Recent content by AndrewMason

I think your thinking is too simplistic. It only applies to the big transients. Now think through what happens when reproducing the critical 0.1mW or 1 mW, which is what you're listening to 99% of the time. Poor amplifiers can easily have >-60dB crossover distortion here, and it's more audible...

It'll remain true until you become a competitor ;)

Incorrect. AAA is innovative, with multiple patents on its unique innovative architecture (inductorless feed-forward plus feed-back) that cancels output stage noise and distortion - the dominant source in most amplifiers. The fact that the Monoprice DAC-AMP and the 789 both have lower THD+N...

I find that problem sometimes too. Maybe someone else here has a tip to share?

The aluminum braid may be dodgy. Aluminum oxidizes very easily and so is difficult to terminate without great care and the right metallurgy. Hence how alum house wiring was phased out... too many people not terminating it properly. Look for something with copper braid instead.

The components and cable seem high quality! Can you see in the write up a description of how its xlr pin 1 is wired? I couldn't see at first glance.

Good find! The drawing for those looks correct. Maybe share some experience and photos (disassemble at the xlr) when you receive? And nice 1.5 or 3 ft length options too!

Hi @Schackmannen . Try a few things to see if you can get the buzz to change or go away. That'll help us figure out the root cause. - swap the L and R RCA cables going into the 789 but don't touch them at the DAC output. Does the buzz change ears? If so, could be a cable or Lch DAC issue. -...

Hi Music1969. You've got it! Your description of 4-wire cable is correct. 3-wire cable exists in 2 flavors, both bad: type a) Shared GND + Left + Right go from TRS to a midpoint, where left and right split off. Ground splits into two. This is getting pretty rare and may only exist on some...

If we're being specific, then TRS is a plug type. As in Tip Ring Sleeve. Not a good way of describing how a wire bundle is constructed. Regarding cables to minimize crosstalk, you'll want 4 wire type where the Left and right have separate ground wires all the way from the ears to the TRS plug...

Unbal vs bal input doesn't change crosstalk. Primarily 3wire headphone output cable and secondarily the TRS output jack shield contact resistance are the biggest contributors to crosstalk.

IEMs could have 3 or 4 wire cables. It varies by cable. You can usually tell just by looking at the shape of the jacket.

Yes, separate ground wires for L and R, and they connect to plug ground inside the TRS plug itself. Like this:

Hi Music1969. For Output: I recommend use 4-wire headphone cables, and then use either XLR-4 BAL out or TRS out - both very similar. TRS out has slightly lower noise, so that's probably best for sensitive IEMs. XLR-4 has of course 2x Vswing & 4x Pout so that's probably best for max SPL from...