Six KILLER HI-FI DEMO tracks + Tidal hi-res PRICE DROP

This episode is brought to you by T+A and Roon:
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🎥 Camera: John Darko
🎬 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
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Cambridge Audio CXN 100 demo music Tidal playlist
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[@JulianKovalsky]

Nothing beats almost every Yello track for hi-fi demos.

[@WMalven]

As Alan Parsons said, "Audiophiles don't use their equipment to listen to your music, they use your music to listen to their equipment."

[@trumptardtearcollector9867]

I never knew that very well said by a musician and engineer I respect very much and when you think about it he is right I've heard all these songs million times but every time I upgrade my system I hear new things in the song that were always there but it's my equipment that's letting me here at. Also I'm an audio enthusiast not a audio file I don't have enough money to consider myself an audio file nor am I willing to spend more than a $1000 on any individual peace equipment.

[@realleescoggins]

He didn’t actually say that.

[@WMalven]

@@realleescoggins I stand corrected. An anonymous Slashdot commenter said it. It is, however an accurate statement in my opinion and experience.

[@tubical71]

I needed to actually built my entire repro system myself, because no HiFi speaker can give me the impact of a 50ltr standart 12/2 PA enclosure to start with....isually 80hz up to 15khz but you can feel the bass even played at usually room listening volumes.... Now I have a fully custom system which can repro 30hz up to 18khz flat with max 126dB SPL.. Enough headroom for everything...you feel the low end even as a volume setting which allows normal conversations... That's my form of high-end... And I listen mostly to drum&bass/funk/techno/classic EM (tangerine dream, Kraftwerk) and I built it to follow my needs... It's not for classical Musik.. No sir...but Eric Johnson - Manhatten does the trick ;) don't let someone telling you what you need... Chose your stuff according to your Music taste....only....you have to live with it, no one else...

[@dangr123]

​@@realleescogginsright? I think that was Abraham Lincoln.

[@Audiodreamer192-24]

I got an email from tidal like a week ago saying my hifi plus subscription price is dropping. I am paying 27 a month CAD is going down to 13.99. Not often prices ever go down on anything 👍

[@g000se99]

M O R E of this please. I pray for a ‘Darko selects electronic’ show. Friday night, a glass of wine, taking an hour to watch a 9 min video alongside a juicy soundsystem. Yes please! This is a perfect detox to a brutal week.

[@richh650]

It's all about the quality of the original recording master....

[@DucatiKozak]

Im not going to disagree, but at the studio level, and especially with recordings created in the last 30+ years, you're going to have a level of excellence that is fairly even. After that has been achieved, the quality of your delivery is what its all about (considering you have the quality of audio equipment able to reproduce said delivery)

[@peterlynn3190]

One nite alone. Solo piano and voice by Prince. The cover has piano keys and a nest with blue eggs. Beautiful album.

[@mslaw7261]

The “Hmmm” at the end of just about all the bloopers take were hilarious!!😂

[@user-og782]

It's wonderful to be able to follow you on Tidal too, I appreciate what you do, thank you.😊👋❤️

[@JBrazosCole]

I always see music that I listen to on your videos and it makes your content that much better.

[@miamizeusofmontreal]

Darko, I rarely comment, but your are my smooth relaxing time listeting or viewing your audio. Thank you.

[@mattiaslundh8563]

Tnx so much for these pearls 😊🙏 Really nice recordings and great music

[@dougcampbell2814]

John, I just read and viewed the post on your website, "Hi-fi show music is still a broken record - and, therefore, so am I". I felt the need to let you know how much I enjoy (and agree with) the subject matter and...how much I enjoy the professionalism of your website look and feel. The quality of your videos is also excellent quality and very enjoyable to me. You've really increased my enjoyment of this hobby for me and have helped to enlarge the types of music that I now enjoy. Kudos and thank you. 🎵

[@RickRolling-tc7vb]

Darko's 6 tracks is a baker's half dozen. Always good value with you John, many thanks for the music. My life improves...

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS JOHN, LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING YOUR SUGGESTIONS 🤗😎💚💚💚

[@mrcoolsun3142]

Thanks for a great selection of music, nice change to see some of my favourites suggested as test tracks. Happy Tidal user here come 10 April.

[@sirndimz3418]

Thanks for the great suggestions

[@pascalmarais2861]

This was a great video despite me being a strictly Spotify subscriber. The breadth of my listening is so massive and I appreciate someone curating some tracks specifically for system tests. It narrows things down to something finite yet nicely varied. I look forward to running these tracks through my setup. Thanks Darko👌

[@BryanRuby]

I now have a Darko Hi-Fi DEMO tracks playlist in Roon! Thanks! I've been into Qobuz but giving Tidal another try with the price cut.

[@KeenAesthetic1]

You mentioned Atom TM sometime ago. Most of your suggestions are not my cuppa genre-wise but that one's audiophile gold for me. I'mma check the rest of these!

[@Raginmund33]

Hey Netflix, Disney, HBO, are you taking notes? A price drop is possible.

[@MrUran11]

The Smile -"Speach Bubbles" sounds wonderful.

[@jamesa.4451]

As a huge Prince fan, who purchased the Old Friends For Sale on release day back in 99, it’s nice to see 5 Women getting some recognition in the audiophile world. I’d also recommend When The Lights Go Down from the same album.

[@octothorpe12]

!00% Slept-on album. Yes, it was a contractual obligation album, but when you're Prince, even your throw-aways are gonna be pretty spectacular.

[@kubjohal]

So pleased you mentioned Prince .... The whole album is brilliant ....

[@darrellross8609]

The " HD " track is awesome.

[@ccntwc]

This is great news. Thank you! I can now enjoy tidal natively on my WiiM pro plus at that price

[@samuelreggio1611]

Still love that you love Autechre. Draft 7.30 is a record I use to test gear changes. Cheers!

[@tronalddump404]

Thx for the nice tracks! Sharing music is one of the great joys in life. Try Why Why Why Why Why from Sault, it keeps moving me

[@sudipchatterjee]

When I read the news about Tidal a week ago, I thought about your earlier comments about its Hi-fi plus plan. Well, they apparently listened to you, John!

[@DeeDeeDanone]

I mostly follow your channel for excellent music tips. Stuff I’ve not heard in years or long-forgotten stuff that slipped past my radar. I used to be into audiophile gear but I’m past that now. Apple Music and Momentum 4 headphones are a humble setup that do me fine. Music > Sound.

[@DadTS13]

You’re going to be in trouble if Dianna Krall releases an IDM album.

[@andBro]

I appreciate John very much, unbeknownst to me, so far, personally

[@markpearson1006]

I can never tire of listening to Babylon Sisters - dont mess with Chuck and Bernard! Great channel

[@sixergixer]

Love the Ghostly Int. tee!

[@esaranba47]

Thank you for a wonderful and very eclectic playlist. That Perro del Mar song right after Rammstein is such a great combo...can't imagine them at an audio show 😅(it would be great though). You should do more videos like these, showing us what you are looking for in different tracks.

[@barneyrubble9309]

Honestly, CD quality is pretty much all you'll ever need. They've been trying to push hi res formats for ages in the hope you'll replace your entire library yet again like folks did when CD hit the market. In reality, CD is good enough for most folks..mixing and mastering has waaay more affect on sound quality.

[@absolutium]

Thats mostly true.. with one caveat.. 48kHz tracks play better with the vast majority of current devices and software.. cellphones.. TVs.. tablets.. consoles.. laptops etc.. some can play 44.1 bit perfect but the vast majority is designed for 48kHz integers.

[@mattcavanough]

It's nice that some hifi content creators have realised this and are spreading the word. ❤

[@StevenRobinson1978]

Holy moly AtomTM HD is an absolute audiophile journey over DLNA using Mojo and Poly and SE846.

[@MrShufunk]

Great recommendations!

[@mrkitewine7700]

At the Bristol HiFi show last year, Spendor were blasting out Shamanic Tales by Astrix to demo their A4 speakers. It was the first time I’d heard it, and it went straight onto my “showcase” playlist despite it being rather long. The soundstage is incredible.

[@ralphm5840]

Killer playlist... thanks so much for this! Yup... amazing sound to show how good 44.1/16 streaming can be. I've been a very happy Tidalee for years.

[@broadhurst5000]

So good to see electronic music represented in the audiophile sphere... the stuff coming out these days is on the next level of production and sonic soundscapes... yummy.

[@razza83]

Just listened to Friction with some headphones on, what a great track!!

[@DaPunkNdFunk]

It's a great day to love music ❤

[@DAMN11KIDS]

Loving the ghostly swim shirt 😎🤙

[@higurashinerd]

Tidal finally did what I needed them to do in order to add them to my lineup. Now just add a playback information REST API like Spotify has so I can pull the playhead position, BPM/Temp, Album art, etc of the current track through an API, and I'll be 100% sold.

[@ohiocitydave]

I’m always a big fan of El Guincho’s “Pop Negro” album this time of year. Just never gets old.

[@dangr123]

You're going to make me watch it again to write down the songs, aren't you? 😆 😑

[@andrewz925]

You should make an official Darko Audio Spotify playlist if you don't have something like that out there.

[@DingoVegetarian]

I’m finding your channel very helpful as I re-invest in my love of music. I was wondering if you’ve ever considered creating or recommending playlists?

[@TrevorCameron-oj3de]

Thank you John !! I really enjoy your content, wit and taste in music. I have used shazam to identify funky music you play as an interlude, many times, this is a bonus! ... as for the haters, they are all a tad tiresome. Ta' mate.

[@ericjenkins2737]

One track I often recommend is the opening track “Shona Bridge” from Michael Brook’s fantastic album Cobalt Blue.

[@dilbyjones]

I love hifi show music but too much already. Love it.

[@loriscornelissen4048]

Companies usually don't tend to give out "gifts", maybe Spotify CD quality will actually release this year and their trying to stay ahead.

[@ionutfloares6958]

I do believe When Lights go Down from the same album from Prince is as good song as any to test things and that’s my humble opinion 🙂

[@OldGuyHifi]

Great info and playlist. Anxious to get your take on the CSN100. I know Randy loved and would like to get opinion. Thx.

[@lesporque]

My ultimate demo track (but also far too long) is the 28 minute version of "The Box" by Orbital, it's basically 4 songs in one. Has good dynamic range, electronic sounds, piano, harpsichord, great stereo image, actual bass plus male and female vocals. The CD single has them split but they released it as a single track on a second disc of early pressings of In Sides.

[@AH-wr1ir]

my fav track of princes "the vault" is "when the lights go down" they wig out it has a real freedom to it.

[@swissgator6312]

The Tidal execs must have watched your previous video on pricing John! 😉

[@saltedpeanut5571]

Atom(tm) for the win! Love that album! And his production and sound quality within the realm of electronic music is immaculate. Try that album out, y'all.

[@ahhhdeosmile]

Is a, for example, a 192 hi rez, just an up sampling of lower rez, or is it created from the master digital or otherwise material or digital master ? On all platforms we don’t have this info. Is it less or more than upsampling on a user DAC ?

[@stephencosta6814]

You are amazing reviewer and person love your channel you bring us so much information that we need❤❤❤❤

[@milanulrich]

oh yeah, just re-discovered AtomTM recently and my top one is Riding the Void. That sharp bass grips my guts on R3's with Hegel. Btw is that the new H190v? Is that so much of the difference against original H190 and mostly...how is the phono MM input?😊

[@DucatiKozak]

Marquee Moon is one of my top 10 all-time favorite somgs. Tidal does have the album in MAX . A lot has changed since MQA was deprecated. But in my opinion to my ears, some of the MQA recordings were better than the FLAC replacements offered up now.

[@grabtharandhishammer8251]

Gotta say John, I've found some fantastic songs and artists following your demos. Keep up with the left of field recommendations. Tidal Australia doesn't seem to feel the love for the Ramstein track :( cant find it.

[@aphex2k]

I spotted the Aphex Twin mug. High 5.

[@munkienl1]

Just cleaned and played a used vinyl record of Tears for Fears/The seeds of love. Real bass, drums and guitar on an 80's production! And amazing sonics.

[@HIFIDaydreaming]

I like to find mix between music I listen regularly and those HIFI demo showroom songs, when testing a device. As I believe many newer audience, is searching a way to listen to their favorite songs, on bigger fidelity and exploring backrooms of their songs that they did not even know that they exist full of new details. One of the song which I like to test HIFI is Steven Wilson - Luminol. Steven is well know in production world as a savant, when it comes to mastering and producing. This song have many production and musicianship qualities to test sound. You can test by seeing how unit separate layers, how the soundstage opens, texture in details, the attack and definition of bass. But also as it is a longer progressive track, it has it`s share of also mellow parts with just vocals to test imaging and clarity. David Sylvian - I Surrender is so impeccable produced that it is a good track to test gear no matter the source and is also there to test smooth warm sound. Radiohead - National Anthem for bass and sub bass etc. I am jumping of joy when I discover music that I enjoy and is superbly produced, because that dynamic range of song is all about HIFI. Great video as always.

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

I like your taste in music, not that it's all up my street, I appreciate the diversity. I listen to a lot of Bluegrass, new and old, but no one in the audio system KZbin world ever gives an indication of how new speakers, amps, streamers, dacs, and the like deal with the high lonesome sound of Bluegrass. Come on, John 😉

[@warrenpchi]

Unspoken by Pacific! (which incidentally features El Perro Del Mar) is a delicious track for testing bass, or the lack thereof. 😋

[@miroslavbazitov183]

And du bist eine machine

[@rogerhuston8287]

I was a Tidal user for 6 years, but left after the MQA fiasco.

[@slpcorner]

I Love U (Like I Love My Drum Machine)

[@ianhinds3480]

BT Firewater. Superb. Or anything from ESCM.

[@mcalnd]

My top six demo tracks Strength Of Character - China Crisis (Original CD Master) Papa Don't Preach - Madonna (Original Vinyl) Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire - Joni Mitchell (Original Vinyl) Mustapha - Queen (Original Vinyl) I.G.Y (International Geophysical Year) - Donald Fagan (Original CD Master) It's Grim Up North - The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu (Original 12" Vinyl) - just for a laugh to see if your system can cope with it! Note: No remasters in this one - all originals - for example the Joni Mitchell track - all digital versions just don't have the incredible wide soundstage as the original vinyl

[@gavincole5793]

The Lost Highway soundtrack is full of great tracks. Will deffo check out AtomTM. 👍

[@Rumeel12708]

So with the new Tidal subscription, do the song downloaded songs automatically download to Max settings? Or do I have to redownload them?

[@PrismApplied]

Interesting songs. Especially AtomTM. The Prince is way too bright to be considered any kind of reference.

[@TheWeardale1]

i haven't watched this video yet (on my list) and it's too late now @ 1am... but check out Biosphere track 'field' from the album insomnia...magic!!

[@LencoTB]

What is that white box that you have after your yellow power cable that is plugged into your Hegel amp?

[@johnmckay428]

morph the cat, Donald Hagen - baby face, lou reed - Saturday Night, Cold Chisel - limbo, Yello - you and your sister, this mortal coil ✅ 🎧

[@pickyaudiophile9898]

Maybe it's my hearing, my brain ....or maybe just a matter of taste...but Qobuz to me just sounds superiour by a smitch.

[@Paul0326]

Qobuz is better!

[@tdmduc]

Rammstein "Heirate Mich" ...... a difficult pill to swallow....hahhaha to put it mildley.

[@wilmah8565]

Your music taste is what brought me to your channel in the first place. Thank you!

[@GOZES]

Is there any more videos about electronic music coming?

[@kyleo2113]

Ever try Audirvana? Roon is great with the polish and extras but if it is sound quality Audirvana is the winner. JMHO

[@jenspussel4876]

pop aschde! thank you!

[@jips123]

Saw Rammstein live. Loud is an understatement. Nice though…

[@AndreasNeofytou]

Is that the Sony Xperia 1 V? Are you still planning to review the ZenFone?

[@cyberblut]

I use Rammstein’s song Herzeleid from the same album (Herzeleid that is) as Heirate Mich, that one gives more “info” on how system sounds

[@91gymna]

You should put " Hugh Maselka - Stimela or Lady from the Hope Livealbum in your playliste.. it is an phenomenal Album with some African rythims. It is so engaging and if you d ont tap with your feed the system is to steril ( based on my own experience)✌️😉

[@johnpischedda6951]

Great album ! Grazing in the Grass also a killer track

[@analogueman5364]

Stimela is stunning - musically and recording.

[@user-br2en2ol1q]

Try Joe Cocker’s version of 5 Women, also good production but not as compressed as the Prince version.

[@magnaman94]

Listen to the flying mars. Album vibradimensional song vitamin. And album jambalaya, song aereo. Absolutely genius.

[@dazz1566]

I've created a playlist and added those tracks on Apple Music. Prince one is on there at 16/44. (I'm a physical media - vintage audio gear person). John? Have you heard of a duo called Parallox who are from Oz? They're really good. They do their own music and cover's. Including the whole first two Human League albums. Being a synth nut (Dance is actually my fave genre), it's great to hear albums from my teens get a reinterpretation. I hope you will like them too? Travelogue especially is an inspired reimagining. Stay safe.

[@christopherviers8302]

Great News...!!! Now if only Tidal would stream to Taiwan...!!! Please Tidal...!!!

[@RM-wy1pi]

Hi darko. Can u make a video on snapdragon aptx HD vs mediatek codec audio quality. Since lot of the manufacturers are going with mediatek chipsets. Would like your inputs on it

[@edthebull]

Probably not applicable to most who tune into this channel but the loss of DJ integrations in the new pricing or rather the increase in price if you want it is a huge negative for me.

[@FransbertSchermerMV]

What about the new 1985 Waterboys album This is the Sea on vinyl?

[@sheqse]

when i got the mail that delivered the news that from 10th of April i would pay only 5 euros for hi-res i though about your video you did about it :} i think you have something with this price drop and ruff competition too.

[@nosurname9652]

I have a feeling that whole video idea was to achieve ppl stop watching only parts they interested in, using time codes and watch whole video 😂. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@DarkoAudio]

It's a short video. Short enough not to time code.

[@jp93309]

I already have apple music (bundled with my phone plan) and spotify (for recommendations). Would tidal hi-res usurp these services?

[@k-doggy1762]

Of course not.

[@markhill4591]

Anything by Monolake works wonders for me when I'm testing speakers/headphones etc.

[@StevenRobinson1978]

Thanks for the tip.