Darko's 'Best of 2023'

This episode is brought to you by Marantz:
www.marantz.com/en/
🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan
🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video - and other videos - can be found on PATREON: / johndarko
0:00 Intro
0:33 Electronic music
2:06 Room treatments
4:59 Portable audio
6:37 Dynamic range
7:40 Touchscreens
8:41 What about music?
9:45 Streaming troubles
11:43 The 'best' speakers of 2023
👉 As seen in this video...
Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View
🛒 amzn.to/475czzt
Alva Noto - HY-brid II
🛒 amzn.to/48544pq
Laurel Halo - Atlas
🛒 amzn.to/3RxiEiE
Fever Ray - Radical Romantics
🛒 amzn.to/3NAfjOq
Zu DWX
📺 darko.audio/2023/08/zu-dwx-vi...
Klipsch 'The Sevens'
📺 darko.audio/2023/07/klipsch-t...
KEF R3 Meta
📺 darko.audio/2023/09/kef-r3-me...
Vicoustic room treatment
📺 darko.audio/2023/02/the-jaw-d...
Resident Advisor on Tidal lay-offs
📖 ra.co/news/79912
Fast Company on Spotify lay-offs
📖 www.fastcompany.com/90992072/...
Streaming platform by Roon
🛒 roon.link/affiliate/darko
Cables and power products by AudioQuest
🛒 howl.me/ckbW8ZBoZAg
Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel
🛒 howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi
Room treatment by Vicoustic
📖 vicoustic.com/
Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a '🛒'.
#bestof2023 #2023 #hifi
__________________________________________________________________
📖 PLEASE READ *before commenting*!
1) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome
2) No URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories
3) All comments here are moderated by a third party
__________________________________________________________________
⏰ How our KZbin videos get made:
darko.audio/2021/10/how-our-y...
Darko.Audio FAQ:
darko.audio/faq/
Why are/were comments turned OFF?
darko.audio/2020/10/why-im-sw...
What the bloody hell am I talking about?
• What the bloody hell a...
How is Darko.Audio funded?
darko.audio/funding/
__________________________________________________________________
🎧 Check out the Darko.Audio podcast:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
open.spotify.com/show/1mnKixp...
/ johnhdarko
__________________________________________________________________
Web: Darko.Audio
Instagram: / darkoaudio

[@aaronfrench8322]

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

[@58markmc]

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

[@2shoestoo]

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

[@John-the-Bass]

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

[@ErwalDeeas]

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

[@andrewbrazier9664]

That's a huge step up 🎶👍

[@dajuice4200]

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

[@caidNL]

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

[@bruno_mart]

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

[@dan-sc7fm]

​@@bruno_martanother reason not to get married.

[@cardinalfang7725]

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

[@barrymiller3385]

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

[@gebo1103]

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

[@tallpaull9367]

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

[@andyvdr]

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

[@NicolaDiNisio]

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

[@chrisdzak3903]

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

[@janokero]

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

[@dirkholl2512]

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

[@noblesavage23]

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

[@axelviarhilmarsson6317]

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

[@munkienl1]

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

[@earlfenwick]

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

[@mattupload5808]

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

[@clintsheesley8449]

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

[@claudiomartinez7188]

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

[@blairholmesproductionsinc.9432]

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

[@philr9753]

...Yes! I listen to CDs. 👍

[@ivantrump4022]

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

[@atishaysingh5114]

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

[@alwynralphs8433]

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

[@darrensworkshop6783]

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

[@turboplopp]

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

[@stuartneil8682]

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

[@pseunok]

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

[@elbebe1000]

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

[@sap1281]

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

[@syanhc]

Thank you❤

[@user-pf9nk7uy3z]

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

[@JohnJones-wo1bc]

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

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Thank you!! =)

[@asan1050]

Thank you for posting.

[@ChrisWoodbury2015]

Love your work Merry Christmas 👍

[@judebronner9520]

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

[@kojo_agyei]

We truly appreciate your work, Darko!!!

[@shunpillay]

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

[@58markmc]

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

[@chrisfrank9288]

Happy new year to the Darko Audio team!

[@mikegalgano4567]

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

[@AudioTekAdventures-ph9ke]

happy New Year :)

[@geepee280]

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

[@taidee]

Thanks you JD.

[@SMccrate01]

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

[@josephstark4944]

Love your work, John. Great year of content

[@bpalpha]

I buy and listen to a lot of CDs. I probably purchased nearly a hundred compact discs this year alone. All were obtained from second hand shops for around $1.60us to $4. I buy any decent vinyl albums I can find as well, but only brought home around twenty records this year. Still trying to thrift a single tray CD player with digital output which has been frustrating! Some of my best pickups this year were a still in the wrap virgin copy of Emmylou Harris Thirteen on vinyl (from 1986! Original pressing!) and Stevie Wonder's double album set Original Musiquarium I. I really did buy too many cds, but my favorite picks were Patty Griffin's American Kid and Adele 21. Thanks for a great year of reviews!

[@gavinhall4112]

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

[@RedSinter]

Yes, I DO AND I'M NOT STOPPING!

[@sultantoure4220]

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

[@danwheetman6914]

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

[@sonicmainliner]

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

[@superpeca]

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

[@simplereef4854]

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

[@Kenny-Somafunk]

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

[@AronGunningham]

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

[@ej20tscully]

Thanks for your free content over the year. Love the channel.

[@paulkent6846]

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

[@gregh4292]

Thank you John, you’re the best hifi YT channel out there for me. Regarding products and artefacts,I’m slightly biased as I work in a vinyl shop (we sell used and new), and a smattering of CD and tape too, so I’m very much in favour of formats. Vinyl and CD, mostly. If I could afford a better streamer than my Blusound Vault or find one that’s less or similar money that’s much better I would do so. Streaming is very convenient and does sound fine, even pretty good sometimes, but it’s always second or third best for me. It’s not the lack of something tactile to hold and behold, it’s the actual sound quality (the essence of it, the signature) that’s less alluring for me.

[@TheKizersoze13]

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

[@Antbim]

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

[@arhmarkotrajkovski]

Yes, I am still playing CD when i listen music

[@celtic-audiophile]

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

[@danilaros]

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

[@Spleen250]

Merci à toi!!!!

[@danny_davis]

I got rid of all of my albums, CDs, and cassettes in 2004, shortly after I acquired my first iPod. As a truck/lorry driver, portability was/is my primary focus. 🚛😀

[@garybartlett7690]

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

[@johnricketts4732]

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

[@osliverpool]

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

[@lokerola]

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

[@thomaskirst9095]

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

[@miguelbrostrom1182]

I still listen to CDs! :)

[@LongBlackLimousine]

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

[@adamhindle9215]

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

[@DonHamlin]

Yes, I still listen to cd’s at home.

[@lonestar1664]

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

[@kferrandCRB]

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

[@meneer_kooi4466]

And I too think that streaming has to change in a world where it, for most people, is the main way of experiencing music. Musicians should get compensated fairly on all platforms and I would happily pay more if this would support the artists! :)

[@shughy1]

Merry Christmas to you all and hope the next year is kinder to your health, keep it up 👍

[@PaulDoldenDetails]

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

[@user-mz6lt2pr9s]

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

[@kenmace933]

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

[@ozziegurkan]

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

[@tobr7853]

There are record players with USB ports for this too

[@mehmetcamat4458]

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

[@stevecurtis9886]

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

[@GoldenLion137]

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

[@BurakUnan]

no room treatment yet, but I will CD's every day 🎶

[@pistopitpit]

I love your taste in electronic music. I always Shazam it.

[@Rudi-Mhz]

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

[@adsph]

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

[@turhanwoo]

Yes still listening to CD DVD turntable.

[@nunolopes1112]

From Lisbon!! really great video

[@marceloarenas5486]

Everything you've said: 100% agreed!!

[@donaldcadoret4653]

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

[@TPQ1235]

No room correction, yet John. It’s on the list. Hopefully in 2024. Mine is a very small room and I sit very close to my speakers out of necessity. I mostly listen to classical and jazz music featuring piano.

[@DC-bo9py]

Hi, enjoyable video as usual. To respond to some of your questions, I don't have any room treatment as not really practicable in our rented terrace. I'm a big fan of CD'S and still buy and play them. If a release is only on download I will not buy it as I like to own the physical format. I have no vinyl as that format is far too expensive. As for streaming services, I've tried a few via my NAD M10 but never really took to them. They are fantastic value at around £10 to £12 monthly. Personally I wouldn't pay anymore. Merry Christmas John, looking forward to more great content in 2024,regards Dave.

[@soundinhaler]

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