When I tried tests like these on my SB2/3 and my
receiver, I wondered what it was I was really
comparing.
Was I comparing DACs, or was I comparing my
receiver's digital implementation versus its
analog implementation? There's a whole chain of
components a digital signal goes through that an
analog signal doesn't, and vice-versa. It's not
only a DAC.
I found digital playback on my receiver crisp to
the point of being bright, and analog playback
warm to the point of being muddy in the vocals. I
can't say I noticed much change in bass though.
I listened to the SB using my headphones and it
was noticeably crisper yet still quite warm, so
in my receiver at least, there's more to the
differences between analog and digital than just
my receiver's DACs.
atao wrote:
> i was hoping to get help explaining what i'm
hearing.
>
> i have a denon 3802 with b&w 610 speakers and a
definitive sub. i'm
> doing a/b comparisons between using the denon
internal dac vs the
> sb3's dac.
>
> what i'm hearing is that when using the denon dac,
the sound stage is
> more forward, and possibly less spacious sounding.
at the same time,
> bass is much more precise and powerful. i was
listening to "if i was
> your woman", alicia keys, and there's a lot of
low-frequency sound on
> this track when it just starts off and this just
doesn't come through
> with the sb3 internal dac.
>
> on the other hand, when using the sb3 internal dac,
the voices sound
> like they're coming from "behind" the speakers more,
and the overall
> sound stage actually sounds deeper, which i happen
to like.
>
> i'd characterize the sb3's dac sound as slightly
softer, which seems
> good, but at the same time, it seems to be unable to
produce powerful
> transients. the denon's dac may be harsher or
perhaps its just more
> precise? my b&w 610's are fairly notorious for being
bright. these are
> all just my impressions, i wouldn't really describe
myself as an
> audiophile, but somehow i find myself re-listening
to all my music now
> that i got an sb3.
>
> i'm wondering if anyone might be able to help
explain what i'm hearing.
> thanks!
>
>
--
___________________________________
Mark Lanctot
___________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca
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