So you want to upgrade your stereo

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  • Опубліковано 19 гру 2024

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  • @ranelime
    @ranelime 4 роки тому +12

    While I admit I sometimes get lost in your deep dive explanations about the digital realm, I absolutely adore this channel. Great advices from an honest, realistic, wise and funny reviewer. I love how you simply laying down facts and help us make better decisions, instead of the same old stimulation videos for the next buy. A very pleasant way to start the weekend

  • @Steveh817
    @Steveh817 4 роки тому +12

    I never really understood the “why” sound is different or better with different equipment until I started watching your channel. All I knew was the more money you spent, the better the sound. Still somewhat true but there is great sound reproduction for the budget minded folks like me. I’m in the process of upgrading but have to be practical as my household CFO does not have the same listening requirements. I’m fortunate that I bought a pair of Klipsch La Scala speakers in 1980 and enjoy their presentation. I can concentrate on what is between them and the wall socket. Thanks Hans!

  • @charliecroker2541
    @charliecroker2541 Рік тому

    I appreciate your content, delivery off without fuss. Thank you

  • @aussie8114
    @aussie8114 4 роки тому +1

    In the recent past I would get itchy feet to find an upgrade but I have concluded that my system meets or exceeds A. My listening appreciation, and B. My hearing capacity, which is nothing special these days. My upgrade is concentrated on convenience of use and finding some more nice albums, hence now using Apple Music AirPlayed across to my amp. It sounds really good to me and extremely convenient.

    • @bc527c
      @bc527c 4 роки тому +1

      Get yourself into tweaks and acoustics, you can make wildly impactfull upgrades for anywhere from $0 to whatever, as needed and your budget desire. You'd be amazed what a few ounces of fine sand (in a sealed baggie etc) can do when properly placed to stop a vibration/resonance somewhere. A properly chosen bit of Sorbothane used in the right places. Less than $100 spent on absorption in the right places, a couple of diffusers for $100... Good science, good detective work, teh right materials and some DIY and you can get obsessed and improve your system every day.

    • @aussie8114
      @aussie8114 4 роки тому

      bvocal I’ve already done those tweaks in the past when I set up the system. Nice quality cables, isolated the cables correctly, cooling fans, baffles behind the speakers, bi-wiring the speakers, even have a spectrum equaliser that can be brought online when needed. I might try Tidal Music to see if I can hear a difference to Apple Music, but not keen on spending $30 a month for Tidal.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому +2

      When you're happy, you're happy. Don't spend money and time then.

  • @szallitolevel
    @szallitolevel 4 роки тому

    Dear Hans! This video is great, explaining audio attributes, their practical listening approach. I firmly believe, learning to look after / listen such fine details do improve overall daily listening enjoyment, too. Hans, thank you very much for the suggested tracks as well, although need to collect some courage to play them. Karoly, a grateful owner of an 'inherited' Bluesound Node 2

  • @ph0enixr
    @ph0enixr 4 роки тому +2

    So glad you mentioned Pentangle. I absolutely love their rendition of Sovay. Another great video, keep up the awesome work. Thank you, Hans!

  • @charliecroker2541
    @charliecroker2541 Рік тому

    Thanks!

  • @roquesoprano913
    @roquesoprano913 4 роки тому +4

    Thank you so much Hans ! And whatever you do ... ETM

  • @1wired4sound
    @1wired4sound 4 роки тому

    Solid advise as always Hans. I am lucky enough to have a dedicated room in my home for music with extra seating for my wife and guests. No compromises

  • @thomasandersen1784
    @thomasandersen1784 4 роки тому

    Very exciting view on a well known topic,, that often is misunderstood, by the fact that everyones shouts speakers. Me myself thought that this was the right way to approach this, but after experiments with other components, cables (in particular), iv'e learned a great deal. Swopping speakers is know resting and i'm focused on getting my cables right, as my sources (imo) is exactly what i need. Cheers and stay safe.

  • @ruudstet3186
    @ruudstet3186 4 роки тому

    Buying the innuos zen was such an upgrade. Simply amazing what a truly good front end does. The effect was even bigger than my best upgrade untill then: the dedicated power line for the stereo. Both have a shared effect: getting the rest of the equipment closer to the level they can achieve. Which can be dramatically better than you heard untill then or even thought possible.

  • @kaminajo
    @kaminajo 4 роки тому

    Hallo Hans.
    In English now.
    I haven’t finished reading your book yet! I am at the network chapter now.
    So maybe I will find something there but this video almost torpedoed my enthusiasm to return to my audiophile aspirations from when I was much, much younger (I think we’re about the same age).
    Not your fault!
    It’s just that rebuilding my audio starts to look like a mission impossible thing.
    Oh well! Back to the book, I guess.

  • @DarklordofBarovia
    @DarklordofBarovia 4 роки тому +1

    Great video again! Finding the weakest link is sometimes a fun exercise if you're analysing your components

  • @ridirefain6606
    @ridirefain6606 4 роки тому

    Thanks for posting this. It is chock full a valuable information. I cannot tell how many times I have gone round and round with punters about how a source component can impact sound and that it is wise to budget for decent technology too. Most will spend a big wad of cash on speakers and short change themselves on the amplification, streamer, or turntable. For the longest time now, my feeling has been with the advances in speaker technology, the old formulas from the heyday of Audio no longer hold true. Now days, I recommend that the finances need to be aligned to a synergistic pairing of Source, Amplification, and Speakers. In short you buy what sounds really good together as whole. I feel it is better to spend less on an over achieving giant killer of a speaker, and move up the line for a better streamer or integrated amp. Most budget systems I listen to have a pair of wonderful pair of speakers that reveal every wart and pimple, but not the music.

  • @dougg1075
    @dougg1075 4 роки тому +3

    I discovered tubes through a 10 watt vintage amp I hade restored last year.. holy smokes. We’ve lost musicality through brutal reduction of distortion. Now I’ve ordered a larger one.

  • @javierartimemuniz7044
    @javierartimemuniz7044 4 роки тому

    Excellent guidance and info again, Hans. Thank you.
    I agree with the idea that whole system improvement is what we want. Though I see the value in the weakest link metaphor I believe it falls short of helping us think about the whole system. It's not only the components which we should be concerned with, the links in the metaphor, but the relationships between them, which are also critical to the performance of the system. You allude to this in the video. You may have a pair of good speakers connected to a good amplifier but they could be reinforcing each other's weaknesses and limiting their potential. That amplifier could perform better with other speakers, even if lesser overall quality but more compatible. They same can be said for the speakers and a different amp, but also of any combination of components. In a complex system the relationships between components are as important as the components themselves. Sometimes even more. That's how a complex system is different to a simple chain, in which only the quality of the links matter.
    That video contains great ideas to reflect upon. Thank you.

  • @puttyputty123
    @puttyputty123 4 роки тому +1

    THE best high-end HIFI channel on youtube.

  • @Tavlin
    @Tavlin 3 роки тому

    I am currently using my PC via HDMI as the source when listening while working and else I use the USB port of my AVR. Now I have two questions: is HDMI from a PC better than standard built-in Audio Outputs? And would an explicit DAC help even if the AVR "only" has unbalanced input?

  • @henrikhengerics6782
    @henrikhengerics6782 4 роки тому

    Your last review of a network switch was in February 2020 (EtherRegen). In that at the end 11:50 you mentioned a new switch. Any news what happened to that, or better when can we expect a review. Thank you.

  • @donaldchisholm9931
    @donaldchisholm9931 4 роки тому

    Hello ,
    What part of the audio chain has the hardest job to do?
    I would argue that it is the speaker. It has to take an electronic signal and change it to a audio sound.
    Hence the most important and thing that is going to influnce the sound the most is the speaker. So if you want to upgrade your stereo get better speakers.
    And yes I have heard the argument garbage in = garbage out.

  • @bc527c
    @bc527c 4 роки тому +5

    Considering the endless list of issues I've found with acoustics, resonances, vibrations etc I would say that one should spend extra effort to find all those 'setup' things before ever considering new gear...

    • @javierartimemuniz7044
      @javierartimemuniz7044 4 роки тому +4

      I agree the room is part of the system and it's acoustics matter to the system performance. The placement of the speakers, the listener and the furniture matters. It's maybe where the biggest impact can be made for no cost. Find what you can do with the room, move your speakers and chair around, experiment with toe in angles, can you move that bookcase to defuse an annoying reflection?

    • @bc527c
      @bc527c 4 роки тому +5

      @@javierartimemuniz7044 All true, Javier, and there are also places that people don't know/think to look. This may sound absurd, but even if your speakers cost $5k, or more, or less.... they themselves may contain issues that impair ultimate performance. Dannie Ritchie of GR research does speaker upgrades all the time and it is amazing how poorly damped sooo many cabinets are, and from this last weeks work, and what I'm doing today, I can tell ya, if you have a speaker cabinet that is ringing like a bell, you'll never get top sound. You (rightly) mention bookshelves, I had 2 units in back of room, 5 closed sides, full of records and large format books, cheap office store units... When I removed them from the room an evil midbase resonance that I simply could not figure out.... vanished, in fact I could hear it vanish while I moved them. (I always advise playing music while you make acoustic changes, if the change is a good one and impact-full, you will likely hear the change as you put it in place, if it's a negative change, find another place or another tactic....) Cheers.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому +2

      Good point!

    • @donr62
      @donr62 4 роки тому

      Room adjustment is out of the question in my “domestic” situation. Therefore I’m looking at a Dirac alternative. Hopefully it will improve matters.

    • @dorkvader5332
      @dorkvader5332 4 роки тому

      @@bc527c I actually discovered a resonance while kneeling and getting out an LP.I got up and adjusted the speaker and it was gone.

  • @Thomas-us4wq
    @Thomas-us4wq 4 роки тому

    Lets say a Raspberry Pie is batterypowered (eg. Pijuice HAT) and feed by ethernet cable (from NAS) and all internal wireless radios turned off. Do you think it will improve the sound quality much? I'm not able to find much info on battery powered audio equipment on the internet. Except for portable devices which often receive good reviews.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому +1

      Batteries are noisy and slow and might perform less than perhaps an iFi iPower switch mode power supply.

    • @Thomas-us4wq
      @Thomas-us4wq 4 роки тому

      @@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I was sure a battery had a stable noisefree current output. But I don't know much about electricity, and I trust your advice. Thank you. :)

  • @mikrophonie5633
    @mikrophonie5633 4 роки тому

    Pentangle...nice music choice. I believe one side of that album is a live recording.

  • @Beyondabsence
    @Beyondabsence 4 роки тому

    Dear Hans, I use my laptop to play music through the software Audirvana. Have a jitterbug added to a good usb cable going to my DAC. Is there anything else I could do to minimize jitter? Thank you for your videos. Gustavo.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      The best way to reduce jitter is to use a network bridge like the Sonore microRendu (ua-cam.com/video/2XRi9utNBl4/v-deo.html) or the SOtM sMS-200 (ua-cam.com/video/TV-FvRF9KGA/v-deo.html). The second best way is tu use USB conditioners (The jitterbug is just a filter that reduces noise over the power line). See ua-cam.com/video/U4RYineYsF0/v-deo.html

  • @sbrazenor2
    @sbrazenor2 4 роки тому +1

    You caught me by surprise with the "if you're happy with your setup, don't listen to these" comment. I laughed out loud at that. I think some audiophiles find reasons to justify upgrades, when they have perfectly good systems already.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      Then I'm no audiophile

    • @sbrazenor2
      @sbrazenor2 4 роки тому +2

      @@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I'm a music-first audiophile (I think John Darko coined that phrase.), because I listen less to my equipment and more to what music I enjoy. Composition, lyrics and recording quality matter most to me, but since I drive for a living sadly most of my listening is done on a mediocre commercial vehicle stereo. (Far from audiophile quality, to say the least.)
      I'm also relatively cheap, so I prefer to keep most of my hobbies within a $10,000 USD range. That being said, as a tech enthusiast, I enjoy learning about what exists and what innovations have come in various fields. I also like listening to those more experienced than myself to gain knowledge on how to make what I have as good as possible. (Like learning about property speaker placement or enhancing my streaming experience.
      With computer related topics, I'm surprised that many audiophile channels miss a key feature with Apple computers. The reason some people prefer them for driving a USB DAC is that they use optically coupled USB ports, which cleans up any potential electronic interference from the system board through the data leads. (It's also a hardware security feature to prevent USB killer devices from damaging the system.) The Macbooks (possible the desktops as well) also have a 3.5mm port that drives TosLink cables with an optical output. I use that latter method to drive my Schiit Modi 2 Uber, since it's less tolerant with USB cable lengths over 6ft than TosLink over that lenth.

    • @paznewis107
      @paznewis107 4 роки тому

      @@sbrazenor2 thanks for this info. Will that work with a 2012 Mac mini? I have a Schitt Modi 3?

    • @sbrazenor2
      @sbrazenor2 4 роки тому +1

      @@paznewis107 it will. You just have to get the Toslink mini adapter which goes from the standard port to the 3.5mm form factor. They're pretty cheap. Depending on the source quality, also check your MIDI output setting which adjusts the port's frequency and bit settings. (Why it's in MIDI, I'm not sure, but it is.) If you listen to stuff that's CD quality or lower, it's fine by default. 😁👍

    • @paznewis107
      @paznewis107 4 роки тому +1

      @@sbrazenor2 thanks again 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🐙

  • @nick_philips
    @nick_philips 4 роки тому

    Hello Hans and thank you for the very informative videos! I'm a music producer and besides composing and producing music on my PC (signal chain as follows: Windows desktop PC connected via Firewire 400 to RME Fireface 400 connected via SPDIF to Benchmark DAC2 connected via Mogami / Neutric balanced to Focal Solo6 + Focal solo Sub) I like to listen to music through this setup too. You've mentioned the PC is nearly the worst source one can have. If there's no way to change the source - like in my case where the PC is also used for music making - what's the best option to make sure Jitter's minimized? Is the SOtM - sMS-200 (or any other audiophile grade power supply) the only adjustment I can make? That's what I've gathered from watching you videos. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If so, which devices should it supply power to? Thanks in advance. I hope this is a question interesting to more of viewers and that I get a response. Best regards, Nick.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      If you have playback software that can address the SOtM, that's a great choice. But I think ProTools and the like won't.

    • @nick_philips
      @nick_philips 4 роки тому

      Good morning Hans, thank you for the response. You're probably referring to the sms instead of the sps. I was referring to the power supply.

  • @87togabito
    @87togabito 4 роки тому

    Sorry? Could you pls list the recommended piano tracks again?

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      . Just play a slow piano solo piece, like Chopin’s Nocturne #2, and you will hear the pitch vary slightly but disturbingly if there is wow. Tracking distortion can easily be heard on piano solo as well. For instance with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 “Appassionata”.

  • @sumitagg1
    @sumitagg1 4 роки тому

    Hans - please advise on innuos vs melco

  • @myplaguesify
    @myplaguesify 4 роки тому

    what network streamer/dac would you recommend?

  • @martinsweeney9976
    @martinsweeney9976 4 роки тому

    So your saying DON’T put your ££ into the speakers right!! Cambridge Audio cxn v2 cxa81 amp and Neat audio motive SX3 bookshelf speakers with a REL Ti9 sub. I was thinking of spending ££ on better speakers but now I think of buying a better DAC ie a Chord Qutest DAC????

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому +1

      I did say nothing of the kind. I only said that some people wrongly think that upgrading speakers will always improve the sound quality and that it is often wiser to invest in the front end.

    • @martinsweeney9976
      @martinsweeney9976 4 роки тому

      The Hans Beekhuyzen Channel thx Hans 👍🏻

  • @StuartTownsley
    @StuartTownsley 4 роки тому

    Wow great video

  • @nickmimi3631
    @nickmimi3631 4 роки тому

    Ackkk, I’ve been trying to avoid upgrading the network switch...dang those are expensive...🤔

  • @giangvu7902
    @giangvu7902 4 роки тому

    In my opinion, all your equipment must be at the same level in order to compliment one another. Having one expensive component will not make up for the shortcomings of the rest of the system.

  • @nguyenchienthang70
    @nguyenchienthang70 4 роки тому

    Your topic is really good but complicated to listen, can you add English subtitles in future? Non-English speakers like me will appreciate it.

  • @jamesstruble1
    @jamesstruble1 4 роки тому

    Brilliant

  • @Scottlp2
    @Scottlp2 4 роки тому

    Love the channel in general but gotta disagree here. The difference in the kind of sound choosing a horn speaker vs a dipole/open baffle/omnidirectional speaker vs a conventional ported or sealed speaker is way greater than differences in electronics. In 2020 there is a wealth of surprisingly good electronics and D/A for reasonable prices.

  • @jstpsgthru
    @jstpsgthru 4 роки тому

    I watched your video on UpTone EtherREGEN. Do you think a Cambridge Audio 851N, connected to a router by ethernet, would benefit? Thanks

  • @olivrrrr
    @olivrrrr 4 роки тому +1

    How do I get rid of tinnitus jitter 😭

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому +2

      By deep brain stimulation (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_brain_stimulation). Next week I'll hear if that would work for me.

  • @paznewis107
    @paznewis107 4 роки тому

    Love pentangle. I have just launched my system 2. Mac mini SMSL AD18. Ancient Celestion speakers. £400.

  • @JoVD
    @JoVD 4 роки тому +3

    Hmmm I like Hans is taking in account the WOK-factor ... (Woman OK factor)

  • @danielgeiger7739
    @danielgeiger7739 4 роки тому

    Why are computers worse than network streamers? I could see the argument between spinning disc vs. SSD, but most modern computers have SSDs. I can also see the argument if you use the computer for digital imaging while streaming, you invite problems. I use a MacPro 2013 soup can with SSD as a dedicated music server with Audirvana and FLAC files. Why is that worse than component streamer, such as Aureliac?

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      You might want to watch this video: ua-cam.com/video/G9EreotBL6c/v-deo.html

    • @danielgeiger7739
      @danielgeiger7739 4 роки тому

      @@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks for that. I forgot to indicate digital out on computer, as built-in sound cards/DACs are certainly no good. Still don't see the reason why a computer is worse than a NAS drive connected to a DAC (same fan and power supply issues), or a Network player with integrated storage (proximity of storage to DAC), particularly on a medium system (2K Integrated, 2K bookshelf speakers with sub, 2K headphone amp, 2K headphones). Fan is a non-issue as computer is running at minimum processor load, particularly with screen off. I can put computer onto power conditioner, that removes dirty wall power issues.
      Also interesting to note that you think laptops are the worst, while one of Paul McGowan's audio guru buddy's considers laptop the ultimate digital source because of complete power isolation!
      Love the videos, even if quite frequently I get lost in the jargon flying around.

  • @shoefeij
    @shoefeij 4 роки тому

    “As a wise man once said, every disadvantage has its advantage”
    Classic!👌🏼😁
    I wonder how many non-Dutchmen get that one!
    Again great episode! Thanks.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      absolutely

    • @chunkuenng4082
      @chunkuenng4082 4 роки тому

      What proportion of money that put. To the speaker , the amplifier the source is very important!!!! People usually put too much to the. Speaker !!

  • @tonesbones502
    @tonesbones502 4 роки тому

    Gee wiz Hans, do you ever blink?

  • @rikirex2162
    @rikirex2162 4 роки тому

    They should have invented UA-cam 50 years ago just for you... Question...how all that will translate to studio recording....everybody uses PC and self powered studio monitors.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому

      As with audiophiles there are studios that have a finely tuned system and there are studios that haven't.

  • @lonelycake4114
    @lonelycake4114 4 роки тому +1

    Could someone translate wht Hans is saying? 🙄

    • @b97209
      @b97209 4 роки тому +1

      Nope. However, there is a clue in this video. Hans mentions how he tries a piece of equipment against another. Then he tries it in another configuration. He is playing in order to learn. My wife and I spend time trying similar changes and talking about what we hear and whether we like the experience. As we do this, some of the things we heard on Han's channel make sense. Then we rewatch a video and keep making steps forward. We also loan gear to friends and learn from their experience. For us, we find that we shouldn't scrimp on the coffee quality. Have fun.

    • @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
      @TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel  4 роки тому +4

      You could switch on closed captioning. It will be available in 10 minutes. Or have UA-cam to a translation in your language. Not perfect but most of the time sufficient.

  • @CoeliLux
    @CoeliLux 4 роки тому

    no subtitles yet?