not Coffee related but HiFi query

gordy53

just wondering if there is anyone on here that I can pick their brains about HiFi, without going into specific equipment but is it ok to run from a CD player ( I am using two) to a separate DAC using Digital Coaxial cables and ALSO running RCA’s from the same CD players going straight to the Amp using whatever inputs that are available because since connecting the DAC the Bass seems to have lost a lot of its output so I was hoping to use the DAC a for headphones and and the Amp and speakers when not using the DAC, if that makes sense

CoyoteOldMan

gordy53 Electrically, totally fine. Sound-wise… see what you get. It’s a bit odd that a separate DAC, that should be better than the integrated one in the CD player, ends up playing worse (unless you are talking of a very high-end player and a low-quality DAC - but then why even do it?).

One thing I would not do is to use this method to bi-amp speakers - all sorts of timing issues are possible, depending on the specific DAC circuitry involved.

wilburpan

gordy53 If the bass seems to have lost a lot of output with the DAC, you might want to check on a few things.

Make sure there isn’t some weird polarity/phase inversion going on.
Some DACs have a variable output or some other way of controlling the signal — sort of like a volume control just for the DAC. Check to see if that’s a “feature” you’re accidentally using.
There may be a weird impedance mismatch between the DAC and your amplifier, but this is fairly unlikely.

DavecUK

Perfectly OK

gordy53

thanks for the replies I will have a play around today to see if I have done something wrong, it would not be the first time I have had a ‘senior moment’!

gordy53

Fixed!!!, my fault, it was on the wrong Line Out setting, there are three settings-0-1 Line Out Output,

0-2 Headphone Amp output and 0-3 Headphone Amp & Line Put Output (default), I had it on 0-1 when it should

have been 0-3, all is good the Bass has returned!, my equipment is all old if anyone is interested it is a Micromega

Stage 5 CD player, Marantz CD65 MK2 SE CD played, Musical Fidelity Elektra E100 Amp, Dual 505-2 turntable

and some really good Australian speakers called Richter Wizards I do not think there will be many of those speakers

in the UK and the Headphones are Meze 99 Neo, the DAC is new (bought last week) it is a Topping DX3 Pro Plus nothing fancy but good enough for me, thanks again for the replies just off now to make my first Coffee of the day!

audiomacgyver

gordy53 Glad it is all fixed up!

CoffeePhilE

gordy53 my equipment is all old if anyone is interested it is a Micromega

Stage 5 CD player, Marantz CD65 MK2 SE CD played, Musical Fidelity Elektra E100 Amp, Dual 505-2 turntable

There’s some nosalgia in there. I have a similar CD player, Marantz like you, but CD63 KI-Sig. I’ve listened to a few others over the years but can’t find anything I like more (or at least, sufficiently more to be worth ‘upgrading’), without spending obscene money on it, which I’m certainly not going to do. The rest of my stuff is similar era, but different options.

Sadly, as I get older so the tech usually improves but I still have my now distinctly sub-optimal Mk.1 ears. It’s the limiting factor these days.

gordy53

I think I am getting thicker the older I get, it’s really frustrating sometimes!!

gordy53

yes I agree about the hearing as I have terrible Tinnitus, had it for about 30years, when we are in bed at night my will hear something and she say’s to me “did you hear that noise?” and I reply “ I wish I could” as all I hear is the bloody ringing in my ‘lugs’

Enea_

gordy53

Have you tried acupuncture? Friend of mine also had tinnitus forever & tried acupuncture, was fixed in two sessions.

DavecUK

gordy53 I first became aware of mine 7 or 8 years ago, a constant 12,000 Hz tone. It’s an irritation because although I can usually “tune” it out so I become unaware of it. You can become aware of it again if listening out for high frequencies, or in silent places. Writing about it has made me aware of it again, it will probably take 5 minutes to tune it out now. It’s quite irritating.

P.S. I was very careful with my hearing all my life, avoiding loud sounds/places. I still use earplugs in Cinemas, because it’s too loud.

LMSC

gordy53 Tinnitus

It’s been a few years. It’s a continuous high-pitched buzz. It’s frustrating at times; but, kind of learned to ignore it.

Rob666

Around 10kHz for me. Intermittent and not too annoying. My late mother used to get classical music sometimes.

Cuprajake

I’ve just started with it but I can still hear 20hz to 16k

gordy53

I used to go to an awful lot of Rock Concerts '‘when I were lad’' and worked in the print trade on various presses and it got pretty noisy but I never took a lot of notice really so it is my fault but as people say if I keep busy doing something and do not think about it it’s not so noticeable

DavecUK

gordy53 people say if I keep busy doing something and do not think about it it’s not so noticeable

This is exactly what I find. As for @Cuprajake

Giphy - Big Ears Love GIF

Nightrider_1uk

gordy53 used to go to an awful lot of Rock Concerts '‘when I were lad

Same here, only difference is that i’m still doing that at almost 63. Also worked in Power generation, those steam turbines weren’t quiet. I have constant multi-frequency ringing in my ears.

gordy53

just listening to a CD I have not played for 20 odd years ‘456’ by ‘The Grid’ from 1992 I forgot how great it was, so much music on my CD racks to catch up on, life is hard sometimes!, Coffee and Music go so well together

Cuprajake

i listen to music, most nights i use headphones,

i have deezer, which has most stuff, ive tried the likes of qobuz/tidal which have supp better quality, not that dezzer is lacking,

i find deezer has such a better user interface,

i listen with my new audeze ldc-2 classic open headphones, through a smsl su6 dac and a ifizen can balanced amp