So true about what the artist intended. I’ve heard interviews from producers, engineers, artists where the recording was finished, the artist is back on the road, and after hearing the final product, the producer feels it needs something, so they bring in a pedal steel player (for example) and add one more track to fill out a part of the song. At the end of the day - as you say: does it move you or not?
Hi Michael, thanks for your video. As you know I bought (and love) the STEALTH Double Tune but I’m wondering if you really made an apple to apple comparison. I mean: best USB cable vs best AES/EBU cable within our beloved brand lineup. Why don’t you try the Octava T (price apart)? And remember my previous suggestion: you need to try the Sakra V17LE, believe me, these XLR interconnects will blow you away!
Hello! There are a lot of STEALTH cables I would love to try. I just received a new one this past week and is now currently burning in. It's just impossible to receive all the gear and cables I'd like to try. On digital, even more important than the level of cables is how much design effort the company put into each of the outputs. For instance, some companies spend very little time on optimizing USB, others (like Antipodes) spend considerable effort in optimizing. Thanks for watching - and yes someday I hope to try the Sakra.
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures How I agree with you, Michael. Just to open a new can of worms, having MSB DAC I’m anxious to see the new Antipodes and Innuos Pro ISL output modules, that could drive me on a direct connection between server and DAC. Curious to know more about your new cable (just ordered Dream V18 T speaker cables). I’ll stay tuned. See you here or on WTB. Luca
The only way to hear it as real as can be is to use top notch pro gear ! Same as artist uses ! Does not sound like the so called ultra high end gear sounds.. 😮😮😊
A Studio sound is a boring analytical sound that I would never want in my house. Even my recording engineer friends all have systems that sound nothing like their studios.
This is more gear dependent in my experience. Try them all and see what sounds the best in your system. I do not believe there is any right or wrong answer here.
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures Funny thing is though, many folks never experiment with the different connections and later on discover that maybe that USB connection was not the best sounding. Pick your connection. I always have preferred digital coax, even over i2s in the gear I have had through here.
Angela-Gilbert Yeung is a living legend! Genius audio electronics designer/builder, originally from Hong Kong but many years in Canada. I gather the super-cap packs take things to a whole, new level. You’ve been raiding the piggy-bank lately!
Nice “review”. Music is subjective. We all hear things differently. Being able to tune to your enjoyment is one of the best parts of building a home audio system. Enjoy the pre!
This looks interesting but I couldn't find your response to Jungtarcph regarding the use of wifi or playing from NAS as an alternative. Could you please repeat it?
Ah I kinda had that feeling, thanks for confirming. What are your thoughts on playing from NAS? Would it still benefit from adding the network switches?
I'm a big believer in experimenting as every system and system issues are different. The switches are cheap enough that I would experiment and see what you think. Remember - noise and interference gets into everything / all cables. Anything you can do to help fight it is a good thing.
First job I had was at Tannoy in Coatbridge, Scotland. The first time I heard music played through a Tannoy speaker was life changing and gave me a whole new love of music. It's disgraceful that the board of directors of Tannoy sold out and effectively sold Tannoy down the river. Some companies are part of the fabric of being British and Tannoy was one of those companies. Now it's just another example of a company where a few shameless people who only care about lining their own pockets decided to dissolve a once great national institution. Shame on them! PS. It breaks my heart to say this but I will never buy a Tannoy product!
Tannoy was (no longer in my opinion) a national treasure to Scotland and the U.K. I think the only thing worse than becoming Chi-noy is how some people purposely play word-games about where they are made. I personally would not spend current pricing money on the stuff they are currently producing. Just my PERSONAL opinion.
Excellent, very objective review, Michael. I’m a huge fan of Antipodes for all of the reasons you cite here. I have both the K22 and K41, and unlike your K41 connected to the wall with a stock PC, mine is connected to my Niagara 5000 and I’m using what I regard to be superb power cords - especially for digital gear - the Cerious Tech Lumniscate. Couldn’t be happier. The K41 is one brilliant server!
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures Cool! I'm a fan of IsoAcoustic and while I feel like the feet on this unit are superb, always open... And BTW, I cannot get to the description link on my Mac or iPhone or iPad for whatever reason. Do you have a way to share your Qobuz Playlist in this comment? Thx
Thank you, Michael. Out of curiosity, which app do you prefer with your Antipodes? Like Mark Cole and Mark Jenkins at Antipodes my go to app for music playback is Squeeze. And I’m a lifer with Roon which continues with the best interface but IMO Squeeze the clear winner in SQ.
Also - a tweek that creates loads of heat from the audio commentators who never hear a difference - lucky them - are cable lifters True - Some are eye wateringly expensive I improvised with toilet roll cardboard inserts put together with parcel tape All my cables are now off the ground on those things It really looks crap - terrible in fact But sounds amazing! And free
H - I do not use IsoAcoustics under any component. I do put it in and out though as I use them to compare to other gear for comparison. I do have the rack on sliders as I often have to slide it out from the wall to change gear and cables to allow experiments.
Ok,time has passed by ..busy evening. I run the ISO under all my components…tho I’m in the middle of reconfiguring my stack (I’m a head fi guy) ..so the immediate benefit of them is a subtle thing ..but mostly use them to replace the generally crappy feet that come with most equipment.
I appreciate you sharing your personal experience of what works and why. RU-vid can be an echo chamber of people sharing the same information to fit in with everyone else. I’ve stated in the past that I felt, with a specific setup, that ISO Acoustics took life out of the music. “Experts” claimed I’m insane and that their isolation products would only improve the sound, not tarnish it. Well, selfishly, I’m glad to hear someone else state the same. I’ll be checking out a set of SA’s and run it through the same system. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, I feel like it’s a no-brainer experiment.
Thanks for your comment. I agree - people on the forums and group are more worried about being right and telling others how they are wrong, rather than simply accepting we all hear differently and our systems are all different. That's why I go through great lengths in my vids to say I'm not saying I am right, I'm just telling you what I hear. I frankly think most people in forums have no life except to argue over nothing. Life is too short to waste time with people like that. Thanks for watching and I hope you'll hit the subscribe button.
Subscribed! Tweakers unite :) Big on anti vibration ++ Yes, on leveling and measurement matching speakers in toe and from back walls especially ++ I like weight appropriate sorbathane half spheres or disc shaped dampers. Cool channel Michael!
As you also pointed out, my main problem with buying feet under my components is having X type of materials. It varies the results. But I've also been starting to experiment more in the past months, as my system is getting more and more resolving, every change just becomes more noticable. (Under my floorstanders small Viablue ufo rubber absorbers didnt make a difference against stock spikes. Didnt notice much under source components either. Case vibration damping there helps more.)
Yup - trial and error is key. There is never one universal all-true "this is the best" that can declared by anyone on any product. It's all system and personal preference dependent which is what makes this hobby so great.
I just put a waterchug on my Dac, since I'm short on door stoppers and it made a noticable improvement. Try damping the cases as well everyone! Also, I got a set of brass spikes and it also improves under my class d power amp and my tube preamp too.
@MichaelsHiFiAdventures I'm the same exact way. Horns and tubes just really suit my tastes. I'll be interested to see your next horn speakers. There's a guy in Parker, TX who is the rep. for Avant-garde. Maybe check it out. I heard them at the Southwest Audio event.
@@user-ho6ir8go9u Yup - That's Todd. I've spoken with him and he is very nice. His room at the SWAF sounded excellent. I currently have in for review Tobian Horn speakers from Switzerland. Review coming soon, but all I can say is I literally have a picture of me hugging them I love them so much. LOL. AG's are fantastic speakers for sure.
I looked at everything on the market and went with Viablue UFO feet for everything(even the rack). They allow threaded adapters or screws and come in flat black. Individual stick on isolators too.
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures They do everything I need them to. I think I have 10-12 sets in total, but I bought them before the price increase last year. I'm sure the more expensive products like Stack Audio, Revopods and Wellfloat triangles do a better job though. Audiophile Junkie uses them also and preferred them over the CCP made Isoacustics too.
Did you try three placed equily around the center weight spot of a component? I found a nice improvement with amps where the toroid offsets the central weight point of the unit. May work for you too.
So I finally got a Puritan to demo into my system and got to listen some last night. I have a couple of dedicated lines coming in on a rock solid power grid, so didn't expect much--until I started spinning records. It's really almost like the entire system took a step up. I was hearing more information, I swear I was hearing more bass (or at least better articulated bass), and everything seemed more relaxed and more alive at the same time. The only down side is when I plugged my tube amp directly into the Puritan (along with all my other components), I was hearing a slight buzz. Plugged the amp directly into the wall (which is what I usually do) and everything was dead quiet. Can't wait to demo some more this evening. The only question now is which power cord to get!
Great video...BUT....wouldn't a good room correction device or amp (Lingdorf) do this equally as well if not better? Just asking if you have experiecne with room correction.
Hi Rick - in just about every instance DSP room correction detracts from high resolutions high end systems. Also it can't affect the sound to off set serious room issues such as standing waves / destructive waves / suck outs due to poor speaker position / listening position. Otherwise you'd see it in use in every room at high end audio shows (none of them use it).
Hi - that's kinda not realistic. Which computer? What operating system? How much RAM? Which brand RAM? What kind of RAM? Etc. Etc. There are so many variables as to being not realistic. The power in the K22 by itself is better than many computers for the task it was designed for.
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures i currently run a very old pc with 20tb of storage and 20g of ram. This pc is located on the first floor while my hifi is on the ground floor. Operation system windows 10 connect via ethernet. IMO very little noise (if any) travel from my pc to my hifi system and the processor has plenty of power playing any type of music files. I dont think this is uncommon setup.
@@genkifd Hello! My point is you didn't tell me which brand RAM, which type of RAM, which speed of RAM, which brand of storage, which speed of storage, etc. etc. THOSE all affect the sound. So doing a review on one version of something that has hundreds of different versions would only tell what that one single exact box sounds like. It's like saying I'm interested in a Ferrari - go test drive a Honda Civic as they are both cars so it will be the same. I'm not arguing and do appreciate your comments - just having a chat with you. Thank you for your comments. I'm just not prepared (having heard home made PC servers) to take 5 steps backwards in sound at this point.
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures fair enough. i believe off the shelf PC parts can be extremely good and imo due to the pc not being in the same room plays a major part in sound quality. its is unlikely imo antipode would be using special ram and cpu, etc.
Thanks for video! I've got the book and accompanying video, followed his method, great stuff. I didn't lay down a grid with tape though. I have thick carpet which makes it harder. Question: How do you get the speaker spikes in exact position with the carpet sliders under them? You can't see where the spikes would hit the grid with the sliders in the way.
That's a great question. I would personally slide the speakers on the carpet to find the best position. Them measure them to the 1/16 of an inch. Then carefully add the spikes to try and not move the speakers much and gently rest the speakers on the carpet without pushing them through. Re-measure to get the speakers just right, then push them in. I don't know if that will work, but that's how I'd approach it.
@@MichaelsHiFiAdventures Good to know because that's the way I've done it as well. Using the same carpet sliders. To measure speakers I was holding my laser measure at the center of the chair back which was always frustrating. Then I saw your Easy Measure for Speakers Best Sound video and that was EXTREMELY helpful, a revelation really. I bought the same gun mount you demo in the video, put it on my cheap 20 year old tripod to hold my laser measure, and placed it in the listening position. Makes measuring distance to speakers and then toe in so much easier.
I think if there's one metric we should all be able to agree upon, it's that a room's reverb/decay characteristics (RT60) will have perhaps the most significant influence over the fidelity of recorded music reproduction. These stick "diffuser" devices may perform well in your room, but they will do little to correct modal activity (and to your credit, you recommended thick absorbers to address bass frequencies [worth noting is that velocity absorbers like 6" porous absorbers work primarily down to mid bass only]) and little to correct a very reverberant space (regardless of size).
Hi - Thank you for watching. They are Tobian 12FH speakers and you can learn more about them here: www.suncoastaudio.com/collections/tobian-sound-systems-1 I should have a video review on them in the next few weeks.
@MichaelsHiFiAdventures I appreciate your videos on this. It's not easy finding audiophiles doing this to their room in "real life" scenarios. Most I come across in foreums, and youtube have the money for dedicated listening rooms or don't have wives. Seeing how this works in a common room is helpful. :)
Recording studios and HiFi rooms both play music. They don't differ from one another when it comes to making the room sound good. It's the use-case and the practicality that are different.
@@djhmax09 Certainly true. I think - not saying I am right - that recording studios have different goals for the kind of sound they have in the room than a hifi room. At least that's what my recording engineer friends tell me.
Excellent video. A big thank-you for posting. I 100% agree that getting 25 Hz to 300 Hz to a "flat frequency response" is ultra critical because of "room modes" which can act like a "comb filter" for certain low frequencies. Not sure if you've talked about his in other videos but part B of getting to balanced sound is also appreciating that ISO 226:2003 equal loudness curves comes into play at different volume levels. For instance ISO 226:2003 equal loudness curves demonstrate that you need significantly more bass at lower volume levels to get to what people will perceive as equal levels across all frequencies. This is also in play for higher frequencies as well but at a reduced gain. For lower volume listeners, they may find having a bass and tremble control or loudness button can help when listening late at night at lower volume levels. 👍
I use damping on floor in front of the speakers. One stupidity with my room I have steps coming from higher level between the seats so can't sit in middle unless sit on steps.
@MichaelsHiFiAdventures The damping stops reflections near the speakers great , I also have drapes on a couple of walls and a screen between the speakers. The steps can't do anything with . At the bottom there is a cabinet with 2 projectors and a distribution amplifier. Ceiling is too high for projector as would need a lot of keystone correction.
Hi Michael, great video and very interesting products but those things on the floor of a mixed use room are a big hazard and look funky. Instead why not hanging them on the ceiling? Let me guess …. the diffuser falling apart is a GIK Acoustics ? They have been in business for 20 years and their craftsmanship is still at DIY level. I have six of their Sound Block in my room behind the speakers. Effective product but poorly built, and poorly packaged. Half of the scatter plates arrived chipped. I had an argument with them and basically got thrown under the bus. Instead I have to praise Vicoustics from Portugal which I used to treat the ceiling with a mix of absorption and diffusion products. Sleek modern look and well built. They definitely belong to another league. I will soon throw away the GIK Sound Block and replace them with the Vicoustic Totem Ultra which I demo and works great so that all the acoustic treatment in my room will finally belong to the 21st century. May be I’ll give it a try to the SF1 also…
Hello! The wife would not allow me to hang anything from the ceiling. Plus it's really easy to simply move the floor ones off to the side or into the closet when not in use. I'm selling my GIK panels if anyone needs any. LOL
I painted my quadratic diffusers (QD-13) black. I don’t hear any difference in the affected range 280-3400hz but now you’ve got me curious. Going to look at some older REW measurements and see if anything has changed
