ARCAM SA20 HDA 🎼 MY FILTER CHOICE

[@18yearsoldnot]

The real reason you can’t use the filters on the analogue inputs (at least in “source direct” mode) is because they are built into the ESS dac chip which is fed by the optical/coax. The filters are exactly the same on my smsl su-8 which only cost around 200 usd

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

Thanks for sharing these information. Appreciate it.

[@michbest]

This doesnt mean that it sounds the same or as good as Arcams DAC its because of different board topology and what is more important the analog section. Yes.. DACs are not only digital but also have analog domain.

[@18yearsoldnot]

@@michbest I know that. I upgraded the chifi dac long ago

[@Music.Movies.67]

When using Arcam SA20 Analogue Inputs you are using, Dac in the source you have connected them to You only hear Arcam SA20 Sabre Dac over Digital Coaxial & Optical

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

Exactly

[@nc3419]

For those of you who have tried a SA20 and returned/sold, what didn't you like about it or its dac?

[@aceofspades6667]

enjoyed the content, thank you.

[@Music.Movies.67]

I listen to mainly Rock & Blues but not sure which would be best Dac Filter for those genres I don't seem to get into my music with the default Dac filter Apodizing, it makes music seem a bit dull & just plods along I have settled for Linear Phase Fast Roll Off (LinP Fast) sounds good with my music tracks

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

Which speaker dud you pair the SA20 with?

[@Music.Movies.67]

@@DigitalPhilosophers Klipsch R-620F Floorstanders, that are easy to drive 8ohms 96db Sensitivity They have plenty of Bass from twin 6 inch Woofers lots of detail great with movies & music

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

Great filter choice imo 👍

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

@@Music.Movies.67 Great speakers! I loved my Klipsch RP600M

[@krancan25]

Wow. Please educate yourself on the use of the FILTERS… This is NOT an audio preset, like pop or rock, etc… it does not correct the audio curve, but rather a FILTER which cuts off at the end of the band frequency. Usually you have separate for PCM or DSD… why? Because DSD64 has narrower band so you want to cut off early, DSD256 has higher so you can cut off later. It is meant to solve problems mostly with phase issues. So the differences you are describing aren’t there and is your own perception that there is a difference. If you don’t believe me, do a blind test and let me know if you guessed which filter is on when someone else changes it… Like your other videos 👍

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

Thank you. I want to understand it. I mean, I hear a difference and I know that these filters are no presets which would sound overtly different. I did a blind test letting my wife change the filters just to make sure I was not hallucinating. Sometimes I was not aware/concentrated enough or just couldn’t hear a difference but when I did it was Filter “minP fast“ (minimum phase fast roll of) and “linP fast“ (linear phase fast roll of) which I picked several times as my favorites. Apodizing was the hardest to distinguish from these two. But still I liked my two favorites the most even if the differences are marginal imo

[@georgedomse]

@@DigitalPhilosophers this is a difficult topic indeed. A lot depends on the format (as krancan25 described). Imagine it like this: if you have a 96kHz file, you will have the possibility to map the frequency spectrum from 0-48.000Hz (96/2, to accomodate for the sinus waves positive and negative sides). Here, a rolloff that happens earlier (slow roll off) will likely show a larger effect because you will typically have more information stored still around the 20.000Hz range, where human hearing ends (btw, I have no frequency perception above 14-15kHz anymore - you may want to check you ears aswell, just so you know). Along the same lines, a CD where 44.1kHz is the sampling rate, the highest mappable frequency will be 22.05kHz, resulting in a softer high frequency from the start, and the filters will "sound different". One correction for the end of the video. The filters are a feature of the DAC. There is no filter on the analogue inputs at all (as they bypass the DAC, logically), nor is there a possibility to have one.

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

@@georgedomse Thank you for the explanation. I hope I said the filters only works with the digital inputs (EDIT: ▶️ 6:56)

[@Music.Movies.67]

krancan25 Which Dac Filter do you prefer using on Arcam SA20?