Five ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES for hi-fi people who THINK DIFFERENTLY

[@davidsmithson9236]

The transformer hums because it doesn’t know the words.

[@simonsaysrewind]

Just like bees 🐝 😋

[@James7995]

This is the best hifi joke I’ve heard in my entire life.

[@DarkoAudio]

UPDATE - PLEASE READ *before commenting*! 1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio KZbin community (and not me) as I'm off making the NEXT video 2) All comments here are moderated by a third party: instagram.com/p/CTWcokaszpW/ 3) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please)

[@James7995]

The door stop is my favorite hifi purchase this year.

[@AkaAka_AkaAka]

Personality... My father was/is very into HiFi music. One of my fondest memories was his office/library/media room. His desk was in there with 2 large bookshelves and in the center this wonderful wooden hifi rack. His accomplishments hung on the walls a pair of bookself speakers, I've since forgotten the brand but top of the line for 1986. And him sitting me in his lap as a 5 maybe 6 year old and him playing these Harry Belafonte albums and just us smiling and laughing enjoying the music. Or when he'd have to work him plugging in some headphones and me listening to calypso in these oversized headphones... he'd fold up a scarf or towel and put it under the headphones to make them fit. And him basically DJing for me while he did his work he'd be writing in this big book, stop to change albums for me give me a brief introduction to what I was about to hear and then I'd be in my own world listening to music while he went back to his work. It's a fond memory and to this day books and music go together for me that smell of old books, leather, and music have become inexorably intertwined. So for me a space for HiFi is a space that's not just for music..

[@PeterEidegren]

Fun fact, the name Kallax is from a small village outside Luleå in the northern part of Sweden. The village Kallax is most know for it famous sour herring called Grand Kallax.

[@remic2902]

I really love your videos and the way you describe things. It feels quite genuine and authentic (and warmth - it’s like taking a good coffee). One of the very best hi-fi KZbin channel. Thank you for sharing.

[@shaunhourston-wells458]

Just found your channel. Excellent stuff! And I couldn't agree more about making the listening room personal to you.

[@deonellis8577]

@John Darko... Sehr geile Schnick-schnacks! Excellent layout; excellent advice and tips - wie immer. Dankeschön!

[@Matasky2010]

An alternative to the plant rollers (for anyone handy) is to buy swivel casters and screw them on the underside. Specifically the ones with clear soft rubber wheels (like roller blades)- they are extra smooth, quiet, and look nice. I've got them under my large 200Lp storage cases, I think they also make them for office chairs.

[@PatrickSmith-zg9xl]

I really think Darko is missing out here.. he really needs to partner with a door stop company and make an actual "Darko Door Stop".. he would get a cut, the door stop company would get a cut.. everyone would be happy. I would buy one if it wasn't too much more than a normal door stop.

[@mintchocchap]

Nice video John. Thanks for posting. Cool idea about the DC blocker. The book looks interesting too. The door stops - they help with microphonics too, right? I must admit, I’ve yet to give one a try. Cheers

[@szabolcserdesz9159]

Absolutely agree with you. Listening music in a comfortable, pleasant to the eyes place is so much more enjoyable!

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

We just love your channel! There’s never a video that we haven’t learned something, let alone be entertained. Keep up the great work!-Chris & Beth🙏🏻🎧

[@sudipchatterjee]

A gem of a video! Thanks, John!

[@jim.lauriemendes4899]

DC on main’s isn’t truly DC on your AC line, it happens when something affects your AC power that keeps the AC from perfectly cycling between positive and negative around the zero volts line. So, your current is offset more toward the positive or negative side and thus looks like a DC feed ( not alternating) to your amp. It impacts amps most with large transformers like the H590. We have an H390 and had the same problem. I emailed Hegel support and they recommended using a 15amp or higher DC blocker so as not to current limit the amp. I think the iFi is rated for 7 amps. IsoTek has some nice solutions from around $700 to over $2,000. Emotiva also makes a simple and well built DC blocker for around $150. For those who have this issue, it’s not subtle and the buzz from inside the amp is quite loud. Make sure that what you purchase states it’s a DC blocker and not just something that filters your AC

[@wouterkolkman]

Good to see you mention the. DC blocker - I had not been aware of these until a few months ago when I had an annoying hum from my DAC. I bought the Audiolab @ £99 which did the job:-)

[@Airwatcher]

Totally agree about the aesthetics of one’s listening room, John. I think we could be pals were it not for the 4,500 odd miles separating us. 😆 Cheers . . .

[@ScottSkougard]

Thank you! I ordered the iFi DC blocker, and it works wonders! As always, I appreciate your insights.

[@velocci6666]

You can hear the difference?

[@ScottGamble1]

John Darko. King of the door stop influencers.

[@johndelavina3335]

Great tips!! Love the plant rollers!

[@IDBuzzSteve]

08:35 ….now THAT is an Audiophile statement! Who else would compare the warmth of a lava lamp with a Class A amplifier! Just ordered one 😁….. (the lamp that is)

[@guygrundy6647]

I've trained my cats to sit on my hifi equipment ( no, not the turntable ) Makes them all look so much better.

[@5angels332]

Some great ideas John, thanks for sharing.

[@blairholmesproductionsinc.9432]

Great video, John! Thanks!

[@vinylrulesok8470]

Brilliantly inventive list of useful stuff. I love the light, might check that out!!!

[@ChritsianBucic]

Inspiring video! I like the way you combine and build your own audio environment. Really chill!

[@Nick-sk1qp]

What an interesting video, my favourite Accessories you mention is the ifi DC Blocker. I have one on order! Thank you for the great tip!

[@wills681]

Very much enjoy your channel John. One problem (for me) is that I *need* to have the wheels of my plant rollers aligned. Younger members of my tribe amuse themselves by slightly misaligning the rollers so that I have to crawl about and correct the alignment. :)

[@christopherfogarty1877]

I would love you to review the following: 1) Audio Cables, RCA XLR, etc., and a couple of good brands. My system was getting a hum. I switched the cables from the preamp to the amp, and everything was perfect. The difference was in the quality of the cable. 2) Power/Line Filters 3) Vinyl Cleaning 4) ...

[@fernandonino86]

I always thought that hum was only related to cheap electronics or regular-to-low amplifier design quality. Amazed to know you can (almost) get rid of it just with a few bucks. You are the man! Thanks.

[@DarkoAudio]

Glad to help!

[@buffal0bilious]

I need a variable color temperature lamp. That light is awesome. I completely agree about the nature of rooms. A computer room, a dining room, a game room, or a listening room are successful if you could take the computer, food, games, or hi-fi system out and still enjoy being in that room. Otherwise, you're simply tolerating the room on behalf of the thing you want to do in it which I think can't help but affect your enjoyment of the thing the room is for.

[@stephenbeaumont-adam7702]

Completely agree on room accessories. My home office / gaming room is also where I like to listen to music. I can happily sit here and chill, work, game, listen to music or do all of them!

[@paulhealy6390]

Fantastic as usual.

[@TerraBlacc1]

I was 100% with you with that Mathmos lamp and trinkets. I've been waiting for Mathmos to start selling to the US for some time now, and am still looking forward to the day I can order from them directly.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Totally with you regarding bringing some personality into the music listening room. Music is art so we outfit the room with other art forms…framed watercolors, photography, pottery, candles, etc. BTW, I still have an original Lava Light (and its box) I bought new for $19.99 US in 1968. It still works but the liquid is kind of cloudy, given its age. Like you, I only turn it on during the winter months. Good video!! I

[@robertnelson3179]

Thanks for the ides to try I like your idea at putting you personal life in the room and not a blank room.

[@billpetersenjr.5781]

Great to see an enthusiast that likes the listening room to have some semblance of human habitation. My after-hours listening room happens to be the family/library room when it's time to unwind w/ my headphones and a cocktail after the kids are in bed. The book cases are filled with books and travel tchotchkes, the walls have art and windows have full length curtains. But one of my favorite hi-fi accessories is when I turn the music up and the kids have a little dance party before they go to bed.

[@SpyderTracks]

Totally with you on the listening room feel, I have to feel warm and snuggly when I’m listening to music. Lava lamps are great and a staple for any velvet fashionista.

[@RichardDurishin]

Well, I'd have been very disappointed had you not included the Lava Lamp. Brilliant, brilliant video John.

[@gerygee6366]

Hi, great video. I also had the problems with my Hegel H390 and got the ifi DC Blocker. It worked perfect. I also bought a line filter for my whole system. After installation I no longer needed the ifi. So if you have problems with the transformer in your amp and plan to by a line filter, you don ´t need the ifi dc blocker. But to reduce the disturbances in a single device, it ´t perfect.

[@colinhathaway9493]

I’ve had the Uber Light Flex for a couple of months also. Gets a bit pricier if you order direct from them if you’re like me and from the UK but they’re very helpful and delivery didn’t take long either considering. It’s great at what it does and it’s highly recommended

[@Areyouseriousor]

So cool seeing Red Hot Chilli Peppers I'm With you at the thumbnail, great video as always!

[@bob7501]

I purchased a couple of different-sized door stops from Amazon like yours. I use the tall one that you show on top of my Schitt Modi Multibit DAC. Not only does it keep it in place but it acts as a heatsink and draws quite a bit of heat off. I also have a shorter but wider one that I purchased at the same time as the tall one. I'm thinking about a second short one and then I'll place one on the top of each of my Texton M-Lore speakers to see if it acts as a speaker cabinet damper.

[@diffuser88]

Isn’t the bottom of the door stop rubber ? Does it still draw heat off via rubber ? Fellow Tekton Lore and Schitt Modi MB Dac too !

[@bigstroke2069]

The most common reason a component hums is because it doesn't know the words.

[@DarkoAudio]

Good one, Dad. 😃

[@cousinwil5808]

Kudos on recognizing what few audiophiles do… that the audio setup needs to compliment the room, vs the audio equipment being the only reason you enter said room. I have two setups and when moving into our new house my partner and I A/B tested the receivers and speakers thoroughly ultimately deciding on the pairing that felt better for a room where people hang out and do stuff - meaning the set of speakers that image far better were not used because they felt so much more in your face where the others still sound great but they disappear into the ambiance of the room.

[@ericpernin7614]

I just discovered your channel looking for KC62 sub. As I'm a sub fan in hifi system. And I can't stop looking your videos as this one. Interesting, useful, funny, open minded to what we should take care on top of an hifi system. Inspiring video as said Christian in a comment below. I couldn't agree more. Congrats. I just subscribed. Thanks again. Eric (France)

[@docgify]

The devil and Daniel Johnstone i spent time working with him….it was very sad ,his passing ,and illness,but he still powered on,he was a great artist

[@johnrobins795]

Genuis♥️🎶 Thank You John!

[@Crunchfun]

Hi, I want to know if can play music using aux to denon x3500h AVR through my phone 📱. Thank you in advance

[@Dankzzz]

What phone do you have? If you have jack you can buy a long jack to RCA cable and connect to aux rca, if you don't have jack you need a DAC, i have Dragonfly black and otg usb c dragon tail. X3500h has Bluetooth, maybe you can use Bluetooth from your phone?

[@SteveGerrardPhotography]

I have a lot of very cool artowk framed in my listening room. All that glass is probably awful for the audiophile devil on my shoulder but it looks bloody wonderful and definitely adds "personality"

[@homerjones3291]

Agree about making the listening room a relaxing and pleasing place. The doorstop is a clever way of anchoring pieces without using something brick-like. The light is a good idea but it’s white body is too modern for my space; I prefer a cheaper black body light from Amazon which is much thinner than what you’ve shown. Horizontal spaces are also at a premium in my house, so I’m less likely to keep things like coffee table books or lava lamp kinda things around.

[@hr1meg]

Get em a doorstop to put on all their hardware so they can claim it magically makes everything sound better. I even put one in the trunk of my car, and now it runs better too! WOW.

[@magnuslindoff2644]

Great video thanx for the tips

[@oohtob6685]

The ifi DC blocker is an absolute must with a Hegel amp. Cured my H390 hum from the transformer. Hegel do give a reason for this hum.

[@HugoEscalpelo]

Usually, DC comes in due to not properly grounded buildings. An electrician should be able to fix it, but your electrodomestics or neighbours electrical installation could cause it either

[@patbarr1351]

Good point, John. We talk about comfort with headphones, but what of the rest of our listening environment? I have a rolling cart from AudioAdvisor that holds my Pro-ject CD transport, Woo Fireflies headphone amp, Mojo DAC, plus 40 LPs on the bottom shelf. And I will be taking my Lavalite (circa 1974) out of the closet after seeing this!

[@manuzach]

I like how the KZbin preview pic in my feed for this video was the frame showing John’s favorite (not) band Rhcp 🤣

[@robertennor1143]

Bought the Uberflex light a week ago. Perfect for lighting up what needs it and provides great general lighting for that part of the room. No base to clutter the table, sturdy grip as well as great colour and intensity choices. Prices seem to go up and down so watch for a bit to know where you are. John - very much enjoy your content, style and personality.

[@JasonMilner]

I could have used one of those door stops back in the day when I ran a VERY heavy duty SCART cable into my DVD player (think it was called THOR or something, maybe not as heavy as an actual god of thunder, but not far off...) anyway, the DVD player was mostly air inside, so it was a PITA tweaking the cable so it wouldn't lift the player up at the back.

[@bryantaylor2946]

Reliable Corp - a fine product from this Canadian company! Robert K is a gentleman and scholar!

[@grd_]

The doorstopper is really versatile. I use mine on my Rooms Audio Headphone Stand because it used to move every time I removed my headphones.

[@allen9954]

DC offset in the mains could be from photovoltaic system (solar panels) or wind power inverters. While generating AC, the inverters also inject small amounts of DC current into the network. If you know your power comes from a solar panel/farm, or a wind farm - high chances you have traces of direct current in your mains.

[@amckeeuk]

Next door neighbour has panels perhaps that may be it, interesting

[@gatobakuniano]

This is HERESY!! Where’s the Eames chair??

[@Diatonic5th]

Agreed!

[@tigertiger1699]

🙏 cheers, getting me a Mathmos lamp🙏 always liked yours…

[@joemartin6439]

You are right on . I made m own vinyl storm cabinets rollers

[@johns.9819]

its all in the passion and connection

[@kostasjezuz4846]

I have the ifi DC Blacker and a Powergrip YG1 as well, great accessories! The Mathmos Lava lamp sits on the recording studio in the basement! After this video I'm also getting the door stopper, was looking for something similar to place on one of my UPS, so thanks!

[@UKDagnar]

The Sleeve Art Book looks interesting, led me to a request for a future Vid perhaps...a selection of your favorite vinyl sleeves? top 10 or something, story behind why you like it (where you found it / who gave you it / some time in your life relating to it etc). One for me that I still recall is looking at my parents ELO - Out of the Blue album when I was a kid, opening it up (was a double album) and marvelling at the artwork inside of the ELO UFO and all the things going on in and around it. Not saying it was amazing artwork but it evokes memories when I remember it. Anyway just a suggestion for something out of the usual perhaps?

[@geraldmcmullon2465]

I collected Encore Audio Storage system (Artifact Design Limited) for LPS. 5 sections about 100 LPS. You can expand these but I found it easier to roll around a set of five on their castors than adding more on the side along with another pair of castors. You can stack them, but not on castors.

[@nakedhand]

Just ordered the DC blocker for my very humming Rogue Audio pre-amp. Thanks for the tip!

[@leafyleafyleaf]

The more I watch your videos, the more I realize how similar our aesthetic views are. Lava lamp, yes! Now for me to start venturing into electronic music thanks to your influence.

[@jordantewari]

Amazing that those things hummed especially being so expensive. My Yamaha amp has no sound at all. Must just be me.

[@birgerolovsson5203]

Thanks for the tip about the iFi Audio DC-blocker. I'm gonna try that one and "see" if my PS Audio P15 becomes quiet.

[@graemekeable8461]

The best thing about that chillies album is the cover. "By the way" was the last decent album they made. Great video as always.

[@richardrosetta2728]

My dragonfly cobalt lasted 7 months and I returned it and they replaced it. The new one lasted 8 months and they never replied to my 2nd return request. Maybe they just don't care about their reputation. After all their only warrantied for one year. After all the years of buying audio equipment I never had one fail until now twice!

[@scottengh1175]

So almost done with new cottage build. Having wood ceiling, some sound deadening in walls in listening room. Builder and electrician asked if I wanted a power vent. They would be sure I need one if I have a lava lamp. Like your room and attitude

[@BoudewijnVanderhaeghe]

Nice video, i enjoyed it, completely agree except, i use a bottle of Kraken Black Spiced Rum 700 ml instead of the doorstop, even better results. Looks better too... "Cheers" :)

[@lessutton890]

Hello! Just found your channel and I’m liking your content delivery and pragmatic approach to this medium and HiFi. Onto my point. Fully understand the use of doorstops to stop items falling back into the accumulation of dust and lost cat toys behind the furniture. I do not like how their use transfers the weight of hefty cables directly to the mechanical interface of the item itself, which increases the risk of item connector failure and possibly a less than ideal electrical connection. I’d be inclined to include some stress relief on the cables themselves rather than use heavy weights to anchor the gear. Cheers, and keep up the good work.

[@KRBY555]

I swear I thought that door stop was some controller dial gizmo

[@mesonto]

Damn you! I am now $75 poorer tonight as I bought the book you suggested. It looks great. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@alisonleighton9739]

This was a very nice video and reveals your very pleasant personality.

[@shanestephenson8423]

Arrrr the old special Audiophile door stop an absolute essential piece of kit. Now in saying that all of these items I think are essential, and some quirky ones John I like it.🙂 A man after my own heart. When I looked around my room it's not just about sounding good in here, it's about looking good there's lots of things for my eyeballs to drink in. Just the way I like it. My daughter thinks I'm so old, she says Dad how can you just sit in here and listen to music without looking at pictures. You see she's all about KZbin like most other teenagers are. I'm quick to tell her darling I'm a fan of KZbin as will as is proven by my response here today. Great video John enjoyed this one a lot as I do all of them.🎧🙂👍

[@paulf.5261]

FYI. With the storage movement system where the centre wheels fight each other, could you take two of the middle wheels off....(diagonally from each other) Of course if you wanted you could just attach 4, 5 or 6 casters to some plywood that’s cut to the size you want? I kinda did that with some chopping blocks with some old skateboard wheels I had.....they even had handle cutouts, so I can loop a belt through the handle and use it to move speakers around . Works a treat 😬😉🙏

[@ld4974]

I would recommend the Panamax M-5300-PM to clear up current issues. It's expensive, but it will save your equipment if there is a power surge (such as after a power outage).

[@sphagnummoss8284]

Check out the Audiolab DC Block if you get the chance.

[@KITFLETCH1]

I bought two of the doorstops. My wife has taken them and put them by the annex and kitchen doors…so my Ifi DAC is still slipping behind the rack…

[@pjmvdbroek]

The abuse of audio accesaries is unspeakable!

[@jimdavis5230]

The buzzing coming from the mains transformer is due to distortion of the mains sinusoidal waveform. This is usually caused by high power industrial triac switching regulators. This causes an enormous amount of odd harmonic distortion to the mains waveform. The result is a flat topping of the waveform which creates an almost square wave shape. Mains transformers do not like square waves because the flat topping causes the iron core of the transformer to saturate. Back in the 1970's electrical power engineers were concerned about the widespread future use of triac and thyristor switching regulators due to the distortion they cause to the mains waveform. Well now we have got it so they were right.

[@GjbMcN]

When i really listen i listen in complete darkness (usually at night) so i i’m forever trying to kill led’s from routers, switches etc. You pick up so much more deliberate nuances from the music and delight from you system. Although a big window with a huge cityscape of blinking lights, planes n trains sometimes marries well with my music (Vangelis Memories of Green). Is that power thing the same as the PS audio thing?

[@erics.4113]

$40 for the plant rollers is great deal..I have been wanting to build similar platforms for my floorstanders that I rotate in and out of listening positions. The cost of caster wheels and plywood alone can be more than that, plus assembly time.

[@ionobelisk]

You'd probably find similar in your local garden centre. Not that I use it under Kallax, but I got a circular one from either Aldi or Lidl for peanuts

[@timbaker4879]

Birthday tomorrow, Mathmos Rocket lava lamp and door stop ordered, cheers!

[@OddBike]

To Canadian viewers: you can buy those doorstops for 3.50$ at Dollarama.

[@therealboofighter]

Top tip!

[@Leo-Crespi]

I enjoyed this, good stuff as usual. You know what though? I think the sound on your blinking intro may be out of sync.

[@billywindsock9597]

I share your aesthetic. Good stuff.

[@docgify]

I did like this video and i enjoy your technique,sir, mr Darko…i think it is refreshing and your an Aussie..”avant- guarde”living in Berlin…..isn’t that where all Australia’s best talent goes ….overseas

[@athathsonty2925]

Loved this Video. Unfortunately, none of these, interesting essential items, are available in India. Nor Tidal, for that matter.

[@MrYamaha413]

comment on ifi dc blocker - try also Tacima CS947 6-Way Mains Conditioner with Surge Protection - WORKS FOR ME ! eliminating hum noise ! and much cheaper

[@jefffan171]

What great video and I'm only on 2:35. I've hoping that you or anyone of your calibre would look into the DC block. As no one on you tube seems to have covered it. I bought the Audiolab dc block and love it for my pre amp as it runs at 4a. My power amp however is fitted with 5a fuses so can you John or anyone who might know be able to confirm then if the ifi can handle 7a continuously and 10a peek, then I presume my power amp will be safe as it hums through the speakers and has bugged me for years now. Can't wait for the rest of the video

[@gianpaologliori3604]

Brilliant! My Sugden A21 SE hums and it annoys me - this could be the solution. No doubt the Andrew Robinson consumer electronics show will now try to claim transformer hum does not exist.

[@swissgator6312]

John, is that the US Reliable Light? IF so, did you need a converter for voltage or does it switch internally and you only needed an adapter? Great list!

[@mateokll]

I have one and I am in France I just use a 5V phone charger (apple) and it works perfectly

[@keensoundguy6637]

@@mateokll Indeed, the question was already answered at 3:37, where it says "5V USB Power Cord" so you can any USB supply that provides sufficient current.

[@l4k3]

Will a dc blocker do anything for a class d amp? (powernode)