Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was one of the rare geniuses of modern philosophy who was a captivating lecturer, and who cared vehemently about attendance. Much like a rock star, he attracted students to his lectures and gave them the feeling that they were listening to something of import.
Though our linen closet is filled with several Hegel texts, comprising the sum output of his published work, translated into English, a few missing pages in our copy of his Phenomenology of Spirit (non-printed), prevented our reading of his work. I would estimate that that closet has about 2000 books, unread.
Can you really trust what someone is telling you of someone? Can you trust a lecturer telling you about Hegel? Can you read Hegel without first reading all of his reference authors, and also his contemporaries, and also critics, we wonder? Can you read Marx without first having read Hegel - all of Hegel? Ni plus.
The Hegel USB DAC - HD 12 - offers an astonishingly low level of noise floor. -145dB. Thus, you could not only hear the ring signal for early model cordless phones, but, more importantly, for our purposes, that's 5 dB better than the class-leading Mola Mola DAC.
How else does it compare?
The frequency response of the HD12 is 50 kHz, where as the bandwidth of the Mola Mola is 80 kHz.
Either is appropriate for a speaker like the B&W 802 diamond (34 Hz - 28kHz), however those wishing to hear their Sanken CO-100K recordings, will wish 20 kHz.
In terms of THD, the HD12 is 0.0005% or -106 dB, where the Mola Mola is set at a not measurable level (estimated -150 dB by BP). That's quite a bit difference in total harmonic distortion. Is the 44 dB pleasurable? IMD.
The Hegel HD 12 is a very attractive unit. It's small, simple, and from a good manufacturer, much like the Ayre QB-9 DSD (110 dB), which offers an alternate look.
Generally, we're impressed with a signal to noise ratio of greater -120 dB, as this is the digital age. -130 dB is nice. -140 brilliant. -145 impressive. Perhaps this relates to IQ, but then the Hegel might be -165 dB in a later revision.*
A Voltaire (-190 dB) might be possible, with a better lab.
Today's lab instruments are typically limited in their measurement capability.
*Note: As for frequency response for the Hegel HD12, we would truly wish to see true 100 kHz performance to allow for better play with the Pioneer S1-EX, although Magico M5 (22Hz–40kH) and Q7 (20Hz-50kHz) users will be quite equitably happy with the way the Hegel HD12 is, already.
How Hegel managed to simultaneously get 50 kHz playback and -145 dB SNR is the magic, really.
Typically, it is reported that DSD provides 80 dB SNR in this frequency range, and that DSDx2 is needed to provide true 50 kHz playback.
It's funny how a few missing things can prevent an enterprise.
No comments:
Post a Comment