[atomicbob]

Liquid Carbon Technical Measurements Balanced inputs and outputs

The data presented were collected as follows:

1. PrismSound dScope III, picoscope 5243B
2. 300 and 30 ohm loads used for measurements
3. Balanced cables Canare L-4E6S starquad with Neutrik XLR connectors
4. Unbalanced cables DH Labs Silver Sonic Air Matrix RCA (for picoscope)
5. Vaunix Lab Brick USB hub
6. 0 dB gain @ 0.775 Vrms 0 dBu except as noted for square wave measurements
7. Liquid Carbon gain switch set to High

0.775 Vrms @ 30 ohms is 20 mW producing 102 dB SPL in HE-500 with sensitivity of 89 dB/mW
0.775 Vrms @ 300 ohms is 2 mW producing 105 dB SPL in HD650 with sensitivity of 102 dB/mW

Picture of the Audio Lab setup for Liquid Carbon


Liquid Carbon square wave 20 Hz 2 Vpp 10 mS / div 300R load


Liquid Carbon square wave 20 Hz 2 Vpp 10 uS / div 300R load


Liquid Carbon amplitude - phase - gain (A01) 300R load


Liquid Carbon signal to noise (A07) 300R load


Liquid Carbon THD+N THD nth harmonic distortion (A04) 300R load


Liquid Carbon Crosstalk (A08 A09) 300 ohm load


editorial - I believe there is a tendency to focus too much on numbers such as THD rather than look at distortion spectrum and type such as even vs odd in an attempt to reduce a complex topic to a single number representing a sort of goodness rating.
Here are graphs for the various measurements

Liquid Carbon Frequency Response and Interchannel Phase 1/2 300R load


Liquid Carbon Frequency Response and Interchannel Phase 2/2 300R load


Liquid Carbon Gain vs Amplitude Left 300R load


Liquid Carbon Gain vs Amplitude Right 300R load


Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Frequency Left 300R load


Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Frequency Right 300R load


Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Amplitude Left 300R load


Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Amplitude Right 300R load


Liquid Carbon Crosstalk Left to Right vs Frequency 300R load


Liquid Carbon Crosstalk Right to Left vs Frequency 300R load


Liquid Carbon 50 Hz + 7000 Hz spectrum Left and Right 300R load


Liquid Carbon 600 Hz + 1700 Hz spectrum Left and Right 300R load

 

[atomicbob]

Part 2 of measurements - 30 ohm load measurements
 
Liquid Carbon Frequency Response and Interchannel Phase 1/2 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon Frequency Response and Interchannel Phase 2/2 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon Gain vs Amplitude Left 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon Gain vs Amplitude Right 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Frequency Left 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Frequency Right 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Amplitude Left 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon THD+N vs Amplitude Right 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon Crosstalk Left to Right vs Frequency 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon Crosstalk Right to Left vs Frequency 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon 50 Hz + 7000 Hz spectrum Left and Right 30R load

 
Liquid Carbon 600 Hz + 1700 Hz spectrum Left and Right 30R load

 

[atomicbob]

For basic information on interpreting the data presented, please visit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_system_measurements

and also use google to find additional resources.

Opinion: I tend to measure equipment that I choose; typically those that interest me enough to acquire for my acoustic lab. I think the Liquid Carbon falls in the transparent amp category and does so very well. Combined with a Schiit Gungnir MB the pair will provide a great experience for the user's choice of headphones. I tend to like the HD650 and HD800 cans with this system but have no problem enjoying Denon AH-D5000 and Fostex TH900 with this system.

 

[Makiah S]

Oh very cool, may I ask you what I'm exactly looking at, I understand Square waves but the other measurements, may I ask about them 

 

[landroni]

  Opinion: I tend to measure equipment that I choose; typically those that interest me enough to acquire for my acoustic lab. I think the Liquid Carbon falls in the transparent amp category and does so very well.

Did you get the opportunity to compare Liquid Carbon vs Schiit Ragnarok? I read great things about both, so I'm curious how Ragnarok fares...

 

[atomicbob]

 
Did you get the opportunity to compare Liquid Carbon vs Schiit Ragnarok? I read great things about both, so I'm curious how Ragnarok fares...

Both were at a local meet in Dec but I was able to hear the Ragnarok for only a brief moment under meet ambient conditions.