It's neither. Would probably use +4dbu. This dac outputs 2Vrms which is much higher than the old standards. I highly doubt the max volume was low? Idk man.So, my SU-8 just arrived... Connected it to my set of JBL 305Ps using XLR cables. USB input. MusicBee with WASAPI in exclusive mode.
And my question is: what input sensitivity do I have to use for the JBLs? +4dBu or -10dBv?
I first tried +4dBu (for "professional" equipment), the speakers sound fine, however the max volume seems rather low.
I then tried with -10dBv (for "consumer-grade" equipment) and max volume seems OK, I think I don't hear any distortion.
Any ideas?
By the way, how can I correlate the DAC maximum XLR output (4Vrms) to the speaker max input voltage (not in the manual) and the input sensitivity settings?
It's neither. Would probably use +4dbu. This dac outputs 2Vrms which is much higher than the old standards. I highly doubt the max volume was low? Idk man.
This might not be an issue for some, but it’s bothered me greatly because I’m a bit OCD and after extensive listening it seems that tracks processed in 32-bit offer a slightly wider soundstage at the expense of a slight loss in clarity. These are subjective impressions, of course, but I am certain there is a difference — my friend concurs.
I have the exact same setup as you. But I always get a native playback in Mac/Audirvana. Check your Audirvana Preferences. You must have enable upsampling.Hi all,
Received my SU-8 in December direct from SZA and I’m happy to report it sounds phenomenal paired with my THX 789.
I use Audirvana for Mac, and I’ve wondered for the longest time now why it is that this DAC processes/outputs all of my music in 32-bit over USB, regardless of the native bit depth of a given track. The sample rate is left unchanged. This behavior occurs with “Integer Mode” enabled in Audirvana’s preferences — when disabled, it processes all tracks in 24-bit instead.
When running the SU-8 with Audirvana for Windows (Bootcamp), I observe that over WASAPI everything is processed in its native bit depth, but over ASIO (with driver) it exhibits the same all-32-bit behavior.
I’ve looked it up many times but have never found an explanation for this behavior. My previous DAC, the Modi 2, was my first and always processed tracks in their native bit depth.
This might not be an issue for some, but it’s bothered me greatly because I’m a bit OCD and after extensive listening it seems that tracks processed in 32-bit offer a slightly wider soundstage at the expense of a slight loss in clarity. These are subjective impressions, of course, but I am certain there is a difference — my friend concurs.
I just can’t determine which I prefer and I end up having to choose between two different versions of each track in my library — it’s an OCD nightmare. I’m OK with 16 -> 32 (I literally have no other choice on Mac), but I go back and forth on 24 -> 32 regarding whether or not I should disable Integer Mode for native 24-bit playback.
I could just use WASAPI on Windows and be done with it, but I always use macOS and prefer it.
I suppose my question is: Why is this a thing? Do other 32-bit DACs do this? Is everything just supposed to sound “better” processed in 32-bit?
Huh, that’s very interesting. Unfortunately no, I don’t have any upsampling enabled whatsoever under the Audio Filters tab. But I do notice that without my SU-8 connected, Audirvana is forcing all my tracks to play in 24-bit — surely that can’t be normal?I have the exact same setup as you. But I always get a native playback in Mac/Audirvana. Check your Audirvana Preferences. You must have enable upsampling.
DAC = max level, attenuate with amp.Hello. I plan to use su-8 with atom amp. What volume level should be set to su-8 when listening through headphones?
Max level = set 38 on su-8, right? Than low gain on amp and with knob adjust volume?DAC = max level, attenuate with amp.
It says MAX rather than 38, but the setting below is 37.Max level = set 38 on su-8, right? Than low gain on amp and with knob adjust volume?
Have you compared the M-Studio with anything else directly ?
Because these can be all relative as in the M-Studio might have a V or U-shaped frequency profile and the SU-8 a flat one. When you the listen to two such devices next to each other, the flat one will sound like it has a mid-hump and the V or U-shaped one will sound like it has recessed mids depending on which way round you interpret it. Its a very common phenomena with earphones and headphones when people listen to them.
I have no idea how the M-Studio sounds like but just suggesting a possibility here based on what I have experienced with other audio products.
However, the SMSL didn't sound well from the start
this statement wouldn't sell to the gearslutz crowdYou are mistaken, SMSL DAC is completely transparent.