Lynx Hilo, MH LIO8, Orpheus, Lavry Black Shootout (Music & test tones)

[Skap]

Thanks for this effort.

I see that you mention clocking the MOTU to the Lynx, nms. Was the 828 mkII clocked to the Hilo when you recorded these samples through it?

[nms]

The 828mk2 ran off its own clock. I actually recorded those right before I got my Hilo.

[Skap]

Originally Posted by nms

The 828mk2 ran off its own clock. I actually recorded those right before I got my Hilo.

Thanks! Do you find that it sounds (or measures) even better when clocked to the Hilo? (Even though some people in the know do claim that external clocking never can be better than internal.)

[nms]

Honestly, most people's claims about external clocking are based on propagated hearsay. I've found no reason not to clock externally but haven't tested enough to say I've pinpointed obvious improvement either. I've got a test recording here of ext vs int clocking. I'll send it to Shelterr and see what his ears tell him listening on his new Prism Dream. That guy clearly has a knack for this stuff judging by his ability to consistently identify an Orpheus.

[shelterr]

I'll tell you guys right now that the whole "external clocking" debate has pretty much been settled over here. My Burl Mothership sounds CONSIDERABLY better clocked to my Prism Dream. I am mixing WAY faster and my DA and AD convertors in my Mothership sound better and I have done tests to confirm it. I cannot say that mathematically there is less jitter (in fact I think there always less jitter with an internal clock), but you would have to be a deaf asshole to not hear the sound improvements the Prism Dream clock has made to my system.

[nms]

Haha. Well there you have it.

Damn you man. I loathe you a bit with your Prism Dream and Mothership. Grrrrr.
I'm going to send you those files with the Hilo clocking the 828mk2 though just to hear your thoughts there.

[Skap]

Thank you for these very interesting answers, guys. Looking forward to hearing more about the 828mkII clocked to the Hilo, something that would be more within my budget compared to a Mothership clocked to a Dream(!).

[GMR]

I tried to distinguish the 828 II files clocked int vs ext hilo. Could not differentiate between them. Curious if others can or if my ears are just shot !!!!

[lipa]

nms can we finally get answers which is which? I asked You via pm at least twice.. instead of reading You constantnly praising lynx hilo You could let us be the judge.. it's no use if all I can compare is orange vs green vs deep purple..

[pmx]

it seems that nms has been banned.

[nms]

Alright.. here are the answers:

DA/AD loop through analog compression (Distressors)

1 - Lavry DA10 to Mytek 192 ADC
2 - 828mk2 pitching & catching


As for the basic DA/AD loopback with that commercially released music clip..

Yellow = Hilo
Red = LIO8
Green = 828mk2
Orange = Orpheus



This was an interesting exercise. The 828mk2 works best when feeding an analog loop (as we've done here) or slaved to a good clock source. If we'd have done a test which exposes clock performance the 828mk2 would not have fared as well against the high end units. I've blind tested people with it clocked int/ext and proven that much. Just wanting to reiterate this again to be clear on what is and isn't being tested here.

To contrast I should have done run another test with some well recorded vocals in each configuration as that would have illuminated other key characteristics of the conversion, but I must admit I've lost most of my interest in converter shootouts since selling off my Lavry & Myteks upon moving to the Hilo!