100% transparent is 100% transparent. No filter whatsoever.
So 2 components 100% transparent SHOULD indeed sound the same.
I personnaly believe power amplifier technology is closer to 100% than converter's tech...
but anyway, transducer's tech is FAR from being 100% transparent...
The real bottlenecks are the converters.
D/A and A/D converters and also Electric/Acoustic energy converters (transducers)
it's very easy to lose/modify content when something pass through a conversion.
D/A and A/D converters and also Electric/Acoustic energy converters (transducers)
it's very easy to lose/modify content when something pass through a conversion.
if you guys agree that things simple as a cable change the sound considerably
will it make any sense for things complex as a dac will sound the same?
will it make any sense for things complex as a dac will sound the same?
good perceptual lossy codecs are a powerful argument that quite a bit is known about what is "easily heard" vs "difficult to discern" in audio signals and extensively tested with controlled listening
in electronics Signals and Systems theory lets us verify things like ADC/DAC, amplifiers are working way better in the electrical signal domain than the psychoacoustic limits exploited by the codec algorithm developers
it can be a challenge to get all electronics chain signal errors below an extreme overbound such as all errors below the human hearing threshold in quiet while simultaneously producing signal capable of driving 120 dB SPL output through the loudspeaker or headphone
just backing down to "all errors below studio and microphone noise floor over human audible frequency range" seems likely to include many current Audio DAC
in electronics Signals and Systems theory lets us verify things like ADC/DAC, amplifiers are working way better in the electrical signal domain than the psychoacoustic limits exploited by the codec algorithm developers
it can be a challenge to get all electronics chain signal errors below an extreme overbound such as all errors below the human hearing threshold in quiet while simultaneously producing signal capable of driving 120 dB SPL output through the loudspeaker or headphone
just backing down to "all errors below studio and microphone noise floor over human audible frequency range" seems likely to include many current Audio DAC
Actually I don't think a simple cable, implemented correctly, can change the sound.
But I do not accept all DACs sound the same, my own experiences through the past 20 years tell me otherwise.
Simple turntables, tone-arms can sound different, never mind a complex being such as a DAC.
Perhaps you didn't, but if you read the literature and perhaps done some good experiments, you would have. There are many unsolved issues in audio, getting sonically transparent A/D and D/A is not one of them.
I'm pleased you said "If". Many of us don't agree. Two reasons or this:kensei said:
1. physics says cables (unless faulty or wholly inappropriate) don't change the sound
2. listening tests (i.e. ears only) show that cables don't change the sound
maybe OT but would you elaborate more: how do you define inappropriate?
i have few set of speaker cables where some sounded bright and some sounded dull, all of similar gauge so as current handling, and no significant diff in measured LCR
read this https://passlabs.com/articles/speaker-cables-science-or-snake-oil saves us typing (for speaker cable)
For interconnects Kimber is a good example of something that works more by luck than design. or for real lunacy Dennis Morecroft of DNM.
For interconnects Kimber is a good example of something that works more by luck than design. or for real lunacy Dennis Morecroft of DNM.
Disagree, a complete understanding of arm/cart/TT/vinyl requires multi-domain physics with things that are in some cases very difficult or almost impossible to model.
Examples are
- using un-shielded where shielded is required.
- using very thin wires for high current cases.
- placing signal cables near noisy devices such as transformers.
- using long high capacitance or high inductance cable for speakers, where poweramp is sensitive to it.
I could go on.
please explain, are you saying that two turntables of similar quality, sound identical?
You may want to reread the sentence you quoted. He said exactly the opposite of that.
I like Dennis, he used to drive a Lotus 7 and is completely mad. But yes his 3D signal paths are more antenna like than anything else out there.
http://www.dnm.co.uk/images/csdnmtwinfront.jpg You would have to try hard to make something look more home made!
I am sorry I'm confused, must be the wine.
I see the word 'disagree' and that the physics of things (in short) is impossible to model.
If the entire turntable - arm - cartridge, can not be modeled (copied?) is one thing.
I am (was) talking about two turntables (of naturally similar build quality).
Complex electromechanical systems are extremely tough to model, and they also tend to have a lot of variation unit to unit and day to day (things like temperature, creep, and wear).
Electronic systems are far simpler.
Electronic systems are far simpler.