IC comparison methodology

Erik Tracy
Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
edited January 2010 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Suppose you have a CDP connected via analog ICs to a preamp and then another set of ICs to the amp.

And suppose you get another set of nice ICs.

Would it make a difference you think if, for comparison purposes, you only compare the new IC to the currrent IC at the CDP?

Or would it make more sense/difference to compare the new IC between the preamp and the amp?

Or, would all permutations have to be evaluated?

H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
Post edited by Erik Tracy on
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited January 2010
    I would do both.However.I will point out that many have said that you use the best ICs between source and pre to get the best results.So begin the testing there.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    fbm211 wrote: »
    I would do both.However.I will point out that many have said that you use the best ICs between source and pre to get the best results.So begin the testing there.

    Ah...I'll start there but see if there is anything noticable between the pre and power amp as well.

    Thanks!

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2010
    I have an interesting comparison situation at the moment. One of my ICs between the pre and amp broke so I put a cheapo IC on the left rear channel while the IC is being fixed. Now I am hearing lots of detail from the right rear, and only obvious sounds from the left rear.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited January 2010
    I always put my best IC's between my source and pre. But ideally, you'd have the same IC's throughout.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    tcrossma wrote: »
    I always put my best IC's between my source and pre. But ideally, you'd have the same IC's throughout.

    So you subscribe to the "loom" philosophy? :p

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited January 2010
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    So you subscribe to the "loom" philosophy? :p

    You lost me on that one...
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    tcrossma wrote: »
    You lost me on that one...

    All IC's are 'loomed' into a consistent 'weave' for a given system to give best results.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited January 2010
    I also heard more differences in the cdp to preamp IC than I did from preamp to amp IC.

    It really is a mute point for me though because I use the same for both to capitalize on the synergy.
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    I always use the best IC's @ source--->pre-amp position.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2010
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    So you subscribe to the "loom" philosophy? :p

    I do and believe looming is the best way to gage improvement or not.

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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