What Hifi component should be the first priority?

[ToppingSMSL]

They will never be completely flat, that's just not going to be possible also, you are ignoring the fact that manufacturers will often apply filtering (e.g. high frequency roll-off) to modify the output.

You really need to take off those barn door sized blinkers. You are entitled to have your own point of view but, you are not entitled to, effectively, assume that anyone who disagrees with you, is always wrong and therefore stupid.

You have an opinion, that's all it is. You have to learn to understand that not everyone will share your opinion and, that does not mean that they MUST be wrong.

Look at the measured frequency responses of DACs. They are *amazingly* flat. Investigate things before commenting on them, please!

 

[Friesiansam]

Look at the measured frequency responses of DACs. They are *amazingly* flat. Investigate things before commenting on them, please!

OK the actual DAC chip may be very close to flat but, you are never listening to just the DAC chip. The way the DAC is implemented, with the other circuitry and components, together with how that is all tuned, does affect the sound, there is no getting away from it.

 

[Friesiansam]

I’m taking a break from this forum, before I say something that gets me banned and, I’ve had enough of banging my head againts a wall of wilful ignorance.

 

[Al ears]

I’m taking a break from this forum, before I say something that gets me banned and, I’ve had enough of banging my head againts a wall of wilful ignorance.

You could just click on Ignore....., Just saying

 

[ToppingSMSL]

OK the actual DAC chip may be very close to flat but, you are never listening to just the DAC chip. The way the DAC is implemented, with the other circuitry and components, together with how that is all tuned, does affect the sound, there is no getting away from it.

No. DACs are measured at the outputs on the back of the device - the RCA or balanced outputs. They are *not* measured at the chip outputs! Please check these things before replying. I must have to tell people think every couple of months on here.

And AI ears liked your post and I'm pretty damn sure he must have seen me explain this before. It blows my mind this kind of thing, seriously.

 

[RTHerringbone]

You could just click on Ignore....., Just saying

I have one person on ignore and it's THAT one, and this thread has been fine with their "contribution" hidden from me.

Some people can't be reasoned or debated with and by denying them any interaction, their trolling will soon head to a different forum.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

I'm not trolling.

 

[davidf]

Trolls all sound the same. I can show you the graphs.

 

[Jasonovich]

Trolls all sound the same. I can show you the graphs.

Laughing Meme GIFs | GIFDB.com

Found on Bing from gifdb.com

sl.bing.net

 

[ToppingSMSL]

The trolls have certainly entered the chat now...

 

[JDl]

There's a wealth of evidence showing that expecting bias and placebo are very real. Especially in acoustics.

Yes....and....

I’m taking a break from this forum, before I say something that gets me banned and, I’ve had enough of banging my head againts a wall of wilful ignorance.

Don't let anyone get to you. You have decent contributions to make, and I for one like reading what you have to say. In the end, it doesn't make any difference to anything, what any of us think. Stay put dude. 👍🏻

 

[Jasonovich]

Yes....and....

Don't let anyone get to you. You have decent contributions to make, and I for one like reading what you have to say. In the end, it doesn't make any difference to anything, what any of us think. Stay put dude. 👍🏻

Yes absolutely.

 

[Gray]

Never any need to ignore anyone.
Everyone has a point to make, even if we don't agree with it - like the desperate remainer that (semi-diplomatically) labelled me as a racist in the Brexit debate.

 

[davidf]

Ok, let's put this to bed. If we use Topping as an example of a manufacturer of DACs that design and manufacture to a level that essentially cancels out high end/more expensive DACs, why do they produce 19 DAC models in total? And why are they bringing out a new "flagship model"?

That makes 20, and will presumably be more expensive.

If competently designed DACs all sound the same, as claimed, the above makes zero sense.

 

[Dave_]

,why do they produce 19 DAC models in total? And why are they bringing out a new "flagship model"?

Why do you sell audioquest & audiomica cables?

 

[idc]

Ok, let's put this to bed. If we use Topping as an example of a manufacturer of DACs that design and manufacture to a level that essentially cancels out high end/more expensive DACs, why do they produce 19 DAC models in total? And why are they bringing out a new "flagship model"?

That makes 20, and will presumably be more expensive.

If competently designed DACs all sound the same, as claimed, the above makes zero sense.

An ABX blind test would reliably determine if the DACs sound different and if the most expensive sounds better than the cheapest.

A link to a DAC blind test that found no difference. It is, however, only between 2 DACs, with 4 participants.

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/dac-blind-test-no-audible-difference-whatsoever.314762/

To get round the issue of such a small sample not inherently being able to produce a reliable result, meta testing is needed. The problem is finding properly run ABX tests.

​

 

[Al ears]

Why do you sell audioquest & audiomica cables?

Who's Audiomica??

 

[Jasonovich]

I'm tempted to say, the most important component is your mind.
I don't mean to bastardise my opening thread but there's a place you need to be, prior to boarding on to the carousel called Hifi.

I say it with qualification, I'm not alluding to placebo or confirmation bias or any cultist leanings towards a certain concept or belief.
No, something more akin to what made you enter into the sphere of listening to music.

The boxes produce the magic, it paints the acoustic picture your ears find agreeable. This may take you up to the doorsteps of Nirvana or stop short halfway.
Your mind is the trigger that sets you off your journey and this is the mirror of your inner essence.

 

[Dave_]

Who's Audiomica??

I'd suggest you direct that question to the person that stocks them....

 

[matthewpianist]

Only if you're listening subjectively. There's a lot to discuss really if you are only listening subjectively and have failed to volume match.

Subjective is how

I'm tempted to say, the most important component is your mind.
I don't mean to bastardise my opening thread but there's a place you need to be, prior to boarding on to the carousel called Hifi.

I say it with qualification, I'm not alluding to placebo or confirmation bias or any cultist leanings towards a certain concept or belief.
No, something more akin to what made you enter into the sphere of listening to music.

The boxes produce the magic, it paints the acoustic picture your ears find agreeable. This may take you up to the doorsteps of Nirvana or stop short halfway.
Your mind is the trigger that sets you off your journey and this is the mirror of your inner essence.

So true. I listened to music on Monday evening, and was struck by how wonderful my system sounded. On Tuesday evening, after a 13-hour day, it sounded awful. Yesterday it again sounded very engaging. The system didn't change, but my mind did. Like you, I'm not talking about placebo or confirmation bias, just human variation. A different system could have sounded even better on the good days, or even worse on the bad days.

 

[Al ears]

I'd suggest you direct that question to the person that stocks them....

He doesn't, you spelt it wrong...

 

[Dave_]

He doesn't, you spelt it wrong...

Really?

Audiomica – Reference Cables For Your System

audiomica.com

 

[manicm]

Anyone's decision on hifi is pretentious. Because purchasing is often subjective. And what he said is in reality quite true. You're going to buy what sounds good to you, unless you come out with measurements.

 

[Jasonovich]

Anyone's decision on hifi is pretentious. Because purchasing is often subjective. And what he said is in reality quite true. You're going to buy what sounds good to you, unless you come out with measurements.

There's the measurement brigade and there are people who are actually passionate about HiFi and never shall the twain meet.

It's a shame because it goes against the spirit of the hobby. 🙂

 

[Al ears]

Really?

Audiomica – Reference Cables For Your System

audiomica.com

Odd, because there's also Audimeca