This episode brought to you by the Eversolo PLAY π https://bit.ly/3WK0Q6T w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 1:21 FiiO 43:23 Shanling 52:04 Aune 1:03:31 Schiit 1:09:41 Spotify Lossless (again) π As mentioned in this episode... FiiO FT7 π https://amzn.to/3YDraQU π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fiio-ft7/ Shanling SCD3.3 π https://darko.audio/2025/11/shanlings-scd3-3-is-an-cd-sacd-player-w-r2r-dac-tubes-a-touchscreen/ Schiit Modi 5 / Magni Unity π https://darko.audio/2025/12/schiits-149-modi-5-199-magni-unity-land-with-mesh/ Jade Audio JT3 + JT7 π https://amzn.to/497aB4Z π https://amzn.to/490nlKr π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/jadeaudio-jt3-jt7/ FiiO FT13 π https://amzn.to/4pKsltI π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fiio-ft13/ aune N7 π https://amzn.to/4s6me4H π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-n7/ aune AC55 π https://amzn.to/4p1Q2wo π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-ac55/ Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a 'π'.
w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen This episode brought to you by AudioQuest π https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU π PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/johndarko 0:00 Intro 0:41 Spotify Lossless 17:40 Topping 33:20 DALI 40:54 Node Audio 48:31 HiFiMAN 59:37 Kinki x Vinshine π As seen in this video... Spotify Lossless π https://darko.audio/2025/09/spotify-lossless-lands-at-last/ DALI KUPID π https://darko.audio/2025/08/dalis-kupid-is-an-affordable-and-colourful-standmount/ HiFiMAN Edition XV π https://darko.audio/2025/09/hifimans-edition-xv-tackle-the-xss-comfort-issues/ TOPPING B200 π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/topping-b200 Node Audio Atom π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/node-audio-atom Kinki + Vinshine π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/vinshinex-dazzle
This episode brought to you by AudioQuest π https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 0:46 Shanling 7:37 Virtual Hi-Fi 14:05 Co-linear Acoustics 30:45 FitUEyes 51:04 Bluesound 58:32 Qualio Audio 1:03:12 Hiby 1:10:03 iFi / SilentPower 1:20:00 Exact Express & Furutech π As discussed in this episode... Shanling π https://amzn.to/4fsQTTM π https://darko.audio/2025/08/shanlings-cd80-ii-is-a-359-tray-loading-cd-player/ Bluesound π https://amzn.to/4fvnqbN π https://darko.audio/2025/06/bluesound-teases-home-theatre-leaning-powernode/ Hiby π https://amzn.to/3HulRyl π https://darko.audio/2025/07/hibys-uc10-is-a-29-usb-s-pdif-converter-for-smartphones-tablets/ FituEyes π https://amzn.to/3UmdNCQ π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fitueyes-eiffel-rack Virtual Hifi π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/virtual-hifi-viper CoLinear Aocustics: π https://colinear-acoustics.co.uk/about Qualio Audio: π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/qualio-iq30 Exact Express π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/exact-express-earth-jumpers Furutech π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/furutech-flow-28 iFi / SIlentPower π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/silentpower-omni-usb
w/ Twittering Machines' Michael Lavorgna π This episode brought to you by Bowers & Wilkins https://bit.ly/4ggz8X0 π Darko's choices: Was (Not Was) - Out Come The Freaks (1984) π https://amzn.to/44gVK6H π https://www.discogs.com/master/55697-Was-Not-Was-The-Woodwork-Squeaks Thin White Rope - The Ruby Sea (1991) π https://amzn.to/3GaMEPO π https://www.discogs.com/master/236818-Thin-White-Rope-The-Ruby-Sea Fila Brazillia - Maim That Tune (1995) π https://filabraz.bandcamp.com/album/maim-that-tune-30th-anniversary-re-master π https://www.discogs.com/master/67440-Fila-Brazillia-Maim-That-Tune Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (2005) π https://amzn.to/4la9pm1 π https://www.discogs.com/master/3010-Bright-Eyes-Im-Wide-Awake-Its-Morning Thomas Fehlmann - Gute Luft (2010) π https://amzn.to/4nAyOXH π https://www.discogs.com/master/238758-Thomas-Fehlmann-Gute-Luft Automat - Ostwest (2016) π https://amzn.to/4lz473T π https://www.discogs.com/master/1091919-Automat-Ostwest Bohren und Der Club of Gore - Bohren for Beginners (2016/2022) π https://amzn.to/4eCtAq5 π https://www.discogs.com/master/2079847-Bohren-Und-Der-Club-Of-Gore-Bohren-For-Beginners π Lavorgna's choices: Mal Waldron - The Quest (1962) π https://amzn.to/4eVSaml π https://www.discogs.com/master/288946-Mal-Waldron-With-Eric-Dolphy-And-Booker-Ervin-The-Quest The Birthday Party - The Friend Catcher 12" (1983) π https://www.discogs.com/release/377249-The-Birthday-Party-The-Friend-Catcher EinstΓΌrzende Neubauten - YΓΌ-Gung (1985) π https://www.discogs.com/master/7604-Einst%C3%BCrzende-Neubauten-Y%C3%BC-Gung Martha Argerich - Bach (2000) π https://www.discogs.com/master/295073-Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Martha-Argerich-Toccata-BWV-911Partita-BWV-826Englische-Suite-No2-BWV-807 Lonely Guest - Lonely Guest (2021) π https://amzn.to/44ghrDU π https://www.discogs.com/master/2381503-Lonely-Guest-Lonely-Guest Jessica Pratt - Here in the Pitch (2024) π https://amzn.to/4kq4Vq2 π https://www.discogs.com/master/3474940-Jessica-Pratt-Here-In-The-Pitch π Substack for music discovery: Ben Cardew / Line Noise on Substack https://linenoise.substack.com/ Philip Sherburne on Substack https://substack.com/@philipsherburne Shawn Reynaldo / First Floor on Substack https://firstfloor.substack.com/ Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a 'π'. Darko.Audio is an Amazon Associates Program member, an Audio Advice Program member and a Howl Program member.
This episode brought to you by AudioQuest π https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 0:51 Zu Audio 4:09 Sennheiser & aptX Lossless 11:11 3D-printed speakers 26:08 Cambridge Audio 34:10 Stack Audio 41:04 Chord Electronics 50:50 OnFilter 1:07:05 Pixies & R.E.M. π As discussed in this episode... Sennheiser BTD 700 (Yes, I mistakenly call it the 'BDT 700' in this episode π ) π https://amzn.to/4jRNYEG π https://darko.audio/2025/06/add-aptx-lossless-to-any-smartphone-for-e50/ Chord Electronics Suze Amp system π https://darko.audio/2025/06/chords-suzi-turns-the-hugo-2-2go-into-a-streaming-amplifier/ Cambridge Audio MXW 70 π https://darko.audio/2025/06/cambridges-mxw70-is-a-599-class-d-power-amplifier/ Stack Audio: π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/stack-audio-rack-use/ π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/stack-audio-auva-70/ π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/stack-audio-vinyl-helpers/ Virtual Hifi: π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/virtual-hifi-vibron/ π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/virtual-hifi-viper/ OnFilter: π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/onfilter/ Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a 'π'.
This episode is brought to you by AudioQuest π https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen This episode of the Darko.Audio podcast with 6moons' Srajan Ebaen is audio only. Why? Because the subject matter is what we might call 'inside baseball'. Srajan and I pull apart the hi-fi show model to question what we can learn from hi-fi show demos as they currently stand; and how the limitations of show demos prevent the press from relaying meaningful insight to their audiences.
This episode brought to you by Munich High-End 2025 π https://www.highendsociety.de/high-end-44.html w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 0:59 Pro-Ject 8:46 Kinki Studio 20:02 Shanling 29:57 Meze 47:28 Musical Fidelity 55:33 DMAX π As discussed in this episode... Pro-Ject Flatten It π https://darko.audio/2025/03/say-buh-bye-to-warped-vinyl-with-pro-jects-flatten-it/ Musical Fidelity X-Tube π https://darko.audio/2025/03/how-to-add-tubes-to-any-dac-streamer-or-cd-player-for-e499/ Shanling Onix Zenith XST20 π https://darko.audio/2025/03/the-onix-zenith-xst20-is-a-new-sacd-transport-from-shanling/ Kinki Studio x Vinshine Tai Hang π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/tai-hang/ Meze Poet π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/meze-poet/ DMAX PH61 π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/dmax-ph61/ Cables and power products by AudioQuest π https://audioadvice.io/Audioquest Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel π https://howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi Room treatment by Vicoustic π https://audioadvice.io/Vicoustic Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a 'π'.
w/ Auralic's ex-CEO Xuanqian Wang This episode brought to you by High-End Munich 2025 π https://www.highendsociety.de/high-end-44.html Auralic Aquila X3 π https://darko.audio/2025/01/auralic-readies-aquila-x3-network-streamer/ Auralic Aquila X3 online configuration tool π http://x3.auralic.com/
w/ Vivid Audio's Laurence Dickie This episode is brought to you by Bowers & Wilkins TW IEMs: π https://bit.ly/4ggz8X0 Vivid Kaya series π https://vividaudio.com/kaya/
This episode is brought to you by AudioQuest: π https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 0:42 Auralic 24:10 Zu Audio 37:48 T+A 46:54 Aune 59:34 FiiO / Snowski 1:04:23 LAiV π As discussed in this podcast AURALIC Aquila X3 π https://darko.audio/2025/01/auralic-readies-aquila-x3-network-streamer/ FiiO / Snowski Retro Nano π https://darko.audio/2025/01/a-usb-bluetooth-dac-that-looks-like-a-cassette-tape/ T+A Pulsar S130 π https://darko.audio/2025/01/tas-pulsar-s-130-are-designed-for-sub-optimal-listening-rooms/ Zu Method monitor & sub: π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/zu-method/ Aune S17Pro Evo π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-s17pro-evo/ Laiv Β΅DDC π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/laiv-uddc/ βοΈ PATREON www.patreon.com/johndarko
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This episode is brought to you by AudioQuest: π https://bit.ly/3S9qPmf w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen βοΈ PATREON www.patreon.com/johndarko π OJAS x KLIPSCH kO-R1 https://www.klipsch.com/uk/products/klipsch-ojas-ko-r1-ko-r1-2-way-multicell-loudspeaker π Aune SR7000 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-sr-7000/ π Aune AR5000 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-ar5000/ π Focal Diva Utopia https://darko.audio/2024/10/focals-diva-utopia-is-future-fi-for-cashed-up-listeners/ π Singxer SA-90 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/singxer-sa-90/ π Shanling CR60 https://darko.audio/2024/09/shanlings-cr60-is-a-269-cd-transport-cd-ripper/ π Voxativ Hagen2 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/voxativ-hagen-2/
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with 6moons' Srajan Ebaen. This episode is brought to you by AudioQuest: https://www.audioquest.com/mythicalcreatures/ 0:00 Intro 0:00 Dyson 18:33 ROTEL 29:44 LAiV 43:34 Astell&Kern 57:46 LessLoss 1:13:50 Pro-Ject π As mentioned in this podcast... Dyson OnTrac π https://www.dyson.com/headphones Rotel A8 π https://darko.audio/2024/07/rotel-readies-affordable-a8-integrated-but-theres-a-catch/ Laiv Harmony HP2A π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/laiv-hp2a/ Astell&Kern Activo P1 π https://darko.audio/2024/07/astellkerns-activo-p1-dap-takes-a-swing-at-the-mainstream/ Forza Audioworks C-MARC headphone cables π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/forza-audioworks-medicine/ LessLoss Firewall for Headphones π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/lessloss-firewall-for-headphones/ Pro-Ject Debut Pro B π https://darko.audio/2024/08/pro-ject-readies-balanced-equipped-debut-pro-b/ π https://www.henleyaudio.co.uk/tech-support/turntable-support/true-balanced-connections/
w/ IAG's Peter Comeau ππ» This episode is brought to you by PSB: https://www.psbspeakers.com/ PATREON: www.patreon.com/johndarko SHOW NOTES:
with 6moons' Srajan Ebaen. This video is brought to you by AudioQuest: https://www.audioquest.com/mythicalcreatures/ Care to buy me a coffee? Darko.Audio Patreon: βοΈ www.patreon.com/johndarko 0:00 Meze Alba 22:55 Linear Tube Audio Velo & Aero 40:35 FiiO DM13 & K11 R2R 46:57 Palma DHS-1 52:43 IKEA MITTZON 58:02 [ANON] 1:09:22 TRIANGLE 1:15:00 iFi / Silent Power, Exact Express π As discussed in this podcast... FiiO DM13 π https://darko.audio/2024/07/a-portable-cd-player-in-2024/ FiiO K11 R2R π https://darko.audio/2024/07/is-fiios-k11-the-most-affordable-r2r-dac-available-right-now/ IKEA MITTZON room treatments π https://darko.audio/2024/06/cheap-easy-room-treatment-with-ikeas-new-mittzon-range/ Palma DHS-1 π https://6moons.com/industry_articles/yo-palma/ Triangle Capella π https://darko.audio/2024/07/french-future-fi-triangle-capella-streaming-speakers/ Exact Express & Silent Power π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/exactexpress-flame-cables/ Meze Alba π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/meze-alba/ Linear Tube Audio Velo π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/linear-tube-audio-velo/ Linear Tube Audio Aero π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/lta-aero-2nd-opinion/
with Twittering Machines' Michael Lavorgna This episode is brought to you by T+A: π https://www.ta-hifi.de/en/ Show notes up at Darko.Audio PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/johndarko https://www.patreon.com/michaellavorgna
with Jesco Lohan This episode is brought to you by T+A: π https://www.ta-hifi.de/en/ Care to buy me a βοΈ? https://www.patreon.com/johndarko 0:00 Intro 1:26 Voodoo 3:57 RT60 8:04 SchrΓΆder 13:04 Bass first 16:29 Priorities 18:02 One surface 21:25 Side walls 22:30 Open plan 25:43 Curtains 27:25 Furniture 31:20 Wishful thinking 32:59 Room vs. speakers 35:30 Speaker position 40:02 Rugs 40:50 Object size 42:32 Walls 45:17 Windows 47:24 Windows again 48:31 Narrow or wide 52:24 Room Correction Software 55:22 DSP again 59:17 Late night listening 1:00:28 All speakers 1:02:29 Music choices π As mentioned in this video... All room treatment/s by Vicoustic π https://audioadvice.io/Vicoustic What are those green speakers? π https://howl.me/cl1S8kB69fo Jesco's website π https://www.jescolohan.com/ More about RT60 πΊ https://youtu.be/dp_OdILUEkA My first room treatment (Berlin) πΊ https://youtu.be/3N-yG_Y7XEc My first interview with Jesco Lohan πΊ https://youtu.be/cTnituQu8ig Cables and power products by AudioQuest π https://audioadvice.io/Audioquest Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel π https://howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated with a 'π'.
This video is brought to you by AudioQuest: https://www.audioquest.com/mythicalcreatures/ with 6moons' Srajan Ebaen. Care to buy me a coffee? Darko.Audio Patreon: βοΈ www.patreon.com/johndarko 0:00 Sony Xperia 1 VI 22:26 Monacoustic & Fyne 42:32 Moondrop MIAD 01 58:11 Basel Acoustics 1:05:25 Marantz Model M1 1:18:35 PSI, Cube & Camerton π As mentioned in this podcast... Sony Xperia 1 VI π https://amzn.to/3VlGC3s FiiO KA2 π https://amzn.to/4efK5rQ Moondrop MIAD-01 π https://moondroplab.com/en/products/miad01 Marantz Model M1 π https://www.audioadvice.com/marantz-model-m1-wireless-streaming-amp-2-1?referral=darko Campfire Bonneville π https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/bonneville Campfire Holocene π https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/holocene MonAcoustics website: π https://monacoustic.us 6moons VC2 preview: π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/monacoustics-vc2/ Fyne Acoustics webpage for SuperTrax π https://www.fyneaudio.com/supertrax-series Basel Acoustics π https://basel-acoustics.ch 6moons V01 preview π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/basel-acoustics-v01/ Cube Audio website π http://cubeaudio.eu 6moons Lotus 10 preview π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/cubeaudio-lotus10/ Cables and power products by AudioQuest π https://audioadvice.io/Audioquest Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel π https://howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi Room treatment by Vicoustic π https://audioadvice.io/Vicoustic Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, which are indicated with a 'π'. #smartphone #sony #audiophile
This video is brought to you by AudioQuest: https://www.audioquest.com/mythicalcreatures/ with 6moons' Srajan Ebaen. Care to buy me a coffee? Darko.Audio Patreon: βοΈ www.patreon.com/johndarko π As discussed in this episode... π As mentioned in this podcast... Record Store Day π https://recordstoreday.com/ LAiV π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/laiv-audio-harmony-dac/ π https://www.laiv.audio Plexamp & Audiolab π https://darko.audio/2024/04/audiolab-adds-plexamp-support-to-9000n-streaming-dac/ Lindemann π https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/lindemann-move/ π https://lindemann-audio.de/?lang=en Steven Wilson & Dolby Atmos π https://darko.audio/2024/04/pmc-steven-wilson-to-demonstrate-dolby-atmos-in-munich/ Austin Audio Works https://6moons.com/industry_articles/austin-audioworks/ https://austinaudioworks.com
Edward Thompson
argh. after living in Portland for 1 year i had to turn off after he said "antifa doesnt exist". It was almost as if he was just dying to get that into the convo. shame. im still a beginner and was keen on this until i heard that. cant respectbsomeones opinion if it that's 1 sided and delusional. cheers to all your other podcasts and website mate. all very solid. so happy to see you kick on. you deserve it. and i love seeing proper techno on play on your reviews. cheers. ed
Jim Ellemore
Really enjoyed this John, more of the same please. Maybe Marquis Hawkes or Crooked man?
Aram Baghoomian
Been waiting for this... Thank you
Aram Baghoomian
I think ultimately the CD quality is good enough. What has to be improved is the sound engineering and the recording phase.
ShellstaX
I also think location is a key component to Zeppelin & Co success. Sim Lim Square is an international 'tech' draw card. Massive/bustling foot traffic- where people might like the timeout of coffee and a sit down.