Mark Levinson audio
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
bit,
Have you tried Amazon HD or Tidal (also mentioned several times in this thread)?
Amazon HD runs free trials it seems every 3 months or so; worth trying to see if you like it. Note the HD is a separate / distinct offering that costs a little more than Amazon Music / Unlimited services
Have you tried Amazon HD or Tidal (also mentioned several times in this thread)?
Amazon HD runs free trials it seems every 3 months or so; worth trying to see if you like it. Note the HD is a separate / distinct offering that costs a little more than Amazon Music / Unlimited services
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 1,203
this has turned out to be a fascinating, informative thread showing value in collective input. mr bit's suggestion to mess with the surround sound setting is a blessing: definitely sounds better with it off. also, turn of the automatic sound levelor: it works like dolby noise reduction in attenuating the highs/lows which is exactly what you dont want. also, i have my midrange and bass a click er two higher; treble normal. try moving the fade a click er two rearward...attenuates the treble a bit. i listen exclusively to broadcast fm classical, and cd's; these are analog and as the link above provides, pure analog works the best. the problem with the ML is the source material interface with the DAC; its less than the optimal of pure analog.....great tip mr bit i'd never messed with these controls before and they did wonders... (that would be the livewire.com link above...great read. btw, for best sound, your DAC needs vacuum tubes.)
Treble: +1
Mid: +1
Bass: MAX (and it is still inadequate)
bit,
Have you tried Amazon HD or Tidal (also mentioned several times in this thread)?
Amazon HD runs free trials it seems every 3 months or so; worth trying to see if you like it. Note the HD is a separate / distinct offering that costs a little more than Amazon Music / Unlimited services https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited/hd
Have you tried Amazon HD or Tidal (also mentioned several times in this thread)?
Amazon HD runs free trials it seems every 3 months or so; worth trying to see if you like it. Note the HD is a separate / distinct offering that costs a little more than Amazon Music / Unlimited services https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited/hd
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 85
From: az
I’ve wondered about this too, only seen an outboard DAC on a phone be used for headphones. I have experienced a marked transformation of my home system with a DAC upgrade. Hoping someone would chime in who is familiar, and has done this in a car. Or does the car have to have some physical analog input?
EDIT: something I’ve found that addresses this https://www.lifewire.com/car-audio-dacs-534571
Exerpt:
“Portable Car Audio DACs and Head Units
Most portable DACs are designed for use with laptops, and they essentially offload the heavy lifting of converting digital music to an analog signal from computer software to a physical device. This type of portable DAC can be used in your car as well, if you have an audio source that is capable of outputting via USB and your head unit has an analog input.
The other way that DACs come into play in cars is that some head units include digital inputs, typically in the form of a USB or proprietary jack. The way that this type of connection works is that it allows you to plug in your iPhone, tablet, or any other MP3 player and offload the processing to the head unit, rather than relying on the DAC in your phone or another device.
Do You Need a DAC Component in Your Car?
If you want the best possible sound quality, and you've already upgraded your head unit, amplifier, or speakers, then adding a DAC can help push your sound quality to the next level.
Even if you have a factory car stereo that sounds decent, you can benefit from adding a portable DAC like the Apogee One, which sits between your phone or portable music player and your car stereo.
It's also important to remember that you don't have to buy an expensive portable DAC to experience better sound. Your car stereo probably has a decent DAC built right in that's designed for use with car speakers.
Instead of using an analog connection like an auxiliary jack to plug your phone or music player into your car stereo, consider using a USB port. If your car stereo has a USB port, or you're willing to upgrade, you can feed digital music files directly to the stereo.
This allows the built-in DAC in the head unit to do the heavy lifting instead of the DAC in your phone or music player, which will typically result in better-sounding music.”
Increasing signal quality would be the easiest path to improving quality in the car. Anything else is going to be fun to do but involved and pricey.
EDIT: something I’ve found that addresses this https://www.lifewire.com/car-audio-dacs-534571
Exerpt:
“Portable Car Audio DACs and Head Units
Most portable DACs are designed for use with laptops, and they essentially offload the heavy lifting of converting digital music to an analog signal from computer software to a physical device. This type of portable DAC can be used in your car as well, if you have an audio source that is capable of outputting via USB and your head unit has an analog input.
The other way that DACs come into play in cars is that some head units include digital inputs, typically in the form of a USB or proprietary jack. The way that this type of connection works is that it allows you to plug in your iPhone, tablet, or any other MP3 player and offload the processing to the head unit, rather than relying on the DAC in your phone or another device.
Do You Need a DAC Component in Your Car?
If you want the best possible sound quality, and you've already upgraded your head unit, amplifier, or speakers, then adding a DAC can help push your sound quality to the next level.
Even if you have a factory car stereo that sounds decent, you can benefit from adding a portable DAC like the Apogee One, which sits between your phone or portable music player and your car stereo.
It's also important to remember that you don't have to buy an expensive portable DAC to experience better sound. Your car stereo probably has a decent DAC built right in that's designed for use with car speakers.
Instead of using an analog connection like an auxiliary jack to plug your phone or music player into your car stereo, consider using a USB port. If your car stereo has a USB port, or you're willing to upgrade, you can feed digital music files directly to the stereo.
This allows the built-in DAC in the head unit to do the heavy lifting instead of the DAC in your phone or music player, which will typically result in better-sounding music.”
Increasing signal quality would be the easiest path to improving quality in the car. Anything else is going to be fun to do but involved and pricey.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 85
From: az
7th Gear
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 3
From: TX
Have the ML in my LS-460L and am very pleased with it. I am an audiophile, and I do NOT listen to Sirius/XM for music in my car; only for news, sports, etc. I DO however listen almost exclusively to ripped CDs at NO compression, i.e., 14ll kbs. My rips are via JRiver which I strongly recommend. I then listen through my IPhone Bluetooth and the sound is exceptional. I fade slightly to the rear and to my R elbow. I generally keep surround sound ON.
My bottom line is that with excellent source material, i.e., very well-recorded CDs to begin with, and with bit-perfect ripping, you should find the ML system sounds quite good. Likewise, bad source material sounds bad, no matter what system you might have.
My bottom line is that with excellent source material, i.e., very well-recorded CDs to begin with, and with bit-perfect ripping, you should find the ML system sounds quite good. Likewise, bad source material sounds bad, no matter what system you might have.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 85
From: az
Have the ML in my LS-460L and am very pleased with it. I am an audiophile, and I do NOT listen to Sirius/XM for music in my car; only for news, sports, etc. I DO however listen almost exclusively to ripped CDs at NO compression, i.e., 14ll kbs. My rips are via JRiver which I strongly recommend. I then listen through my IPhone Bluetooth and the sound is exceptional. I fade slightly to the rear and to my R elbow. I generally keep surround sound ON.
My bottom line is that with excellent source material, i.e., very well-recorded CDs to begin with, and with bit-perfect ripping, you should find the ML system sounds quite good. Likewise, bad source material sounds bad, no matter what system you might have.
My bottom line is that with excellent source material, i.e., very well-recorded CDs to begin with, and with bit-perfect ripping, you should find the ML system sounds quite good. Likewise, bad source material sounds bad, no matter what system you might have.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 1,203
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 416
Likes: 215
From: NC
It’s interesting to explore a zillion things I’ve never heard before. Like tv and movies, a lot of junk out there. But still interesting to search.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 379
Likes: 267
From: Florida
Just for the heck of it, I tried tmillLC500's settings, with a variation:
Midrange and bass a click or two higher, treble the same, as he suggested. But I also adjusted the fade WAY toward the back, about two clicks from the very rear.
Then, as someone else noted, with the ML system mostly feeding the rear, I had to turn the volume a good bit higher.
But the result was something very close to surround, and with good tone.
This is in the convertible, with the roof down and with it up. YMMV
Midrange and bass a click or two higher, treble the same, as he suggested. But I also adjusted the fade WAY toward the back, about two clicks from the very rear.
Then, as someone else noted, with the ML system mostly feeding the rear, I had to turn the volume a good bit higher.
But the result was something very close to surround, and with good tone.
This is in the convertible, with the roof down and with it up. YMMV
Last edited by redhot47fl; Sep 22, 2021 at 07:35 PM.
that's not on an LC though right?
as has been mentioned, bluetooth has come a long way. Aux likely means your going through 2 conversions, digital->analog on the phone, and analog->digital from the input. i highly doubt (analog) aux in goes straight to the car amp.
Last edited by bitkahuna; Sep 25, 2021 at 08:13 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 85
From: az
agreed but actually for all modern bluetooth
sounds right to me.
i'm guessing you like your music very loud.
that's not on an LC though right?
as has been mentioned, bluetooth has come a long way. Aux likely means your going through 2 conversions, digital->analog on the phone, and analog->digital from the input. i highly doubt (analog) aux in goes straight to the car amp.
ha, i hear ya... sometimes i just let me phone play shuffle across ALL my music, and it could go classical, trance, country, pop, progressive, etc. ...
sounds right to me.
i'm guessing you like your music very loud.
that's not on an LC though right?
as has been mentioned, bluetooth has come a long way. Aux likely means your going through 2 conversions, digital->analog on the phone, and analog->digital from the input. i highly doubt (analog) aux in goes straight to the car amp.
ha, i hear ya... sometimes i just let me phone play shuffle across ALL my music, and it could go classical, trance, country, pop, progressive, etc. ...