Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › 2 digital output sources, 2 different sounds...WHY?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

2 digital output sources, 2 different sounds...WHY?

post #1 of 10
11/5/11 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 

Hi all

Looking for knowlege or opinions on this one

 

First the gear common to both tests:  LCD-2 r2, RSA sr71B balanced out, Schiit bifrost with optical cable input.

 

now here are my unexpected findings. 

My computer has a built in soundcard that has an optical out.  Assuming it would be inferior to a dedicated digital transport, I bought an pure i20 digital dock which also has an optical out option.  I use it with an ipod touch 4g. All lossless files.  with the computer i use windows 7, foobar with wasapi, same files, same cable, same common gear

 

to my surprise, when i use my computer the computer connection sounds noticeably better.

I was very skeptical, so i have given myself 2 weeks of switching back and forth and I just cant deny it.   The computer's built in soundcard optical out with foobar/wasapi sounds better than the pure i20 digital transport optical out. 

 

i have of course done my best to volume match but after 2 weeks of going back and forth I have ruled out volume being an issue.

 

WHY?  my only thought is that maybe the foobar player is simply superior to the ipod's player, or... somehow wasapi is helping? 

 

any input is welcome.  definitely did not expect this.  

 

thanks

 

 

 

 


Edited by Br777 - 11/5/11 at 7:44pm
Reply
post #2 of 10
11/8/11 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 

anbody?  theories.. anything?

 

I'm seriously considering trying  a wadia digital transport instead of the pure... I'm really set on removing my computer from the equation.

Reply
post #3 of 10
11/8/11 at 8:38pm

Install RMAA and run some measurements.

Reply
post #4 of 10
11/9/11 at 1:03am

Aren't ipods limited to xyz sample rate for their digital output? (it's possible your files are being down sampled)

Reply
post #5 of 10
11/9/11 at 7:20am

My suspicion lies with down-sampled playback on iPods as well.  Curious to know what you find!

Reply
post #6 of 10
11/9/11 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 

I started messing with RMAA, but its giving me issues ( and i really have no idea what i'm doing)

 

i'm not sure how it works but can you feed it signals from something like the pure, or playback via foobar2000?

otherwise when it tests via the computer it wont be using wasapi, which will effect the integrity of the results

 

also i dont know what downsampling would be happening via ipod playback.. the music i listen too is not anything above standard CD 16/44.1

sorry ya'll but i know very little about all this stuff. 

maybe in a few days if i have more time, and more willingness to really put my time into this...

Reply
post #7 of 10
11/9/11 at 12:27pm

High jitter from the ipod, high disortion from the ipod , poor frequency responce.  RMAA is a inaccurate way to measure stuff.

Reply
post #8 of 10
11/9/11 at 12:39pm
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by JRG1990 View Post

High jitter from the ipod, high disortion from the ipod , poor frequency responce.  RMAA is a inaccurate way to measure stuff.


where are you deriving that ipod info from?

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #9 of 10
11/9/11 at 1:57pm

No where, it's my theory as to why it sounds worse.

Reply
post #10 of 10
11/9/11 at 3:14pm

I published independent measurements on the 6G Nano and other DAPs here recently, and they were dismissed as 'meaningless', so its not a game I plan to engage in anytime soon. Portray Apple's product in a favourable light and you are a fanboy, an unfavourably light and you invoke the wrath of a legion of, er, fanboys - its a no-win situation. confused.gif

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › 2 digital output sources, 2 different sounds...WHY?