If you switch sources in the middle of a track, will the participants know?
Yes. My preamp does a 1/4 sec mute in between input sources and you can hear the relays click. If it doesn't mute, you might hear a click in the speakers as well.
If you switch sources in the middle of a track, will the participants know?
Gary, are you planning on comparing the vinyl to needledrop digital at different sampling rates?
Tim
Is it possible to remove the sources to a different room such that the participants won't hear the relay clicks?Yes. My preamp does a 1/4 sec mute in between input sources and you can hear the relays click. If it doesn't mute, you might hear a click in the speakers as well.
I do agree with you that an even more interesting demo would be a controlled playback of recordings where both an analog master and a digital master were recorded at the same time.
Is it possible to remove the sources to a different room such that the participants won't hear the relay clicks?
Burmester Top Line Ph100 phono stage with built-in 24bit/192hz ADC
Just a little pet peeve of mine, but to be more accurate you are comparing analog LP's with digital; you should consider adding analog tape as an additional source or even reference (as hinted at above in the suggestion to use LP and digital versions of the same source, presumably analog tape). I somehow persist in the illusion that LP's have as many as or more imperfections than digital when compared to an excellent analog tape.
Does the A/D converter of this piece of equipment have an analog input? Having such an input could be important for setting up the test, due to the need for level matching of analog and digital signal paths.
From my POV, there's several conditions that need to be satisfied here:
1) The gain from A/D->D/A should be as close to 1 (0 dB) as possible (preferably within 0.1 dB or so).
2) The A/D converter should not clip ever.
3) The A/D->D/A conversion process should be operated at signal levels within its optimum dynamic range.
As to whether digital is ready for prime time, that's kind of like asking if vulcanized rubber is ready for prime time. Even asking such an absurd question smacks of political posturing to the max.
A dialectic is a dialogue between two parties (who may have conflicting viewpoints) and yet wish to seek the truth of the matter through discussion and refinement of those ideas and view points. It is unlike a debate - in which both sides wish to win the debate either by persuading the other side that they are right, or proving the other side to be wrong. It is also not a rhetoric, which is designed to persuade an audience to side with their viewpoint. An important characteristic of a dialectic is the ability to put up with contradictions - that there can be opposite viewpoints which are equally valid - whereas much of Anglo-American intellectual culture trends towards positivism. Hence, it is sometimes referred to as a "Continental" philosophy, but the culture of dialectical thought first flourished during the period of the "Hundred Schools of Thought" in China from 770BC to 220BC (which ended with the burning of books and burying of scholars by the Qin). Let's hope this dialectic does not end that way - but the thoughts and ideas discussed and refined in those days still profoundly influence lifestyles and society up till today.This being the Whats Best Forum, I hope that some of the ideas developed will advance the development of our music reproduction/audiophile hobby.
Just a little pet peeve of mine, but to be more accurate you are comparing analog LP's with digital; you should consider adding analog tape as an additional source or even reference (as hinted at above in the suggestion to use LP and digital versions of the same source, presumably analog tape). I somehow persist in the illusion that LP's have as many as or more imperfections than digital when compared to an excellent analog tape.
If you want to do that, just record the LP's
Is it possible to remove the sources to a different room such that the participants won't hear the relay clicks?
Good point - the less the participants see of the system, the better. I have long balanced interconnects - may be I can move it behind a screen, but another room might not be possible. That could also be beneficial as the record player then won't be subject to the vibrations of the loudspeaker.
Gary, on the assumption that you do remove the sources and preamp to another room or, in the alternative, behind a screen, how will the participants know if you change sources in the middle of a track? Is it only the sound of the relay clicks and/or the 1/4 second mute?
Good point - the less the participants see of the system, the better. I have long balanced interconnects - may be I can move it behind a screen, but another room might not be possible. That could also be beneficial as the record player then won't be subject to the vibrations of the loudspeaker.
This one brings me back to the end of 70's. We were comparing a Linn Sondek turntable with a cheap Technics direct drive and the Linn Sondek sounded much better. At that time an expert explained it was just because of the acoustical feedback being blocked by the the suspension springs. Someone suggested taking the suspensionless Direct Drive and preamplifier to next room and using long cables to drive the amplifiers. The in room Linn Sondek still sounded much better. We had to accept that a cheap turntable in the next room was not the equivalent of the too expensive Linn Sondek ...
The Digital/Analog Dialectic is designed as a discussion among people who wish to seek the truth
Gary, does your preamp have a mute button?If they can't hear the relay click when the system is behind a screen, then it will only be the 1/4 second mute. The time offset passing through ADC/DAC is far less than 1/4 sec so that hopefully removes that hint.
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