What output voltage would you suggest for DACs?With headphone amps, @amirm measures the SNR at 50 mV to show how much it drops from full output, and what you can expect for a "real world" SNR at normal listening levels. It would be nice to see this measurement with DACs having a volume control.
My DAC is at full output 100% of the time. This DAC only has a line out. There is no such thing as a normal listening level, what set the listening level is the gain structure of the amplification chain after it.SINAD and SNR are usually measured at full output. But nobody actually listens at that level, MUCH too loud.
If your phone can push LDAC, then it will be great. Otherwise, I find the performance of the rest of the BT codecs mediocre.What is the the quality of the Bloothtooth input on this DAC?
I did order once from them through amazon.de and they shipped from germany. But i see you have this at audiophonics.frDoes Aoshida Audio have extra toll costs to Sweden? Anyone ordered?
Probably right but it may worth noting that LDAC is an adaptative codec. As it been tested how it performs more than a couple feet away? Me for example if using AptX HD which have a relatively high bit rate, still less than full stream of LDAC, the range where it starts to drop out is significantly less than the other lower bit rate CODECs, significantly less than 10 feet. LDAC won't drop but it will reduce its bit rate. I have not tested it, but off course an external full length antenna like this DAC seam to have (at least I see a connector) would help with that. It may be ok but it's not a given.If your phone can push LDAC, then it will be great. Otherwise, I find the performance of the rest of the BT codecs mediocre.
I think this graph shows how the DAC behaves at lower output levels:SINAD and SNR are usually measured at full output. But nobody actually listens at that level, MUCH too loud. So the question is, how much does the SINAD and SNR drop as you turn down the volume? This varies depending on the design of the device. So it's possible that some device D1 having excellent measurements is not so excellent after you turn down the volume to usable levels. And some other device D2 having less excellent measurements may actually be better than D1 after turning it down to usable levels. Or some other device D3 is always excellent at all volume settings.
So there is some thread of truth or possibility to that claim. However, usually it is only a thread and mostly B.S. With the digital volume controls that these DACs have, the output noise level is constant so SNR should drop roughly 1:1 as you turn down the volume. So if it measures 120 dB at full output and you turn it down by 30 dB to reach a usable or normal volume level, you have 120 - 30 = 90 dB which is still great for a normal listening level.
With headphone amps, @amirm measures the SNR at 50 mV to show how much it drops from full output, and what you can expect for a "real world" SNR at normal listening levels. It would be nice to see this measurement with DACs having a volume control.
If your phone can push LDAC, then it will be great. Otherwise, I find the performance of the rest of the BT codecs mediocre.
Probably right but it may worth noting that LDAC is an adaptative codec. As it been tested how it performs more than a couple feet away? Me for example if using AptX HD which have a relatively high bit rate, still less than full stream of LDAC, the range where it starts to drop out is significantly less than the other lower bit rate CODECs, significantly less than 10 feet. LDAC won't drop but it will reduce its bit rate. I have not tested it, but off course an external full length antenna like this DAC seam to have (at least I see a connector) would help with that. It may be ok but it's not a given.
I tried to be sarcastic.Why do you say that? It’s already pretty good, what more do you expect the device to improve?
A bit over $200 now gets one stellar performance, balanced out and a remote. I would have never imagined such a thing 20 years ago. Hi-fi and TVs are two consumer items that get better and cheaper with each iteration.
It is my pleasure to recommend the SMSL DO100.
You are right. I didn't reply to your post, we both replied to a third one and I tried to make the same point as you did: complex waveforms are composed of sine waves at various multiples of the fundamental.Not sure what you mean, your signal can be as complex has you want but if it has harmonics above 20 kHz nobody will ever hear them. A square wave at 16kHz will sound to you has a tone.
I guess the answer is: You want this level of performance, but 3 years ago.I'm a bit confused about so many "outstanding" DAC with so different prices. I mean why to spend 800$ for a Topping D90 when the result of this SMSL DO100 seems so close at 1/4 of the price? What I'm missing?
This is a difficult one.What output voltage would you suggest for DACs?