1. The Music-First Audiophile knows that music and sound quality are important but that music will always be the most important.
2. The Music-First Audiophile has many thousands of albums in his library and will choose audio hardware that elevates the sound quality of those albums.
3. The Music-First Audiophile knows that there are many other music genres beyond those that he enjoys (or she will hear at a hi-fi demo). To name a few: hip-hop, metal, funk, soul, grime, techno, country, noise, psychedelic rock and folk.
4. The Music-First Audiophile isn’t trying to bring the live experience home. She understands that music playback is its own art form – a movie is not made by pointing cameras at a stage play.
5. The Music-First Audiophile understands that sound quality is affected more by the listening room’s acoustic make-up than the electronics chain that feeds the loudspeakers.
6. The Music-First Audiophile understands that a software app’s user interface, the hardware’s aesthetics, its ergonomics and its haptics all play a part in the overall listening experience.
7. The Music-First Audiophile knows that hi-res audio can enhance sound quality but she will never choose or refuse an album based on the delivery format's sample rate or bit depth. Why? Because she knows that mastering quality matters more.
8. The Music-First Audiophile knows that the pursuit of better sound is not “all about the music”. She’d be happy listening to music on laptop speakers or tiny white earbuds if it were.
9. The Music-First Audiophile knows that being an audiophile isn't about how much money she spends on audio gear but how much she cares about sound quality without letting the tail wag the dog. Music comes first. Always.
10. The Music-First Audiophile thinks music first, hardware second, format third.
Some good points, but coming from a man who puts weights on top of DACs and Streamers to improve the sound, it sounds a little bit weird.
Can't say I disagree with any of these points you listed on Darko's behalf.(have not watched the vid yet, will when I have time) #2 is pretty much covered by any streaming service so no need to wonder, I've got a lot of content.
At the end of the day Darko is an entertainer & does this for a living, it is his job/profession. That comes with many variables to juggle and ultimately compromises to make. I've never been able to make money without some give and take if not downright heartbreaking b.s.
The weights on the dac could be seen as similar to paying extra money for real wood veneer or some cool beefy binding posts. Audio bling and possibly paid promotion/placement.*
Let's be honest most of us still use speakers wires far thicker and far more attractive than they need to be.
*Maybe he believes in the weights or just pulls 420 way to often.
I'm both a music 1st Audiophile and an objective data forward 1st hifi guy myself. There is no need to chose one over the other at all.
