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So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter

70.173.239.44
Posted on January 17, 2021 at 16:03:48
LtMandella
 Why is that? Are all these tracks really digitally clipping? For example "Suzanne Vega Retrospective"

I am using the DEQ 2496 only in digital domain as an EQ and DSP and it has a built in digital limiter on the output that cannot be disabled, so these levels are not going out to the DAC anyway I guess.

Both the LED level meters and the limiter display show overload and limiter kicking in.

I guess just a result of the loudness wars?





 

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RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 17, 2021 at 16:40:44
Dawnrazor
Audiophile

Posts: 12592
Location: N. California
Joined: April 9, 2004
 Yes...loudness wars to blame. Man I forget where I read it but there was an article that said digital clipping was pretty common.

Have you tried comparing to the cd version?

Cut to razor sounding violins

 

RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 17, 2021 at 17:03:44
LtMandella
 Can't compare those tracks, don't have the CD.

I will try to find examples where I also have the CD - although most of my 700-1000 CDs are now in storage...

Presumably the DEQ 2496 limiter is preventing the worst consequences of the clipping from getting all the way through the system into my ears, but I don't understand the DEQ 2496 processing, nor digital processing theory, well enough to know.



 

RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 17, 2021 at 18:35:13
rivervalley817
 your comment prompted me to see if other users report this as I handed one down to my son, along with a BBE unit [I never even tried the DEQ and didn't care for the other] ... anyway, he hasn't but ...

others do ... and even other odd 'channel to channel' behavior

it would seem that after 'burn in' (if that's possible for digital) many users report clipping below what the unit is set for, on some units

the solution was to perform a factory reset ...

after noting any filter preferences of course

with regards,

 

RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 17, 2021 at 18:55:06
LtMandella
 interesting info, thanks. I will consider a reset, I don't have anything important in memory.

 

RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 18, 2021 at 12:47:55
blake
Audiophile

Posts: 803
Joined: May 25, 2000
 I am no expert (and only a very recent convert to much in the way of digital and streaming) so might be totally off base here but I can recall reading at ASR (not that I am totally fanatical about their seeming obsession with measurements and objectiveness) that many dacs will sound better and clipping will be substantially reduced if the DAC output is slightly reduced.

I've indeed found this to be very true in my experience. Streaming Amazon Music HD from a Win 10 laptop, I've set up my Topping E30 to be -3 dB from full output in the Topping control/driver in Windows; in effect this knocks the Windows volume control down to 84 from 100 maximum I believe.

A noticeable improvement in sound quality doing that here.

 

RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 18, 2021 at 13:16:17
LtMandella
 I will try that but in the anologue domain, to be certain I am not limiting resolution.

I have a creek "passive preamp" (just an attenuator) that I will put between the DAC output and the amp inputs.

 

Possible the red light means 'between -3dB and 0dB' so not necessarily hard clipping (nt), posted on January 18, 2021 at 13:55:08
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 nt

 

RE: So many streamed tracks show clipping in DEQ 2496 meter, posted on January 18, 2021 at 14:26:28
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10457
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 loudness wars? Most likely.

But the reference they use for calibrating the meters for manufacture might be off a smidge, or circuit drift. Usually they are spot on but you never know.....

I have a digital recorder which meters from -60 to 'max' with 16 steps. Just below max is -1. A momentary peak might be inaudible. If it bothered me I would put a piece of black tape over the max light and be done with that distraction.

Something reminds me that making digital dupes of stuff on one device with meters onto another with same sometimes shows a difference betwixt the 2.




 

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