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Author Topic: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements  (Read 747 times)

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Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« on: June 18, 2015, 09:28:31 PM »
You can find my full subjective review of the Audial Model S MkII here: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,2452.0.html

I did use a slightly different setup for these measurements than what I've done before. Using two Windows 8.1 tablets, a Wyrd, JKSPDIF MK3, and a Creative SB1240 (with the SB1240 being a budget device and having some clear bottlenecks in some measurement situations). As such, some results may show differences compared to what I was using before, but I expect this to be incredibly minimal or nonexistent.

One other thing to note is that the left channel on this DAC does have higher distortion than the right, though primarily just with 2nd order distortion. This is common with the old school Philips chips and, IMO, not a problem subjectively. You'll see this in some measurements. And, as such, the numerical reports in RMAA reflect the channel differences. Some of the comparison shots I'll show later seem to use the right channel graphs at times as well.

So, let's get to it...for 16/48:

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB   +0.15, -1.36 Average
Noise level, dB (A)   -93.1Very Good
Dynamic range, dB (A)   97.2Excellent
THD, %   0.0071Very Good
THD + Noise, dB (A)   -80.3Good
IMD + Noise, %   0.017Very Good
Stereo crosstalk, dB   -93.3Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, %   0.010Very Good
General performance    Very Good

Frequency Response:



Noise:



Dynamic Range:



THD:



IMD:



Crosstalk:



IMD (Swept Sine):

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 09:45:55 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2015, 09:31:25 PM »
RMAA 16/96 results:

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB   +0.05, -0.39 Good
Noise level, dB (A)   -92.5Very Good
Dynamic range, dB (A)   98.7Excellent
THD, %   0.0074Very Good
THD + Noise, dB (A)   -80.2Good
IMD + Noise, %   0.014Very Good
Stereo crosstalk, dB   -90.0Excellent
IMD at 10 kHz, %   0.0085Very Good
General performance    Very Good

Frequency Response:



Noise:



Dynamic Range:



THD:



IMD:



Crosstalk:



IMD (Swept Sine):

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 09:48:45 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2015, 09:33:16 PM »
Some ARTA results. These are from the right channel. Left channel, as seen before, has relatively higher distortion levels. Can provide those results if you're dying to see them.

Jitter looks quite good via J-Test (and easily bests the Metrum Hex or Audio-GD NOS1704, even some of the better results I got from those two that I never published because I'm lazy):



J-Test Full Spectrum:



-90.31dB 1KHz Sine Wave (not sure what those blips are about):



-90.31dB 1KHz Sine Wave Spectrum:



13KHz and 14KHz at -3dB:



19.1KHz at -3dB:



Can't remember why I did this one, but 23Hz and 60Hz:



250Hz and 8KHz:

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 11:08:07 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2015, 09:35:40 PM »
One thing I noticed is that the Model S MkII is surprisingly sensitive to the source feeding it. In this case, the JKSPDIF MK3 vs. the Gustard U12 (a budget, Chinese USB->SPDIF converter). The different was not subtle, subjectively. Not that I have much experience comparing sources on various DACs, but this has easily been the most sensitive DAC I've tried. The U12 sounded softer, more rounded, more rolled and laid-back, less focused, and generally less engaging than the JKSPDIF. The JK, on the other hand, does have a slightly more artificial sounding timbre for whatever reason, mostly in the upper-mids and treble. With the Classe DAC-1, I basically drove myself crazy trying to hear differences between the U12 and JKSPDIF on that.

Let's see how the U12 did with the J-Test (spoiler alert, it does not look quite as clean when compared to the JK results above):



For shits and giggles, I did a wideband, multitone test on both the JK and U12. There are some differences. Maybe they mean something, and maybe not. The U12 does look a tad bit more rolled at the upper end...

JKSPDIF:



U12:

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:17:56 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2015, 09:38:35 PM »
I dug up some old RMAA results for the Metrum Hex and Audio-GD NOS1704. Subjectively, I think the Audial Model S blows both of them out of the water, but let's see what these basic measurements might show. (Keep in mind what I said about about the Model S's higher distortion on the left channel and how RMAA reports based on that, along with it using graphs for the right channel at times.)



Frequency Response:



Noise:



Dynamic Range:



THD:



IMD:



Crosstalk:

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:33:31 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2015, 09:40:18 PM »
How about pitting a couple old school DACs together? Well, the Model S is a new design and readily available, but it's based off the vintage TDA1541A. Let's see how it compares against the Classe Audio DAC-1 in RMAA. (Due to some issues with RMAA, you'll have to check out my Classe DAC-1 measurements on this site if you want to compare graph results with the Model S.)



Frequency Response:



Noise:



THD:



IMD:



Crosstalk:



IMD (Swept Sine):

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 11:14:18 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2015, 09:56:09 PM »
Voltage levels and loads?
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2015, 09:57:27 PM »
Quote from: ultrabike on June 18, 2015, 09:56:09 PM
Voltage levels and loads?

As far as I know, this is specified at the usual 2V RMS on the RCA outputs per the Audial site. Though the manual mine came with says 2.1V RMS. Going straight into the line-in of the SB1240 like all my other DAC measurements. If that doesn't answer your question, let me and my dumb brain know.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:20:03 PM by hans030390 »
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Re: Audial Model S MkII DAC Measurements
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2015, 10:57:25 PM »
And for anyone wondering, I would have loved to get measurements for the Theta Gen Va, but its higher voltage output (something like 3-3.5V IIRC) doesn't play nice with my lowly SB1240. Maybe I'll check out the Yggy or trickle down follow up DACs in the future. I like the Theta Gen Va quite a bit, so I'm sure I'd like the new Schiit DACs too.

Overall, I think the Model S MkII does quite well in measurements for a non-oversampling DAC. Sure, it doesn't beat out the Hex or NOS1704 in every single area, and I wish the left channel of the particular TDA1541A chip in this Model S had lower distortion at D2, but I think it offers a more impression showing on paper than either of those other two NOS DACs. It certainly sounds better subjectively. I think Pedja of Audial did a great job getting close to maxing out the TDA1541A for a NOS design.

Of course, if non-oversampling makes your skin crawl, then get a Yggy or something like that.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 11:15:40 PM by hans030390 »
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