Submitted by JohnB on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 13:21
This might be inappropriate for an audiophile website but I was wondering if anyone has any experience comparing DACs with the results of using something like Audyssey room correction? For instance, I have a simple music/movie system consisting of a Mac Mini running to an Onkyo receiver via an M2Tech HiFace, within the Onkyo I use Audyssey's Dynamic Volume (in the lowest setting). When I compare this to no equalization/room correction I find the Audyssey makes a huge difference and really improves the overall sound.
I am wondering how much of a difference an upgraded DAC would make - for instance, most likely I would need to rely on the analog connections for this which would mean I would lose the Audyssey unless I engaged it which seems like it would defeat the purpose of the upgraded DAC since this would require an additional A/D and D/A conversions. I hope that over time I'll evolve the system though it will most likely always have to play double-duty and as I move it forward just trying to get a sense of the best way to budget money.
John
You COULD take a look at this.. It's a bit of both I would say.. Still not more than two channels but probably the DAC as well as the room correction in this unit will beat what you have now..
http://www.lyngdorf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Ite...
Good luck!
Perhaps, this graph can give you some idea about what might happen in your system.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QtIX994Ul0c/SwtYPwjxeZI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/g2ZyyLH3Nv...
The upper is impulse response of an ideal DAC, ie. digital signal, the lower is the one of my DAC driven by my Mac Book Pro optical output. Looks so bad...
You can expect the sound of the lower one will be blur, not precise, too much bass....
Room correction can do impulse response correction, not just amplitude frequency response correction.
This is the impulse response of a system, measured in listening position.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QtIX994Ul0c/SreRwfIj1FI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/4YsHJfF2OI...
And this is the simulation result of correction done by DRC.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QtIX994Ul0c/SreRhpNtjMI/AAAAAAAAAlA/jjFFWezm7Y...
MacBook Pro 15" -> EMU-0404 USB -> AK4380 DAC -> Audiolab 8000B mod -> Spica TC-50/PMC LB1
I think to improve the results significantly, you'll need not only a different DAC, but also a good stereo (integrated or pre and power) amplifier setup to get the most of the DAC.
Eloise
Mac OSX 10.5 with iTunes (mostly ALAC) --USB--> Musical Fidelity A1008 --> B&W CDM 7NT (iPhone remote)