Quote:
Originally Posted by moogvoyager  Many many thanks for your answers!
@David Rick: I don't like to hurt me either way  so I usually listen in a very moderate loudness. More important for me is the signal to noise behaviour because of the different impedance combined with the moderate loudness then...
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I did a little research to figure out some specs of the D/A especially the headphone ones.
Feel free to correct me because the specs are form different ressources (I used the manuals as far as possible):
Prism Sound Orpheus
THD+n: -106 dB
Dynamic range: about 116 dB
SNR: about 115 dB
Headphone output impedance: 155 ohm
Benchmark DAC1
THD+n: -106dB
Dynamic range: about 110 dB
SNR: about 114 dB
Headphone output impedance: 0,11 ohm
So do you think the Orpheus would be a downgrade from my Benchmark DAC1 (expecially with the headphone mix in mind?) |
What you can see from these specs is that both are very good products. In neither case is the SNR anything to worry about. The improved dynamic range spec of the Orpheus is probably due to using a later-generation converter chip. The dramatically lower output impedance of the Benchmark is due to use of a Linear Technology high current buffer stage.
The obvious advantage of the Orpheus in mastering is that it has both A/D and D/A channels, so you can run an outboard analog processing loop. Not to mention that these are some of the best converters I've ever heard. The Orpheus also supports noise-shaping to 16-bit resolution, if you don't have this function in your DAW.
The Benchmark wins if you need to drive a "difficult" headphone load.
David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording