DIRECT STREAM AND MCINTOSH

Audio Components DACs
1

Hi guys I have DS, Mcintosh C500 pre amp,MC 501’s amps and I noticed the vu’s on the Mcintosh if I paused the player the needles stand still like have a signal, and if I put more volume the needles on the vu’s go up and stay still even if I connect the DS directly on the amps. Can somebody let me know what’s going on.

thanks in advance for any help

2
reinal54 said Hi guys I have DS, Mcintosh C500 pre amp,MC 501's amps and I noticed the vu's on the Mcintosh if I paused the player the needles stand still like have a signal, and if I put more volume the needles on the vu's go up and stay still even if I connect the DS directly on the amps. Can somebody let me know what's going on.

thanks in advance for any help


The DS (and other single bit DSD DACs) have a higher noise output than most PCM based DACs. The noise is uncorrelated with the input/output of the DAC and it’s mostly ultrasonic so the ear doesn’t care. The VU meter is probably being confused by that noise.

3

Thank you so much for reply Ted.