All you need is...?

[@DarkoAudio]

*PLEASE READ CAREFULLY* THIS IS A TEST -- With this video, we are trialling a new way of doing things: the comments section below has been switched ON but will be *moderated by a third party*. The upshot? You get to leave a comment below the video and I don't get tied up by comment moderation to stay focussed on making the next video or podcast as well as keeping the Darko.Audio website and Patreon up to date. That means more content for EVERYONE. Our new third-party moderator is under strict instruction not to approve racist or sexist remarks, URLs, (the seeds of) conspiracy theories or the unsubstantiated ramblings of grumpy geezers.

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Love it!!

[@johndaddabbo9383]

Exactly! For instance, Steve clearly spends way too much on all of his fancy shirts when clearly my shirts from the local bargain basement store do the job every bit as good.

[@johndaddabbo9383]

😁

[@osliverpool]

Every morning I get dressed I wish I could afford as many great shirts as Steve 😀 But yes, John has it spot on here. The worst of the "All you need..." people are those clearly speaking out of envy. Oh, and the worst of the worst are the "Your expensive stuff * can't * sound any better than my cheap gear, you idiot" ones.

[@stevendog510]

What ever you say, just dont bring up the word klipsch ......bagel street..

[@User_not_found_403]

Steve - stop calling people idiots :)

[@rayfordham9230]

Hello, That is pop on John, over the years (75 now) I've had an instances where relatives have visited taken one look at my system and basically called me an idiot, but with a few more expletives thrown in for good measure. They had cars worth, in the region of, £ 20,000 mine was worth about £ 8,000. They had £ 300 systems mine was worth almost the cost of their car. I have also had chats about diminishing returns when I upgraded my cartridge ( same slapped forehead same expletives). It's all about perceived value. These days and with failing hearing I'm just glad I can still hear the bloody thing. Thanks for that I may just show them your post.

[@robinmercier2906]

Well put. Great way of showing you're not an idiot without saying your not an idiot...Along the way hopefully teaching idiots and non idiots. Maybe I'm an idiot with the double negatives.

[@NalinKhurb]

Excellent video, thoroughly enjoyed your stories (that may or may not be true!) haha

[@davidcross3446]

Funnily, the next video suggested by YT was John Darko's "Don't buy a new car. Buy a dCS Bartok."

[@maisunibnmonowar4192]

Same

[@joemabry9643]

Very well said! Thank you!

[@RashidTak]

"We are all idiots" That's a slogan I can get behind tbh

[@lesleymcinnes3769]

This is one of my favourite ever KZbin videos. As others have said it speaks to life not just Hi Fi. Its about being content and understanding that chasing does not always bring satisfaction - there's always something better or newer or....

[@ActuMoto]

Just buy whatever you want and be happy with it regardless of what others can think...

[@jeppemichaeljensen2684]

What a morning !. Last week I replaced my old Skoda Octavia with a newer and bigger Superb. I am an idiot. I own three Professional Sony cameras..... my client uses my photos/video on the internet. Way overkill. Thats three more “idiots” to me. To top it all off, I became a Patreon of Darko last night, and the first thing he does is calling me an idiot at 7 o’clock in the morning. Love it. Thanks John. I agree I am an idiot, and a proud one !

[@joz411no8]

A year later and this might be my favorite Darko video, and there are no device reviews or comparisons in it. What we have here is simply the ultimate truth of every person’s circumstances. Brilliant, Sir.

[@daveg56]

John, this video is absolutely FANTASTIC, and goes way beyond the world of cars, camera's and hi-fi. It's life. Thank you.

[@adnanabbas6900]

99% of the gear you own, i would never be able to afford but none less I love watching these videos. I don't think id be able to afford that JOHN DARKO coffee mug even..LOL. keep it up Sir! great video

[@iainreeve4522]

Great video - agree 100%. One thing that is happening here is self-justification. When we say "You're an idiot" what we are really saying is "I am not an idiot." I made a good decision when I spent X on a whizbang Mk 3. Anybody who does something different to me has to be wrong. So the internet is full of "my car is better than yours", vinyl vs CD vs streaming, XBox vs PS, headphones vs speakers, Sony vs Nikon, Manchester United vs Chelsea. We join clubs and tribes so we can agree with each other that our doohickey is miles better than the other doohickeys. We read or watch reviews of products that we already own because we want to see our decisions being validated. It all comes down to a basic human need to protect ourselves. That includes protecting ourselves from criticism that we made a bad choice. I bet we've always been doing it, since the time when Ug argued with Ogg that a spear was better than a club.

[@arturomartinez3354]

I love when this "thing" called hobby turns philosophical.

[@ernestochang1744]

You should try playing a musical instruments, everything turns philosophical pretty easily

[@matrixplace]

Thank you for enabling the comments! Sometimes you receive much more information from other's comments on the topic than the actual video.

[@adotopp1865]

Do you think so?

[@ChrisQuinn]

Wow! That was spot on! And not just for Audio, all of the different parts of our lives. I feel like you summed up a lot of what people feel and don't know how to say/express it. Great Video!

[@ptg01]

So true.. there are $15K cars, $50K cars, $150K cars and $1.5 million cars... they all get you from point A to point B. Yet, the experience is different as one goes up the ladder (from utilitarian to exhilarating to.... well, orgasmic) !

[@paulhardy4846]

What a great piece! In a parallel world, now I've retired I am considering replacing the classical guitar I bought with my first salary years ago. I'm planning to leapfrog past higher quality factory instruments to a commissioned luthier guitar. The difference in cost will be ~3.5k Sterling compared to ~800 to 1k. Anyone who heard me play would know this is completely unjustified, but hey this is my Maserati!

[@fivewattworld]

Great video John. I am always interested in a discussion of “what is enough?”

[@dbaum3]

Well put. Enthusiasts can easily forget what others value. During my 15 year stint of selling hi-fi, I saw a lot of Bose Wave Radios in high end/executive homes and initially couldn't understand why. You have to remind yourself that not everyone is as "into it" as you are.

[@alicefarrer7771]

This made me feel better about preferring CDS and Blurays to Spotify and Netflix. Other people's comments about me "wasting money", being "stuck in the past" or them not thinking there is any significant difference in quality were getting to me. You are right, though. They are talking about their circumstances, gear and priorities, not about mine. To me, it is worth collecting CDS and Blurays, for many reasons. I guess I am "stupid" from certain people's perspectives, but equally, they, too, are "stupid" from other perspectives than their own. And it needs to be about what is right for me. Not what is right for somebody else. Thank you. I needed this.

[@ThunderKat]

In all my years one thing I started to learn the older I get is that is better to get an expert, preferably a friend to make the decisions for you so this way you can enjoy the product and the media you play on it without losing focus on what's important, the media itself...You get rid of all distractions and focus better on what you are actually listening.

[@saviodesilva7933]

All of us are unique! The greatest takeaway from this insightful video. Thanks for creating and sharing 🙏🙏🙏

[@michalispolyzos]

"Don't buy a new car, buy a dCS Bartok!" I listened to you (after a demo of course) and I bought it! Thanks for nudging me to get it. Great video!!!

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🤗👏👏👏👍THANKS JOHN…REWATCHING LOVED IT 💚THE FIRST TIME AND EVEN MORE THE SECOND TIME…💚 especially the ending 😁💚💚💚

[@franciscoguanchez6604]

That's is why my $400 sound system sounds good enough to my ears and to my pocket...

[@cheapaudioman]

Love this video, John. I’m definitely an idiot.

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Spot on, John! Thanks for turning the comments back on. We all like what we like, and that's it! If it makes you happy, and is within your means.....so be it! Even if it's slightly beyond your means.........

[@unleashed0077]

I don't like videos often, but this was incredibly insightful and full of wisdom. Thank you!

[@raebuchan]

I'm a real estate appraiser. This was the most brilliant context for creating what "Value" vs. "Cost" is. This should be mandatory ntroductory training for all Business Valuers, Equipment valuers and real estate appraisers. I just bought an NAD 33. And I am now so settled about it after listening to your video... Peace of mind is what I got!!! Thanks John

[@jamburton]

Another crucial aspect, aside from finances, is recognizing that everyone is at a different stage in their journey. At the outset of a hobby, splurging hundreds on your first headphone might seem absurd to most people. Yet, once you're captivated, the desire for an amp and a DAC sets in. Gradually delving deeper into the hobby, you transition from a casual participant to an enthusiast, uncovering more avenues for exploration. Your perspective shifts from mere monetary value to viewing the hobby as a means to learn, experience, and evolve.

[@NaveedKhan-bs1sc]

All I want to say is you make fantastic videos. Thank you

[@toddt5562]

Great analysis John. Insightful and intelligent commentary. I was once a wealthier man, so it's a bit easier for me to understand and thus avoid avoid the pitfall of considering someone an "idiot" for their purchase decisions. Good life lesson that many people in general would be well served by learning. Enjoy watching your channel, even though the higher end equipment is not really a viable purchase option for me at my current income level. Perhaps in the future, one can hope!

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

imo this is one of the best takes on subjectivity ❤️

[@dcaudwell]

Beautifully put! And I love this solution to community that does not expose you directly to the torrent of internet sludge that would otherwise come your way.

[@AarakTenas]

Thank you for this excellent video. We could all use more of the care and tolerance that you're advocating for here. At the very least, you've given me a good frame for approaching disagreements like these! Love your work, hope to keep watching for a long time.

[@stofferrussell]

Spot on John and very well illustrated. With hi-if, it all boils down to how good it sounds to the person buying the equipment. I still have my original Pioneer AP710 system from the early 90s and it sounds wonderful to me paired with a CA Azure 851N network streamer to bring it into the modern age. As long as the components are well made and built to last and they sound great to you, that should be all that matters.

[@pedrobandeira3575]

Thank you for this interesting video John, congrats! This is also yet another call out for people to take some time to actually enjoy what they do have and not constantly hang on analysing the flaws of their stuff. It is good to know that there are better things to look forward to, but if that thought prevents someone from enjoying the present moment, then it is just toxic and inhibits a sense of happiness. Happy music listening to everyone!

[@MulksBikes]

Man, I've learned so much from your channel in the short month that I've been watching your videos. It's been exponentially beneficial to my learning experience. I took on a second job so I could afford to upgrade my entry level system because the knowledge You've shared has so intrigued me. I'm using your reviews and suggestions to narrow my options and make a selection for my first real system. Keep brining the vids - live your content!

[@homerjones3291]

“One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”. Brilliant and succinct, on par with the coarser “It’s my money, and it’s none of your business what I do with it”.

[@marcsimmons9184]

I have been watching your videos for awhile and always enjoy. They are thoughtful, and provide insights for consideration, in addition to objective technology analysis, as well as your enjoyable subjective evaluation. Really quality work sir. Thank you for your efforts.

[@bellathedog2]

I enjoy watching youtubers extolling the merits of older gear and why it’s relevant today to still seek out, learn to appreciate properly, and then enjoy, various bits of kit to see if they are decent performers in today’s world and how they compare. So when you hear “‘all you need is”, step back and check out the possessions you already have and try to understand more about them is my tip. Once you have done that maybe upgrade if you can.

[@electrobob1]

Expensive Car, DAC and camera= rare triple idiot... Getting more keen on DIY projects while aging only few can replicate. Great vid keep em coming!

[@tw.Slash21]

I only recently subscribed to your HiFi channel. And now you spend the first half of the video without even touching "audio". How great is that?! ThX. I'll stay 😎

[@paulnovitt5419]

John, thank you for preparing your detailed message shared in this video. I watched it once, and was left confused. After a second viewing, your message was clear.

[@norbertennen3727]

Hi John, great video. Very true. May I ask you what is that super wall painting technique behind you.

[@thevinylattack]

What a fantastic video to explain one of the current issues in the hifi arena. It's a shame people will still look down on even this great analogy.

[@grayfool]

As Crosby, Stills, and Nash once sang, "Love the one you're with".

[@Chris.from.1950]

Actually, that song came out on a Stephen Stills solo album. Good point, though, and one with which I thoroughly agree!

[@mrpositronia]

If I loved the one I'm with from the get go, I'd still have my cheap Mitsubishi music centre.

[@tomamyx3980]

@@mrpositronia And I still have my 50 year old Pioneer SX727. And still HAPPY

[@Antoon55]

The Beatles stated: All You Need Is Love :)

[@dodibenabba1378]

Not sure my wife would agree......

[@jimmygup]

This is great. Helpful audiophile advice as well as parables! 🙏

[@robsadv2012]

Fantastic commentary! Love your videos.

[@BharatSingh-pw7sh]

We’re all idiots since life is all about “point of reference”. The law of diminishing returns generally applies to people who have a greater disposable income. If we were to apply Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”, nothing in this materialistic world is something we all really need... since the definition of “need” is at a different level altogether, not directly tied to accumulation or level of wealth. Thanks for the video. I thoroughly enjoyed your discourse. Namaste.

[@barryarmstrong5232]

Really great video John, made me think!

[@aaronaguirre5116]

Brilliant! Love that this topic is being discussed more as of recent. The attitude and perception of people you described is what presently does and continues to keep more new people from investing and enjoying this hobby of hifi. Great message.👍

[@colinmclean2523]

Painfully true! Far too much in life is judged by its price.

[@reedkaren280]

Perfect. It's all about romantic longing for something just out of reach, and finally attaining it after struggle. It's what keeps the species alive. and Audio alive too.

[@spencer476]

We all define value differently. The trick is not really to question how others define it; rather we should honestly reassess our own view of value periodically. Sometimes, we end up running down rabbits holes of our own making.

[@ericmbenoit]

Thank you for making this video, John. Could not agree more.

[@Selene_M3]

Just bought my first new pair of tower speakers in 28 years! Odd thing is in 1992 i had no $ and spent $600 for the pair. Now in 2021 we are worth 7 digits + and I just spent $840 on new towers. When i watch Thomas & Stereo videos he constantly mentions that now that he has spent so many thousands and hundreds of thousands on speakers and gear and heard it all the new challenge for him is budget gear that really gets close to the high end and really suprises him.

[@IHearEverythingDude]

Great video. Especially in times when we are thrown measurements by these websites and a lot of people boosting their ego depending on measurements. Every person is different everyone has different priorities. Respect each other choices.

[@doctorbritain9632]

Philosophy from Darko.... You're correct of course. As some bloke in Judea once said two thousand years ago, "judge not, less you be judged yourself". If someone wants to spend their money on this hobby, yes it's a hobby, to squeeze the very best sound out of electrons and have the best ownership experience and still have resale value, and they can afford it, then all power to them.

[@tdinut]

John/Olaf, I absolutely love your options, reviews and insights. Please keep it up. Thank you very much!

[@TorToroPorco]

So audiophiles are like nested Russian dolls. I sort of went through an inverse experience when a friend asked me to recommend components. So I gave him a short list based on 2 price ranges and felt rather smug. Of course he then proceeded to pick apart my choices and balked. I ended up recommending a cheaper solution that he ultimately was quite happy with especially after I helped him set it up in his home.

[@nc3419]

I ask them what they want. Their answer tells me alot of where they are at.

[@josefranciscotrevino3051]

this topic needed to be discussed , thanks john darko

[@JonathanHaughton]

Spot on John! We all have different interests and priorities. Cars, Hifi, Bikes, Gym Membership and Season tickets to the football. These can all be very expensive but to someone interested the item delivers excellent value. I always say no such thing as expensive only good or bad value.

[@marjconnelly8079]

You have just described the whole problem with social media. People become less empathetic when they could hide behind a computer or phone and comment to anyone about anything without actually engaging with or thinking about that other person's circumstances. It's so easy to dismiss and call someone an idiot - insulting commenters too easily dismiss. When we are forced to really engage with someone who we disagree with, I think it makes us more empathetic. I'm surprised you called that Maserati owner an idiot to his face - that comment could have easily started a fist fight and in the US of course, you very well have gotten shot. Great video, excellent examples and should be applied to all YT channels and other social media platforms of all subject matters across the board.

[@DarkoAudio]

That's right. Social media kills empathy.

[@perrykern4130]

John, love your video’s... and taste! So I have a strange question, were can I buy the wallpaper thats behind you! I love it!!!!

[@lukas6272]

Thank you so much for doing these videos! Enjoyed this one a lot!!

[@yru435]

There is another dimension to this, which diverges from the pecuniary considerations: Situational Satisfaction. My wife and myself were grooving to 'Billie Jean' on a scratchy car radio yesterday, and it was bliss. I am sitting right now in my living room, ready to listen to music, and even my Muso2 will not suffice: In this room, at this moment, I will settle for nothing less than firing up the amp preamp cdp and DAC, and letting it bathe the room in Bliss. If one finds satisfaction in the music reproduction at a given level, and they are truly satisfied, that is bliss. Money does not need to be a major consideration in the world of music enjoyment, unless you let it get too involved Guttenberg is correct: All You Need is Love

[@josevarela6352]

Totally agree with your view and speech, John. I tend to approach life that way, I mean, in general terms. Different perspectives provide different views and conclusions of the same thing or idea. And it's easy to asure that different people get different perspective so will get different conclusions. That doesn't mean that everything in life is relative. Absolutely not. But taking aside pure concepts like family love, there're not many things that you can call absolute

[@christopherwright8179]

Yes, we all value things differently and need to be tolerant of other peoples decisions. Luckily I realised this in my late teens, but many live their whole lives thinking that ‘it’s my way or the highway’. I work in film & television and appreciate the quality of your films. Keep using proper cameras and pushing for excellence.

[@nativochileno7091]

EXCELENTE TRABAJO !!! MUCHAS GRACIAS WHO KNOWS THE SPECIFICS OF ALL YOU NEED IS YOU !!! HONESTLY !!!

[@amavaresorts]

wow so interesting so true. So my general problem is I have enough money to buy more expensive gear, but how much more will I enjoy music if I get it? I havent really chosen to listen to music much in a "serious" way for at least 10 years. Then I found this channel and Really like the dragonfly cobalt and ipad solution with roon John proposed - how cool (playing through my biamped Kef Q55 and Arcam AVR 300 to my ears beautifully balanced even if its 15 years old) The trouble is the dragonfly has packed up after a year of overuse, so i bought an allo digione signture and am now using the DAC in the Arcam which sounds great and has the ipad next to it showing whats playing, which sounds great. But then my question is - how much would a chord qutest improve my enjoyment? and is this anything to do with my enjoyment or are they just interesting conversations? its not like buying a car or a TV, its more nuanced than that. And especially now - how do we inform this decision? or when things open up should i support more live music? or? or or? its just interesting harmless interesting fun, and thanks John for find a way to make this interesting and getting me interested in music again, because buying new gear (even a new cable) encourages us to listen again which is fun all over again.

[@mrchumly720]

Love this video, very good perspective and insight on human nature that applies to many aspects of life. How's the saying go, "Those that seek to suppress your dreams are those that have forsaken their own"? Thank you John!

[@bosscoffeejapan]

Well said! Must be content (and enjoy the process of learning and tinkering!)

[@davidhsharpe]

Excellent video. I would add in the enjoyment factor as well. I bought some nice speakers once and ended up listening to the speaker quality rather than the music. I’ve since bought many more pairs of speakers, some costing more, some costing less and have discovered this “sweet spot” between quality and enjoyability. I want quality, yes, but more importantly I want to enjoy listening to music. That’s the main thing.

[@joseauger1353]

Great!!! I used a similar argument with my graduate economics students some time ago, except the “idiot” part (🤣). You nailed it from the economics point of view perfectly well!

[@ddg15205860]

Excellent metaphor and analysis. Thank you!

[@5angels332]

Nice to see the comments switched on John 👍

[@thomasfitzhugh7936]

Excellent points. Reminds me of when I expressed interest in a $2,500 pair of stand mount speakers & was told "Don't buy those, you're much better off with the floor standing version". Apparently he assumed I could afford $5,000 for these floor standers, I had to break the news to him. Lol

[@eyelovelil]

Wise. Thanks for those thoughts. From audio to daily living we all need to heed to those words.

[@juancalvaradoc7195]

I love the way you understand and transmit your overlook Of the Hifi world. And give us the chance to dream and chose the best we could affor in ours worlds. Big fan Of your work.

[@bagsjr1]

Good talk. I'm being a bit pedantic but it's not exclusively about how much we earn but how much we have. Net worth influences our capacity to spend because it dictates how much discretion we have in our earnings.

[@robertopedrazzini1735]

Totally agree, excellent video John. Grazie.

[@hgrising9387]

Don't normally do this, but great video John. Absolutely nailed it. We all see what we want to..

[@maisunibnmonowar4192]

Love. The answer is love. (Also, I like the work you do)

[@MarcelloRostagni]

@John Darko you nailed it perfectly with this video utilizing two great stories. I 💯 percent agree, we must never recommend out of our own pockets but understand the perceived value potentially of a product/service for the person that may be interested in it! You rock man, keep up the great work that you and Oluv are doing. You continue to lead the charge for sensible audio education!! Much love ❤️

[@Warioda]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Well said, man. I have no time judging others gears. I spend my time using and appreciating MY GEAR. Hard earned with sweat and tears with my medium salary. Have the politics of your means... Or don't. I don't care.

[@kevin.michaels]

I absolutely love how the wall has been painted behind you. Plus your camera seems to have done really good job putting in video :)

[@thk4711]

You are right - Audio people think they are special - bur car people and wine people think also they are special. So at the end it is a hobby and not a business. As long as you can enjoy what you have it is the right thing.

[@jackmcclure9623]

Through my eyes and ears I experience the greatest digital sound stage ever,AUM!

[@davidrivera2165]

Wisdom, not just for gear, but for life. Awesome JD. Thanks

[@Currawong]

Thank you for saying what needs to be said.

[@audiointern2699]

Hi John, I totally agree with you. We can learn from each other in this hobby and make it easier for other “non audiophiles” to see what the fuss is all about

[@truckerallikatuk]

The only perfect answer to what someone needs is "It depends, what do you plan on doing with it?" Because only when you get the specifics of budget and intended use can you really answer the question. The chap with $100k to spend in search of the perfect listening room will want radically different gear than I do. I'm exceptionally pleased with my Samson SR850 headphones running through a 30 year old Kenwood amp, with a sub £100 DAC (SMSL M100 II) from my gaming machine, but the guy wanting perfection will not feel the same about my gear. The old standby of "Horses for courses" rings true for pretty well everything.

[@lorddarphyve]

Thank you for mentioning the law of diminishing return.

[@blastfromtheeast]

Both me and my wife loved this video. We hear you!

[@kurthertel4299]

I would never call anyone else an idiot, but I definitely live in the world of good enough. And I am thrilled with what I have. Because it is good enough. Cheers John.

[@jimmyg15]

Love your videos and agree with your views. Buying audio products for me is an experience and as you say it’s you perception on how good they make you feel as you listen to them. Thanks for making such great videos.

[@anthonyhopkin]

Thanks John, excellent take - as usual. I can relate that the last year has seen my BlueSound streamer replaced under Roon by the SoTM (Ultra Neo separates) which was then replaced (technical reasons) by an Auralic Aries (G2.1- hope this will be in your forthcoming review). At each step there was a very clear and preferable change in SQ - not just for me. Same again 3 months later when incorporating a Chord TT2 DAC. Same again later adding a Chord Upscaler. Each change gave - not just for me - a very clearly preferable SQ. With the latter pair it took the second month of use for them to fully 'bed in' and reveal the full effect. Maybe we wouldn't have heard so much without first shifting from (excellent) mini stand mount monitors to (sublime) open baffle speakers. Arguable. Now looking forward to hearing the result of changing the power amp... today. Life is Good. We can't travel but we can play music - every day. Haven't needed to change the car (Audi A3 TD bought 4yrs old) for 12 yrs. Priorities. Keep up the Great Work. Greetings to one and All.