This may be a naive observation or question, but reading reviews of many dacs tested in this site, it strikes me that many of them perform better when their output is set less than the max, or zero gain. Some of them start distorting really bad at 0db gain, like the Mytek Brooklyn.
I would like to understand this a bit better. Mytek, for example, outputs 6 volts from its analog outputs when volume is to zero. It sucks at that level, and improves when turned down. Matrix X-Sabre Pro outputs 4 volts at volume 0. But they mention that there is a built in headroom. Does this mean that DACs also need headroom? Or does Matrix on purpose decrease or limit its 0db to 4 vs 6 volts to preserve some headroom and improve distortion?
My subjective observation with Mytek Brooklyn DAC + is that when my active crossover attenuators are out, and the Mytek is outputting much lower voltages (using analog volume), I hear much cleaner and more dynamic sound compared to when attenuators are in. Say volume set to -2db with attenuators vs -14db without. The caveat here is that the attenuators may be degrading the sound, but the designer of the active crossover, Phil Marchand, is sure that the attenuators actually improve SNR.
Every DAC is different and have different output voltages. It would be interesting and kind of important to test them with a set output voltage in order to compare SINAD. I would love to see how the Mytek DAC+ performs at the same output voltage as the Matrix DACs.
As I mentioned in the beginning, these may be very primitive and naive observations. Would like to hear and learn from you all. Thanks in advance!
I would like to understand this a bit better. Mytek, for example, outputs 6 volts from its analog outputs when volume is to zero. It sucks at that level, and improves when turned down. Matrix X-Sabre Pro outputs 4 volts at volume 0. But they mention that there is a built in headroom. Does this mean that DACs also need headroom? Or does Matrix on purpose decrease or limit its 0db to 4 vs 6 volts to preserve some headroom and improve distortion?
My subjective observation with Mytek Brooklyn DAC + is that when my active crossover attenuators are out, and the Mytek is outputting much lower voltages (using analog volume), I hear much cleaner and more dynamic sound compared to when attenuators are in. Say volume set to -2db with attenuators vs -14db without. The caveat here is that the attenuators may be degrading the sound, but the designer of the active crossover, Phil Marchand, is sure that the attenuators actually improve SNR.
Every DAC is different and have different output voltages. It would be interesting and kind of important to test them with a set output voltage in order to compare SINAD. I would love to see how the Mytek DAC+ performs at the same output voltage as the Matrix DACs.
As I mentioned in the beginning, these may be very primitive and naive observations. Would like to hear and learn from you all. Thanks in advance!