Music path - sharing opinion on a few configurations

Audio Gear Talk
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Over the years I have been enjoying forums such as this one where I was able to ask opinions and help for trouble shooting. When I can and fell it has added value, I try to contribute. Hopefully, this may interest someone (eventually…).

I was recently trying to simply my system (read: sell a few pieces to generate cashflow for new gears). I experimented with the digital signal path. That was triggered in reading a discussion (on another site) where the member compared the performance of a NUC with another streamer (multiple $K) and found no difference in SQ despite having a very revealing system. I then wondered if I can do something similar. Let me explain.

Current setup: NUC 7i7 with ROCK + LPS(very low noise) in my mechanical room; Lumin D2 as an end point (not using the internal DAC) with external LPS; and Audio Alchemy DDP-1 with external LPS as the DAC.

I decided to plug my NUC directly to my DDP-1 (no Lumin in the path) - USB connection. My theory was the less equipment in the path, the better the SQ. Asked the wife what she thinks - answer: why is the sound so flat, so dull, lifeless… OK, no success. Not to mention a few “pops” in the sound and lots of sibilance :face_with_raised_eyebrow:

Now, less get rib of the DDP-1. New test: NUC back in the basement, Lumin as an end point but also as a DAC. Asked wife again: smooth, good voice (especially female’s) but the rest of the music is “blended”, not define. Basically, a good mid-fi system, not more. Hum… failed again. :neutral_face:

After a few hours of experimenting with cables, etc, back to the original setup - wow, so detailed, no sibilance, you can finger point the musicians. :smiley:

So what? Why is there much difference when using the NUC directly on my DAC? What is the added value of the Lumin in that streaming chain? Honestly, I have theories but no real answers. What can I do to have even better SQ - better digital cables? No sure it would change anything but…

Opinions welcome!

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You did not say anything about your speakers or room… Good speaker placement and room correction via acoustic treatments and a little help from Room EQ Wizard (REW)…

3

I am driving my Reference 3a with a Bryston 2.5b3 and two bass cabinets (cannot really called sub woofer) with a Bryston 4b set via minidsp.

The room is terrible but was able to manage something. I tried a few times to maximize low frequency through REW measurements but I was never satisfied of the results. Ended up simply having my own house curve defined by “hear” and not from a mike. The results are serious ditches in the mid bass but I am ok with those for now

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Ok… I will take a shot at the difference between a direct connection between your NUC and DAC versus the direct connection with the Lumin… The NUC is a general purpose computing platform and an electrical noise storm producer where the Lumin is a single purpose, precision made, electrically quiet device… Although bits are bits, there is additional electrical noise that may be conducted (egress / ingress) in an analogue path from digital device to digital device via USB, Coax, etc… Maxwell, Tesla and Faraday suggest all things transmit and receive… This RFI/EMI noise does have an affect on the analogue stages of a DAC… All noise is additive… Consider adding some wide band and base absorbers to your room…

5

Thanks Digital Dude. That can certainly explain part of the effect. That would means the Lumin act as a noise filter in the digital domain, correct?

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To be more clear… The Lumin gets everything in the digital domain (read bits are bits) right and gets everything in analogue domain (read rfi/emi/etc noise rejection) right too… A DAC is a Digital to Analogue Converter… What happens when both Digital Data and Analogue Noise signals as Data and Noise are sent to it…

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@Digital_Dude

Thanks for the explanation.