The dealer flagship 2ch showroom I visited the other day, and they knew I was coming so they had time to prepare, was rubbish. The sound was absolutely dreadful. If the dealer doesn’t have time to optimize their demonstration for a client, I don’t have the time to buy it.
Well it may depend on what you are listening too. A lot of modern records just don’t sound very good. Unfortunately I don’t have any old vinyl to compare to.
Agreed - I find that many older digital transfers are poor also many of the recent jazz reissues on vinyl are better than anything available via digital. In that case vinyl sounds better no matter how much you spend on a digital front end. They both have their place and can both coexist quite nicely it seems.
1 Like
I totally agree, digital sounds way better than analog to me. Not even close.
1 Like
Everything is relative. When I had a more modest phono system, it didn’t have the resolution and cd does sound better and clearer. My turntable, cartilage, and phono stage cost around $25,000 and I am comparing it to a $12,000 cd system, so it is not really fair. If I had a $25,000 cd system to compare with my turntable, I might get different results.
1 Like
Right. You would need to compare to a $25K CD system. I think one of the other issues these days is that the opportunity for comparisons in a decent environment (ideally your own home with loaners) is very limited due to the decline in proper hifi dealers.
I doubt it pretty sure your analog rig would still be better. This is primarily a digital forum, as am I, but you also need to be objective. Digital is great - in some cases it’s better and some it is not.
Can’t know for sure unless you try it though and it is being increasingly difficult to do so.
New BHK preamp has 48 hrs on it and it’s starting to show promise. Also breaking in a new power cord and set of ic’s as well, so this might take some time to get to the promised land.
But as of right now, the system is sounding a little better than running the DSD directly into the BHK 250. Excited to hear how things will progress from here.
2 Likes
Thanks! Do keep us appraised of the progress. You might also try running the DAC at 82 on the level control and going back and forth between that setting and 100 on the DAC. Let us know which you prefer.
I’m not sure I understand the suggestion. Is it, keep the BHK at a fixed level and use the DAC volume control?
My findings too. I did try the DSDac straight into the BHK300s. Sounds nowhere near as good as with the BHK Pre. Whatever the reason, the difference isn’t subtle.
1 Like
After experimentation I find the sweet spot to be at 65 on the DSDac for me it gives me just enough play on the BHK Pre volume control to give me the granularity of adjustment I need and I know it sounds crazy but the sound is just better that way too. I know it makes no sense but it just is for me.
I prefer setting the BHK to 53, the first step of the last volume (click) top range and use the DS for volume control. The DS has far more granular adjustment, is silent, and I feel matches up with the BHK gain best with the BHK up in it’s last but quietest volume setting
No, it’s not crazy at all. The balance between source and preamplifier matter a great deal and I have written of this before. Preamps have a sweet spot on their level controls and it’s usually higher on the volume knob than people suspect.
1 Like
Yup. I remember the first time this was demonstrated to me I just hated it because it made no sense, yet, there it was. Good to use your ears as a guide.
3 Likes
Supporters of an analogue disc choose an easier opponent (CD), or maybe compare with SACD?
All my comparisons are with SACDs. I don’t listen . to CDs much since SACDs are so much better.
100 on DAC, 28-35 on pre
He’s back!
Did you try experimenting to arrive at your preferred volume settings?
I think I understand what people are trying to achieve here with optimizing volume settings between DAC and PRE, but the concept is foreign to me. I’m just used to a single system volume controller, it’s a rotary knob on the pre-amp, and all I need to do is set the desired volume. Nothing else to think about.
@Elk why is there a birthday cake next to my name?
1 Like