Can digital get to vinyl sound and at what price?

[hopkins]

A new claim to solving the digital problem:

“In our quest to unlock the full acoustic potential of music, we have discovered that the primary cause of this contaminating “digital signature” is the common switching process inherent in traditional DAC circuitries” – Michael Børresen

Aavik SD-880 DAC To Revolutionize Streaming | The Ear

Aavik is excited to announce the launch the Aavik SD-880, the newest member of the flagship 880 series, our first ever streaming DAC. A further result of the

the-ear.net

For 67.000€ you get a piece of equipment that looks like a giant pager At least you will not need glasses to read the display.

 

[Al M.]

A new claim to solving the digital problem:

“In our quest to unlock the full acoustic potential of music, we have discovered that the primary cause of this contaminating “digital signature” is the common switching process inherent in traditional DAC circuitries” – Michael Børresen

Aavik SD-880 DAC To Revolutionize Streaming | The Ear

Aavik is excited to announce the launch the Aavik SD-880, the newest member of the flagship 880 series, our first ever streaming DAC. A further result of the

the-ear.net

Nice. Instead of spending 70 grand to get rid of "digital signature", I got rid of it with my $ 2.299 Schiit Yggdrasil LIM DAC, designed by Mike Moffat, a veteran in the business since the 1980s (he was chief designer at Theta Digital).

No upsampling to 22 MHz, alas, and the cheap price comes with a sh*tty name . I guess not everyone shares the humor of those guys.

Funny, my MIT AES/EBU cable from Mutec reclocker to the DAC cost almost as much as the DAC itself, and the reclocker is not far behind that. It's all worth it.

 

[AudioGod]

Nice. Instead of spending 70 grand to get rid of "digital signature", I got rid of it with my $ 2.299 Schiit Yggdrasil LIM DAC, designed by Mike Moffat, a veteran in the business since the 1980s (he was chief designer at Theta Digital).

No upsampling to 22 MHz, alas, and the cheap price comes with a sh*tty name . I guess not everyone shares the humor of those guys.

Funny, my MIT AES/EBU cable from Mutec reclocker to the DAC cost almost as much as the DAC itself, and the reclocker is not far behind that. It's all worth it.

In your opinion your DAC is better than a $100K turntable ?

 

[Al M.]

In your opinion your DAC is better than a $100K turntable ?

Not really. A $100K vinyl rig can sound amazing.

It certainly doesn't have a "digital signature" either .

 

[AudioGod]

Not really. A $100K vinyl rig can sound amazing.

It certainly doesn't have a "digital signature" either .

In a blind test I doubt I could tell which is which

 

[Joe Whip]

All the measurements do not really matter in the end if you do not like the sound. we must after all, listen with your ears.

 

[Argonaut]

All the measurements do not really matter in the end if you do not like the sound. we must after all, listen with your ears.

We must also consider that a number of audio electronics that measure poorly also sound poorly under the ultimate test.

 

[ssfas]

All the measurements do not really matter in the end if you do not like the sound. we must after all, listen with your ears.

I have US size 10, EU size 43, UK size 9 feet. This is a useful measurement when going to buy a pair shoes, but only a starting point. Audio has useful measurements, but they won‘t tell you if you prefer turquoise satin or leopard print.

 

[Joe Whip]

A shoe can measure perfectly but if I have malformed feet, bunions or just weird feet, wearing that shoe will hurt like hell. If you don’t enjoy what you hear, what is the point?

 

[AudioGod]

I wouldn't even consider a speaker with bad measurements.

A shoe can measure perfectly but if I have malformed feet, bunions or just weird feet, wearing that shoe will hurt like hell. If you don’t enjoy what you hear, what is the point?

 

[Amir]

After reading AudioGod posts here I have convinced to sell my $600k audio system and buy $500 china made music box . This china made music box has 0.001 THD .

I love AudioGod and all ASR members for saving $600k for me.

 

[AudioGod]

After reading AudioGod posts here I have convinced to sell my $600k audio system and buy $500 china made music box . This china made music box has 0.001 THD .

I love AudioGod and all ASR members for saving $600k for me.

Lol the irony is that despite your sarcasm
The TADs measure very well

 

[wil]

A new claim to solving the digital problem:

“In our quest to unlock the full acoustic potential of music, we have discovered that the primary cause of this contaminating “digital signature” is the common switching process inherent in traditional DAC circuitries” – Michael Børresen

Aavik SD-880 DAC To Revolutionize Streaming | The Ear

Aavik is excited to announce the launch the Aavik SD-880, the newest member of the flagship 880 series, our first ever streaming DAC. A further result of the

the-ear.net

I don’t know if there’s anything of substance behind this companies claim. But this kind of empty marketing fluff is worthless. It comes across as BS.

 

[facten]

@AudioGod - I may have missed it through all of this so bear with me, what digital equipment is presently in your system?

 

[wil]

He made his bed. Now he has to sleep in it. That's the last statement I will make on this subject.

Not one more word will be spoken by me about this. As mentioned, time will tell whether not this ages well.

Now, let's please get back to the topic of the thread...

Tom

I don’t visit ASR very often. There are a lot of antisocial cement heads there. But there are also people who actually have some technical knowledge and aren’t coming from an agenda. It can be a welcome antidote to some of the high-end marketing found elsewhere.

 

[Kingrex]

I'm actually suprised that DSP / room correction such as Dirac Live is not more common / popular around here
It will basically improve any system / room on the planet regardless of how much the room is treated .

I hear all the time people use room correction then walk away. They say its more precise. Technically better. But it is more musical and natural when you get rid of it.

i hear room correction is A must have for subs. I also hear the guys still using it talking every day about a new little tweet. The excuse is, well, they arn't buying cables and spending money. They are making changes for free.

 

[ssfas]

I don’t visit ASR very often. There are a lot of antisocial cement heads there. But there are also people who actually have some technical knowledge and aren’t coming from an agenda. It can be a welcome antidote to some of the high-end marketing found elsewhere.

The high-end marketing makes me laugh.
ASR cement heads make me despair.

When some high-end marketeer says they've spent 10 or 20 years researching something, I think they must be pretty cr@p at research to take so long. I do admire the creativity and assume it's all lies unless proven true, and it rarely is.

For all the research, it's amazing how few patents exist of audio stuff. I've always been of the view that if anyone ever invented anything new, and it seems extremely rare, they would patent their invention and make a ton more money by licensing it to other manufacturers that using it to make their own products.

 

[Porsche]

I don’t know if there’s anything of substance behind this companies claim. But this kind of empty marketing fluff is worthless. It comes across as BS.

dunno either but aavik makes some very nice gear, I have used 2 of there integrated amps and still use one in a system and they are very nice

 

[Al M.]

In a blind test I doubt I could tell which is which

Didn't you say repeatedly that vinyl was so inferior in measurements compared to digital?

Shouldn't you then hear the difference easily in a blind test, in favor of the digital even if the vinyl rig is $ 100K?

 

[ssfas]

I'm actually suprised that DSP / room correction such as Dirac Live is not more common / popular around here
It will basically improve any system / room on the planet regardless of how much the room is treated .

Does that mean I have to run my audio through a laptop computer? Never have, never will.

I had a unit with lots of DSP and got rid of it. Now enjoy a more conventional system. My room has sensible acoustic treatment, the room was re-built from brickwork upwards, ceiling rebuilt etc. I love the sound quality.