BIII: Multi-Ch vs Stereo Sound Quality?

[ccclapp]

What is considered to be the difference in sound quality of the B-III used as 8-channel vs 2-channel?

[Russ White]

With 8 channel You will just lose a bit of dynamic range, and you will have to configure the output stages for more gain, which typically results in slightly higher THD. But it will still sound superb.

[ccclapp]

Originally Posted by Russ White

With 8 channel You will just lose a bit of dynamic range, and you will have to configure the output stages for more gain, which typically results in slightly higher THD. But it will still sound superb.

Hi Russ. Thanks for the reply!

Without meaning to put you on the spot, would you please reconcile your answer above with your earlier statement below where you described the poor quality of m-ch?...

"I may do it at some point, but I actually don't have that much interest in because once you use the ES9018 with only one differential DAC per output channel performance wise (DNR and THD) the DAC really becomes not much better than anything else out there. Really to get exceptional performance you have to use it in 1 or 2 channel mode.

You can very easily do a superb multi-channel DAC with the Buffalo II. Just use more than one buff II module (3 or 4 for 5.1 or 7.1 respectively). Then you get multi channel with no compromise in results compared to stereo."

Multichannel Buffalo? - Buffalo DAC - Twisted Pear Audio Support

Aren't the chips in the B-II and B-III the same, or similar enough that other than exposing the pre-existing m-ch capability, nothing changed between your two statements

PS: I bought a B-III last night...

Thanks

[Russ White]

There is nothing to reconcile. If you are looking at dynamic range you can achieve the same numbers with other DACs if you are only using one DAC output per channel and not doing any summing. But Dynamic range and THD are not the whole story.

I still believe the best approach is 3 or 4 stereo configured DAC,s or 6 or 8 mono if your ready to go that far.

[ccclapp]

Thanks Russ