The Point
So for the better part of nine months, I've been blabbing on about how great PC's can be as an audio source, leading my fellow head-fiers on a wild trip modding soundcard after soundcard, finally to end up with the highly acclaimed Benchmark DAC1 at the end of a computer transport. Now it’s time to see where the chips truly lie. As a result of modding card for others, I have been able to evaluate the three cards listed (both pre- and post-mods) in the past few days against the benchmark.
The System:
Benchmark DAC-1 (used with Quail power cord to Monster PC1000)
RME HDSP 9632 (stock, and modded with blackgate N coupling caps, and FK power caps)
RME Digi96/8 PAD (stock, and modded with blackgate FK caps to bypass analog ouput stage)
E-MU 1212M (stock, and modded with blackgate std power caps, N coupling caps, and LT1364 output opamps)
PC powered by PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 (quiet fan modded)
eBay Glass Toslink cable (from soundcards to Benchmark)
DIY Canare Starquad IC's (from soundcards/Benchmark to amp)
Gilmore V1 with laddered attenuator
Sony CD3000 with Headphile bubinga R10 woodies and starquad cable
Beyerdynamic DT531
The Music (all losslessly encoded to hard drives from original CD's via EAC):
AC/DC - Back In Black
Alexander Markov - Paganini's 24 caprices & violin concerto op.1
Blaze - Silicon Messiah
Cincinnati Pops Orchesta - Great Movie Scores
Dream Theater - Awake
Hallucinogen - The Lone Deranger
Diana Krall - The Look of Love
Megadeth - Hidden Treasures
Savatage - The Wake of Magellan
Zero Hour - The Tower of Avarice
The Results
Simply put, no matter which card I used as the transport, the DAC1 is at the head of this class and by a good margin. It has the ability to react much more quickly to the changes in the signal, making for a much tighter, faster, more detailed, more dynamic listening experience than any of the soundcards in any form can muster. Because of this, the music takes on a more lively and engaging character. The midrange has a lovely character about it that is partially responsible for this effect; it is fun and exciting without being overly warm or nasal. Also the bass is considerably more powerful, especially with the right material, but the bass is no louder than the others, it's just that each note carries more weight. Some would say the treble is bright, I don't think that it is bright as much as it is lively, and more realistic than the somewhat dead treble of the others (however I do think the CD3000 is too bright for this source).
Closest to this performance is that of the modded RME HDSP, which though it lacks the detail and dynamics of the DAC1, it generally has very nice timbre and overall sound balance, not to mention the best dynamics of any of the cards tested. It sounds as if the music is a bit subdued compared to the DAC1, as if the performances are a bit more robotic and lacking heart.
Next, the modded EMU and stock HDSP are fairly close, the latter having a more pleasing tonal quality, the former with a bit more speed and detail. Neither have quite the 3-D soundstage of the modded HDSP, and they both lose some of it's richness, making you seem just another level detached from the actual musical performance.
The stock EMU gives away some more richness and speed from the modded EMU, to the point where it sounds a bit dry and dull in comparison. Don't get me wrong, it is still a great source, especially for the money, very detailed with a nice wide soundstage. I think this card is the best entry-point to computer audiophilia, and others have well-documented how it compares mightily with sub $1000 CDP's.
The modded PAD kicks down a rung further on the ladder, with less detail, speed, dynamics, and bass power. Compared directly to the DAC1, it sounds quite dull, even boring to me now, as if someone had put thick drapes between me and the musical performance. Again, if I could not do such a comparison, it sounds pretty nice, fairly rich, but a bit slow, definitely lacking compared to the higher rated soundcards. Considering the low cost of the EMU, this is really not worth it, unless you need the driver features, or already have one and need better sound than...
the stock PAD, the one that started it all for me. As great as I thought this card once sounded, directly compared with the DAC1, it sounds quite pathetic, with the drape-effect of the modded PAD heightened somewhat, and the treble distortion of the poor analog output section getting on my nerves. It definitely can sound good if you've no experience with good sources, but after a while you can see it's true colors.
If I had to rate them based on how well they allow you to experience the music you play on them, I'd say:
Benchmark DAC-1 10/10 (my benchmark hehe
)
modded HDSP 9632 7.5/10
modded EMU 1212M 7/10
stock HDSP 9632 6.75/10
stock EMU 1212M 6.00/10
modded RME PAD 4.75/10
stock RME PAD 3.75/10
I know these ratings might seem a bit harsh, and the sound differences themselves might not always sound huge, but to me, the differences I how I experience the music can be huge between these sources, hence my ratings.
So for the better part of nine months, I've been blabbing on about how great PC's can be as an audio source, leading my fellow head-fiers on a wild trip modding soundcard after soundcard, finally to end up with the highly acclaimed Benchmark DAC1 at the end of a computer transport. Now it’s time to see where the chips truly lie. As a result of modding card for others, I have been able to evaluate the three cards listed (both pre- and post-mods) in the past few days against the benchmark.
The System:
Benchmark DAC-1 (used with Quail power cord to Monster PC1000)
RME HDSP 9632 (stock, and modded with blackgate N coupling caps, and FK power caps)
RME Digi96/8 PAD (stock, and modded with blackgate FK caps to bypass analog ouput stage)
E-MU 1212M (stock, and modded with blackgate std power caps, N coupling caps, and LT1364 output opamps)
PC powered by PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 (quiet fan modded)
eBay Glass Toslink cable (from soundcards to Benchmark)
DIY Canare Starquad IC's (from soundcards/Benchmark to amp)
Gilmore V1 with laddered attenuator
Sony CD3000 with Headphile bubinga R10 woodies and starquad cable
Beyerdynamic DT531
The Music (all losslessly encoded to hard drives from original CD's via EAC):
AC/DC - Back In Black
Alexander Markov - Paganini's 24 caprices & violin concerto op.1
Blaze - Silicon Messiah
Cincinnati Pops Orchesta - Great Movie Scores
Dream Theater - Awake
Hallucinogen - The Lone Deranger
Diana Krall - The Look of Love
Megadeth - Hidden Treasures
Savatage - The Wake of Magellan
Zero Hour - The Tower of Avarice
The Results
Simply put, no matter which card I used as the transport, the DAC1 is at the head of this class and by a good margin. It has the ability to react much more quickly to the changes in the signal, making for a much tighter, faster, more detailed, more dynamic listening experience than any of the soundcards in any form can muster. Because of this, the music takes on a more lively and engaging character. The midrange has a lovely character about it that is partially responsible for this effect; it is fun and exciting without being overly warm or nasal. Also the bass is considerably more powerful, especially with the right material, but the bass is no louder than the others, it's just that each note carries more weight. Some would say the treble is bright, I don't think that it is bright as much as it is lively, and more realistic than the somewhat dead treble of the others (however I do think the CD3000 is too bright for this source).
Closest to this performance is that of the modded RME HDSP, which though it lacks the detail and dynamics of the DAC1, it generally has very nice timbre and overall sound balance, not to mention the best dynamics of any of the cards tested. It sounds as if the music is a bit subdued compared to the DAC1, as if the performances are a bit more robotic and lacking heart.
Next, the modded EMU and stock HDSP are fairly close, the latter having a more pleasing tonal quality, the former with a bit more speed and detail. Neither have quite the 3-D soundstage of the modded HDSP, and they both lose some of it's richness, making you seem just another level detached from the actual musical performance.
The stock EMU gives away some more richness and speed from the modded EMU, to the point where it sounds a bit dry and dull in comparison. Don't get me wrong, it is still a great source, especially for the money, very detailed with a nice wide soundstage. I think this card is the best entry-point to computer audiophilia, and others have well-documented how it compares mightily with sub $1000 CDP's.
The modded PAD kicks down a rung further on the ladder, with less detail, speed, dynamics, and bass power. Compared directly to the DAC1, it sounds quite dull, even boring to me now, as if someone had put thick drapes between me and the musical performance. Again, if I could not do such a comparison, it sounds pretty nice, fairly rich, but a bit slow, definitely lacking compared to the higher rated soundcards. Considering the low cost of the EMU, this is really not worth it, unless you need the driver features, or already have one and need better sound than...
the stock PAD, the one that started it all for me. As great as I thought this card once sounded, directly compared with the DAC1, it sounds quite pathetic, with the drape-effect of the modded PAD heightened somewhat, and the treble distortion of the poor analog output section getting on my nerves. It definitely can sound good if you've no experience with good sources, but after a while you can see it's true colors.
If I had to rate them based on how well they allow you to experience the music you play on them, I'd say:
Benchmark DAC-1 10/10 (my benchmark hehe
modded HDSP 9632 7.5/10
modded EMU 1212M 7/10
stock HDSP 9632 6.75/10
stock EMU 1212M 6.00/10
modded RME PAD 4.75/10
stock RME PAD 3.75/10
I know these ratings might seem a bit harsh, and the sound differences themselves might not always sound huge, but to me, the differences I how I experience the music can be huge between these sources, hence my ratings.
