Gaffer
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- Joined
- Jul 22, 2017
- Posts
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- Main Amp
- PrimaLuna Prologue 2 + KT120s
- Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
- Naim CD5si
- Front Speakers
- Tannoy Precision 6.1 DC
- Subwoofers
- BK Electric XLS200
- Screen
- Pioneer PDP-LX5090
Before I bought my DAC I was measuring my HiFi response via REW on OS X (both updated) and a minDSP UMIK calibrated mic via the headphone out on the MBP. So signal path was:
REW (digital) -> MBP on board DAC -> Analogue out via headphone port -> 3.5mm to phono lead -> analogue signal into amp -> analogue to speakers
Here is the in-room response:
So when I bought my Arcam irDAC (upsampling 24bit/192kHz) I thought it would be great as most info would be kept in the digital domain till the end for a better trace:
REW (digital) -> MBP DAC not used, info still digital -> Digital out via USB -> digital USB lead to Arcam -> analogue signal into amp -> analogue to speakers
but this is the trace I get:
Where did all these bumps and spikes come from? If I subtract this from the top image, the resultant trace "added" by the Arcam looks horrendous wether I've set it to upsample to 192kHz or use 44.1kHz (in midi preferences):
Now is this a problem with the OS X software, the REW software or the Arcam DAC?
Is there some setting I have not enabled somewhere?
The DAC itself sounds great and doing sweep tones by ear, it sounds smooth all the way and definitely not lumpy/spikey as that trace would suggest.
Can anyone help as I'd like to continue using the REW via the DAC as it's easier to connect and doesn't rely on the less capable Apple on board DAC.
Thanks
REW (digital) -> MBP on board DAC -> Analogue out via headphone port -> 3.5mm to phono lead -> analogue signal into amp -> analogue to speakers
Here is the in-room response:
So when I bought my Arcam irDAC (upsampling 24bit/192kHz) I thought it would be great as most info would be kept in the digital domain till the end for a better trace:
REW (digital) -> MBP DAC not used, info still digital -> Digital out via USB -> digital USB lead to Arcam -> analogue signal into amp -> analogue to speakers
but this is the trace I get:
Where did all these bumps and spikes come from? If I subtract this from the top image, the resultant trace "added" by the Arcam looks horrendous wether I've set it to upsample to 192kHz or use 44.1kHz (in midi preferences):
Now is this a problem with the OS X software, the REW software or the Arcam DAC?
Is there some setting I have not enabled somewhere?
The DAC itself sounds great and doing sweep tones by ear, it sounds smooth all the way and definitely not lumpy/spikey as that trace would suggest.
Can anyone help as I'd like to continue using the REW via the DAC as it's easier to connect and doesn't rely on the less capable Apple on board DAC.
Thanks