Recent content by signalpath

Yes. We've been doing self-blinded A/B (not ABX) audio tests for 35 years. It's the basis of everything we design, and the foundation of over 50,000 audio channels shipped. When we first connected the kludge DAC prototype (2018 I think) on our reference system, the difference was immediately...

Spot on. Multi-path performance is similar to excellent single-path performance at the highest measurable levels (see Katz paper). It's in the lower perceptual levels where multi-path improves THD+N. Often significantly. The improvement is easily measurable (see Katz paper). But more...

I agree. Have rewritten. Thanks for the constructive feedback. The story is 100% true, but probably nobody will believe it. Please chime in with any other editorial suggestions. The website just went live.

Correct. It's in this sensitive area where the ear most perceives atmospheric information, subtle instrument timbres, depth, space, etc.. Every professional who's auditioned this architecture hears a marked improvement, around 40 beta testers (see website comments). The majority of engineers...

You're missing the fundamental difference between single-path and multi-path D-to-A conversion. When program levels drop into the low-audible range --- where we best perceive the "atmospherics" of a room signature / reverb tail / subtle timbre --- single-path DAC THD ratio becomes at least two...

Years ago, Tom Holman (Mr. THX) did a large-scale test of mics and mic preamps, finding our HV-3 micamp (and a particular Neumann mic) to have the highest dynamic range of any available pro mic+pre combination. I think it was 134dB? Every time I see Tom at a show I thank him. Last I checked, he...

I think this is why they work well in mastering and post. It's usually just one person listening, in a well-established "head-in-a-vice" room location. When you're in the Dunlavy first-order sweet spot, it's magic.

Spent a couple years reviewing speakers at audio shows, using one of the hardest sources: a choir recording (that we recorded in NorCal). In virtually all speakers, the choir mid-range became a bit smeared. It was really obvious. The Dunlavy was among 2 or 3 speakers that did not smear the mids...

Hi RJA. A key benefit of multi-path D-to-A (compared with all single-path DAC architecture today) is lower THD+N at low perceptual levels, i.e., the "low-path."

Thanks for the discussion. Yes, both DAC ICs are operating at their full bit range (otherwise, as you say, it would be a very bad idea). I wish I had time to engage in all of these comments, but we're slammed. Virtually every comment here is addressed in the AES Engineering paper (#21106) and...

The high-path is on par with any very high quality DAC today, with THD in the -120dB range. It's in the low-path where we greatly improve today's single-path architecture.

Many pro microphones are designed to handle +155dB SPL, some even higher. Indeed. We're moving systemic dynamic range from 120dB to 160dB.

Hi All. Thanks for the interesting discussion. The D-1 multi-path DAC is designed for the pro market. In recording, we stick microphones directly on snare drums and trumpets. These have around +155dB SPL peak level at the microphone. On the other end, the human ear can detect sound down to -8dB...

Thanks. Aligning paths is critical. We've had to create new kinds of testing parameters for multi-path architecture (described in my AES paper). One is called "CLE" or cross-fade linearity error. We did a panel of blind listening tests to determine the JND of music and tones at different...

Thanks. R&S is beautiful gear. I say modern test equipment can't measure it. But there are hacks. Alan Kay (at T/I) is perhaps the guru of ultra-low-level audio testing. We've read all his papers and are using his techniques to "get close" to objective measurements. At such levels (40nVrms...