[xnor]

Let's say there are 3 components. Each one is measured separately for harmonic distortion of a 1 kHz sine wave.

a) DAC with 0.0005% (-106dB)
b) amp with 0.005% (-86dB)
c) headphones with 0.05% (-66dB)

What would be the result with all components used together?

 

[Hudson]

Google error analysis:

http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/H...opagation.html

 

[xnor]

The reason I was asking is that it doesn't seem to matter much how perfect the source is, since heaphones/speakers will always be the weakest link in the chain.

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnor /img/forum/go_quote.gif The reason I was asking is that it doesn't seem to matter much how perfect the source is, since heaphones/speakers will always be the weakest link in the chain.

Distortion is additive so the answer is
-65.95db or 0.050408062%


so yes the speakers/phoes dominate distortion and then some and btw speakers/headphones can be a lot worse than that !

 

[Hudson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnor /img/forum/go_quote.gif The reason I was asking is that it doesn't seem to matter much how perfect the source is, since heaphones/speakers will always be the weakest link in the chain.

True, but on an audiophile forum I imagine it'll be a small minority who care.

 

[xnor]

It's still interesting to see that there are only fractions of a dB difference in the end result between a perfect source and one with pretty high distortion because, as nick_charles said, the speakers dominate.