Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread Phil Leigh
pfarrell;542969 Wrote: Phil Leigh wrote: Don't disagree with any of this... my Beatles point was that the multi-tracks are inherently pre-eq'd by the nature of the equipment in use at the time Cute phrase. That is what all the knobs on studio consoles are for, many of them are a

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread Phil Leigh
pfarrell;542969 Wrote: Phil Leigh wrote: Don't disagree with any of this... my Beatles point was that the multi-tracks are inherently pre-eq'd by the nature of the equipment in use at the time Cute phrase. That is what all the knobs on studio consoles are for, many of them are a

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread cliveb
mswlogo;542665 Wrote: A good mixer will see if he let's a *FEW* (not ONE but a few) NARROW (beyond human hearing) fringe peaks clip a little then he can get more dynamic range Working within the context of a defined word length, allowing clipping does NOT give you more dynamic range. If

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread Pat Farrell
Phil Leigh wrote: Ah - the happy days when I traded my 32-channel analogue desk and twin 8-track machines for a 32-channel digital desk with full automation and unlimited channels of 24/48 DAW... In hindsight it wasn't progress - it was a VERY expensive mistake. Would it still be a mistake

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread mswlogo
darrenyeats;542897 Wrote: No, it is 0.5db reduction per step downwards from 100 (0db) to 1 (-49.5db) then at 0 silence. Your calculations are wrong. 75 volume is -12.5db (not -24db) and so 80 volume is -10db. Do all your calculations again and (not that I have to tell you this) get back

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread darrenyeats
mswlogo;543002 Wrote: Sorry but I think you're reading it all wrong. If you were right that would be even WORSE !! Because at 75% they said they get 75dB Dynamic Range (instead of ideally 96dB). So for 2-bits of attenuation (12.5dB as you say) they lose 24dB of dynamic range

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-03 Thread mswlogo
darrenyeats;543041 Wrote: Hi mswlogo, If I look at the original link (http://mysite.verizon.net/forumwebspace/RightMark/Test%20Reports/Volume.htm) I can't see where 75db is mentioned (except 75.8db, under volume 20 or what they call 50%). The point is that at 80 volume on Squeezebox

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Phil Leigh
mswlogo;542402 Wrote: I was listening to some mp3's on our common server at work and really liked one I had listened to a lot. So I bought the CD and ripped it to FLAC. It sounded aweful. Then I asked my coworker to bring in his CD. The one I bought was remastered as HDCD. Then I found out

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 01/05/10 05:16, mswlogo wrote: I work with analog and digital signals at data rates that would make your head spin. Replies like yours are priceless. I'm sorry that the clipping I'm referring to is beyond your grasp. Ah, here we go, the my dick is bigger than your dick reply.

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Phil Leigh
Final post on this thread for me: take a 16/44.1 file into Audacity make a copy, reduced by 6dB using Audacity's 24-bit level function (this mirrors an SB acting on redbook audio) diff the two result: 6dB of white noise - exactly what theory predicts due to reduction of SNR keep going,

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Here is an example of a well Mixed Recording. It is one of my standards I always use when evaluating systems. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/Kenny_Neal_What_You_Got_Full.jpg But if you look close it's CLIPPED. Will you hear this tiny bit of clipping never. The more I look at good

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Phil Leigh;542594 Wrote: Final post on this thread for me: take a 16/44.1 file into Audacity make a copy, reduced by 6dB using Audacity's 24-bit level function (this mirrors an SB acting on redbook audio) diff the two result: 6dB of white noise - exactly what theory predicts due to

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread darrenyeats
mswlogo;542627 Wrote: Here is an example of a well Mixed Recording. It is one of my standards I always use when evaluating systems. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/Kenny_Neal_What_You_Got_Full.jpg But if you look close it's CLIPPED. Will you hear this tiny bit of clipping,

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread darrenyeats
mswlogo;542627 Wrote: Here is an example of a poor mix. Way too much headroom over 6dB. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/Beach_Boys_Lonely_Sea.jpg A far far better looking waveform than your reference recording. The only problem is that it peaks too low. If it peaked at 0db that

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 16:35, mswlogo wrote: Here is an example of a well Mixed Recording. It is one of my standards I always use when evaluating systems. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/Kenny_Neal_What_You_Got_Full.jpg Hmm, we obviously have different ideas of well-mixed; it's certainly

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 17:47, darrenyeats wrote: mswlogo;542627 Wrote: Here is an example of a poor mix. Way too much headroom over 6dB. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/Beach_Boys_Lonely_Sea.jpg A far far better looking waveform than your reference recording. The only problem is that it

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread darrenyeats
Robin Bowes;542657 Wrote: - Hurt from American IV by Johnny Cash Um...that one is compressed to the point of distortion near the end. It's so obvious I'm guessing it was intentional. Maybe you like that but that ending is not a good example for dynamic range IMO. Darren -- darrenyeats

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 18:37, darrenyeats wrote: Robin Bowes;542657 Wrote: - Hurt from American IV by Johnny Cash Um...that one is compressed to the point of distortion near the end. It's so obvious I'm guessing it was intentional. Maybe you like that but that ending is not a good example for

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
darrenyeats;542645 Wrote: We have very different ideas about what looks like a good recording in Audacity. A good recording has very very few peaks at 0db, sometimes just one peak. That is because in real life music doesn't have a zillion peaks at exactly the same level. Neither does the

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 18:57, mswlogo wrote: There is probably a few dozen of those clips in that EXCELLENT recording. You can disagree on taste but it is an excellent recording. I disagree - to my mind, it is most certainly *not* an excellent recording. Nothing to do with taste - I actually like that

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Pat Farrell
Robin Bowes wrote: You understand what happens when you simply clip a peak, don't you? You know about the high frequency content in square waves? Robin, stop pulling you punches. The frequency bandwidth of a square wave is infinite. Even if one used a stupid high frequency sample rate, you are

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 19:25, Pat Farrell wrote: Robin Bowes wrote: You understand what happens when you simply clip a peak, don't you? You know about the high frequency content in square waves? Robin, stop pulling you punches. The frequency bandwidth of a square wave is infinite. Even if one used

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542669 Wrote: On 02/05/10 18:57, mswlogo wrote: There is probably a few dozen of those clips in that EXCELLENT recording. You can disagree on taste but it is an excellent recording. I disagree - to my mind, it is most certainly *not* an excellent recording. Nothing to do

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542660 Wrote: On 02/05/10 17:47, darrenyeats wrote: mswlogo;542627 Wrote: Here is an example of a poor mix. Way too much headroom over 6dB. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/Beach_Boys_Lonely_Sea.jpg A far far better looking waveform than your reference

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Pat Farrell
mswlogo wrote: You guys are clueless. Now you resort to personal insults. That lowers your SeanTrollScale to 0/10 You are still a troll Do not feed the trolls. -- Pat Farrell http://www.pfarrell.com/ ___ audiophiles mailing list

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread andynormancx
Curiously he appears to be having the same conversation elsewhere... http://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflatNumber=117190#Post117190 -- andynormancx Yes, it will. Yes, all of them. Yes, SoftSqueeze as well. What ? I SAID ALL OF THEM !

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 20:00, mswlogo wrote: Ok, here is 30secs of this terrible recording. I didn't say it was a terrible recording, I said it was not a good recording. Let me know which samples you hear that clipped. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/a%20terrible%20recording.zip No need

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 20:20, mswlogo wrote: Yeah modern studio's like Telarc compress the crap out of everything. http://www.amazon.com/What-You-Kenny-Neal-Noel/dp/B4SGR7 I can't speak about other Telarc recordings that I have not heard, and I know that some of their classical recordings that I

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542702 Wrote: On 02/05/10 20:20, mswlogo wrote: Yeah modern studio's like Telarc compress the crap out of everything. http://www.amazon.com/What-You-Kenny-Neal-Noel/dp/B4SGR7 I can't speak about other Telarc recordings that I have not heard, and I know that some

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread andynormancx
mswlogo;542703 Wrote: But it's not over compressed and the clipping is essentially non existent. By which you mean the clipping exists. -- andynormancx Yes, it will. Yes, all of them. Yes, SoftSqueeze as well. What ? I SAID ALL OF THEM !

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread andynormancx
mswlogo;542703 Wrote: But it's not over compressed and the clipping is essentially non existent. By which you mean the clipping exists. -- andynormancx Yes, it will. Yes, all of them. Yes, SoftSqueeze as well. What ? I SAID ALL OF THEM !

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
andynormancx;542696 Wrote: Curiously he appears to be having the same conversation elsewhere... http://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflatNumber=117190#Post117190 You found my signature !! I run that site and you can see the tone of the replies as well. You

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
andynormancx;542704 Wrote: By which you mean the clipping exists. Yes that track has clipping. It's too small to even consider attenuating or compressing to get rid of it. You'd do more harm than good if you got rid of it. There are other ways to get rid of too. But it's total nonsense to

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 21:10, mswlogo wrote: That album is not over compressed. Again, I didn't say it was over-compressed - I said it had a lot of compression, which it does. It's a bold track no doubt and it may not be your cup o tea. I'm not commenting on the musical content, merely the sound. As

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread andynormancx
mswlogo;542705 Wrote: This is on $10K to $300K systems. I'm afraid I am naturally suspicious of the judgement of anyone who has spent $300K on a hifi setup. -- andynormancx Yes, it will. Yes, all of them. Yes, SoftSqueeze as well. What ? I SAID ALL OF THEM !

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mlsstl
mswlogo;542681 Wrote: Ok, here is 30secs of this terrible recording. Let me know which samples you hear that clipped. http://softronix.com/pictures/levelperfect/a%20terrible%20recording.zip I hope the performer does not shoot me but I suspect after some folks hear even this short

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 22:29, mlsstl wrote: Tell me again what's getting lost in the mud at -80 and -90 dB? You mean you can't hear the marching band at 0:19 - 0:25 ?? ;) R. ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
mlsstl;542726 Wrote: I downloaded the clip and took a look at it in Adobe Audition. The track I looked at showed no clipping at all. The highest peak was -0.19 dB. Of course that could have been dynamically limited during the recording, mixing or mastering process, but there is more than one

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542731 Wrote: On 02/05/10 22:29, mlsstl wrote: Tell me again what's getting lost in the mud at -80 and -90 dB? You mean you can't hear the marching band at 0:19 - 0:25 ?? ;) R. When you don't have a good technical explanation this what people resort to. Brahms and

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread andynormancx
mswlogo;542736 Wrote: You spent too much, so you must be idiot? That isn't what I said at all. There are plenty of very bright people who lose all sense of judgement when it comes to expensive hi-fi. -- andynormancx Yes, it will. Yes, all of them. Yes, SoftSqueeze as well. What ? I SAID

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 23:08, mswlogo wrote: When you don't have a good technical explanation this what people resort to. Brahms and Marching bands in the same cut. What do you do for work? You're not a musician are you? You spent too much, so you must be idiot? I'm waiting for the spelling

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542749 Wrote: On 02/05/10 23:08, mswlogo wrote: When you don't have a good technical explanation this what people resort to. Brahms and Marching bands in the same cut. What do you do for work? You're not a musician are you? You spent too much, so you must

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 02/05/10 23:53, mswlogo wrote: As I have defended myself the insults go up. So now you're saying the example I gave isn't clipping? You will recall that I have said previously: ... or you're possibly using the term incorrectly. I believe you are using the term incorrectly. There is a

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Here is another famous tune. This is the remastered version. I know, I know, it's Hardlimited, Overcompressed crap. Red lines show clipping. I could find 100 tunes easily of good recordings that are not over compressed (which actually has nothing to do with clipping).

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 03/05/10 00:32, mswlogo wrote: Here is another famous tune. This is the remastered version. I know, I know, it's Hardlimited, Overcompressed crap. Red lines show clipping. I could find 100 tunes easily of good recordings that are not over compressed (which actually has nothing to do

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542757 Wrote: On 02/05/10 23:53, mswlogo wrote: As I have defended myself the insults go up. So now you're saying the example I gave isn't clipping? You will recall that I have said previously: ... or you're possibly using the term incorrectly. I believe you are

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread darrenyeats
mswlogo;542665 Wrote: So you're saying you'd sacrifice some dynamic range for 1 peak, one sample wide. If you believe your reference track has been limited in respect of just one sample then fine but if you want to know what I'm saying read my earlier posts. -- darrenyeats

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread Robin Bowes
On 03/05/10 00:39, mswlogo wrote: In the correction I said your not actually getting more dynamic range but your better fitting the data to the window of dynamic range you have by letting it clip a little. Yes, so you're actually *reducing* dynamic range. If folks are using The Knob I

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread robinbowes
Replying through the forum to catch your edits... mswlogo;542762 Wrote: Now your playing games with calling it compression to cover your back side. That is total B.S. It's not compressed, it's not hard limited it has inaudible minor clipping and it sounds great on my system. You really

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
robinbowes;542771 Wrote: Replying through the forum to catch your edits... You really believe that track is not compressed? Yes, it may sound great, but it is most definitely compressed. And I, in common with pretty much every one else who has replied on here, believe you're wrong

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mlsstl
mswlogo;542735 Wrote: I just verified it with two well respected tools and that clip is clipped. Whatever. I always thought Adobe Audition was a pretty respectable program, but I'm really not the one who's in the middle of the clipping debate. My question was about the quiet end of the

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread DCtoDaylight
mlsstl;542775 Wrote: Why does material need to be clipped (or run close to clipping) for a track that, for practical purposes, has 20 or 30 dB worth of dynamic range? That's the subject of a whole different discussion! The insane loudness war's that seem to prevail the mixing studio's these

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542768 Wrote: On 03/05/10 00:39, mswlogo wrote: In the correction I said your not actually getting more dynamic range but your better fitting the data to the window of dynamic range you have by letting it clip a little. Yes, so you're actually *reducing* dynamic range.

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
I looked at that first test one more time. It is 50% of the dB scale. They end up with 72dB dynamic range at Volume of 20. Take a 16bit word inside 20bits and shift it 8 bits to the right (that's 48dB - 1/2 the log scale). Now you have 12bits (you lost 4 bits because it's not really a 24bit

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
I didn't want to edit my post since some are using RSS etc. I'm referring to this test. Good test by the way. http://mysite.verizon.net/forumwebspace/RightMark/Test%20Reports/Volume.htm Look at Volume 30. That is the same as Volume 75 today. That's about 24dB attenuation (they mark as 75%).

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread mswlogo
I didn't want to edit my post since some are using RSS etc. I'm referring to this test. Good test by the way. http://mysite.verizon.net/forumwebspace/RightMark/Test%20Reports/Volume.htm Look at Volume 30. That is the same as Volume 75 today. That's about 24dB attenuation (they mark as 75%).

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-02 Thread audiomuze
DCtoDaylight;542776 Wrote: There's no excuse for, or need of, digital clipping with the resolution of today's gear, yet sadly, it's not uncommon. I've got DVD-Audio disks with clipping, even with their 24 bit capability. Sad, sad, sad...Please could you share the titles so that I can avoid

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Themis
I follow this with interest, as I know little on the subject. I hope you folks will stop being rude to each other and won't let your passion spoil the debate... :( -- Themis SBT - North Star dac 192 - Croft 25Pre and Series 7 power - Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Phil Leigh
I've studied the Meridian papers and the 518 manual. In 1995, the 518 was addressing certain very real problems that to some extent have now been addressed in other ways. Specifically, their major concern is optimising the transfer function across boundaries where bit-depth changes and

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Themis
Phil Leigh;542199 Wrote: For the last time... if you can't hear a marching band mixed into Brahms Lullaby in the bottom 3-bits of a 16-bit full-scale peak recording, you can't hear the bottom 3-bits of the Lullaby either I'm not sure about that, Phil. The marching band is

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Phil Leigh
Themis;542213 Wrote: I'm not sure about that, Phil. The marching band is uncorrelated to the Brahms, so it is treated as background noise. The fact that you can't hear it, doesn't necessarily mean that if you had 3 bits of correlated signal it wouldn't be noticeable. Does it ? Themis -

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread michael123
guys maybe you stop talking about bits in audiophile section? do not tell me that I do not hear when I do :-) -- michael123 michael123's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=23745 View this thread:

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Themis
Phil Leigh;542240 Wrote: Themis - Try it for yourself and see what you think. In one version the bottom 3 bits are the bottom 3 (100% correlated) bits of the lullaby, in the other they have been replaced by something else (in this case a marching band mixed with the lullaby, could have been

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread mswlogo
Phil Leigh;542199 Wrote: That's your homework... now play nicely. Very nice post Phil. I agree with a lot of it except a couple things. People keep using Brahms and Marching bands simultaneously as an example. Well I for one don’t listen to Smashing pumpkins and harp in the same digital

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread darrenyeats
michael123;542242 Wrote: maybe you stop talking about bits in audiophile section? do not tell me that I do not hear when I do :-) What you're saying now is I hear this which is a different kind of statement. I don't question what you hear. I do question ...and Don't EVER use Digital Volume

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread michael123
darrenyeats;542301 Wrote: What you're saying now is I hear this which is a different kind of statement. I don't question what you hear. I do question ...and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control and Digital Attenuation is BAD BAD BAD BAD even just a little is BAD. There are many

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Phil Leigh
michael123;542304 Wrote: Why do you think BTW that both John Atkinson from Stereophile, and Steven Stone from Absolute Sound recommend putting Transporter on 100? BTW, both are excellent sound engineers.. I'd put more store in what Ethan Weiner says than either of those guys,

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread Phil Leigh
mswlogo;542277 Wrote: Very nice post Phil. I agree with a lot of it except a couple things. People keep using Brahms and Marching bands simultaneously as an example. Well I for one don’t listen to Smashing pumpkins and harp in the same digital sample. Music swings from high to

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread empty99
Just looking at your gig, nice TV! In my ear mind, I would think it's better if you can switch your listening position to achieve a more LEDE, Live End Dead End setup, putting your stereo on the flat wall side and your chair on the open side. As it is, you will get lots of early echo from the

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread mlsstl
Phil Leigh;542321 Wrote: You can't keep (blindly) shifting the level up ONLY when things get quieter... Well, you -can- do that, but then what's the point of dynamic range if one simply wants to turn the soft parts up (which makes the loud parts too loud)? There is a school of thought that

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread mswlogo
Phil Leigh;542321 Wrote: However, the crucial thing with HDCD is that it doesn't sound in any way bad on a non-HDCD DAC... I was listening to some mp3's on our common server at work and really liked one I had listened to a lot. So I bought the CD and ripped it to FLAC. It sounded aweful.

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-05-01 Thread mswlogo
empty99;542386 Wrote: Just looking at your gig, nice TV! In my ear mind, I would think it's better if you can switch your listening position to achieve a more LEDE, Live End Dead End setup, putting your stereo on the flat wall side and your chair on the open side. As it is, you will get

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread brodeur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_masking Phil Leigh;541860 Wrote: Your last test has already been done, as I posted earlier. The fact is that people cant hear a brass marching band stuffed into the bottom bits of a 16-bit file playing Brahms Lullaby! Ironically, if they could,

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread michael123
Phil Leigh;541860 Wrote: I'm still not clear exactly what effect you think digital attenuation has on the sound? For my (usually low) listening levels, analog preamp sound enjoyable, while digital lacks bass, imaging... Sounds nonsense? -- michael123

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread darrenyeats
Imagine sitting a comfortable distance from your 50 1080HD TV screen. Imagine someone reduces the size of a picture from fullscreen to 1/128th the size - a 7 bit reduction of digital volume to a dithered 15x8 pixel image. Is the image noticeably more pixellated than with a fullscreen image? If

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread darrenyeats
Imagine sitting a comfortable distance from your 50 1080HD TV screen. Imagine someone reduces the size of a picture from fullscreen to 1/128th the size - a 7 bit reduction of digital volume to a dithered 15x8 pixel image. Is the image noticeably more pixellated than with a fullscreen image? If

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
Phil Leigh;541860 Wrote: You are also missing the point about human hearing vs what systems can actually do in terms of dynamic range. There are very few hi-fi systems that can generate 120dB of clean sound. Even so, the human ear cannot actually hear 0dB and 120dB AT THE SAME TIME

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread darrenyeats
mswlogo;541941 Wrote: Who says I have to listen to 0 and 120dB at the same time to enjoy 120dB of dynamic range? Doesn't your music get loud and soft. Mine certainly does. Even in the same song. Or movie for that matter. So yeah when it's loud and busy I won't hear missing low bits. But

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
cliveb;541971 Wrote: Darren: you, Phil I are flogging a dead horse. mswlogo is either a troll or his mistaken beliefs are so deep rooted as to be unshiftable. All we can do is present the facts here in the hope that others will understand. It seems most in this thread do understand and do

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
darrenyeats;541951 Wrote: You're discussing the limits of digital reproduction, not digital volume control. As I showed with my analogy if CD's 96db of dynamic range is not enough for you then it isn't enough - digital volume control isn't the actual problem. Limits of digital reproduction

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mlsstl
mswlogo;541993 Wrote: Limits of digital reproduction and digital volume ARE related !!! I like your using the TV for an analogy but unfortunately it's completely wrong. It's interesting to watch the back and forth in discussions like this. However, the reality is that digital volume

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread audiomuze
mlsstl;542006 Wrote: It's interesting to watch the back and forth in discussions like this. However, the reality is that digital volume control is probably already permanently embedded in the vast majority of all recordings of the past 20 years, including classical. At some point, an

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Phil Leigh
mlsstl;542006 Wrote: It's interesting to watch the back and forth in discussions like this. However, the reality is that digital volume control is probably already permanently embedded in the vast majority of all recordings of the past 20 years, including classical. At some point, an

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Themis
It's true that the studio productions are so pristine for the vast majority of the records produced... :D -- Themis SBT - North Star dac 192 - Croft 25Pre and Series 7 power - Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus Themis's

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
Phil Leigh;542026 Wrote: This is so true. Does anyone really think engineers/producers sit there in studios, staring at banks of digital faders (real or virtual or both) and think hmmm, better not touch any of those in case the sound falls apart.. No they don't. They mix/master the

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread darrenyeats
mswlogo;541993 Wrote: Limits of digital reproduction and digital volume ARE related !!! What I meant was that the discussion of 16 bits versus 20 bits is one thing but it's separate to digital volume control. Once you've settled on a number of bits you're happy with (let's say for you 20 bits,

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Robin Bowes
On 30/04/10 20:28, mswlogo wrote: ... the pristine ones always take full advantage of all the dynamic range and have just an itty bit of clipping. So, you think that the best sounding CDs have digital clipping??? I think that speaks volumes. R. ___

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542127 Wrote: On 30/04/10 20:28, mswlogo wrote: ... the pristine ones always take full advantage of all the dynamic range and have just an itty bit of clipping. So, you think that the best sounding CDs have digital clipping??? I think that speaks volumes. R.

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Robin Bowes
On 01/05/10 02:11, mswlogo wrote: Robin Bowes;542127 Wrote: On 30/04/10 20:28, mswlogo wrote: ... the pristine ones always take full advantage of all the dynamic range and have just an itty bit of clipping. So, you think that the best sounding CDs have digital clipping??? I think that

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542141 Wrote: On 01/05/10 02:11, mswlogo wrote: Robin Bowes;542127 Wrote: On 30/04/10 20:28, mswlogo wrote: ... the pristine ones always take full advantage of all the dynamic range and have just an itty bit of clipping. So, you think that the best sounding CDs have

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Robin Bowes
On 01/05/10 03:02, mswlogo wrote: Robin Bowes;542141 Wrote: On 01/05/10 02:11, mswlogo wrote: Robin Bowes;542127 Wrote: On 30/04/10 20:28, mswlogo wrote: ... the pristine ones always take full advantage of all the dynamic range and have just an itty bit of clipping. So, you think that

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
Robin Bowes;542150 Wrote: On 01/05/10 03:02, mswlogo wrote: Robin Bowes;542141 Wrote: On 01/05/10 02:11, mswlogo wrote: Robin Bowes;542127 Wrote: On 30/04/10 20:28, mswlogo wrote: ... the pristine ones always take full advantage of all the dynamic range and have just an itty

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Pat Farrell
mswlogo wrote: I work with analog and digital signals at data rates that would make your head spin. Specifics please? Replies like yours are priceless. I'm sorry that the clipping I'm referring to is beyond your grasp. 1/10 -- Pat Farrell http://www.pfarrell.com/

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
pfarrell;542158 Wrote: mswlogo wrote: I work with analog and digital signals at data rates that would make your head spin. Specifics please? Replies like yours are priceless. I'm sorry that the clipping I'm referring to is beyond your grasp. 1/10 -- Pat Farrell

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread Pat Farrell
mswlogo wrote: We determine the speed at which IONS fly through a vaccum in order to determine their Mass. I did that in high school physics class, over 40 years ago. You are still a troll, and your score is no higher than 1/10 on the SeanTrollScale -- Pat Farrell http://www.pfarrell.com/

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
pfarrell;542164 Wrote: mswlogo wrote: We determine the speed at which IONS fly through a vaccum in order to determine their Mass. I did that in high school physics class, over 40 years ago. You are still a troll, and your score is no higher than 1/10 on the SeanTrollScale --

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-30 Thread mswlogo
pfarrell;542164 Wrote: mswlogo wrote: We determine the speed at which IONS fly through a vaccum in order to determine their Mass. I did that in high school physics class, over 40 years ago. You are still a troll, and your score is no higher than 1/10 on the SeanTrollScale --

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-29 Thread acanning
Thanks for all your help chaps, much appreciated. I'll go and have another play with the setup over the weekend. I like the idea of using the 518 as a preamp and keeping things 'digital' as long as possible but the 502 is such a lovely piece of kit that it seems a shame not to use it! Many

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-29 Thread mswlogo
Wow lot posts since I last checked this thread. Folks I'm well aware of Practice vs Theory. The point of the test is to check *ROUGHLY* what your limit is. I was actually surprised I could easily hear 18bits or more (GRANTED at full analog volume). Also keep in mind when you use digital

Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

2010-04-29 Thread Phil Leigh
mswlogo;541844 Wrote: Wow lot posts since I last checked this thread. Folks I'm well aware of Practice vs Theory. The point of the test is to check *ROUGHLY* what your limit is. I was actually surprised I could easily hear 18bits or more from sweet spot (GRANTED at full analog

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