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+--- Thread: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? (/Thread-Why-is-digital-audio-so-complicated-Where-did-it-all-go-wrong)
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - SwissBear - 02-Mar-2016
If we look at the new high-end DACs released on the market, we can witness that all the technologies we have been discussing here, like galvanic isolation of the USB input, high precision clock feeding a re-clocking unit, are now embarked into these new DACs. As an illustration, see the description of this one : http://www.audiostream.com/content/emm-labs-da2-stereo-da-converter
Can we infer from this that these technologies add to the sound quality ? I would be tempted to, but I might not be completely independent in this debate as I own Mutec MC-3+ USB in front of my Devialet.
I can only guess that, with some patience, we will probably see these technologies embarked on the Devialet's DAC too :-)
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - Hifi_swlon - 02-Mar-2016
(02-Mar-2016, 10:47)Our Wrote: I can only guess that, with some patience, we will probably see these technologies embarked on the Devialet's DAC too :-)
Do you mean by way of a hardware upgrade, or you're thinking on future models?
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - SwissBear - 02-Mar-2016
(02-Mar-2016, 10:52)Hifi_swlon Wrote:(02-Mar-2016, 10:47)Our Wrote: I can only guess that, with some patience, we will probably see these technologies embarked on the Devialet's DAC too :-)
Do you mean by way of a hardware upgrade, or you're thinking on future models?
Well, my understanding of the technologies involved make it up for future models. I can imagine galvanic isolation being part of a hardware upgrade, but a high precision clock and a re-clocker would be another story IMHO.
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - Confused - 02-Mar-2016
(02-Mar-2016, 10:47)Our Wrote: If we look at the new high-end DACs released on the market, we can witness that all the technologies we have been discussing here, like galvanic isolation of the USB input, high precision clock feeding a re-clocking unit, are now embarked into these new DACs. As an illustration, see the description of this one : http://www.audiostream.com/content/emm-labs-da2-stereo-da-converterLooking at the specs on the Melco website I see they claim: "Audio-grade ultra-low jitter data clock - eliminates any possibility of data jitter at source".
Can we infer from this that these technologies add to the sound quality ? I would be tempted to, but I might not be completely independent in this debate as I own Mutec MC-3+ USB in front of my Devialet.
I can only guess that, with some patience, we will probably see these technologies embarked on the Devialet's DAC too :-)
So audio grade clocks everywhere. I wonder how the Melco clock compares to the Mutec? Maybe Meclo > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet might work very nicely? Plus in terms of the topic of this thread, such a set up would not be complicated at all.
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - Hifi_swlon - 02-Mar-2016
(02-Mar-2016, 14:05)Confused Wrote: …. Maybe Meclo > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet might work very nicely? Plus in terms of the topic of this thread, such a set up would not be complicated at all.
Or according to below, possibly; Melco > Mutec > Mutec > Mutec > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet,
Or for slightly better value;. . . . . . . . . . . .Melco > Mutec > Mutec > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet
Just to say in advance, even if I end up trying it, I'm not going to be ordering 4!
http://www.mutec-net.com/artikel.php?id=1388254422
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - SwissBear - 02-Mar-2016
(02-Mar-2016, 15:12)Hifi_swlon Wrote:FYI, this is an old article. MC-3+ USB has since been released, with a better clock than MC-3+. Fujak, the writer of the report you are referring to, has said that the new one was so good that it would easily replace 2 old ones... So you will only need a maximum of 2 MC-3+ USB(02-Mar-2016, 14:05)Confused Wrote: …. Maybe Meclo > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet might work very nicely? Plus in terms of the topic of this thread, such a set up would not be complicated at all.
Or according to below, possibly; Melco > Mutec > Mutec > Mutec > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet,
Or for slightly better value;. . . . . . . . . . . .Melco > Mutec > Mutec > Mutec > AES/EBU Devialet
Just to say in advance, even if I end up trying it, I'm not going to be ordering 4!
http://www.mutec-net.com/artikel.php?id=1388254422
.See 4.1 of this report : https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aktives-hoeren.de%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D23%26t%3D5902%26start%3D120%23p109172&edit-text=&act=url
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - Hifi_swlon - 02-Mar-2016
Out of interest, I wonder why they didn't include a USB out? (on the latest MC-3+ USB)
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - SwissBear - 02-Mar-2016
(02-Mar-2016, 15:43)Hifi_swlon Wrote: Out of interest, I wonder why they didn't include a USB out? (on the latest MC-3+ USB)Well, the USB port is revertible. So if you have an input through AES/EBU or S-P/DIF, you can output to USB.
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - Hifi_swlon - 02-Mar-2016
Yes, but if you have a USB input (i.e. computer source), you can't also have a USB output, and USB seems to be the primary input on some DACs for DSD etc. Just curious really, I guess its because it more aimed at studios.
RE: Why is digital audio so complicated? Where did it all go wrong? - thumb5 - 02-Mar-2016
Or maybe there is little benefit to be had from a USB-to-USB passage through the device?