jnantoine

Hey Jud, First, I don't think there exists a DAC nowdays that support DSD only (aka turntable) and not PCM (aka CD). Second, vinyl and CD d not compare to DXD and DSD in this HDTT case, in the sense that vinyl is not directly derived from the CD 16/44.1 data, whereas in the case of HDDT, DSD is directly derived from DXD. JN

However, the DSD files are not new masters, but are derived from the original PCM masters. See : https://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/page.php?wid=27 So, what are the reasons we should buy the DSD files instead of the original DXD or 24/192 master files ? They are not event cheaper. We could even use the free Korg Audiogate software and perform the PCM to DSD conversion ourselves, would this make any sense.

Very interesting reading. I'm myself interested in both the Rega and the M2Tech Young. However I don't understand what is so wrong with the Rega that makes you call it a "debacle". I am surprised to read there could be such a big difference between both DAC's. Looks like I'll have to make a listening test for myself. Thanks for your post. JN

On the same subject, Milind Kunchur, professor of physics at the University of South Carolina, wrote several papers on temporal ear resolution : Psychophysics, auditory neurophysiology, and high-fidelity audio (All pdf are free...) I recommend to start with the article of George Foster in HIFICRITIC introducing the research work of M. Kunchur. The conclusion as far as I remember is that the human ear temporal resolution has be measured in the order of ~5 microseconds, similar to what is reported in the first post of this thread. JN

On the same subject, Milind Kunchur, professor of physics at the University of South Carolina, wrote several papers on temporal ear resolution : Psychophysics, auditory neurophysiology, and high-fidelity audio (All pdf are free...) I recommend to start with the article of George Foster in HIFICRITIC introducing the research work of M. Kunchur. The conclusion as far as I remember is that the human ear temporal resolution has be measured in the order of ~5 microseconds, similar to what is reported in the first post of this thread. JN

As most of you I suppose, I am not in favor of music files with DRM, but I am not either in favor of this :<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.alllossless.com/the-rolling-stones-big-hits-high-tide-and-green-grass-abkco-remaster-flac/"> The Rolling Stones – Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (ABKCO Remaster) [FLAC]</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.alllossless.com/the-rolling-stones-through-the-past-darkly-big-hits-vol-2-abkco-remaster-flac/"> The Rolling Stones – Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (ABKCO Remaster) [FLAC]</a><br /> <br /> I have not actually followed the links to filesonic or fileserve to see whether the alleged files were there, but if all high resolution lossless music files ended up this way, then the nascent business of selling high quality music files on the net would fall apart to the great dismay of the computer audiophile community.<br /> <br /> Ironically they have put the 176.4 kHz version which added value over the 88.2 kHz version is questioned in this forum.<br /> <br /> Don't you think someone should inform the copyright owners or HDtracks ?<br /> <br /> JN

I have re-listened as carefully as possible to the several versions of "Freddie" I have in 16/44.1, 24/96 and 24/192 resolution. The issue is that I hear only small differences and I would not be sure to recognize the 3 versions in a blind test. Someone up-there said that the 16/44.1 format is already 91-92% as good as the "hi-rez" material. I agree.<br /> <br /> In fact I have made the same tests with other sonic material for which I have several formats hand: Marianne Thorsen / Trondheimsolistene Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major KV 218 Allegro from 2L and the Messiah test of Dunedin Consort from Linn. The difference between 16/44.1 and higher resolutions is then very clear in terms of increased "liquidity", transparency, space and details. I can even tell the difference with ear buds plugged to the audio output of my laptop when I am travelling.<br /> <br /> Again, there is no arguing that what Kent Poon has achieved in 16/44.1 format is amazing. The fact is that the higher res stuff does not show the decisive improvements that we are legitimately expecting from increased bit depth and sampling frequency.<br /> <br /> OK now let's have a look at this new european high res download site <a href="http://www.highresaudio.com/"> http://www.highresaudio.com/</a><br /> Happy listening to all.<br /> JN

Continuing with frequency analysis, I made a spectrum plot of a few seconds of "Lush Life" in its 24bit/192kHz incarnation :<br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/window-Frequency Analysis-001.png" /><br /> <br /> The "staircase" shape of the spectrum above 22kHz is rather unnatural, and it repeats consistently in all sections of the audio file. Two explanations come to mind :<br /> 1- the original master recording is 44.1 kHz therefore potentially explaining the observed shape. However in this case, why trying to makeup up-sampled versions to 24/96, 24/192, DSD or even DXD if the original master is 44.1 kHz ? Why trying to fool buyers into believing there is a high resolution master upfront ?<br /> 2- the original master recording is 24/196, or DSD or DXD - or may be analog magnetic tape, there is an icon in one corner saying "30ips". In that case the staircase shape of the spectrum would come from a brickwall filter with a cutoff frequency around 22 kHz. But here why massacring a wonderful recording in such a brutal way ? What would have been the music - which already sounds fabulous - without this amputation ?<br /> I am sure there might be other explanations, but I would really like to understand what's going on here.<br /> <br /> On the subject of why high frequency content matters in high fidely audio reproduction, I have two references. The first one is an article by Caltech professor James Boyk entitled <a href="http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~boyk/spectra/spectra.htm">There's Life Above 20 Kilohertz! A Survey of Musical Instrument Spectra to 102.4 KHz</a> and the second one is the research work of <a href="http://www.physics.sc.edu/~kunchur/Acoustics-papers.htm">Milind Kunchur, physics professor at the University of South Carolina</a>, who measured human ear temporal resolution to be ~5 microseconds.<br /> Both are worth reading IMO.<br /> Happy computer listening to all,<br /> JN<br />

I am really missing something here. I bought this album a few months ago and managed to get a spectrum plot with Audacity as explained somewhere else on this site. The attached file is the spectrum plot of the "04-Freddie-24bit192kHz.flac" file.<br /> To my surprise, the plot shows no frequency content above 22 kHz no better than a vulgar CD, pretty unacceptable for a 24bit-192kHz resolution audio file, no?<br /> So, what I am missing here, or should I ask for a refund?<br /> Best regards to all.<br /> JN

Mr Wicked, I don't know much about SONY PS3, not even it was running under Linux. Therefore the following questions : - how do you get a Unix prompt on a PS3 ? - how do you get the sacd.dump file out of the PS3 (on a PC for instance) to continue processing/decoding ? Thanks again. JN PS: We should also mention the Korg Audiogate software v2.0(which is now free) to convert DSF and DFF files into WAV, AIFF, WMA, FLAC,... see http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Audiogate

Hi Mr Wicked, I would be curious to understand how you perform the following tasks: - obtaining raw dumps of an SACD on a linux PS3 - reversing the encryption algorithm used to encode DSD data on SACD - uncompress DST Thanks a lot for your post and for giving the tantalizing perspective for computer audiophiles to rip SACD (almost) like regular CD or DVD-Audio. Rgds, JN

Took me hours to read the incredibly long thread on the new Weiss. Realized that it was quite expansive too. I think there is a pro-audio DAC2 version significantly cheaper than the new DAC202. That might be worth considering. I realize I am playing more in the "standard" audiophile league rather than in the DIY camp, however if I had time...<br /> In fact, I am looking for a reasonably priced DAC that can do justice to 24/176.4 and 24/192 material. In the mean time, I am using the mere headphone output of my Lenovo T400 laptop connected to a mundane Rega Mira 3 integrated amplifier by a Qed 3.5mm mini-jack/RCA cable. To my ears the result is already outstanding on some records, for instance Stravinsky-L'histoire Du Soldat from http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com. The problem is that after listening extensively to 24/176.4 and 24/192 music files on such a cheap setup, I definitively have no intention to buy a DAC that could not handle 24/176.4 and 24/192.<br /> So long.

Thank you very much jonmarsh, for this long and elaborated answer. I am guessing that you are most probably using an output board similar to what can be found at www.dvdupgrades.ch. But, as an average DSD/SACD fan, I am wondering why this type of boards could not output the DSD flow directly instead of converting it to PCM before ? May be this would be useless because of the lack of DSD DAC in the market, or because of the lack of computer interface to record the DSD flow on a hard drive ?<br /> I do agree with you that capturing DSD and burning a DSD disc to play on an SCD-XA5400ES is a stupidity, aggravated by the loss of the multichannel tracks. But the perspective to break free from the SACD copy protection scheme is a strong drive.<br /> Anyway I'll continue my quest for the "holy grail" in computer audiophile, leaving aside DSD & SACD for the moment until better solutions come to the market.<br /> I am currently looking for a decent DAC, and all the praise I read in this site on the new Weiss will probably win my decision.<br /> Cheers.<br />

Hello johnmarsh,<br /> You mention that a lot of your collection in 24/176.4 is down converted from DSD (SACD). I would extremely interested to know how you managed to get DSD out of SACD. I have a few dozens of SACD and would just love to get the DSD files out of these SACDs. I am less interested in converting DSD into 24/176.4 PCM, but rather looking for a way to playback DSD directly, either using a KORG MRx, a Sony VAIO, or burning a DSD Disc and playing with a Sony SCD-XA5400ES, or...<br /> Thanks for any insight.<br />