Olive 04HD analogue or digital output?

[admin_exported]

Hi

I use my Olive in conjunction with a Cyrus 8xpd qx. If you have this set up do you find you get better results using the Olive's analogue output in to the Cyrus or the digital output in to the Cyrus?

cheers

 

[The_Lhc]

Which do you prefer? You own the kit, let us know, yours is the only opinion that's important.

 

[Anonymous]

It's Ian,

I have a definite favourite way round of connecting them. I have no idea which device has the better DAC and so was hoping someone might give some technical reason why one way should work better than another. Does the Olive or Cyrus do a better job converting the digital signal to analogue?

I prefer the sound made when I send the Olive analogue signal in to the Cyrus.

Ian.

 

[omnibeard]

I prefer the sound made when I send the Olive analogue signal in to the Cyrus.

Then Bob is definitely your uncle, no?

Ah, you want to know why Bob is your uncle...

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose I do want someone to tell me that this DAC is better than that DAC. If I don't get the answer I'm expecting will it make me change my mind about what sounds best.... I doubt it.

 

[omnibeard]

I suppose I do want someone to tell me that this DAC is better than that DAC. If I don't get the answer I'm expecting will it make me change my mind about what sounds best.... I doubt it.

Then Bob is certainly your uncle.

 

[Anonymous]

But which Bob as there are two of them in question.

 

[omnibeard]

But which Bob as there are two of them in question.

You know, Uncle Bob - your favourite uncle!

 

[The_Lhc]

But which Bob as there are two of them in question.

The one that gives you the sound you like best! That's all that matters, you even said yourself if someone told you the Cyrus DAC was better you wouldn't change and if you did you'd be a fool anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok you win with the uncle Robert thing

but to satisfy the techie geek that lies within me, does anyone know which DAC is likely to be better spec'd the Cyrus qx or the Olive 04HD?

it would open up a train of thought about the link between component quality and the sound produced that's all.

 

[drummerman]

One probably costs a fiver. The other one, pushing it, could be as much as £6.00.

Now we have a dilemma ...

... I just wish they'd make them with nicely coloured little legs. It really would make things easier.

regards

 

[Anonymous]

I thought I was asking an acceptable question but between drummer and omnibeard I feel what was the point of asking in the first place.

there has to be a technical reason for the difference I can detect and if someone has a sensible contribution to make I'd love to hear it.

 

[cse]

I thought I was asking an acceptable question but between drummer and omnibeard I feel what was the point of asking in the first place.

Agree, they both come across as very arrogant.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks cse, I note your response on my other thread too.

 

[drummerman]

You two should lighten up a little and perhaps more importantly ... not take things personal ...

There are bound to be likely minute differences between the Olive and the Cyrus. They probably dont use the same DAC and they almost certainly dont have the same output stage which ... most likely, will make the bigger although still small difference. - Both are probably done fairly well so should, in an ideal world produce equally acceptable results. I would however assume that the Olive, being their entry level product (?) has somewhat less elaborate engineering compared to their higher priced ones. Perhaps they just engineered some degrading of sound into it as, as far as I know, it is not too difficult to make a perfectly decent product with minimum engineering fuss based on the DAC boards freely available to most hifi manufacturer, high end or not.

Peace and love ... well love anyway

regards

 

[cse]

You two should lighten up a little and perhaps more importantly ... not take things personal ...

There are bound to be likely minute differences between the Olive and the Cyrus. They probably dont use the same DAC and they almost certainly dont have the same output stage which ... most likely, will make the bigger although still small difference. - Both are probably done fairly well so should, in an ideal world produce equally acceptable results. I would however assume that the Olive, being their entry level product (?) has somewhat less elaborate engineering compared to their higher priced ones. Perhaps they just engineered some degrading of sound into it as, as far as I know, it is not too difficult to make a perfectly decent product with minimum engineering fuss based on the DAC boards freely available to most hifi manufacturer, high end or not.

Peace and love ... well love anyway

regards

That's a much better response. Well-done, you can be nice if you make the effort.

 

[drummerman]

I'm mostly nice my little pickle

regards

 

[Anonymous]

The sound produced using the olive to cyrus analogue to analogue is IMO far more detailed, open , clearer and enjoyable compared to digital to digital. I was surprised by this as I expected the qx dac module to do a better job of reconstructing the analogue signal from the data stream, don't know why I thought this other than perhaps I believe the marketing.

the qx dac is great when I'm playing spotify off my mac, but not so good when the olive is the source. Anyway I'll just get back to enjoying the music and stop faffing.

 

[Craig M.]

You've been asking for technical reasons for your preference? This isn't a technical forum. Try asking somewhere like HydrogenAudio although I suspect I know what the answer will be.

 

[Anonymous]

... You can't eave it hanging like that, what do you suspect?

 

[drummerman]

... I was surprised by this as I expected the qx dac module to do a better job of reconstructing the analogue signal from the data stream, don't know why I thought this other than perhaps I believe the marketing.

... is probably what I would have assumed too

regards

 

[Craig M.]

... You can't eave it hanging like that, what do you suspect?

Level differences. I am guessing but if you could reliably pick them apart in a blind test, that is the most likely explanation. Our brains don't register very small variations in volume as a volume change, but as a change in 'sound'.

 

[Anonymous]

The Cyrus allows me to set different offsets for each input to counteract this kind of thing. So I have and even having done this, there is something qualitative about the sound which appeals to me more.

 

[Craig M.]

How? By ear? (the level thing) Not accurate enough apparently. I can't claim any kind of knowledge, but people who can think the levels need to be matched electrically. This lady (among others) has apparently shown that changes of just 0.3db can alter the perception of sound quality. Anyway, if you don't care to try and find out what causes the difference in the kind of forums that might provide an answer, then just enjoy your kit.

 

[omnibeard]

Agree, they both come across as very arrogant.

You're a sensitive little bunny, ain't you?