Computer Audio Asylum

Posted by soundchekk (A) on February 17, 2021 at 07:25:21

In Reply to: RE: Should be "Do USB filters make DACs MEASURE bette?r"... posted by Ivan303 on February 17, 2021 at 05:40:23

Look.

He is using a $28000 Audio Precision APx555 for his tests.

If I'm not mistaken there's nothing better out there to run standard
"Audio" tests.

If you follow the ASR forum and some of the reviews you'll find the measurements to be extremely consistent to other peoples measurements using the same APx555 and the same equipment.

Several of the Chinese brands like Gustard start verifying their designs with such an APx555. They simply can't afford to look bad. It's a pretty tough competition out there. It's basically a saturated market. That IMO explains why during recent times, we see those excellent performances on low cost equipment. Amir doesn't "claim" anything when it comes to comparing devices by measurements, he measures the devices and compares the measurements. And if a $250 device measures better then a 3k device, it'd be a hard fact and not a claim to me.


The problems start with adding his "opinions" or "recommendations" and seriously believing he runs a "scientific" approach.

If you're a real "scientist" you simply can't ignore empirical evidence. Meaning. If 10000 and more people did and do experience improvements/changes when using these filters, you can't call them psychos, because the way you approach the subject won't support it.
As a scientist you'd try to find out the "WHY". And that's when it starts to get complicated. And that's why he is not a scientist. He ignores it. Therefore to me he's simply a tecchie who hooks up devices to his measurement gear.

A quick look at the "USB filter Debunking" exercise.

He starts his whole approach with a huge flaw.
He's not looking at the actual filter performance itself. Not at all.
He keeps measuring his DACs. Because he simply has not the capabilities to measure these filters properly. Based on that he simply can't judge
or rate these filters.

What he could do though, he could tell us that if the DAC output won't show any impact (filter in/out), even though the filter would reduce noise by let say 30dB, then this DAC would do a great job suppressing incoming upstream noise. It'd speak for the DAC and not against the filter first of all. Because the filter would probably do a 5* job. Reducing the noise by about e.g. 30dB if that's been promised by the manufacturer.

Anyhow.

It's IMO good to get all these measurements. "WHY" do so many people hear and enjoy a difference need to be explained differently then.
Perhaps some more knowledgeable folks see the flaw.

Yep. Fellow "psychos". Calling us psychos would be the easiest answer to all open questions. It's all imagination and wishful thinking. Perhaps it really is.

Anyhow. I've always been wishing for DACs that do no show any impact
by changing any parameter on the upstream EQ. Meaning. No matter
what transport or interface you're using, we can expect the same result.
If we'd have arrived at that point now, a huge gadget market will have a problem and we'd just buy a 250$ DAC, hook it up to any streamer, and are happy for the rest of our lives.

Enjoy.

PA: Would be nice to see what the manufacturers have to say about it.
Not sure of any of them still sneaks by from time to time.


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