Triode User
Member of the Trade: WAVE High Fidelity
What are customers saying/hearing is different about your cables then the others?
They don’t sound as harsh.
What are customers saying/hearing is different about your cables then the others?
So it is distortion that follows the signal, not noise... Are you sure about that? If so, it's easily detected in a null test. Can you tell me a DAC that is particularly subject to this kind of distortion so I can check it out? It probably would show up in the THD ratings, wouldn't it?
If you only answer one of my questions, please make it the one about the DAC that is particularly subject to RF.
I remember measuring small improvements on my old ODAC when using the USB cable provided with a ferrite bead compared to some other random one. I believe JDS documented that at some point. but I can't say that I could hear a difference. also if a ferrite bead is the answer, why wouldn't the DAC manufacturer provide it or even better, have it inside the DAC? I agree with the possibility, but I'm talking about a small DAC that costs the price of some of the USB cables discussed in this topic. if I purchase an expensive DAC and the guy didn't implement some ferrite bead that could instantly improve the overall fidelity, it's probably time to go get a DAC from a better designer.
also in my limited experience, op amps and amplifiers in general tend to be the bigger issue with RFI and other unwanted signals(am I wrong about that idea?). I'd be slightly surprised to have significant issues in the DAC to the point where the total volume of a shielded cable would grab signals that make a noticeable difference compared to another random shielded cable, while at the same time having a problem free amplifier. I'm sure it happens, but it's certainly not what I'm used to.
You've just dismissed all the objective data supporting theirs no audible difference between usb cables, but haven't provided any that supports your argument that there is.
I'd like to know a model where this problem has been identified and reported. If you don't know of any, that's OK.
My point is the RF noise overlay on top of the digital signal and how usb cables either by accident or design might change that RF noise and so give rise to the thought that usb cables can change the music we heat from a dac.
So far all customers irrespective of dac report a decrease in harshness. That implies widespread RF susceptibility but to be accurate I do not know of models where the problem has been identified and reported.
a lot of us have DACs that are audibly transparent and clearly don't have high levels of RF noise
what parameter do you think is missing where the cable would measure a audible difference?. ... Obviously the person you quoted has a agenda to sell us dacs
How do you know that?
Specs, measurements, controlled listening tests. I have an Oppo HA-1. It is audibly transparent by all three of those. I've never seen any measurement of a DAC that had audible levels of noise or distortion, have you?
Has it been measured to have differences, or has there been a blind controlled test that verifies that it's audible? If so, what make and model? I'm looking to find out if a colored DAC actually exists. All I've found so far is reports that are anecdotal and sighted with no real controls.
Do you have access to this DAC so we can set up a test and measurements as a group?