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Digital Source Comparison - An audible difference?

I'm trying to compare with my own ears the difference that people hear, or claim to hear, between digital sources. I realize that it's entirely possible that my system isn't quite to the level where difference are audible but it's pretty simple to do a comparison.

Source 1: Pioneer Elite PD-D6-J SACD Player (on Nordost Sort Kones)
Source 2: Integra CDC-3.4 CD Player (multi-disk)

My plan would be to use two Toslink cables since the Integra is already connected using one and it's fairly easy to obtain another one.

Considering the rest of my system includes an Integra 50.1 AVR, Focal Chorus 836v speakers, and DIY Cat5 speaker cables, would you predict that I will hear a difference?

There is a distinct difference between the two CD players using analog connections, but if they are reduced to being transports that rely on the DAC in the AVR will there still be a difference?
mceljo
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
Al,

I passed the two main links along to an EE friend of mine that's my sounding board for all things electrical. Here's part of his response.

"Those are the first articles you've sent me where I completely agree with everything written. This guy is obviously a well-educated electrical engineer.

How noticeable corrections to these factors will be, I do not know. I don't believe that crystal oscillators used in today's computer equipment are much farther off timing-wise than a belt-driven turntable."

In any case, he generally give me a list of things he considers to be "bunk" in the things that I pass along.
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
Al,

On a somewhat related question to the information in the links. Do you think jitter is a significant contributer to the difference in sound that I get between my Onkyo iPod dock and Ethernet connected Pandora Radio? The other obvious factor is the difference in DACs that are being used. Pandora is using 128 MP3 files and it takes at least the Applelosses on the iPod to sound consistently and sometimes even that doesn't sound as good.

I find myself turning off the iPod because it just sounds subpar, but Pandora runs for hours at a time.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Hi Mceljo,

Thanks for providing the feedback from your EE associate!

I have no particular familiarity with iPods, docks, Pandora, etc. But assuming that the DAC function is being performed by the component into which you are connecting the dock's cable and "universal port" connector (as opposed to being performed by the dock itself), yes, it is certainly conceivable that jitter could be a significant factor. The magnitude and character of the resulting effects would be dependent on the iPod, the dock, the cable, the input circuit of the component containing the DAC, any noise that may couple onto the relevant signals, and the jitter rejection capability (if any) of the particular DAC.

Another thing to consider, though, especially when dealing with mp3 files, and considering the poor engineering of many recordings generally, is that increased reproduction accuracy can often result in less enjoyable sound. A traditional audiophile dilemma :-)

Best regards,
-- Al
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