Topic: Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC Measurements (Read 5241 times)

Hands · « **on:** December 27, 2013, 02:04:08 PM »

Test Hardware and Setup

-Acer Aspire 5560G Laptop - Locked at 1.4GHz and 0.9125V via K10Stat, dedicated GPU disabled, internal fan disconnected (low temps and stability verified), most Fidelizer tweaks applied, and other hardware, software, and services disabled. Battery powered.

-JKSPDIF MK3 - Input with generic USB cable, output with 75ohm RF attenuator and 75ohm BNC to RCA Coaxial cable to DAC. Battery powered.

OR

-DIY Gaming Desktop - i5 2500K locked at 4.5GHz, Biostar TZ77XE3 motherboard, GTX 780, Antec EarthWatts 650W Green PSU, Auzentech Bravura sound card, 4 140mm fans, goofy UV cathode lights in case, Fractal Design Define R4 case...you get the idea (not optimal for audio). Plugged into APC H10 power conditioner. I did run Fidelizer on it for the tests.

-Auzentech Bravura sound card - It's plugged into the beef rig. Digital coax out to DAC using a digital coax cable from Monoprice (should be 75 ohm).

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-Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC - Fed from either Auzentech coax out of JKSPDIF. Plugged into APC H10 if hooked up to the gaming rig. Tests were done in high voltage mode (RCA out) unless specified otherwise (file names will have "L" or "LV" in them if low voltage, "H" or "HV" for high voltage). Used 6' BJC RCA cable plugged into large, recessed RCA plugs. Unpublished tests show that you generally get slightly better results using the other RCA plugs (maybe 0.1-0.2dB difference, but there).

I am also using the CS8416 "upgrade" option for the coax inputs on the NOS-1704.

-Creative X-FI HD USB (SB1240) - Takes line-out signal from DAC to line-in for recording purposes, powered by USB bus, always connected to Acer laptop for measurements (even when DAC was hooked up to desktop). Unit is limited to 48/96KHz input/output.

Software

RightMark RMAA 6.3.0, ARTA

Misc. Notes

Creative SB1240 has a slight roll-off in the bass.

I have seen as much as a 2dB variance with the same tests. What I've posted is the least you should expect from the unit.

I wasn't going to test the Auzentech coax out with the NOS-1704 originally, but I tried it one day out of laziness and decided I had to measure it and compare against the JKSPDIF. The results might surprise you.

Links

Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC - http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/SA/NOS1704/NOS1704EN.htm
Auzentech Bravura sound card - http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_bravura.php
JKSPDIF MK3 - http://www.johnkenny.biz/home-1/mk3-hiface
Creative SB1240 - http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-digital-music-premium-hd
RightMark Audio Analyzer - http://audio.rightmark.org/index_new.shtml
ARTA: http://www.artalabs.hr/

Hands · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:11:59 PM »

Jitter tests using a 24/48 JTest file. JTest file was played back through JRiver Media Center 19 on both the laptop and desktop setups. Hardware sound device settings and software (ARTA) were set to 24/96, however. I ran tests with everything set to 24/96, and there was no difference vs. these results.

As mentioned in the first post, this is using the first RCA coax input on the DAC (technically coax input 2).

These results were surprising to me, and you'll see a difference in other measurements as well. Files attached are:

1. Laptop playing JTest in JRMC (no upsampling, kernel streaming) -> USB to JKSPDIF -> NOS-1704 -> SB1240 -> Back to laptop through USB
2. Gaming desktop -> Auzentech Bravura sound card coax out -> NOS-1704 -> SB1240 -> Laptop USB in (No bitstreaming or upsampling enabled in JRMC)
3. Same as above but with bitstreaming and without upsampling
4. Same as above but without bitstreaming and with upsampling (24/96)

Hands · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:15:29 PM »

24/96 Spectrum tests in ARTA, using the laptop -> JKSPDIF setup. Files attached are:

1. 1KHz sine wave spectrum
2. 100Hz sine wave spectrum
3. 60Hz + 7KHz dual sine wave spectrum (4:1 ratio)
4. 25Hz + 66Hz dual sine wave spectrum (1:1 ratio)
5. Noise

Hands · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:20:19 PM »

24/96 spectrum tests in ARTA, using the gaming rig -> Auzen Bravura coax out setup. I seem to have not saved the 100Hz sine wave spectrum results.

1. 1KHz sine wave spectrum
2. 60Hz + 7KHz dual sine wave spectrum (4:1 ratio)
3. 25Hz + 66Hz dual sine wave spectrum (1:1 ratio)
4. Noise

Hands · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:26:36 PM »

RMAA tests at 16/96, using laptop -> JKSPDIF setup, kernel streaming mode. KS mode with this setup tends to produce better results than other modes in RMAA. I'll attach a zip of all my tests later.

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB | -0.00, -0.65 | Good
Noise level, dB (A) | -95.9 | Excellent
Dynamic range, dB (A) | 94.1 | Very good
THD, % | 0.0033 | Very good
THD + Noise, dB (A) | -84.4 | Good
IMD + Noise, % | 0.0075 | Excellent
Stereo crosstalk, dB | -92.2 | Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, % | 0.027 | Good
General performance | Very good

Hands · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:32:46 PM »

RMAA tests at 24/96, using laptop -> JKSPDIF setup, DirectSound mode. See how this compares to the Auzentech Bravura coax out tests in the next post (also DirectSound). Also note the improvements KS brings (post above).

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB | -0.01, -0.66 | Good
Noise level, dB (A) | -90.6 | Very good
Dynamic range, dB (A) | 90.5 | Very good
THD, % | 0.0039 | Very good
THD + Noise, dB (A) | -81.7 | Good
IMD + Noise, % | 0.011 | Very good
Stereo crosstalk, dB | -88.1 | Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, % | 0.029 | Good
General performance | Very good

Hands · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:37:01 PM »

RMAA tests at 24/96, using gaming desktop -> Auzentech Bravura coax out setup, DirectSound mode. In some areas it measures better, in some worse. I might give the overall edge to the Auzen coax out. It seems the Auzen doesn't support KS through the coax out, either that or it just doesn't work with RMAA.

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB | +0.02, -0.91 | Good
Noise level, dB (A) | -91.4 | Very good
Dynamic range, dB (A) | 91.3 | Very good
THD, % | 0.0050 | Very good
THD + Noise, dB (A) | -82.0 | Good
IMD + Noise, % | 0.0094 | Very good
Stereo crosstalk, dB | -88.3 | Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, % | 0.013 | Very good
General performance | Very good

Hands · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2013, 02:55:04 PM »

When I first tried the NOS-1704 with my laptop/JKSPDIF setup (what I had used with the Metrum previously), I thought the overall sound was, hmm, perhaps more syrupy(?) than the Metrum Quad. Less focused and less resolving. Much of this is likely that I haven't listened to the Metrum in a week or two, so it could just be me forgetting.

I was honestly surprised when I tried the NOS-1704 out of my Auzentech Bravura's coax out, because I was not expecting much. Why should I? It's a gaming rig and not optimal for audio. Measurements I've taken of sound cards in it before always came out with extra noise and distortion than expected.

The sound in general seemed to just come into focus better than before, though, with the Auzen coax out vs laptop/JKSPDIF. I think my measurements might hint at these differences, especially the jitter measurements. If so, this is one of the first times I've had a chance myself to listen and compare gear first, think I hear differences, and then take a look at measurements (that I happened to produce myself) that might actually validate what I heard. I find that somewhat exciting and cool, ha.

According to RMAA, the Auzen coax out does bring more of a roll-off in the highs and might have slightly higher THD. Not sure why the extra roll-off would be...any ideas?

I'm not sure what exactly is going on behind these findings. I'd have to test the JKSPDIF and Auzen on other gear, including trying the JKSPDIF from other computers. At this point, there's why too little info and too many variables to say the Auzen coax out is simply better. That would actually be pretty funny and sad if so, however. But in the context of my setups and these measurements, the results are certainly interesting.

Files attached:

1. 1KHz square wave response, 24/96
2. Periodic impulse response. Only really posting because it's inverted. I tried a different power cable to make sure I didn't get a reversed on from A-GD, as research showed me this was something that actually used to happen in the past.
3. FR and HD generated from a sweep impulse
4. Zip file of all RMAA tests for the NOS1704 (16/48 through 24/96, KS when I could, DS, etc.).

Marvey · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2013, 03:56:30 PM »

So how does it sound compared to your other DACs?

Hands · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2013, 05:19:20 PM »

I'm planning on doing listening comparisons tonight and will report back with (likely not the best) impressions. Lately I either spend a lot of time with one set of gear, because I've had new stuff roll in and like to get acclimated with it, or I just take too many long breaks in between listening to make valuable comparisons.

But, as briefly mentioned above, I think the NOS1704 is a bit more syrupy sounding than the Metrum Quad, or perhaps it would be better to say the Metrum is a bit lighter sounding overall. That's not to say it lacks the detail or resolution I'm looking for. I don't remember being as impressed using JRMC w/ upsampling for playback on the Metrum as I am on the NOS1704. XXHE stuck out for me more quickly on the Metrum than JRMC, so I'll have to try that more with the NOS1704. Of course, we'll see if my memory serves me correctly when I actually compare them. It's been a while since I've listened to a S/D DAC setup critically, so I'll test out what I have tonight as well.

That said, I did spend a good bit of time listening to the NOS1704 from the Auzen coax out. I am happy so far...just not so great at putting what I hear into words. I was honestly surprised I was able to hear the differences between the JKSPDIF and Auzen out.

I also still need to get new pads for my Mad Dog, and the HE-500 isn't great for when others sleep (my awake time, hooray). I'll get the HE-500 out tonight for the comparisons, but I'll primarily be testing it with the modded TH-02.

BTW, do my jitter measurements look like I'm doing them correctly?

Author Topic: Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC Measurements (Read 5241 times)

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC Measurements

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 Jitter Measurements - JTest 24/48

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 ARTA Spectrum Tests - JKSPDIF

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 ARTA Spectrum Tests - Auzen Coax Out

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 16/96 Kernel Stream RMAA - JKSPDIF

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 24/96 DirectSound RMAA - JKSPDIF

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 24/96 DirectSound RMAA - Auzen Coax Out

Hands

Audio-GD NOS-1704 RMAA Tests Zip and Other Thoughts

Marvey

Re: Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC Measurements

Hands

Re: Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC Measurements

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Author Topic: Audio-GD NOS-1704 DAC Measurements (Read 5241 times)