Sound quality differences among RCA, Powerlink and WiSA

[geoffmartin]

wanc1 wrote:

Hey Geoff, There is a noticeable difference in the amount of bass when I switch from power link to optical from Beosound Core to Beolab 50. The power link sounds more bass heavy, while the optical sounds more balanced. What causes this difference?

The first thing I would check is to be absolutely certain that the output levels are identical in this test. Since the Power Link transmission path is setting the internal volume of the Beolab 50 to maximum, but the Optical transmission path is not, then you have to be very careful that you’re not just hearing a change in your own response as a result of output level differences.

To be honest, I’m not certain that merely setting the two volumes (on the Core and the Beolab 50) for this test to the same number will result in IDENTICAL output levels for a number of reasons. The only way to be certain of this is to put in a static test signal (e.g. a multi-tone made of sine waves with more than one frequency) and measure it with a reliable SPL meter on a tripod.

Another possible (and possibly more obvious) reason could be that your Beolab 50s are configured to use two different presets for the Power Link and Optical inputs.

[Archm@ge]

Hi geoffmartin,

Thanks a lot for your really detailed answer,  the noise floor part and word length part reminds me of one article in your personal blog, which further reminds me of some lessons learnt during my college time 🙂

BTW, I was given a demo of Beolab18&28 by a B&O dealer yesterday, which was supposing to help me deciding which one to go replacing my Beosound2 mk1, but I have left with empty hands, because I did no hear significant differences between Beosound2 and Beolab18(when comes to music playback), I think it was partly due to you and your team has built Beosound2 so great, and of course the other reason was I can’t hear the diffs. 🙂

It was a big day for money saving 🙂

[geoffmartin]

Archm@ge wrote:

I think it was partly due to you and your team has built Beosound2 so great, and of course the other reason was I can’t hear the diffs. ? It was a big day for money saving ?

Hmmm… no pizza for my kids this week I guess… 😉

But I’m glad to hear that you’re happy with the BS2! One significant difference in moving to a 2-channel system with two loudspeakers is the possibility of experiencing the spatial aspects of recordings. However, this would require setting things up reasonably correctly, otherwise things like phantom imaging will be lost anyway.

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