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Super*Review
I have watched and read several reviews + Head-Fi comments: Dusk being better with the DSP cable is a “problem” for the audiophile community. They don’t like the ramifications and therefore tend to dismiss it, like in this review: “it does not work for me because I use a DAP (even if it works perfectly with my phone)”Super*Review
He gave 3 reasons.I have watched and read several reviews + Head-Fi comments: Dusk being better with the DSP cable is a “problem” for the audiophile community. They don’t like the ramifications and therefore dismiss it, like in this review: “it does not for me because I use a DAP (even if it works perfectly with my phone)”
He gave 3 reasons.
The last one would be the only deal-breaker for me. I wonder if that is a widespread issue like he alludes to.
- Didn't play well with his DAP
- Didn't prefer the quality of the cable, and a personal preference for no volume controls that make wrapping the cable less neat
- Audible artifacts during quiet moments in audio
Personally I would use my own means of EQ as I am properly equipped for it.
Free Dsp cable is on the market for several months now and while i read everywhere the consensus on the bugginess of the app I don't remember here users blaming about artifacts, so it seems kind of strange if it only does it when connected to the Dusk. But again, if it could be taken as acceptable for something like the May (65€), surely for what you pay here you should get something nearly perfect in every aspects, that it doesn't seem the case.There’s a number of reviewers who’ve reported on audible artefacts whilst listening and especially when changing tracks, the implementation of the dac is being beta tested on users and the app is apparently shit, for a company with the market share and engineering skills of Moondrop that’s really poor and I consider it, using the Scottish vernacular, to be “taking the f*ck*ng piss” .
I have several FreeDSP cables, and I have not noticed any artifacts, but it does not mean it’s untrue!Free Dsp cable is on the market for several months now and while i read everywhere the consensus on the bugginess of the app I don't remember here users blaming about artifacts, so it seems kind of strange if it only does it when connected to the Dusk. But again, if it could be taken as acceptable for something like the May (65€), surely for what you pay here you should get something nearly perfect in every aspects, that it doesn't seem the case.
Audiophiles—and subjective reviewers in particular—tend to exaggerate differences, whether they are audible, measured (e.g FR), or on paper (e.g. ESS vs. AKM). Better? Yes… A lot better? I’m not so sure…Most reviewers seem to feel that the sound (tuning) is a lot better with the DSP cable. I think Crinacle is underselling the "minor" corrections.
Maybe with the $65 May, but helding back a $360 IEM to promote a $30 upgrade cable?My personal theory...I feel like what's happening is that Moondrop wants to promote their DSP cable and app. They want to show just how great things can be when using it, so some tuning was held back from the IEM.
Audiophiles—and subjective reviewers in particular—tend to exaggerate differences, whether they are audible, measured (e.g FR), or on paper (e.g. ESS vs. AKM). Better? Yes… A lot better? I’m not so sure…
Free Dsp cable is on the market for several months now and while i read everywhere the consensus on the bugginess of the app I don't remember here users blaming about artifacts, so it seems kind of strange if it only does it when connected to the Dusk. But again, if it could be taken as acceptable for something like the May (65€), surely for what you pay here you should get something nearly perfect in every aspects, that it doesn't seem the case.
Sure, if that would result in a noiseless, high quality cable with great EQ software, that would be fine. But currently, as far as I can see, the software is awkward to use, buggy, does not allow positive gain (or was it negative?), has only peak filters, no shelfs and so on. So there might pass years until all of this will be resolved, then I might consider it. But they should also work on using it with an iPhone, because when I am listening at home, I much prefer real EQ on my MacBook or my streaming phone with UAPP.I have the May at home and, when connected to a MacBook Pro, I've heard a few artefacts when starting / stoping playback for now, but I'm not quite sure yet if I can systematically reproduce them consistently.
Regardless of price, given the importance of DSP for sound quality and where I think the headphones / IEM industry should be going, I don't find it particularly acceptable. Hopefully they'll sort it out quickly, but if a software fix can do it, can Moondrop's USB-C DAC's firmware be updated by the user ?
I suppose that many manufacturers would say customers aren't generally interested in parametric eq. Another reason may well be that the marketing hype is often all about FR tuning. Enthusiasts are buying iem after iem in the search for that perfect tuning. If eq becomes easy for the average person that's the end of that gravy train.Release EQ settings meant to improve what is already there?
Could the issue be related to the XMOS chip in the DAC? If so, there is a potential workaround here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...os-driver-settings-for-no-cutoff-delay.25838/Listener wrote a review of the Dusk here : https://headphones.com/blogs/all/moondrop-x-crinacle-dusk-an-inconvenient-truth
Interestingly, as an example of the sort of signal that triggers the Free DSP's noise issues, he suggests the track "Weird fishes" by Radiohead, and with the cable that I have at home (from the May, but it's the same as the one sent with the Dusk), I have to say that for me too this track makes the issue blatantly obvious in the first few seconds.
FreeDSP cable doesn't use the Xmos chipCould the issue be related to the XMOS chip in the DAC? If so, there is a potential workaround here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...os-driver-settings-for-no-cutoff-delay.25838/
I'm getting my unit later today, and will test as well.
Thanks. Confirming I don’t seem to hear any artifacts from my Crinacle Dusk in USB-C from an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Really enjoying it so far!FreeDSP cable doesn't use the Xmos chip
So it does work with the USB-C iPhones? The app as well?Thanks. Confirming I don’t seem to hear any artifacts from my Crinacle Dusk in USB-C from an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Really enjoying it so far!