Steve, Isn't Metrum Octave a NOS DAC? I would need reclocker for best results with AE. Many people go for NOS claiming ill effects of digital filtering (pulse response) but reclocker most likely involves digital filtering defeating purpose of NOS. Did you hear anything about Benchmark DAC2 HGC?
"Then why can I easily hear these differences? Why do other reviewers hear them?"
I don't know. It could be many reasons starting from not bit perfect sources, playback programs that do processing of the data, ground loops etc. or it is possible that my hearing is not that good or I am under placebo effect after seeing FFT plots. I've read reviews claiming audible difference but also read many reviews being unable to detect the difference. One thing for sure - almost everybody praised the clarity, some even calling it "ultra clean" what wouldn't be the case with jitter present.
"Then why can I easily hear these differences? Why do other reviewers hear them?"
I don't know. It could be many reasons starting from not bit perfect sources, playback programs that do processing of the data, ground loops etc. or it is possible that my hearing is not that good or I am under placebo effect after seeing FFT plots. I've read reviews claiming audible difference but also read many reviews being unable to detect the difference. One thing for sure - almost everybody praised the clarity, some even calling it "ultra clean" what wouldn't be the case with jitter present.