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My First USB DAC Sounds Dull, Please Help

Greatings from Tanzania,

I finally jumped into the PC audio arena with the purchase of a Mhdt Paradisea+. However the PC/DAC combo came out very disappointing! The sound was dull and contrived. Even my wife gave it a thumb down.

This is my first try on a system with a tube stage, but don't think it should sound so lucking of high frequency signals. I switched between foobar and Windows MP11, tried a different laptop, and even connected the DAC direct to the Amp (by-passed the preamp), but to no avail.

The rest of my system is comprised of Martin Logan SL3, Bag-End Aragon 8008 BB, Aragon Aurum preamp, and Kimber cables.

I am I doing something wrong. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

I remain a believer of PC audio.
planckscale
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,370 posts
 
Good idea Undertow
planckscale OP
60 posts
 
Thanks guys for all your inputs.

All my files are in wav format, and I believe I did by-pass the Kmix (I selected the "bypassing Windows kernel mixer" option on the output preferences page). But, I could be wrong. Also, the sound quality was equally terrible with both Windows Player and Foobar.

I would suspect, as you guys have pointed out, that it could be the USB interface on the Laptop. I am going to test the DAC as per Ejlif's suggestion. Unfortunately, I am away on a business trip until December.

But, I will keep you posted.

Thanks
Tasi
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Planck,

You should read this Apparently soundcards on PC's and DSP's in DVD players are not "bit-transparent" or you need to be savvy about settings to make sure that no "processing" or bit truncation etc is going on.
planckscale OP
60 posts
 
Shadorne, thanks for the link. I think I did follow the same precautions described on that wiki, but I will double check my setup.

If this doesn't work, I have to options: Getting a non-tubed\solid state DAC, or an internal soundcard. I am still not sold on the idea that EM-noise can mask a good soundcard like a Lynx.
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I am still not sold on the idea that EM-noise can mask a good soundcard like a Lynx.

I think your skepticism is healthy - however the variables with the variety of PC's (with cheap power supplies) + soundcard combinations are large. Does your PC give good clean power to the card - is the PC power supply noisy or is it well shielded - that would be my worry with a good card.
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