I know DACs can sound different - I noticed an improvement from the Oppo 103 to the 105, it was pretty major too. I attribute this improvement to the DACs used only.
Level matching? What's that?
Level matching? What's that?
DACs have to be kept physically level otherwise all of the ones (which are heavier than the zeros of course) will accumulate at one end of the box. You will find a spirit level and a theodolite invaluable in ameliorating this condition.
...From the folk's observations above, I can see why they are "hearing" differences in DAC. Amongst the cases though, I think very few are actually legitimate differences in the DAC and not attributable to differences in levels, biases, hidden agendas etc...
1) I would like someone to speculate as to why SACD sounds much better when played through my Oppo 205 than my circa 2006 Marantz DV9600. (The latter which has two transformers would cost $2600 in today's dollars, so it was by no means cheap.) The difference is not subtle. It was so brutally obvious that it wasn't even necessary to A/B the units. If it's not the DAC's then is it the transport, the laser, other electronics?
2) If a person does indeed prefer DAC "A" to DAC "B," is it possible that the builders have incorporated tweaks somewhere in the electronics chain that give a certain sound to their product?
1) You are dealing with an older piece of equipment. It is possible, it doesn't perform as it did brand new due to long term aging. Something in the output stage may well be off.
2) You specifically mentioned SACD, it could be that their is something off in the DSD to PCM translation process Marantz or their ADC vendor does. Do you find the same difference when listening to a CD or DVD-A ? If the difference is only noticeable with SACDs, I would highly suspect something along this chain.
3) If Marantz is claiming certain audiophile sound qualities (warm or airy or whatever) perhaps their equipment doesn't actually measure flat across the band ?
You know, there are so many variables involved in these jack-of-all-trades universal players that there must be something other than the DACs that contribute to what we are hearing. No?
So every piece of electronic equipment sounds the same as every other piece. That makes life easy. Thanks.What I am going to say might be a bit blunt and hurt certain people's sensibilities, but the truth is sometimes cold and hard.
If an external DAC or system measures flat across the frequency response ( which is not hard to do at all ), has an SNR in the 100 dB + range ( heck I might even argue far lower numbers) I fail to see how any differences are anything other than imagination or one of the other causes mentioned before. For that matter, the distortion levels on even the best high end headphones , let alone loud speakers are orders of magnitude higher than the DACs. Their goes your system's SNR/THD/Crosstalk !
Yes. This. It happens all the time. Manufacturers sell a certain tonal character. How it is achieved is on them.2) If a person does indeed prefer DAC "A" to DAC "B," is it possible that the builders have incorporated tweaks somewhere in the electronics chain that give a certain sound to their product?
Are you using analog outs for the stereo but HDMI for the surround?The obvious difference between the Marantz and the Oppo is on stereo SACD playback. The Oppo has more definition in the high end, and the high end is also cleaner. My reference disc for this test is the SHM SACD Dire Straits. Prior to getting the Oppo, I thought that a stereo SACD was no better than a well mastered CD. So much so that I sold off several of my stereo SACDs, which I now regret doing.
When it comes to 5.1 SACD, the units sound very much alike.
The obvious difference between the Marantz and the Oppo is on stereo SACD playback. The Oppo has more definition in the high end, and the high end is also cleaner. My reference disc for this test is the SHM SACD Dire Straits. Prior to getting the Oppo, I thought that a stereo SACD was no better than a well mastered CD. So much so that I sold off several of my stereo SACDs, which I now regret doing.
Are you using analog outs for the stereo but HDMI for the surround?
So every piece of electronic equipment sounds the same as every other piece. That makes life easy. Thanks.
Sorry dude... say what you will about the method, but what I heard was not a difference that was as simple as a level mismatch or a sighted AB comparison. It wasn't anywhere near that close.You guys persist in offering evidence gathered by highly flawed methods, no matter how many times it's explained why they are flawed. And then you jump to dubious conclusions.
Sighted A/B : inherently flawed
Level matching 'by ear": not sufficient
Yes. This. It happens all the time. Manufacturers sell a certain tonal character. How it is achieved is on them.
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