QUOTE (John_Siau @ Feb 20 2013, 14:48) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For example, Benchmark's new DAC2 converter uses a ES9018 DAC IC and achieves a 129 dB SNR A-weighted, and distortion that is better than -109 dB. This implies that distortion is below the threshold of hearing until peak music levels reach 109 dB SPL.
Does not mean something completely different? Does that not mean that distortion, being 109 dB down, isn't crossing the threshold of hearing when peak levels are 109dB up, but rather crossing the threshold of existence? I can't hear 20dB sounds, much less 0.