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So, Ive noticed some comments on a few DAC reviews which I think might not be quite correct.
First- SINAD- lets say DAC X has been measured as a SINAD of 120 and DAC Y 110. That doesnt mean DAC Y has 10dB of distortion more than X that you would then hear, does it? (Taking on board Solderdude's reply, appreciate the SINAD is only one of a set of metrics and cant be translated directly into audibility when listening to music- which I think is part of my reason for posting this- I think some folk are doing just that)
Second IMD. So lets say DAC Y is an ESS based device with the "hump". DAC X is a better measuring AKM device. So Say at -35db Y has an SMPTE/DIN ratio of -66 dB and X has -80 at the same. Could one hear that difference if A/B testing, other things being equal (blind testing of course) ?
I think not, because then that would give lie to the mantra around here that any well measuring modern DAC should be audibly transparent- DAC Y being one such reasonably recent high flyers.
I'm talking about audibility when listening to music here, of course. Not any of the array of tests that may be run with tones.
First- SINAD- lets say DAC X has been measured as a SINAD of 120 and DAC Y 110. That doesnt mean DAC Y has 10dB of distortion more than X that you would then hear, does it? (Taking on board Solderdude's reply, appreciate the SINAD is only one of a set of metrics and cant be translated directly into audibility when listening to music- which I think is part of my reason for posting this- I think some folk are doing just that)
Second IMD. So lets say DAC Y is an ESS based device with the "hump". DAC X is a better measuring AKM device. So Say at -35db Y has an SMPTE/DIN ratio of -66 dB and X has -80 at the same. Could one hear that difference if A/B testing, other things being equal (blind testing of course) ?
I think not, because then that would give lie to the mantra around here that any well measuring modern DAC should be audibly transparent- DAC Y being one such reasonably recent high flyers.
I'm talking about audibility when listening to music here, of course. Not any of the array of tests that may be run with tones.
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