tlite
Head-Fier
Is there a baseline of equipment (amp, headphones, etc.) that is required to adequately audition DACs? Any recommended equipment or test methodology?
Awhile ago I posted this thread about whether or not most people thought they could hear a difference between DACs. I could not with the two DACs I had at the time (Dragonfly Red and iFi ZenDac v2).
Given the quantity of affirmative responses and good information in that thread, I'm wondering whether to better hear differences I need to use different gear or a different methodology?
I just bought a Denafrips Ares II, and last night was comparing it to an iFi ZenDac v2.
DACs were connected via unbalanced RCA outs to a passive RCA switch so I could A/B. Then amped through a Schiit Magni 3+ (I also have a Bottlehead Crack but haven't tried that amp with the DACs yet- maybe that would make a difference?). Source isa PC running VoiceMeeter Banana (ASIO) to output Qobuz CD-quality audio through two of the PC's USB ports, which I then ran to the DACs.
I listened and compared the DACs using these headphones: Sennheiser HD6XX, Audeze LCD-2, ZMF Atticus.
I figured those two DACs would sound quite different given the R2R vs. DS topology, but sheesh... I still don't think I hear differences. I don't love the idea that my ears just aren't up to snuff! Is my test equipment not revealing enough to hear a difference? (Or maybe those two DACs have a similar sound signature?)
What do you folks who successfully compare and contrast DACs recommend in terms of baseline gear to use to compare DACs? Any tips?
Thanks!
Awhile ago I posted this thread about whether or not most people thought they could hear a difference between DACs. I could not with the two DACs I had at the time (Dragonfly Red and iFi ZenDac v2).
Given the quantity of affirmative responses and good information in that thread, I'm wondering whether to better hear differences I need to use different gear or a different methodology?
I just bought a Denafrips Ares II, and last night was comparing it to an iFi ZenDac v2.
DACs were connected via unbalanced RCA outs to a passive RCA switch so I could A/B. Then amped through a Schiit Magni 3+ (I also have a Bottlehead Crack but haven't tried that amp with the DACs yet- maybe that would make a difference?). Source isa PC running VoiceMeeter Banana (ASIO) to output Qobuz CD-quality audio through two of the PC's USB ports, which I then ran to the DACs.
I listened and compared the DACs using these headphones: Sennheiser HD6XX, Audeze LCD-2, ZMF Atticus.
I figured those two DACs would sound quite different given the R2R vs. DS topology, but sheesh... I still don't think I hear differences. I don't love the idea that my ears just aren't up to snuff! Is my test equipment not revealing enough to hear a difference? (Or maybe those two DACs have a similar sound signature?)
What do you folks who successfully compare and contrast DACs recommend in terms of baseline gear to use to compare DACs? Any tips?
Thanks!