Miguel's sound gets better and better!

Miguel is back on the Audiophiliac! This is Part Two of the interview.
Miguel's System:
Rack (top to bottom):
Audio Note Kondo Ongaku integrated amp
SME 20/3 turntable + SME V 9” arm + Dynavector XV-1s cartridge
van den Hul “The Grail” phono preamp
dCS Rossini DAC
dCS Rossini Master Clock
SolidTech Rack-Of-Silence rack
Speakers:
Avantgarde Duo Mezzo speakers
Symposium SuperPlus bases
Cables:
Power: Audio Note Kondo ACz (amp); van den Hul (phono pre); Shunyata Venom (DAC & Clock)
Interconnects: Audio Note Kondo KSL-LPz (phono pre to amp and DAC to amp)
Phono interconnect: Crystal Cable (turntable to phono pre)
Speaker cables: Audio Note Kondo KSL-SPz
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[@bobb.9917]

Miguel's self-awareness, candid honesty and incredible intelligence is wonderful and inspiring!!! 👍🏼

[@EMP698]

Miguel is just great. His mix of scientific understanding and passion for aestethics is pure reinissance stuff.

[@CaptainCrunch823]

Thanks for sharing your system and thought process with us Miguel!

[@seymourclearly]

What an incredibly articulate guy. I'm glad he has such a great stereo!

[@shanestephenson8423]

Excellent home visit Steve loved it 😁👍🎧

[@stephenstevens6573]

Thank you, so much, Miguel for sharing your system and uour thoughts. I find myself nodding my head to your observations and enjoying it immensely. Thank you, Steve for bringing this to us. Merry Christmas and Happy new year to all of you. Peace on earth, good will to men.

[@gregorydijoseph5873]

Steve - amazing video. Miguel is charismatic and his system is excellent. What I enjoy especially about the video is the distinction about the gear and “his” purpose. Keep up the amazing content!!

[@GrotrianSeiler]

The whole conversation is philosophical, who is he kidding? This is lofty stuff.

[@bk5921]

Glad to see Miguel again👍.

[@jerrysnead2842]

I'm the same I went to school for electronics repair I always am intrigued about new tech and that's the reason I bought the newer DS Audio phono cartridge system

[@avro66]

Stunning looking system I'm envious 😂

[@anonymohipp9097]

Thank you! That was fun. I'd love to hear Miguel's view as a physicist on cables. I have fond memories of turntables, but I think I'm going to stick with digital out of convenience. I'd love to find a good analogue-sounding dac.

[@miguelbarrio]

Ok… CABLES! I knew this would come up… As a physicist, I know EVERYTHING we hear is in the physical world and as such CAN be measured. Do we know all of the measurements we would need for a complete characterization? I don’t think so. Consider wine: A benchmark red burgundy tastes different from a lesser red burgundy. It is all in the chemistry. Do we know how to measure it? No. And more importantly, it requires skill to tell and appreciate the difference. Same is true for audio in my experience. I have found cables do matter, but they matter in as much as both the rest of the system is up to par and the listener knows what to listen for - not everyone is able to tell the difference. Specifically, when I got the turntable I moved my Kondo interconnect to the phono preamp and got an Audioquest Water for the DAC. Through a period of six weeks I listened to the DAC and every time felt something was not quite right. I thought it was me - maybe a mild cold, or my mood, etc - I know the sound of this DAC very well. One day I decided to move the DAC out and plug it back with the Kondo interconnect. And then I realized that I needed another pair of Kondo interconnects… YMMV

[@anonymohipp9097]

@@miguelbarrio Thank you for the thoughtful reply. Happy holidays!

[@sheerenergy8602]

@@miguelbarrio I'm thinking the same way. Thank you for your opinion and explanation. Many doesn't understand what need to be done to get a result and what that result means.

[@yantrussart6584]

@@keplermission4947 This guy... Even when spewing totally indecipherable nonsense, he manages to come off as a complete a-hole... A God given gift I guess.

[@paulpavlou9294]

Dream system

[@christinejorja]

Excellent interview with a very honest audiophile (ohh, how we try to lie to ourselves at times 😁), love that amazing system but the apartment is also stunning. I got back into vinyl in March this year and I’m currently 127 albums in, with only 4 of them not being new. Here vinyl starts about $40/ album, which makes me realise I’ve spent more on vinyl that I have on my system 😳. Merry Christmas to you from the Philippines and hope to see more great interviews like this in the New Year.

[@NickP333]

Again, glad to see Miguel back! His beautiful new SME turntable fitted with a Dynavector cart going through a Van Den Hul “The Grail” phono stage falls right in place with his Kondo Ongaku amp through those Avantgarde speakers. Stunning system. Thanks, Miguel and Steve!

[@joergwittenberg2178]

Thank you so much for your video, it's really awesome to see the gears of audiophiles and how they choose their components for their way to listen to the music and enjoying it. Fantastic. Thanks again for this, very helpful and interesting. Merry Christmas and a great new year with lots of new things and music. Stay healthy and enjoy 🎶👋👋👍

[@riccitone]

I so resonate with this approach, therefore so resonate with Señor Miguel 🙏🏼👍🏼👌🏼💯

[@hdibart]

Great to be a fly on the wall during these conversations.

[@astolatpere11]

Another great conversation on hifi. Thanks guys.

[@epoxyexpert]

Thank you Miguel.

[@timothylindsay3244]

Miquel, Awesome system and better passion.

[@Smallpondsurfer]

I appreciate Miguel’s very honest explanation of his approach and choices in gear plus his understanding of the related tech. Wonderful choices and I’ll bet the sound is sublime!

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

Miguel is full of a lot of great information and thoughts and describes things nicely. Well done u2 I learned some stuff.

[@yavortoshev9678]

IMPRESIONANTE 🍀🤦🏻‍♂️🏆🎶💜🙌👌Gracias Miguel, Gracias Steve 👍

[@arifnizami3378]

Ongaku with Avantgarde. Steve I remember you and Andy praising this combo as being exceptionally holographicthis in one your episodes filmed at Sound by Singer. Great system all around this!

[@nathanbell6962]

That's an amazing amplifier, one day I would love to listen to it

[@robertm8518]

Really enjoyable conversation / review!

[@bornces]

Just a couple years ago Miguel was modifying a Cambridge Audio CD transport and now he has this amazing system. What a huge step.

[@miguelbarrio]

That was just for fun, no pretense of “high end” in that. Notice the CD transport is no longer in the rack, don’t have the space anymore.

[@dennismanning6684]

@@miguelbarrio Hi Miguel, very entertaining, thought provoking interview. Along this subject how do you rip a SACD without the Rossini Transport to decode/encode (proprietary I presume) to the Dac over duel AES; no HDMI in the system?

[@antonyharding5360]

Nice system,, it would have been nice to see more of it.. Best wishes. Regards Antony.

[@Reyfox1]

From a baby boomer, this was great. I miss my turntable and records. Moving forced me to give up something, and sadly it was the records and turntable....

[@papermate8773]

Thank you! These different audiophile journeys are amazing!

[@vitortavares5759]

Miguel has the most extraordinary system. The design, the esthetic and the quality of the pieces.... WOW!!!

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Great visit!

[@miguelbarrio]

Thx Ken!

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

@@miguelbarrio Love the explanations behind each piece. All about purity.

[@lorigetz4489]

My dream system

[@scottyo64]

Love your interviews with Miguel, thanks Steve!

[@moonytheloony6516]

Merry Christmas Steve!

[@juliancrun]

Muy buenos los dos vídeos. Pedazo equipo.

[@robertobellomo8445]

The conversations with Miguel are always extremely interesting, both technology-wise (he is so competent) and from the more "romantic" audiophile point of view.

[@pjotrbromm]

And!..a handsome man to look at!

[@mondoenterprises6710]

Used cd prices creeping up at the local record store.

[@madsmalmbakkjeldsen1920]

Dear Steve, Thank you for this. I really this and the last video you did with Shahed. It's wonderful to listen to these guys who have really gone off the deep end. Is it possible to hear from guys (or girls) who are at a more modest level? Like people who came from a Sonos and went to a stereo of 1000$ system? Thank you from Denmark

[@Leicaphile27]

There's a sense of awe each time I pick up a record I bought as a teenager. Hard to say how much of this is the music and how much is the connection I feel to the physical object.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Great video. Thanks Miguel for sharing your experience and showing us your beautiful system. Your insight is really well articulated. I think it captures the essence of the vinyl vs digital debate. Well done vinyl still has a sound quality edge. Clearly this is a transparent system. The best of digital can go toe to toe with vinyl. But there still is something in vinyl. But at it's current limits, digital can be good enough that you can choose based on cost of media and convenience and not be in a different ball park wrt sound. But to get there I still think you need to be prepared to spend a lot on your digital front end. Everything from clocks to output stage matters.

[@miguelbarrio]

These two front ends are roughly the same cost, which I find interesting as comparison points. At this point I would say analog and digital are like two brothers in the same family. Digital is more like the accountant brother whereas vinyl is more like the hippie with some mad skills.

[@erwindewit4073]

Wow, you don't know how lucky you people are if you can buy LP's for only $20! Here in Europe, it's at least 25 euros ($28), but usually more. Same for CD. Easily 15 euros ($17), not your $10! Still, I think the physicality also translates to CD. I'm just as protective of my CD's as I am of my LP's. But I am from 1971, so by the time I was able to buy music in the first place, I could already choose between CD and LP.. And a couple of years later, I couldn't, as the Netherlands very quickly switched to basically CD only. Such a shame. Even though I never really stopped buying records at all. But the last 10 years or so, more again. I love it! Miguel's system is a dream.. I like the fact that his equipment is from all over (and my home country with the van den Hul), and it's partly for it's technology. I like that.. As a fellow scientist that is...

[@odwatchguy]

Great interaction and video. Being a gearhead first and enjoying the physical act of putting on the vinyl for that physical contact with the system makes so much sense to me. Thank you.

[@DrGIzmoBRad]

A very honest gear-centric approach to the convenience of digital vs the physicalness and of vinyl. Miguel's rationale for choosing his equipment on the direct simplicity of triode gain and minimal distortion inherent in horn loaded speakers has significant financial consequences. These minimalist topologies are quite expensive. But if done right, the sonic payout is worth every penny.

[@MsCorbacho]

Same here , is really fun to tweak and install a cartridge , aligning it , A while ago I made new counterweights for my tonearm , in place of steel, I used aluminium bronze , is the sound different ? Yes a bit , better or worst ? I sincerely do not know yet , but it was a lot of fun trying it .

[@Ylojaketz]

It sounds like Miguel mainly enjoys the tinkering aspect of turntable technology. I think that will serve him well as he continues to play vinyl. I once enjoyed it as well. It was one of the few ways to make a clearly audible difference in a system where other components offered few if any adjustments that didn't also come with their own compromises like say tone controls. However, one day it dawned on me that i was becoming obsessed and would never be satisfied with the cartridge/tonearm calibration. It soon seemed as if I was spending half the time tweeking it for perfect alignment and the rest of the time playing it out of perfect alignment. That's when I went digital and never looked back. But I get why people like turntables. So enjoy if you do.

[@miguelbarrio]

I enjoy it all. I don’t tinker all the time, I go through phases. But I am very focused on things that matter - I would not bother readjusting overhang or remounting the cartridge for no good reason, I much rather play records!

[@hoobsgroove]

what's bugging me is what's on top of his SME something big what is it Steve!!

[@miguelbarrio]

The Audio Note Kondo Ongaku amp.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@miguelbarrio oh right I'm not sure that's a good idea putting it on top up in the air, I was always told to have amplifiers on the ground. what tubes are you running in the AN make and model, I'm not sure what the standard tube should be? if you can get a good set of Leak tl12 .1 12W properly restored and I mean properly restored to closest factory spec! probably the best power valve out there still.

[@paulcs2607]

@@hoobsgroove Heat rises. Tube amps (apart from David Berning) run really hot.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@paulcs2607 well there is that but thought it was obvious to keep it away other equipment.

[@neilfisher7999]

I agree with Miguel when he said that vinyl doesn't always sound better than digital. There are some recordings that sound better on vinyl and some that sound better digitally. At least that is what I have experienced. Playing albums on a turntable is a different experience and is more engaging. I enjoy the different formats for different reasons. Back in the day I had a turntable, a tape deck and a radio. I listened to all 3. Today I have a turntable, a streamer and a cd player. I listen to all 3.

[@gregturner2668]

I love this guy and especially his system, but I would love to know how he makes physics, a notoriously undervalued profession, pay so handsomely 😂

[@yeti8073]

Miguel & Steve. What a fabulous system and set up, thanks ever so much for creating the video and sharing - wonderful! @Miguel Barrio Also, I would be very grateful if you could please expand on the mini spot lights you have used to light up the SME turntable? Are they widely available?

[@miguelbarrio]

They are from Amazon. Look for Taysing LED spotlight in soft white (the color temperature). I posted a link here before but YT does not like it and removes it. Also notice there’s what looks like an o-ring in the middle. It is an o-ring, I added a snoot out of a piece of plastic sheet to focus the beam more. Not a must-do.

[@miguelbarrio]

Also would recommend to NOT use the dimmer - it is a solid state switching dimmer and is likely to introduce high frequency noise in the system.

[@yeti8073]

@@miguelbarrio Fabulous - many thanks for the pointers, very much appreciated indeed! I'll check if they are available in the UK.

[@RealHIFIHelp]

Lots of interesting gear.

[@net_news]

grande Miguel!! Sos muy grosso amigo!!

[@FMSAir]

great interview and system! I think that the phono preamp could be better placed. It’s very close to the turntable power supply, it might produce unwanted noise

[@miguelbarrio]

I tried. I didn't find a difference.

[@Gez492]

Miguel has great taste in gear some great British manufacturers there DCS and SME 👌🏽

[@ajay55556]

I have done a lot of comparisons with 10k vinyl vs 10k CD player. Vinyl is most of the time little better. But when it comes to percussions like drums, piano, bongos etc.. To me CD player is little better with timing and dynamics. Miguel has a great rig. He would get huge upgrade on his digital with a cd transport. Dollar for dollar … cd transport will always trump file based source. Unfortunately, ultradisc blank gold cds have discontinued but that was another step closer to more musical connection with cds.

[@miguelbarrio]

I have done some of the comparisons, and frankly it’s a mixed bag - my CDs played on my CXC transport to my Rossini do not trump their ripped versions played on Roon. In many (not all) cases where there are hi res versions, those sound better than the ripped versions. If I used a Rossini transport, CD might sound better than its ripped version, but I just can’t be bothered with such a small difference (and high cost of that transport).

[@johnlebeau5471]

I see myself here. S.E.T. amps (3), not Ongakus, but hand made. Horns, Altec V.O.T. because you need horns when you only have 2 watts. A Pink Triangle Anniversary turntable, because it's the best I have ever heard, and that includes the SME. A Shilabe cartridge--because it is different from all the rest. And a DAC with no chips but with a single ended triode (changeable but I prefer the 300b) output. When I started this hobby, digital did not exist. I have around 3,000 records, but if I was starting today, I would combine the money I would spend on a turntable and a DAC, and put it all into the DAC--or maybe a really good 8-track player.

[@johnlebeau5471]

@@keplermission4947 There are horns, and then there are HORNS. My horns are two cell, each being 16" square at the mouth, with a length of 30". They have an exponential flare, 116db/w/m and were designed for theaters. They are also ugly since they are supposed to be behind a movie screen. This is not your average horn. Playing at my typical listening level of 90-95db max, they draw milliwatts from the amp. They are so far below their abilities that distortion is not a problem--at least below 10khz, above which they do start to distort rather badly. That said, I do share your disdain for the typical horn speaker. By the way, I do own an 8-track player, a cassette deck, a reel to reel deck, 5 turntables, and a wind up acoustic gramophone.

[@johnlebeau5471]

@@keplermission4947 No speaker driver is truly full range. That's why I have a tweeter as well as large woofers in my speakers. The horn cuts off at 300hz on the low side. I had a Decca London cartridge--they truly are great.

[@anthonyhopkin]

Hi Miguel. Fascinating system and interview. Would love to hear your reaction to the full Chord Mscaler & Dave Dac front end feeding into that amp/speaker combination. Something for analogue to match. Must say I am Mighty Jealous of your amp/speaker combi. ;¬D Greetings and Very Merry Christmas to one and All.

[@miguelbarrio]

I would have no idea how the mscaler/dave would sound since I don’t have one and have never listened to one. I have a Chord Mojo which I like a lot with headphones (Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed).

[@rezimulov1]

Great interview! What happened to Miguel's modified Cambridge CXC?

[@miguelbarrio]

Sitting behind the couch. Works great but didn’t fit in the rack. Besides, I never really got into CDs as playing the rips on Roon is so close.

[@BobCoalWater]

Very interesting, I too own a current mode phono stage and was a little disappointed that Dynavectors where not an option anymore as I thought the impedance was too high for these types of preamps. I little befuddled. I just love these interviews, so much fun, wish I could ask questions, when he was giving reasons for buying his equipment he fell short of the cartridge.

[@miguelbarrio]

The XV-1s is 6 Ω. I have heard this cartridge before and owned a cheaper Dyna (10xv4?) with my Rega P2. Love the dynamics and resolution without being harsh at all. Not unlike the dCS in a way. It is also gorgeous.

[@LS-ti6jo]

LOVED this video - have multiple physicists & engineers in my family (I'm just the black sheep CPA). I missed whether he said what type/brand Rack he is using. Also, I really like the 2 small lights he has for the turntable. Been lookong at goose knecked lights for my Rega P10, but everyone Ive found has been way too tall. Can you let us know what those are?

[@miguelbarrio]

The rack is a SolidTech Rack-of-Silence. You can adjust the shelf height continuously which came in very handy to maximize the space for the turntable given it's in a not-so-great spot. The LED lights are from Amazon, look for Taysing LED spotlight in soft white. Also don't use the dimmer if it comes with one, they are switching mode and can introduce noise in the system.

[@LS-ti6jo]

@@miguelbarrio Thank you!

[@thepickyaudiophile]

Great guys, this came at the right time 👍 I’m at the point where I’m debating stepping up my vinyl game or just dropping it and upgrading the digital side. Outside any hesitation about the cost/hassle/OCD that may come with vinyl, my current turn table (P3/Exact/Aria) is just getting getting owned by my streamer/DAC combo at roughly half the cost (this includes the digital sounding more relaxed, full, organic and warm). I’m really unsure what it will take to get to the point where “vinyl is better” 🤔 Maybe I should just sell my table + handful of records, get a May DAC and not look back 😄

[@miguelbarrio]

This is what I think: The sound quality steps from $1K, $5k, $10K, and $20K+ vinyl rigs is NOT subtle. If the rest of your system can keep up, you can definitely hear the differences - not subtle at all. I think improvements in digital start to level off around $15K, for vinyl it is probably around $40K. Just my humble experience and some interpolation.

[@thepickyaudiophile]

@@miguelbarrio Thanks Miguel, much appreciated!! I’m inclined to step up to something in the 5k range (maybe a used P8 + ~1K mm/mc cart and the Ares phono stage). If that still does not compare favorably with my 10 year old Rega DAC, it might be my cue to just focus on the digital side 😃

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

@@thepickyaudiophile I have a P3 with the Elys 2 and the word on the street is the Exact is far better but some say Rega cartridges are not good. I find them picking up noise from the motor as the arm gets closer to the center to be a defect. Soundwise, I think the Rega cartridges are good but with no basis for comparison, who knows. Maybe check out the Sumiko Blue Point 3 high output mc would need 2 mm spacer.

[@QoraxAudio]

SME turntable, large horn speakrs... looks like he has a similar taste as you have, Steve!

[@miguelbarrio]

Steve and Mike Trei (turntable setup guru and friend) both inspired me to look into SME for sure.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@miguelbarrio SME is definitely a great manufacturer. I do think that it was a mistake of SME to quit selling spare tonearms though. SME IV and SME V tonearms are very sought after and their prices skyrocketed because of that...

[@miguelbarrio]

@@QoraxAudio well works for them as I wanted the SME V and this was one of the reasons I got the 20/3

[@TheMaxx111]

Can we get this man a chair?

[@StuartMcFarlane]

Great stuff. I'd love to know what Miguel used for the little lights above his turntable. I'm searching for something similar. Anyone know?

[@NickP333]

The Uberflex light is fantastic for lighting up one’s turntable. 🎶🙂🔊

[@bobbyguest3906]

Do You or Miguel use a static gun on the albums before playing? Forty years ago, I had a Dual turntable ( the top end at that time) with an Ortofon moving coil cartridge and I used a static gun to remove the ticks and pops of the music, by neutralizing the static. If he does use one, why are there ticks and pops? You ROCK !!

[@miguelbarrio]

I use the Hunt/EDA brush every single time I put a record on the platter. The carbon fiber brushes are good too. Cleaning the stylus carefully is important as well. Static is always a problem. I have been toying with the idea of getting one of those “antistatic blowers” you put next to the platter.

[@bobbyguest3906]

@@miguelbarrio Tainx Miguel ! ..and I thank your brain as well !!

[@robertyoung1777]

Static sure is a problem in winter. I’ve been using a milty static gun (a pain to use but works) along with misting a microfiber cloth with distilled water and wiping down records.

[@bobbyguest3906]

@@robertyoung1777 Yep. 10-Foe !! ...High-end turntables have always been superior to digital in my mind.

[@mkfmkf55]

Interesting rack placement, getting a record on that platter looks to be very awkward. I don't believe $30 grand needs to be spent on a turntable setup to get great results. But I appreciate Steve showing audiophile systems like this. Very entertaining.

[@ziqfriq]

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Very cool looking rack and from what I remember, very expensive. But it looks like you would have to get down on the floor to cue a record. And the SET amp on top? I guess that's best for ventilation, but it's not something you would interact with much, at least compared to the turntable. I recently built a very sturdy wall shelf for my turntable, at a height that's just right for me. Sound purists may complain, compared to having it mounted on a fancy rack, but it makes me much more likely to play a record at any given time.

[@snoopdoggdankkush9285]

interesting dude (:

[@Coolesttech]

What's at the top of the rack that the turntable is in the middle? Seems strange

[@miguelbarrio]

The Ongaku amp. It gets very hot. And I don’t want a second rack. Aesthetics-first audiophile!

[@Coolesttech]

@@miguelbarrio makes sense now. Too bad we didn't get to see it, it's a work of art. Do you find the turntable in the middle awkward to use?

[@miguelbarrio]

@@Coolesttech There are pics of my Ongaku in the video. The turntable placement is not ideal, but good enough. My rack (SolidTech Reck Of Silence) has shelves that are continually adjustable, so that helped get the max space for the turntable.

[@Coolesttech]

@@miguelbarrio I'm sure it sounds divine. Beautiful system, enjoy it. Love the t-shirt too ;)

[@bbophead1]

Beautiful interview and thanks to Steve and Miguel for their insights. Is there a record cleaner in the system? It seems like you would want one, especially as regards the older records.

[@miguelbarrio]

There is!!! I have spent some time lately on this. I got one of those generic ultrasonic VATs and use Kirmuss’s method (and his cleaning solution) to clean records in bulk (I can do 9 at a time in about 25 mins). Then I got a Humminguru out of curiosity - an automated ultrasonic that cleans and dries. I am impressed with this, but doing some research makes me think a Degritter is in my near future. Cleaning records is key. As for what works best, the Kirmuss method is excellent but time consuming - but if I’m going to do a bunch or records, I think this is great. The 1-step automated clean/dry machines are fabulous for when you get a new or fairly clean record. The Humminguru works well, is small, and nice. But I am pretty sure the Degritter would be better.

[@robertyoung1777]

I have had good luck cleaning my records with a SME Loricraft machine. It takes about 15 minutes per record but it’s relatively quiet and does a great job.

[@joel_hifi1994]

Hi Miguel, great interview 👍 Just to tell you that I received a Degritter today, fantastic machine, does a great job and it’s all so easy hassle free, highly recommended 👌 Greetings from Lake Geneva

[@miguelbarrio]

@@joel_hifi1994 Guess what? I literally received my Degritter today. I am away for vacation but in a few days I will try it. I am thinking of keeping the Humminguru to do pretreatment - say surfactant on the HG before water on the DG.

[@joel_hifi1994]

@@miguelbarrio That’s great, you will surely enjoy it as I do! Good thinking on the HG+DG process, keep us posted how that goes 👍 I’m keeping my ca. 20 year old VPI 16.5 for pre-wash, just in case if needed!

[@francisdelacruz6439]

Wonderful when one gets really close to the sound you want as an audiophile. Hoping this means your focusing more on the music 🎼

[@markfischer3626]

60 years ago as an early teen I heard stereophonic sound for the first time and loved it. That's when I became an audiophile. This industry promised it was working to achieve concert hall realism. By then I had attended many live concerts, mostly symphony orchestras. A dozen years later after returning from abroad and by this time a graduate engineer I was excited to hear Quadraphonic sound which promised concert hall realism. So I built a system. It was so awful and disappointing that I realized that this industry either didn't know what a live concert sounded like or were just lying with their hyperbole. At that point I lost all respect for everyone in it. I considered the problem myself and after a few weeks I understood it. That's when I set fire to my audiophile hat and replaced it with my engineering hat. In those nearly 50 intervening years nothing has changed except that at a professional level my disappointment at the technical prowess for the engineers in this industry has turned to contempt. Many are nice friendly people. Some are stinkers. But when it comes to understanding sound they've made no progress since 1958.

[@miguelbarrio]

Some things have changed. Digital has become an amazing means of reproduction. You can get AMAZING sound out of digital with a DAC of less that $1K, easily. Dongle DACs for $200 sound amazing too. AND to be honest, vinyl playback has also made amazing strides, the turntables, cartridges and phono stages of today are truly amazing. What blows my mind is that I can get an album pressed 50 or 70 years ago and get sound that is on-par with what is produced today by the major labels. That is what is really disappointing today, to me.

[@markfischer3626]

@@miguelbarrio The details may have changed in some cases strongly but the system block diagram is identical. Stereo signal source from a recording, stereo preamplifier, stereo power amplifier, a pair of soeakers, and wires to connect them all. We could argue all day as audiophiles do, tube versus transistors, CDs versus vinyl, horns versus electrostatic versus dynamic and on and on but the fact remains that the system block diagram remains identical, in fact many adjustment features from some of the equipment has been removed. The system design isn't up to the task of the original goal of concert hall realism, not remotely close. Its elements have been tweaked beyond the sublime to the absurd. The basic conceptual error in the minds of audiophiles is that with a perfect recording played through a perfect system of this type in a perfect home listening room you will get perfect results. The recording microphones are nor placed to hear what the listener hears. They are much closer and hear mostly direct sound and very early reflections. A vector field falls on the microphones which converts it to a scalar electrical signal. It's converted back to a vector field by the loudspeakers. That field has virtually nothing in common with the field heard live at a concert. They design the same system over and over again in endless variants but after 60 years when the most remarkable advances have been made in every other field of science and technology these people are still stuck in their minds in 1958.

[@twostepped999]

Hey @Miguel Barrio, it sounds like you digitize your LPs? If so what A/D converter do you prefer, and do you equalize using your phone pre or digitally? Is it easy to add photos to your albums in roon? Thanks and glad to see you are “in touch” with your audio priorities and values

[@miguelbarrio]

I don't digitize my LPs

[@twostepped999]

@@miguelbarrio oh thanks. Guess I need to listen more carefully

[@raoulk.7934]

Hi Miguel & Steve ! I listened carefully to your feelings between your dac and your turntable. I noticed that you'd like a more organic sound on your digital source. Add an additional tablet under your dac and place 3 Stillpoints Ultra 6 without Ultra base instead of the original feet and hear the difference...thank you for giving me your opinion.

[@miguelbarrio]

I have listened to many DACs. Brands like MSB, Chord, EMMLabs (I had one of these for many years). The dCS is one of the most organic sounding DACs I have ever heard. The other is the MSB. What I have discovered is that regardless of the digital source, the sound of digital vs the sound of my turntable is DIFFERENT. It is not that the DAC is less organic, it’s different. I understand that this is not a great description but it’s the best I can come up with right now.

[@raoulk.7934]

@@miguelbarrio First of all, thank you for your "Ultra" fast response, Miguel. I told you about this upgrade because I myself made tests with many DACs like MSB, Audiomat and my current DAC, Goldmund. Each time, the sound was really better on all listening criteria. I also use a SME tonearm on my AVID turntable. Anyway, there will always be a difference between analog and digital sound. Your hifi system is a dream system and I'm happy for you if you've found your ideal sound on both of your sources.

[@naqqashsharif5561]

Would be better if he let our audiophiliac finish his sentences.

[@chelillingworth9466]

Very cool but the room sounds very lively, you can hear it in the interview, with the love of science I would think some investigation into room treatment would be worthwhile.

[@miguelbarrio]

It’s a large room (24ft x 36ft) and RT60 in this room is next to impossible to reduce. The horns are directional and that helps.

[@chelillingworth9466]

@@miguelbarrio yeah, you are right about the horns and how the dorectionality of then will help. I love how you described how the horns act as a transformer...that was so clear and made a lot of sense. Incredible system!

[@sauleomarova7730]

I was done around 2 min 20 sec mark... cant take this much more...

[@Labor_Jones]

*MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU and a MERRIER CHRISTMAS to the American WORKERS.* Someone gave me about 400 albums a couple of days ago. Most of it from the 50s and early 60s. .... almost all of the vinyl is near mint even if the jackets are less so. About 100 of them are religious albums & Saturday I'm going to RUN Around Town Giving Gifts to People Working on Christmas. My sack of goodies will be Album, CD, and DVD with a Beer or small bag of Pot and to a few I see every year I'm going to give them my overflow gear; Speakers, Headphones, Amps, personal Stereo (small stuff) and I don't know what else. INSTEAD, of PERSECUTING People who don't make the kind of WAGES to avoid working on Americas Christmas LOVE FEST.... I thank people for doing things not because they have to, but because they are doing what they do. THE BEST HEALTH TO EVERYONE and a REMINDER to LOVE EACH OTHER avoids WAR.

[@Labor_Jones]

One of the reasons I think vinyl albums (33 1/3) are different are because they almost immediately became _Music Artist CANVAS, beginning with Frank Sinatra_ in the early 1950s. .... With CDs (compact disk) the CANVAS Grew so LARGE (CD 70plus minutes length) that the best Artist had a difficult time filling them with quality tunes in part because DOUBLE Albums (like Tommy by The Who) are harder to create. .... Ultimately it seems that lack of focus that was LIMITED by the Canvas of Vinyl destroyed the MUSIC Artist in the Compact Digital World. In its wake it created "The Music Entertainer," whose focus were on HIT SONGS period and didn't mind studios to cheat through the Production. That's Business Right, but not necessarily music made to be the primary focus.

[@FOH3663]

Miguel ... not a word wasted, always refreshing. E.F. Hutton's got nothing on you. The microscope, appropriate... as that system must offer up a killer detailed presentation of whatever is thrown it's way. Downside of these two videos, simply too damn short! Over lunch, I trust you were scheduling the next interview! I'm guessing; Bread, Meat Loaf, Chili Peppers? Perhaps some Herb, with a Taste of Honey, or Whipped Cream, etc? Myself, I'm more Tangerine Dream and Watermelon Sugar.

[@photohum]

👍👍

[@Finn-McCool]

"Right"

[@jimharvey7694]

What rack are those?

[@jerrysnead2842]

Cool Astro Boy shirt

[@fletchermunson6225]

In spite of Miguel's fantastic system, the one thing I envy about him is his BMI. There must be more fat in a plate of Fetching Alfredo than on his whole body. The diet goes on.

[@miguelbarrio]

It’s a lot of work, trust me.

[@beslemeto]

This mans Hi-Fi system costs more than my entire life savings!Unlike him i am after cheap solutions for best sound results.My preamp costs only £150,but for me it is incredible.My most expensive unit is my power amp.I payed £1000 for it.

[@frankcoupe9008]

Vinyl is tactile were as digital can be sterile... Nothing like being able to touch vinyl,covers.

[@mediascapes2011]

seems sooo uncomfortable the way the record player is sandwiched between the narrow shelving space, kind of pain to handle, curious it is.

[@miguelbarrio]

Not the best but better than another rack in my book. Also, this rack shelf heights are continuosly adjustable so that helps maximizing the space available for the turntable.

[@garysmith8455]

Bitches Brew...............sigh................I have tried and tried to get into that album, but I think it is too 'experimental abstract' for my tastes. Music loving friends of mine have similar feelings about the recording.

[@westernartifact580]

Part of it is where that record resides in historical context. The players on that record went on to make some of my favorite music ever.

[@westernartifact580]

Take Joseph’s Zw… for example, played a small but important role on how bitches brew sounds. I love his earlier work with bands like Maynard Ferguson’s, and man oh man his work on stuff like weather report! Makes what he was doing with Miles really very interesting and fun.

[@Labor_Jones]

get yourself a brass horn (like a French Horn) and blow into it until you start making sounds and soon, you'll be making music with Miles and Band, and it will help you to connect. It sounds funny, but it's a Perfect album for jamming even if you are not a Musician!

[@Labor_Jones]

the Mile's Jack Johnson album is also a fun album to connect with. ... Personally, Jack Johnson is a better listening album.