TheBrandon
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- Joined
- Feb 18, 2020
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- 13
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I will be out right honest as I am not very impressed with my EL DAC. I see what it measure but mine is definitely lacking for what I am looking for. Windows 10 seems to be a bit buggy with audio in general (well reported) but there has to be a series of events that take place to get optimal audio out of my current setup. My PC is built specifically for gaming and does not contain a lot of non essentials in regards to software. Onboard audio is disabled in the BIOS. EL DAC runs off a USB controller nothing else is tied too so its solo. When booting, Win 10 launches to desktop. I have all audio devices disabled (things like Nvidia's and Monitor) I then have to power on my DAC, followed by my AMP. Finally I have to volume up (in Windows than I roll down to 98). After that the DAC performs as well as I would expect it. Not in this order, audio is lower and missing the fine resolve while in an application.
I know some of this is taboo. I have flat out questioned my hearing in some regards but test show I am good all the way to 18000khz in both ears so I am not imagining the differences in audio I hear when the DAC is working as expected or not or the differences between devices. I've tested on multiple audio hardware and sources, software, songs, and games. I've tended to think this is more Windows related however, IT is my profession and I am senior management for one the largest employers for a major metro area so I am also inclined to think I know what I am doing here but been doing this type of work for decades I am way past the "not possible" attitude because that always comes back to bite you. So I'm very open to any thing people have to add. Every option that should be touched at the OS level is done. Drivers are all good to go. (I build my machines with meticulous attention to each and every part.) I am not bypassing Windows sound so maybe that is something I need to look at.
Here is where I am at. The EL DAC seems to look really good in terms of numbers. I've read the countless threads about DAC's not mattering so long as its a good one and you don't hear a difference. I'm not looking to go down a rabbit hole for no gains if most believe this is truly the case. I've read the same things regarding AMPs and that may make more difference or not. Seems like it just depends who you ask.
I volume matched each component (UMIK 1 and REW) and ran some test. The big one was simply volume matching and comparing to various dacs. Compared to my motherboards AC1220-VB and ESS 9118 Sabre DAC you'll pass a double blind 100 times in a row. Testing AV receiver, there is beyond a shadow of a doubt differences as well that are extremely easy to pick up.
In all instances, the EL DAC outperforms however ironically with one receiver in general (lawd don't let me get struck down with this comment) I can tell the sound stage is wider. I have read the comments that this shouldn't be possible and all of that so I apologize. My intention is not to stir the pot but simply post where I am at with this based on my hearing, environment after level balancing. One of the test I used for sound stage is a game that has an audio implementation that is not conventional. Audio travels in a straight line to player but not through walls unless there is a hole, or door, window. In one instance I go to a spot that has as speaker playing a classical song and I listen for enemy movement (they are in the same spot) and I am able to easily gauge the sound stage and imaging with this to compare. I could drop PUBG or BF just the same but previous example is brutally honest. I'm talking shooting someone through a wall precise or knowing exactly where someone is above or below.
So, what are everyone's thoughts with this? Will I see improvements over EL DAC if I moved to something like the DX7 Pro or something else? Is it possible whatever one of my receivers is doing its just something tainted perhaps that I prefer that makes it seem like a larger sound stage?
My goal is to get consistent and clean as possible sound with clarity. If I already have something that will do this and there is no point moving on that is good too. My go to is JDS Labs, JDS Atom to my main headphones, HD 800 S and the Beyerdynamics T1 version 2. Considering DX7 Pro (or any other options those may suggest).
Thoughts?
I know some of this is taboo. I have flat out questioned my hearing in some regards but test show I am good all the way to 18000khz in both ears so I am not imagining the differences in audio I hear when the DAC is working as expected or not or the differences between devices. I've tested on multiple audio hardware and sources, software, songs, and games. I've tended to think this is more Windows related however, IT is my profession and I am senior management for one the largest employers for a major metro area so I am also inclined to think I know what I am doing here but been doing this type of work for decades I am way past the "not possible" attitude because that always comes back to bite you. So I'm very open to any thing people have to add. Every option that should be touched at the OS level is done. Drivers are all good to go. (I build my machines with meticulous attention to each and every part.) I am not bypassing Windows sound so maybe that is something I need to look at.
Here is where I am at. The EL DAC seems to look really good in terms of numbers. I've read the countless threads about DAC's not mattering so long as its a good one and you don't hear a difference. I'm not looking to go down a rabbit hole for no gains if most believe this is truly the case. I've read the same things regarding AMPs and that may make more difference or not. Seems like it just depends who you ask.
I volume matched each component (UMIK 1 and REW) and ran some test. The big one was simply volume matching and comparing to various dacs. Compared to my motherboards AC1220-VB and ESS 9118 Sabre DAC you'll pass a double blind 100 times in a row. Testing AV receiver, there is beyond a shadow of a doubt differences as well that are extremely easy to pick up.
In all instances, the EL DAC outperforms however ironically with one receiver in general (lawd don't let me get struck down with this comment) I can tell the sound stage is wider. I have read the comments that this shouldn't be possible and all of that so I apologize. My intention is not to stir the pot but simply post where I am at with this based on my hearing, environment after level balancing. One of the test I used for sound stage is a game that has an audio implementation that is not conventional. Audio travels in a straight line to player but not through walls unless there is a hole, or door, window. In one instance I go to a spot that has as speaker playing a classical song and I listen for enemy movement (they are in the same spot) and I am able to easily gauge the sound stage and imaging with this to compare. I could drop PUBG or BF just the same but previous example is brutally honest. I'm talking shooting someone through a wall precise or knowing exactly where someone is above or below.
So, what are everyone's thoughts with this? Will I see improvements over EL DAC if I moved to something like the DX7 Pro or something else? Is it possible whatever one of my receivers is doing its just something tainted perhaps that I prefer that makes it seem like a larger sound stage?
My goal is to get consistent and clean as possible sound with clarity. If I already have something that will do this and there is no point moving on that is good too. My go to is JDS Labs, JDS Atom to my main headphones, HD 800 S and the Beyerdynamics T1 version 2. Considering DX7 Pro (or any other options those may suggest).
Thoughts?