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0dBFS+ : ripping, and DAC implementations
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morris_minor View Drop Down
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Points: 6017 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 0dBFS+ : ripping, and DAC implementations
    Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 12:07pm
I've just come across this article.

It might be 10 years old but I'm guessing the science hasn't changed . . . Wink

It's made me rethink my approach to vinyl rips, and why normalising to 0dB turns out to be a Bad Thing.
For those who don't want to read the article it's because although the samples might not exceed 0dB the inter-sample peaks will, thus causing distortion unless the DAC can handle 0dBFS+ situations. And it's not the DAC chips themselves that are the issue here, it seems, but their implementation.

I'm wondering if this situation is something generally considered when building a DAC today, or if modern DAC chips are designed to cope with 0dBFS+ ?
Bob

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Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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Points: 8998 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 6:42pm
It's a good point well made Bob. One of the (many) features of the Majestic that I admire is the -2dB digital attenuation* to avoid over-FS distortion, with analogue gain make-up. I can't do Graham's expertise justice but I can say the majestic has made a number of my CD's from the "loudness wars" listenable, where they were harsh sounding.

I used to use 0dB when recording and mixing, I realised it sounded a bit unnatural and looked bad on the waveforms (because of all the clipping). I now v-rip well below clipping on my ADC and then normalise to -1dB.

*I have read through the WM8741 datasheet and know this feature is available. Using it well is the real skill.
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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Points: 16298 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2014 at 11:28pm
Correct, the Majestic DAC chip runs at -2dBFS and the analogue stage - where there is headroom - adds 2dB.
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