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Looking for Better Jitter Reduction in a DAC

I'm looking to improve the jitter control in my digital setup, which hopefully will create a more analogue presentation. I own a PS Audio PW Memory Transport, which sports a FPGA, and a Nuwave DSD DAC with a scaled-down version of the gate array.

   I have owned a Chord which uses this technology and it was like listening to analogue recordings. I sold it only because it's soundstage was very forward, like sitting in the front row of a concert hall. My current PS Audio setup has wide and deep imaging, as does my Atma-Sphere preamp.
   I have auditioned the Schiit Grundir and it was a bit too fast in the attack and transients, but had the dynamics and deep imaging that I like. So, I guess what I'm looking for is a unit with a laid-back, realistic musical presentation.

The Mytek Digital Stereo192 DSD and Blue Circle DAC are in my price range, but there is no way to audition them.
  So any recommendation and advice is appreciated. DSD preferred, budget is about $1200 used.


lowrider57
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
@bruce_philly

If you left your DAC1 on for seven years straight night and day then I think you may have suffered what I observed. A dead sounding DAC due to capacitors aging (higher heat ages faster). I particularly noticed this when I got mine out of storage to compare to the DAC3 and DAC2 recently. I think my DAC had been on for about 10 years straight and as I mentioned it runs quite hot.

There is no way a properly functioning Class A component should sound dead! Stereophile are fairly reliable in their classifications.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
If you left your DAC1 on for seven years straight night and day then I think you may have suffered what I observed. A dead sounding DAC due to capacitors aging (higher heat ages faster).

And might/would that apply to any DAC? Or for that matter, any piece of electronics with capacitors? Some manufacturers recommend leaving their equipment on 24/7.

shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
@gdhal

Yes - rule of thumb is every 10 degrees Celsius higher in operating temperature will half the life of many capacitors.

Most caps are rated 105 degrees for 2000 hours. At 95 they will last 4000. At 85 they should last approx 8000 and so on and so forth.

So leaving your gear on 24/7 is usually a mistake. Good ventilation is very important
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
Yes - rule of thumb is every 10 degrees Celsius higher in operating temperature will half the life of many capacitors.

Most caps are rated 105 degrees for 2000 hours. At 95 they will last 4000. At 85 they should last approx 8000 and so on and so forth.

So leaving your gear on 24/7 is usually a mistake. Good ventilation is very important

I appreciate that information shadorne as I honestly wasn’t aware of it. As a matter of course, I do happen to power down all of my equipment after use and provide very good passive ventilation. It’s only just recently that I acquired a Yggdrasil DAC, and Schiit is insistent it be left on 24/7 for best performance. Of course, I would prefer not to have to do that. Based on what you’re saying, leaving it on now presents two problems/issues - electric cost and life expectancy. Frankly, I’m a bit torn/concerned over what I should do, but in the grand scheme of things, I suppose it’s a good problem to have.
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
On off cycling causes wear and tear too. Caps left unused for too long will fail too. So there is no single solution that is best.

I suggest you let your equipment warm up for an hour before a serious listening session and for casual sessions don’t worry about it.
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