obliged to buy BUT fiscally & psychologically i’m in a satisfied tire kicker mode. Often some good stores have “nights” where products are highlighted and there’s always AV Clubs often with a lot variety often of DIY’ers so you get a gamut of design exotica. AND - for beginners - don’t dismiss the price cost effectiveness quality and swiss army style functionality of an AVR (especially discounted older off cutting-edge models as the hdmi and processing standards keep gazumping).
Sweet. Thank you, thank you. You made me think about the mistakes I'm making as I'm building my system (until now I bought systems "ready made", from the same manufacturer). My luck that I have 2 girls that are waiting for my ex-gear.
Tnx
On point. Bravo. Exactly what I needed. I'm in the process of buying my retirement present for myself. Been out of the hi-fi world for YEARS and starting over. Going to and from video review after video review..ugh. Was looking at the Rotel Tribute and went to see if my local shop had it. Then they had to drop the Arcam SA20 idea. So, listening to see what I actually want/need and can use! Will see...
John, I want to request that you check out near - field sub placement and educate all of us if you think its an effective way to avoid bass problems in rooms. Thanks.
Hopefully the second half of LS 60 video is on its way really looking forward to your opinion
Timely video. Our b&w zeppelin just died in our dining room where we spend most of our time doing “stuff”. It’s medium sized so we have options and not restricted by space, however, I wanted the new system to be wife friendly and just works. After looking at KEF LSX I decided on Klipsch the fives as they’re simple, small, look nice and good noises come out of them without having to press a million buttons. I’ve a big system in my office but that would be ott and nobody should need to be trained to be able to play some tunes.
Any view on active bass traps? Normally I’d be a little sus but PSI audio offer a system and their stuff is more than highly respected
Good questions, but you should have included a few gear recommendations, for example which streaming amplifier has room correction software built in ? A newbie might struggle with things like that.
Don’t spend stupid money on cables. And, although this may be considered sacrilegious, make sure you have some kind of ability to shape the sound, via tone controls, or other means. Not many of us have the luxury of the perfect room, and this can compensate for it.
My Arcam SA10 and Wharfedale Denton 80's sound very good at low volumes.
Ah, I spy a TDAI-3400 on that rack… Currently trying to decide between the 1120 and 3400, so I’m hoping some comments in a video or podcast might be forthcoming. Great video, useful advice!
Where were you when I started on the hifi route, at University possibly. I enjoy tweeking, yet I have an active system. A room which is at top end of small 26m2. I can't change the walls, so I believe I need a DSP somewhere in the system to correct the rooms reflections. I am not a minimalist, but don't like clutter, speak to my wife 😅. I have a upright stand. Don't have neighbours below but at the sides. Have included sound absorbing walls behind the external internal wall. I had grumpy neighbours when renovating the cottage.🤣. I totally agree with your 10 questions, yet there are shades on each of them. I enjoy your views the presentations variations and musical insight. Don't worry about weekly reviews, quality, humour is greatly appreciated 😎🎼🖖
Good questons i settled on amp with integraded streaming (yammaha n601) and i am happy..
Hello, John! maybe I’m wrong, but sub could be very useful on low volumes, it could help to get fuller range without need to turn the volume up, so in this case you could save your neighbours ears ;)
Good video John! I'm definitely a number 8!!! Lol
I really like your style. I like that shirt too. Can you put a link to it in the description please?
Hi, do you a spotify list or recommendations? I love the music you use in your videos! Greetings from Guatemala!
I like #9 : Dear the sound is much better with the couch here. Ohhh nice...when will you put it back at "its" place?