DAC blind test

[steve_1979]

Clicky

 

[steve_1979]

If you can't be bother to read all of the thread here are the results:

OK, so another really enjoyable day in the company of Darren(Yeats), Chris(thebiglebowski) and Andrew(Accuphaseman).

I'll keep this brief-ish.

We started by measuring the room using an XYZ (Darrren will correct me on the name!) analyzer. This showed that the room's resonant freq/issue is indeed 40Hz as calculations suggest. The GIK traps are helping a little on the 40Hz issue, but making a much bigger difference at the 80Hz level, and in general taming the room quite a lot. I think he has plots that he may be able to post later.

[edit] Shouldn't forget - we tried the "Akiko sticks" as an early AB. Applied them to the interconnects between pre and Active 50s. Difference? Nothing. Zilda. Diddly-squat. Zippo.

So, with the room sounding rather better than it did in DBO1 we started our sighted ABing. Most of the ABs were done using Sonos vs. Sonos into Young, but we also used the Tag McLaren CDT and the BlueSound that Chris brought over.

We certainly had some issues volume matching, but with the inverse log scale of the Tom Evans Vibe pre stepped volume we found two points within 0.1 db between the Sonos and Young. We tried both quick switching and whole track at a time ABs.

Results?

Simple. Even sighted we struggled to pin down any differences. There were the odd observations that "x sounds a bit more natural maybe", including once from me. However, a replay of the AB in question consistently came up with a "no, I can't hear the difference now" response from the original person who'd made the observation.

One of the quick ABs switches caused the volume to me "miss-selected" and caused a "hey, that sounds different" excited observation (louder was preferred). Luckily the visual difference on the volume control per each step is easy enough to spot and was subsequently picked up as the cause.

In various other tests where subtle differences were half-thought to exist a check on the volume variation was agreed to be the most likely explanation. Getting the BlueSound level matched to the Young proved harder, and a difference of 0.6db was the best we could manage. In these ABs the Young did sound possibly sound ever so subtly different, but the volume was again identified as "the difference" - though Darren noted that his perception of slightly more forward vocals was likely down to the non-linearity of human perception of volume changes (meaning the vocal range frequencies show the volume change the most). Even so, even given a 0.6db volume advantage the Young didn't really stand as anything other than minusculely (if that's a word) different.

When we wrapped up we did a poll - would you spend money on an expensive DAC?

Four out of four "No's".

Do you think differences exist?

A little more tricky. Possibly in a £50,000 system with perfect room response then perhaps there is still a little room for doubt (maybe, just maybe??), was the collective agreement, but certainly not in a merely "very good" system/room (mine!).

Well, that's it. Over to the criticism.

 

[CnoEvil]

You are a bit late to this particular party....OD has already linked to it.

A bit of carpet bombing does no harm though.

 

[steve_1979]

You are a bit late to this particular party....OD has already linked to it.

Ooops, sorry guys I missed that one.

The suns out so I've been neglecting the forums this week. :cheer:

A bit of carpet bombing does no harm though.

You can never have too many blind DAC threads to get audiophiles frothing at the mouth. :twisted:

 

[CnoEvil]

The suns out so I've been neglecting the forums this week. :cheer:

That is the sensible thing to do in good weather......Sunshine is in short supply, whereas it's only the same old Carp happening here! :shifty:

 

[nima]

"DAC deaf test" seems more appropriate for the title.

 

[Cypher]

I'm so tired of all of these tests.................

Just put on some music and enjoy

 

[steve_1979]

I'm so tired of all of these tests.................

Just put on some music and enjoy

Eric Bibb – Music

 

[unsleepable]

These reflect my own findings when I did A/B comparison of my current irDac with a previous Naim DAC-V1, working just as a DAC, about which I've posted before in this forum. I found the sound so extremely similar that I couldn't justify keeping the V1 as I was not using its preamp section—as much as I really liked it.

I've heard other DACs and found most to sound similar, although I haven't done a close comparison as I did with these two.

 

[Al ears]

I'm so tired of all of these tests.................

Just put on some music and enjoy

Eric Bibb – Music

Class. I have just about everything he has even done.

................ says he scrimping for enough pennies to buy a Chord Hugo....