[kstuart]

  Are you describing a next-gen Aphex Aural Exciter? 

Read it again.  ADC is Analog-to-Digital-Converter.   What he is describing is flat and transparent, the opposite of an Exciter.

 

[Ableza]

  Read it again.  ADC is Analog-to-Digital-Converter.   What he is describing is flat and transparent, the opposite of an Exciter.

... and thus my post was satirical. 

 

[judmarc]

  ... and thus my post was satirical. 

 
Jimmy Iovine infamously used it on Born to Run, and was punished by making a ***** load of money and becoming head of major companies in the music biz.

 

[jacal01]

Quote:

 
At Theta, despite the fact that we had sold two D/A sets to very famous film composers, found it very difficult to sell such an expensive A/D to the studios. Fast forward to today, and it is a different cost world. A two-channel multibit 16x (4x MQA) 21 bit original sample, 24 bit out no missing original sample codes A/D converter with an updated megaburrito filter should sell for $3500ish, given equivalent quantities.
 
So what could we do (or not)?  (Random thoughts - not policy statements.)
 
1. Go ahead and build it anyway and hope we don't have dozens and dozens slowly or not sold.
 
2. Build it for another company already well established in pro audio – even though the price would be higher with another markup.
 
3. Find other pro audio manufacturers willing to build the converter at a fair price and grant them a royalty-free license to use the inverse megaburrito filter.  A true low-cost open solution.  Recordings would sound better, no matter what playback hardware is used.  Now if you used one of our megaburrito playback, that would be a real bonus.

 
Really, despite the collective salivating of the membership here, it would be irresponsible to launch such a multibit ADC product without some sort of potential proaudio market demographic study.
Even a questionnaire might prove an effective barometer of the recording studios' receptiveness to such a conversion product upgrade, provided that they actually understood the technical rationale behind its inherent superiority, and that the proper individual with commensurate influence if not authority was targeted within each company.  The latter would probably be the most difficult and likely to require some of that marketing overhead, unless an extensive contact base has been already cultivated over the years with our seasoned vets at Schiit Audio. 

 

[wink]

If you build it......     your field of dreams could be a nightmare..  

 

[jacal01]

   
Jimmy Iovine infamously used it on Born to Run, and was punished by making a ***** load of money and becoming head of major companies in the music biz.

 
Noooooo....  Don't throw me in that briar patch. 

 
We likes our music involving.
 
 

  If you build it......     your field of dreams could be a nightmare..  

 
 
The bigger question is, why is GAIN 2 based on single bit conversion? 

 

[wink]

 The bigger question is, why is GAIN 2 based on single bit conversion? 

.... because they lost the other bit...?

 

[jacal01]

Wha wha wha...  But if progress implies improvement, then GAIN 2 would represent better quality recording digital conversions, woodenit?

 

[artur9]

  Wha wha wha...  But if progress implies improvement, then GAIN 2 would represent better quality recording digital conversions, woodenit?

Progress could include increased cost efficiency; i.e. cheaper.  Or a bigger profit margin for the manufacturer.

 

[wink]

Or, some deaf troll likes the sound better.

 

[jacal01]

I was hoping for a response from someone that might actually be privy to the MFSL decision for replacing the first GAIN system... 
 
But to counter your argument, Mobile Fidelity positions its product niche at high end mastering and reproduction fidelity, thereby touting quality as its benchmark differentiator for buyer preference.  Cheapness or profit margin would seem to be counterproductive to any competitive advantage they might thusly have gained (sic) from emphasizing authenticity.  Doesn't seem plausible on the face of it.
 
And maybe deaf trolls are indeed attracted to the bling of the CD gold plating.   But would one be in such a position at MFSL to have the authority to deliberately replace their industry laudable commissioned ADC system with something "better"? 

 

[wahsmoh]

Anyone here still listen to a Theta in their system?? 

  Theta > Chord Mojo for redbook.

 

[Ableza]

I had a Theta Casablanca in my first serious HT setup back in the day.  I have a Schiit Yggdrasil in my 2-channel system and a Gugnir MB in my headphone setup now, which are the modern successor to Theta.

 

[jacal01]

From the MFSL website:
 
"1993: Mobile Fidelity continues to test the limits of existing audio technologies with the development of the new GAIN™ System of mastering equipment. This technology affects both analog and digital products from Mobile Fidelity, and has led to startling advancements in the impact of recorded sound. 1994: The company returns to vinyl production with the introduction of the ANADISQ™ 200 LP series, which features half-speed mastering with the GAIN System technology, numbered limited editions, 200 gram super quality virgin vinyl and special heavy-duty jackets with rice paper inner sleeves.
 
1997: Mobile Fidelity engineers actively investigate several emerging -and competing - audio technologies. Theta Digital upgrades the GAIN™ A/D converter to 24/96 and further research and experimentation is conducted regarding this technology. 
 
1998: Mobile Fidelity creates one of the first 24bit/96kHz DVD's based on audio under the DVD video specification as a showcase technology piece for the CES Show in Las Vegas. During this same period MFSL engineers start research, experiments and testing with the Sony/Philips Direct Stream Digital (DSD) system 
 
Mobile Fidelity prepares for the future and introduces the GAIN 2™ system developed by an international team of engineers. This system consists of a custom tape head and hand made reproducer electronics achieving unprecedented bandwidth. Synergistically matched to a 2.8 MHz DSD A/D converter and precision down-converted to PCM for Ultradisc II releases. [accent mine]
 
1999: Mobile Fidelity releases its first GAIN 2™ Hybrid SACD, Duke Ellington's, Blues in Orbit. Mobile Fidelity's main distributor declares bankruptcy and MFSL Inc. closes it's doors."
 
 
Evidently, it was all about the DSD (spelled MQA).  The last paragraph is telling, for those cause & effect conspiracists... 

 

 

[Jones Bob]

That's what happens when you let The Internationalists in.