In fact, the Aeris is currently a bit bright if anything. Bright as compared to what? I based my thoughts on your response to the MA-1 in particular. That is not typically perceived as a overly bright or hyper detailed dac but can reveal crappy Redbook files for what they are: File density. Primarily, increased data density seems to net greater ambient retrieval. Space appears. With it the venue acoustics turn 'wetter'. Minuscule reverb interactions come more to the fore as performer auras. Reducing file density from 24/192 to 16/44 dries out the apparent acoustics. This puts the focus on just the performers. It eliminates much contextual data which previously interfaced the performers with the physical space in which they performed. It's quite similar to overdamping a room. Lower resolution mirrors higher damping and how too much absorption progressively kills off not just room reflections but also the musical charge or energy of the playback. In that sense hi-rez isn't about more primary stuff. It's about more secondary and tertiary stuff. Short hand might call that a lot more audible space.
A parallel perception is of greater fluidity. Lower resolution appears stiffer and starker. As resolution increases, more nuanced microdynamics flow into this feel. That greater differentiation of micro swings translates into more ebb and flow, into greater inner motion and from there into greater listener e-motion. Finally treble performance becomes more sophisticated particularly with as revealing a tweeter as the Raal ribbon in my Aries Cerat Gladius speaker. But the most profound benefit from higher resolution—at least to my ears—really is the superior ambient recovery or dimensional context.
DSD vs. PCM. The dsf/dff files compared directly to their PCM equivalents all exhibited the same slightly sweet slightly soft texture. As perhaps a deeply PCM-engrained listener who couldn't make the quick transition, I soon related to this as an admittedly pleasing but nonetheless minor coloration. Sharing this with Morton, his terse reply was comforting. Exactly my experience. There's a kind of Hollywood soft focus to DSD. Those who concur to prefer high-resolution PCM (someone could acknowledge this DSD effect but be partial to it*1) might refocus from streaming DSD to playing back PCM at up to 24/352. Sixmoons Thus the need for a slightly softer SS or tubed dac particularly in light of your room and primary source material. |
Neurotic you say?!?!?
I resemble that remark! Yes, you are close to the pinnacle. It is at the core of audiophilia. Why do you think they're so many sycophants in the pews.... |
07-05-14: Kana813
If cost was no object for PCM, I would buy an American made DAC with dealers like the Berkeley Alpha Reference.
Kana813 (Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread) Not sure if that would possess the appropriate tonality for his system based on the verbiage so far. 07-06-14: Erikminer
Cost no object ? Purpose built acoustically and aesthetically perfect room. That is the truth. To do it right, its a lot more money than a mid-tier, upper level dac, but its worth it. Dacs come and go like the wind. Rooms do not. |
My guess your motivation starting "Is computer audio a bust" after Grannyring replaced his ODSE/Lamp for Romulus. That would be incorrect Joey. I have had several friends do this recently (one with a vintage Marantz CDP) and I have read such verbiage online over the last few years. My curiosity was piqued. Its more of an intellectual exercise. As expected, people are all over the map. You are not comparing apples to apples until Aesthetix makes a Romulus DAC. Incorrect again. They do, Its called the Pandora. Its just a Romulus minus the CD tray. Either way, it would or could be an apples to apples comparison with the Romulus digital input. Adding the element of a plastic spinner would be intriguing as so many people aggressively pan them as an inferior and dated technology. Would the Offramp technology stand up to a lowly plastic spinner? JWM was NOT using ODSE and he replaced Big 6 with Romulus. So it appears owners are replacing Lamps with Romulus No, what appears to be happening is audiophiles are doing what audiophiles do best....:/ We huff and puff about our dac du jour and then its gone months later. Other than cables, I have never seen people hydroplane through so much equipment. Never mind the fact that the rest of the system is questionable. Audio tunnel vision says something must go! I have committed that sin repeatedly. In the immortal words of Syntax: 06-04-14: Syntax
The best DAC? Always the next one.
Syntax (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread) |
Here is my sincere impression... If you decided to go with either of these top tier DAC's, you would walk away with one of the best out there and enjoy your purchase for years to come. These guys BOTH seriously know what they are doing!!! As a buyer, and a very long time enthusiast, I learned something totally new during my current system built. I used to shy away for these small, "One man show" companies and gravitate towards the big guys. These "One man show" guys usually have 4-7 other people working for them and produce top level gear for fair prices that offer way more performance for the dollar then lost of the big name labels can. It's a simply a matter of overhead and production. For those of you who are on the fence, try a Merrill Audio, Empirical, APL, Lampizator, or the many other speaker and electronic manufacturers out there that can't afford an advertising/marketing camping. You jus tight be happy you did. That is probably the most important point made in this thread. I have always gravitated towards boutique, artisanal manufacturers. A lot the best, most cutting edge gear can be found there. There are downsides, but if you are a true blue phile in search of the ultimate SQ, its the place to be.... |
08-16-14: Mattnshilp
Gonna change the subject for a moment since I've got a week'ish until my next report.
I need an opinion. Matt, last year I was faced with a very similar situation. I had a full range floor stander that was flat to the low 20s in a small, square shaped room. It overdrove the room and was less than desirable. Some big speakers do better than others, and you can get by with a near field setup and possibly consider using bags of play sand as a cheap way to manage energy initially. Dale Pitcher turned me onto this. My next room was a multi-use family space with valued ceilings, a wall of glass on one side, stone fireplace, etc. It sounded better simply due to the fact that the speakers had room to breathe (along with the ceiling height). Thus I agree with Steve in sticking with the bigger room. I too have tried computer-based manipulation of room acoustics (ala Spatial computing from Clayton Shaw of Emerald Physics fame) and while somewhat effective, it did not turn my 35K speakers into 100k speakers. I did not chase it that far though. Another friend had professional grade room correction software, and after going through all the trouble of creating a "ruler flat" measuring room, he bailed as it lacked musicality. |
08-18-14: Paul79
System:
Totaldac Monobloc DAC's and Totaldac Server/Reclocker made for Monobloc DAC's, all DSD Ready
Music network consisting of an Ipad, NAS, and Router feeding server via Ethernet cables, controlled over Wifi. Both NAS and Router powered with Paul Hynes SR5-12 Linear Supplies. Network is isolated as music network with no homerun Ethernet or internet required.
Super tweaked Technics 1200MKV Turn Table with Benz Ebony HS
Joseph Audio Perspective Speakers
NOS Valves VRD Mono Tube Amps and NOS Valves NBS Preamp. Both latest and greatest versions. Transparent is the word.
System powered with 2 dedicated circuits. One circuit using PI Audio UberBuss Conditioner to power the amps, pre, DAC's, and Server/Reclocker.
Second circuit for music network (NAS/Router) powered with PI Audio MiniBuss Conditioner.
Analog interconnects and speaker cables are Antipodes Reference
Power cables mix:
WyWires Silver Juice II
Avanti Audio Allegro
PI Audio Mongo
TWL 7+
Digital Cables:
Antipodes Kokiri AES/EBU
Totaldac USB Cable/Filter
Empirical Audio 4' BNC to BNC SPDIF Cable
Room is right and ready, tuned with traps, diffusors, panels
That bout covers it. Sounds very real and makes me want to dance every time I listen.
Nicely done and meticulous. Dropping the Hynes stuff on your NAS and router is a nice idea. Are you the original owner of the monos or did you buy them from Dallasjustice....former flag waiver in chief for Totaldac? I am looking into his USB cable. Vincent Brient is a meticulous and thorough engineer and it seems like some serious product. |
08-26-14: Mattnshilp
I remember reading on another post that you felt the Big6 was the best of your bunch when it came to Red Book CD. In fact, I was going to pursue a Big7 until I read that. Do you feel that your Big7 is superior in regards to its USB input conversion and ability to unravel the zero's and one's of a Red Book data stream? The Big7 certainly is making a bigger buzz then the Big6 does. Matt, how is this germane to your quest (which I thought was over)? What is the ODSE missing that keeps you up at night dreaming of other digital. My search is over.....:/ |
08-28-14: Mattnshilp
.... I want to work on a dedicated listening room - which will give me WAY bigger SQ improvements then changing my DAC.
I think that is wise. When my room was completed, I plopped a Bestbuy grade test system in there, and I was more taken by it versus my silly audiophile grade rig. Congrats Matt on your spirit of experimentation here. I have been in that mode furiously for over two years and have lost my mojo a little due to fatigue. I did really want to hear your comparison of the tubed entities (ODSE, Lampi, Romulus), but oh well. Either way, you win. Congrats.... |
08-30-14: Calvinj
Resonessence mirus dac. Sounding good over here. Check it out. I have "read" good things too. Made and manufactured in Canada like Exasound. Both seem like solid companies. |
09-04-14: Audiolabyrinth
Thankyou Matt for your replys, I would not post impressions on the K-01 untill you get 1200 hrs of burn-in atleast!, I really believe you should talk to some owners, this unit takes hundreds of hours for each setting to burn-in, then there is more! As I have tried to tell you Dilberts before, 20-30,000 hours should be a mandatory burn in time to prevent the premature chopping and changing of audio OCDness.... |
09-07-14: Charles1dad
My impression is that Agear's comments are tongue in cheek and are meant to be light hearted fun. Charles knows this well as I have broadsided him multiplied times on his own system thread. 09-07-14: Joecasey
Gents, let us return to audio-centric topics please. G.
No thanks to Sharia Law Agear, attacking and disrespecting women on an audio site. Agear doing what Agear does best. Audio ISIS. Unfortunately we're sure what his particular cause is....: Ha! I am just a more extreme version of you... As far as I am concerned, wives are fair game. Just last night, I was fiddling in my audio room, dutifully organizing some DSD files, and I got a text from the wife (who happens to be 7 months pregnant): "Can't fall asleep. My legs are achy." I believe she wanted a massage for her varicosities.... My response was apparently too slow and this nastigram followed: "Too busy talking to a damn audio dweeb to help your wife"? She looked over as I was typing this (she calls it Audiogon yellow) and asked: "do all the audio dweebs come out at night"? My jihad against the opposite gender shall continue.... |
09-19-14: Grannyring
Now I have to be careful and not mess with it! Also hard to do:) I will beat Joecasey to the punch by saying I am most certain you will do just that! |
09-20-14: Geoffkait
Quick interrupt, but doesn't anyone use Herbies tube dampers on their 6SN7 tubes? I am pretty sure there would put be so much bickering about differences in tube types if everyone used Herbies dampers. I am using them on '52 Sylvania 6SN7GTs (Bad Boys) and '42 Tung Sol 5U4G coke bottle rectifier tube. I did in a pre-amp application and found them beneficial..... |
09-20-14: Mattnshilp
But you are re-affirming my point about chasing the rabbit with tube rolling. For some, it's the bees knees and their personal route to audio nirvana. I found that it ended up taking away from my enjoyment of the hobby because of my own obsessive need to try everything in every combo....
Some people like to roll tubes and others equipment...:) 09-20-14: Mattnshilp
I can tell you all that with stock tubes, the Big 6 was humbled six ways to Sunday by my ODSE. I can't comment on the Big 7.
A side by side comparison with a standardized transport would have been more elucidating. The offramp is obviously a confounding variable.... Speaking of confounding variables: 09-18-14: Ketcham
I have owned the following dacs and here are my rankings:
1. D5000
2. Empirical Audio Overdrive SE fully loaded with all upgrades.
3. Museatex Bidat
4. Very distant 4th is EMM DAC2x.
Unfortunately a Debussey dCS stack was sold locally before I could a to b it. |
10-04-14: Nickolaspappas
Crazy that this thread is still going! Just wanted to pop in to say that the Rowland Aeris dac that Matt sold to me (thanks again Matt) was not fully broken in when Matt was evaluating it. After putting several hundred more hours on it, it has opened up significantly. It sounded good when I received it, but the output today is something else. A night and day difference. Anyone considering it should keep that in mind when reading Matt's comments on it. What I suspected. Time to revisit when the amp quest is completed? Your experience with the Burmester gear is very telling..... |
11-03-14: Mattnshilp
I have said, and will say again, that I think one of the big reasons my OSDE keeps beating the competition is because of its internal Off Ramp tecnhnology.
....if you are using a computer as a music source, the ODSE is practically impossible to beat for close to it's price. That first point was made by others at the beginning of this thread. One logical conclusion is to buy an Off Ramp (or something like it) for your existing dac. In an ideal (or future) audio world, a server will do this for you. Its simply an engineering lag with computers as our fish with legs.... |
The real solution is using wired Ethernet instead of USB. This is a solution that makes the computer and its power unimportant. Cabling is unimportant. Even the playback software should in theory be unimportant, but I feel that it will be. This is why I am working on this solution now. In other words, you are working on an Ethernet streamer or "renderer" that nixes the puter and takes its clocking out of the equation. Devialet and dBsystems (also out of France and which I used to own) have done that. In your own words: Have there been any disruptive advances in the Computer Audio DAC interface and how do you see this evolving in the future?
Certainly....
The next thing to look for is converters and DACs with WiFi or Ethernet interfaces that use ubiquitous software and source devices to deliver high-end sound. These will not eliminate the need to still do excellent designs and implementations and use low-jitter clocks, but it will eliminate the variability in sound quality due to computer hardware, software and cables. More folks will get better quality music playback for less money. http://www.audiostream.com/content/qa-steve-nugent-empirical-audio-page-4 |
1-12-14: Ctsooner
I remember when we set the room up for the first time, we realized how little treatment we needed. He had the Michael Green ceiling deals in the corners and that was it for the ceiling. He used a swirled ceiling to break things up. Sound stupid, but I actually think it may have helped as I've been in rooms with smooth ceilings and they were a bit too live for the systems that I've heard. Nothing wrong with a popcorn ceiling either. As we all know you can go into a room and set up your system and hear where you need some help. Sometimes you can over damp things and one problem cleared up can create another. that's why I like quilts, large plants in corners and racks of records or a diffusor type of deal in the rear. Everyone has preferences, but all too often the 'professional' rooms are way too damped and lose some timing and pace for me. I hear it often in stores too. one other things I'd recommend for your electrical is to have totally separate and grounded (to earth) circuits for EACH outlet. I did that and it makes a huge difference. JMHO +1 Most professionally done rooms sound like mausoleums. That works well for recording studies but does a poor job recreating a palpable auditory illusion that we all want. Michael Green was ahead of his time, and I know quite a people who have incorporated his tricks to good affect. I too have dedicated lines with with isolated earth (ionic) grounds. |
11-13-14: Almarg
11-12-14: Ctsooner
I'd recommend for your electrical is to have totally separate and grounded (to earth) circuits for EACH outlet. I did that and it makes a huge difference.
11-12-14: Agear
I too have dedicated lines with with isolated earth (ionic) grounds.
Matt, I would advise against this, if I am correctly interpreting that what is being recommended is running outlet grounds to an earth connection other than the one that grounds the service panel. If that is not a correct interpretation of what is being suggested, I'm sure the others will clarify further. Any two bit electrician could provide that counsel. Al, how do you optimize grounding, or are you one of these flat earther engineers from the 1950s who believes coat hangers are comparable to any hi end cord and any well designed power supply is enough to negate the need for power conditioning, etc? (Judging by your many posts, it seems you are not). I have conversed with multiple dudes like that on other forums, and it makes for an entertaining thread. My ionic grounding scheme was provided by Lyncole, an engineering company out of California who typically does defense, military, and lab installations. I think the grounding game is a very interesting subject and worthy of another thread as Al suggested. I have quite a few audio buddies who have toyed with grounding boxes (Tripoint and Entreq) to good effect. The stock engineering response is that the only reason those boxes work is poor equipment grounding schemes. |
12-14-14: Jwm
I sure would not spend past the 20K mark for a dac. As in one year there will be a new one at half the price and better. If you want to sell your old two year dac you will take a bath. Could you imagine spending 120k on the DCS stack and find something else better at 40k. Sorry with digital I'm not going the high expensive route. +1. Much like computers, the rate of change is high and thus large expenditures are plain foolish although guys playing that game have more money than they know what to do with. Furthermore, if Matt did a proper blinded shootout with multiple listeners and with some cheapo dacs in the rotation, the results would be surprising. Most people are scared to do that. If your go to dac is a $200 NOS chinese dac, other philes won't burn incense at your alter.... |
01-01-15: Wisnon
The amps are not SOTA, as they essentially use the Threshold STASIS tech, which was an adaptation of current dumping. Class a voltage combined with class D current. The older techs used class B current. Norman, you have been making that argument since 2012 (or most likely someone else fed you that argument...Goldmund maybe?). People obviously disagree with you on the factuality of it: http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/47092-finally-an-interesting-class-d-amp/page-4 Erik, for your perusal: http://devialetchat.com/Thread-Mac-AIR-v-MiND-180-v-Auralic-ARIES-v-totaldac-d1-server?page=7 |
Matt, the term "shizzle" is underutilized on Audiogon due to the demographics at hand, but I think we should always be open to expanding our audio vernacular....:)
I don't have any real current data on monitors. For many years, I used Intuitive Design Gamma Summits which were a time aligned, transmission line monitor that weighed around 90 lbs. It had its own dedicated stands and incorporated stillpoints throughout. It went down to around 30 hz which was nice.
The tricky part is sub integration. It takes skills that I do not possess.
The Art from Trenner & Friedl is intriguing. |
06-14-15: Mattnshilp
Can anyone provide a list of speakers with the following characteristics:
1st order crossover
Time and phase aligned
Either sealed enclosure or front or bottom ported. Not rear ported.
Shorter then about 55", not more then about 20" deep.
Reference or statement product
I have a mental list. But I'm curious to see if I'm missing any.
I'm not necessarily using this as a be-all end-all requirement but it's a category to look at...... Matt, do you hear things from those design elements that appeal to your ears? I do and have gravitated to speakers with 1st order x-overs along with time and phase alignment and transmission lines (meadowlark...RIP...along with Dale Pitcher's speakers;;;including Essence, Intuitive Design, and now Mosaic). Guido, I also a fan of GMA. The monitor/sub thing may be the shizzle in your room....I like that idea too. What monitors are you considering..... |
I am sure you are all vaguely familiar with this law in computing that estimates the rate of change in performance: "Moore's law" is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware, the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit has doubled approximately every two years. We need a similarly named law for dacs and the rate of change which seems to be even more extreme. Paradigm shifts and breakthroughs are right around the corner every three months or less. I personally feel a lot of the breakthroughs are more advertising than actuality....:) |
07-11-15: Mattnshilp
I've had a crazy amount of speakers going through the room and seam to be narrowing it down nicely. My issue is that the pair I really really emotionally bond with are crazy expensive and the pair I'm comparing them with (which are exceptional but I can't quite seam to connect with as much) are way less expensive.
Now that's a problem. How much is that speaker? Who is the CFO of your household? Do you have a secret audio account which would enable you to slide it by the wife? My wife is the CFO so there is no chance in hell of that sort of thing coming to pass.... Matt, have u looked at the Trenner stuff out of Austria? They are designed to be used in standard living spaces and may be an option for your room. I have looked into their speakers with the idea of using them in a second system in a standard living space.... |
07-13-15: Mattnshilp
Agear - What is the Golden Gate's best input? Does it use the CMOS chip for USB?
I think many agree that one of the big Lampy drawbacks was its less then stellar usb input performance. Has that been corrected with the GG or is an Empirical Audio OffRamp still needed to get the most out of that inout? Hi Matt. I have not paid attention to what changes Lucas has made regarding the USB. I also do not know what Amanero chip is in the GG. I know it has its own PS, is galvanically isolated, etc, etc. I do know that the Totaldac USB cable made a profound difference and that the Auralic Aries was a substantial step up from a unmodded Mini and Macbook Air. I am sure that any dac would benefit from an Offramp or a SOTA transport. I do also know that I can do better than the Aries and may do so at a later date. That being said, I am getting very good sound. I have not done a comparison with the SPDIF yet but probably should. I am using USB in the name of DSD. I had Lucas add an external grounding post for use with grounding boxes (Tripoint Troy) in the future. I currently have it grounded to a binding post on the back wall that is linked to my ionic grounding unit that is dedicated for my room. Maybe that's the secret sauce and confounding variable. Who knows.... |
07-18-15: Mattnshilp
Trenner Duke require bi-amping (4 mono blocks). Maybe the Isis but it's hard to find anywhere and I don't think it will give me the dynamics and low frequency extension I'm after.
I love horns and looks at many. My room is just too small for horns..... The Dukes are monsters and too much speaker for r room. I "think" the Isis would provide plenty of bass and dynamics (from wha tI have read....) Are you sure your room is too small for horns? |
07-21-15: Georgelofi
Guidocorona if I could chime in while your waiting for Coli's answer.
I find with Redbook cd, all the Direct Stream ones I've listened too are too relaxed/smooth and uninvolving, much the same as 1 bit, bitstream, delta sigma and ESS type dacs.
You notice this once you've heard a very well implemented R2R Ladder Multibit dac's, they have excitement, drive and boogie factor that doesn't seem to be there with the above.
Too bad the manufacturers are trying to phase out R2R Multibit dac's, they are way harder and more expensive for them to make, and they then charge up to 10 x the price for them.
Cheers George I agree George. I think part of the reason people like DSD is that "analog" blunting of the upper frequencies in particular. It is harder (and more $) to go the R2R ladder route. I know Totaldac spends a lot of time and $ in that regards. |
I see Matt. That's too bad. The MM line is nice, and they are not gurly mon speakers as I think Mike is implying here: 08-03-15: Mikelavigne
Matt,
.... the MM3's are 'big-boy' speakers and a hard act to follow.
i owned Kharma Exquisite Reference 1D's for 3 years, then had other Kharma's. they very much remind me of the Martin Coltrane. i also owned Marten Dukes. then eventually i ended up with the EA MM3's for 5 years. i can see where those speakers do come close to the MM3's in some ways, but are not quite capable of the whole picture. they have that transparent and refined ceramic mid-range, and that 'Kharma' coherence. but they don't quite get the total weight and tone in the mid range of the MM3's since they don't quite have the heft in the bottom end.
I have had near field setups in smaller rooms in the past, and while they work, its not completely satisfying irregardless of the speaker. |
Ha! I knew it. I share your sonic bias. Live but organic. I have heard a lot of stellar systems and reproduction, but I get bored as the auditory illusion is weak (sounds like a stereo). One tricky thing is amp/speaker synergy. I have struggled with that part as much as anything. If your speakers are see through transducers, amp changes are glaring. I have weaknesses for a lot of different types of speakers, and I am single driver fan. The best midrange I have heard out of a speaker in a show setting was from the Voxativ Impeggios (hooked up to a vintage Lector tubed CDP and 2W DHT mono blocks) at the 2011 Axpona in Atlanta. It was beautiful. Of course, when we popped in Jazz Party from Duke Ellington, it fell apart. Voxativ now has a newer speaker with a dipole sub: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/voxativ/1.htmlSteve Hoffman owns the first pair in the US whatever that's worth.... The Trenner still has my personal interest. It may be worth at least hearing the Ra to get a taste of their house sound. "Supposedly" live and dynamic sounding. The Isis is still probably the right model given your Jersey roots. They just need to choose a better name.... |
08-04-15: Wisnon
T&F certainly has made even more pro measuremnts and put in on their website. I am sure all these speakers roll in the 20s but the SPL trails off dramatically, and hence the -6db at 40hz!
I have heard the RA, Pkharoah and Isis at shows and can tell you the bass otput of the Ra is really full range and clobbers the others.
Got my email yet? For sure. I emailed Andreas about it as well, and he made similar statements to those that Bob made.... No email yet? |
|
08-12-15: Wisnon
What did my pal say, the future is already here and most dont know it yet…wireless! Agreed! My last digital front end (circa 2005) was wireless, and what a liberating experience that was. I have been waiting for speakers and everything else to catch up, and it finally looks like it has. The best wire is no wire, etc.... |
08-14-15: Paul79
The Totaldac Twelve is not cheap to make, no matter where he is located... 600 .01% foil resistors, at $20 a piece retail, it is easy to see where the bulk of the costs are. Add to that SOTA Parts, inputs, outputs, power supplies, cases, boards.... It is a luxury item, no getting around that, and it is built to be. That is why he offers several more affordable DAC's that still beat out anything at their respective prices, IMO. Agreed Paul. I looked closely at Totaldac (along with CAD) before going with Lampizator. His stuff is labor intensive and expensive to make. Most dac makers use off the shelf parts made in China and still manage to charge an obscene amount. I use his USB cable which is great. Vincent is a MIT-level engineer and the real deal. I am glad you are grooving on his products. |
08-14-15: Almarg
No question about it. And I would add that I wouldn't be surprised if in addition he has to go through a process of screening the resistors further, selecting some and rejecting others. While 0.01% is an exceptionally tight tolerance for a resistor, it does not even come close to supporting 24 bit performance in a ladder configuration. Presumably TotalDAC's use of 6 ladders per channel in the Twelve helps considerably, but consider that 24 bits corresponds to 2^24 = 16,777,216 possible states, which in turn means that the least significant of the 24 bits controls 1/(16,777,216 - 1) = 0.000006%(!) of the full scale (maximum) output of the DAC.
As I said in an earlier post in this thread, providing anything close to 24 bit performance via a ladder approach, as TotalDAC and MSB Technology apparently do, is an amazing (and invariably expensive) achievement.
Regards,
-- Al Agreed Al. That is crazy, and I think Vincent goes into detail about the process he goes through in selection....kudos for his painstaking efforts.... |
08-15-15: Mattnshilp
And Wisnon will probably send me an envelope of Anthrax if I don't try to hear the Goldmunds (just a joke if the government is reading this, or if you just have a complete lack of any sense of humor). Well, now they will be due to NSA algorithms. Thanks Matt.... |
08-16-15: Mattnshilp
I must admit that although they get a tad boomy at times in my room and they don't extend as low or impactful as I want, the Nola Metro Gold I have on loan are wonderfully musical and engaging. I had a great midnight to 2am listening session with them last night. Probably so good because I couldn't play at my usual listening level. Needed to keep it down. It was wonderful. That's the booze talking.... |
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08-22-15: Jh901
I'm really hoping Matt will be able to home demo. I'm extremely skeptical. Seventy grand will buy quite an impressive traditional component system. Me too Josh. This whole thread started in the name of digital, and we all know the lengths that Steve Nugent, Lucas and others go to make it sound palatable. The idea that you can equal or better that with a Swiss version of Bang & Olufsen on steroids is magical thinking and an example of the advertising hyperbole that Lucas was alluding to from his Munich blog. This magical Logos system has not floored people at shows. Why not? Here is some Audiofederation feedback (he can be fairly blunt): Hi SMajor,
Yeah, I guess we do end up with a lot of large and elaborate setups. Not always but… yeah… :-)
Hmmmmm… ‘better sound’ …. hmmmmm…. Goldmund has what we call a sophisticated sound. We like this flavor of sound, Neli especially so. High resolution, good micro-dynamics, both across the frequency spectrum. Quick and dexterous.
If you like this kind of sound then this system does a reasonably good job at it [I have no idea what the price here is, so if is $1M, do not buy it. If it is $10K, order it up NOW].
If you do not know what sound you like – get yourself to a show and do some listening. But if you just want to get SOMETHING, and you are liking what you read about Goldmund, then by all means…
If you do not know what we mean by ‘sophisticated sound’ then this sound here is kind of like a planer speaker, for example if you have heard decent solid-state on Magnepan, but more detail in the lower frequencies and not quite as much microdynamics [but more than most other box speaker systems].
If there is any complaint with the sound here it is the slight amount of sterility. But, as you may know, I say that about just about all 100% solid-state systems. The Goldmund system actually does a decent job at being musical compared to most solid-state, including lots of outrageously priced things out there.
I’m sure Goldmund also makes separates and they will sound better if they cost more and sound not as good if they cost less. That is just the way manufacturers setup their product lines. But we also see the appeal in simple clean-looking setups. Really. We do. :-)
Hope this helps!
Take care,
-Mike
SMajor October 16, 2014 http://audiofederation.com/blog/2014/10/13/goldmund-rmaf-2014 Matt, any updates? You have been a little quiet.... |
09-25-15: Mattnshilp
Agear, CTSooner, Wisnon, Guido and the rest - I have decided that you guys are all as crazy as I am. Its bad enough I've gone on this insane fools errand. But you guys just came to watch me go on the errand. Which makes you fools as well…. LOL. Grins. HEHE and all that. My pathology appreciates your pathologies! Thanks for the company guys, and for all who have read, contributed to and followed along for well over a year now! My bet was the CU. The real question is 5 years from now which speaker will remain standing. I have my $ on the Isis...:) Good luck Matt. I will revisit in a year or so.... |
What a ship of fools...and to think you shot down George and his technobabble for this? Is this not a dac thread after all....? I found a good new definition for "audiophile" on Urban dictionary: audiophile
One who enjoys sex acts involving the ear.
After they stopped kissing, Jenny felt something touch her ear. She sighed. Why did she always end up with the audiophiles?
by Darcy_Tucker June 19, 2008 Please note that the definition was submitted by a woman. One could take the definition a little further into the land of autoerotica, but I don't want to be crude. It would however be more accurate since our hobby is a closed loop phenomena.... |
Matt, your homeboy needs to post a system thread with all his new toys (Trenner Isis, Berkley dac, etc, etc).... |
audioengr
2,517 posts
02-04-2016 7:56pm
Matt - I recently built an ODSX for a customer that did not care about 176 or 192 file playback, so I installed my new XMOS USB interface in it for him. This is the first one like this. This combo is simply incredible. Hands-down the best SQ I have ever heard, from analog or digital sources. Even really old tracks, like Peter Frampton live sound amazing. He also ordered my Power Block USB cable supply to go with it, which makes a big difference.
I am still working hard on my new Ethernet interface, which supports all formats, PCM and DSD. I should have one running in the next week I hope. This I think will be the default interface for the ODSX.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio Steve, will that USB module ever be available for public consumption or will Ethernet be the new interface king? |
ketcham
65 posts
02-13-2016 12:13am
Given my personal experience, I believe the internal Ethernet to I2S will beat Ethernet to high grade server to ODSX by USB. That was my bet..... |
