I could hear the difference. But why.

[JRR]

I have a Sony BDP-5100 blu ray player and a Magnetar UDP blu ray player. I think the Sony was $109 new and the Magnetar (Oppo clone?) is $1600.

For some reason I can hear a difference between them with the magnetar being the better player. I’m bypassing the DAC in both running HDMI to my AV10. What do you think would cause the discrepancy?

 

[amirm]

You need to perform the test blind. Only then you will be sure that there is a difference. Watch my video on that:

 

[Chrispy]

Level differences are my first thought particularly for your use.

 

[JRR]

The level was matched but I don’t have the motivation for a proper dbx test. I’m keeping the Magnetar for its functionality regardless. I’m simply curious about discussion possibilities in different transports whether it being noise or internal processing of some sorts.

 

[Beave]

Possible reasons:
1) Different settings in the two players, leading to a different bitstream being sent from the players' HDMI outputs to the AV10.
2) Uncontrolled listening comparison (sighted, not quick switched)

PS. It's ABX, not dbx.

 

[amirm]

The level was matched but I don’t have the motivation for a proper dbx test. I’m keeping the Magnetar for its functionality regardless. I’m simply curious about discussion possibilities in different transports whether it being noise or internal processing of some sorts.

It takes 5 minutes to do this testing. All you have to do is do the same test you did, but this time have someone else be in control of which is which. Repeat a few times to see if the results are consistent.

I have experienced what you mention countless times. I always perceive one to be better than the other. The difference however vanishes when I repeat the listening test blind per above.

If you still want to investigate differences, make sure the two players are set to send out the exact bitstream. Make sure no bass processing is enabled.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

It takes 5 minutes to do this testing. All you have to do is do the same test you did, but this time have someone else be in control of which is which. Repeat a few times to see if the results are consistent.

I have experienced what you mention countless times. I always perceive one to be better than the other. The difference however vanishes when I repeat the listening test blind per above.

If you still want to investigate differences, make sure the two players are set to send out the exact bitstream. Make sure no bass processing is enabled.

True, it’s way simpler than it’s made out to be.

Often, I believe people hesitate because they have an idea of the outcome, and confronting it can be uncomfortable.
Of course, that’s just a general observation, not necessarily the case here.

 

[pablolie]

There seems to be a little bit of an infestation of "I could hear a difference" posts as of late.

 

[Doodski]

There seems to be a little bit of an infestation of "I could hear a difference" posts as of late.

It's been ongoing for a month or two.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

You'd think evolution would move in just one direction.

Spoiler: Reminds me of a meme.

 

[Blumlein 88]

What do you think would cause the discrepancy?

Uncontrolled listening. A human tendency to hear differences whether there or not. People when they know which is which will often hear differences when they have been lied to and each instance is the same gear. Pretty normal.

Yes, we know how real it seems, and certain it is etc etc. The really interesting thing is doing what Amir suggests. Have someone else control which is which and then find out if you still hear a difference. The normal result is all the difference is flat gone to a point it seems hard to believe. Especially in a case like this where you are sending a digital signal to a common DAC from different sources. Just nothing going on there to be different.

 

[voodooless]

whether it being noise

Do you hear noise from either of the devices? If not, strike if from your list behind the massive elephant in the room.

 

[dagfinn]

You'd think evolution would move in just one direction.

Spoiler: Reminds me of a meme.

View attachment 427440

Have you seen this movie?

Idiocracy (2006) ⭐ 6.5 | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

1h 24m | R

www.imdb.com

 

[Verig]

The level was matched but I don’t have the motivation for a proper dbx test. I’m keeping the Magnetar for its functionality regardless. I’m simply curious about discussion possibilities in different transports whether it being noise or internal processing of some sorts.

Wouldn't it be better to first try if you really can hear a difference? If you can then we can look for an explanation. And what kind of difference? HDMI and an AV processor offer some interesting options.

 

[Jimbob54]

You know what I'm going to say folks . NO POLITICS!

 

[boxerfan88]

For some reason I can hear a difference between them with the magnetar being the better player. I’m bypassing the DAC in both running HDMI to my AV10. What do you think would cause the discrepancy?

Could u describe the differences u heard?

If u bypassed their internal DAC then level are not likely in play, and the AVR uses the same EQ settings, I might guess clock? If the AVR buffers/re-clocks internally then all bets are off.

 

[Speedskater]

I would suspect that one of the units is processing the signal before outputting it.
Or if it's burnt CD's, then read errors and/or corrections.

 

[MatrixS2000]

You'd think evolution would move in just one direction.

Unfortunately, the wrong direction:

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

I am in general agreement with others here. However, we should always keep in mind there could be a fault with one of the devices.

Wouldn't it be better to first try if you really can hear a difference? If you can then we can look for an explanation.

The best way to find out if you can REALLY hear a difference is blind testing, that's the point.

I used to have a 2 speaker/2 amp switch in my system. Before that, comparing took 30-60 seconds of connecting things. I heard differences, and they tended to be big. When that went from 30 second to literally the flip of a switch those big and clear differences turned out to be a LOT harder to hear. That was comparing things with clear differences, like vintage floor standing horn speakers to modern bookshelf soft dome tweeter speakers.

When it came to comparing different digital sources through the same DAC? I would never trust my ears on that, no matter what I heard in my brain.

 

[JRR]

It takes 5 minutes to do this testing. All you have to do is do the same test you did, but this time have someone else be in control of which is which. Repeat a few times to see if the results are consistent.

I have experienced what you mention countless times. I always perceive one to be better than the other. The difference however vanishes when I repeat the listening test blind per above.

If you still want to investigate differences, make sure the two players are set to send out the exact bitstream. Make sure no bass processing is enabled.

Right now my music room is under construction but it should be done in a couple of days. I’ll give it a try and report back.