Digital to Analog converters on the Kemper, how good are they? Mr Kemper chime in?

mikeb · March 19, 2015 at 11:52 PM

We have a thread on the facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3639547…00&notif_t=like
Where people are saying they think the Kemper AD/DA converters are inferior to other converters on the market. I feel this is the kind of argument that needs to be backed up with empirical data or it is just another internet BS routine designed to instill fear and doubt in users. I lack the equipment to do this test but besides that people need to be doing a blind test not listening with their eyes, so to speak.

paults · March 19, 2015 at 11:57 PM

I can't even FIND the A/D and D/A in most guitar amps

Play, don't measure!

Ilelee · March 20, 2015 at 2:01 PM

My ears tell that at least the D/A in Kemper is very good. I own a Benchmark DAC-1, which is really good D/A converted and when I compare those two a year ago (by ear) I didn't find much difference in quality (from Kemper -> Monitors vs. Kemper SPDIF -> Benchmark DAC-1 -> monitors. I did find that the Kemper's own were definitely better than the one's in my Focusrite audio interface though!

So based on my own experiences, I think such claims are BS

Michael_dk · March 20, 2015 at 3:55 PM

Bad converters don't mean shit if the song is good. Good converters will never save a mediocre song. Stop worrying about converters.

Robrecht · March 20, 2015 at 5:02 PM

There's a guy in that thread saying he thinks the Kemper's AD/DA converters are bad because when he uses the xlr outputs and then his own "high end" AD converter into his DAW, it sounds better than using SPDIF.

In other words:
letting the Kemper do TWO conversions (AD at the input, DA at the xlr out)
plus another AD conversion with his device
sounds better to him than
letting the Kemper do just ONE conversion (AD at the input) and keeping the signal all digital from then on
...and from that he concludes the Kemper is bad at AD/DA.

So yeah, absolute internet BS.

sambrox · March 20, 2015 at 5:13 PM

That thread is hilarious. There's a lot of love for Universal Audio converters on there, but this test on Gearslutz shows that they're only averagely accurate, as far as interfaces go, haha!

Cheese,
Sam

Michael_dk · March 20, 2015 at 5:31 PM

I'm sceptical of two AD/DA conversions significantly degrading signal quality.

What happens between D/A converter in Kemper and D/A in the "hi end converter"? All sorts of analogue goodness. Which I'm much more certain CAN have an effect. I doubt, though, that it is anything other than a matter of taste, rather than "objective" degradation of the signal.

Two words: confirmation bias. Actually, maybe it should be "I-spent-a-shitload-of-cash-on-this-piece-of-gear bias"........

sambrox · March 20, 2015 at 5:34 PM

Quote from Michael_dk

Two words: confirmation bias. Actually, maybe it should be "I-spent-a-shitload-of-cash-on-this-piece-of-gear bias"........

Yes! I've said it before, I'll say it again : MichaelDK, I like the cut of your jib!

Cheese,
Sam

Michael_dk · March 20, 2015 at 5:37 PM

Quote from sambrox

Yes! I've said it before, I'll say it again : MichaelDK, I like the cut of your jib!

Cheese,
Sam

And I like the cut of yours, good sir!

Robrecht · March 20, 2015 at 5:44 PM

Quote from Michael_dk

I'm sceptical of two AD/DA conversions significantly degrading signal quality.

What happens between D/A converter in Kemper and D/A in the "hi end converter"? All sorts of analogue goodness. Which I'm much more certain CAN have an effect. I doubt, though, that it is anything other than a matter of taste, rather than "objective" degradation of the signal.

Two words: confirmation bias. Actually, maybe it should be "I-spent-a-shitload-of-cash-on-this-piece-of-gear bias"........

I totally agree. I'm fairly certain it's almost impossible to tell the sound quality difference between using SPDIF and using the xlr out into another AD converter by ear (excluding other in-between analogue goodness).

Just thought the backwards logic was funny: he prefers the method where the Kemper does more conversions... yet he uses this to argue the Kemper is bad at AD/DA.

Michael_dk · March 20, 2015 at 6:07 PM

Quote from Robrecht

I totally agree. I'm fairly certain it's almost impossible to tell the sound quality difference between using SPDIF and using the xlr out into another AD converter by ear (excluding other in-between analogue goodness).

Just thought the backwards logic was funny: he prefers the method where the Kemper does more conversions... yet he uses this to argue the Kemper is bad at AD/DA.

For some reason I missed your point.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAaaaa

What a great point it is!

sambrox · March 20, 2015 at 6:10 PM

Quote from Robrecht

I totally agree. I'm fairly certain it's almost impossible to tell the sound quality difference between using SPDIF and using the xlr out into another AD converter by ear (excluding other in-between analogue goodness).

Just thought the backwards logic was funny: he prefers the method where the Kemper does more conversions... yet he uses this to argue the Kemper is bad at AD/DA.

I think it's very possible to hear the difference in a PERFECT listening environment, but I doubt any of the people posting in that thread on FB have ever tried listening to converters in such a situation!

Cheese,
Sam

DamianGreda · March 20, 2015 at 6:31 PM

I don't know it is good or bad - i don't hear the difference using KPA and profire 2626 via SPDIF.
If you wonder - there is CS42435 codec inside KPA.
Remember that guitar amp spectrum is limited.

sambrox · March 20, 2015 at 8:13 PM

Is it just me, or has the post on FB been deleted?

Cheese,
Sam