is it worthwhile to include DSD download and playback capabilties?

[uncl_nigel]

In the next few months I will have to be putting some of my cash into a new computer and was wondering about file serving which led to file formats and then, I came acroos this page in a Stereophile newsletter

http://www.audiostream.com/content/dsd-resources-dsd-download-sites

Is it worth the effort and expensive to get involved with DSD downloading? Are there any benefits over 24/96 or 24/192 PCM? This within the context of needing a new computerand/or a NAS but not feeling much need to change the Chord DAC64 mkII.

 

[Purite Audio]

I can understand the point of stripping DSD from a large collection of SACDs .

Keith.

 

[meninblack]

If your DAC isn't DSD-capable then surely there's no point? :dunno:

 

[Purite Audio]

You can get converters that will turn DSD into PCM.

Keith.

 

[i_should_coco]

You can get converters that will turn DSD into PCM.Keith.

Thereby missing the point of DSD entirely.

 

[uncl_nigel]

Thereby missing the point of DSD entirely.

Please enlighten me. I have never knowingly heard SACD or DSD files but do actually own three albums on 24/96 Bluray (and can hear their superiority to 16/44 CD or rips of such).

 

[i_should_coco]

DSD is a different kind of encoding to PCM, which Sony promote. There's much debate on whether it actually confers any advantage, but transcoding to PCM would defeat any claimed purpose.

Have a read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Stream_Digital

 

[Purite Audio]

There is some more information here,

http://www.weiss-highend.ch/computerplayback/white-paper-on-DSD-en.pdf

Keith.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

DSD is a different kind of encoding to PCM, which Sony promote. There's much debate on whether it actually confers any advantage, but transcoding to PCM would defeat any claimed purpose.Have a read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Stream_Digital

My present system will play SACDs, but will transcode to PCM during playback. Have to say that I still feel that SACDs sound superior to CDs, even with this "issue".

 

[strocky]

There is some more information here,http://www.weiss-highend.ch/computerplayback/white-paper-on-DSD-en.pdf

Keith.

Supplied by a manufacturer of DACS that convert DSD to PCM

- - - Updated - - -

My present system will play SACDs, but will transcode to PCM during playback. Have to say that I still feel that SACDs sound superior to CDs, even with this "issue".

Probably down to the mastering over your average CD, where compression & loudness wars reign supreme

 

[meninblack]

Probably down to the mastering over your average CD, where compression & loudness wars reign supreme

This. A brilliantly recorded and produced piece of music will sound brilliant on mp3. A shit recording or butchered production will sound shit on any format even hi-rez. You can only really compare digital formats sensibly if you have the same recording/production of the same music on different formats.

More to the original point, about 95% of the music available online in 24/96 or DSD downloads is either very, very obscure classical or noodly audiophile twaddle. If that's what you listen to, it's a worthwhile investment.

 

[Cable Monkey]

DSD is a different kind of encoding to PCM, which Sony promote. There's much debate on whether it actually confers any advantage, but transcoding to PCM would defeat any claimed purpose.Have a read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Stream_Digital

There were two puroses. To secure high resolution files by locking down the hardware on which it could be played back, and to make money for Sony.

Both DSD and 24 bit PCM are good at what they do and I doubt properly encoded and decoded streams of either type could be told apart. My own experience was that DSD to PCM conversion (at least 88/24) and a competent DAC was better than straight playback by the player in question so it wasn't a straight theoretical shoot out. If you have exceptional PCM playback then conversion might be a better option than getting something that will do both with equal aplomb.

 

[meninblack]

The dCS player has the option to convert directly from PCM in CD replay mode or upsample it to DSD first (it's a native DSD DAC.) I can't really tell these two options apart TBH.

For CD replay I prefer using the dCS as a transport into the Audio Note DAC. With SACD, the SACD layer does sound better than the CD layer when played through the internal DAC in the dCS. Send the CD layer to the Audio Note, and it's awfully close .... :nerves:

SACD generally sounds better because most SACD material is well recorded and produced. One notable exception was the DSOTM SACD at a bake-off: the CD layer really sounded better! :shock: (Both were still shit, mind. )

 

[uncl_nigel]

Thanks for the input.

- not interested in "noodly" music

- at 24/96 the Chord DAC64 mkII is definitely good but will probably get replaced in the next 18-24 months

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Probably down to the mastering over your average CD, where compression & loudness wars reign supreme

Possibly so, but I'd like to add that pretty much every SACD I have sounds really good and they do seem to have something about their presentation that comes across as more realistic, particularly in their midrange.

Being fair, I've only ended up trying SACD as I was able to add the capability with the addition of a £50 Pioneer BD player. All of the DAC functionality was already in place with the rest of my system, so it was a bit of a no brainer to give it a try.