I am, however, surprised they would use the same components found in gear costing several times less.
Again, if a resistor that costs 1 cent is perfectly suitable for the task, why should a vendor use a resistor that costs much more for properties that are not needed? For example, resistors come in tolerances of 5 percent, 2 percent, 1 percent, and even better. Often the 5 percent type is all that's needed.
I define the quality of a component based on working on gear made with cheaper components vs higher quality.
But in truth you have no idea at all which devices use components that cost more or less than others. You are going entirely by your sighted perception of gear that you're not even comparing side by side in a controlled manner. There's a reason real audio engineers use proper testing methods!
For god's sake, the thread is titled "THOUGHTS on digital recording".
I didn't read it that way. I read your first post as an attempt at an authoritative article describing what affects the fidelity of digital converters. You presented a number of statements as fact, though you did add "IMO" here and there. But really, if you don't actually know what you're talking about, why even write such a post? By writing stuff like that you're just perpetuating myths and confusing people who actually want to know how audio works.
I wouldn't charge $2000 for converters that use the same components in converters costing several times less.
Now we're getting somewhere! This has been
my point in countless forum threads, and I've been the target of vicious attacks by people who think like you for stating the obvious: A lot of expensive gear is no better than budget gear, and when they're compared properly even highly regarded pros can't tell the difference.
It means that there is less distortion at higher levels.
Have you ever viewed the output of a typical preamp or EQ or converter on an oscilloscope? Most modern solid state gear is perfectly clean right up to the point of hard clipping. So the distortion is more or less the same - inaudible - at all levels below hard clipping. Again, I specifically exclude tube and transformer gear that aims for intentional coloration.
Do NO circuits distort? Are NONE badly designed due to cost constraints? Does NONE of this affect audio quality?
For the most part, these days, the answer is No. Let's try this again. Please listen to the files in the articles below, and email me which you think is the Lavry converter (first one) and which is the $25 SoundBlaster card. Then (from the second) let me know which is the original file and which is a copy after going through A/D/A conversions using an inexpensive prosumer sound card:
Converter Comparison
Converter Loop-Back Tests
Are you saying that if I slam a +18 dBu signal into a Firepod or whatever it will be clean and exhibit low distortion?
That's not what I said. I imagine a Firepod could accept +18 dBm if you turn down its input level. But I said you should turn down the output of your
mixer if it distorts:
"Most prosumer gear can put out +18 dB with low distortion. But if your mixer can't, then
turn down the volume!"
Are you saying that after doing that continually and stacking tracks there will be no impact on the signal?
The "stacking" effect is totally a myth. I disproved it logically in my
AES Audio Myths video, and then again with music examples in the Converters Comparison video linked above. But dude, you have to watch the videos. If you refuse to do that, and just continue to disagree with me without even trying to understand, you will remain forever ignorant. There's no other way to say it. I'm trying to help you here! I really am.
You guys are way too ready to pounce on people.
Well you did ask me to explain where you were wrong.
the only one decent enough to be civil to me was Miroslav.
Where was I not civil to you? Please point to a specific post.
BTW, this is not about dick measuring. My only intention is to dispel common myths about the science of audio. If correcting misinformation comes off any other way, this is not my problem.
--Ethan
