Sennheiser PC37X randomly goes bad after disconnecting the cable ?
Greetings, Yesterday I was using my headset like normal with my macbook, just listening to music and on a call with people like usual, and the headset was perfectly fine. The stock wire that came with the headset is extremely long and yesterday it annoyed me very much that it kept getting tangled with itself, so I decided to see if the cable is replaceable. I pulled out the cable from the headset and saw the adapter, and looked online for a replacement. Upon plugging it back in, the audio sounded extremely muffled and washed out. Im not sure what I did wrong to make it mess up like that as I've always taken good care of it, ive had it for about 2 years and its always just been chilling on my desk, but anywho I thought the cable just went bad and ordered a replacement. The replacement came, and the issue is still persistant, so I am not sure what the issue is I've tried multiple different headsets and the issue is not with the port, and I also tried it with my windows laptop and...
Apr 23, 2024
R-2R is simple, cheap, and I'm all for that - They're great for up to 10-12 bit resolution, and maybe slightly more (up to about 14bits).
Of course - they'll 'operate' up to 24 or 32 (or 128) bits - whatever you can build (and sell?) will work, but the resolution suffers , greatly, beyond about 10 bits for 0.1% SMT resistors, or beyond about 14 bits for well-matched, trimmed, 0.005%/ single-digit ppm temperature drift (typically thru-hole) resistors.
The problem is that when a digital input rolls over, for example, from 01111111 to 10000000, (and there are many, many, similar roll-overs in the digital domain), the tolerance on the MSB must be smaller than about 1/2 the LSB -otherwise you get non-monotonicity (relatively large local non-linearity) which is inherently bad for audio (not to mention the transients that need to be filtered out). As you add bits (up to +/-24 bits in this product, which is actually 25 bits), the required tolerance is impossibly tight. Even with trimming (whether laser or network, etc.), the tempco of the resistors also results in non-linearities due to slight temperature changes and gradients (unavoidable with dynamically changing signals).
Of course, this assumes that one can hear non-linearities in the lowest levels of noise & high resolution - some can, others can't, and some others can but don't let it ruin a good time (music is usually supposed to be a good time?). And if you choose to go R-2R, then at least use trimmed networks - they'll match better than even high-dollar discrete resistors (and WAY better than discrete SMT resistors).
Analog Devices' AD5791 is an R-2R based DAC, that i believe is used in some audio DAC's, and it benefits tremendously from highly-trimmed R-2R ladder in silicon - not discrete - which provides excellent TCR matching, among other benefits. But it's actually a 14 bit R-2R ladder with specially trimmed upper 6 bits (as 63 individual stages - not part of the ladder used in the lower 14 bits). This is an advantage that a discrete solution does not have. However - this DAC is aimed largely at applications where DC performance & adjustability are key - not linearity or non-monotonicity in reproducing complex & subtle audio - things like programmable power supplies and test equipment. In my opinion, although the AD5791 (and probably a couple other similar integrated & trimmed R-2R DACs) sounds wonderful - it still doesn't live up to the expectations of '20 bit' in terms of audio DAC performance - it's probably no better than 16 bit. But the area where the loss occurs just isn't glaringly obvious to most listeners - it only falls short in the finest resolved signal levels that honestly, most people can't discern - but will be happy to convince themselves that it's superior to their old set - they've invested their money and emotions in it - because they've bought into the poetry and zen-like qualities offered. "It simply MUST be better - I'm sure I can hear it!"
But my objection stands - don't bother paying for a R-2R DAC that claims to be any better than about 14bits resolution (and be very skeptical of claims of better than 12 bits...)
Almost any other DAC technology is better for audio.
-David
I say keep enjoying it! Honestly! - I'm sure it does sound wonderful - but I attribute that to the most significant 12 bits and to the 'story'. Because the least significant 16 bits are doing nothing for you except introducing very low-level distortion and noise (quite possibly euphonic - but still not what you're paying for).
I honestly believe the first 12 bits gets you to the party - and that's the ugly truth for 90% of the people, that is all they (we?) need. The yarn woven about R-2R just induces you to feel better when you sit down and listen to those 12 bits you're getting. At best, it's the glass of wine to warm you up a little emotionally.
Seriously - of course I can hear the difference between 12 bits and 16 bits, and given an excellent recording / master and subject, I can hear detail above that. 24 bits?- personally, I can't usually hear the benefit. If I have to concentrate to hear the difference - it's not going to matter when I Zimbra is playing - I'm not concentrating then.. I mean, who wants to be critically listening all the time? I'm trying to enjoy music. I confess (no apology) that I do love the gear as well, and can get distracted listening for differences - but once I get emotionally involved in the music, I may as well be listening to my old iRiver H10...
So it would be smart for all of us to be more honest with ourselves, as well as use critical thinking when interpreting the crap these guys spin about what they're selling - learn to identify the snake oil - some of it is legit.
In MY opinion*, R-2R is a step backward in terms of fidelity - but discrete R-2R is terrible - most of the claims are BS - (but the 1st 10 to 12 bits are good!). You can spend your money as you wish though - I'm not criticizing you - if the R-2R DAC is your glass of wine - enjoy!.
(*it's just an opinion - please feel free to disagree and call me names in the privacy of your own head)
Is this where I'm supposed to respond to a vaguely worded "I know more than you do, but won't elaborate" grenade?
Well, I didn't see any claims that the Airist uses Gray code internally? (but I didn't read the entire thread - maybe it's mentioned in the back-and-forth about IP, I'm not investing my time reading all that shit)
So, I'm quite sure that use of Gray code should help minimize glitches (not sure it's been proven in a DAC, but it's often used in ADC, which has symmetrical problems). But it still doesn't eliminate the fundamental physics problem of discrete resistor tolerance requirements decreasing to well beyond what's available even from 'aerospace / military grade'. It should reduce the glitches, but it won't eliminate them. It's possible that using dual R-2R DACS per channel would also help reduce glitches - there are other ways to minimize, but these are incremental improvements, valiant attempts to make up for a fundamental weakness. They don't solve the progressing resistor tolerance requirement.
So, are you just poking at my rationale against discrete R-2R, or are you defending the Airist Audio R-2R DAC implying it uses Gray code internally? I mean, it's possible, it looks like they're using a Xilinx CPLD, so anything is possible - except getting >12-14 bits resolution using discrete R-2R ladder ;-)
I have the Magni2. They make things very well, to be honest. And they offer a nice spread of options.
Relevant to this thread: Not everything any HiFi manufacturer offers is a smart choice, or a good value. That decision is for the consumer to determine, and even the best manufacturer's reputation doesn't excuse me from using critical thinking and critical judgement. Then, I use my emotional thinking, and buy it if it makes me happy - because, you know - this is for music, and life is a one-way trip around the Sun a few times, the end..
I am not a delta-sigma vs R2R snob - the delta-sigma is clearly superior technically, of the two, but:
1st: Sound reproduction is merely a facsimile of live - some tech can get closer than others, but nothing is 100%
2nd: Very little recorded music actually benefits from extreme dynamic range, but some does certainly justify extreme 'hi-fi'. More often, the soul of so much music is in the top 16 bits (and frequently 12 to 14)
3rd: Buffers & power supplies are generally more important than the DAC itself. Don't get religious about tech!
4th: Give yourself permission - it's okay if you don't hear what the reviewer heard - don't be a sheep! All human ears have different frequency responses & preferences - and asymmetry! No need to maintain 'purity' - strive for enjoyment! And use critical thinking, if THD & 2nd order harmonics "do it" for you - even for a genre or two of your musical preferences - it's okay to 'give in'! Buy & use what you enjoy! (not what others think you should like).
- by the way, although redbook CD are considered archaic today, the only CD transport I still use is my 1985( [edit - 1987] Magnavox CDB650, which uses the TDA1541 (and modded to the TDA1541A-S1!) It just sounded better than my buddies Sonys...