Quote: This is my experience too - no difference between the LM4562 and LM49720, the HA part is a clear upgrade.

There is no evidence that M2Tech changed clocks due to sound quality issues as you are suggesting.  Neither is there any evidence that "better clocks have better noise rejection capabilities"  - only guesswork by one or two non-technical listeners.    Quote:

Does anyone find 16 bit data to be 256 times louder than 24 bit?  Or vice versa for that matter?  I'd be happy to read Gordon's explanation in full if I can find it in case there's something I'm missing, but i really think he's had a brain-fart on this one.   No disrespect intended - he's a very...

Upsampling with the Sabre can only be turned off by re-writing it's firmware.  But the Hiface has no "problem" with upsampling.   I have no problem with listing my system, other than 1) my system is entirely DIY and heavily modded, so it's hard to make a judgement on how transparent it is by...

I am interested .... Couldn't find your link but did find this from CA ....   "Simple... The Legato registers as a 16 bit device. Any 24 bit device will be louder as the 16 bit data is shifted left 8 bits when playing 16 bit material through a 24 bit interface. Thanks Gordon" Is this...

Sure.  The software is DSSF3 from http://www.ymec.com/  Downloadable for free in case anyone wants to replicate my results.  No microphone is used - it's a straight loop-back, DAC out -> PC in.   My DAC is based on the Twisted Pear Buffalo, but heavily modified.  The rest of my system is DIY...

I think I'll take that as a compliment.  Thanks!     Quote:

Honestly, if you knew what happened at the input of a DAC, you would not be saying this.  2V S/PDIF will not upset a DAC.  Plenty of DACs actually boost the S/PDIF level up to the logic level maximum (3.3V or 5V) because the interface receiver likes a higher level. Quote:

I don't know what Gordon Rankin has said, but it was you who made the claim here and that is what I am contesting.   If you find the Hiface bright in your system, that's one thing.  But you were making technical claims based on your impressions that weren't true.  There has been a lot of...

Now here's the Hiface:     The small dip in the high treble is due to the low pass filtering in my DAC.  Crucially it's identical in both, as is the output level.  I also measured both with my meter at the output of my DIY DAC .... both the Hiface and the EMU gave 870mV. 

A little while ago USG claimed that the Hiface was louder than other transports.  He also said it had an upward tilted treble response of 3 decibels.  According to him this is why Hiface owners believed they heard more detail.   I've done some measurements comparing the Hiface to my EMU 0404...

Quote:   There is no loudness issue.  There is not treble tilt.  There is no mass recall.  The clock issue at best is highly dubious.     His agenda seems to be to spread misinformation, but why, who can guess.

No, there are many factors that determine the sound of a DAC.  Jitter is just one, but it is a big one.  Our ears are especially sensitive to it as it is generally non-harmonic.  How much is audible?  I'm afraid there is no simple answer to that.   I'm not sure what you are referring to when...

I found the article and could find no measurements of a deviation in frequency response.  This isn't surprising, as there is no way a bit perfect device can alter either the volume or the frequency response.  saying otherwise is like saying two identical objects are different - i.e. a logical...

Marco has already said that the small clock has lowery jitter than the larger clock.  If you don't believe this, why would you believe anything else he has to say.  Think about it .....   As for doing a recall for no reason ... well the reason is pretty obvious - a hysteria has been kicked...

Do you have any measurements for this 3dB treble tilt, or is it  just a guess?   Quote:

It depends on the quality of the implementation of the upsampling.  The ideal upsampler would a) eliminate incoming jitter, b) not add any jitter of it's own and c) not add artifacts from the sample rate conversion.  However no upsampler is perfect in any of these regards.   So, and ideal...

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion.  A big stink has been kicked up, and regardless of it's veracity, M2Tech (or their distributors) want to keep their customers happy.  They'll do whatever makes business sense. Quote:

The thing with Chord is that they actually understand what happens inside a D to A converter, to the point where they have designed their own conversion and filtering techniques.  They have some extremely clever people working for them.  Most manufacturers simply pick chips from the usual...

I own the PCI version, same as you, hence my surprise at your report.  My DAC is a modded-to-hell-and-back Buffalo.   Quote:

Quote: And it's up to M2Tech to decide on the standards they require for a credible test.

  Quote: This is a good point.  The thread seems to be moving away from the hyperbole "night and day" differences that it started with, to people trying to pick out subjective preferences, which are notoriously difficult to repeat in any controlled way.   My own experience with the...

I'm a little confused (happens a lot!) - am I right in understanding you have two Hiface units, one with both MEC clocks, one with one small and one large clock?  The one with the small clock, is that 22 or 24 MHz (determined by examining the device, not listening)?  Thanks for clearing this up...

Some, perhaps, but plenty will have something to compare it to, and will be interested in sound quality.  Remember SQ is the whole point of this device.  A small change in sound quality would likey pass under the radar more easily, but not the near calamitous results that regal originally was...

..........