Topping DX3 Pro+ with Noire X Transparent?

[Theriverlethe]

So, I'm about to start a war here and declare that my Noire X sounds awful through the DX3 Pro+ compared to an Atom (1 or 2). The difference is not subtle. DX3 Pro+ sounds treble-heavy at moderate volume, while Atom reaches dangerous levels without becoming unpleasant. Two possibilities I can think of:

1. DX3 Pro+ struggles with current delivery, altering frequency response. This should show up on a frequency sweep into 12ohms, using the included power adapter.

2. One of the "sound color" options is enabled in the Sabre chip, but this does not show up on simple test tones. The DX5 has user-selectable sound color modes. Has anyone measured these to find out what they do?

(Test track is Rhiannon Giddens' "Waterbound.")

 

[staticV3]

So, I'm about to start a war here and declare that my Noire X sounds awful through the DX3 Pro+ compared to an Atom (1 or 2). The difference is not subtle. DX3 Pro+ sounds treble-heavy at moderate volume, while Atom reaches dangerous levels without becoming unpleasant. Two possibilities I can think of:

1. DX3 Pro+ struggles with current delivery, altering frequency response. This should show up on a frequency sweep into 12ohms, using the included power adapter.

2. One of the "sound color" options is enabled in the Sabre chip, but this does not show up on simple test tones. The DX5 has user-selectable sound color modes. Has anyone measured these to find out what they do?

(Test track is Rhiannon Giddens' "Waterbound.")

Could you try taking out your phone, starting a sound recording (choose "record in high quality"/Wav if possible), and sticking it horizontally between the two earpads?

Set the Noire down on a desk and do not touch it for the duration of the recording.

Choose a track, any track, and play it once on the DX3 and once on the Atom stack.

Make sure the track is played identically both times: same software, same sample rate, same playback API (Wasapi, ASIO etc).

Leave the recording running even when switching Amps, then upload the clip to Dropbox, Google Drive etc. and post a link here.

 

[Theriverlethe]

Could you try taking out your phone, starting a sound recording (choose "record in high quality"/Wav if possible), and sticking it horizontally between the two earpads?

Set the Noire down on a desk and do not touch it for the duration of the recording.

Choose a track, any track, and play it once on the DX3 and once on the Atom stack.

Make sure the track is played identically both times: same software, same sample rate, same playback API (Wasapi, ASIO etc).

Leave the recording running even when switching Amps, then upload the clip to Dropbox, Google Drive etc. and post a link here.

Do I need to attempt level-matching?

 

[staticV3]

Do I need to attempt level-matching?

Not precisely, but try to get both systems into the same ballpark, at a playback level where you clearly experience the difference in tonality.

 

[Theriverlethe]

Not precisely, but try to get both systems into the same ballpark, at a playback level where you clearly experience the difference in tonality.

Would a Presonus PD-70 work better? I didn't read your instructions very carefully and made two recordings, so apologies if that doesn't work.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ULkMsdedB5VRlnd2DpV26mngXGJS1lO1/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bjA_CmtixS17ly9igx_eEScNvGhx3glm/view?usp=drive_link

 

[staticV3]

Would a Presonus PD-70 work better? I didn't read your instructions very carefully and made two recordings, so apologies if that doesn't work.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ULkMsdedB5VRlnd2DpV26mngXGJS1lO1/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bjA_CmtixS17ly9igx_eEScNvGhx3glm/view?usp=drive_link

If the phone or headphone was moved/touched between the two recordings, then that's bad news as there's no way to tell whether any difference in the recordings stems from the Amps themselves or from positional variation in the recording setup.

Hence why it's best to start the recording, set the headphone down somewhere, and not touch the phone or headphone until you're done playing the track through both Amps.

You want to isolate variables as best as possible.

 

[Theriverlethe]

If the phone or headphone was moved/touched between the two recordings, then that's bad news as there's no way to tell whether any difference in the recordings stems from the Amps themselves or from positional variation in the recording setup.

Hence why it's best to start the recording, set the headphone down somewhere, and not touch the phone or headphone until you're done playing the track through both Amps.

You want to isolate variables as best as possible.

The mic is on an articulated arm, so the headphones and mic didn't move.

Edit: Here's another attempt.

combined.wav

drive.google.com

 

[staticV3]

The mic is on an articulated arm, so the headphones and mic didn't move.

Edit: Here's another attempt.

combined.wav

drive.google.com

Will have a look in ~12h

 

[Deleted member 88178]

So, I'm about to start a war here and declare that my Noire X sounds awful through the DX3 Pro+ compared to an Atom (1 or 2). The difference is not subtle. DX3 Pro+ sounds treble-heavy at moderate volume, while Atom reaches dangerous levels without becoming unpleasant. Two possibilities I can think of:

1. DX3 Pro+ struggles with current delivery, altering frequency response. This should show up on a frequency sweep into 12ohms, using the included power adapter.

2. One of the "sound color" options is enabled in the Sabre chip, but this does not show up on simple test tones. The DX5 has user-selectable sound color modes. Has anyone measured these to find out what they do?

(Test track is Rhiannon Giddens' "Waterbound.")

You just gave me the perfect excuse to buy one more JDS device, thanks for that
I really like JDS labs, only issue is that ordering from the EU is rather expensive

 

[Theriverlethe]

Moved from review thread

 

[staticV3]

@Theriverlethe
Apologies for the delay!

Here's the result of the combined WAV file you sent:


There was a 1.3dB delta in loudness, but that should be just fine in this case.

Indeed, there is a slight difference in response below 100Hz (what you see >10kHz is run-to-run variation), but I wouldn't say that there's a clear trend of one being better than the other.

Here's a link to the processed files: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iDjigdUoOBTHN503QEkEoRYPMScEB72B

Timing and loudness were matched, but the recordings are otherwise untouched.

Try loading them into Pkane Deltawave ("Play"->"Comparator"), or ABX Comparator for foobar2000, and see if the difference is still audible even in an unbiased listening test

It doesn't matter which of the two Amps you use for this, as the response delta will be faithfully reproduced regardless.

 

[Theriverlethe]

@Theriverlethe
Apologies for the delay!

Here's the result of the combined WAV file you sent:
View attachment 463273 View attachment 463272

There was a 1.3dB delta in loudness, but that should be just fine in this case.

Indeed, there is a slight difference in response below 100Hz (what you see >10kHz is run-to-run variation), but I wouldn't say that there's a clear trend of one being better than the other.

Here's a link to the processed files: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iDjigdUoOBTHN503QEkEoRYPMScEB72B

Timing and loudness were matched, but the recordings are otherwise untouched.

Try loading them into Pkane Deltawave ("Play"->"Comparator"), or ABX Comparator for foobar2000, and see if the difference is still audible even in an unbiased listening test

It doesn't matter which of the two Amps you use for this, as the response delta will be faithfully reproduced regardless.

Thanks, I'll check them out when I get a chance. Do you think the phase drift is from the capture interface? I'll probably stick with the Atom 2 regardless of whether I can ABX a difference, just because of the better interface, appearance, 6.4mm jack, etc.

 

[staticV3]

Do you think the phase drift is from the capture interface?

Most likely a slight clock difference between the DX3 and JDS.

 

[Theriverlethe]

Most likely a slight clock difference between the DX3 and JDS.

I did only slightly better than chance (10/16) on a quick run. Do you think the low frequency delta could be ambient noise? Also, why did the ABX Comparator in Foobar2000 add a Y option?

 

[staticV3]

Do you think the low frequency delta could be ambient noise?

Noise should've averaged out over the duration of the track, which makes me think it's a real difference.

Recording the electrical signal at the Amp outputs would tell us more.

Also, why did the ABX Comparator in Foobar2000 add a Y option?

It's just the way they designed it. If you want, you can ignore the Y button and the comparator will work just as well.