LEVEL UP your SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC & ROON w/ the Argon Solo
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- 👂🏻 With side-by-side comparisons to the Wiim Mini, Bluesound Node and Hegel H190
👉🏻 This episode is brought to you by AudioQuest:
www.audioquest.com/
🎥 Camera: Olaf von Voss
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: 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 PATREON: / johndarko
0:00 Intro
0:38 The basics
2:13 Comparisons to Wiim / Bluesound
5:51 Late-career R.E.M.
10:03 What about the Hegel H190?
13:16 The 🐘 in the 🛋
🎛 Stuff seen in this video...
Argon Audio Solo
argonaudio.com/products/solo
JBL 4349
darko.audio/2020/07/jbl-launc...
Hegel H190
darko.audio/2018/06/into-the-...
Wiim Mini
🛒 (US) amzn.to/3yDZY8M
🛒 (UK) amzn.to/3OZPCVO
Bluesound Node
🛒 (US) amzn.to/3P1ckgv
🛒 (UK) amzn.to/3nzkEYY
A kick-ass €1000 hifi system (2022 edition)
darko.audio/2022/05/a-short-f...
Samsung ‘The Frame’ 2022
www.samsung.com/us/television...
Apple TV 4K
www.apple.com/shop/buy-tv/app...
Roon TV Remote
apps.apple.com/gb/app/tv-remo...
What’s Roon?
darko.audio/2018/07/a-short-f...
🤔 Yet MORE information...
For hi-fi beginners: a short film about Spotify & Apple Music
darko.audio/2021/10/for-hi-fi...
Another short film about Spotify & Apple Music for beginners
darko.audio/2021/10/another-s...
Digital audio streaming 101
darko.audio/2020/05/digital-m...
#chromecast #spotify #roon
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forget the audio, I watch this channel for the home decorating
😄
Totally
That and the music recommendations
House Plants. 70’s retro. But love the topics and content. Excellent Channel to be subscribed to!
I always love the bloopers you add at the end, I know if I tried doing what you do, I would generate at least as many. Of course, you DO realize what a tease this is to tell us all about a product we can’t get!
Aaaarrrrh John!, Up and Around The Sun are two of my very favourite REM albums. Love the videos, and the meshing of your love for the kit AND the actual music. Peace etc.
Another great vid, love learning about the top end of stuff I hope to add to my future systems, but as a beginner, love also hearing about more entry level and budget options to get my hands on now. Already got into a raspberry pi 4 based on some of your previous videos, so I'm glad you threw in a reference to that option for comparison, very helpful. Cheers mate
I always set up a coffee when I watch your reviews. Love your take on audio equipment.
like your music suggestions, recommendations and reviews ! makes a good point to watch every video despite the main topic
I've never had a taste for 80s or 90s music but you have really opened my eyes to that era. Thank you
Your ability to communicate the differences between components is epic.
Love the REM reviews. Massive fan back in the day. I remember queuing at Our Price on release day to buy those those early 90s REM albums. Happy memories.
I really love when you discuss the CD's (REM) or songs you played. That makes me going to listen to them.
if Janas voice told me the end was near.... it would make me smile
I would go for the Ify Zen Stream. It is twice the price, but it has (among other great components) a Femto reclocker that kills the jitter and brings sound quality to the next level. Absolutely amazing.
I was going down the RPi track as per your vids. Price was considerably more than the Argon. Had to get them to send it to New Zealand via Germany. So glad I did much easier than dealing with the RPi and up and running in moments. Great sound.
I’d love to see you do a video on your perspective on the ultimate benefits of music listening and why all this technology is so important: to me, as a musician, it’s a spiritual force in my life and it’s also a large part of my mental health. I think a video suggesting different rigs for different living situations would be great. For example, portable rigs for extended travel vs day to day listening, car listening, home listening for those with sensitive neighbours or office rigs. In this way, you’d be able to give people different options for music listening so they can make it beneficial in their current life situations. After all, music is life. We should all be able to access good listening habits despite our current lifestyle or financial limitations. I truly believe more music listening will bring about happier, more fulfilling people.
I have the argon solo ( bought it for 159 euro’s last Black Friday) together with the argon sa1: their 350 euro amp ( Black Friday for 250 euros) with auto sensing, auto on off (also idem NAD Amp1) and a nest mini. It all sounds beautifully and is very easy to use! Having a family of 5, even the easiest amp is a problem: what input, when, which remote. All can be handle with one remote and it sounds fantastic. Chromecast with Roon Made it for me. No app needed! The powernode doesn’t handle chromecast. That’s a killer for me. Also a fantastic addition for me is the Roon essential driven Elac discovery with a lifetime subscription : a roonserver that I bought new in America for 300 euros. You have to look , search, combine and choose the most flexible. Argon is a good partner in that:)
Great channel. Strong move adding the chapters. Although I typically watch the entire video, they come in handy for later referencing.
He’s had chapters for months.
That giggle (or neigh?) when the ending the R.E.M. segment on "Reveal," LOL! I was a huge "Murmur" fan when it came out and everything gets compared to it.
I would argue that, despite being an alltime great band, nearly every R.E.M. album was worse than the previous one, with the exception of Automatic (> Out of Time,) New Adventures (> Monster), Accelerate (> Reveal). Just goes to show how great those first few were!
Nothing is getting destroyed 🤣 gets me every time
Great shout. Let us know when US available!!!
Keep up the music recommendations John Darko!
I have an insatiable appetite for new music - and it's not often that I hear of two great artists in one day.
Craven Faults are amazing - like a cross between ol' skool Krautrock & electronica.
Purchased their entire catalogue on BandCamp.
Minimal & hypnotic stuff!
SND & RTN is some of the best dub techno I've ever heard.
Reminds me of Germany's Basic Channel dub techno from the 90s but even better.
I also found them on BandCamp - but couldn't find the Chain Reaction album.
Curiously there are a set of albums on BC that are called ECHO LTD Vol.1-4.
SND & RTN are listed as the artists for Vol.3 & Vol.4 - but all the albums definitely sound like the same artist.
Killer dub techno!
I can’t believe you have exactly what I need, but you’re across the pond. Hopefully they make one for America
The elephant in the room talk is such a good one. "the audiophiles dilemma"
That HEN sound was awesome,
I love how u add those dog bark n now hen sound makes me laugh like hell.
love your show! I was wondering if you can please create a video on the minimalist setup an AVR to listen to Apple Music with Spatial Surround. Much appreciated.
Phenomenal review! Loving the speaker choice. I'm rocking the JBL 4309s right now. So the question is will stepping up to a Arcam ST60 be worth the extra money. I was going to go with bluesound but now I'm really considering this Argon. Just wonder if it's worth jumping up to the Arcam. Powering system with Yamaha AS1200
level matching when A/B comparing is a MUST , any reviewers not doing it is just playing around...
louder sound will trick your brain into thinking it's better, more detail, more impact, fuller, etc
🤗👍 AS ALWAYS THANKS FOR YOUR MUSIC 🎶 SUGGESTIONS…and IMHHO….for your “ JOB “ level matching is 🧐CRUCIAL and often overlooked …but very necessary and we appreciate it…so KEEP IT UP 👍😎😁😍😍😍
Seeing those AirPods Max in there, can we expect a review, John?
Last few videos he is showing them. I asked the same question. But if you read the notes under the video, it is clearly stated that comments are moderated by third party and that means no one will answer our question.
Honestly the AirPods Max are quite interesting. It’s definitely high in the ranks of Bluetooth headphones.
Noticed that in the past few videos also…too visible to just be accidental. Maybe beta testing the rumoured lossless codec?
Or maybe he just really enjoys using them with his new Apple TV. :)
Always appreciate a mention of REM. Pretty much right there with you except I do like Shiny Happy as a bubblegum pop indulgence. Aside from Radiohead they are the last true rockstars. Mike Mills’ house is up for sale overlooking the Hollywood Bowl. Shiny Happy Bathrooms!
Love that you compared the Wiim and the Bluesound Node, that was exactly what I was hoping to see! I did have one question-were you putting the Wiim Mini into the Dac in the Hegel via optical (the best way to use the Wiim in my view) or were you using the line out to compare the rca of the Argon? Another fantastic vid!
The biggest selling point of the Bluesound is its almost universal compatibility, flexibility and usability. The hardware is good enough but its strength is its software and Bluesound’s support for future upgrades which should enhance its longevity. But the real sleeper at the same price point is the Bluesound iFi Zen Stream albeit without a built in DAC. Given the glut of high quality external DACs under $1000 as well as integrated amps with built-in DACs these streamers are really entry point devices for DA conversion.
AFAIK the ifi zen stream is not from bluesound. It got very mixed reviews -- seemed to work very well for some people and be a disaster for others
Have a Bluesound and tested it against a friends iFi Zen stream on my system (I use my Denefrips DAC in both cases). The differences were minor at best for everyone listening.
The Zen with a spare Schitt Modi Multibit (have one of those in the cupboard) rather than the Denefrips, murders the Bluesound used as a streamer and DAC at much the same price (to me the supplied DAC with the Bluesound is at best, bad) as the Bluesound would be.
That said, the software on the Bluesound is much better than that from iFi.
Note: Collapse Into Now was R.E.M.'s final album. Enjoyed the video, though!
For most bands the first 5 albums define an arc of their best and innovative music, when they are still hungry and have something to say. So it was with REM, but hey, I still at least listened to their later albums for fun. Loved their sort of album "Dead Letter Office" a bunch too.
Thank you so much for the comprehensive review and the refreshing references to music - makes it so much more engaging to listen through!
Besides CD I use Spotify Premium via CCA and through its optical output into an smsl Sanskrit 10th v2.
Do you believe sonic performance would be superior via the Argon Solo? Rest of system is a Rotel A11 Tribute and pair of Focal Aria 906.
Txs a lot in advance!!
PS: I did read through a good part of the Comments but found no similar question to my CCA Dac combo.
Is there a real difference between the Wiim and other network players if you are not using the dac but only the optical out to a receiver, and tidal + spotify (is Gapless available on the Wiim?).
Hi, thanks for the review it's very helpful to get an first impression.
I got an argon audio sa1 may this fits for your next 1000 euro set up as well. I got some Dali Zensor 1 on it which is a good combination for me for the beginning.
Brgds
OMG Darko.. Monster is an 11/10 album and I'm about to throw my toys out the cot..
👶🧸
Bougth the Argon Audio Solo 1 Month ago on sale for 225€ to upgrade my streaming. Coming from a chromecast audio its definitive a step up in funktion and sound quality using toslink output into a Minidsp ddrc-24 running Dirac live. And i think it looks cool in white.
Hi Dominik, I’m considering the same upgrade. So using this just as a digital streamer. How would you describe the S”sound quality difference coming from the CCA? Thanks!
It would have been nice for you to compare the WiiM hooked up to a reasonably priced (Topping) DAC, which is the way to go. That combo will compete with anything. Or, just hooked up to the Hegel's DAC.
🤗 I LOVE ❤️ THE WIDER SOUNDSTAGE AND THE LONG DECAY OF THIS TRACK 😁 even on UTUBE 😎
Still seeing the sleeper as the wiim mini functioning as a streaming transport to a better dac.
John, as you have streamed from your ipad in the past, how does it compare to the ipad? I tend to stream lossless from Apple so am interested is wondering if there was a benefit from this little device
The question about the Pi is if it gives you the interface you like. I built one with original touch display because the apps supporting the Pi remote including browser are kind of „nothing I want to use“
This looks like a great option if you want Chromecast, however argon products are not available in the UK 😣
I can add that one of the biggest advantages for me is that SOLO does not introduce “software in the middle”. So that the music library is fully managed by external player/source. This is perfect from usability standpoint. Especially if you also listen music outside. You don’t need to use different software (maintain separate music libraries) on your street player(phone) and home streamer. You just come home with your phone and change the audio output.
When you compared this to the wiim, did you compare them using their internal DAC's, or did you send the wiim to an external dac?
The Wiim mini has one special feature that most other cheap streamers can't do. It can act as an Alexa speaker which is a massive plus for me. It lets you dramatically improve the quality of your Amazon dots and shows which only give you the choice of Bluetooth or aux out with crappy DACs inside. Also, you can get around the average DAC performance pf the Wiim mini by using the optical out and connecting it to a proper DAC. I personally recommend the SMSL SU-8s for great features, build quality, and performance for the money. Also, I don't even like REM but what's the frequency Kenneth is a MONSTER guitar rock track....Monster...get it? get it?
Yes, he only compared the internal DACs, however, I expect for the price differential, you could level up the sound quality. Stereophile recently reviewed the Wiim and said the internal DAC was better than they were expecting, though. Wiim is also coming out with Amazon hi res streaming from the Amazon app. I am beta testing it now and I am not aware of any streamer with this feature. Also, Wiim has DLNA which is missing on a lot streamers...not sure about the SOLO.
What are the floor speaker stands supporting the JBL’s? Looking for something similar for the Klipsch 600Ms. Thanks
Best of sundays when you get a new video
Hi. How did you judge the sound quality between the wiim mini and the Argon streamer?
If between the internal dacs, then it's not fair.
Once or twice a month my iPhone/iPad “forget” they have an Argon Solo connected. The Airplay menu doesn’t list the Argon. I have to disconnect and reconnect the powerplug to solve it.
Great review, but nothing mentioned (unless I missed it) about the app it uses or how good it is. Better than Play-Fi? As good as Volumio? Stable? How's it compared to Blue O/S?
John I wondered whether your comparisons of all 3 streamers were using just their internal DACs, or whether you also compared their digital out SQ, eg into the Hegel DAC section ? Anyone who already owns a good DAC but wishes to add streaming to their system would presumably choose the latter route......
John could you review some of the Aa active speakers. They look pretty classy. Would love to know how they compare to some of its peers.
Thanks to you I was sold to the RB Pi solution with the Allo DigiOne Signature HAT attached. It is is fantastic, no doubt about it and not too difficult to set up when you buy it directly from Allo already assembled, you can stream Spotify right away after plug in, no hassle. The "difficulty" begins if you want to use Qobuz, you have somehow figure out that you need another app and how to set it up, which in reality, once you figure out how to do it is not a problem. The only one thing that is close to impossible to solve is how to send native DSD out to the DSD capable DAC. And then, if you have a library of DSD files, then the Pi becomes a disappointment, only because of this shortcoming, the sound is great, but I have to play DSD files using something else. And here is why other streamers come into play, although the may not produce the same sound quality.
I only have one DSD file that I downloaded purely out of interest as I knew my DAC (Topping E30) was capable of DSD playback, and moOde OS was capable of outputting it (I downloaded it and played it locally on the Pi, it worked absolutely fine and sounded absolutely fantastic despite it not being my usual genre of music, but one five minute DSD 256 tracj was 850mb so I've stuck with FLAC & Qobuz)
Thanks!
Did not finish the video but just wanted to give my 2 cents about the fact that you are volume matching. I'm pleased to hear that you do stuff like this. You do subjective comparisons of products, that means you are the "measuring device", so it is important to control for other variables (like output volume) that could taint your verdict. Maybe you are right and it is a bit nerdy, it got me excited because I'm doing the exact same thing (just with more equipment) in the empirical speech quality assesments (with test subjects) I do for my bachelor thesis. Keep up your good work Darko Team and I will now continue the video. 😁
It's frustrating that the Argon Solo has no U.S. distribution for the foreseeable future, but at least it gives hope of bringing down the ridiculous pricepoint of the Sonos Port (which I use for two rooms). I assembled two Raspberry Pis a few years back and both would stop working intermittently. I got rid of them and was using Google Chromecast Ultra, which was perfect for the living room because it displays the Roon screen nicely on the TV. However that disappeared from the Roon chain last weekend and I can't get it working again. Hoping something else under $200 with an HDMI output will come to market soon. I miss the Logitech Duet.
Danke für das Video, sehr gut gemacht und interessant.
Jetzt stehe ich vor der Entscheidung Volumio Primo oder Argon Audio Solo. :D
Kannst Du mir dazu ein Tipp geben?
Viele Grüße
Would really like to see a comparison of all of these as streamers alone (using digital outputs into a dac) and the ifi zen streamer thrown INTO the mix. 😀
From other reviews I get the impression the ifi zen _sounds_ the best -- but is the worst cause of connection problems
Hello does Chromecast to LMS bridge work in the same way as Chromecast reception or am i barking up the wrong tree as Picoreplayer has the option within plugins
I would really like to see you put together a system using a mini-PC. Put that together with a decent USB-dac and I see very few limitations, if any. And its fairly cheap and very versatile.
Still don’t ship to the UK. Can’t say I blame them really. Too much hassle. #brexitmorons
Someone, ideally Bluesound, needs to make a streaming transport that just works (Zen Stream doesn’t for many) in the £200 region.
Nice. But a 22 year old Mini USB power input port (not USB C or even Micro USB)?
You could try and review their range of speakers, they seem like a nice affordable kit
What do you think about the new Acoustic Energy AE109? Great bang for the buck?
During Hi-Fi klubben anniversary, they were selling this streamer for 150 euros
Best R.E.M. albums:
1. Automatic for the People
2. Murmur
3. Out of Time
4. Document
5. Green
6. Reckoning
7. Life's Rich Pageant
8. New Directions in HiFi
9. Monster
I would've liked to have made it a top 10 list, but there's no other REM album that I like much.
Could've maybe included Unplugged.
To be honest I haven't listened a great deal to their most recent albums as I lost interest in the band.
Seems a good replacement for my Logitech duet+external BT plugged into my parasound hint, right (with a Schiit Mani 3 DAC in between)? Would simplify the setup, improve quality, bring a little bit of brightness as it is too tame and laid back now + it would remove the Damocles sword of that Logitech media server still running on an outdated Perl package from my NAS!
Is it correct to compare this one to the ifi zen V2?
I am a mailman, I can assure you, I am not whistling ANY REM
4:40 It's not nerdy or OCD mate, we appreciate how you take things seriously. I would have personally used a Sine Wave instead so the db reading would be stable.
Pink noise (as John used) should also stable and covers a range of frequency components at the same time.
R.E.M are a cool band. You should look up "Hunters and Collectors" band. That´s some funky/rock music from Down Under.
Wonder how it compares to ifi Zen Stream?
Looks a bargain. Did I miss it or how is the app? Or was just via Roon? Big plus with the Node for me is the brilliant interface. Don't feel the need for anything else.
Hi John, Great video as always. When you do streamer reviews in the future, please can you consider us users who have headphone only systems. Thanks.
Great video as always, thanks! I will be probably become Argon Audio dealer soon, so I will compare it with the Bluesound.... One question: why you call it "streaming dac" when actually it's a streamer/network player? It's as you will call "disc spinner dac" a cd player...😁😁😁
I call all of these streaming DACs in this video to make it crystal clear that I am ONLY talking about each unit's analogue outputs.
Nice review like always. I guess tha Argon would compare naturally to the Auralic Aries Mini, which is no longer in production. I believe you have reviewed the Mini before. Any thoughts on such a comparision?
Great video, I have only one question, about something I dont think you have adressed.
I am freshly running a Cambridge Audio AXR 100, love the sound, but I am a little disappointed with the bluettoh connectivity which was one of the big factors why I chose it, you sadly can only pair one device at the time and cant really switch smoothly between different devices. Like I have to disconnect on one advice and then pair on the next one, maybe sometimes delete the AXR100 from my settings to get another device to pair.
How would you say the Argon Solo is in that regard? Could I easily connect my iphone, ipad and a friends phone and just switch between them?
Ess9018, mini-usb...are we in 2008?
Collapse Into Now was there last record. And btw I love Reveal :)
You're correct. I got the final two 'guitar'-driven albums back to front.
Hi John, hope you are having a Delightful Day!!
I have a Buchardt i150 Integrated, which has a nice internal DAC (ESS Saber Pro DAC Chip) - so I am looking for a Streamer - The BlueSound Node vs the Argon using as a Streamer only - (would there be a sound difference?) or is the DAC the majority of what changes the sound? For ease of use and app Bluesound? Thank you!!!
Did you get one of them? There's now another option (pricewise in the middle) the Cambridge MXN10, or AXN10, which is supposed to have a very good app
Unfortunately still not shipping to my region. I’m waiting for something like the Bluesound Node that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment, I don’t have to assemble and program myself, and ships to my country. I feel like we’re right around the corner from a wave of devices like this, but I’ve been thinking that for a few years now. I’m still using an Apple Airport Express for streaming.
Where do you live?
@@JaccoSW Canada
Why wouldn’t they put hdmi arc on there? I really don’t get it. Does everyone use a different setup for watching movies??? I know it has optical but now we cant use the tv remote to control the volume..
Can somebody please explain why its so hard to just get an external dac for tv so we have decent sound for movies, gaming and streaming on tv?
Im new to the Hifi world will the Argon Solo improve the sound of Kef Wireless ls 50 2? Thank you :)
I currently use the arylic s10. Is this unit better sounding for Spotify stream?
The postman might whistle, or perhaps “The old grey whistle test”, or am I showing my age?
Big shame the argon doesn't have tidal connect. I think a lot of people would go for it over the node if this was the case as it would make a lot more sense in budget systems
Sure. T8dal is even more important for than Spoti.
I wish Argon was for sale in the UK.
Hi, I'm just curious is it worth buying this instead of the Wiim mini if I plan on using the DAC in my amp. Any help would be appreciated.
Love my Wiim mini with external DAC Amazon HD 24/192 via toslink
He says it is in the video ...
Hi
I'm just got my first stereo set up. I got a Sonus faber lumina II with Cambridge CXA61 .
The question is which streamer you would recommend for that set up?
Well if you like matching gear. Than the Cambridge CXNv2 would be the obvious choice. It's the one that is providing music in my living room. I've went with a Marantz M-CR612 as my amp/receiver.
The WiiM Mini Streamer is the best period! You don’t use the DAC inside it as it’s terrible. You would use it with it’s SPDIF Optical out with a DAC and then it’s unbeatable!!
Hi agreed, just got one and looking at a DAC. Am i right in saying that when i use a dac the volume control will no longer work?
I wonder how this would sound compared to the optical output on my PC to my cheap as chips Amazon DAC. That can do higher than that CD quality and my PC can output in higher than CD quality.
REM monster was considered Punk Rock when it came out, it was as silly then as it is to think about today. Adventures in HiFi up until that point and maybe even today was the most expensive album ever made and it was kinda considered a failure in its day however it's definitely become a solid album over time. I personally was always ok with REM until I started collecting CD's again in 2018 and by chance bought Reveal for $1. I had never heard of this release however it sounds like the culmination of the REM sound with no frills just simply REM. In fact Im gonna go listen to it right now thanks...
Hmm looks like this is only available to buy if you live in the EU. How does one get one shipped to the USA?
Compared to WiiM pro plus?
Anyone compared this to the Arylic box solutions? Other than the Burr Brown op-amps, the hardware looks pretty similar. Perhaps you trade Roon for lots of intwrnet radio solutions between the two.
No Tidal is a problem, and will it stream from a music library? BluOS' last update 'broke' my library cuz of some obscure security issue in my router and I've had to use a USB direct connect stick, but the software is not the same. Looking to throw the BluOS stuff in the garbage and replace with something better.
Yikes!
Last BluOS update broke the outputs of my Vault.
Now I’m looking for a new streamer… not a Bluesound/Nad product. But I will wait for the Ifi Zen streamer review.
Hi, what about playing internet radio on this device?