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  1. E

    With the rapid changes in DAC technology, which is most MUSICAL? New or old design?

    In a nutshell, here are the differences in older D/A chip performance and newer D/A chip performance: 1) older NOS chips deliver a more analog sound because of the lack of digital filtering, but generally don't deliver the best detail and imaging 2) newer chips have the potential to outperform...
  2. E

    Trinity's claims vs. what actually happens in digital

    Being another DAC manufacturer, I read this with much interest. My experience since the advent of digital audio has been that jitter was initially the main deficiency and then later with the advent of oversampling Sigma-Delta D/A chips and lower jitter solutions, digital filtering became the...
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    DACs with internal master clocks: less importance of transport?

    It's fairly difficult to actually lose bits. With a short cable, you can even use a piece of hanger wire... The jitter will be terrible though. Steve N.
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    DAC volume control conundrum

    This is definitely the best way to do digital audio, but there is one caveat: the output driver and volume control technology in the DAC must be up to snuff. A weak output driver using op-amps will kill this, as well as a poorly implemented volume control technology. Using 100% DSP volume...
  5. E

    DACs with internal master clocks: less importance of transport?

    Sure. It depends on what kind of reclocking is used in the DAC. If it is at all sensitive to incoming jitter, it will matter, otherwise not. Many DACs that claim to be insensitive to incoming jitter actually are. I've tested lots of them. Steve N.
  6. E

    DACs with internal master clocks: less importance of transport?

    Incorrect signal is added to a particular signal edge. This only shifts the edge in time slightly, it does not change the intention of the edge, either 1-0 or 0-1. Steve N.
  7. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    I've built cables using ROMEX. They are okay for the home theater but not 2-channel. More technology is needed for these. Steve N.
  8. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    Filters on the current-carrying conductors are a bad idea IMO. These limit di/dt. On the other hand, filters on the earth ground wire are very useful. They can limit ground currents caused by ground-loops. Steve N.
  9. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    Al - this data used to be on my website when I sold cables. It's not 20X. The 6 foot cable measures the same as 20 feet of ROMEX. I have the data, but its not easy to get to now.... Steve N.
  10. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    Here is my experience with power cords (I used to design and sell them, but not anymore). I have performed a lot of simulations, measurements and listening tests on cords. 1) stranded copper cords can have much higher inductance than ROMEX - 6 foot stranded cord was measured to have the same...
  11. E

    Why Tube Amps Sound Different (and better) Than SS Amps

    You might want to try a new transformer technology from Japan called Finemet. This is unlike any other transformer I have tried. Does not saturate and extends to very high frequencies. Very dynamic. I use it in my Final Drive product. I compared it to my all-silver Music First passive...
  12. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    There's a name I know. Worked at Sperry-Univac in the early 80's, but on disk controllers. I actually designed tape controllers for StorageTek in the 70's. Never seen a tape drive with tubes in it. Before my time. I worked on the vacuum-column models that did GCR recording. Steve N.
  13. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    This has nothing to do with impedance. Has everything to do with the active input devices and how they react to transient voltages. Most amps need some current to be dynamic, not just voltage. I know what I'm talking about here. I have 30+ years experience with lots of amps and different...
  14. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    You can do with 2. These are autoformers I believe, so I would want a 1:1 after it. Steve N.
  15. E

    Dynamics!!!

    I would try spacers. You can always put it back.
  16. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    These Thyratrons are about 6-7 inches tall. Puts out 250W from 4 outlets, Steve N.
  17. E

    Dynamics!!!

    Runs the gamut, just like recording quality. I have 44.1 CD rips that have incredible dynamics. Kick drum that makes my stomach pump in and out. Its up to the recording engineer and the equipment. Steve N.
  18. E

    Dynamics!!!

    I mean slide it in and out of the existing hole like a trombone. Steve N.
  19. E

    DACs with internal master clocks: less importance of transport?

    I think you missed the main point actually. Its the risetime and the timing of reflections that makes a longer cable beneficial. A longer cable pushes the reflections beyond the time when the receiver is detecting the edge, so they are a "don't-care". This is not a VSWR problem, it is a...
  20. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    Forget about all other attenuators. I am telling you that the ebay transformers are the best on the planet. You will not find anything better. I have a all-silver wound $8K Music First TVC and the ebay transformers beat it. Its a no-brainer. Steve N.
  21. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    Because resistive attenuators rob the amps of transient current needed for good dynamics. You get good detail, but you sacrifice dynamics. They can also make a nice low-pass filter, robbing you of the HF information depending on the capacitance and length of interconnects. Transformers have...
  22. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    Here is the best on the planet, and not too expensive: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Teramoto-FINEMET-Premium-Transformer-Volume-Control-TVC-with-Seiden-Switch-/200870484580?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2ec4d05a64 Steve N.
  23. E

    Dynamics!!!

    Dynamics is the one thing that 99% of consumer electronics cannot duplicate. It is not measured well either by the reviewers. IT is possible to get bone-crushing dynamics, but not without doing extensive modifications to most components, including preamps and amps, not to mention DACs. I...
  24. E

    $8,400 Power Cord, $8,995 Power Distributor, I'm a flat earther with this stuff, BUT

    If you think that is cool, you should try a Plasmatron on all of your digital devices: http://www.vhaudio.com/plasmatron.html I use one of these on all of my digital and it makes a huge difference. Here is why: this thing regulates the AC voltage. It drops the voltage a tiny bit in...
  25. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    They are using the volume control built into the Sabre chip. Its not a custom hardware implementation.
  26. E

    DACs with internal master clocks: less importance of transport?

    It is true that speakers create massive distortion, however high-levels of distortion are at the very low frequencies. High-frequency distortion on the other hand is generally the realm of jitter and other harmonic distortions, often created by digital circuits and clocks. Digital cables can...
  27. E

    DACs with internal master clocks: less importance of transport?

    Very perceptive. This is exactly the reason why Async USB interfaces are sensitive to cable choice. It is actually common-mode noise created by the ground-loop. USB interfaces can be galvanically isolated or filtered to minimize this effect. Steve N.
  28. E

    How are top designers reducing digital edge? Banished completely?

    I use a list in priority order to attack this: 1) reduce jitter 2) eliminate or minimize effects of digital filtering 3) improve the volume control technology - eliminate the active preamp 4) use fast-reacting low-noise voltage regulators for digital and analog circuits 5) eliminate...
  29. E

    DAC volume control conundrum

    You might consider a transformer linestage. A good one like Music First will actually make things sound better because of the galvanic isolation it provides. If you are running balanced cables, it will improve SQ even more. Steve N. Empirical Audio
  30. E

    Designing vs. Voicing and Tweaking circuits and crossovers to get that sublime sound?

    I do "voicing" to compare and select different components, such as crystal oscillator or capacitors. This is an ongoing study. Occasionally, I will compare different designs for voltage regulators for analog and digital sections to make sure they are optimized for speed and temperature...

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