Update to my last post about ARC CD-8's DAC versus DEQX's DAC: still listening back and forth but am trying to do a better job of equalizing the gain when I compare the DEQX's DAC to the CD-8's onboard DAC.
Just a reminder on the hookup.
When I use the DEQX DAC, the CD-8's digital output is directly connected to the DEQC's digital input. The DEQX analogue output, in turn, directly feeds into my ARC Ref 150 amp, but sans the Ref 5 SE and sans the CD-8's DAC and gain circuit.
By contrast, when I use the CD-8's onboard DAC, the CD-8's analogue output is connected in usual fashion to the ARC Ref 5 SE analogue input. The Ref 5's analogue output, in turn, is connected to the DEQX's analogue input, which in turn, is connected to my Ref 150.
So in the latter case, the signal is running through the amplification circuits of both the CD-8 and the Ref 5 SE. And in both cases, the DEQX is directly connected to my Ref 150 amp.
Does that make sense??
With gain equalized as best as I can achieve, the difference is at best a hairbreadth. I'm not sure that I can say which hook-up is better. Still testing.
So even if I say the test is a draw ... because I get similar results "with and without," not sure where that leaves me if I get similar results if I hook up my phono pre directly into my DEQX analogue input. Ref 5 SE irrelevance????
Just to be clear ... I am NOT speaking to the DEQX's main function ... which I to effect time alignment correction and room EQ of my speakers. I have separately reported that those corrections are significant.
BIF
