- Joined
- Oct 6, 2013
- Posts
- 15,519
- Likes
- 49,612
The whole discussion about "hiss" is kind of splitting hairs because a lot of it has to do with how we "test" for it and also our ear sensitivity.
There are some sources where you actually hear the hiss at normal listening level with either gain. That would be a real problem. With DX220, I tested under "extreme" condition where I turn the volume down to zero and hit Play while using some of the usual high sensitivity suspects (Andro/Solaris). Plus, in a middle of this test I would unplug IEMs to hear the "emptiness" without a source and with a source at a volume setting down to zero. Is that a real practical way to test for hiss? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! But under these extreme conditions I do hear a mild waterfall hissing with Andro and Solaris (DX220 amp1mk2 or amp8).
The real hissing problem is when you start raising the volume up to your normal listening level and you still hear this "waterfall" hissing noise in the background. And we do have different ear sensitivity which changes with age and the loudness of our surrounding environment. Some might hear it, others won't. Some might hear it at low gain, others only when the gain is high.
Only bringing this up because I'm guilty as charged by mentioning about "hissing" in the past so want to make sure people are aware under what extreme conditions I tested that.
There are some sources where you actually hear the hiss at normal listening level with either gain. That would be a real problem. With DX220, I tested under "extreme" condition where I turn the volume down to zero and hit Play while using some of the usual high sensitivity suspects (Andro/Solaris). Plus, in a middle of this test I would unplug IEMs to hear the "emptiness" without a source and with a source at a volume setting down to zero. Is that a real practical way to test for hiss? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! But under these extreme conditions I do hear a mild waterfall hissing with Andro and Solaris (DX220 amp1mk2 or amp8).
The real hissing problem is when you start raising the volume up to your normal listening level and you still hear this "waterfall" hissing noise in the background. And we do have different ear sensitivity which changes with age and the loudness of our surrounding environment. Some might hear it, others won't. Some might hear it at low gain, others only when the gain is high.
Only bringing this up because I'm guilty as charged by mentioning about "hissing" in the past so want to make sure people are aware under what extreme conditions I tested that.