linuxaudio.org

2010/6/18 Bearcat M. :

quoted text
> Folks,

>

> My system is set up as follows: computer with Asus Essence ST sound card

> out to Trends Audio ta-10.1 amp to anthony gallo acoustics speakers.

>

> In the alsamixer console program i note that the meters turn red as you

> get towards the top but i think that's just a pre-set color band and

> isn't really telling me anything about clipping or over-driving the

> card. More important is the 'dB gain' indicator. Correct?

>

> I seem to hear that when the dB gain is at 0 (volume at 100%) and i've

> adjusted my integrated amp to the same (as far as i can tell) volume

> that i would have listed to with the alsamixer control at 70 (dB gain

> -18.00)  that the sound is much fuller with better bass.  My mate seems

> to hear that as well.

>

> Does this sound right?  Could  it really be that dB 0 sounds better on

> this card in a noticeable way or is it just a psycho acoustic trick? Are

> digital volume controls a "bad thing"? I think i've read that before

> somewhere so again, i may just be psyching myself out.

>

> Getting up to change the volume is a pain, but i might just invest (or

> learn how to make) an outboard volume control if it really is that much

> better at dB 0.

>

> Bearcat M. Sandor

The alsamixer colors are, as you suspected, simply preprogrammed and

don't in themselves say anything about how the sound would sound or

whether the card is being overdriven. Whether a given card experiences

clipping or power supply related issues is based on how much headroom

the design has.
In your tests have you accounted for Fletcher-Munson? If not please do

and then re-report your results.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher-Munson
If you have accounted for Fletcher-Munson then possibly there's

something in the card design that makes a difference but I suspect

that until you get sound volume levels up to around 80db  (measured

with a good db SPL meter) that you may be 'hearing the human ear'...

Just a guess. (NOTE: an 80 db SPL is considerably louder than I

normally listen but I can attest that it does sound noticeably

better.)
Good luck,

Mark

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