Hey Andy,
So I've noticed something about the SQ on the N3...with certain tracks, such as:
- Rush, Limelight (The Spirit of Radio, 24-96 HDTracks) FLAC
- Dar Williams, Mercy of the Fallen (Beauty of the Rain, 24-88/DVD-A source) FLAC
- Kay Hanley, Fall (Cherry Marmalade, 16-44/CD) FLAC
In these tracks, the drums and cymbals sound very plastic with missing resonance and reverberation. There's other tracks that I've noticed it in also, but not as prominent as these. I compared the same files on a MOTU 828 and RME Fireface using both Genelec 8020 and Tannoy 501a, as well as a pair of Sony MDR-7506 headphones and can hear the instruments very clearly. This is with EQ off on everything. I've also tried changing the digital filter to all of the different choices and SUPER SLOW was the best. But, the drums don't have the proper reverberance and the cymbals come through as "ting" instead of showing the full splash. The ride cymbal also sounds very flat and has no resonance. You could also describe it as the tone is being cut off half way through ringing.
As an additional check, I put the same card into my Fiio X1-II with JH-5, UERR, and JH-16. It shows the drums to full resonance and the cymbals ring the same as on the Genelecs. Oh, and the UERR was the earphone that was most noticeable with the N3.
I then tried to do some EQ (the first test was off) to see if I could bring them out and while I was able to make the "ting" louder, they never reverberated correctly.
I don't know if it's a firmware issue with timing or the nature of the AK4490, but it's definitely not correct as my calibrated studio montor setup shows the tones clear as day and my comparison to the Fiio does as well.
I've also noticed that if you turn 1 or more bands on the EQ all the way up or down, it'll actually not work and treat the entry as '0'.
