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DAC comparison: Storm D02 vs Zhaolu vs Harmon Kardon HD970 - Page 2

post #16 of 226
7/30/06 at 2:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean H
Yeah, I gotta say, seems to greatly affect DAC's in my experience. I have limited space for my rig and if I have the Zhaolu on a solid shelf or not, and if I use Cardas Cuboid's or Vibrapods, it makes the most noticeable difference in the bass region with any DAC I have owned (especially Ack dAck).
Maybe that's a fault of the DAC itself? I popped Vibrapods (long story, I bought it for good looks on the ES-1) onto my D02 and it made no difference, whatsoever -- and 'subtle' differences should be pretty revealing on my rig.

All my components are on glass, also, so it should be the worst possible condition?

I also put the Vibrapods on the ES-1, and the Ack Dack, and it also didn't do squat.
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post #17 of 226
7/30/06 at 2:32pm
I also added vibration isolation pads under D02 and couldn't hear any difference at all.
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post #18 of 226
7/30/06 at 2:34pm
Material under my DAC hasn't shown any difference perceptibly or measurably, either. I'm wondering if people even have a plausible explanation of why the Zhaolu would be so sensitive to this compared to other DACs.
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post #19 of 226
7/30/06 at 2:36pm
moved
http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...10#post2280410
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post #20 of 226
7/30/06 at 2:37pm
deleted
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post #21 of 226
7/30/06 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon L
Actually, yes I am. Are you trying to say shelf material does NOT make a difference?
Do you have any sort of plausible explanation for why it would? I can't perceive any with my DAC, and I can't measure any down to some rather fine precision on scopes, spectrum analysers, etc, even when trying sweeps, multitones, and other dynamic signals. I'm surprised people are claiming the Zhaolu is so sensitive to something like this when it is touted for having such an impressive design *shrug*.
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post #22 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:04pm
Exellent review dude! It's great to finally have these dacs compared.

Sean H will you just drop it already?
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post #23 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:19pm
moved
http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...10#post2280410
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post #24 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:33pm
I'm measuring THD+N, IMD (SMPTE, CCIF, and DIM), frequency response, as well as looking at discrete points in the spectrum and comparing. I also examine jitter and noise. I've also tried tapping my fingers and smacking my hand against the surface where the DAC sat. I'll even try pounding my fist on it on Monday if you want.

The FAQ you pointed to just gives their particular theory on how to execute vibration control for the most part. The portion where they discuss the relevance to music reproduction just has them stating that vibration has an effect. I don't really understand why this was supposed to be convincing to me. It's just advert copy from their site. Was it really necessary to copy and paste that whole thing here just for that?
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post #25 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Filburt
I'm measuring THD+N, IMD (SMPTE, CCIF, and DIM), frequency response, as well as looking at discrete points in the spectrum and comparing. I also examine jitter and noise. I've also tried tapping my fingers and smacking my hand against the surface where the DAC sat. I'll even try pounding my fist on it on Monday if you want.

The FAQ you pointed to just gives their particular theory on how to execute vibration control for the most part. The portion where they discuss the relevance to music reproduction just has them stating that vibration has an effect. I don't really understand why this was supposed to be convincing to me. It's just advert copy from their site. Was it really necessary to copy and paste that whole thing here just for that?
STOP HITTING YOUR DAC!

Give it to me if you're just going to beat up on it!
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post #26 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yellafella321
STOP HITTING YOUR DAC!

Give it to me if you're just going to beat up on it!
Lol...I haven't done *too* much in the way of testing direct hitting of the DAC itself. Mostly just tapping on it thus far, and haven't seen anything from that...don't have enough data to really conclude, though.

At this point, I'm not going to worry much about it other than doing the tests out of curiousity. I can't hear a difference, and I can't measure a difference, so I've probably got more important things to be concerned with in optimising the performance of *this* dac at least.
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post #27 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:51pm
moved
http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...10#post2280410
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post #28 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:53pm
deleted
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post #29 of 226
7/30/06 at 3:59pm
moved
http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...10#post2280410
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post #30 of 226
7/30/06 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon L
And here's another company's approach, concentrating on earth's own resonance frequency:
(From Machina Dynamica Nimbus system)
http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina24.htm

Here's another approach, emphasizing resonance energy dissipation. I have both Neuance shelf and Ikea Lack shelves mentioned, so I can vouch for these effects personally:

(From Audiogon Ikea LACK equipment rack thread)
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr...enflup&11&4#11

Another similar yet different approach is by Stillpoints. They use a novel approach to constrained layer damping/absorption, and I can tell you from personal experience that their Stillpoints equipment stand does a fabulous job. The price is a problem, though.

(From Stillpoints product info)
http://www.stillpoints.us/Pages/our_design.htm

Folks over at Grand Prix Audio take a more comprehensive, if VERY expensive, approach, and their design view is worth reading also:

(From Grand Prix Audio Design Brief)
http://www.grandprixaudio.com/idx_design_rea.php

As you can see, there are many, many different companies/people with different emphasis on this whole vibration/resonance control issue. None are "complete" solutions in my view, and there's no substitution for actually trying some of these in your own system to find out which would work best in specific situations.
Okay, I must just not be making this clear. I asked about an explanation (and really, data as well) showing why such vibration control equipment will enhance, or even just influence, the output. Also, if this vibration control equipment is supposed to influence the output, why has tapping and smacking my hand on the various surfaces upon which I've had my DAC or even tapping on the thing itself had no effect perceptible or measurable? That's the core of the inquiry, and what you're posting does nothing to aid me in answering that question.
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