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In Reply to: RE: Good for you. posted by jmlpartners on June 06, 2009 at 19:16:20
"To me, all USB front ends share the same characteristic sound, which I don't like."
So you have heard all (or at least many) USB DAC's, each in a variety of systems, and they all exhibited this grainy characteristic in all of those systems?
"You, apparently, think USB is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Good for you."
Ok, so I like the sound of my system with a USB DAC. I have heard better, though not near this price range. Still, others may prefer something else. You clearly prefer the sound of non-usb dacs. I have no problem with that.
"Why do audiophiles think everyone should hear what they hear and like what they like?"
Conversely, why should all audiophiles dislike the same things you do? Actually, if I heard what you describe, I would dislike it.
"The fact that I don't like USB means my system is not revealing enough, or I use cheap interconnects, or SS amplification, or my hearing is not good enough, or any of a thousand other reasons why my opinion is wrong."
No, I said that when I hear a system with grainy sound it is often asasociated with ss amplification, inexpensive digital front ends or cheap interconnects. The fact that the grainy sound is not present in your system when a non-USB dac is used suggests that the cause of the grainy sound is NOT one of these. The fact that you hear this grainy sound suggests that you are a critical listener and your hearing is just fine.
Your observation (grainy sound) is not wrong. No doubt you are hearing this grainy character in the sound of your system when using a USB DAC (and evidently in some other systems as well). IME, people differ substantially in their sensitivity to various colorations. You may actually perceive this grainy sound in every USB dac you try, and I might not hear it at all. Perhaps it is just a matter of differing perceptions (people are not equally sensitive to the same sonic issues).
The conclusion that the USB interface will cause this (grainy sound)to be audible to you in all systems, may be correct. I don't know. I just think it's a big leap to think that all USB dacs will exhibit this grainy characteristic in all systems, AND that all people (or at least audiophiles) will hear this same fatal flaw, as you imply.
The USB interface may be fatally flawed (sonically) to you in all systems, but that does not make it true for everyone. A lot of people are enjoying music reproduced through them. Are we all deaf or listening through systems that lack the resolution necessary to hear what you do? I remain convinced that a good USB interface DAC and a computer/music server/transport currently offer remarkably good preformance and value for many (but not all) people.
There is a lot of equipment to choose from and we are all free to choose what sounds best to us. Enjoy!
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