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Phono Pre: ART DJPRE II vs. DB Systems DB-8

Agreed bobins. although I'd say that in my own setup, with a very easy way of comparing 12 vAC versus 12vDC, I prefer the DC by a great margin

EDIT I'm curious why this particular test didn't show the same. Interesting.
 
Lets wait to hear Glenn's samples and then compare. The results could be interesting :scratch2:
 
gusten said:
It seems the ART likes 9VAC, at least I thought #4 and 5 was the best. What do you know.:D
gusten
Click to expand...

I don't know if I'd go there just yet. The battery has already been preferred in two blind tests before, the transfers made on two different systems.

It's possible some setting just made thicker mids sound better this time. Could be anything... non-optimum gain setting on the ART, recording levels... I know a lot of people try to normalize or level match to make comparisons fair, but IMO it doesn't work. Changing gain changes tone and makes the comparison even less meaningful, IMO... unless you're going to normalize the output from a piece of gear every time you listen to it.


I wasn't going to post this, but here's another comparison I made for myself to see what I preferred. They say experiments should be repeated... One track is the stock wall wart. One track is the SLA battery, positive center pin. One track is the SLA battery, positive outer barrel. Of course, they are not labeled.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ymm5l1lxd8nfu0e/another batt vs wall wart.zip
 
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royphil345 said:
I don't know if I'd go there just yet. The battery has already been preferred in two blind tests before, the transfers made on two different systems.

It's possible some setting just made thicker mids sound better this time. Could be anything... non-optimum gain setting on the ART, recording levels... I know a lot of people try to normalize or level match to make comparisons fair, but IMO it doesn't work. Changing gain changes tone and makes the comparison even less meaningful, IMO... unless you're going to normalize the output from a piece of gear every time you listen to it.


I wasn't going to post this, but here's another comparison I made for myself to see what I preferred. They say experiments should be repeated... One track is the stock wall wart. One track is the SLA battery, positive center pin. One track is the SLA battery, positive outer barrel. Of course, they are not labeled.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ymm5l1lxd8nfu0e/another batt vs wall wart.zip
Click to expand...

It is still so that if there is no mix up with the samples all that posted preferred #4. In this specific test it doesn´t matter why.
gusten
 
gusten said:
It is still so that if there is no mix up with the samples all that posted preferred #4. In this specific test it doesn´t matter why.
gusten
Click to expand...

I don't know... It might matter why.... I'm willing to call it a valid comparison. 1 out of 3 for the stock wall wart.
 
royphil345 said:
I don't know... It might matter why.... I'm willing to call it a valid comparison. 1 out of 3 for the stock wall wart.
Click to expand...

1 out of 3 test samples preferred the stock wall wart, but one would have to control for the size of sample as well to get a more accurate measure of preference. How many responders were there in the other two test samples, and what percentage of those responders preferred the battery?

In the test sample in this thread, there were 6 responders and all 6 preferred the stock wall wart.
 
I am late to this, but I have had the iPhono for several months and like it a lot. I haven't done a direct A/B with my Tubebox, as it's on another system, but I am very happy with the sound.
 
steelglam said:
1 out of 3 test samples preferred the stock wall wart, but one would have to control for the size of sample as well to get a more accurate measure of preference. How many responders were there in the other two test samples, and what percentage of those responders preferred the battery?

In the test sample in this thread, there were 6 responders and all 6 preferred the stock wall wart.
Click to expand...

I don't think there were as many responders, but it was 100%.

Mars needs responders...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ymm5l1lxd8nfu0e/another batt vs wall wart.zip
 
Just caught up...shocked...

Maybe there was a mixup, maybe not..we all chose #4 labeled stock wal wart yet; our own independent tests show the battery is far superior.

I have even done further A/B testing to see and sure enough ..battery wins.

There could be other variables..was it fully charged, etc.

I think it could be a simple retest with only the wall wart and battery (we don't need 4 or 5 variables) 2 clips each way, with the battery reversed.,..try again...

:D
 
steelglam said:
1 out of 3 test samples preferred the stock wall wart, but one would have to control for the size of sample as well to get a more accurate measure of preference. How many responders were there in the other two test samples, and what percentage of those responders preferred the battery?

In the test sample in this thread, there were 6 responders and all 6 preferred the stock wall wart.
Click to expand...

Maybe that is why ART supplies that wall wart ... Maybe they have tested too and this is their conclusion :scratch2: OEM's are not always wrong :D

And thank you Muddywaters so much for all the hard work. Phase two and three will be interesting when you get back.

To Arcorob, you are not running his cartridge, so that could be your variable :)
 
arcorob said:
Maybe there was a mixup, maybe not..we all chose #4 labeled stock wal wart yet; our own independent tests show the battery is far superior.

I have even done further A/B testing to see and sure enough ..battery wins.

There could be other variables..was it fully charged, etc.

I think it could be a simple retest with only the wall wart and battery (we don't need 4 or 5 variables) 2 clips each way, with the battery reversed.,..try again...

:D
Click to expand...

If you guys do mine, we can eliminate 3.wav which is battery reversed to keep things simpler. Here's the zipped folder with that file removed for a slightly smaller download...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nmm56fth1bc5880/another batt vs wall wart2.zip

My previous links still include 3.wav with the polarity reversed if anybody wants to hear it.
 
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royphil345 said:
I don't know if I'd go there just yet. The battery has already been preferred in two blind tests before, the transfers made on two different systems.

It's possible some setting just made thicker mids sound better this time. Could be anything... non-optimum gain setting on the ART, recording levels... I know a lot of people try to normalize or level match to make comparisons fair, but IMO it doesn't work. Changing gain changes tone and makes the comparison even less meaningful, IMO... unless you're going to normalize the output from a piece of gear every time you listen to it.


I wasn't going to post this, but here's another comparison I made for myself to see what I preferred. They say experiments should be repeated... One track is the stock wall wart. One track is the SLA battery, positive center pin. One track is the SLA battery, positive outer barrel. Of course, they are not labeled.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ymm5l1lxd8nfu0e/another batt vs wall wart.zip
Click to expand...

I will listen shortly and report back with my EXPERT opinion...LOL
 
jkilla said:
Agreed bobins. although I'd say that in my own setup, with a very easy way of comparing 12 vAC versus 12vDC, I prefer the DC by a great margin

EDIT I'm curious why this particular test didn't show the same. Interesting.
Click to expand...

First: I suspect that these "needle drops" are suspect. I believe that you guys know what you are hearing. These files are recorded with one sound card and played back with another set up. :scratch2:

Next: Not having a schematic and trying to determine how to improve the input power a recipe fraught with issues.

I still can not get my head around this AC input from a wall wort that also takes DC. Is there a switch?
 
bobins08 said:
First: I suspect that these "needle drops" are suspect. I believe that you guys know what you are hearing. These files are recorded with one sound card and played back with another set up. :scratch2:
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. Sure, the needle drops were done on one computer and played back on different ones, but six different people with six different sound cards thought the same file(s) were the best, and the other same file(s) were the worst. That seems to me to say that the computer/sound card doesn't matter much...even if we were all hearing the files slightly differently than each other, we all preferred the same ones and disliked the same ones.
 
gusten said:
Maybe I prefer #2, but just maybe. I think they are quite similar.
gusten
Click to expand...

I was a little less lazy this time and tweaked recording levels for each track separately. It's my belief if you set up for your recording using a particular configuration, that configuration may be favored.

I agree with you. They're closer this time. I won't jump the gun and say anything else until more people respond. That was silly of me last time... :nono:
 
bobins08 said:
I still can not get my head around this AC input from a wall wort that also takes DC. Is there a switch?
Click to expand...

Auto switching internally :) Floating rectifier for the AC side that passes DC directly in through a diode (or two). The ART has and internal PS that supports it's functions - pretty smart design and very tolerant of power changes :)
 
bobins08 said:
First: I suspect that these "needle drops" are suspect. I believe that you guys know what you are hearing. These files are recorded with one sound card and played back with another set up. :scratch2:

Next: Not having a schematic and trying to determine how to improve the input power a recipe fraught with issues.

I still can not get my head around this AC input from a wall wort that also takes DC. Is there a switch?
Click to expand...

EDIT: Nvm
 
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