SSL9K... Can you analize this ?

[Neeno]

I've just done some "RightMark" trough a ssl9k preamp.
I've used a Delta1010LT Sound card.
I connected the left channel simply in loop, and the right channel to the preamp, just to get a simple comparison between the sound card and the preamp...

Here is the result:
http://www.studio21.ch/diy/ssl9k/ssl9k_test.htm

The "RightMark" results file:
http://www.studio21.ch/diy/ssl9k/ssl9k_test.sav

Some Frequency response bug graphs:
http://www.studio21.ch/diy/ssl9k/ssl9k_spectrum_1.png
http://www.studio21.ch/diy/ssl9k/ssl9k_spectrum_2.png

Can anyone analyze this ?

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeno

 

[Neeno]

Nobody can compare this results with other preamps ?
Does it sound as is supposed to ?

I'm a newbie...

 

[SSLtech]

Never try and judge 'sound' from a picture. -That's the best way to start believeing HiFi magazines and other works of fiction. :wink:

What? -negative 90dB second harmonic and everything elsee well below that??? -I'd say that's pretty good for a cheap preamp! :green:

Keith

 

[Neeno]

Hi Keith !
Thank you for your reply !

I love to use my hears to judge sounds... :wink:

I've just done some measures to ask if it's ok or not... and, considering that "frequency response" and "noise" are the only things I understood, i've considered to put the results here... just to get a comparison...

Thanks a lot again....
Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeno

 

[SSLtech]

Ruler flat, very little distortion. Looks good to me.

However, you'll find that distortion and noise are a function of gain setting. You should really run multiple sweeps at different gain settings (e.g. at +20, +40 and +60dB gain) Not to know if it's working okay, it is. You might learn more about how higher gain settings affect distortion. Also, you should try more than one distortion frequency. That test you did tells you nothing about HF distortion for example. -If you ran a sweep of distortion against frequency at maximum gain, you'll probably find thatdistortion starts to rise with frequency, in a more pronounced manner af higher gain settings. None of that of course is tested for in your single 1kHz distortion test at a single gain setting.

You'll end up with tons of data. More than you can post here, but if you compare several different types of preamp, you should learn what's a good standard.

By the way, the 9k is an excellent preamp in both noise and distortion categories. You'll find that APIs, old Neves and other older designs don;t read as well, but that doesn;t mean they don't sound good.

Keith

 

[Neeno]

Hey Keith, thanks a lot for your help !
I'll do some comparison test with other preamps...

But now it's time to record some samples and put them online, so everybody will know how good is this preamp and that you've done a great work! :thumb:

Thanks a lot again !

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeno