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Quiet_Hollow

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Posts posted by Quiet_Hollow

  1. Yup. :emotion-21:

     

    USB adds another layer to the process (conversion of LPCM unbuffered data, to buffered, and back, along with any associated error), which happens to introduce an audible distortion at the DAC. I don't know specifically what that distortion is, but it is quite easy to discern with the ears.

     

    This is very case specific. I'm not talking asynchronous file transport here (like pulling something off of a memory stick or hard drive). Rather, it's USB audio out from a computer where the problems start. Same hardware, but different protocols. For a primer see here:

     

    http://www.edn.com/design/consumer/4376143/Fundamentals-of-USB-Audio

     

  2. 8 hours ago, SWL said:

    The reason why I mention this is because even though everything was digital changing the components changed the sound.

    The source of the confusion earlier in the thread lies in lumping all the hardware under one term "digital" for use in the logic argument, "all digital is the same."

     

    They are not, and it is not..particularly the various resultant forms (and subsequently perception) of any distortion(s)...an entirely different topic.

     

    The audible difference at play here is largely the conversion between transport layers, which frankly doesn't need to take place.

    OhOwell_zpsc79ae547.gif

    • Like 2
  3. 8 hours ago, vondy said:

    I need a more forgiving speaker, forgiving of the space and less than perfect recordings. I'd trade some detail for smoothness. I do want punch and that live sound though. I also want a quality product, yet I can't spend much more than I have on my used pristine Forte II's so used is fine.

    For the love of Pete, try a different amp. <_<

    • Like 3
  4. No problem. :emotion-22: Just keep all the measurements close together like others have mentioned, and it'll be fine.

     

    Contrary to their advertising literature and no matter how powerful the DSP algorithm employed, all commercial single mic methods are ultimately limited by the inability to determine azimuth and declination. So, mic'ing all over the place typically yields less-than-stellar results. Hence the fancy "closed loop" mic Trinnov developed and the jig included with some Yamaha YPAO receivers.

  5. 28 minutes ago, Youthman said:

    I haven't heard the RP series myself

    Whatever Klipsch designers set out to accomplish in the horn assemblies of the recent RP line, they nailed it. Last I demo'd them, they sounded excellent. Surprisingly so. I gather whatever research they put into the Palladium design had to have spilled over into their value lineup as well.

     

    Worth at least checking out in person. :emotion-21:

  6. I'm currently nursing a pair of Frazier CAT 40's back to health with a blown tweeter. I paired them up with the NAD C390DD for our "bedroom system." Still have to find that ideal-sounding location / high pass filter sweet spot for these...and how to possibly integrate a horn subwoofer into our platform bed.

     

    Been also tossing the idea around of pair of Klipsch RP160, RP150, or possibly even the Pioneer SP-EC73 driven by an SA-XR57 and a Rythmik Servo sub or BFM T18, for the guest bedroom.

     

    Done tweaking the main system for a while. Just kickin' back with it, and enjoying the fruits of our labor in that regard. Can it do better? Of course. Could anyone else but me tell otherwise? Very unlikely.

  7. I had to wait for the amp technology to catch up with my library.

     

    One word described the transition: LIQUID

     

    Water, juicy, creamy, smooth, milk, syrup, viscous, flows effortlessly...yup, that's digital, done right.

     

    "Aw, digital is gritty, harsh, lifeless, flat.....blah blah blah..."

     

    Sounds impossible, until you experienced it. Then the real journey begins. Some stuff sounds freaking amazing, while others not so much. Just like digital video, some native 4k stuff will leave your jaw on the floor in comparison to early cell phone videos floating around on eBaum's World that are barely watchable.

     

    Then you start to experience all the "shades of gray" in your source material.

    Lossy?  Nope.

    320? Still not enough to hide the warts for serious 2-ch.

    Lossless 16/44.1 LPCM ? The bench mark to measure all others. Sounds great when done right, but can sometimes hear the low-pass filter artifacts at volume. Completely underrated.

    16/48? DAY-yum!! This can't be digital?? So smooth!!

    24/96? Simply put, Reality.....limitless playback volume, dynamic range can tap out ANY system, without fault.

    DTS-MA? Great potential, so long as the soundtrack isn't squashed up against the rafters...unfortunately it usually is.

    Dolby True? Usually kick ***.

    Dolby ATMOS? Holy Crap. Now THAT is lossless surround sound! Object orientated is no joke. Will wow you even when downmixed.

    Digital FM? Sure....if they weren't broadcasting 128K MP3 all the time on 5 odd sidebands. NPR and a smattering of others are the only ones that have kept it close to real. Ideally, one station, one or two frequencies, full bandwidth...playing FLAC, CD or vinyl.

    HD radio? Can sell only because regular FM is so god-awful since the change to digital broadcast and subsequent overuse of lossy compression in support of multiplexing.

     

    It's a real trip to listen to a file and you can clearly discern when a track was pulled from a tape or record.

     

    • Like 3
  8. On 9/23/2016 at 3:10 AM, Weber said:

    I'm working on a bedroom that's ~ 12'x20'x20'.. I have read that a square room is the worst shape room to try have as a sound room.  

    Perhaps...but really when it's only too small. 12 foot ceiling is a BIG plus, and 20X20 won't hurt so bad as long as your not digging around 40 Hz or so.

     

    With a big enough room, the shape becomes much less of a factor.

  9. On 9/26/2016 at 11:50 AM, mark1101 said:

    Digital is digital and as long as the signal is clean and you have decent DACs you should not be able to tell which is which (FOR AUDIO).

     

    The issue here is there are a lot of cheap DACs out there with differing clocking schemes relative to dealing with Jitter.  You get what you pay for.

    There's incredible differences. Two completely different topologies running two completely different protocols. One was designed expressly for the transport of digital audio by the AES, the other by computer manufacturers for networking peripherals . It has nothing to do with cost as the hardware for either can be had for peanuts.

     

    On 9/26/2016 at 11:50 AM, mark1101 said:

    I see a lot of posts putting down USB.........Don't agree........try a Benchmark DAC2 and then report back to us (at least go online and read a few pages of the manual about the clocking).  I would put my PC music server with USB across my room under the carpet to my Benchmark DAC2 up against any other digital transport.  No problem.

    Try getting rid of the DAC all together. :wink:   But you didn't hear that me. :ph34r:

  10. I'm bumping this thread simply to reaffirm the importance of recognizing and diagnosing error in your system.

     

    These tools will help a person along that path.

     

    Got some "new-old" speakers in this past week. Clearly there's a problem after plugging them in, and without this trusty suitcase of diagnostic tools we'd be up a creek trying to figure out what's wrong.

  11. 2 hours ago, muel said:

    What is it about this that is better than using Toslink straight out from the PC to the DAC?  

    Depends on the available hardware. Some have it, some don't.

     

    2 hours ago, muel said:

    Does the HDMI help clean up something for the Toslink connection?  

    No. It's just a fancy pipeline to carry the LPCM.

  12. 58 minutes ago, jimjimbo said:

    This is really a pathetic thread.  "Hey, let's think of all the negative things we can about today's youth".....yea, that's productive.  Waaaa, Waaa, freakin' Waaaa.

    Agreed.

    • Like 2
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