D90 (original version with AK4499) took 2-4 days of burn in. After that bass was good, as was LF imaging. At vocal frequencies and above it sounded a bit off. Sounds better or best at DSD256 in DAC mode (volume control disabled), as verses playing any PCM. Because of the sound imperfection at vocal frequencies and above I use it as a backup dac only.
In comparison to D90, DAC-3 soundstage (stereo illusion) sounded narrow, forward, somewhat flat, and the overall sound seemed a bit distorted. Whether it was distortion, jitter, or signal-correlated noise, or whatever, it sounded kinda like distortion to me. Gave that one away to my daughter.
Didn't have W4S for comparison.
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Having compared single crystal copper vs similar silver i find copper preferable. It is perhaps possible to achieve similar musicality with silver but that means a drastic revoicing of all components.
I'm going to test silver in a little while. For a second time. With a completely difference (and very quiet Ill add ) system, not necessarily strongly better in any areas. Against high quality copper in pure form, low tins. I could not realize audible differences during the first trials. It might require hearing like that of the Super Man himself to decipher differences between those two.
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I have 2.2 with my own single crown TDA1541 and some Black Gates I had in the drawer. A remarkable DAC just high output and hum level make it little problematic with speakers over 100dB.
Yeah, that 2% silver solder makes all the difference to the semiconductor junctions and wire bonds ... are you guys serious? who am I kidding, of course you are
Well, the only message I can give here is that you should try for yourself and see if you can tell the difference.
I can. I made two identical class A amplifiers, one soldered with standard good old-fashion 40/60 soldier; the second with Mundorf 9.5% silver-loaded solder. They sound completely different. But, that's me. Others may not believe in silver solder. And that is fine.
I am also NOT saying that the silver solder sounds better - just different and to some, in their specific system and listening room, that may just be the sound they want. After I demo the amplifiers, I have not faced anyone who could not hear a very clear difference in sound. And I'm talking here some hard-core electrical/electronics engineers who a priori would bombard me with things like... you must be crazy, no way... but after a listen, they sit there in disbelief glued to the couch with their jaws resting on the floor.
The trick is to be open-minded and try.
Or simply not try and not believe in silver solder, which is also fine.
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Well good man, if you had a board available your suggestion would be easier to follow up on. (hint
)
Mark out of curiosity were you using DSD-recorded material or was this via some kind of PCM-to-DSD conversion?
Interesting. Thanks. Every time I consider HQPlayer I go to the website and the price. Hoo boy, not cheap. Then the PC requirements... yikes.
An argument could be made that spending anything over $50 for a DAC should be considered snake oil, much less solder or diy'ing one so I don't really see the merit in non-stop comments about other people's experiences.
I thought the inference was pretty clear. This is a technical forum, for the most part and posts of that type, should be challenged. They encourage large outlay for at best subjective changes. Suggesting a fairly exclusive and expensive silver cable as some sort of diagnostic instrument is not exactly science based engineering.
and yes, I have done my share of experimentation with different wires very early and as a result, still have plenty of it left. 7N OCC silver, copper, SPC, crystal cables etc etc. as a result I still use it in some builds, where I still need connecting wires, but if I want a bump in detail, I find DSP is much more reliable ... I now use it when I feel like a bit of bling and better conductors wont harm anything. I would always choose a well laid out, well controlled PCB trace though ...
and yes, I have done my share of experimentation with different wires very early and as a result, still have plenty of it left. 7N OCC silver, copper, SPC, crystal cables etc etc. as a result I still use it in some builds, where I still need connecting wires, but if I want a bump in detail, I find DSP is much more reliable ... I now use it when I feel like a bit of bling and better conductors wont harm anything. I would always choose a well laid out, well controlled PCB trace though ...
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