Playground for practical listening exercises

We use the Tune Method to evaluate performance

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by tokenbrit »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-10 19:36 The original file:

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudpla ... ortes.flac

My personal vote gets the Khadas, I think it is a little bit closer to the original file.

Matt
Does that mean the Khadas sounds closer to the file when played on your computer or phone? Not sure I understand how you determine what the "original file" sounds like, except through an alternate/3rd digital to analogue conversion and replay...
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-10 19:36 Thanks all for voting :-)

FYI:

The clips 18 and 29 were from the ECDesigns PowerDAC-R, a 1450 Euro device, which got 6 votes

The clips 19 and 28 were from the Khadas Tone Board, a 100 Euro device, which got 3 votes.

The original file:

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudpla ... ortes.flac

My personal vote gets the Khadas, I think it is a little bit closer to the original file.

Matt
That's very interesting Matt,what streamer were you using ?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

tokenbrit wrote: 2021-08-10 22:01 Does that mean the Khadas sounds closer to the file when played on your computer or phone? Not sure I understand how you determine what the "original file" sounds like, except through an alternate/3rd digital to analogue conversion and replay...
I am referring to comparing the original file to either clip 28 or 29 on Macbook Pro direct into HP.
IMO, clip 28 (Khadas) is just a little bit closer to the original file, but YMMV.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-11 05:03 ...what streamer were you using ?
Macbook Pro

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 08:56
Lego wrote: 2021-08-11 05:03 ...what streamer were you using ?
Macbook Pro

Matt
are you buying a dac?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-11 11:55 are you buying a dac?
I have the Khadas, it is pretty good.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by FairPlayMotty »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 12:02
Lego wrote: 2021-08-11 11:55 are you buying a dac?
I have the Khadas, it is pretty good.

Matt
Matt,

Do you prefer the Khadas to your MacBook's DAC?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by tokenbrit »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 08:53
I am referring to comparing the original file to either clip 28 or 29 on Macbook Pro direct into HP.
IMO, clip 28 (Khadas) is just a little bit closer to the original file, but YMMV.

Matt
Thanks for explaining. Yeah, I wouldn't consider that as "closer to the original file"; just that the Khadas sounds like the MBP into HP... I don't know that I'd use headphones as a reference for judging between DACs in a speaker based system, myself, rather I'd consider the musical merits of each against each other in the same context, and go with the best... within practical & financial reason, of course ;) Unless, that is, you want your main system to sound like listening to headphones :?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

FairPlayMotty wrote: 2021-08-11 13:13 Do you prefer the Khadas to your MacBook's DAC?
Short version: I did not compare.
Long version: I like my Linn Silver RCAs from DAC to preamp. For using them with the MacBook's DAC I would need an adapter from RCA to HP jack which would put too much strain onto the tiny HP socket of the MacBook. So after reading good things about the Khadas I purchased one and like it. It has very good RCA connectors and much more important it has a sweet spot for playback of saxophones what I love.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by FairPlayMotty »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 18:27
FairPlayMotty wrote: 2021-08-11 13:13 Do you prefer the Khadas to your MacBook's DAC?
Short version: I did not compare.
Long version: I like my Linn Silver RCAs from DAC to preamp. For using them with the MacBook's DAC I would need an adapter from RCA to HP jack which would put too much strain onto the tiny HP socket of the MacBook. So after reading good things about the Khadas I purchased one and like it. It has very good RCA connectors and much more important it has a sweet spot for playback of saxophones what I love.

Matt
Good to know Matt. Linn Silver RCAs from DAC to preamp here too. I wouldn't risk the hp adapter with the weight of interconnects either, I use a Y cable for that instead, two RCA to 3.5mm.

The Khadas struck me as a very well implemented DAC chip manufacturer's evaluation board. Saxophone playback is loved by me - the only human I've heard say he hates sax is Liam Gallagher.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by markiteight »

If you are looking for discussions of non-Western music and the Tune Method, they have been split into their own topic: https://www.lejonklou.com/forum/viewtop ... f=2&t=5655
The discussion about familiar vs. unfamiliar music has been moved to the "How we define 'good sound'" topic here: https://www.lejonklou.com/forum/viewtop ... 406#p58406

Let's try to stay on topic, folks. If you see something you'd like to explore further but it is off topic, please find an appropriate thread and post there with a link back to the original post you are referencing. If there isn't an appropriate topic, please feel free to start a new one.

Many posts were deleted due to toxic aggressions toward other members. Please remember, "the spirit of this forum is one of curiosity, respect and friendly, productive participation. Let's keep it civil, folks!

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by tokenbrit »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 18:27 .. the Khadas ... has a sweet spot for playback of saxophones...

Matt
Can we expect another round of clips, showing off that sweet spot? ;)
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 12:02
Lego wrote: 2021-08-11 11:55 are you buying a dac?
I have the Khadas, it is pretty good.

Matt
Congratulations on your purchase Matt ,did you ever consider getting the Gigaport and what made you consider those 2 DACs
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 05:48 ...did you ever consider getting the Gigaport and what made you consider those 2 DACs
Good reviews made me curious.
At the time I purchased the Khadas I wanted to try DSD upsampling which the GP can not do.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-12 08:38
Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 05:48 ...did you ever consider getting the Gigaport and what made you consider those 2 DACs
Good reviews made me curious.
At the time I purchased the Khadas I wanted to try DSD upsampling which the GP can not do.

Matt
Thanks Matt and no reviews of the Gigaport apart from Fredriks recommendation.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 08:53
tokenbrit wrote: 2021-08-10 22:01 Does that mean the Khadas sounds closer to the file when played on your computer or phone? Not sure I understand how you determine what the "original file" sounds like, except through an alternate/3rd digital to analogue conversion and replay...
I am referring to comparing the original file to either clip 28 or 29 on Macbook Pro direct into HP.
IMO, clip 28 (Khadas) is just a little bit closer to the original file, but YMMV.

Matt
Lets get this straight Matt are saying you chose the Khadas DAC because it sounded closest to the MacBook Pro DAC !?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 16:49 Lets get this straight Matt are saying you chose the Khadas DAC because it sounded closest to the MacBook Pro DAC !?
No, read my post above.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

matthias wrote: 2021-08-12 17:13
Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 16:49 Lets get this straight Matt are saying you chose the Khadas DAC because it sounded closest to the MacBook Pro DAC !?
No, read my post above.

Matt
I've read it ,what did you base your decision on .What does original file mean ?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 17:17 I've read it ,what did you base your decision on .What does original file mean ?
I explained it to @tokenbrit above.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

Original file is getting played through mbp DAC and you're saying the Khadas is close to DAC in mbp !? Better or worse in your opinion?
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 17:41 you're saying the Khadas is close to DAC in mbp !?
I did not say that. Let me explain.

OF is Original File
ADC is Analog/Digital Converter for recording the clips
MBP is the DAC inside Macbook Pro
HP is headphones

The signal flow for the clips and playback is like:

OF > DAC1/2 > ADC > Clip1/2 > MBP > HP (A)

The signal flow for playback of the OF is like:

OF > MBP > HP (B)

So with the clips you have an additional DAC/ADC step. When with one DAC (A) and (B) are closer I would prefer this DAC.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by Lego »

Ok didn't realise your comparison was with headphones.

Thanks for the explanation.
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

Lego wrote: 2021-08-12 19:30 Ok didn't realise your comparison was with headphones.
Of course you can use a speaker system as well.

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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by V.A.MKD »

tokenbrit wrote: 2021-08-12 02:22
matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 18:27 .. the Khadas ... has a sweet spot for playback of saxophones...

Matt
Can we expect another round of clips, showing off that sweet spot? ;)
+1
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises

Post by matthias »

V.A.MKD wrote: 2021-08-14 08:48
tokenbrit wrote: 2021-08-12 02:22
matthias wrote: 2021-08-11 18:27 .. the Khadas ... has a sweet spot for playback of saxophones...
Can we expect another round of clips, showing off that sweet spot? ;)
+1
Sorry, too much work at the moment and then holidays :-)

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