nMP vs iMac for Music production?

[DPUser]

If money IS a factor, a modded 2010-2012 dual CPU cMP is by far a abetter value for audio IMHO. Dual x5680s in a cMP (total cost about $2k, plus maybe $1k for SSD and backup storage, RAM and GPU of choice) will get you Geekbench scores approaching 30k, a figure exceed only by the 12 core nMP. And how much does that nMP cost again…? Oh, and don't forget your external drives… better be TB if your want to support Trim on those external SSDs.

Other than the noise factor (which is not an issue if you have machine room or closet), the biggest thing the nMP has going for it is TB, which allows interfaces to provide faster i/o through the computer. Some very nice TB interfaces are hitting the market now (Apogee and MOTU come to mind). However, if the OP plans on using an existing interface, like USB2 or PCIe, TB isn't going to accomplish anything.

I don't get the allegedly "gimped" GPU (as per MMcrary) being an issue with audio even if true. But take a look at Barefeats and tell me GPUs are gimped in the cMP.

But if money is not an issue, by all means, get the nMP. It is a great machine.

 

[SeattleMoose]

For me the iMac vs nMP decision was easy. It came down to "noise". I do a lot of work through very hot Mics and the nMP for all practical purposes is COMPLETELY silent. With iMac and laptops I sometimes had to deal with "fan whine" bleeding onto the tracks. The very design of the "trash can" and it's fan is a huge boon for audio work.

However, if you don't use Mics minimizing "room noise" is not an issue.

 

[Zwhaler]

Benefit of the cMP is firewire 800 which is a must for certain applications where an adapter renders your otherwise pristine signal chain tarnished (Apollo quad with audioquest diamond firewire cable... Much better than thunderbolt for audio signals)

I believe a six core mac pro would be fast enough to handle any realistic project in logic even 200+ tracks with lots of plug-ins. However, if you anticipate doing projects this large, an 8 core wouldn't hurt.

 

[Korican100]

music production does not need as much power as video work, or graphics like 3d rendering -- which nMP is geared for.

You will be ok with a iMac, or maybe even an old classic mac pro.

Or even a decked out Macbook Pro.

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Benefit of the cMP is firewire 800 which is a must for certain applications where an adapter renders your otherwise pristine signal chain tarnished (Apollo quad with audioquest diamond firewire cable... Much better than thunderbolt for audio signals)

I believe a six core mac pro would be fast enough to handle any realistic project in logic even 200+ tracks with lots of plug-ins. However, if you anticipate doing projects this large, an 8 core wouldn't hurt.

i plan on using firewire (via thunderbolt adapter) on my nMP for some audio recording. Is this really true that its not good for audio?

 

[Zwhaler]

i plan on using firewire (via thunderbolt adapter) on my nMP for some audio recording. Is this really true that its not good for audio?

No! I tested this over the weekend on a retina MBP. Firewire 800 ultra high quality signal chain and cable into an apple thunderbolt adapter into the MacBook Pro produced a weird affected sound. Even my friend who thought that it couldn't make a difference said it didn't sound right. We plugged into my Mac Pro 5,1 like normal and it sounded amazing. Sorry but I cannot recommend the nMP for firewire based output signal from your interface. The Apollo has a thunderbolt card available, but your signal won't be as good as an audiophile grade firewire audio cable like audioquest. If you must use an nMP use a thunderbolt out interface not a firewire to thunderbolt adapter. Apollo twin, or the regular duo/quad with thunderbolt card will work those are the only good ones I know of. TB out interfaces are still relatively new so I can only recommend the above but do some research, otherwise don't use an nMP if you are sticking with firewire for tracking.

Remember! You can track on an old slow computer with firewire and then transfer to an nMP for post, that is fine.

 

[Mad Mac]

music production does not need as much power as video work, or graphics like 3d rendering -- which nMP is geared for.

You will be ok with a iMac, or maybe even an old classic mac pro.

Or even a decked out Macbook Pro.

Audio can tax CPUs big time. Just because it won't tax the graphics doesn't mean an iMac is sufficient.

Even if one only needs the max CPU power of an iMac or MBP, maxing the CPU out will have it scorching hot (less reliability) and fans screaming like jet engines. No thanks.

Personally, I would look at a cMP if it has to be a Mac. I like the options of adding drives internally and it's much more cost effective than getting external drive bays for the nMP.

But ultimately, I would build a dedicated PC for music production and run Cubase on it. Logic X still has bugs from years ago and who knows when/if Apple will update it. Add to the fact that Apple's yearly release of OS X screwing with things and it makes for a very non-professional environment. And don't say "just don't upgrade the OS" because that leaves you without the latest security patches. It's a no-win situation.

Honestly, I see no reason to stick with Apple for pro apps unless you like your livelihood toyed with. Who knows when Apple will randomly stop support or break something with a new OS update? Pro Tools and Cubase work great on a PC and are industry standards. Same goes with Premiere/After Effects/Media Composer.

Build a powerful and silent PC for music production and get a Mac Mini or something for your Apple fix. It'll be cheaper, more reliable *and* you'll be happier.

 

[Korican100]

Audio can tax CPUs big time. Just because it won't tax the graphics doesn't mean an iMac is sufficient.

Even if one only needs the max CPU power of an iMac or MBP, maxing the CPU out will have it scorching hot (less reliability) and fans screaming like jet engines. No thanks.

anything can tax a cpu big time. I can push an excel file with a jillion lines with a thousand columns and it will crawl. But 99% of the time I am not working with those extremes. And for the costs, I don't believe OP will need Lady Gaga's production guy's standards. He is after all, looking for something workable in price.

Also, I have a mac pro 4,1 flashed to 5,1. I render heavy 4k footage, with intense effects applied. Never had anything overheat at all.

 

[Mad Mac]

anything can tax a cpu big time. I can push an excel file with a jillion lines with a thousand columns and it will crawl. But 99% of the time I am not working with those extremes. And for the costs, I don't believe OP will need Lady Gaga's production guy's standards. He is after all, looking for something workable in price.

Have you not read the posts where running multiples of Omnisphere or Kontakt can push the CPU? It's not unusual to run multiples of these 2 common plugins. That is not an extreme scenario. You don't have to have Lady Gaga's production standards to push the CPU.

Also, I have a mac pro 4,1 flashed to 5,1. I render heavy 4k footage, with intense effects applied. Never had anything overheat at all.

Again, did you read the fact that I said an iMac or MBP would have screaming fans and *not* a MP? I know a MP won't overheat. I have one. That's why I recommended the cMP if the OP has to have a Mac.

 

[DPUser]

Add to the fact that Apple's yearly release of OS X screwing with things and it makes for a very non-professional environment. And don't say "just don't upgrade the OS" because that leaves you without the latest security patches. It's a no-win situation. Honestly, I see no reason to stick with Apple for pro apps unless you like your livelihood toyed with. Who knows when Apple will randomly stop support or break something with a new OS update? Pro Tools and Cubase work great on a PC and are industry standards. Same goes with Premiere/After Effects/Media Composer. And don't say "just don't upgrade the OS" because that leaves you without the latest security patches. It's a no-win situation.

As my name suggests, I run DP (Digital Performer), and I run it on a Mac. And though DP is now also PC-compatible, the PC version is somewhat bleeding edge to date. It is super solid on my cMP hex under OSX 10.8.5. I'm so solid on ML, I see no reason to move to Mav or Yos. As long as you trail the OS updates, and don't download porn on your studio machine, things are really good in the Mac environment, at least with DP.

Other than this aspect of your comment, MadMac, I generally concur with your remarks. And as noted in my earlier post, the value proposition for an upgraded cMP is a big win for music production.

 

[Horselover Fat]

The discussion on whether audio work taxes the CPU a lot or not is useless in my eyes. It does. One major contribution (besides using lots of tracks and plug ins) is the problem that as soon as you play your instruments live – be it a real one into a microphone or an amp software or be it virtual ones – the latency needs to be really low in order to give you the feeling of immediacy. Low latency (a low audio buffer) eats up CPU power.

The GPUs in the trashcan MacPro provide a lot of computational power that is great for video work. However, every developer of audio software will tell you that they cannot be used for audio since they cannot guarantee a low latency.

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BTW, OS X is not the best OS for low latency. Windows via bootcamp is noticeably faster on the same machine. I wonder why that is and why Apple has never dealt with it.

 

[afterworks]

I upgraded my 3.1 to a 6-core and couldn't be happier.

Projects that used to require lots of freezing of tracks, while still experiencing the lovely 'System Overload', now run at around 30% CPU.

The machine never overheats or gets throttled. I couldn't be happier.
I'm not to fussed about paying a bit extra for some D500's that aren't much use to me apart from driving a **** load of displays, without a single hic up.
This machine is a beast, and will run like a beast 24/7.

I can upgrade the CPU at some point, upgrade the hard drive and memory all by popping the lid off. Pretty easy. I wouldn't want an iMac for not being able to do this.

 

[Zwhaler]

The discussion on whether audio work taxes the CPU a lot or not is useless in my eyes. It does. One major contribution (besides using lots of tracks and plug ins) is the problem that as soon as you play your instruments live – be it a real one into a microphone or an amp software or be it virtual ones – the latency needs to be really low in order to give you the feeling of immediacy. Low latency (a low audio buffer) eats up CPU power.

The GPUs in the trashcan MacPro provide a lot of computational power that is great for video work. However, every developer of audio software will tell you that they cannot be used for audio since they cannot guarantee a low latency.

----------

BTW, OS X is not the best OS for low latency. Windows via bootcamp is noticeably faster on the same machine. I wonder why that is and why Apple has never dealt with it.

When tracking vocals, a lot of times I bounce out the main project and create a new one for tracking vocals, make my selections, and then bring them into the main project because I almost always run into latency. Not sure if it is because of UAD but this is how I like to approach it.

 

[Gav Mack]

Music mac clients I do not have many regulars but I lobbed a dozen texts out to those I do know, who mostly only use me for 911 issues. Most of the nMP users have 6 core and one other 8, and use native thunderbolt kit to minimise any latency instead of the FireWire adaptor. The rest use 3-5,1's and thought the lesser Macintosh are not worthy.

The good news for me is one has started looking on eBay worldwide for an 8 core 3.3 today. I'm glad I threw that text out

 

[wesk702]

Here's some hopefully better advice from an actual audio engineer...

It completely depends on your level of work, what kind of applications, plug-ins, and gear you want to run, how big your sessions are, and what you realistically want to be able to accomplish

If you just make beats and have other light session work, a hardcore insane super computer is probably overkill. Think 10-15 tracks with basic VIs, some audio tracks here and there. If you're doing this kind of work, you can get away with a freaking 2012 Mac Mini.

If you're in a mix scenario with your work, lots of professional grade sessions with lots of tracks and plug-ins, or you want to do professional level mastering or post work, you'll want something more beefy.

A lot of the decision is going to be based on your needs and where you are in the music production field. At the bare minimum, I would suggest a quad-core i5, 8GB of RAM (preferably more), and fast storage (SSD for OS and applications, external drive for sessions ALWAYS).

The two most important factors for a DAW that relies on native processing are CPU and storage. Mostly every DAW can take advantage of multi-threaded and multi-core processors, so higher core counts means more plug-ins running in real time off of the CPU without having to print and commit (although a lot of times, having to print to audio moves along the decision making and keeps the creative process flowing). It is always recommended to be running your sessions off of a secondary hard drive, regardless if it's an SSD or not (although with the advent of PCIe SSDs, like in the nMP, this is seemingly less important as long as you have sky high I/O speeds). Being able to install your OS and DAW software on an SSD helps performance dramatically, although you can still opt for a spinning drive if you want (why anyone would want to run an OS on a traditional hard drive anymore is beyond me, though).

Some other advice...go to your DAW and plug-in manufacturers websites and check compatibility charts as well as recommended system requirements. For example, a lot of stuff, like Pro Tools 11, hasn't been qualified for use with Yosemite yet (and Pro Tools 10 doesn't function in it at all).

The tl;dr - the Retina iMac would be fine for a lot of work, but I would definitely invest in the i7 over the i5 for hyperthreading purposes. A 6-core nMP would be even better (this is what I'm likely gunning for in the near future, when Apple refreshes them with the new Haswell chips). The 4-core nMP is great too, but the i7 in the Retina iMac seems to be a better performing chip, so the 4-core nMP is slightly outgunned at this point.

As far as heat and noise go, if that's very important to you, the nMP is more suited for that. The iMac will definitely give you some heat and fan noise during session work.

No matter what, though, please don't listen to anyone who tells you that audio work isn't demanding and that you can get away with a Core 2 Duo and spinning hard drives. It's a load. I would love to see them try to load up a couple of instances of Kontakt, or maybe a mastering session with Ozone, using that machine, and then try and tell me a C2D is cool in late 2014.

A C2D and spinners is great. It gives you a chance to enjoy the finer things in life like making a coffee or dropping a deuce while you wait for you track to bounce. Need to load some instruments? Gives you a chance to take a walk or even a nap. You don't need all these fast new computers. It makes you forget about all the other things you can do...multitasking.
I for one hate it when I load up an intensive track and it doesn't even give me enough time to take a shower like my 3,1 MP did and definitely not like my old 12" PB.

 

[propower]

I had the imac 3.5G 2013 i7 27" all SSD and a nMP quad right in front of me and for running PT11 and HD Native the nMP won in every category and every test. Period. 96kHz 64 buffer - lowest CPU load , spikes, temp, Quietest (especially under ANY ProTools Load!!! Temp never hit 60degreesC - 45 to 50 on average! Fastest hard drive and complete system - best expandability (I have a BlackMagic Multidock and Thunderbolt box for ProTools. It was not even close - ignore geekbench - the Quad is an amazing machine!

I ordered a BTO Hex/512G/32G/D300 - 6 months now - couldn't be happier. Will not need a new computer or upgrade for a very long time (3 to 5 years at least). Have owned MacTowers since 1998, 2012 mac mini (forget that one) and 2013 imacs.

Buy both and test them yourself. Return the one that doesn't win within 14 days. Forget forums LOL

 

[omnisphere]

I think I´ll go for the nMP 6-Core, it will probably last longer than a iMac and be quiet as a whisper.

 

[fastlanephil]

I think I´ll go for the nMP 6-Core, it will probably last longer than a iMac and be quiet as a whisper.

It looks like I need a new Mac also as my software issues seems to be a CPU issue. I've done all I can to speed it up short of wiping the drive and reloading it from scratch. Activity Monitor tells all.

The 3.5 i7, 4k iMac and 6-core Mac Pro all have their good points but I've calculated that the 4K iMac is a better value than the 3.5 i7 iMac, at least on paper. The 6-cores advantage of lasting longer is a strong point with all the copy protection hassle for audio work when you move to a new computer. I recently sent a dual Raid 1 drive back to OWC because of the fan noise so that's very important for recording live and mixing or busting your brain composing and arranging.

 

[derbothaus]

...but your signal won't be as good as an audiophile grade firewire audio cable like audioquest.

Ha ha ha ha ha. Just sculpting those 0's and 1's to sound better.

 

[Zwhaler]

Ha ha ha ha ha. Just sculpting those 0's and 1's to sound better.

I use the best optical cable and firewire cable I could get for my audio, and it sounds amazing. I wasn't sure if the "marketing jargon" was true until I had it confirmed by a friend who recently got his degree in sound design from Berklee College of Music. Call me crazy but I don't believe that a 2 dollar firewire cable is going to deliver the same audio quality as this one.

SOLID 100% PERFECT-SURFACE SILVER (PSS) CONDUCTORS:*Perfect-Surface Technology applied to extreme-purity silver provides unprecedented clarity and dynamic contrast. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of cable distortion. Extremely high-purity Perfect-Surface Silver minimizes distortion caused by the grain boundaries which exist within any metal conductor, nearly eliminating harshness and greatly increasing clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers.

SOLID HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE INSULATION:*Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire insulation and circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then later released as distortion.*Solid High-Density Polyethylene Insulation ensures critical signal-pair geometry while minimizing insulation-induced phase distortion.

DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US Pat #s 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1):*All insulation slows down the signal on the conductor inside. When insulation is unbiased, it slows down parts of the signal differently, a big problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. This minimizes both energy storage in the insulation and the multiple nonlinear time-delays that occur. Sound appears from a surprisingly black background with unexpected detail and dynamic contrast. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check.

 

[DPUser]

I use the best optical cable and firewire cable I could get for my audio, and it sounds amazing. I wasn't sure if the "marketing jargon" was true until I had it confirmed by a friend who recently got his degree in sound design from Berklee College of Music. Call me crazy but I don't believe that a 2 dollar firewire cable is going to deliver the same audio quality as this one.

SOLID 100% PERFECT-SURFACE SILVER (PSS) CONDUCTORS:*Perfect-Surface Technology applied to extreme-purity silver provides unprecedented clarity and dynamic contrast. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of cable distortion. Extremely high-purity Perfect-Surface Silver minimizes distortion caused by the grain boundaries which exist within any metal conductor, nearly eliminating harshness and greatly increasing clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers.

SOLID HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE INSULATION:*Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire insulation and circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then later released as distortion.*Solid High-Density Polyethylene Insulation ensures critical signal-pair geometry while minimizing insulation-induced phase distortion.

DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US Pat #s 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1):*All insulation slows down the signal on the conductor inside. When insulation is unbiased, it slows down parts of the signal differently, a big problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. This minimizes both energy storage in the insulation and the multiple nonlinear time-delays that occur. Sound appears from a surprisingly black background with unexpected detail and dynamic contrast. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check.

Fun Knee. I think Derbothaus (whom I haven't seen 'round these parts for some time) was awakened from his slumber by the absurdity. With all respect, in your post you do suggest that others call you crazy… I don't wish to engage in any such activity, but do suggest a little research into topics like snake oil, magic elixirs and marketing hype. Also, Digital Audio 101, Analog Audio 101 and these:

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_26_r.pdf (note the first "Lie")

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_16_r.pdf (Page 51)

and, of course, this classic (please don't miss the reviews!):
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-Dedicated-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B000I1X6PM

PS: I apologize if I missed a "sarcasm" disclaimer.

 

[nigelbb]

I use the best optical cable and firewire cable I could get for my audio, and it sounds amazing. I wasn't sure if the "marketing jargon" was true until I had it confirmed by a friend who recently got his degree in sound design from Berklee College of Music. Call me crazy but I don't believe that a 2 dollar firewire cable is going to deliver the same audio quality as this one.
<snip>Description of snake oil sprinkled with fairy dust</snip>

You are crazy.

 

[bennibeef]

I use the best optical cable and firewire cable I could get for my audio, and it sounds amazing. I wasn't sure if the "marketing jargon" was true until I had it confirmed by a friend who recently got his degree in sound design from Berklee College of Music. Call me crazy but I don't believe that a 2 dollar firewire cable is going to deliver the same audio quality as this one.

SOLID 100% PERFECT-SURFACE SILVER (PSS) CONDUCTORS:*Perfect-Surface Technology applied to extreme-purity silver provides unprecedented clarity and dynamic contrast. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of cable distortion. Extremely high-purity Perfect-Surface Silver minimizes distortion caused by the grain boundaries which exist within any metal conductor, nearly eliminating harshness and greatly increasing clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers.

SOLID HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE INSULATION:*Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire insulation and circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then later released as distortion.*Solid High-Density Polyethylene Insulation ensures critical signal-pair geometry while minimizing insulation-induced phase distortion.

DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US Pat #s 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1):*All insulation slows down the signal on the conductor inside. When insulation is unbiased, it slows down parts of the signal differently, a big problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. This minimizes both energy storage in the insulation and the multiple nonlinear time-delays that occur. Sound appears from a surprisingly black background with unexpected detail and dynamic contrast. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check.

I really dont want to call you crazy but...

I get, yeah a quality firewire cable is better. But if it doesnt humm hizz whatever and works there wont be a difference between the 10$ and the 100$ silver gold plated thicker diameter audio 100% quality firewire cable.

To a degree I accept this cable hype with analoge cables. There is a point to it. But with digital cables not. If your Audio Interface sends data to your computer, these 1's and 0's cant get "better" than 1 and 0. And if some data gets dropped because the cable is really bad at those timestamps just wont be audio.

Because Audio Interfaces are made for real time communication the protocol to deliver the audio data to the pc, it doesnt get verified if the full data gets delivered. If a few 1 and 0 are dropped for this point in time wont be all the audio data here and doesnt sound.

And now dont argue, yes that is it! The cheaper cable is always dropping something and it sounds not as good, like it drops only the high end 1's and 0's. Well no. For this to happen the cable has to be very intelligent. If it drops something, it will drop data all over the place and you will notice the cable as unusable. It cant just drop all high end 1's and 0's because it doesnt know what is what. When an normal lets say a 1/4 cable sounds bad with no high end it makes sense if it is a really bad one. (small copper etc..)

 

[nigelbb]

I really dont want to call you crazy but...

I get, yeah a quality firewire cable is better. But if it doesnt humm hizz whatever and works there wont be a difference between the 10$ and the 100$ silver gold plated thicker diameter audio 100% quality firewire cable.

He isn't talking about a $100 Firewire cable he is talking about a $549 Firewire cable. For a cable just 0.75m long. The 5m cable is over $1000!!! That pixie dust must be really expensive.

 

[Gav Mack]

This topic is veering off course in a slightly amusing way lol. Though I am a believer in audiophile analogue audio cables making a slight difference (Naim Audio owner here) there is no way I would pay the cost of a used car buying exotic interconnects and speaker cable products from the likes of Kimber from Russ Andrews etc.

And my Naim has some cheapo digital tosh link optical cables to connect to my TiVo and MCE box as expensive digital interconnects are only for those daft enough to buy them!

 

[fastlanephil]

I use the best optical cable and firewire cable I could get for my audio, and it sounds amazing. I wasn't sure if the "marketing jargon" was true until I had it confirmed by a friend who recently got his degree in sound design from Berklee College of Music. Call me crazy but I don't believe that a 2 dollar firewire cable is going to deliver the same audio quality as this one.

SOLID 100% PERFECT-SURFACE SILVER (PSS) CONDUCTORS:*Perfect-Surface Technology applied to extreme-purity silver provides unprecedented clarity and dynamic contrast. Solid conductors prevent strand interaction, a major source of cable distortion. Extremely high-purity Perfect-Surface Silver minimizes distortion caused by the grain boundaries which exist within any metal conductor, nearly eliminating harshness and greatly increasing clarity compared to OFHC, OCC, 8N and other coppers.


SOLID HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE INSULATION:*Any solid material adjacent to a conductor is actually part of an imperfect circuit. Wire insulation and circuit board materials all absorb energy (loss). Some of this energy is stored and then later released as distortion.*Solid High-Density Polyethylene Insulation ensures critical signal-pair geometry while minimizing insulation-induced phase distortion.

DIELECTRIC-BIAS SYSTEM (DBS, US Pat #s 7,126,055 & 7,872,195 B1):*All insulation slows down the signal on the conductor inside. When insulation is unbiased, it slows down parts of the signal differently, a big problem for very time-sensitive multi-octave audio. AudioQuest’s DBS creates a strong, stable electrostatic field which saturates and polarizes (organizes) the molecules of the insulation. This minimizes both energy storage in the insulation and the multiple nonlinear time-delays that occur. Sound appears from a surprisingly black background with unexpected detail and dynamic contrast. The DBS battery packs will last for years. A test button and LED allow for the occasional battery check.

And it probably gets listened to on pair of inexpensive earbuds.