Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

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Originally Posted by Themis

C542 output is at 2.2V, typically 0.2V louder than most sources (2V). I'm not saying that the cable differences are volume differences, I simply state that it is is very hard (almost impossible) to compare two different sources which have a volume difference: if the sources' sound is near enough (no "enormous" differences) , then louder will always sound "better".

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Thanks for the info. That makes things even more complicated for a proper comparison since my amp volume control is a stepped digital control so i would have to balance the sound out with Caiman's variable out and without a proper spl meter to measure volume balance this turns out to be more complicated than i expected

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Originally Posted by sum1

Thanks for the info. That makes things even more complicated for a proper comparison since my amp volume control is a stepped digital control so i would have to balance the sound out with Caiman's variable out and without a proper spl meter to measure volume balance this turns out to be more complicated than i expected

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I'm afraid, yes. If your preamp doesn't allow for an input attenuation on an individual source basis, it'll be really hard. :( (although you don't really need an spl meter, your ears should be able to notice volume differences on quick a/b switching)
Oh, well, nevermind. Do your best and let your heart decide ! ;)

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Originally Posted by Themis

C542 output is at 2.2V, typically 0.2V louder than most sources (2V). I'm not saying that the cable differences are volume differences, I simply state that it is is very hard (almost impossible) to compare two different sources which have a volume difference: if the sources' sound is near enough (no "enormous" differences) , then louder will always sound "better".

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I take your point, but I really doubt you could audibly tell the difference between 2.2v and 2.0v

That equates to a 0.8 dB difference in sound level

Thanks Chippy_Boy,

I always wondered what the conversion was, but never quite enough to look it up. :scratch:

Cheers:cool:

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Originally Posted by Chippy_boy

I take your point, but I really doubt you could audibly tell the difference between 2.2v and 2.0v

That equates to a 0.8 dB difference in sound level

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Oh!

So, it's the same 0.8dB difference between 2.0V and 1.8V, I suppose ?
And the same one between 1.8V and... 1.6V ?

How do you get to that, I wonder... I know little about that, could you explain, please ?

Anyway, the real problem, is, that I listened the other day of a NAD 525BEE player and I found it playing louder than another source. Louder enough so that the A/B test couldn't be accurately made. So, I looked at the specifications of the two sources and... I deduced it came from the output level.
You seem to say that you "really doubt" it comes from there. Ok, I don't know enough, you must be right.
But then, where did the level difference between my two sources come from ?

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Originally Posted by Themis

Oh!

How do you get to that, I wonder... I know little about that, could you explain, please ?

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Themis! O Themis!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel

I round terms 3dB represents a doubling in volume and -3dB a halving.

1dB is about the smallest increment the human ear can discern.

The logarithmic nature of the decibel more or less reflects the performance of the ear's perception.

Some surprising conclusions follow.

Think of valve days - if you are old enough. A single ended valve power amp would give 3w. The smallest push-pull amps managed 10w which was twice as loud (potentially). To double the loudness again you would need to go to 100w, and very few valve amps did, the jump was from 10w to 20, 25 or 30w - given the logarithmic nature of loudness this was only a marginal advantage.

And more. I said "The logarithmic nature of the decibel more or less reflects the performance of the ear's perception." More or less, because the ear is not a linear tranducer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletche...3Munson_curves

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0.8 dB ? I haven't checked the maths!

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Originally Posted by Labarum

Themis! O Themis!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel

I round terms 3dB represents a doubling in volume and -3dB a halving.

1dB is about the smallest increment the human ear can discern.

The logarithmic nature of the decibel more or less reflects the performance of the ear's perception.

Some surprising conclusions follow.

Think of valve days - if you are old enough. A single ended valve power amp would give 3w. The smallest push-pull amps managed 10w which was twice as loud (potentially). To double the loudness again you would need to go to 100w, and very few valve amps did, the jump was from 10w to 20, 25 or 30w - given the logarithmic nature of loudness this was only a marginal advantage.

And more. I said "The logarithmic nature of the decibel more or less reflects the performance of the ear's perception." More or less, because the ear is not a linear tranducer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletche...3Munson_curves

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0.8 dB ? I haven't checked the maths!

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Ah, ok. ;)
(levelling my cleric on Aion at the same time, I have an excuse...)
Still, I can't explain why I heard a difference the other day... I didn't imagine it, though: I knew nothing about all that. :o

A 10% higher voltage will give 21% higher power - that's a fifth more and easily audible!

(Power = volts x amps, for a fixed impedance if volts goes up 10% then current goes up 10% and therefore power goes up 21% since 1.1 x 1.1 = 1.21)

Any first impressions of the Caiman power supply?

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Originally Posted by StanleyB

Any first impressions of the Caiman power supply?

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They haven't arrived yet :(