To DAC or not to DAC?

[MLaranjeiras]

So the results are only valid for you and inline with your personal preferences, subjective impression, biases, in your room, on your system and not for anyone else - correct?

Audio Blind Testing - You Are Doing It Wrong! (Video)

Just uploaded a video on the basics of performing controlled tests in audio. It was motivated by saving myself text in having to write all of this down when telling someone who to do these tests right. And as a counter to a few online personalities to keep saying they do "blind" tests yet when...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Absolutely! All IMO, according my personal taste.

 

[itz_all_about_the_music]

It won’t if you are using pure direct mode. Because the room correction software and bass management software will also be bypassed. And these will have a much bigger impact on the sound than changing the DAC.

And if you aren’t using pure direct mode, then it won’t improve the sound either. Because the analog input would then get converted back to digital for room correction and bass management processing, the sent to the onboard dac for conversion back to analog to send out to your speakers.

As an advanced AVR owner in a 5-2 setup, I understand the many claims made at this site that room correction benefits far exceed any other approach. But, like Hattrick I very often listen in Direct in 2-2 because: a) my room resonances are quite well controlled w/o digital correction, b) any DSP processing veils the sound, distorts transients, difuses imaging. So I see merit to this inquiry/goals.

 

[Jpdelaney.tml]

I use a Yamaha RX-V620 as a Optical switch, 3 in, 1 out to a balanced DAC with single ended too. Feed Yam from DAC back through CD "No Effect" selected, and balanced to separate amp. Sounds better to me than the old AKM DAC)DSPs used in Yam in "Normal" mode. Wiim Mini and CD as spdif sources.
113 SINAD DAC(ASR)
Very happy, new life for old kit.

 

[MLaranjeiras]

I made a test to compare the sound of my Laserdisc Player Sony MDP 600 right to the amplifier via RCA and via DAC Topping D50S, using an optical cable from the LD to the DAC and from the DAC to the amplifier. No diferences perceived in a not well controlled room. I used RCA cables BlueJeans and WBC Amphenol.

 

[Agapetos]

A million years ago I performed a similar test by hooking up a digital source both analogue and digitally to my AVR in PD mode. Then I would switch back and forth between the two inputs while playing my favourite test tracks.

From this experience I would strongly advise 1) to level match the two sources, 2) to not do the switching yourself, and 3) to make sure you have no way of knowing which one of the two inputs is playing at any given moment.

Otherwise you’re either gonna prefer the loudest one or the one you hope to prefer.

HTH.

Lol it unfortunately is true what you are saying....ive arrived at a point where if I have an itch, ill buy something cheaper, with a nice dose of confirmation bias reviews and let the psychoacoustics do the work

 

[Miker 1102]

I use a Yamaha RX-V620 as a Optical switch, 3 in, 1 out to a balanced DAC with single ended too. Feed Yam from DAC back through CD "No Effect" selected, and balanced to separate amp. Sounds better to me than the old AKM DAC)DSPs used in Yam in "Normal" mode. Wiim Mini and CD as spdif sources.
113 SINAD DAC(ASR)
Very happy, new life for old kit.

I prefer the akm myself. I didn't realize the wim mini has Sinad at 113. That's great. I need to go back and look at this little one.