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"Warm" vs. "cold" sound in Bluesound node 2 and Aries Mini with warm/soft amp and DAC

Fellow Listeners,

I was hoping some could shed some light on what is clearly an inadequate title.  I own the Arcam A39 and LS50s.  Arcam has been characterized as a "warmer" sounding line of Audio equipment.  The LS50s just sound good to me, so I can't find a label.   I want to get a streamer and an external DAC for Tidal.  I don't like using the computer.  Also I have NO audio files/don't want a server.  I have about 225 CDs and an old Rotel RCD 961 that has served me well.

A previous poster, lousyreeds1,  wrote this 18 months ago :

"I owned both and compared them directly over an extended period.  They sound surprisingly different.  The  BlueSound is considerably warmer, and the Aries Mini is faster and more incisive.  That basic difference was present whether using the internal DACs or not but of course using the digital out closes the gap slightly and highlights whatever you have downstream

I would like to get a Schiit Gungnir Multi as the DAC.  I am wondering how this combination would work with lots of "warmer" sounding equipment if that is in fact what I have, and I go with a Bluesound or a Mini.  I am not terribly concerned about money, but the important fact is I don't have access to lots of demo opportunities.  I did find a place that set up my Arcam and a Bluesound and compared it to CD and a Linn Sekrit ds. I felt the test was flawed by set up.  The Linn sounded terrible and that doesn't seem possible at that price point.

I've read and read, but need some clarification on these points from people with experience with some of these products and even the idea of sonic nomenclature when it comes to applying words to subjective impressions.

Steve
chemman

Showing 2 responses by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

The difference in most digital sources is simply jitter.  If you reduce the jitter using a reclocker like the Synchro-Mesh of any of these devices, this will make them all sound similar.  It will also reduce jitter making the presentation more clear, focused and with better imaging.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Yes, that’s the sort of thing in which I am interested. I received a post on CA that said the Mini with onboard DAC and Gungnir, when comparing their DACs, sound drastically different. Would you be able to comment on this?

Internal jitter will be different depending on what interface you are using and the DAC implementation.

Not all DACs are designed the same. Some are simply cold sounding because they use too many op-amps and the power subsystem is sub-par. Others because the designer does not understand how to minimize jitter. Others because of the digital filtering.

Next to jitter, digital filtering is the next most common culprit for impacting sound quality. I avoid it with my Overdrive DAC by manually selecting the 192 filter for all sample-rates. You cannot do this with most DACs, they self-select the filter.  This is particularly damaging to 44.1 files. That is why many like the older NOS DACs that have little to no filtering.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio


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