Can Amir, as a trained listener, spot audible difference between DACs?

[cjfrbw]

Can Amir hear a single leaf falling from a tree in the forest? I didn't think so.

 

[amirm]

Guys....
look at the presented data of the ABX test in post #31
and then ask yourself which test files he was alluding to.

Quit giving them hints for heaven's sake.

 

[amirm]

Can Amir hear a single leaf falling from a tree in the forest? I didn't think so.

Right. Usually require two leaves....

 

[carlosmante]

Walk in the park.... PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC versus Matrix Audio Sabre-X MQA Pro. Outputs captured using AP analyzer:

======================

WASAPI (push) : Speakers (DX3 Pro), 24-bit
Crossfading: NO

09:37:27 : Test started.
09:37:44 : 01/01
09:37:54 : 02/02
09:38:03 : 03/03
09:38:12 : 04/04
09:38:18 : 05/05
09:38:24 : 06/06
09:38:33 : 07/07
09:38:38 : 08/08
09:38:43 : 09/09
09:38:50 : 10/10
09:38:55 : 11/11
09:39:01 : 12/12
09:39:09 : 13/13
09:39:14 : 14/14
09:39:24 : 15/15
09:39:32 : 16/16
09:39:32 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 16/16
p-value: 0 (0%)

-- signature --
bbaf4e8d400e7e010aecfa8a9da2a61e16fa2025

================

Zero chance of guessing.

Next!

Why some "tests" are 10 seconds and others are 5 seconds? how do you analyze statistically the effect of the "time" variable?

 

[HammerSandwich]

My impression too.

Hmmm... Maybe we can find a better test. When you swap DACs, can your wife tell from the kitchen?

 

[restorer-john]

When you swap DACs, can your wife tell from the kitchen?

No, but his mistress in the bedroom sure can.

 

[amirm]

Why some "tests" are 10 seconds and others are 5 seconds? how do you analyze statistically the effect of the "time" variable?

Depends on whether I double check or not. The interface provides A, B and X (and Y which I don't use). So I listen to X. Sometimes I compare it to A and B. Sometimes to just A or B. Sometimes neither.

 

[Blumlein 88]

It's really easy to pick a signal or piece of music to highlight audible differences and then show how clever we are by being able to accurately distinguish one piece of gear from another.

That has been done since HiFi was invented. It's done every day in audio stores all over the world.

I'll be perfectly honest. I cannot reliably hear the difference between the world's first CD player (the Sony CDP-101) and a TOTL AU$6000 two piece statement Marantz CD12/DA12LE player, on normal musical content. And a whole bunch of my other players all sound the same. Not using test discs, not super low level test tones, not listening for some key artefact or noise in between tracks, or some other atypical musical content designed to tease out one flaw from another- that's just being a smart-ass and proves nothing.

HERETIC! LUNATIC! LIAR PANTS ON FIRE! Everyone knows every thing matters and all DACs and CD players sound different!!!!!

Oh wait a minute.............never mind.................wrong forum.

 

[Krunok]

Walk in the park.... PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC versus Matrix Audio Sabre-X MQA Pro. Outputs captured using AP analyzer:

======================

WASAPI (push) : Speakers (DX3 Pro), 24-bit

 

[oldsysop]

Walk in the park.... PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC versus Matrix Audio Sabre-X MQA Pro. Outputs captured using AP analyzer:

======================

WASAPI (push) : Speakers (DX3 Pro), 24-bit
Crossfading: NO

09:37:27 : Test started.
09:37:44 : 01/01
09:37:54 : 02/02
09:38:03 : 03/03
09:38:12 : 04/04
09:38:18 : 05/05
09:38:24 : 06/06
09:38:33 : 07/07
09:38:38 : 08/08
09:38:43 : 09/09
09:38:50 : 10/10
09:38:55 : 11/11
09:39:01 : 12/12
09:39:09 : 13/13
09:39:14 : 14/14
09:39:24 : 15/15
09:39:32 : 16/16
09:39:32 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 16/16
p-value: 0 (0%)

-- signature --
bbaf4e8d400e7e010aecfa8a9da2a61e16fa2025

================

Zero chance of guessing.

Next!

This shows that PS Audio is garbage.
The test that interests me is for example RME ADI-2 ($ 1,099) vs TOPPING D10 (US $ 89.99). Or something of 1000 vs something of 100.

 

[Krunok]

This shows that PS Audio is garbage.
The test that interests me is for example RME ADI-2 ($ 1,099) vs TOPPING D10 (US $ 89.99). Or something of 1000 vs something of 100.

What Amir did was not a true blind test. Obviously he recorded -100dB test signal playout of both DACs as a WAV and compared them by listening via DX3 Pro. Not exactly a blind test done by the book.

 

[solderdude]

This shows that PS Audio is garbage.
The test that interests me is for example RME ADI-2 ($ 1,099) vs TOPPING D10 (US $ 89.99). Or something of 1000 vs something of 100.

The choice between, for example, RME ADI-2 ($ 1,099) vs TOPPING D10 (US $ 89.99) would be because of functionality differences and looks.
With the ADI filter set to match that of the D10 and output level matched I don't think anyone can tell those apart in a properly performed blind test. Those that claim they can don't have all the controls needed in place.
In sighted comparisons... shure all bets are off.

 

[boXem]

... shure...

This accent.......... Aren't you from Netherlands?

 

[GaryS]

I enjoy this site for the sheer lack of descriptive adjectives.

Please lets not ruin it.

 

[solderdude]

This accent.......... Aren't you from Netherlands?

for sure.

 

[Juhazi]

Me thinks Shure comes from USA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shure

OT - I think that this thread and the Big Question are absurd, but sort of weirdly interesting. 99% of gadgets tested so far most likely sound just the same with music and loudspeakers/headphones. The differencies in measurements are of academic/audioholic interest only. Loudspeaker and headphone testing would be a different scenario...

 

[Krunok]

99% of gadgets tested so far most likely sound just the same with music and loudspeakers/headpones. The differencies in measurements are of academic/audioholic interest only. Loudspeaker and headphone testing would be a different scenario...

I agree with you, but I'm pretty sure most of the folks here doesn't - I mean, if it measures better it certainly sounds better, right?

Maybe someone should make a poll to check how many folks actually think Matrix Sabre-X and Topping D10 (for example) sound the same.

 

[Drone/doom]

I sometimes wonder if the galaxy brain's of Reddit/head fi haven't checked. If the headphones FR isn't being messed around by different OI like what happend with CFA Andro or just them hearing things as usual.

 

[Jungstar]

I would love to see a blind test of different DACs - I'm new to the Audio world, and while I love these test, I also bought a Schiit DAC and it sounded 100% similar to my Alexa Echo Link.

 

[eliash]

Thanks to all, for 30mins of fun!