Article: Understanding Digital Audio Measurements

[MLaranjeiras]

I know what I can hear... If you're in Southwestern Ontario we can meet up some time, I'll bring two DACs to the local HiFi shop - one -97dB THD+n, and one -107. We'll set them up, I'll play some tracks through both not knowing which DAC is which, and afterwards, I'll identify the DACs!

Proving something online just can't be done... No matter what I do I'll just be accused of lying.

If you are nearby and we do meet, when you learn that I can in fact distinguish between -97 and -107, what will that accomplish? You'll be on here saying I can, and a ton of people will be saying you're wrong and I'm wrong and we're both liars! And if for some reason they can't dispute the results, they'll criticize the method...

"For each solution, some find a problem".

 

[MLaranjeiras]

Odd example.
They are actually different.
View attachment 324381
By measure and by taste they are different.

OFC, Silver Clads, silver cables, clothes hangers... all conductors. But, once again, no.

 

[fpitas]

I used silver cables when I had vampire problems.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Yet you continue to talk about different DACs with different THD levels...


It means that content above 7 kHz is not relevant if you can't.


Why can't you verify? You can send through test signals, and check the output, or use Deltawav to compare it to the original. If you don't trust that either, I don't know how to help you...


Well, it doesn't rob us from reasoning and logic

Like with many misled beliefs which are non facts based, it is (almost) impossible to convince the unwilling. Yet you did your best. Thanks.

 

[fpitas]

At least we have determined that we are indeed, deaf.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

At least we have determined that we are indeed, deaf.

That’s a fact ;-)

 

[MLaranjeiras]

I used silver cables when I had vampire problems.

Good. So, forget the copper. Get some fence wire. It's cheaper and transmits electrons

 

[MAB]

At least we have determined that we are indeed, deaf.

I like to call it 'reaffirmation of the limits of human hearing'.
Suits my fragile ego better...

 

[fpitas]

Good. So, forget the copper. Get some fence wire. It's cheaper and transmits electrons

And if you have kids you can electrify it to keep little hands off the drivers.

 

[voodooless]

At least we have determined that we are indeed, deaf.

So was Beethoven, so were in good company

 

[voodooless]

And if you have kids you can electrify it to keep little hands off the drivers.

Or cats...

 

[MLaranjeiras]

And if you have kids you can electrify it to keep little hands off the drivers.

USB and RCA cables are not that dangerous.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

Would you please share this article. Would be great to see it here. Could be used as a reference whenever discussions like this will pop up.

Sorry, I bought it at the grocery store. I think it was Audio, but I'm not sure.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

If you plant two mango seeds in diferent soils, the fruit of the new trees will taste the same, you meant

Hmm... Possibly but not guaranteed.

 

[LTig]

Well, what happens when you say to the Coca-Cola guy that you rather it on a glass bottle than it on a can? "The stuff is the same!", he claims. Yes, but no.

Cables are not drinks.

 

[Sal1950]

I know what I can hear...

No, you don't know, you only think you know because your unwilling to put your belief system to tightly bias controlled testing.

 

[G|force]

Odd example.
They are actually different.
View attachment 324381
By measure and by taste they are different.

Thats "Mexican Coke" vs. "Georgia Coke" so apples and oranges. Mostly because one uses sugar and the other uses corn syrup. Yech.

[edit] Way OT, sorry everyone.

 

[MLaranjeiras]

Hmm... Possibly but not guaranteed.

Probably no.

 

[Sal1950]

Thats "Mexican Coke" vs. "Georgia Coke" so apples and oranges. Mostly because one uses sugar and the other uses corn syrup. Yech.

Pepsi got on that ride a while back, it's everywhere now.

Robot or human?

 

[III-V]

great article @amirm ! I have done some of these measurements myself, although never on audio equipment. I have about a decade of lab experience in Rf & uW land testing anything from dc blocks to SotA GaN and other emerging technologies from DC to 160+ Ghz. So I have some experience with PA testing, PA design, on-wafer transistor testing (gain compression, load pull, harmonic load pull, intermodulation distortion testing, S-parameters, noise figure, noise parameters, flicker noise) and transistor modeling as well. That said, I haven't done much in the digital world so I really appreciate you sharing your measurements and methodology here with us.