Schiit Yggdrasil -- 21 bit?

@mmeysarosh

Good points about performance measurements. I was surprised about the DAC3. I didn’t expect to hear a difference but I believe I could. It wasnt a difference in sound but more akin to better blacks on a TV - the sound popped out of the background in more detail. Not sure I could detect this in blind A and B tests - definitely subtle. I believe the performance in many of the latest DACs is on a similar excellent par. My speakers have THD distortion below -65 dB across the spectrum and also can play cleanly up to about 120 dB SPL which helps to discern such small improvements at low signal levels.

@shadorne 

Seems like you have some excellent speakers. What do you have?

@defiantboomerang


ATC EL150ASL which is the more aesthetically pleasing elliptical version of the much more affordable ATC SCM 150 ASL big box studio monitor. ATC have been successful at selling pro studio main monitors for over 30 years. These are like a microscope on the recording and not something most people would be seeking for home listening.

Client list

http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/client-list/

my setup

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6257

@shadorne 

The ATC's can be highly dynamic, but go ahead and call ATC if you like, they publish the maximum SPL is 117db at 1m, and at typical listening distances will be around 110db or less. Also note, the distortion figures aren't provided but I would wager it has peak distortion levels of around 10%. This is not to say across the audio band, just simply the highest level of distortion at any point across the audio band. The vast majority of speakers produce this at 20-250hz, but many exhibit audible distortion at 95db average levels in the mid or treble ranges. There are very few speakers that can achieve this kind of dynamic range, but bass drivers are typically massive to keep distortion under control with mid and tweeters often being horn loaded or in an array configuration to withstand the load.

The ATC design will produce a notable amount of distortion in the bass if driven, but being a doped paper driver and our lack of sensitivity in that audible range makes it somewhat negligible. Doped paper, while not really capable or producing a rigid diaphragm, is quite good with internal dampening and generally makes the system work well. Its lightweight makes cone movements easier to achieve with a given motor assembly. Those soft domes used in the large dome mid and treble drivers also follow the same ethos. Light and well damped, which is pretty reliable approach.

@shadorne 

A very nice system. How come you didn’t pick the Benchmark power amp?