Darko.Audio podcast

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#69 - Schiit Buf, 5 dongle DACs, GaNFETs & Gustard Jul 06, 2026

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This episode brought to you by Bowers & Wilkins 👉 https://bit.ly/4ggz8X0 w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 👉 As discussed in this episode... 0:00 Intro 0:49 Schiit 8:45 GaN 31:11 Dongle DACs 45:01 Gustard 53:21 Aune Schiit Buf 📖 https://darko.audio/2026/04/schiit-announces-buf-a-99-tube-buffer/ Five dongle DACs for your consideration 📖 https://darko.audio/2026/07/five-dongle-dacs-for-your-consideration/ AudioQuest DragonFly Copper 📖 https://darko.audio/2026/06/audioquest-revives-the-dragonfly-with-a-copper-clad-sequel/ $12 to stream Apple Music like an audiophile (and from the couch) 📖 https://darko.audio/2026/04/12-to-stream-apple-music-like-an-audiophile/ Aune 📖 http://auneaudio.com LaiV 📖 http://laiv.audio Hifi Rose 📖 http://hifirose.com Ixycore 📖 http://ixycore.com Gustard 📖 http://gustard.com Cables and power products by AudioQuest 🛒 https://audioadvice.io/Audioquest Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel 🛒 https://howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi Room treatment by Vicoustic 📖 https://audioadvice.io/Vicoustic Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

#68 - Get more from the WiiM Pro/Plus & Ultra + HiFiMAN Unveiled May 03, 2026

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This episode brought to you by Vienna High-End 👉 https://www.highendsociety.de/high-end-44.html w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 1:02 Alternative use cases for the WiiM Pro / Plus / Ultra 9:04 HiFiMAN 23:47 HiFiMAN (again) 37:21 FangSound 👉 As seen in this video... WiiM Pro 🛒 https://amzn.to/4cXljwO WiiM Pro Plus 🛒 https://amzn.to/48ulezi WiiM Ultra 🛒 https://amzn.to/4eTX7Ob HiFiMAN Edition XV 🛒 https://amzn.to/4elY69M HiFiMAN HE600 🛒 https://amzn.to/42byXHB HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled 🛒 https://amzn.to/4tcUfQj Using a WiiM Pro Plus in a different way 📖 https://darko.audio/2026/03/using-a-wiim-pro-plus-in-a-different-way/ Another use case for the WiiM Ultra DAC 📖 https://darko.audio/2026/03/another-use-case-for-the-wiim-ultra/ HiFiMAN Susvara Unveiled 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/hifiman-susvara-unveiled/ FangSound Dionysus 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fangsound-dionysus/ Cables and power products by AudioQuest 🛒 https://audioadvice.io/Audioquest Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel 🛒 https://howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi Room treatment by Vicoustic 📖 https://audioadvice.io/Vicoustic Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

#67 - Srajan's hi-fi hierarchy, MOONDROP Skyland, DUNU Concept R & more Feb 19, 2026

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This episode brought to you by AudioQuest 👉 https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen 0:00 Intro 0:50 Moondrop 30:07 spl & Zu 1:08:40 Dunu 1:18:47 Audalytic / Gustard 1:30:54 Srajan's hi-fi hierarchy 1:46:39 Campfire 👉 As discussed in this episode... Moondrop Skyland 🛒 https://amzn.to/46d4ivX DUNU Concept R 🛒 https://amzn.to/3MEc77k Zu Method subwoofer 📖 https://www.zuaudio.com/subwoofers/p/method-sub spl crossover MKII 📖 https://spl.audio/en/ Campfire Andromeda 10 📖 https://www.campfireaudio.com/collections/andromeda-10 Audalytic DR70 & HP70 📖 https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/324_audalytic Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

#66 - These ARE the HEADPHONES you are looking for (& more) Dec 19, 2025

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This episode brought to you by the Eversolo PLAY 👉 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) 👉 As mentioned in this episode... FiiO FT7 🛒 https://amzn.to/3YDraQU 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fiio-ft7/ Shanling SCD3.3 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/11/shanlings-scd3-3-is-an-cd-sacd-player-w-r2r-dac-tubes-a-touchscreen/ Schiit Modi 5 / Magni Unity 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/12/schiits-149-modi-5-199-magni-unity-land-with-mesh/ Jade Audio JT3 + JT7 🛒 https://amzn.to/497aB4Z 🛒 https://amzn.to/490nlKr 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/jadeaudio-jt3-jt7/ FiiO FT13 🛒 https://amzn.to/4pKsltI 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fiio-ft13/ aune N7 🛒 https://amzn.to/4s6me4H 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-n7/ aune AC55 🛒 https://amzn.to/4p1Q2wo 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/aune-ac55/ Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

#65 - Spotify Lossless: too little, too late? Sep 30, 2025

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w/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen This episode brought to you by AudioQuest 👉 https://bit.ly/4fIkmaU 🎓 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 👉 As seen in this video... Spotify Lossless 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/09/spotify-lossless-lands-at-last/ DALI KUPID 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/08/dalis-kupid-is-an-affordable-and-colourful-standmount/ HiFiMAN Edition XV 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/09/hifimans-edition-xv-tackle-the-xss-comfort-issues/ TOPPING B200 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/topping-b200 Node Audio Atom 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/node-audio-atom Kinki + Vinshine 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/vinshinex-dazzle

#64 - A $120 hi-fi rack that DOESN'T look awful Aug 10, 2025

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This episode brought to you by AudioQuest 👉 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 👉 As discussed in this episode... Shanling 🛒 https://amzn.to/4fsQTTM 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/08/shanlings-cd80-ii-is-a-359-tray-loading-cd-player/ Bluesound 🛒 https://amzn.to/4fvnqbN 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/06/bluesound-teases-home-theatre-leaning-powernode/ Hiby 🛒 https://amzn.to/3HulRyl 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/07/hibys-uc10-is-a-29-usb-s-pdif-converter-for-smartphones-tablets/ FituEyes 🛒 https://amzn.to/3UmdNCQ 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/fitueyes-eiffel-rack Virtual Hifi 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/virtual-hifi-viper CoLinear Aocustics: 📖 https://colinear-acoustics.co.uk/about Qualio Audio: 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/qualio-iq30 Exact Express 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/exact-express-earth-jumpers Furutech 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/furutech-flow-28 iFi / SIlentPower 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/silentpower-omni-usb

#63 - 12 albums for your next hi-fi demo Jul 08, 2025

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w/ Twittering Machines' Michael Lavorgna 👉 This episode brought to you by Bowers & Wilkins https://bit.ly/4ggz8X0 👉 Darko's choices: Was (Not Was) - Out Come The Freaks (1984) 🛒 https://amzn.to/44gVK6H 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/55697-Was-Not-Was-The-Woodwork-Squeaks Thin White Rope - The Ruby Sea (1991) 🛒 https://amzn.to/3GaMEPO 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/236818-Thin-White-Rope-The-Ruby-Sea Fila Brazillia - Maim That Tune (1995) 📖 https://filabraz.bandcamp.com/album/maim-that-tune-30th-anniversary-re-master 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/67440-Fila-Brazillia-Maim-That-Tune Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (2005) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4la9pm1 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/3010-Bright-Eyes-Im-Wide-Awake-Its-Morning Thomas Fehlmann - Gute Luft (2010) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4nAyOXH 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/238758-Thomas-Fehlmann-Gute-Luft Automat - Ostwest (2016) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4lz473T 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/1091919-Automat-Ostwest Bohren und Der Club of Gore - Bohren for Beginners (2016/2022) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4eCtAq5 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/2079847-Bohren-Und-Der-Club-Of-Gore-Bohren-For-Beginners 👉 Lavorgna's choices: Mal Waldron - The Quest (1962) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4eVSaml 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/288946-Mal-Waldron-With-Eric-Dolphy-And-Booker-Ervin-The-Quest The Birthday Party - The Friend Catcher 12" (1983) 📖 https://www.discogs.com/release/377249-The-Birthday-Party-The-Friend-Catcher Einstürzende Neubauten - Yü-Gung (1985) 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/7604-Einst%C3%BCrzende-Neubauten-Y%C3%BC-Gung Martha Argerich - Bach (2000) 📖 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) 🛒 https://amzn.to/44ghrDU 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/2381503-Lonely-Guest-Lonely-Guest Jessica Pratt - Here in the Pitch (2024) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4kq4Vq2 📖 https://www.discogs.com/master/3474940-Jessica-Pratt-Here-In-The-Pitch 👉 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 '🛒'. Darko.Audio is an Amazon Associates Program member, an Audio Advice Program member and a Howl Program member.

#62 - Pixies & R.E.M. in Dolby Atmos, 3D-printed speakers & more Jun 16, 2025

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This episode brought to you by AudioQuest 👉 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. 👉 As discussed in this episode... Sennheiser BTD 700 (Yes, I mistakenly call it the 'BDT 700' in this episode 🙄 ) 🛒 https://amzn.to/4jRNYEG 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/06/add-aptx-lossless-to-any-smartphone-for-e50/ Chord Electronics Suze Amp system 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/06/chords-suzi-turns-the-hugo-2-2go-into-a-streaming-amplifier/ Cambridge Audio MXW 70 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/06/cambridges-mxw70-is-a-599-class-d-power-amplifier/ Stack Audio: 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/stack-audio-rack-use/ 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/stack-audio-auva-70/ 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/stack-audio-vinyl-helpers/ Virtual Hifi: 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/virtual-hifi-vibron/ 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/virtual-hifi-viper/ OnFilter: 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/onfilter/ Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

#61 - It's the end of hi-fi show coverage as we know it (and I feel fine) Jun 11, 2025

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This episode is brought to you by AudioQuest 👉 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.

#60 - Flatten your vinyl records w/ Pro-Ject (& more) Apr 06, 2025

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This episode brought to you by Munich High-End 2025 👉 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 👉 As discussed in this episode... Pro-Ject Flatten It 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/03/say-buh-bye-to-warped-vinyl-with-pro-jects-flatten-it/ Musical Fidelity X-Tube 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/03/how-to-add-tubes-to-any-dac-streamer-or-cd-player-for-e499/ Shanling Onix Zenith XST20 📖 https://darko.audio/2025/03/the-onix-zenith-xst20-is-a-new-sacd-transport-from-shanling/ Kinki Studio x Vinshine Tai Hang 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/tai-hang/ Meze Poet 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/meze-poet/ DMAX PH61 📖 https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/dmax-ph61/ Cables and power products by AudioQuest 🛒 https://audioadvice.io/Audioquest Hi-fi furniture and speaker stands by Solid Steel 🛒 https://howl.me/ckbW9947Hdi Room treatment by Vicoustic 📖 https://audioadvice.io/Vicoustic Darko.Audio may earn a small commission from items purchased via affiliate links, as indicated by a '🛒'.

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