I have been struggling for years why my system sounded different when I bypassed my digital Preamp (which attenuated 3dB due to Speaker Calibration). I've always thought heck it's all 24bit once it gets in the preamp (similar to how SqueezeBox/Transporter does digital volume). 24-bit does NOT matter. You attenuate 6dB digitally and you WILL lose 1 bit of resolution you used to hear. Just because it's 24-bit doesn't mean you have 8bits (8 * 6dB) 48dB to play with in volume before it starts to eat into your 16bit RIP. That's NOT how things work.
It's relative to what you actually can hear, your room, your amp, your (imperfect DAC). So when your sitting down listening at normal volumes you may get 17bits (or less). Now you start attenuating digitally even as little as 6dB now you are down to 16bits. And so on. I think many on this forum know to always run with Volume Disabled (set to Max). But I see so many folks run straight to a DAC and an AMP with no peramp. You are a fool if you do. And your wasting your money. Unless you listen at near 99. I finally came up with a test to prove it. This is my DAC resolution test. Try running the Test with "Max" Digital Volume (all test files are VERY low volume), then try it Digitally attenuated even 6db. The test will get an audible different result showing you audibly will hear one less bit. The key to understanding this is just because a DAC accepts 24bits does not mean it's true performance 24bit. Your ears, system, room, amp, dac etc. have a total fixed dynamic range and by using digital attenuation you are sliding the music out of that range. http://www.meridianunplugged.com/wiki/index.php?pagename=DAC%20Resolution%20Test -- mswlogo XP > Cat5 > Transporter/DuetController > SPDIF > Meridian G68 > DSP6000, DSP5500HC, DSP5000 XP > Cat5 > SB3 > SPDIF > Meridian DSP5000 XP > Cat5 > DuetReceiver > SPDIF > Meridian G91 > DSP5000 'My Transporter Setup' (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showpost.php?p=350741&postcount=45) 'Hitch Hikers Guide to Meridian' (http://www.meridianunplugged.com) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ mswlogo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9090 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=77725 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
