Topic: ADI-2 DAC -- fatiguing sound on Yamaha A-S801 -- SOLVED!
Update: Solved! See my post #6 below.
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Hello everyone,
few days ago I got me an ADI-2 DAC (revision B, AK4493).
The existing main DAC I use is the Denafrips ARES II.
Now here's my topic:
Compared to the ARES II the ADI-2 has an instantly annoying sound in high frequencies... but only on my big stereo!
I swapped everything between the ARES II and the ADI-2 (digital in, RCA interconnects to the amp) -- no change.
I fed Qobuz hi-res via USB, and via streamer (Argon Solo) SPDIF coax and Toslink... does not make a difference.
Only thing that makes the sound instantly likeable is to play a DSD file -- sound is smooth and pleasant.
With everything PCM, switching between different filters on the ADI-2 does not really make a difference to my hearing, means: I can hear that e.g. in NOS mode upper highs are softer (I also measured it using REW), but the annoyance to my ears does not change a bit. Sampling rates used do not change the degree of annoyance.
Now here comes the interesting part: all the complaints stated above are true for my big stereo system. With other systems:
1) the ADI-2 really ROCKS my Audeze LCD2c -- amazing!! No fatigue, just crystal clear sound with loads of bass texture. It runs in circles around my Audioquest Cobalt.
2) the ADI-2 right now is hooked to a friend's EVO150 at his place, so playing to a different set of speakers, too.
Here, the ADI-2 also shows none of the sound signature that instantly bothered my with my own system. Just for fun I brought my own RCA interconnects I also use at my place.
BTW, we both agree that the ADI-2 is superior in most regards to the EVO150 DAC.
So:
With my stereo, I cannot enjoy the sound; with two other setups, the ADI-2 sounds just fine, even great.
Question is: why, and what to do about it?
My own system is a Yamaha A-S801 integrated class AB amp. Speakers are the Yungson Elite Aesthet 6: These are 3-way floor standing speakers with quite good Scan Speak drivers.
The speakers have good resolution and transparency, IMHO compared to many other speakers I listened to.
I am pretty confident that nothing is broken with either my amp or my speakers.
Any ideas how to investigate my issue with subjectively fatiguing sound further?
Could it be that I have a bad pairing between the ADI-2 and the Yamaha A-S801 regarding impedances or so? (I read about impedance issues with pre-/power amp combinations).
Cheers, Medon