Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Few thoughts on the transparency of HiFi audio and how far we should pursue it.

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00:00 Intro
00:22 Transparent vs Realistic
01:10 Recording reality
06:47 Aluminium foil analogy
10:10 Beautifying
14:02 How much transparency is enough?
17:30 What we really want
19:13 "natural" women analogy

Test setup
Streamer:
Volumio Rivo+ - shop.volumio.com/product/rivo-plus/?ref=ogvvqcow
Volumio Lineo 5 - shop.volumio.com/product/lineo5/?ref=ogvvqcow
DACs:
LAIV Harmony DAC - https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-dac
Gustard X26 III DAC - shenzhenaudio.com/products/gustard-x26-iii-dual-es9039spro-digital-to-analog-convertor-dac?ref=b236567rqe&utm_source=affiliate
Preamps:
Acoustic Invader Fulcrum - youtu.be/stsbclVgghQ
Ladder Bach - bit.ly/3FaqSYm
Amps:
2 x Acoustic Invader (IcePower 1200) - acousticinvader.com
2 x Topping B200 - amzn.to/3WqCNt4
Speakers:
Mon Acoustics Platiomn VC One: monacoustic.us/product/platimon-vc-one/?v=8cee5050eeb7
CSS Criton 1TD-X – css-audio.com/online-store/CSS-Criton-1TD-X-Kit-Pair-p221163830
KEF LS50 - amzn.to/3W9Os0y

Head-Fi test setup:
Laiv Harmony HP2A: https://www.laiv.audio/product-page/harmony-hp2a
Aune S17 Pro: amzn.to/3u2O6gu
Geshelli Labs Erish 3 Pro: geshelli.com/product/erish-3-pro/?ref=18
Aune AR7000: amzn.to/3ZcuXG1
Goldplanar GL2000: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DB69UpT
Verum 2: verum-audio.com/store
AKG K702: amzn.to/3TSlnUF



#hifi #audiophile #stero