DAC Quality: Myths vs Reality

[generic]

@SSN757

Can you expound on this? Are you referring to listener fatigue?

I saw this, but I haven’t had the time to dig up some of my old comments. Here is some (semi) relevant stuff:

Headphone Technology, Transducers, and Fatigue

Per an emerging discussion, this topic is to discuss factors that cause listening fatigue. Valid topics include: Transducer type (e.g., dynamic, planar magnetic, etc.) Transducer characteristics (e.g., size, shape, composition, etc.) Biological and psycho-acoustic factors (e.g., natural sensitivity to specific frequency ranges, neurotransmitter depletion, etc.) Mitigation methods (e.g., equalizers, tone controls, tube amps, filters/screens, etc.)

Soundstage Is (Much) More Complicated Than You Think

I continue to press for a firm and clear distinction in discussions between (1) “subjective” and (2) psychoacoustics because these are very different things. Audio “subjective” is associated with casual observations, weird analyses, poetic writing, arbitrary personal preferences, disguised biases (as you say, paying more for gear can equate to liking it more), and whatnot. If one describes sound quality as “romantic” or “cloying” or “musical” they likely fall into this camp. If one focuses on …

Headphone Evaluation: Test Tracks

Here is my 50 track, 3+ hour headphone evaluation playlist. I don’t generally write full reviews and focus on music over equipment. I seek an accurate presentation of music that lets me forget about the hardware. This list is oriented toward evaluating presentation, the suitability of a setup for different genres, and assessing fatigue. Fatigue is a big issue for me, and many of my purchases were driven in a quest to be able to listen all day without ringing or unpleasantness. These are TEST AN…

I hope I still agree with myself.