Interesting observation and essay about testing and measurements by dCS: "While measurements are useful, the performance of an audio product cannot be judged on numerical values alone, which is why we adopt a holistic approach to product design, testing and development.
"Using their decades of experience in the field, our engineers utilise a wide range of methods to understand the impact of each design decision we make, and ensure our systems deliver an outstanding technical and sonic performance, however you choose to listen.
We are obsessive in our quest to pioneer innovations that deliver quantifiable benefits to music playback. With our exceptionally talented and creative engineers, decades of learning and exhaustive development, we are able to design unique systems and technologies that redefine perceptions of audio performance and bring inspiration to music lovers worldwide.
Our engineers intuitively know that improving measured performance in certain areas can improve the musical performance of our products.
"Reducing crosstalk, for example, can lead to enhanced stereo imaging, minimising distortion can present more micro detail, while controlling jitter can deliver a better sense of timing and rhythmic flow.
However, at dCS, we believe that product development cannot be driven by chasing a simple set of numerical values alone. While measurements can be extremely useful, it is key to understand that performance improvements in singular areas do not always enhance the musical performance of a system.
This is why we adopt a holistic approach to design, testing and measurement, using our experience in interpreting a vast array of measured parameters to understand the full impact of each design decision we make. In addition to measuring technical performance, we also run subjective listening tests throughout our development process.
Our engineers have decades of experience at the cutting edge of Audio Measurement, ADC and DAC design. They understand implicitly that creating products which offer a state-of-the-art performance that takes you to the heart of a recording can only be achieved through mastery of the audio domain, rigorous testing and measurement, and skilled judgment in making a complex set of engineering trade-offs.
The unique design of our products, coupled with our proprietary approach to signal processing, gives us complete control of the audio signal path. This control and flexibility, combined with our experience of working at the forefront of music recording and playback, means we are able to create products that deliver an unrivalled performance across every important technical dimension."