DSD playback on ANY Dac, soon only $149 if you believe that Schiit!

[PewterTA]

I guess now anyone can add DSD playback to any DAC available..... or well soon!

http://schiit.com/news/news/loki-dsd-companion-dac-announced

[wkhanna]

Wow!
That is cheap enough to allow most anyone interested in DSD to try it.
So just how many DSD files are out there now, anyway?
And how many worth even owning?

[PewterTA]

EVERYONE is going to DSD, it's the newest latest greatest, old format that should be put to bed...... LOL.

I've heard a few DSD files... couldn't tell any difference compared to any other hi-res format.... So it's one of those... is it worth it, normally no....but for $149... welllllllll.... sure why not!

All those SACD iso could then be used to output DSD, instead of converted and outputted via PCM if the DAC doesn't support it.

[wkhanna]

Ok.........

Soooooo.........did you order one?

[Hdale85]

The thing is, it's hard to find digital content in hi-res, if DSD helps that then I don't have an issue with it.

[PewterTA]

LOL... of course not.... I'm no 1 bit person... I'm multi-bit! lol

[Chris D]

Huh... FWIW, I also just saw on head-fi a Sony DAC amp announced that does DSD.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/680208/sonys-dsd-capable-pha-2-portable-headphone-amp-dac

[wkhanna]

The thing is, it's hard to find digital content in hi-res, if DSD helps that then I don't have an issue with it.

actually, there is a lot of Hi-Res music out there......

HDTT

HDtracks

Already well known for high quality recordings, Acoustic Sounds now offers Hi-Res DL's

One of my favorites who runs really good deals & special offers all the time is Qobuz


& just a sampling of a few more:

HighResAudio

http://www.highresaudio.com/

2L- the Nordic Sound

http://www.2l.no/

AIX Records

http://aixrecords.com/

Blue Coast Records

http://bluecoastrecords.com/

Bowers and Wilkins - Society of Sound

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Society_of_Sound/Society_of_Sound/Music

Cantaloupe Music

http://www.cantaloupemusic.com/

Chesky Records

http://chesky.com/

Gimell Records (96k/24bit, 48k/24bit, 44.1k/16bit of the The Tallis Scholars)

http://www.gimell.com/

HDTracks

https://www.hdtracks.com/

High Res Music

http://hiresmusic.com/homepage.html

High Definition Tape Transfers

http://highdeftapetransfers.com/storefront.php

High-res download test bench (free samples only)

http://www.2l.no/hires/

Hyperion Records

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/

Internet Archive (dot org) - has some high res available - including Hungry Lucy!

http://www.archive.org/details/audio

iTrax

http://www.itrax.com/

LessLoss Audio - Free Sample High Resolution Audiophile Recordings

http://www.lessloss.com/high-resolution-audiophile-recordings-c-68.html

Linn Records

http://www.linnrecords.com/index.aspx

Reference Recordings

http://referencerecordings.com/

Rhino

http://www.rhino.com/

[Hdale85]

Well, I kind of meant a standard for hi-res, they are all over the place from different sources, and you can't get it from any of the major players so you usually end up paying a lot more for it.

[JonMarsh]

Good listing, I use many of them; then too, if you're resourceful, there is the possibility to rip and convert SACD to files that can be played- some techniques more involved than others, and generally requiring some specialized hardware and software, which may not be cheap- I.E. you have to be a little crazy and determined.

I'm not sure that converting DSD to PCM is the optimum thing to do, but then, it depends on how good the specific DAC technology is, as to what may be the best playback technique. I'm an old time SACD kind of guy, have an AWFUL lot of disks, but I'm mainly a high res PCM playback kind of guy these days...

[wkhanna]

Yes, that is true!
I forgot to mention that a certain PS3 model has the ability to rip any SACD in your library to PCM.

[Chris D]

Yes, that is true!
I forgot to mention that a certain PS3 model has the ability to rip any SACD in your library to PCM.

.... say whaaaaaa?

[JonMarsh]

Yes, that is true!
I forgot to mention that a certain PS3 model has the ability to rip any SACD in your library to PCM.

Of course, some march to the beat of a different drummer- I have an Oppo player with a custom board from the Czech Republic, which converts stereo or multichannel SACD into 24 bit PCM, outputting this over Multiple S/PDIF connectors. It's intended for playback into a DAC, and does implement the SCM copy management bit, but my RME Fireface Interface ignores that, to I record the digital stream onto my Mac, using Triumph.

I've got a big backlog of disks to extract, been waiting for the new Mac Pro to come out and have setup some new LaCie Thunderbolt raid arrays for that. That, and I've been too busy with other stuff! :W

[wkhanna]

.... say whaaaaaa?

yup.
& as I understand, DSD files are basically the same ones used to make SACD's.
The difference in resolution between the two is minimal.

[PewterTA]

The PS3 solution will allow you to rip either directly to DSD or to a .iso

All my SACDs are to .iso which can then be read and pulled through such conversions as you want to do. Basically it's the disc the same ways it was in the physical format. The conversion happens then either by hardware or software.

I like it just because then I can do whatever I want with the discs....

There's a well known thread on another forum that has all the info one could need about ripping SACDs so that you can have them on your computer (and even put them back to disc if you need to).... Something about being a computer audiophile is where the forum is at.

[Chris D]

Huh... cool. Tell ya what, Bill. I know we usually don't link to other forms, (fora?) but putting on the moderator hat, sure, go ahead and tell everybody where this info's at!

[PewterTA]

Here.

Second part of the thread on what all they are doing with SACDs, what's capable.

[Finleyville]

Please excuse my ignorance....what is DSD?

[Hdale85]

Direct Stream Digital http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Stream_Digital

It's basically what SACD's use.

[JonMarsh]

Computer Audiophile:

Combines the worst characteristics of computer tweekers and audiophile nervosa. A deadly mental state or state of being, manifested in a constant and continuous state of uncertainty about what works, what works better, what works better yet, and what is hideously flawed just because you didn't use the new cable all your friends have now...

A kingdom of myth and mysticism, populated with seemingly familiar technical terms and concepts that have mutated beyond all recognition and tenuous connection with reality...

:W

[PewterTA]

That's a good one Jon!!!! I believe it should go in the thread of Definitions!

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php?41148-Definitions-for-Audiophiles

[JonMarsh]

You're right, will do that before the week's out...

[JonMarsh]

So what's the status of this? Have any of YOU tried this upgrade? I just found out that I have a potential upgrade path along similar lines, but as I've got a good setup for converting DSD to high res PCM, I'm not sold on investing in the concept. Still, this is clearly a trend- but where will the program come from? Acoustic Sounds High Res is one of the few places I know of selling DSD files online.

http://www.totaldac.com/REFERENCE-D1-eng.htm

[mjb]

There's a review of the Loki here: http://www.audiostream.com/content/s...-dedicated-dac

Bottom line: it's a pain to have to manually switch it in and out of circuit (unless you do a PCM to DSD conversion in your player software), and compared to other (admittedly more expensive DAC's), " the Loki sounds flatter and a bit tonally bleached overall".

Final word: "... for $149, playing back PCM and DSD through JRiver converting everything to single-rate DSD, the Loki is one good-sounding DAC."

[JonMarsh]

Thanks for the update, Mike! Interesting, but not a world beater- like most things in life!