O2 AMP + ODAC

[Solrighal]

Yeah, it's a good (and rare) feeling to be right, for sure.
 
I've certainly come across at least a couple of albums that clip naturally but I can't remember what they were & they're clearly not something I listen to regularly or I would definitely remember them. However, here's a fact. I keep my volume control in JRiver 19 at 96% as I've previously stated. This equates to a 2dB cut in real terms. Now, if I introduce EQ in the shape of my iZotope Ozone 6 plug-in, that 2dB gap disappears. The level is maxed and sometimes easily exceeded. I'm not sure it's actually audible in a blind test but when you see it happening graphically it's difficult not to immediately want to do something about it. Someone earlier mentioned OCD - welcome to my world.
 

 

[MrMateoHead]

   
Use any digital volume slider at your disposal. The key is to avoid a full-scale signal into the DAC.

Not to argue with the facts but, I am quite sure the directions that came with my O2 instructed me to set my windows volume to 100% and 24-bit, 96khz.
 
Would it be too confusing to tell consumers to set windows volume to 96-98% for optimal performance?

 

[jseaber]

 
Not to argue with the facts but, I am quite sure the directions that came with my O2 instructed me to set my windows volume to 100% and 24-bit, 96khz.
 
Would it be too confusing to tell consumers to set windows volume to 96-98% for optimal performance?

 
I'm sure it did. The document revision date is printed at the bottom of the guide, and has since been updated.

 

[Medaud]

Not to argue with the facts but, I am quite sure the directions that came with my O2 instructed me to set my windows volume to 100% and 24-bit, 96khz.

Would it be too confusing to tell consumers to set windows volume to 96-98% for optimal performance?

I'm 99% certain mine did too. Btw does this count for all DACs? I've got an HTPC hooked up to a Yamaha receiver and have set the volume to 100%. Would it be beneficial to turn this down a notch too, or does this issue only occur with the ODAC?

 

[MrMateoHead]

I have some albums with known clipping problems. I too use the ODAC to feed a Yamaha Receiver for when I am headphoned-out. I've never heard the Yamaha clip (which sounds like static/tearing). But if the clipping is at the recording level, cutting digital volume doesn't really get rid of the staticky noise. Just the same, I would still cut the windows volume a hair, as advised, to maximize performance.
 
What is nice, however, is that the Yamaha does not "hiss" with the ODAC at all, at any volume I've listened at (and this is an old, cheap base model receiver).

 

 

[jseaber]

I'm 99% certain mine did too. Btw does this count for all DACs? I've got an HTPC hooked up to a Yamaha receiver and have set the volume to 100%. Would it be beneficial to turn this down a notch too, or does this issue only occur with the ODAC?

 
Yes, this applies to all DACs I've analyzed. I'll post screenshots next time I have the dScope running. Busy day today, unfortunately...

 

[castleofargh]

  I have some albums with known clipping problems. I too use the ODAC to feed a Yamaha Receiver for when I am headphoned-out. I've never heard the Yamaha clip (which sounds like static/tearing). But if the clipping is at the recording level, cutting digital volume doesn't really get rid of the staticky noise. Just the same, I would still cut the windows volume a hair, as advised, to maximize performance.
 
What is nice, however, is that the Yamaha does not "hiss" with the ODAC at all, at any volume I've listened at (and this is an old, cheap base model receiver).

 

we're obviously not talking about clipping that is already on the record(like almost all rap albums I ever owned). except some clever DSP you can't really solve that.
what we're talking about is something that ends up clipping a little @ 100% digital volume(so anything digital has to be maxed out), but doesn't when you just lower the digital volume a little. it's a very peculiar kind of problem and certainly doesn't relate to all the other possible reasons for clipping to occur on the record, or at the amp stage.

 

[diamondears]

 
we're obviously not talking about clipping that is already on the record(like almost all rap albums I ever owned). except some clever DSP you can't really solve that.
what we're talking about is something that ends up clipping a little @ 100% digital volume(so anything digital has to be maxed out), but doesn't when you just lower the digital volume a little. it's a very peculiar kind of problem and certainly doesn't relate to all the other possible reasons for clipping to occur on the record, or at the amp stage.

 
In what types of DACs does this issue becomes a non-issue? 32-bit DACs? If this issue applies to all DACs, why does many DACs automatically disables the volume control on the digital player? They automatically decrease the volume to less than 100%?

 

[castleofargh]

no idea, I don't even know what causes it. I just got lucky and realized one day that I didn't get the clipping on one song after I lazily used foobar volume control to turn the music down a little instead of the amp knob. that's not a finding, that was just random luck and I don't know why or if it's even related to the DAC.
could have been some DSP working on my computer pushing stuff +1db and me not knowing? you know like the THX stuff turning ON when using the integrated speakers of a laptop.
 
 
the guys from benchmark mentioned something with the oversampling process but they don't explain it so that may not even be related.

 

[Solrighal]

DAC's of more than 16-bit resolution just add zero's to the signal. This 'extra' information is inaudible so it's possible to attenuate the signal without losing any information. Or something like that.
 
This has been discussed in-depth previously and I'm pretty sure it was in this thread somewhere.

 

[SunTanScanMan]

   
Every DAC we've measured performs dramatically worse at full-scale, 100% volume. Decrease your software volume slider by -0.1dB (a single notch will do) for optimal THD+N performance.
 
See Gibbs phenomenon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbs_phenomenon

I don't own the O2/ODAC but I do like to peruse this thread from time to time. Glad I did. I was also under the impression that software volume had to be at 100%. Thanks for the information. 

 

[mikek200]

How do you find the st ax? I'm tempted but I do love the 800s and 600s .

I just joined this thread,Bought the HD600 & a used pair of modded Hd580,and the 02 +ODAC,
I,vie been waiting for my new Stax amp{KGST} to be built.
 
I have to tell you ,I extremely impressed with the non-stax sound quality,but sometimes I miss the tremendous detail
The new/used pair of HD 580,s are fantastic.
 
Every time my builder tells me,"It,s going to be another 4 week delay"--I answer.."OK,no problem,just buzz me ,when its down"--LOL

 

[mikek200]

I totally believe cables make a difference and I've got a fair selection here, although they're all too long. It's a bit tricky once you've bought into the whole Objective spiel though because now I'm looking for a cable to specifically do absolutely nothing to the sound. To be as transparent as possible. I've now tried three different interconnects and every one sounds different and every one changes the sound. Hmm...

Thank God,finally,someone who appreciates good cables.
After I bought my Stax setup,and dropped $3200.00 on my 009's,I went looking for a good pair of interconnects.as luck has it,I found a pair od the B/S forum,being sold by Currawong,and they were $1000.00,after thinking about it,I e-mailed Currawong and asked him a few tech questions,concerning the IC's,and all he said was,I,m not telling you anything,UNTIL YOU LISTEN TO THEM FOR 24HOURS,so,I bought them.
My wife has been chasing me around the house ,ever since.
They are the finest IC, I own,and the SQ,increased about  20-25 %
They are  the totl Van Den Hul,they run $1500.00,Currawong sold them to me for $1000.00-the deal of the century,besides my HD600 & 02 +ODAC.
 
Mike

 

[mikek200]

  SR-009 are a kind of "everything / everywhere" tool. Extension, details, dynamics, clarity, bass slam, magnificent decay, speedy gonzales transients, and so on. On the other hand, SR-Lambda and SR-5 are vintage mids cans (and I love them this way).
With the O2, HD600 have a good level of transparency, they keep this so special low-mids emphasis, and also this 130 hz bump. Maybe a bit veiled, but the O2 gives them enough clarity / neutrality to fight this Sennheiser trend.
Summary : O2 is the amp to get for stat's head when they go dynamics 

 
Ali

Excellent way of putting it,Ali-Pacha

 

[mikek200]

The one I bought can be set to a few different voltages, 15V being the max. I went with 15V since the one supplied as stock was 15V. Did I do the right thing?

I've also just ordered another geek improvement which I'm sure is gonna make this sound like the dogs. I have a new machined aluminium volume knob en - route from New Yawk!

I have to thank ali-pacha for that idea. Shipping is costing me 4 times the value of the knob, lol.

I also finally found a use for those silicon bands that Fiio ships with their units. I'm using two of them to keep the ODACXL/O2 in a neat wee bundle.

There's only one wee tweak I want to perform but one thing about this project of mines has a significant sway over my choices. Namely - the design ethos behind the O2. I've got the models of both that gave stereo RCA sockets. This is great but creates some problems for me...

All my interconnects are 1.0m long and generally pretty stiff. They look ridiculous.

I need a very short stereo RCA interconnect. I can't find any online ready made so I've put the feelers out to Toxic Cables. They can make them short enough and flexible enough to allow them to be tucked in discretely. Toxic Cables are not cheap and this causes me dilemma number one - I'm not prepared to spend more on the cable than the O2 itself cost me.

Even if Toxic can do it cheap enough there's dilemma number two. The ethos behind the O2 and (to a lesser extent) the ODAC is transparency and neutrality. To this end I can hardly use an overtly coloured cable which is what I believe silver brings to the party (Toxic like silver).

Am I mad? Discuss.

 
 
 
 
 
I think Schiit 's IC's are 3" long
Try them