Recent content by Stephen Dawson

No, up to 768kHz PCM, DSD256 via DoP, DSD512 native. (I've tested them all.)

I'd agree with that -- that they'd sound the same -- so long as levels were matched extremely precisely and, to a lesser extent, the same filter settings were chosen. Topping DACs with AK DAC chips typically allow the selection of a "NOS" filter (they call it "Super Slow Roll off"). This isn't...

Ah, thanks. You've solved it for me! To restate it: Select "Line Out" for "Out Mode", and then DAC mode in the Advanced Menu. The left display shows a large "DAC" in that mode and the output from the Line outputs are set to max (with low gain). Gain High/Low doesn't work for those outputs. The...

Thanks. No go I'm afraid. I've been through lots of options. I even did a factory reset and started again. The only practical difference between line out and pre out is that line out is always in low gain mode. On both of them the volume control works, even when the DAC mode is set to DAC. Which...

Anyone with a DX9, have you discovered any way to set a different headphone out level to the line (or Pre) outs? I've found that the level of the purported line outs are also adjusted by the volume control. I'd like to have max out for my main system, and ~-35 to -25dB for the headphone, and...

That's one of my articles. If you want the most accurate sound, choose the filter which is "Fast" or "Sharp" and "Linear" rather than "Minimum" phase. I've tried to explain why in the article, but some very useful background is in this video by Monty from Xiph.org:

Turns out, you can't be certain that your CD player isn't doing some processing on the digital audio output. I was using a twenty year old Denon CD player (DCD-755AR) to feed, via optical, a Simaudio Moon 280D DAC, and the analogue output was giving me a noise floor of -115dBA+, which is...

Interesting. Now you've gotten me to thinking. If you read the fuller piece (posted after your comment) you'll see my entire argument. But could it be that one can have a two-track hearing process? Because, remember, the rest of the world is not loudness compensated. If you live in front of...

Avoid the Loudness When I was a youngster and avid reader of Australian HI-FI, nearly every amplifier review contained, it seemed, a mini rant on the presence of a particular button fitted to the amp. Now, many years later, I find myself writing a mini rant on what is essentially the same...

I've come to this thread months too late, but just in case: I've been arguing for years that applying loudness compensation EQ is a fundamentally misconceived idea. I review gear for a living. Back when this compensation came in on home theatre receivers -- Audyssey in Marantz and Denon -- and...

Ooh, you're making my life so much easier. Thanks!

Thanks Rock. So, really, it depends on the particular DAC. I've got one of these coming, so I'll check it out. Now, to think of a way to reliably get a >0dBFs signal going!

Curious. Do intersample "overs" matter? Assuming that a line-level DAC like this one can deliver the necessary volts, and the input to which it is connected can cope?

These are specifically designed as live performance in ear monitors. They tend to be a bit bright for my taste, but I can see that as an advantage in that situation. The problem, as I see it, is that there is no widely used standard. If the norm was to use, say, 100 ohms output resistance, then...

Yes, I've used Fast Roll-Off as the comparison measure. All measurements were with distortion compensation enabled.