DACs and bass response?


I'm auditioning dacs in my system. One (COS) was way to analytical, overall, but had very tight bass. Another (Aqua La Voce) is what some would describe as "musical"  and sounds  terrific in all aspects except bass. My cdp alone does better in that regard. I have monitors and no subs. Can I expect that dacs that are hyper-detailed will also offer tighter bass as a rule?
stuartk

Here is what I determined by designing and building many digital cables, and making measurements on those and others:

1) the 75 ohm impedance of the cable is critical and should be uniform over it's length

2) Termination of the 75 ohm cable to RCA plugs is a non-starter.  Must be terminated to a proper 75 ohm connector, and a good one, like RF or BNC.

3) Use of pure silver in the 75 ohm cable is preferred, much better tonality.

4) 100% shield is beneficial

5) Conductor gauge is critical.  Should be 26 Gauge or smaller to avoid skin-effect

Here are a few measurements:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154425.0

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

@audioengr

All cables will have a spectrum. All will be different, None will be perfect.

That is why you need jitter rejection in the DAC!


Here is what I determined by designing and building many digital cables, and making measurements on those and others:

1) the 75 ohm impedance of the cable is critical and should be uniform over it's length

2) Termination of the 75 ohm cable to RCA plugs is a non-starter. Must be terminated to a proper 75 ohm connector, and a good one, like RF or BNC.

3) Use of pure silver in the 75 ohm cable is preferred, much better tonality.

4) 100% shield is beneficial

5) Conductor gauge is critical. Should be 26 Gauge or smaller to avoid skin-effect
.......

I went with a Belden 1694A cable with Canare RCAPs from Blue Jeans Cable.  I'm pretty sure it meets the quoted criteria.

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/pages/technicaldocs/canarercap.pdf
@audioengr

I appreciate the fact that at least you measured the 1694A and have data results handy. No doubt the results would be less than exactly perfect. I’ve also read - here on Agon - that the length itself (of any cable) can be critical in minimizing jitter. I’ve also read - here on Agon - to ignore measurements completely and simply rely on your own ears.

You know as well as I do that this "hobby" is an endless pursuit of perfection, and after a certain point - when one already has a good sounding system with quality components - diminishing returns sets in rather quickly. In my opinion, and from my own pragmatic approach, right or wrong, changing cables produces only infinitesimally small changes. I believe changing cables (power, interconnects, whatever else) simply produces a difference and not a "better or worse" scenario (irrespective of measurement data).

I use this cable to feed my Schiit Yggdrasil DAC. I am relying upon Belden’s and Schiit’s "claims" (published marketing BS as well as third party independent lab testing which in the case of Belden is ASTM D-4566) in addition to my own listening and derived enjoyment to arrive at the conclusions that (a) I’m not sacrificing any enjoyment by not having a better cable (or better anything for that matter) and (b) if I’m wrong and simply haven’t experienced the better enjoyment yet to realize I’m actually missing it then "Oh well, so be it".

EDIT:

And for what’s worth - and given the thread title - IMO the Bass from Yggy is phenomenal. And I've read quite a few posts from owners/others who report the same (in comparison to other DACs).