djones51

Responses from djones51

What makes a DAC so expensive?
How does the issue of compression figure in? Wouldn't a compressed signal result in distortion? If it results in distortion then it is measurable. If it is above a certain level it will be audible. If it is audible then it's a lousy DAC sell i... 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
Does this statistical test (below) reveal anything useful about the power supply, OP amps, or ANYTHING else?I assume you looked at the measurements. Is there something you didn’t understand because they reveal everything useful. Basically all thes... 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
Power supply noise will show when THD+N is measured. There could be a lousy power supply which would be audible. All DACs will have noise from a power supply but do they effectively deal with it. If a DAC is audibly transparent , distortion and no... 
Dedicated lines wire choice
If you use the red wire for ground you need to mark them with green tape and in some areas that still might not be code, best to check. 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
If the DAC is reconstructing the waveform optimally and the measurements for distortion and noise shows they are not audible that’s correct it doesn’t have a sound signature, it’s a well engineered transparent DAC. I understand not all DACs are tr... 
Best way to measure an Amp's power capability
You could search for independent measurements might give you a better idea if the amp meets your needs. This months stereophile looks at a Yamaha integrated the manufacturer specs are pretty close to JA's measured specs. Unless you have the equipm... 
The psychological factor
You probably should be using the mid or high setting the low setting is used to interface with pro gear on the Benchmark. Did you ask  Benchmark if your preamp would be a good match at the low setting? 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
I have no desire for a dCS stack as it wouldn't provide anything audible that I don't already have. Take a little Topping E30 DAC it has a SINAD of -113 and the THD +N is about .0024% which is about -95dB. The Linn Akurate DSM has a SINAD of -110 ... 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
There are basically two types of DACs those that adhere to the sampling theorem and properly reconstruct the waveform. Which means the waveform going out of the DAC has been reconstructed to match the waveform that went into the ADC. The other typ... 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
If the $200 DACs filter doesn't alter reconstruction of the waveform or cause a deviation from the sampling  theorem so that the measurements on the analog outputs are so low in distortion and noise it's not audible to humans then the DAC is doing... 
What makes a DAC so expensive?
To me, in order to get guitars that sound like guitars then the DAC does not add or change anything when it reconstructs the waveform. DACs that are capable of doing this can be bought for a few hundred dollars. Some like DACs that deviate from th... 
How much space between cables is enough?
My AES3,  ethernet and power cable all run down one of the legs on my speakers stands. They are hidden in the back attached with velcro and are about a couple of millimeters apart. Once they get to the floor they are all together velcroed then the... 
For anyone who moved from tubes to solid state — a question
Distortion is what causes solid state amps to be bright and harsh.Distortion is what causes solid state amps that measure as bad as tube amps to be bright and harsh. Take something like the Benchmark AHB2 noise and distortion is below audibly of h... 
For anyone who moved from tubes to solid state — a question
We have these two recent statements:best of breed tube and solid state are very close now, and ever convergingAnd the opposite claim:Tubes and SS are a different paradigm. They approach producing music from different perspectives. My understanding... 
Length of speaker cables
My suggestion for cables would be Canare 4s11. It's inexpensive and very good wire.