Comparison of the sound of 8X192ADDA to other high end converters:

David Chesky of audiophile label Chesky Records have recorded this test session before acquiring two Mytek 8X192ADDA's for the label recording rack. This is a life recording  of a jazz trio recorded in New York City in 2006 through  a very simple signal path: mic>mic pre>custom high end tube mixer>Mytek 8X192ADDA.

David is a firm believer in high sampling rates, he also conducted recording/listening tests at 96k and decided to make the 176.4k through Mytek the new recording standard for all Chesky Records sessions.

· Trio-Mytek8X192ADDA-192k.WAV 80MB

· Trio-UniversalAudio2192-192k.WAV 80MB

· Trio-WeissADC2-192k.WAV 80MB
 

Listening Tests of Mytek
vs. Other A/D and D/A converters

The main reason Mytek converters are popular with our clients is their exceptional sound quality. Our philosophy is to make them as close to a "straight wire" i.e.. preserve transparency and detail and avoid coloration.

We get hundreds of phone calls from engineers who'd like to compare them against other brands and some of our dealers can provide assistance with this. However, doing your own shootout can be a logistically complicated task.

We will try to facilitate these comparisons by posting on this page various sound files of our own tests. In July 2003 we have conducted first tests with Stereo96 Series which consisted of the following chain:

Analog output of Sony XE670 SACD Player with audiophile analog upgrade>>>input of ADC converter under test>>>computer (24 bit, 44.1kHz WAV file).

Three different 1 min sound clips from the following SACD titles were used as the source:

1. #9- "Pantoum" of Ravel Piano Trio from "Piano Trios"

- Hyperion Records, 1999, original DSD recording

2. #7 -"A lover like you" from Terry Evans/"Puttin' it down"

-Audioquest Music 1995, originally analog recording

We have decided to use SACD as the source because it's a stable, repeatable hi-resoltuion signal which has all attributes of analog. These sound clips were employed based on "fair use" rule and are intended for sound quality evaluation purposes only. They are not for sale or resale. All copyrights are of the respective record labels.

The clips were recorded using various converters and 24 bit, 44.1kHz WAV raw files resulting directly from recording are posted here. They were left unedited so no additional DSP processing was introduced. The files may have slightly different length/start point for this reason. All converters inputs were calibrated within 0.1dB. Because of level matching consideration, in order to accommodate all different brands of converters and the source, recording level is somewhat low, but we have concluded this may even be desirable for an A/D converter test. All converters operated on internal clock.

To reduce the file size by 50% a LOSSLESS FLAC compression was used. After you have downloaded and decompressed these FLAC files they will be exactly (bit by bit) the same as the original WAV files. FLAC is an open source "Free Lossles Audio Codec". Free download is available here:

http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html

Mac, Windows and Linux versions are available.

In order to conduct the comparison you need to take following steps:

1. Download audio files you want to compare from the list below (compressed FLAC files)

2. Download the FLAC codec from:

http://flac.sourceforge.net/download.html

MacOSX, Win or Linux

3. Run the FLAC codec and decompress the files

4. Load resulting 24 bit, 44.1kHz into your workstation or into other WAV capable digital player. For Windows users looking for an ABX (double blind) comparison we would like to recommend Arnie Krueger's PC ABX Comparator, available here:

http://www.pcabx.com/

5. Listen for differences. Make sure you have a good DAC and a high resolution monitor system. These differences are hard to spot on Yamaha NS10's. Listen for bass, midrange and top, stereo image and then for sound of individual instruments, and ambience decay.

This quick comparison should give you a good idea where Mytek actually is as far as sound quality is concerned. You'll find Mytek sound pure and full of detail, at the same time lacking euphonic coloration of and veil present with other brands.

This exercise might be difficult to conduct if you don't have fast DSL or Cable Internet link. If this is the case with you, read on.

A/D converters comparison files:

A/D converters comparison files:

(approx 10MB each)

--Mytek-stereo96adc_evans.flac

--Mytek-stereo96adc_ravel.flac


--Mytek-8x96adc_evans.flac

--Mytek-8x96adc_ravel.flac


--Apogee-PSX100SEadc_Evans.flac

--Apogee-PSX100SEadc_Ravel.flac


--Protools-888-24adc_Evans.flac

--Protools-888-24adc_Ravel.flac


--ProtoolsHD192adc_Evans.flac

--ProtoolsHD192adc_Ravel.flac

For these skeptical about lossless compression we have included one of the original raw WAV files should you want to compare it to the decompressed file. They should null completely. Note that small difference in the file size is due to FLAC having removed some proprietary descriptive chunks from file header. Audio bits are the same bit for bit:

--Mytek-stereo96adc_ravel.wav
 

Mytek Stereo96-DAC and Benchmark Media DAC-1 comparison files:

(approx 10MB each)

Additionally we have conducted another test of relative comparison of Mytek Stereo96 DAC and Benchmark DAC1 which are quite similar in their basic design. The source was PCM CD layer from Hyperion Piano Trios and Terry Evans SACD's fed digitally into each DAC. The DACs outputs were calibrated to the same level as above ADC test. They were fed into Mytek Stereo96 ADC and recorded into computer at 24bit, 44.1kHz. Additional to main XLR line output, headphone outputs under a real 60 Ohm headphone load were also tested.

This DAC comparison is relative, i.e. shows sonic differences between Mytek and Benchmark DACs, rather than their "absolute" sound, since their output is followed by ADC and then eventually your monitor DAC. So, compared to the files above these DAC files involve 16 bit, 44.1k source instead of pristine DSD and additional conversion stages. Nevertheless it is useful. Benchmark operated with Ultralock(tm) feature (upsampling to 96k with jitter removal) while Mytek operated in Superlock(tm) mode (upsampling to 192k with jitter removal).

--mytek-stereo96dac_evans.flac

--mytek-stereo96dac_evans-headphone_w_60-Ohm.flac

--mytek-stereo96dac_ravel.flac

--mytek-stereo96dac_ravel-headphone_w_60-Ohm.flac


--benchmark-dac1_evans.flac

--benchmark-dac1_evans-headphone_w_60-Ohm.flac

--benchmark-dac1_ravel.flac

--benchmark-dac1_ravel-headphone_w_60-Ohm.flac

Comparison of the sound of 8X96 series ADC and DAC to other high end converters:

Producer John Bucchino sent us some samples of 24 bit/44.1 kHz files of a vocal and piano song transferred directly from 1/2 inch 30 ips tape through Mytek 8X96 ADC and two other high end stereo A/D converters - Lavry 122-96 and Prism AD 124. 24 bit samples of these files can be downloaded and compared. Files are direct transfer from converters, unaltered in any way. These 24 bit WAV files can be opened by most Mac and PC programs.

After the shootout, John Bucchino ended up using Mytek 8X96 conversion for the whole project as he has found it to be the most accurate and best sounding. We hope you'll agree. The sample is from a song "Restaurant by the sea" sung by Ann Hampton Callaway. The album is recently released John Bucchino's "Grateful" on RCA Classics. If you'd like to send us similar samples from a converter shootout involving Mytek 8X96, we'll be excited to post them here. If you'd like to conduct your own test you can demo and audition a unit.

Download 51 sec long stereo samples:

· Mytek 8X96, 24 bit integer WAV 13MB

· Lavry 122-96, 24 bit integer WAV 13MB

· Prism AD124, 24 bit integer WAV 13MB

For now we are offering a download of 24 bit WAV files as they proved to work best with most Mac and PC software.
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Tom Lazarus of Classic Sound in NY has recently recorded John Lewis jazz combo live to 2 track at the Masonic Hall in New York. Audio was fed to two parallel systems. The first one was Prism AD2 Converter>Prism MR2024T>Tascam DA38 at 24/96. The second one was Mytek 8X96ADC with TDIF card>Tascam DA88 also at 24/96 using built in Prism MRX bitsplitting function. We are featuring the samples from this recording available for download for comparison. Tom Lazarus has subsequently requested a 16 channel 24/96 system consisting of 2 Mytek 8X96 ADC converters driving 4 Tascam DA78HR machines. The system will be used on October 6th 2000 in Carnegie Hall to record Ravi Shankhar live concert.

If you'd like to send us similar samples from a converter shootout involving Mytek 8X96, we'll be excited to post them here. If you'd like to conduct your own test you can demo and audition a unit.

Download 50 sec long stereo 24/96 samples:

· Mytek 8X96, 24 bit integer WAV @96kHz Large! 30MB

· Prism AD2, 24 bit integer WAV @96kHz Large! 30MB

There is yet another opportunity to audition Mytek 8X96ADC in comparison with 30+ other A/D converters. Last year Lynn Fuston of 3D Audio Inc of Nashville, TN conducted a converter shootout and produced an "ADCD Comparison CD" which can be bought here:
http://sales.3daudioinc.com/store/catalog.lasso

For those interested in sonic comparisons of various microphones and mic preamps there is a highly recommended "3D Mic CD" and "3D Pre CD". They are also available from 3D Audio website. They are quite eye or "ear" openers. DAW-SUM and Protools vs. Neve will be of interest for mixing engineers.