Loved the video, please do keep doing the beginner friendly content alongside your reviews etc. The beginner stuff is what encouraged me to put together my first hi-fi system, so thank you!
I'm very new to the world of streaming, so "beginner" videos like this are incredibly useful learning tools for me. I'm discovering so much about hi-fi generally from your content, so thanks very much and keep 'em coming!
If you have an Apple TV and some kind of home theater system, you can stream Apple Music. There is an app on Apple TV to allow for the music streaming. You don’t have to have a home theater the music will just come out of the TV speakers. It is a great way to access a whole world of music.
I love it when you do these "how to" videos. I'm not a beginner but found this really interesting and it gave me some ideas that I had not thought about before. Keep doing these!
I'll never understand why Google stopped producing Chromecast Audio. I have one connected to my speakers and is perfect for this. Small, easy to install. Thanks for the video, great as always!
I agree. Such a simple, easy to use device which sounds great for the price. I still have a couple in my house acting as Roon endpoints, one connected to a Morel powered speaker and one to my Denon AV receiver because it sounds better than using the receiver itself as an endpoint.
I ended up replacing my Chromecasts with Amazon Echos that are connect to my various amplifiers. I have been very please with the results and, obviously, the convenience is great. Spotify Connect, Amazon, anything you tell her to play!
Probably because not enough Google Chromecast Audio devices were being sold. I have one connected to a Sonos setup. I have two Sonos 5s and a Sonos sub in a spare bedroom. Each Sonos 5 has a stereo input jack. On the left Sonos 5 I have a stereo jack coming in from a 4K television. The left Sonos will then pull out the "right channel" from this stereo input and that over to the Sonos 5 acting as the right channel. But on the right Sonos 5 I have a Chromecast Audio plugged in. Like the latter, the left channel is pulled from this input (Chromecast Audio) and sent to the left Sonos. The reason I have the Chromecast Audio is because it allows me to send audio from an Android device to the Sonos system. Specifically something NOT involving Spotify et al. I can pull up Google Home and then choose to "mirror audio." So anything landing on the Android device is sent to the Chromecast Audio. Any audio from any app landing on the Android device is sent over to the Sonos (a la Airplay situation for an iPhone user). Some might say, "Why not use the TV?" Well because I bring up www.SomaFM.com on Google Chrome on the Android device and pick a music stream. No other way to get those streams to the Sonos unless I use an iPhone with Airplay to the Sonos. Without Chromecast Audio, there's simply no way to get those music streams (from SomaFM.com) to the Sonos from an Android device. Spotify Connect has no context in the latter. Years ago SomaFM did have an Android app but they abandoned it ages ago and strangely it never supported Chromecast while for a time the SomaFM app on iOS did(!!!). Now there is the option of attaching a conventional Chromecast Video device to the TV and mirroring to that, but now the TV has to be on. Might be OK in some situations but can also spoil the mood if you want to listen to music in the dark and chill (a situation I find myself often with that particular room in the summer). With some TVs you can turn the video panel off (but the TV is still ON) which is great for music listening. All Sony TVs allow this. However that's not the case with the Hisense U8G in the room with the Sonos system. When I bought the Chromecast Audio from BEST BUY a couple of years ago (or whenever they stopped selling it) it was literally the last one they had on the shelves. In fact as I went to pay for it, the cashier asked me if I really wanted the Chromecast Audio - "Perhaps he really wants the Chromecast video device?" was his thinking. "Nope, this is what I want" I told him.
I've been using Raspberry Pis for years, but thank you for making this video. The technical details can be very hard to sort through especially for beginners. It's a great service for people just dipping their toes into the world of streaming. One comment I would add is just how much of a bargain the Raspberry Pi is. The Pi itself starts around $35 in the US. You do have to take into account the cost of the USB cable (unless you are like me and have a ton of those things lying around), the AC adapter, the SD card, and a case. All in, you are still in for WAY less than $100. What else in hi-fi costs so little? And, say you pick one up and streaming music just isn't your thing? There are literally thousands of things people use these little computers for. From learning how to write code, to building robots, to making a sweet home theater PC. Make the jump! Embrace your inner geek! So much fun for so little money.
A few years back I let go of my "audiophile" aspirations and parted with my Denon/paradigm based system. I needed a smaller simpler system that fit with a simpler lifestyle. At this point I am running an Nvidia Shield box for TV and Music and feeding the optical to a set of Klipsch "The Fives". Not a perfect system but an adequate & simple system that the whole family can understand and operate.
I was really confused about streaming music as I grew up with vinyl, cassettes and then cd's. My solution a couple of years ago was to buy a Yamaha rn803d. This allows me to stream music from a bunch of providers and the amp has around 23 inputs in it. I can still listen to all my vinyl, cassettes and cd's but it has helped educate me on the streaming front and has been fantastic to use. I have also been able to listen to lots of new music that I wouldn't have otherwise heard. I also think that this route was probably the simplest way to go. My previous hi fi had a valve pre, a power, a phono, record deck with separate power supply etc etc. This newer set up has 4 items...turntable/cd/cassette and amp. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks 👍
Great video John. One of the things I love about the audio community is our desire to help people on their own individual audio journey. This video is critical to helping neophytes improve their experience and enjoyment of music.
This is why I love Spotify so much. I like the way that you can control it from your phone, but your streamer is pulling it direct from the source. It also works across so many different devices.
Love using my raspberry pi with Volumio as a streamer. Thank you for that encouragement in your other videos! AND, one of my favorite features of Spotify Connect is that you can use any device with Spotify installed as the “remote“. So, I can start playing a track on my phone, walk into the next room and continue managing my listening session from my iPad, or turn on my computer and do the same. To me, that is just about the epitome of convenience, which really, is what streaming is mostly about. Your “back to the basics“ videos are very helpful, John. Much appreciated!
I’m so glad you explained streaming using a laptop, I bought an amp that has a digital input, & was told to hook up my pc to listen to music. I’ve have Spotify on my iPad. I’ve been using a meridian 203 dac & Cambridge audio cd2 player for years. I’m purchasing a Wimm pro to stream to my new system. I now understand that I needed to have Spotify on my laptop to use my new amp’s dak. My laptop is very old, & I’ve been using iPads since their inception. For the first time I’m listening to bookshelf speakers, after using different magnepans models since the 80’s. I can’t thank you enough
**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY** 1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio RUclips community (and not me) as I'm now busy making the NEXT video. All comments here are moderated by a third party. 2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please)
Agreed. Echoing Oscar Wilde, I've always felt it is a tragedy to be able to get anything you want, whenever you want it, so I'll probably never stream, but it's great that you, Darko, take the time to show Luddites like me the possibilities. Thank you!
@@jerrytook7308streaming is fantastic, because for a relatively small monthly fee and an outlay for the streamer like an Apple TV, you have access to nearly the entire world of music. It is fantastic.
Hi John I just recently discovered your channel and I absolutely love your content. So please forgive me if you’ve covered this. Why not use the Apple Remote app to control the MacBook?
When I saw the title, I thought that somewhere in the video there will be an announcrment that Spotify finally got FLAC quality... Looks that we need to wait a little bit more for it. Cheers, Przemek
@@FeathersMcGraw_ Hmm... I thought that CD quality means FLAC format like in case of e.g. Deezer. What codec will be used by Spotify to encode CD quality?
@@FeathersMcGraw_ FLAC is not a “quality standard”. It’s just a lossless audio codec, and there’s _many_ of those. You have to be more specific as to whether it’s 16 or 24-bit along with the sample rate being one of 44.1, 48, 96, 192 kHz. It’s CD quality or 24-bit Hi-res, both of which are lossless.
@@przemekprzemkowy3811 FLAC is free so they may go for that, no other 3rd party lossless codec is popular enough for that purpose and they can’t use ALAC or WMA which are prroprietary codecs.
I’m very new to this as well,I friend pointed me towards your “Wowsers Bluesound Powernode “ review. After watching I was convinced this would work well for me as I’m starting from scratch. I now had the Powernode and a Tidal subscription and a pair of B&W CDM1 speakers my brother in law gave me.It’s really wonderful and I haven’t turned the TV on since acquiring it. The Kef KC62 sub is next on the shopping list.Really enjoy your content and I’m educating myself watching lots of your videos,many thanks.
I love the inclusive approach to hifi in these videos. It's a hobby that has far too much gate keeping. I'd been looking for a streamer for a while and after watching the videos about the Allo Digi One I jumped in and paired it with Schiit Modi. A great combo! Now just the waiting game for Spotify Hifi! 🤣
Hi John, thank you so much for this video. It was absolutely what I needed as I am exactely that beginner you are addressing to. This helps a lot and I am already excited to watch the second part.
Thanks so much for this video. I'm 60 and just getting re-interested in hi-fi, and much has passed me by over the last 20 years. Looking forward to learn how to stream using good hi-fi separates as I enter retirement next month and will have time on my hands again.
Thank you for making this video. One comment about the term “streaming”: when I first started putting my system together at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, I had a really hard time distinguishing music service streaming (i.e.Tidal/Qobuz/Spotify) from ripped CD file streaming from a domestic music server. Eventually, I realized that when most people discuss “streaming,” it is in the way John discusses in this video: from a commercial service over the interwebs. If, however, you enter the audiophile world by ripping a large CD collection (via an Innuos product) into files that you can play across your home, one also can consider that to be streaming.. It’s just a different use case and application than what John discusses here.
Great video! I have a question: "Whether I should invest in a DAC when my current setup is the following?": - Streaming: Spotify; - Source: Macbook Air; - Speakers: Edifier R1280DB; - Music: Rock and Metal; Or with setup from the above there is not much sense for external DAC in comparison to the built-in DAC that Apple provides and the budget speakers I'm using... Thanks in advance.
Late into the DAC game but really need to adapt as I'm upgrading my whole audio set-up and there's no scaping the streaming service for convenience and this video helped me a lot in how to set it up and the possibilities for future applications, I appreciate this. ty.
Thank you for making a truly beginner friendly video for the beginners. There are many people who would like to get to know the audiophile world but they’re discouraged by the “pros” whom I’d call the keyboard warriors. This is very easy to understand, I’m excited for the next one! 🤓
The way I have mine set up is very simple. I have Apple Music on my iPad, I airplay the music across to an older generation Apple TV box which has an optical output, the optical cable goes into my Cyrus amp which has an excellent onboard DAC. I get full CD quality.
If you’re talking about streaming Apple Music remotely, it’s helpful to mention Apple TV 4K. This is the one instance where using airplay is similar to Spotify Connect. If you airplay to the Apple TV, it will stream from the Apple TV, not the phone. Much less flexible than Spotify Connect, but worth mentioning. Also the Apple TV makes a great visual control for seeing your music playing as others have already mentioned.
Thanks for this information. Can you tell me, do you know if it gets full lossless quality that way, or because of the airplay 2 being used does it get a lossy file. Anyway, more to the point I guess, can you shut off your phone and will it continue to play? i.e. is it getting the stream from the net then? I am really interested in Apple Music, but I can't live without the ability to control my music AND also listen and phone to something else on my devices. (That being said, Apple Music's mixes just suck compared to Spotify. I love the quality, but their "stations" are absolutely out of touch with my first choice of song. Anyway, end of rant)
Nice video - as usual. Particularly liked the 'tone' remark. As a music lover with a degree in electronics and a lifetime working with all sorts of technology I find it can still get messy when trying to get to grips with products, particularly when mixing and matching hardware and services to get to the end point e.g. listening to the damn music as quickly and pain free as possible. Case in point your example of Apple Music/Chromecast etc. Your videos do a lot to de-mystify that, and so much more, so thanks and keep doing what you do. Now if only Apple would licence(more cheaply I guess?) more manufacturers to build Apple Music into their hardware life would be a lot easier and we wouldn't have to mess about with Airplay. Cheers John
Really appreciate seeing these options. For Apple, wouldn't things work better via the Apple TV 4K as our streamer? I think it also allows one to use an iPhone as a remote, or one can also use the Apple TV remote and put the album art and full lyrics on your TV. I plug my Apple TV straight into the KEF LS50 wireless 2 for my DAC and AMP and it's a true wonder, especially with the new KC62 woofer!
Love the back to basics vids coming up John!! Nice to go back and learn all over again. I’ve got a question. Which DAC is better for speaker use only? The Schiit Modi 3+ or the iFi Zen DAC v2? Thanks for the advice and keep up the good work!!
A great way of explaining the options for getting popular streaming services to play through through your HiFi speakers. As you alluded to, the Airplay options will also drain phone battery quicker as the phone's wifi is constantly receiving and transmitting.
You started me down this rabbit hole in June with your first Apple Music video. My starting system is a good pair of wired headphones and a DAC/Amp and my phone next to my couch. You also said you would rather spend $3000 on headphones than speakers 😊. Thanks. Great video as always.
John, So grateful for your beginners videos. I’m a long time audiophile trying to make sense of all this digital streaming nightmare. I have a very high end 2 channel system that I’m hoping to transition from an expensive vinyl front end to a high end streaming system and will spend many thousands of dollars, I’m estimating $10K-$15K, but I want to have a firm grasp on the software and hardware before making the purchase. Without these videos I’d be lost and probably just stay with my AQ Dragonfly DAC streaming directly from my laptop or phone. Keep up the good work, us old timers appreciate the clarity you provide! Greg
Thank you!!! I've been listening to my headphone out on my computer to powered speakers for years. I'm finally ready to venture out and get a USB DAC to listen through. Your explanation has prompted me to make the leap. I dig your channel. Steady On!
Thank you John. The video was very helpful because even though I understand the basics I find it necessary to revisit often in case I want to change it up. I also learn something new every time.
Watching this for the first time after I just picked up a Wiim Mini today. Played both Spotify and Apple Music. Impressed this $90 box (clipped an Amazon coupon) does it all so well. I’ve now joined the 21st century!
You can run the Mi Box S EU version without a HDMI cable or dummy plug installed if using the Mini-TOSLINK output to a DAC. Note: you will need a screen to set up the device Chromecast & Spotify Connect both work without issue via TOSLINK and an audio signal will be transmitted. Not sure for USB out to a DAC.
Good stuff, thanks John! The chromecast codec topic was really useful, as sometimes the Mi Box is only recognized as a chromecast tool, not as a spotify connect tool! My setup: Xiaomi Mi Box 3 as streamer (running Spotify) --> Opctical commection --> Tangent Ampster BT II --> A pair of vintage Videoton stereo speakers. Works like charm! I have been experimenting on DAC front a bit (Mi Box's DAC, Dragonfly Black, FiiO E10K), eventually I stick with the Tangent's DAC for simplicity. For me the Mi Box works also without any HDMI connection. Best part of the whole Spotify ecosystem, that my car has a native app too, no need for AA or BT stream!
Hi John, great video as always. I bought the KEF LSX last week for my working room and with these speakers, i was the first time able to switch between AUX from my PC and Spotify Connect. I was always a little bit sceptical if you can hear a difference, but now i'm sure that there is a hearable difference. I think the difference is even more notable then the difference between 320 kbit/s and lossless or CD quality for example (which i was trying to hear on my main setup (KEF R900, KEF R400b, Onkyo TX-8270, Topping DX3 Pro) for a while now). Overall i can rly recommend the KEF LSX for beginner friendly audio streaming, its super easy to setup.
I hear this as well. I think it's likely that the DAC & AMP in the LSX is lot better than the DAC & AMP in the PC. The LSX is a great beginner system, if you are happy with Spotify, which I am. The DAC, AMP, and Spotify Connect ability are all built into the speakers & their app/remote! John Darko has a great video on the LSX, worth digging out (it sold me!)
Heads up, with the new MacOS that's soon to release like literally tomorrow I believe, you can use any Mac as an AirPlay receiver and control the volume too with the iPhone. Been running the Beta for it and it works fantastically.
@@DarkoAudio that is true, but if you use apple music on your phone for searching. Then add what you want to listen to to your library, it is now available in iTunes remote app. Which means you can listen to hi-res music from your listening position, controlled by your phone (if AirPlay quality isn’t good enough for you). You know those audiophiles…
Just to confirm - you can use ,under Monterey , a certain number of Mac computers as Airplay receiver. I have Mac Mini from 2014 and it does not work on that. However, what’s the point of it? There is still nothing to allow you browse Apple Music on you iPhone and play it back through iPad or Mac . Please don’t say Apple Remote ! Only works for Library . Apple connect is badly required similar to Spotify Connect as John showed on his video. I’m amazed such a simple “app/ product” is not available.
When Apple publishes the new macOS version this monday, you should be able to use any Mac running the newest version as an AirPlay receiver. Then there would be an equal easy entry for beginners connecting their Mac to an DAC to AirPlay Apple Music or anything else or use Spotify Connect to play Spotify.
See how apple tries to force folks to buy their newest products, ideally, that feature should be available across the entire ecosystem, not only "any mac running the newest version" of the software.
For me its also that Spotify is just horrible when it comes to artist payment/support and bought Top 100 etc Playlist spots. I really would love to dive into the Spotify ecosystem but this always puts me of :(
Thank you for such a clear explanation. I'm am a total noob to this steaming tech--been reading and watching for about 2 weeks now, trying to figure it out. I've heard other channels talking about jargon like "gapless", but had no idea what they were talking about. Now I know!
Thank you for this video, it was you that got me interested in hifi, in the first place . Love your work it just keeps interested and wanting to learn more
I am a total beginner. Thank you for making this friendly enough that I do not feel brain dead. I am going to have to watch it again. I would also like to see how to stream to a hi end system. One thing I was not sure of was why the need to convert digital to analogue?
I watched this video by chromecasting it to my TV. Love chromecasting my music from my Raspberry pi Plex server to the Google Speakers around my home. Music whilst having a family Sunday roast is the best :)
Id like to say thank you for your time and knowledge... you are really helping alot of people, without making them feel like knobs...your tone and pace is perfect. Thanks again...love your channel.👏🙌
Probably I am missing something here. But can’t we just use iTunes remote (app) to control another apple device connected to a dac and just play the music? And in this way you honestly don’t need to use a streamer and we are NOT using the airplay . You can add some noise reduction device (Denafrips IRIS for instance) if you want to clear the computer signal noise. For the two apps issue discussed in another reply, what I am doing is to use my iPad to control the music app, and use my cell phone as the remote, the apple system does the synergy quite quickly. And at least for me it is a better option as I don’t need to back and forth in one app trying to do two different things.
Best addition to my personal setup was a PRIMARE NP5 supports airplay and all major streaming services. Not the cheapest but very good quality. And supports gapless playback
Nice one Jon, great video. Really helpful, thank you. I thought streaming was when the tape player in the car chews up the tape and you lib it out of the window leaving a long stream of tape floating down the road!
I just simply connect my iPhone or iPad via the headphone jack into an Apple dock so I never have to be battery dependent, pick a playlist, hit shuffle and I'm done for hours and hours. I am more than happy with the sound quality, on 4 very good systems. The sound quality does improve with every new Apple hardware release...several audiophile friends have concurred. I may be a dinosaur but I'm a happy dinosaur.
Thanks John, it's quite the useful video. One thing to note about Chromecast though (yes, not as beginner friendly... but maybe something for the next / another video): Quite a few of these boxes have issues with resampling, as they are based around Android. For example the NVIDIA Shield. And it makes a difference, the resampling makes the music distort a little, it sounds edgier, sharper, less pleasant. The Pi doesn't have resampling issues, but you can't get Chromecast to run on it. It's all a bit of a mess to which I haven't found a proper solution apart from trying to buy a Chromecast Audio on the second hand market or buying an iPhone / iPad. And yeah, gapless is an issue too.
This is awesome. I’ve been waiting for this. I’m no hi-fi dummy but I’ve never understood why in there hell you’d want to add a steamer to the mix. Thanks!
Moved from Spotify to Apple Music and I should have done this many moons ago. Hooked up a second hand Airport Express 2 ($30) to my active speakers (Beolab 18s + 19) and the CD sound quality of Apple is simply so much better than anything Spotify delivers. Used Soundiiz to transfer all my albums, playlist and tracks from Spotify to Apple Music by the way.
I’m streaming curious and have only dipped my toe in the water, so-to-speak. I’ve tried the Amazon music app which comes free with my Amazon Prime account, but not too happy with the selection of titles, at least in the ‘automatic’ modes I’ve tried. I have watched your other Raspberry Pie videos, Intel Network Attached Storage video, etc. I think I need as much help navigating the software as the hardware. It is a real paradigm shift for a guy used to changing the channel to find a TV show to watch, tune in a favorite radio station, put on an LP, stuff in a cassette, etc. I find Facebook bewildering, I can get so lost so quickly it becomes terrifying. But the young folks live in this world where I feel adrift at sea.
First off, I love watching your videos. My set up is a Mac mini connected to a dac magic 200, to a vintage Linn Intek integrated. Using EMOTIVA B1+ at the moment. I use the Mac mini monitor less through either my MacBook or iPhone via an app called Remote +. It’s been great this far
Beginner friendly! Speakers, amplifier and a Aragon Audio Stream3 and you got Spotify Connect, UNDOK NAS streamer, Internet radio, Fm and DAB+ radio. Comes with a remote control with a volume control. Good start to begin with. Sounds really nice.
I believe, Apple airplay one and two, though capable to play lossless, is presently capped at 16/44.1. That may change in the future. Though not strictly beginner friendly in terms of reference, I consider myself beginner level audiophile, but trained musician with good ears (classical piano) and I’m trying to build a system to accommodate needs in the future - so I use good wired headphones with a dac running from my computer for hi rez and casual listening using airplay . Most beginners don’t stay beginners forever.
@@frankbernharduebler correct (I've been doing that with a Topping D10S, taking the signal from my iPad Pro through USB and feeding my sound system with an optical). However, if you want to play with your phone from your sofa, that's not viable, you need to have a wired connection to enjoy anything lossless over 44.1/16. Unless I'm missing something.
Great video! I may be pre-empting the second video but it would be great to see where you would go if the budget was a little larger and a network streamer (with remote?) was an option.
Thanx for info… defiantly will use. Tell us some more about this cabinet where all equipment is placed. The two sides are monitors ? Displaying album ‘s art work?
What a breath of fresh air . Basic advice with great perspective. RUclipsr audio content is so often absurdly complex and niche. This is Gold John
"hifi Spotify"
If only Spotify hi-fi finally would come out
Spotify here in Australia has "very high" on the premium accounts which is 320kbps, was only released recently
yeah, I'm waiting for that too :)
i am just baited for Spotify HiFi
You can also stream with your Apple device via Airport Express.
I jumped to Deezer
Loved the video, please do keep doing the beginner friendly content alongside your reviews etc.
The beginner stuff is what encouraged me to put together my first hi-fi system, so thank you!
I'm very new to the world of streaming, so "beginner" videos like this are incredibly useful learning tools for me. I'm discovering so much about hi-fi generally from your content, so thanks very much and keep 'em coming!
If you have an Apple TV and some kind of home theater system, you can stream Apple Music. There is an app on Apple TV to allow for the music streaming. You don’t have to have a home theater the music will just come out of the TV speakers. It is a great way to access a whole world of music.
I love it when you do these "how to" videos. I'm not a beginner but found this really interesting and it gave me some ideas that I had not thought about before. Keep doing these!
oh yeah same here!
Yep
I'll never understand why Google stopped producing Chromecast Audio. I have one connected to my speakers and is perfect for this. Small, easy to install. Thanks for the video, great as always!
I agree. Such a simple, easy to use device which sounds great for the price. I still have a couple in my house acting as Roon endpoints, one connected to a Morel powered speaker and one to my Denon AV receiver because it sounds better than using the receiver itself as an endpoint.
Chromecast Audio is a magic little puk. I tried Apple Music with my android phone and it actually works with the Chromecast Audio
I ended up replacing my Chromecasts with Amazon Echos that are connect to my various amplifiers. I have been very please with the results and, obviously, the convenience is great. Spotify Connect, Amazon, anything you tell her to play!
Plus it had optical output
Probably because not enough Google Chromecast Audio devices were being sold. I have one connected to a Sonos setup.
I have two Sonos 5s and a Sonos sub in a spare bedroom. Each Sonos 5 has a stereo input jack. On the left Sonos 5 I have a stereo jack coming in from a 4K television. The left Sonos will then pull out the "right channel" from this stereo input and that over to the Sonos 5 acting as the right channel.
But on the right Sonos 5 I have a Chromecast Audio plugged in. Like the latter, the left channel is pulled from this input (Chromecast Audio) and sent to the left Sonos.
The reason I have the Chromecast Audio is because it allows me to send audio from an Android device to the Sonos system. Specifically something NOT involving Spotify et al. I can pull up Google Home and then choose to "mirror audio." So anything landing on the Android device is sent to the Chromecast Audio. Any audio from any app landing on the Android device is sent over to the Sonos (a la Airplay situation for an iPhone user).
Some might say, "Why not use the TV?" Well because I bring up www.SomaFM.com on Google Chrome on the Android device and pick a music stream. No other way to get those streams to the Sonos unless I use an iPhone with Airplay to the Sonos. Without Chromecast Audio, there's simply no way to get those music streams (from SomaFM.com) to the Sonos from an Android device. Spotify Connect has no context in the latter. Years ago SomaFM did have an Android app but they abandoned it ages ago and strangely it never supported Chromecast while for a time the SomaFM app on iOS did(!!!).
Now there is the option of attaching a conventional Chromecast Video device to the TV and mirroring to that, but now the TV has to be on. Might be OK in some situations but can also spoil the mood if you want to listen to music in the dark and chill (a situation I find myself often with that particular room in the summer). With some TVs you can turn the video panel off (but the TV is still ON) which is great for music listening. All Sony TVs allow this. However that's not the case with the Hisense U8G in the room with the Sonos system.
When I bought the Chromecast Audio from BEST BUY a couple of years ago (or whenever they stopped selling it) it was literally the last one they had on the shelves. In fact as I went to pay for it, the cashier asked me if I really wanted the Chromecast Audio - "Perhaps he really wants the Chromecast video device?" was his thinking. "Nope, this is what I want" I told him.
I've been using Raspberry Pis for years, but thank you for making this video. The technical details can be very hard to sort through especially for beginners. It's a great service for people just dipping their toes into the world of streaming. One comment I would add is just how much of a bargain the Raspberry Pi is. The Pi itself starts around $35 in the US. You do have to take into account the cost of the USB cable (unless you are like me and have a ton of those things lying around), the AC adapter, the SD card, and a case. All in, you are still in for WAY less than $100. What else in hi-fi costs so little? And, say you pick one up and streaming music just isn't your thing? There are literally thousands of things people use these little computers for. From learning how to write code, to building robots, to making a sweet home theater PC. Make the jump! Embrace your inner geek! So much fun for so little money.
Hi! I was curious as to how much RAM is needed to use the Pi as a streamer?
Your channel is so very enjoyable, John. Keep up the great work.
First rule of Darko Club - never close the tab until you hear the eye pops.
Haha love it
A few years back I let go of my "audiophile" aspirations and parted with my Denon/paradigm based system. I needed a smaller simpler system that fit with a simpler lifestyle. At this point I am running an Nvidia Shield box for TV and Music and feeding the optical to a set of Klipsch "The Fives". Not a perfect system but an adequate & simple system that the whole family can understand and operate.
I got the same setup more or less. It was a good choice. Have you done the latest firmware update on the fives? I've been lazy 😂.
@@earlfenwick thanks for the heads up. Didn't realize that there was a 5.8.0 update. Haven't done it yet but will shortly.
I was really confused about streaming music as I grew up with vinyl, cassettes and then cd's. My solution a couple of years ago was to buy a Yamaha rn803d. This allows me to stream music from a bunch of providers and the amp has around 23 inputs in it. I can still listen to all my vinyl, cassettes and cd's but it has helped educate me on the streaming front and has been fantastic to use. I have also been able to listen to lots of new music that I wouldn't have otherwise heard. I also think that this route was probably the simplest way to go. My previous hi fi had a valve pre, a power, a phono, record deck with separate power supply etc etc. This newer set up has 4 items...turntable/cd/cassette and amp. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks 👍
I used to listen toto, “ Sandi Patty and the Friendship Company “ on cassette. Yeah. I was born in 1999!
Great video John.
One of the things I love about the audio community is our desire to help people on their own individual audio journey. This video is critical to helping neophytes improve their experience and enjoyment of music.
Glad to see a very empathetic approach to getting into high-end audio-just discovered your channel and I'm loving it.
This is a great introduction to the world of streaming audio and the issues to consider.
This is why I love Spotify so much. I like the way that you can control it from your phone, but your streamer is pulling it direct from the source. It also works across so many different devices.
It is simple to be complicated, but complicated to “be simple”!
And you do it every time, with so much ease. Keep it up John 👍
I've watched 5 Darko videos today. Such great content
Love using my raspberry pi with Volumio as a streamer. Thank you for that encouragement in your other videos!
AND, one of my favorite features of Spotify Connect is that you can use any device with Spotify installed as the “remote“. So, I can start playing a track on my phone, walk into the next room and continue managing my listening session from my iPad, or turn on my computer and do the same. To me, that is just about the epitome of convenience, which really, is what streaming is mostly about.
Your “back to the basics“ videos are very helpful, John. Much appreciated!
I’m so glad you explained streaming using a laptop, I bought an amp that has a digital input, & was told to hook up my pc to listen to music. I’ve have Spotify on my iPad. I’ve been using a meridian 203 dac & Cambridge audio cd2 player for years. I’m purchasing a Wimm pro to stream to my new system. I now understand that I needed to have Spotify on my laptop to use my new amp’s dak. My laptop is very old, & I’ve been using iPads since their inception. For the first time I’m listening to bookshelf speakers, after using different magnepans models since the 80’s.
I can’t thank you enough
**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**
1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio RUclips community (and not me) as I'm now busy making the NEXT video. All comments here are moderated by a third party.
2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, please)
At last! an intro to streaming. Thanks very much. Not as if I stream myself, but it's interesting to be able to understand what's going on.
Agreed. Echoing Oscar Wilde, I've always felt it is a tragedy to be able to get anything you want, whenever you want it, so I'll probably never stream, but it's great that you, Darko, take the time to show Luddites like me the possibilities. Thank you!
@@jerrytook7308streaming is fantastic, because for a relatively small monthly fee and an outlay for the streamer like an Apple TV, you have access to nearly the entire world of music. It is fantastic.
Hi John I just recently discovered your channel and I absolutely love your content. So please forgive me if you’ve covered this. Why not use the Apple Remote app to control the MacBook?
When I saw the title, I thought that somewhere in the video there will be an announcrment that Spotify finally got FLAC quality... Looks that we need to wait a little bit more for it.
Cheers,
Przemek
Spotify will likely never have FLAC quality but they have announced that they will support CD quality later this year.
@@FeathersMcGraw_ Hmm... I thought that CD quality means FLAC format like in case of e.g. Deezer. What codec will be used by Spotify to encode CD quality?
@@FeathersMcGraw_ FLAC is not a “quality standard”. It’s just a lossless audio codec, and there’s _many_ of those.
You have to be more specific as to whether it’s 16 or 24-bit along with the sample rate being one of 44.1, 48, 96, 192 kHz.
It’s CD quality or 24-bit Hi-res, both of which are lossless.
@@przemekprzemkowy3811 FLAC is free so they may go for that, no other 3rd party lossless codec is popular enough for that purpose and they can’t use ALAC or WMA which are prroprietary codecs.
I thought the same when I saw the title
I’m very new to this as well,I friend pointed me towards your “Wowsers Bluesound Powernode “ review. After watching I was convinced this would work well for me as I’m starting from scratch. I now had the Powernode and a Tidal subscription and a pair of B&W CDM1 speakers my brother in law gave me.It’s really wonderful and I haven’t turned the TV on since acquiring it. The Kef KC62 sub is next on the shopping list.Really enjoy your content and I’m educating myself watching lots of your videos,many thanks.
Thank you John , i am a beginner and appreciate the simplicity 😁
I love the inclusive approach to hifi in these videos. It's a hobby that has far too much gate keeping.
I'd been looking for a streamer for a while and after watching the videos about the Allo Digi One I jumped in and paired it with Schiit Modi. A great combo! Now just the waiting game for Spotify Hifi! 🤣
Hi John, thank you so much for this video. It was absolutely what I needed as I am exactely that beginner you are addressing to. This helps a lot and I am already excited to watch the second part.
Thanks so much for this video. I'm 60 and just getting re-interested in hi-fi, and much has passed me by over the last 20 years. Looking forward to learn how to stream using good hi-fi separates as I enter retirement next month and will have time on my hands again.
hows retirement?
Those doorstops pop up in Lidl from time to time for a couple of quid...great video again BTW John
!
I just checked, in Canada they are over $50. I might just use a soup can full of loose change instead. It’ll be cheaper.
Thank you for making this video.
One comment about the term “streaming”: when I first started putting my system together at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, I had a really hard time distinguishing music service streaming (i.e.Tidal/Qobuz/Spotify) from ripped CD file streaming from a domestic music server. Eventually, I realized that when most people discuss “streaming,” it is in the way John discusses in this video: from a commercial service over the interwebs.
If, however, you enter the audiophile world by ripping a large CD collection (via an Innuos product) into files that you can play across your home, one also can consider that to be streaming.. It’s just a different use case and application than what John discusses here.
Great video!
I have a question: "Whether I should invest in a DAC when my current setup is the following?":
- Streaming: Spotify;
- Source: Macbook Air;
- Speakers: Edifier R1280DB;
- Music: Rock and Metal;
Or with setup from the above there is not much sense for external DAC in comparison to the built-in DAC that Apple provides and the budget speakers I'm using...
Thanks in advance.
Late into the DAC game but really need to adapt as I'm upgrading my whole audio set-up and there's no scaping the streaming service for convenience and this video helped me a lot in how to set it up and the possibilities for future applications, I appreciate this. ty.
Thank you for making a truly beginner friendly video for the beginners. There are many people who would like to get to know the audiophile world but they’re discouraged by the “pros” whom I’d call the keyboard warriors. This is very easy to understand, I’m excited for the next one! 🤓
Love your videos, learnt more in 1 hr than fricking around in forums. So practical and accessible. Bravo!
I’m a beginner and I did not know about Spotify connect. Thank you for this most informative video!
The way I have mine set up is very simple. I have Apple Music on my iPad, I airplay the music across to an older generation Apple TV box which has an optical output, the optical cable goes into my Cyrus amp which has an excellent onboard DAC. I get full CD quality.
Thanks for the video John. I have done the same and it works great!
Actually you haven’t, with the recent revelation that Airplay only does AAC 256.. you have been listening to lossy all the way.
"I want to go back to basics, with very basic streaming setups, so here I have a pair of LS50 Meta.."
Thought that was pretty funny phrasing 😂
To me the most basic is to stream Apple Music on an iPhone and listen with headphones. Or via Apple TV and listen to music from the TV.
Great series of videos packed with knowledge and no BS and entertaining as always. Thank you John, peace and love from Manchester.
Thanks for the guidance John. I’m in the process of setting up my first system and this video was a great help.
Thanks John, very well done! I’m familiar with most of the technologies you’ve discussed, nonetheless this was very informative! 👍
If you’re talking about streaming Apple Music remotely, it’s helpful to mention Apple TV 4K. This is the one instance where using airplay is similar to Spotify Connect. If you airplay to the Apple TV, it will stream from the Apple TV, not the phone. Much less flexible than Spotify Connect, but worth mentioning. Also the Apple TV makes a great visual control for seeing your music playing as others have already mentioned.
Thanks for this information. Can you tell me, do you know if it gets full lossless quality that way, or because of the airplay 2 being used does it get a lossy file. Anyway, more to the point I guess, can you shut off your phone and will it continue to play? i.e. is it getting the stream from the net then? I am really interested in Apple Music, but I can't live without the ability to control my music AND also listen and phone to something else on my devices. (That being said, Apple Music's mixes just suck compared to Spotify. I love the quality, but their "stations" are absolutely out of touch with my first choice of song. Anyway, end of rant)
Nice video - as usual. Particularly liked the 'tone' remark. As a music lover with a degree in electronics and a lifetime working with all sorts of technology I find it can still get messy when trying to get to grips with products, particularly when mixing and matching hardware and services to get to the end point e.g. listening to the damn music as quickly and pain free as possible. Case in point your example of Apple Music/Chromecast etc. Your videos do a lot to de-mystify that, and so much more, so thanks and keep doing what you do. Now if only Apple would licence(more cheaply I guess?) more manufacturers to build Apple Music into their hardware life would be a lot easier and we wouldn't have to mess about with Airplay. Cheers John
Love seeing the Wedding Present "Valentina" album cover on display.
Hey, you stole my comment lol.. JK.. Anyone who loves The Weddos is cool in my book..
Well explained as usual ! Keep up the great work John 👍🏻
Thank you, John, for being the best source of Apple Music info on the interwebs!
im fairly advanced in the audio journey, but i admire the empathy you always insist upon for _all_ the viewers. kudos.
Fantastic as usual John. Love your work!
A good cup of joe and Darko Audio for the morning is always a pleasure
Really appreciate seeing these options. For Apple, wouldn't things work better via the Apple TV 4K as our streamer? I think it also allows one to use an iPhone as a remote, or one can also use the Apple TV remote and put the album art and full lyrics on your TV. I plug my Apple TV straight into the KEF LS50 wireless 2 for my DAC and AMP and it's a true wonder, especially with the new KC62 woofer!
As always doing a good job in breaking down intio small bits for easy understanding. Love it!
Thanks John! I'm waiting for the lossless audio from spotify
Love the back to basics vids coming up John!! Nice to go back and learn all over again. I’ve got a question. Which DAC is better for speaker use only? The Schiit Modi 3+ or the iFi Zen DAC v2? Thanks for the advice and keep up the good work!!
Discovering your channel and learning a lot, thank you ☺️
A great way of explaining the options for getting popular streaming services to play through through your HiFi speakers. As you alluded to, the Airplay options will also drain phone battery quicker as the phone's wifi is constantly receiving and transmitting.
You started me down this rabbit hole in June with your first Apple Music video. My starting system is a good pair of wired headphones and a DAC/Amp and my phone next to my couch. You also said you would rather spend $3000 on headphones than speakers 😊. Thanks. Great video as always.
Omg. This is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
I really like the content you’re bringing, and your tone of voice is like a kind friend in a world of harsh opinions😊
amazing video, always good too see back to basics video and clear some concepts
John,
So grateful for your beginners videos. I’m a long time audiophile trying to make sense of all this digital streaming nightmare. I have a very high end 2 channel system that I’m hoping to transition from an expensive vinyl front end to a high end streaming system and will spend many thousands of dollars, I’m estimating $10K-$15K, but I want to have a firm grasp on the software and hardware before making the purchase. Without these videos I’d be lost and probably just stay with my AQ Dragonfly DAC streaming directly from my laptop or phone. Keep up the good work, us old timers appreciate the clarity you provide!
Greg
Thank you!!! I've been listening to my headphone out on my computer to powered speakers for years. I'm finally ready to venture out and get a USB DAC to listen through. Your explanation has prompted me to make the leap. I dig your channel. Steady On!
Thank you John. The video was very helpful because even though I understand the basics I find it necessary to revisit often in case I want to change it up. I also learn something new every time.
Watching this for the first time after I just picked up a Wiim Mini today. Played both Spotify and Apple Music. Impressed this $90 box (clipped an Amazon coupon) does it all so well. I’ve now joined the 21st century!
You can run the Mi Box S EU version without a HDMI cable or dummy plug installed if using the Mini-TOSLINK output to a DAC. Note: you will need a screen to set up the device
Chromecast & Spotify Connect both work without issue via TOSLINK and an audio signal will be transmitted.
Not sure for USB out to a DAC.
Good stuff, thanks John! The chromecast codec topic was really useful, as sometimes the Mi Box is only recognized as a chromecast tool, not as a spotify connect tool! My setup: Xiaomi Mi Box 3 as streamer (running Spotify) --> Opctical commection --> Tangent Ampster BT II --> A pair of vintage Videoton stereo speakers. Works like charm! I have been experimenting on DAC front a bit (Mi Box's DAC, Dragonfly Black, FiiO E10K), eventually I stick with the Tangent's DAC for simplicity. For me the Mi Box works also without any HDMI connection. Best part of the whole Spotify ecosystem, that my car has a native app too, no need for AA or BT stream!
Hi John, great video as always. I bought the KEF LSX last week for my working room and with these speakers, i was the first time able to switch between AUX from my PC and Spotify Connect. I was always a little bit sceptical if you can hear a difference, but now i'm sure that there is a hearable difference. I think the difference is even more notable then the difference between 320 kbit/s and lossless or CD quality for example (which i was trying to hear on my main setup (KEF R900, KEF R400b, Onkyo TX-8270, Topping DX3 Pro) for a while now).
Overall i can rly recommend the KEF LSX for beginner friendly audio streaming, its super easy to setup.
I hear this as well. I think it's likely that the DAC & AMP in the LSX is lot better than the DAC & AMP in the PC. The LSX is a great beginner system, if you are happy with Spotify, which I am. The DAC, AMP, and Spotify Connect ability are all built into the speakers & their app/remote! John Darko has a great video on the LSX, worth digging out (it sold me!)
Heads up, with the new MacOS that's soon to release like literally tomorrow I believe, you can use any Mac as an AirPlay receiver and control the volume too with the iPhone. Been running the Beta for it and it works fantastically.
Any info on this in any article . Thanks
i use itunes remote app to control my mac mini.
If you'd done this with Apple Music you'd soon realise that the Apple Remote app cannot browse or search it. 😉
@@DarkoAudio that is true, but if you use apple music on your phone for searching. Then add what you want to listen to to your library, it is now available in iTunes remote app. Which means you can listen to hi-res music from your listening position, controlled by your phone (if AirPlay quality isn’t good enough for you). You know those audiophiles…
Just to confirm - you can use ,under Monterey , a certain number of Mac computers as Airplay receiver. I have Mac Mini from 2014 and it does not work on that. However, what’s the point of it? There is still nothing to allow you browse Apple Music on you iPhone and play it back through iPad or Mac . Please don’t say Apple Remote ! Only works for Library . Apple connect is badly required similar to Spotify Connect as John showed on his video. I’m amazed such a simple “app/ product” is not available.
When Apple publishes the new macOS version this monday, you should be able to use any Mac running the newest version as an AirPlay receiver. Then there would be an equal easy entry for beginners connecting their Mac to an DAC to AirPlay Apple Music or anything else or use Spotify Connect to play Spotify.
Does this stream via the iPhone? It doesn't look like a usual AirPlay 2 target so I'm interested to see if lossless is possible
See how apple tries to force folks to buy their newest products, ideally, that feature should be available across the entire ecosystem, not only "any mac running the newest version" of the software.
I love spotify’s playlists, recommendations, podcasts, and user interface. but once you go losless, you never go back.
For me its also that Spotify is just horrible when it comes to artist payment/support and bought Top 100 etc Playlist spots. I really would love to dive into the Spotify ecosystem but this always puts me of :(
Thank you for such a clear explanation. I'm am a total noob to this steaming tech--been reading and watching for about 2 weeks now, trying to figure it out. I've heard other channels talking about jargon like "gapless", but had no idea what they were talking about. Now I know!
Great video brilliantly simple.Can't wait for the next one to drop.
Thank you for this video, it was you that got me interested in hifi, in the first place . Love your work it just keeps interested and wanting to learn more
I am a total beginner. Thank you for making this friendly enough that I do not feel brain dead. I am going to have to watch it again. I would also like to see how to stream to a hi end system. One thing I was not sure of was why the need to convert digital to analogue?
As a beginner I appreciate your efforts in this. Thank you so much
You do such excellent videos!!! You really should get some sort of award. Thank you for the professionalism in every aspect.
Very beautiful video for beginners. Nicely done. Thanks John, I just could send this to a friend of mine who is on the Apple Ecosystem.
I watched this video by chromecasting it to my TV. Love chromecasting my music from my Raspberry pi Plex server to the Google Speakers around my home. Music whilst having a family Sunday roast is the best :)
Id like to say thank you for your time and knowledge... you are really helping alot of people, without making them feel like knobs...your tone and pace is perfect. Thanks again...love your channel.👏🙌
Nice one John this really helped - I'm late to the party on streaming so starting right at the beginning is great 👍
Probably I am missing something here. But can’t we just use iTunes remote (app) to control another apple device connected to a dac and just play the music? And in this way you honestly don’t need to use a streamer and we are NOT using the airplay . You can add some noise reduction device (Denafrips IRIS for instance) if you want to clear the computer signal noise.
For the two apps issue discussed in another reply, what I am doing is to use my iPad to control the music app, and use my cell phone as the remote, the apple system does the synergy quite quickly. And at least for me it is a better option as I don’t need to back and forth in one app trying to do two different things.
Best addition to my personal setup was a PRIMARE NP5 supports airplay and all major streaming services. Not the cheapest but very good quality. And supports gapless playback
Thank you Darko. Just what I needed !
Hey, just the video I’ve been looking for! Which would you be “better” for a Spotify only setup - Pi or Xiaomi?
Dude, your content is awesome. Really. Thx.
Nice one Jon, great video. Really helpful, thank you. I thought streaming was when the tape player in the car chews up the tape and you lib it out of the window leaving a long stream of tape floating down the road!
I just simply connect my iPhone or iPad via the headphone jack into an Apple dock so I never have to be battery dependent, pick a playlist, hit shuffle and I'm done for hours and hours. I am more than happy with the sound quality, on 4 very good systems. The sound quality does improve with every new Apple hardware release...several audiophile friends have concurred. I may be a dinosaur but I'm a happy dinosaur.
Thanks John, it's quite the useful video. One thing to note about Chromecast though (yes, not as beginner friendly... but maybe something for the next / another video): Quite a few of these boxes have issues with resampling, as they are based around Android. For example the NVIDIA Shield. And it makes a difference, the resampling makes the music distort a little, it sounds edgier, sharper, less pleasant. The Pi doesn't have resampling issues, but you can't get Chromecast to run on it. It's all a bit of a mess to which I haven't found a proper solution apart from trying to buy a Chromecast Audio on the second hand market or buying an iPhone / iPad. And yeah, gapless is an issue too.
I got my Quad Vena II plugged to my Macbook and using Spotify mainly for its Connect function. The acoustics is ELAC BS 263. This setup gives me joy.
Utterly great tone for a novice audio fan. Please keep it coming with more colour and details
Very informative John. Thank you. Oh how I miss the days when I was up and down like a yo-yo playing different album tracks off different albums 😂😂
This is awesome. I’ve been waiting for this. I’m no hi-fi dummy but I’ve never understood why in there hell you’d want to add a steamer to the mix. Thanks!
Moved from Spotify to Apple Music and I should have done this many moons ago. Hooked up a second hand Airport Express 2 ($30) to my active speakers (Beolab 18s + 19) and the CD sound quality of Apple is simply so much better than anything Spotify delivers. Used Soundiiz to transfer all my albums, playlist and tracks from Spotify to Apple Music by the way.
I’m streaming curious and have only dipped my toe in the water, so-to-speak. I’ve tried the Amazon music app which comes free with my Amazon Prime account, but not too happy with the selection of titles, at least in the ‘automatic’ modes I’ve tried. I have watched your other Raspberry Pie videos, Intel Network Attached Storage video, etc. I think I need as much help navigating the software as the hardware. It is a real paradigm shift for a guy used to changing the channel to find a TV show to watch, tune in a favorite radio station, put on an LP, stuff in a cassette, etc. I find Facebook bewildering, I can get so lost so quickly it becomes terrifying. But the young folks live in this world where I feel adrift at sea.
Don't worry, I would consider myself as one of those 'young folks', but this topic is also pretty bewildering for me.
First off, I love watching your videos. My set up is a Mac mini connected to a dac magic 200, to a vintage Linn Intek integrated. Using EMOTIVA B1+ at the moment. I use the Mac mini monitor less through either my MacBook or iPhone via an app called Remote +. It’s been great this far
Beginner friendly! Speakers, amplifier and a Aragon Audio Stream3 and you got Spotify Connect, UNDOK NAS streamer, Internet radio, Fm and DAB+ radio. Comes with a remote control with a volume control. Good start to begin with. Sounds really nice.
I believe, Apple airplay one and two, though capable to play lossless, is presently capped at 16/44.1. That may change in the future. Though not strictly beginner friendly in terms of reference, I consider myself beginner level audiophile, but trained musician with good ears (classical piano) and I’m trying to build a system to accommodate needs in the future - so I use good wired headphones with a dac running from my computer for hi rez and casual listening using airplay . Most beginners don’t stay beginners forever.
The restriction is limited to direct output from Apple devices. With an external DAC, Apple Music Lossless can be set to 24/192!
@@frankbernharduebler correct (I've been doing that with a Topping D10S, taking the signal from my iPad Pro through USB and feeding my sound system with an optical). However, if you want to play with your phone from your sofa, that's not viable, you need to have a wired connection to enjoy anything lossless over 44.1/16. Unless I'm missing something.
@@frankbernharduebler would using an Apple Airport Express as that “external dAC” allow for the higher res. settings using Apple Music?
Love all your videos buddy.
Great video! I may be pre-empting the second video but it would be great to see where you would go if the budget was a little larger and a network streamer (with remote?) was an option.
Thanx for info… defiantly will use. Tell us some more about this cabinet where all equipment is placed. The two sides are monitors ? Displaying album ‘s art work?
I’m in the middle ground, an intermediate if you will. I really appreciate you making this content, everyone should always brush up on the basics.
Another great video, John. I've learnt a lot from your channel. And for non-beginners here there's the craft of the composition to enjoy.