Search results

  1. C

    "Inefficient" speakers are "worse" than "efficient" speakers

    Just a passing note that, all else being equal, a loudspeaker motor dissipating 10s of Watts will have higher harmonic distortion than a motor dissipating <1W. Further, higher-efficiency speakers tend to use larger diaphragms, typically resulting in narrower directivity, which puts a huge...
  2. C

    Reproduction of Low-Frequency Square Waves by Audio Amplifiers (and DAC)

    Yep, a square wave is the infinite series of odd harmonics. However, if you adjust the level of the harmonics, you'll find weirdness can creep in. In the case of a HF bandwidth limitation, you'll see some ripple just before/after the vertical edges. The case we're looking at here is that the...
  3. C

    Reproduction of Low-Frequency Square Waves by Audio Amplifiers (and DAC)

    Yes, because there's often a highpass filter which is in full effect by 5Hz. Yes, because they may also have a highpass filter in place. The waveforms I posted are digitally generated and therefore theoretically perfect. They're not being "distorted" by equipment, because no equipment is...
  4. C

    Reproduction of Low-Frequency Square Waves by Audio Amplifiers (and DAC)

    Going to disagree with Maxwell above. We absolutely can detect below 20Hz, but our hearing system isn't very good at it. It's more of a tactile sensation, and IMO worth reproducing. A 20Hz square wave, though, is trivial to reproduce. You just need a flat frequency response to 20Hz. The...
  5. C

    Genelec 8030C Studio Monitor Review

    Just a passing note that I, too, can hear hiss from my 8030Cs. They were purchased new a few months ago, and are fed from an RME UCX-II. For me, it isn't an issue, but I can imagine that others might find it annoying.
  6. C

    Do You Miss Knobs and Dials and Switches?

    My Mazda CX30 was registered in 2020. IIRC, they were released late-2019, so I'm not sure they copied it from a 2022 BMW. They might well have taken inspiration from the earlier models, though. Either way, it's a much better control option than everything-on-a-touchscreen, and I'm pleased to...
  7. C

    Do You Miss Knobs and Dials and Switches?

    Mine's a Mazda CX30, but I'm aware of at least one other manufacturer that has a similar control system.
  8. C

    Lapel mic that eliminates background noise?

    Your assumption here is that the mic polar patterns are identical. This is not the case: dynamic mics typically deviate (narrow) from their nominal pattern as the wavelengths get small, while a good condenser (like the Schoeps I mentioned earlier) will retain its pattern all the way up. The...
  9. C

    Do You Miss Knobs and Dials and Switches?

    One of the reasons I bought my current car is that the screen is not a touchscreen. There's an easily-accessed control knob just below the gearstick. Push down to select, rotate, push side-to-side. The AC, heated seats, volume, anything that you'd want to adjust during the journey - all knobs...
  10. C

    Lapel mic that eliminates background noise?

    Lav mics are usually omnidirectional or cardioid. The former will pick up sound from everywhere, so avoid those. The cardioid pattern will help a little, but if you've got it pointing upwards towards your mouth, the side rejection will be around 6dB. Not great, and that's assuming a perfect...
  11. C

    USB Mic Preamp with Clip protection that also resets back to normal

    Go back to the X32rack and figure out why it's so noisy. I suspect a gain-staging issue.
  12. C

    USB Mic Preamp with Clip protection that also resets back to normal

    Are you podcasting live? Like a radio show? Or do you have the option to process the audio before release? If the former, you need a compressor. You could probably do it in software if you're good and can keep the latency low, but I'd suggest hardware. If the latter, even something as basic...
  13. C

    "… just about anyone could hear the difference." (Stereophile May 2025)

    While true, I'd suggest if slightly-dirty/noisy mains power adversely affects the equipment, then that equipment is defective and should be repaired/replaced. The power supply clearly isn't doing its job of converting AC to clean DC power rails. This is a topic I take a pretty hard-line view...
  14. C

    "… just about anyone could hear the difference." (Stereophile May 2025)

    Well, if "just about anyone could hear the difference", it should be trivial to measure the difference. Chris
  15. C

    New (2021) RME Fireface UCX II

    This is valuable knowledge, thank you. I don't think I would have ever worked that out by myself. I have confirmed it works on my UCX-II, and will be re-building my rack in the coming days. Thanks again!
  16. C

    New (2021) RME Fireface UCX II

    With regards to the standalone mode bit, I'd unknowingly used some language that applies to a specific operating mode of these units, but I meant it in the sense of: I want to be able to operate this device without having to open the software and then click+drag to change something as...
  17. C

    USB Mic Preamp with Clip protection that also resets back to normal

    You need something with an insert point, or an external preamp. Mic => Preamp => Compressor => Convert to digital.
  18. C

    New (2021) RME Fireface UCX II

    Time to answer my own question, the expensive way: no, the RME UCX-II cannot easily control a combination of outputs using the control knob. My solution was to add a balanced 5.1 volume controller, and leave the RME outputs at 0dB. Not a huge problem, but it does mean one more box in the rack...
  19. C

    Is there any music that actually requires 24 bits for replay?

    Ah, you mean how the recording is then processed. In that case, agreed: classical is generally treated with a light touch. Thank goodness. More heavily-processed music might have 2-5 layers of processing (EQ, compressor(s), de-esser, FX etc etc etc) per channel, subgroup processing, master buss...
  20. C

    Is there any music that actually requires 24 bits for replay?

    I'd just like to add a note here that 24-bit or 32-bit will absolutely be used in classical recording/capture. In the early days of digital recording, where 8-bit or 16-bit was all that was available, you had to be careful to hit the ADCs with high levels, but not so high as to produce digital...
Back
Top Bottom