How does a Transport effect sound?

It would be interesting to know whether there are specific attributes in the spectra besides total jitter that correlate with specific qualities; i.e. wide bass vs natural attack and decay of chimes, bells, imaging, etc.

The spectra in this particular plot is only jitter amounts at different frequencies.  There is very little jitter below 600kHz in any of the plots.  Unfortunately, my tool does not allow me to blow up or zoom in on that section of frequencies.  Correlation is very difficult.  At least there are some differences there.

Steve N

Empirical Audio

What does jitter sound like? What is the actual auditory result?

There are several attributes, including:

1) unfocused instruments and vocalists - wider than natural would be

2) "fill", or echoes between instruments that is not actually present in the recording - some mistake this for ambience or "air"

3) a harder, more brittle sound that tends to be fatiguing over the long term

4) vocalists "S" sounds too hissy to be live

5) inability to distinguish the size and depth of the venue of the recording

6) halos around the instruments and vocalists

As for selling, I look at it like helping people understand and I also problem-solve. I also feel it is my job to dispel misinformation for my industry.   I don't always recommend my own products, unless I know they are the best solution.  I also recommend other products.  Just read all of my posts on all of the forums.  I spend a lot of time online helping, and as much as I like helping people, I also desire something in return.  The alternative is to give thousands each month to advertising and pass this cost on to my customers.  Do you really want to pay for advertising?  I don't.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

As for the timing of my product production, you need to understand that I wear a lot of hats.  I am essentially a one-man show here.  Because of this, my customers deal directly with me and I help them on an ongoing basis.  I also offer upgrades to most of my products over time, so they are not obsoleted.  My extended family sometimes interferes with my work.  Most of 2015 I was in another state remodeling my mother-in-laws house.  This was the timeframe of ozzys order, the end of 2015.  I had a lot of catch-up to do after 9 months away from the business.

I build everything to order, but I have boards in stock.  If I have a lot of orders backlogged, they are processed in order and this can cause wait-times for some customers.  If you ask about the lead-time, I will give you an honest prediction.  The majority of my customers are wiling to wait when I have a big backlog because my products are unique in the industry.  If you order a Ferrari, you will wait 2 years.

I recently received new speakers myself that I had on order for 3.5 years.  I waited 3.5 years for these.  I have them now and I'm glad I waited.  Sometimes the best things in life take time.  I have patience.  It's a good virtue to have.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Transports are NOT created equal due to differences in quality of the clocking, power supplies, and support circuitry.
-------> there are BIG differences in SQ amongst different transports

No argument here.  The thing that makes all transports equal is a good reclocker added to the transport.

The things that make the jitter different from all of these transports is differences in the oscillators, power supplies, power delivery, implementation and design.  It's the jitter that is different for these reasons.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio