My System Sound Demo - Female Vocals (made thanks to patrons)

This video was made thanks to patrons!

The first song was streamed from Tidal and the other four from Qobuz

00:00 Melanie De Biasio
01:48 Laufey
02:57 Emilie Simon
04:22 Cassandra Wilson
06:05 Sara Bareilles

System playing:
Internet Switch: Gustard N18 Pro
Digital Streamer: Allo DigiOne Signature (Allo Shanti LPS and GentooPlayer OS)
Dual mono Acoustic Invader amplifier

Recording setup:
Oktava MK-012-01 stereo setup with omnidirectional capsules
Tascam DR-100 MKIII audio recorder

Use these affiliate links if you want to help the channel:

[johnstanton]

Another female vocalist you should check out is Karen Carpenter, particularly her rendition of "Ordinary Fool", but there are several Carpenters songs where her contralto vocals really shine. She arguably has the most beautiful voice in pop music history.

[miaobinhuang]

don't bother about how many likes here they are just number. This is in fact one of the best episode in my opinion.

[cheeky]

Your system sounds fantastic! 👍😁👍
Great choice of music to showcase vocals!

[bbfoto]

@iiWiReviews
Sorry Srboljub, I forgot to give my general impressions in my first comment. :)

IMO the response is far too elevated/bright in the mid-to-upper treble region. Listen to the vocals and piano in the first track. The vocals in particular were noticeably sibilant.

In the second track the trumpet, vocals, and snare drum that is played with brushes are again too bright and sharp. The same holds true through the remaining tracks. Some people call this "extreme detail & resolution", but it is totally unnatural here and quite fatiguing if I'm honest.

However, this makes complete sense given the microphones that were used to capture the recording. The Oktava's have a boost in the treble region starting at around 5.5kHz and peaking at ~8kHz. This is the exact frequency range that affects SIBILANCE and upper treble harshness.

The inherent response of the Oktava microphones begins to level off again around 10kHz, and then rolls-off sharply above 15kHz. That roll-off beyond 15kHz probably won't make too much difference to a lot of listeners because if you're over 40 years old, most people's hearing naturally begins to diminish significantly above that region and by 17kHz a lot of people just can't perceive anything without boosting the volume dramatically.

Find a test disc or a download with 1/3rd or 1/6th Octave Pure Sine Wave Test Tones and listen to the point where your hearing deteriorates. ;)

You can find these files to download for free on multiple car audio websites such as JL Audio, Kicker Car Audio, etc. Or just download a TONE GENERATOR app for iPhone/iOS or Android. For Android I use the "Function Generator" app by Keuwlsoft, which is a 2-channel Tone Generator.

IMO, there is also a bit too much of the room ambience/reflections in these recordings. Srboljub, does it actually sound this "spacious" or have this much echo/reverb/room ambiance while listening to your system live in your listening chair?

The ratio of direct sound vs reflected sound or room "ambiance" in the recording can be controlled by the distance of the microphones relative to the speakers...i.e. the direct sound vs reflected sound ratio.

Moving the mics closer to the speakers and keeping them On-Axis will reduce the amplitude level of the room interactions and reflections, as long as there isn't a highly reflective surface that becomes closer to the mics when you move them closer to the speakers. The large flat-panel HDTV can become an issue in this circumstance, or a nearby window on one of the adjacent side walls, etc.

Srboljub, just as a self experiment, try placing a thick bed blanket or goose down/feather comforter blanket temporarily but completely over your HDTV's flatscreen, and compare the recordings and the results in real life with and without the blanket(s).

Try to get the blanket(s) on the back side of the HDTV as much as possible as well. You may want to use several blankets combined to make the end result thicker so they will absorb more of the lower treble as well.

Just my .02, but I appreciate the time and effort put into this video. 👍

[chriscardwell]

Now realise recording music from a sound system . . . adds . . . some extra echo from that room

[dreddguy]

Wow! Even though my TV speakers and through YouTube's processing. I think that you can tell this is a dialed in, high end HiFi. Kudos to you.

[williball]

Would be great to somewhere download high quality audio instead to listen to youtube downsized compressed audio. Even it is only available for patrons….

[aureliotumminello]

your system is a dream for me. Amazing sound !

[chriscardwell]

Thanks for your selection of music . . . Melanie De Biasio is fabulous . . . will listen some more and probable buy.
Its interesting, my sound system does not cope well with music from your sound system . . .
that has also been processed by YouTube. . . with the limitations of my hearing . . . this is not a criticism of your sound system
Would really appreciate more examples of your fabulous music . . . despite their journey 🙂

Ideally with music available from Bandcamp where the musicians get paid fairly, the music is NOT compressed,
easily download or available on a CD (don't want to pay a monthly subscriptiuon to a streaming service.
Your other subscribers are preobable completely different !
Many thanks. Have a great day

[RobinVNaemen]

Really great thanks for this video 👌My favorite selection are Agnes obel, Ane Brun, Emiliana Torrini, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Emilie Jane White.

[TheIoMeroMero]

This is great.Thinking you could also recommend music and talk about albums. You've got great musical taste, not only good ears

[Istocemosad]

Sistem ti zvuči dosta sintetski, fali mu organskog zvuka, u više newavrata vokali zuče neprirodno, fali prirodnosti u zvuku.

[bristolwoodburners]

Great thanks..I asked you for some content on dedicated music recommendations recently...and it feels like you've listened! 👍

Sooo can I make another request.

When it comes to your inevitable upcoming wiim ultra review. Can you spend some time comparing different dacs with it.

You seem to have a good knowledge/ selection to choose from and I'm interested where you need to start to 'beat' the internal dac In the ultra...upto what you consider to be the 'best bang for buck ' to get the very best out of the ultra. X

[AudioRamblings]

Just been listening to these female vocals and regardless of the recording/vocalist what does come across is how superb your system sounds. You have a wonderful midrange and deep controlled bass with a very full sound indeed. You have a good ear and excellent choice of equipment, certainly one of the best sounding systems I have heard via Youtube! I am thinking most of this is due to your superb amplification?

[yeghigmikaelian]

lifelike period and as always amazing taste in music selection brother, stay juicy...

[emmanuelfwb]

'd be nice you make a video about your streamer. I'm looking for a streamer transport w/out DAC and have to say there is a load of infos and no way to try :/

[RandomNameTitle]

All very enjoyable thanks, apart from the noisy audience ruining the last track.

[andrewbishop]

Please could you list the components of your system to produce this high level of spacious female vocals sounds, cheer delight thank you, despite the limitatsion of u tube

[AudioRamblings]

Can I also recommend Hannah Reid from London Grammar - first album is particularly good.

[AttilaBalla]

This video is a surprise! Great sound though! 👋