Lector Digitube S-192- AKA MY ears are bleeding!

[DaveyF]

The review of the new Lector Strumenti Audio Digitube S-192 in the current S'phile is a great example of measurements coming to the rescue, IMO. In the main review, done by Art Dudley, I read a "typical" rave review of this player. Art likens it to the Ayre QB-9, the Halide DAC HD and the Wavelength Proton---AND LIKES THE LECTOR BETTER. He states..."The Lector did a superior job of separating the sounds of various instruments during the louder, more cluttered passages". Then he goes on to say: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Lector Digitube S-192......and the manner in which it played music". Finally, he ends with: " I can heartily recommend Lector Strumenti Audio's Digitube S-192 for the musicality it deployed in my system, as well as for its attractive casework and its good value for money".

Now IF we end there, which I was tempted to do...and go out for a listen with HIGH EXPECTATIONS, we may be in for a shock!!

Reading JA's measurements and looking at the graphs...WOW!! we have a VERY different story!!! This unit has to be one of the worst measuring pieces of kit I have seen! JA ends with this: " However, the Digitube's truly dreadful measured performance in the digital domain, rule it out of contention, in my opinion". That is IMO an understatement.

I think this review may be a first, OTOH...we have AD beaming in with the typical rave and OTOH..we have JA coming to the rescue with "possibly" the true picture. Wonder what happened on this one??

BTW, I have a good a'phile friend who owns a Lector ( different model) and he thinks very highly of it. Is it time for an ear bleeding test? LOL.

 

[bonzo75]

I love the Lector (don't have it). Highly underrated player, it's a steal for the price

 

[asiufy]

Not the first time, I think. Didn't the Audio Note UK stuff get the same reaction? Rave review, worst measurements ever?


alexandre

 

[mep]

Your ears aren't bleeding because you didn't listen to it. You just read the measurements. I thought you were going to tell us that you actually heard the DAC in question and it sounded horrible.

 

[DaveyF]

I love the Lector (don't have it). Highly underrated player, it's a steal for the price

Well, as I said, my friend loves his too. OTOH, he doesn't own the model in question.
Looking at the measurements that JA posted, one could almost assume that the unit was broken. JA didn't come to that conclusion

 

[MLGrado]

Well, as I said, my friend loves his too. OTOH, he doesn't own the model in question.
Looking at the measurements that JA posted, one could almost assume that the unit was broken. JA didn't come to that conclusion

I have a 'friend' in audio design who would say 'measurements, shmeasurements'

Same friend, though, I pretty sure would be appalled at the jitter measurements of this piece of kit, if indeed they are accurate. Terrible, actually. And at a level that 'should' be audible.

But the thing is, this DAC has tubes in it, right? Well, tubes in a piece of digital equipment can cause various measurement 'anomalies'. The sidebands may not be jitter at all, actually.

So, I would reserve judgement until I heard it. But you are right, the measurements do make one raise an eyebrow... /)

 

[Bruce B]

How many times has it been debated on this forum about the measurements of the Playback Designs? I feel it's one of the best sounding out there available today!

I can pretty much care less about measurements (of digital equipment). All I want is great sound!!

 

[DaveyF]

How many times has it been debated on this forum about the measurements of the Playback Designs? I feel it's one of the best sounding out there available today!

I can pretty much care less about measurements (of digital equipment). All I want is great sound!!

+1. However, the measurements given for the Lector would appear to show that it is broken...they are that bad!

 

[Bruce B]

+1. However, the measurements given for the Lector would appear to show that it is broken...they are that bad!

That's bad....