Propeller Head Plaza

What is missing in measurements, so there's lack of correlation between them and sound quality?

129.33.19.254

I know it was discussed, if not beaten to death, before, but this post is prompted by recent exchange on PC Audio forum about Benchmark vs. Wavelength DACs, used with computer via USB. What measurements are there, show superiority of Benchmark in every category (which prompts "objectivists" to talk about "engineered colorations" and "deliberate colorations as design goal"). However, posters who actually listened to both, have no doubt which one sounds better - and that ain't Benchmark. Almost the same goes for Benchmark vs. Ayre QB-9 - comparable measurements, superiority of Ayre in sound quality.

Links to measurements:

http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/108bench/index4.html

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/wavelength_cosecant_v3_usb_digitalanalog_converter/index5.html

From my own experience, Benchmark (silver-faced, so one of the latest generations, if not the latest) via AES/EBU was somewhat harsh in highs and forward sounding, easily outclassed by several solid-state DACs I tried in the same and higher price range - so preference for "tube" sound (Wavelength) is not the reason.

So, what gives?

Follow Ups:

Did you hear the Benchmark at it's best? - Don Till 08:21:58 10/28/09 (5)
- Too Transport Sensitive.......... - Todd Krieger 15:47:45 10/28/09 (0)
- RE: Did you hear the Benchmark at it's best? - morricab 15:09:14 10/28/09 (1)
  - I suspect it's a modern day Adcom GFP 565. - bjh 04:56:27 10/29/09 (0)
- RE: Did you hear the Benchmark at it's best? - kerr 12:03:31 10/28/09 (0)
- Don't forget supports (isolation footers, etc.) Then again - bjh 11:06:31 10/28/09 (0)
RE: What is missing in measurements? In this case, not much - theaudiohobby 22:48:50 10/27/09 (81)
- So... any idea why both of Wavelength and Ayre sound better,... - carcass93 08:30:33 10/28/09 (76)
  - RE: So... any idea why both of Wavelength and Ayre sound better,... - Todd Krieger 00:15:11 11/02/09 (13)
    - RE: So... any idea why both of Wavelength and Ayre sound better,... - theaudiohobby 09:47:56 11/02/09 (5)
      - Oh boy... It's that rare case when I actually agree with Don. - carcass93 10:05:35 11/02/09 (4)
        
        You missed my point - I'm not in agreement with the original assumption. - Don Till 16:23:52 11/02/09 (3)
        
        I thought I made it clear what exactly I agree with, quoting your 2 sentences. - carcass93 08:37:40 11/03/09 (0)
        
        RE: You missed my point - I'm not in agreement with the original assumption. - Todd Krieger 22:08:49 11/02/09 (1)
        
        RE: Accuracy - rick_m 10:43:50 11/03/09 (0)
    - ASRC not necessarily bad. - Tony Lauck 07:47:48 11/02/09 (6)
      - RE: ASRC not necessarily bad. - Todd Krieger 18:04:19 11/02/09 (5)
        
        RE: ASRC not necessarily bad. - Tony Lauck 19:49:14 11/02/09 (4)
        
        RE: ASRC not necessarily bad. - Todd Krieger 21:43:50 11/02/09 (3)
        
        RE: ASRC not necessarily bad. - Tony Lauck 06:13:51 11/03/09 (2)
        
        RE: ASRC not necessarily bad. - Todd Krieger 10:44:18 11/03/09 (1)
        
        RE: ASRC not necessarily bad. - Tony Lauck 12:40:06 11/03/09 (0)
  - RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 06:38:34 10/29/09 (61)
    - RE: Your words, not mine. - Don Till 08:09:56 11/01/09 (54)
      - RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 14:17:27 11/02/09 (53)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Todd Krieger 23:46:42 11/02/09 (4)
        
        He still won't even attempt to explain how is that rollof responsible... - carcass93 08:56:19 11/03/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 05:14:21 11/03/09 (2)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Tony Lauck 07:23:15 11/03/09 (1)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 08:28:14 11/03/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Don Till 16:12:31 11/02/09 (46)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - morricab 02:51:43 11/03/09 (44)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Tony Lauck 06:52:25 11/03/09 (43)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - morricab 09:33:51 11/03/09 (42)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - andy_c 11:51:44 11/03/09 (41)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - morricab 04:17:14 11/04/09 (38)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - andy_c 19:30:57 11/04/09 (1)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Tony Lauck 08:59:41 11/05/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 07:52:16 11/04/09 (35)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - morricab 15:58:23 11/04/09 (33)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 16:45:19 11/04/09 (32)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - morricab 02:28:06 11/05/09 (30)
        
        Remember - you're dealing with someone who thinks the last post in the thread "wins",... - carcass93 08:19:03 11/05/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 02:56:23 11/05/09 (28)
        
        Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 04:20:13 11/06/09 (25)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 10:23:49 11/06/09 (23)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 05:00:04 11/10/09 (22)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 09:42:07 11/10/09 (17)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 06:18:24 11/12/09 (14)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 07:53:13 11/12/09 (13)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 17:25:45 11/12/09 (12)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 18:13:40 11/12/09 (11)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - Tony Lauck 11:29:30 11/13/09 (1)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 13:39:19 11/13/09 (0)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - Tony Lauck 08:02:40 11/13/09 (0)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 04:22:54 11/13/09 (7)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 09:29:32 11/13/09 (6)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 07:17:53 11/15/09 (3)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 10:51:26 11/15/09 (2)
        
        Have you looked at the MSB DAC? - morricab 10:16:19 11/19/09 (1)
        
        RE: Have you looked at the MSB DAC? - andy_c 18:21:14 11/19/09 (0)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - Tony Lauck 11:56:01 11/13/09 (1)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 13:43:01 11/13/09 (0)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - morricab 06:16:21 11/12/09 (1)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 07:50:37 11/12/09 (0)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - Tony Lauck 09:02:09 11/10/09 (3)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 09:43:01 11/10/09 (2)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - Tony Lauck 14:40:48 11/10/09 (1)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - andy_c 15:13:40 11/10/09 (0)
        
        RE: Oh and I forgot to add... - Tony Lauck 07:20:09 11/06/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - morricab 03:53:57 11/06/09 (1)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 05:01:25 11/06/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Tony Lauck 18:50:50 11/04/09 (0)
        
        "OP question has been answered" - you haven't understood the question, let alone... - carcass93 09:08:18 11/04/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - Tony Lauck 17:35:51 11/03/09 (0)
        
        RE: Your words, not mine. - theaudiohobby 14:13:08 11/03/09 (0)
        
        RE: Thanks Don - theaudiohobby 17:13:48 11/02/09 (0)
        
        You're still unable to grasp the topic of this discussion - and no, it's not "accurate sound",... - carcass93 14:28:10 11/02/09 (0)
    - I like the version in the article that Todd linked better. - carcass93 09:03:03 10/29/09 (5)
      - RE: I like the version in the article that Todd linked better. - theaudiohobby 01:31:02 10/30/09 (4)
        
        If you say so, oh Enlightened One. - carcass93 07:54:57 10/30/09 (3)
        
        RE: Paraphrased - theaudiohobby 01:11:14 10/31/09 (2)
        
        No, you're wrong again. It was not "Tell me what I want to hear", but rather... - carcass93 04:59:40 10/31/09 (1)
        
        RE: LOL! Good luck in your search. -nt - theaudiohobby 01:25:53 11/01/09 (0)
- RE: What is missing in measurements? In this case, not much - Todd Krieger 00:19:59 10/28/09 (3)
  - RE: What is missing in measurements? In this case, not much - Werner 02:42:19 11/02/09 (0)
  - RE: What is missing in measurements? In this case, not much - theaudiohobby 01:38:17 10/28/09 (1)
    - RE: What is missing in measurements? In this case, not much - Todd Krieger 15:59:59 10/28/09 (0)
Daniel H. Cheever Wrote an Article on the Subject.............. - Todd Krieger 17:53:43 10/27/09 (1)
- Very interesting - should keep me occupied on the train for some time. - carcass93 09:04:06 10/28/09 (0)
Or maybe someone forgot to ask for your personal opinion?nt - Dan Banquer 16:00:07 10/27/09 (1)
- Just in that case, I stated it in my post. The thing is - ... - carcass93 19:08:02 10/27/09 (0)

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