Home Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

RE: Anyone here using RightMark Audio Analyzer?

"Whether one uses the same sound card or different sound cards one won't be able to tell if there are systematic errors in the DAC and ADC that offset each other. This is a necessary limitation that can not be broken without some kind of reference standard for calibration. The same problem exists with subjective listening tests as well. If one tries to listen to an ADC - DAC chain in a bypass test (e.g. with an analog feed) one won't be able to hear offsetting errors that cancel out.

If a single sound card is used, the possibilities for offsetting errors increase. For example, any jitter in the clock is likely to cancel out because both the ADC and DAC are running off a common clock."

Although theoretically this is possible, what realistically are the chances that such offsets result in a true cancellation of the imperfection so it looks significantly better? Pretty low I would imagine...

Further, as for the loopback paradigm with the same sound card out --> in, there's latency inherent so even though they may run off the same clock, the chances that you're so precise that the latency leads to a cancellation effect of something as complex and nebulous as jitter IMO is very unlikely... If anything, the fact that the sound card's circuitry is both doing DAC & ADC at the same time probably exacerbates the RF noise and worsens jitter.

-------
Archimago's Musings: A 'more objective' audiophile blog.


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  K&K Audio / Lundahl Transformers   [ K&K Audio / Lundahl Transformers Forum ]


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.