I have found that audio set-ups can vastly change the way we hear or experience music. For example, listening to a vinyl record typically elicits a higher level of engagement than listening on the move – similarly, road noise when driving will have a different experience to Spatial Audio when streaming an album.
Due to the differing experiences and sound quality of different audio set-ups, every review by Full Disclosure Zine includes a statement on the primary method of listening when writing the review.
The sound quality of each set-up is rated on a scale of “1 – Terrible” to “10 – Audiophile”. Audiophile equipment costs in the thousands to tens of thousands of dollars and would warrant its own rating scale, so we’re not even delving into that other than to say my very best set up is still falling just short of reaching the Audiophile scale.
Streaming - Apple Music
This is a controversial call, I know, but stay with me and I’ll explain. There’s really 4 options for streaming, Spotify, Apple, Amazon and Tidal, with Spotify being the obvious market leader. Let’s assess:
Amazon is nothing, they have no business being in the music business and have no real selling point other than lossless.
This is a controversial call, I know, but stay with me and I’ll explain. There’s really 4 options for streaming, Spotify,
Tidal are clearly the best sound, it’s indisputable, but their Hi-Fi tiers are batshit expensive and their algorithms leave a lot to be desired (I did of course do what any one would and get it for $1AUD/month through Argentina, but the music catalog just wasn’t there – it didn’t even have The Gaslight Anthem’s album Handwritten).
Spotify doesn’t have lossless. They promised it 3 years ago at a premium price, then Apple and Amazon did it with no extra cost and Spotify bailed because it wasn’t an additional income stream. Wrong decision. No lossless isn’t acceptable from music service in 2023.
Apple has lossless, digital masters, spatial audio and an algorithm to rival Spotify (possibly superior). They won’t sell your data or use it to market to you. You can include Apple Music for 6 people, along with Apple TV and the surprisingly powerful iCloud plus via Apple One Family for $28AUD a month, around the same as Tidal Hi-Fi individual – that is a great deal. Apple don’t have any qualms continuing to innovate where they might not be an immediate financial payoff, just look at the recent advent of SharePlay in the car and ability to turn down vocals to have sing-along. It’s hard to break up with your Spotify algorithm, but the payoff is well worth it.
Apple, Amazon and Tidal, with Spotify being the obvious market leader. Let’s assess:
Amazon is nothing, they have no business being in the music business and have no real selling point other than lossless.
Tidal are clearly the best sound, it’s indisputable, but their Hi-Fi tiers are batshit expensive and their algorithms leave a lot to be desired (I did of course do what any one would and get it for $1AUD/month through Argentina, but the music catalog just wasn’t there – it didn’t even have The Gaslight Anthem’s album Handwritten).
Spotify doesn’t have lossless. They promised it 3 years ago at a premium price, then Apple and Amazon did it with no extra cost and Spotify bailed because it wasn’t an additional income stream. Wrong decision. No lossless isn’t acceptable from music service in 2023.
Apple has lossless, digital masters, spatial audio and an algorithm to rival Spotify (possibly superior). They won’t sell your data or use it to market to you. You can include Apple Music for 6 people, along with Apple TV and the surprisingly powerful iCloud plus via Apple One Family for $28AUD a month, around the same as Tidal Hi-Fi individual – that is a great deal. Apple don’t have any qualms continuing to innovate where they might not be an immediate financial payoff, just look at the recent advent of SharePlay in the car and ability to turn down vocals to have sing-along. It’s hard to break up with your Spotify algorithm, but the payoff is well worth it.
Vinyl - Modern
Equipment
- Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo, Acrylic Platter
- Amplifier: Rotel RA-11
- Speakers: Cambridge Audio Aeromax 2
Sound: 9/10 – Exceptional
I started assembling this setup in 2015 around the time Full Disclosure was first starting. I had just graduated university and was starting my first professional job. I spent my first pay check on a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon record player to pair with a cheap receiver and old speakers I was using. My second pay check went towards the Cambridge Audio Aeromax 2 speakers and my third on the Rotel RA-11 amp. It was a very expensive setup for what I was earning at the time and it was well worth it. I’ve since upgraded the turntable to the vastly improved Debut Carbon Evo and added an acrylic platter to reduce resonation – the sound of the setup improved significantly.
I would say this is just about as good as a setup as can be assembled before delving into the lower end of an audiophile setup. The sound is simply exceptional for the average listener and I’m yet to find a record that doesn’t shine on this setup. Where other means of listening may enhance bass or sound warmer, this is a beautifully balanced sound that allows hardcore punk to shine as well as ska, as well as acoustic folk as well as rap. It’s simply balanced, crisp, brilliant listening
Vinyl - Mid Century
Equipment
- 1960’s Grundig Trento Radiogram
- Built-in Philip’s record player rebadged as Grundig.
- Stacking spindle
Sound: 8/10 – Excellent
Restored by Multisonics in Thornbury, this Grundig is around 60 years old and going strong.
This beast was a high end radiogram in its day and takes pride of place in my office. The stacking spindle makes for great listening while I work, only having to flip the records every 40minutes or so.
The unit features 6 vacuum tubes leading to a far warmer sound than my modern system and a unique listening experience. Being a German unit and being made towards the end of the tube era, it features very rare and expensive ECLL 800 tubes that have to be sent from Europe (I really hope they don’t blow again!)
Apple AirPods Pro v2
Equipment
- Headphones: Apple AirPods Pro v2
- Ear Tips: Stock
Sound: 7/10 – Very Good
I listen to music in headphones a lot, I hate cables and I love convenience. As an iPhone user, that puts me squarely in the target audience for AirPods Pro and I’m all in on them. The benefits of convenience far outweigh the drawbacks for me on these, and they sound good – not as good as some reviewers say, but pretty damn good for Bluetooth headphones.
Spatial Audio is a game changer for videos and some audio (check out Machine Gun Kelly’s album Mainstream Sellout with these on) but why oh why have Apple not made these compatible with high res audio or lossless? Like why the actual fuck do they have Digital Masters and Lossless audio on Apple Music and not make their phones and headphones able to transmit it to each other? It doesn’t make sense. It just doesn’t.
That’s the reason they get 7/10. They’re great, convenient and Spatial Audio is cool, but they can’t receive the one thing that would drastically improve their audio performance. Baffling.
Sonos One SL
Equipment
- Sonos One SL
Sound: 7/10 – Very Good
There’s not much to say here, Sonos are the leaders in mass market connected speakers. Again, they’re not the audiophile level speakers that cost thousands but they are affordable, extremely convenient and sound great.
Being WiFi speakers rather than Bluetooth the Sonos Ones have both AirPlay capabilities and their own app which, though cumbersome to use, is where these really shine. Using the Sonos app allows lossless playback from Apple Music or Tidal (all streaming apps available) which vastly improves the sound compared to AirPlay.
I do find the speakers to be a bit to heavy on the bass for my liking at times (even being turned to -1 in the EQ) and aren’t as open-sounding as I’d like. They’re also only able to play mono audio unless paired with another Sonos product – this has been rectified with the new Sonos Era 100 that I’m yet to try.
KZ IEMs
Equipment
- Headphones: KZ ZS10 Pro In Ear Monitors (IEM)
- Ear Tips: Comply Foam
- Cable: Tripowin Zonie 16 Core
Sound: 8/10 – Excellent
I went away from corded headphones due to the convenience of Bluetooth but occasionally miss listening to proper lossless and high res music from my phone, so I decided to get a pair of corded headphones for less than $80AUD.
That’s when I discovered the world of CHI-FI – a whole industry of stupidly high performing, high spec Hi-Fi components coming out of China at dirt cheap prices.
These KZ in ear headphones feature 4 Balanced Armature drivers and one Dynamic Driver in each earpiece. that’s fucking stupidly high spec. My old Sony XBA-3s cost $450 for 3 Balanced Armature drivers in each ear piece and pail in comparison to the sound coming from these things. Honestly it’s incredible this quality of headphone is available so cheap, and this is only mid-range. Do yourself a favour and look into the world of CHI-FI
Car
Equipment
- 2019 Subaru Impreza Hatch
- Stock sound system
Sound: 3/10 – Bad
Jump in the car, seatbelt on, plug in phone and go. That’s every trip, from a 5 minute drive to the supermarket to a 5 hour drive to Canberra, the routine is the same. The issue is, my car audio is bad, like really bad. I’ve always thought cars with premium stock sound systems like Bose or B&O were a waste, but I get it now. I’m not sure how, but I think using wired Car Play sounds worse than Bluetooth, but that’s what I use – Car Play.
The audio sounds muffled at times, other times hollow, and some times absolutely fine. It seems to struggle most with distorted sounding music, in particular the entire Off With Their Heads album Be Good and the Gaslight Anthem song Positive Charge. Both I listened to for the first time in the car and thought they were rubbish until I followed it up with some headphone listening.
Then there’s the additional factors of road noise, lack of focus on music etc. I just don’t think it’s the best way to form opinions about music, but that doesn’t mean I don’t do it.
Legacy Equipment
Note: These may appear in old posts, however, are no longer used by me.
Sony XBA-3 Headphones
Equipment
- Sony XBA-3 in ear headphones
Sound: 7/10 – Very Good
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
Equipment
- Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon
Sound: 7/10 – Very Good