Decisions, Decisions
Okay, let's apply room correction based upon the measurements taken earlier. I use a slight slope with 5dB of gain towards sub bass. I did try a flat line approach but found that the bass becomes too thin with the filter applied. Reading over the Audiolense guide, I noticed that there is a suggestion to slope things downward somewhat from low frequency to high frequency and I've found this to be my preference.
Let's have a quick look at the estimated room response for both DACs before we continue further. Unfortunately, Audiolense does not provide an option to record a frequency sweep after the correction has been applied. We've contacted Juice Hi-Fi about this and they've told us they're looking at providing this option in a future update. They did tell us that the estimated result is remarkably accurate based upon tests they've conducted themselves. If such an update is made available, we'll be sure to use the feature to present data in the future if the need arises.
Doede DAC |
Opus |
There is an unfortunate side effect at this point once the correction is applied to the TDA1543 DAC. The 20dB or so of attenuation applied by the filter means I have to turn the volume control to near maximum to get anywhere near the test volume I was using prior to applying the filters. A 6dB gain switch on the TVC does give me headroom of a couple of clicks, but it's far from optimal. To use this DAC with DRC, you'll either need to stack a number of TDA1543s in parallel or use some kind of gain stage on its output. Still, there's just about enough volume on tap for me to get an idea of its sonic signature in comparison to the earlier sound and in comparison to the WM8741.
With DRC engaged, instruments become far easier to pick out and subtle details are more noticeable at the listening position. The best word to describe the effects of DRC is balance. The other shocker is that the basic nature of both DACs remains the same. The TDA1543 midrange gains more edge definition especially on vocals (not that it needed them). The Opus soundstage gains pinpoint precision with lots of air. Complex passages of music are rendered without any perceivable congestion on both DACs.
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Christobevii3 - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
What about using a dts/ddl sound card to output to a basic receiver?Rajinder Gill - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
If going to the nth degree for 2 channel it’s hard to look past USB-I2S in async. For multichannel, a DTS/DDL card is perfectly adequate. Although I’d still use an external solution if I could find one.wolrah - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
How do you figure I2S is any better than S/PDIF? S/PDIF supports up to 20 bit resolution at either 48 or 44.1 KHz, so it can carry a CD audio stream natively. The bits on the disc are the bits flowing out the optical port on the back of your gear of choice.In theory an I2S signal will be able to take more interference, but when we're talking optical signals in a home environment the kind of interference needed to make a difference would be on the scale that you'd never be able to listen to anything.
Goty - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
Well that's easy to answer:Nope. I'll stick with my Martin Logans, tyvm.
wolrah - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
In fact it easily can, because plain and simple reading from the disc itself is error prone. A one time rip to WAV or [lossless format of your choice] using cdparanoia on its insane mode output through a high quality sound card will be the same as or better than any silly 4 digit CD player.Even playing straight off the disc, there's no reason to believe any "audiophile" gear will play a CD any better than any other CD player unless there's a design flaw like a crappy power supply.
On the note of power supply, am I the only one who laughed at the bit about the battery vs. the wall wart? Who wants to bet that he's never double-blind tested that one. That's the wonderful thing with A/V gear snake oil, it's very easy to hear what you want to hear.
mindless1 - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
I've hand-built amps for years and double-blind tested batteries and wall warts. Yes there is a difference. A good (read: overkill for anyone not into building audiophile equipment) localized power filter stage, if not localized regulation, would ideally negate the difference between the two power sources but that can also unnecessarily increase the build complexity, time, and cost.PS the battery is almost always inferior assuming the wart has proper shielding or is inadequate in capacity, and generally I refer to a wart as only a transformer and rectification stage, not trying to build an entire high precision linear regulation stage inside of it due to limited space and EMI.
Rajinder Gill - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
Martin Logan makes electrostatic loudspeakers if I recall.I'm not sure where that fits into using a PC as a transport and for DRC. Unless you're refering to the approval of open baffle design loudspeakers using te supravox drivers?plonk420 - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
this is surreal...my $20 Chaintech AV-710 just died in the last 48 hours. i've been trying to resist the Head-Fi audiophile talk and try to find cooler heads to verify whether or not i should go X-Fi or DAC (something silly looking like the HotAudio HotUSB1 or Silverstone), or try to figure out if i'm experiencing the placebo effect "falling back upon" my ALC883, which i can swear "doesn't sound as good" EVEN THOUGH i'm fully aware of the power of placebo.
i'm not sure i liked the mixed bag of positive and negative reports on (cheap) X-Fi vs Xonar vs X-Fi USB vs some DAC vs E-Mu 0404/0202
mindless1 - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
Choose a Creative card for gaming sound effects. Choose a DIY DAC for highest audio quality at a reasonable price. Buying some cheap commodity grade DAC is a gamble, I'm not familiar with those two products you mentioned but generally in the consumer segment and price range you end up buying an idea, a type of tech but not excellence in that execution.MOtherboard integrated audio usually doesn't sound as good including one using ALC883, though someone with poor hearing or gear may notice the difference less and less depending on where the weakest link in the chain is and how bad it is.
Gannon - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
I have an X-Fi and it's better then my audigy, mind you I got the more expensive version with front panel and the remote. I use it for everything and have never had a problem, though I don't use vista at all just XP.