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This is kind of generic question, but I feel that the answer can be found in the source rather than farther up the audio chain.
In my experience with a few different USB-DACs, there is one thing in common that I am not able to escape - there is a piercing, glaring quality to upper-midrange notes in music that makes music very hard to listen to for extended periods of time. This is not just on instruments such as cymbals but even on human voices, which have an unnatural sharp quality to them (e.g. Audioslave recording). One wouldn't normally expect someone singing to really irritate your ears to an unreasonable level.
Huh? Which Audioslave recording?
I don't hear any glare and my rig is tuned for maximum brightness...
It's apparent on "show me how to live" on self-titled album. I have a wav rip of unknown origin so maybe the real recording isnt that bad? But when the guy is singing I can hear this very unnatural edginess on his voice, as well as a lot of sibilance. Let me know if you can hear this too, it might just be my version of the recording.
Also another theory I had was maybe the Pico's amp is clipping on this track because of the high-frequency energy. Not sure about this though.
Also, I know that many people are much more sensitive to this frequency range that others. That's another reason why our experiences may vary.
No actually the MS1's still have that problem, especially with the Pico, but I don't want to give up the extra detail.The DACs I've tried are EMU 0404 USB, Scott Nixon USB NOS DAC (not tube), and the Pico. I have a pair of HD580's that don't have any glare with these DACs except the 0404, which there was a lot of glare. However, I like the MS1's midrange clarity and detail better, and I don't think I should have to change headphones as a remedy to a source-related problem. But maybe this will end up being the case. I am just wondering if there is some kind of DAC that can make the recordings sound more natural. If not, I am wondering if people run into this problem on vinyl setups too, and if it's worth switching over.
I dont think its your source, may want to try the 650s.
The issue is not USB, get a USB transport like the M-Audio Transit and a separate proper DAC with a decent analog stage.
Do you think something like the Stello DA100 would work? It has a discrete output stage. Are there any DACs you would recommend under $500 that would have at least as much resolution as the Pico, but that I could use as a dedicated desktop unit with a USB-SPDIF converter and a separate amp?
Linear Mode
