What electronic audio products you want tested most

[Gregss]

Would like to see a new set of headphones (reasonably priced) reviewed.

MEZE AUDIO 105 AER | Wired Over-The-Ear Lightweight Audiophile Open-Back Headphones​

Regards,
Greg

 

[DanielT]

Amir. Can't you try this for fun? This eternal rant about the cozy tube distortion sound you know. At least that way we know if the program delivers the distortion it claims. After that, people can test for themselves and see how cozy it is (in the long run) with a lot of distortion.

What is PKHarmonic?​

PKHarmonic is a VST plugin for Windows, designed to add second and all the way up to the 8th harmonic by simulating a device non-linearity. A simple slider control for each harmonic lets you fine tune the level from -200dB to +10dB in real time, as you listen. This makes it possible to configure your playback software to generate similar levels of distortions to simulate a tube preamp or an amp, or another device with some level of non-linearity.

PKHarmonic VST Plugin - Audiophile Harmonics Generator | Distort documentation

PKHarmonic 1.0 is the initial release of this software. Use at your own risk!

distortaudio.org

 

[pkane]

Amir. Can't you try this for fun? This eternal rant about the cozy tube distortion sound you know. At least that way we know if the program delivers the distortion it claims. After that, people can test for themselves and see how cozy it is (in the long run) with a lot of distortion.

What is PKHarmonic?​

PKHarmonic is a VST plugin for Windows, designed to add second and all the way up to the 8th harmonic by simulating a device non-linearity. A simple slider control for each harmonic lets you fine tune the level from -200dB to +10dB in real time, as you listen. This makes it possible to configure your playback software to generate similar levels of distortions to simulate a tube preamp or an amp, or another device with some level of non-linearity.
View attachment 428423

PKHarmonic VST Plugin - Audiophile Harmonics Generator | Distort documentation

PKHarmonic 1.0 is the initial release of this software. Use at your own risk!

distortaudio.org

No need for Amir's AP to test this. Just use digital loopback to feed into REW or Multitone or other measurement software and use your favorite player with this VST enabled to see the result. Here are some examples:

H2 set to -60dB at 0dBFS 1Khz, using Foobar2k to play:

REW measurement of a 0dBFS 1Khz sine shows H2 at -60dB:

Same PKHarmonic setting, but now playing a two-tone DIN250/8k test signal at -1dBFS:

Let's add a higher level harmonic, H3 at -99.8dB:

Let's see if this does the right thing by measuring in REW. H2=-60dB, H3=-99.8dB, as expected:

And add higher-level harmonics:

Result: all harmonics measure exactly as set in PKHarmonic:

And with DIN250/8k signal:

Any other tests that you'd like to see?

 

[Robin L]

Seems like DACs and Headphone amps are a settled issue. However, power amps still come in many different levels of quality. The great underperformers are the AVRs.

 

[DanielT]

No need for Amir's AP to test this. Just use digital loopback to feed into REW or Multitone or other measurement software and use your favorite player with this VST enabled to see the result. Here are some examples:

H2 set to -60dB at 0dBFS 1Khz, using Foobar2k to play:
View attachment 428514

REW measurement of a 0dBFS 1Khz sine shows H2 at -60dB:
View attachment 428515

Same PKHarmonic setting, but now playing a two-tone DIN250/8k test signal at -1dBFS:
View attachment 428516

Let's add a higher level harmonic, H3 at -99.8dB:
View attachment 428521

Let's see if this does the right thing by measuring in REW. H2=-60dB, H3=-99.8dB, as expected:
View attachment 428522

And add higher-level harmonics:
View attachment 428525



Result: all harmonics measure exactly as set in PKHarmonic:
View attachment 428526
And with DIN250/8k signal:
View attachment 428530

Any other tests that you'd like to see?

It is perfectly sufficient for me with the tests you performed.

It was interesting.Thanks for testing and showing the results.

 

[DanielT]

No need for Amir's AP to test this. Just use digital loopback to feed into REW or Multitone or other measurement software and use your favorite player with this VST enabled to see the result. Here are some examples:

H2 set to -60dB at 0dBFS 1Khz, using Foobar2k to play:
View attachment 428514

REW measurement of a 0dBFS 1Khz sine shows H2 at -60dB:
View attachment 428515

Same PKHarmonic setting, but now playing a two-tone DIN250/8k test signal at -1dBFS:
View attachment 428516

Let's add a higher level harmonic, H3 at -99.8dB:
View attachment 428521

Let's see if this does the right thing by measuring in REW. H2=-60dB, H3=-99.8dB, as expected:
View attachment 428522

And add higher-level harmonics:
View attachment 428525



Result: all harmonics measure exactly as set in PKHarmonic:
View attachment 428526
And with DIN250/8k signal:
View attachment 428530

Any other tests that you'd like to see?

Sorry, I missed. Are you the one who created the PKHarmonic VST Plugin? Well done I must say.

For some time now, I have been running @pkane's PKHarmonic VST which has the ability to add various amounts of harmonic distortion.

Do we crave distortion?

For some time now, I have been running @pkane's PKHarmonic VST which has the ability to add various amounts of harmonic distortion. I have also played with some Exciter VST plugins which (unlike PK) allow for targeted addition of harmonic distortion - for example, you can add high frequency...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[pkane]

Are you the one who created the PKHarmonic VST Plugin? Well done I must say.

Yes, one and the same

 

[DanielT]

Yes, one and the same

Ha ha, I must be half blind. I see now that it even says PKHarmonic in your description of yourself.

I don't have golden ears, nor do I apparently have ...

 

[JRR]

I’d say look at the category and ask yourself if one would have multiple good choices at different price points to build a system based on available reviews.

We need another chinese DAC review or Purify/Hypex power amp review like we need a hole in our head. Any Topping product is likely going to be at least good enough. I think they have earned an assumed ride for awhile.

Home theater devices are more problematic, very common, and not as often reviewed. I think this is where some efforts would pay dividends.

 

[-Matt-]

We need another chinese DAC review or Purify/Hypex power amp review like we need a hole in our head.

Actually, I don't think we have seen measurements for a Purifi 1ET6525SA based amp yet. I'd be keen to see these, especially the power sweeps at different frequencies (as these are not on the datasheet).

Home theater devices are more problematic, very common, and not as often reviewed. I think this is where some efforts would pay dividends.

I'd like to see more AVRs etc being measured too.

 

[JRR]

Actually, I don't think we have seen measurements for a Purifi 1ET6525SA based amp yet. I'd be keen to see these, especially the power sweeps at different frequencies (as these are not on the datasheet).


I'd like to see more AVRs etc being measured too.

Its going to be in the upper end of the scale with the only blemish being mediocre distortion above 7khz and 10w.

 

[amirm]

I'd like to see more AVRs etc being measured too.

I have two AVRs here waiting to be tested.

 

[amirm]

Good to see amplifier testing still leads. I feel like I have been testing nothing but amplifiers in the last few months!

 

[jtwrace]

Speaking of which, I used to be able to go to the "Reviews" tab and select whatever product I wanted to see; I don't see that selection anymore. Is it somewhere else now or am I totally missing it?

 

[NADKEF listener]

NAD M66

 

[amirm]

Speaking of which, I used to be able to go to the "Reviews" tab and select whatever product I wanted to see; I don't see that selection anymore. Is it somewhere else now or am I totally missing it?

No, it is not you. It broke when we upgraded our underlying server APIs. Developer is working on fixing it....

 

[xNORgate]

Oooof! 40 pages! I must have gone thru every page in the past.
Of the 10 selectable hardware categories; not one is for small-form-factor ADCs (e.g.: E1DA Cosmos ADCiso).

I have a some errant analog audio output devices (RCA/XLR) around the house, that sure can use an ADC for Volume/EQ/etc.
There must not be that much demand for such *stand-alone, *reasonably priced, and *quality ADCs.
Yet, a torrent of DACs have saturated the audio market..., to the benefit of us all.

 

[westsail42]

Here is what I would like to see tested...

There seems to be this trend to put tubes in *everything*. Lots of Chinese makers are doing this. DAC+tubes, Preamps+tubes, phono stages, etc.

I am curious where their measurements fall WRT to comparable solid state devices. Many say tubes come with more noise and distortion over solid state but I wonder by how much?

 

[GabrielPhoto]

Any chance you can test the Topping D70 Octo. I am curious how it compares to the Pro Sabre.

 

[Bleib]

The only DAC that I'm curious about is DX5 II, but I'm sure Topping will send it to Amir anyway..