LAiV Harmony DAC

[Salt]

8 minutes of time to react by @CapMan and 9 minutes by @SIY.
The ASR Defence Intelligence is unbeatable (not?).

 

[CapMan]

8 minutes of time to react by @CapMan and 9 minutes by @SIY.
The ASR Defence Intelligence is unbeatable (not?).

I'm actually just a bot

 

[Purité Audio]

We used to have an outside lav.
Keith

 

[Salt]

I'm actually just a bot

better of that

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I want to see it reviewed here so that it can compared to the audibly transparent, $9.95 Apple dongle.

Peace.

 

[Pink Floyd]

The important thing is to be happy; everyone does what they can and has fun as they can and with what they have, and that's right.

 

[kemmler3D]

The important thing is to be happy; everyone does what they can and has fun as they can and with what they have, and that's right.

Yes, but for some odd reason the people here would like you to have a good DAC and a little money left over for speakers instead of an expensive DAC that does the same thing. Our great flaw is not minding our own business when people come along and start discussions about audio gear.

 

[VintageFlanker]

I want to see it reviewed here so that it can compared to the audibly transparent, $9.95 Apple dongle

It's less transparent. By quite a margin. Yet, it outputs 4.2VRMS, what the Apple Dongle cannot do.

 

[Pink Floyd]

People should make judgments based on what they have heard (better on their system) not what they see on photos on the web. But if you are happy with what you have your satisfaction is achieved and you can safely think that you have the best and look at the photos around. I like to hear, many like to look, a matter of taste.
PS. I have several dac RME AD2 fs included, the KING of transparency as defined by the expert meters. I use it with headphones with another transparent Topping A90 amp (unfortunately its amp interior is not really the best).

 

[VintageFlanker]

I like to hear, many like to look, a matter of taste.

OK. What do you think we, ASR members, do with our gears, exactly ?... Decoration ? Paperweight ?

 

[GXAlan]

It's less transparent. By quite a margin. Yet, it outputs 4.2VRMS, what the Apple Dongle cannot do.

And

PS. I have several dac RME AD2 fs included, the KING of transparency as defined by the expert meters. I use it with headphones with another transparent Topping A90 amp (unfortunately its amp interior is not really the best).

I always come to these threads with an open mind. It’s also helpful when someone has also heard transparent audio.

1) It’s just a tiny bit louder at 4.2V instead of 4.0V

2) The NOS filter itself sounds better

Although Amir appropriately says it’s not “better”, one can imagine that this is “preferred.” The different filters have pre or post ringing.

3) The distortion is preferred by the owner. Several very reasonable ASR’rs use tubes in their system understanding it’s not transparent.

 

[voodooless]

People should make judgments based on what they have heard (better on their system) not what they see on photos on the web

The problem is that humans can’t separate the two. What you hear is not just the sound waves generated by the device, but a culmination of senses and biases of your ears, your mood, how the device looks, what you read about it, what you think it should sound like and a whole slew of other subconscious things you cannot control.

 

[VintageFlanker]

2) The NOS filter itself sounds better

That's not what the NOS setting does with the Laiv.

 

[Pink Floyd]

The problem is that humans can’t separate the two. What you hear is not just the sound waves generated by the device, but a culmination of senses and biases of your ears, your mood, how the device looks, what you read about it, what you think it should sound like and a whole slew of other subconscious things you cannot control.

And how do you listen to music with human ears or with the oscilloscope connected to your nose? Measuring is fine but let's not forget that music is produced by human beings and listened to by people not by Martians

 

[Pink Floyd]

And


I always come to these threads with an open mind. It’s also helpful when someone has also heard transparent audio.

1) It’s just a tiny bit louder at 4.2V instead of 4.0V

2) The NOS filter itself sounds better
View attachment 400985

Although Amir appropriately says it’s not “better”, one can imagine that this is “preferred.” The different filters have pre or post ringing.

3) The distortion is preferred by the owner. Several very reasonable ASR’rs use tubes in their system understanding it’s not transparent.

Thanks for the very interesting graphs, they will be useful for many users, excellent contribution, but having it for a couple of years I am now in the phase of listening only to the music but I am pleased to know that even for the instrumental technical part it is appreciated.

 

[Killingbeans]

The important thing is to be happy; everyone does what they can and has fun as they can and with what they have, and that's right.

Absolutely. Placebo works, and if it makes you happy, you should just enjoy it.

But please don't spread rumors about it having anything to do with the actual output signal from the DAC.

 

[Killingbeans]

but I am pleased to know that even for the instrumental technical part it is appreciated.

I think you're misunderstanding what @GXAlan is saying.

If this DAC sounds different, and that's a big if, it's likely just because it either has a bit louder output or a bit of treble roll off from the NOS filter. Those two things have nothing to do with technical prowess, and any dirt cheap DAC can be made to replicate the effects with ease.

@GXAlan is simply open to the possibility of an audible difference, that you might find enjoyable. It doesn't mean that this particular DAC does anything out of the ordinary.

 

[VintageFlanker]

It doesn't mean that this particular DAC does anything out of the ordinary.

Oh it does, just not necessarily in a great way.

 

[voodooless]

And how do you listen to music with human ears or with the oscilloscope connected to your nose? Measuring is fine but let's not forget that music is produced by human beings and listened to by people not by Martians

I didn’t say anything about measuring (or aliens), I just mentioned that you do not just listen with your ears.

 

[Pink Floyd]

I think you're misunderstanding what @GXAlan is saying.

If this DAC sounds different, and that's a big if, it's likely just because it either has a bit louder output or a bit of treble roll off from the NOS filter. Those two things have nothing to do with technical prowess, and any dirt cheap DAC can be made to replicate the effects with ease.

I don't misunderstand anything and maximum respect for everyone and everything.
However, personally, if I have to make a comparison, I do it at the same volume (spl), but these are just the basics to obtain a minimum of reliability of critical listening.