Ifi..........

[staticV3]

its 2.7 right now after EQ

Peak gain must be below zero to avoid clipping.
Anything above zero is marked red to signify this.

See the screenshot I sent earlier:


Here, the Preamp is set to 0, which results in Peak gain of +5.3dB, marked red.

Hence, Preamp must be set to -5.3 to compensate. -6 for some margin.

 

[BigTy120]

 

[BigTy120]

I switched dacs, but im still in the clear. no red, no clipping

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

Not trying to poke a bear here, but what 80s music that was brilliant (composition/musicality/songwriting/instrumentation etc) but sounded poor to you? Is it low budget, private labels or just most things in general?

My best mate and I have been going through 'our' 80s 'coming-of-age' experiences in music and, to be honest, when we play the original pressings (be that CD or vinyl) from that era, we are not left wanting. The quality was/is excellent. But our experience is mostly Australian, UK and to a lesser extent US material. A lot of early digital adopters.

Last Saturday, I went to a massive book/CD/comic/DVD etc fair. Took over a huge convention centre. $2.50 per disc. Bit expensive if you ask me, but I got some classics- especially some very early target pressings and a few rare discs. I bought 38 CDs.

Sound quality is insane, especially on early west German and Japanese first pressings. And yes, I had to grab another copy of Donald Fagen's Nightfly- you can never have enough.

I hope that you did, and still do, rock to "Beds are Burning", John?

 

[restorer-john]

I hope that you did, and still do, rock to "Beds are Burning", John?

That's a contentious one for some of us. The entire album (Diesel and Dust, 1987) was commercially successful of course, but extremely political to the point 'The Oils' gained a whole new audience overseas, but alienated a bunch of rusted-on Australian fans who had supported the band through their live pub/small venue days. We'd drank, sweated, yelled and danced in oddball venues jammed with hundreds if not thousands of others. It was rough, real and ugly, but I've never heard a band live that sounded exactly the same as they did on LP/CD. (10-1 Album is a great example of that) The authenticity of the band was heavily compromised with Diesel, and to be honest, although I have all their later albums, I rarely listen to anything after Species Deceases (1985).

As for recording quality, Diesel is pretty good for sure. It was Red Sails in the Sunset (1984) where the Oils went to Japan and really pushed out the boat in recording quality, as they needed something commercial enough to sell to the 'world'. Red Sails sits on the edge of pub rock/commercial and it is very telling that we got a short album, Species Deceases, an EP (extended play) with which was only 4 songs (all good) in 1985. It was a short-lived return to straight up raw pub-rock, as diehard fans were mourning the loss of 'their' Oils. The classic "we loved them before they got too commercial" complaint.

I have multiple copies of all the Oils albums, as they were an important part of my youth and shaped my appreciation for live, Australian rock. If I really want to blast the Oils, it's Head Injuries, 10-1, Red Sails and Species albums.

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

A brilliant, comprehensive reply John ,
Thank you. I was just knocked out by that track. I have Red Sails on cd.

 

[Peterinvan]

Everyone's ears are different. Most reviewers do not state their age or show their hearing tests.

I am in my seventies now, and am aware of diminishing hearing above 8KHz.

I still enjoy well recorded music. I have found the solution to the warm/bright variances: I put a Schiit Loki+ between my DAC and amp. I can now tune the sound to my preference, on different phones, and even different albums.

Highly recommended for older listeners (or those of us who damaged our ears when young and invincible

 

[BigTy120]

Everyone's ears are different. Most reviewers do not state their age or show their hearing tests.

I am in my seventies now, and am aware of diminishing hearing above 8KHz.

I still enjoy well recorded music. I have found the solution to the warm/bright variances: I put a Schiit Loki+ between my DAC and amp. I can now tune the sound to my preference, on different phones, and even different albums.

Highly recommended for older listeners (or those of us who damaged our ears when young and invincible

I to have the Loki with the magni and the Questyle M15i as the dac