The End of My DAC Journey?
- Thread starter Mike Hanson
- Start date
darrenyeats
pfm Member
It's indeed hard work.A real blind test, now that would be interesting. All different prices and technologies. I don't think I could be bothered to sit through it but I'd be happy to read the results
Mike Hanson
Trying to understand...
We did a pretty good job of single blind testing for most of our tests. When comparing a batch of DACs, we hooked them up to my Benchmark HPA4 preamp. It has the ability to adjust input levels, so all DACs were the same volume. Then one of us would listen, while the other switched inputs. The switcher would randomly assign A/B/C to each contender, and the listener would ask to change using the letter designations. Not "double blind", because the switcher knew which was which, but we tried our best not to influence the listener.
When we compared notes, we realized that were were hearing the same differences between the DACs. That added much to our confidence in our findings.
I did something similar alone when I recently compared my Cary SLI-100 tube integrated against a Cary SLP-2002 tube pre with one of my solid state amps. I hooked both through a speaker switcher, matched the volumes, then randomly pressed the "toggle" button enough times to lose track of which was which.
Then I diligently compared them back and forth, making note of the differences that I heard.
So yes, it can be done, but you need the test gear to make it happen.
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Alex S
carbon based lifeform
2Qute (with LPSU if that makes any difference). It was enough for me to decide I didn’t wish to climb the Chord ladder, but I’ve heard the Dave in enough systems to understand those who do.
Mike Hanson
Trying to understand...
Not personally. My closest experience was noticing a May KTE packed up and ready to go to another buyer, when I picked up my T+A. I asked how it was, and he said "Fine, but the T+A is far better." I stopped considering Holo Audio at that point.
