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Going Digital!

Kt77 said:
Wow........, it seems to have gotten very quiet in here very quickly, I'm sorry if I offended anyone?, yet I've to ask those of you whom are new to this thread and devices........, what's your take on the whole PCM vs DSD thing?, what are your ears telling you?.

I'm about to finally commit to doing my entire library over to DSD 128 later on today, so let's see where it takes me Brotha B?, I'm open-minded enough to want to know the truth of the matter.

Ina minute as you often put it.
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All your music is on your hard drive as PCM.....so you should be doing double DSD on the fly. I've all my CD's ripped to DSD 128.
 
Billfort said:
If you are open minded Oscar, consider leaving all that PCM just as it is - then convert to DSD128 on-the-fly. Your originals stay original and you have massive flexibility to let the conversion process evolve as your tastes, system and technologies evolve around those originals.

Case in point - I love the sound of DSD128 going to my current DAC. I used to use Jriver to do it, now I use something I think sounds better. I change over-sampling and modulator settings pretty regularly and the software seems to get upgraded (often with positive sonic effect) regularly. Some recordings seem to like different settings, system changes can shuffle the deck and as my computer hardware gets better, I'm changing settings. My current DAC goes up to DSD128 but a firmware change might change that, or I might get a new DAC, or a more powerful PC which opens up more setting options - it goes on and on. The main thing to note - those originals STAYED unmolested originals.

A year and half ago I first heard how good DSD128 sounded in my room and I experimented with converting a few of my favorite CDs to that format offline. Sounded fantastic and I was ready to buy a lot more hard-drive space and start spending all the time and effort needed to do it. I tried doing on the fly though and you know, I liked everything about it better. I now go back and listen to those first few converted files I saved and compare to the same source original converted on-the-fly with my crap in it's current state and they don't cut it - I'm SO glad I didn't bother with more.

On-the-fly is the ultimate in flexibility and with this technology changing and evolving at the rate it is, flexibility is a VERY good thing. It's also a 'tweekers' paradise and I know how much you like your tweeks Oscar! :)

Let your ears decide...but be ready for change - especially on the bleeding edge of digital.
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Bill...I think my experience is different. PCM on the fly isn't as good as redbook ripped to double DSD with the Micro. I dont know if its the DAC or the Music player that makes the difference.
 
slippers-on said:
All your music is on your hard drive as PCM.....so you should be doing double DSD on the fly. I've all my CD's ripped to DSD 128.
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No......., I've yet installed a single hard drive and am just using the storage on the M Mac which has 256GB SSD to which I've another 105GB left, so at some point I've to learn how to use the external ones - all in due course I can assure you.

It's great to see you remembered to join in on your own thread - I was beginning to be a tad bit worried.

Ina minute little Brotha.
 
Billfort said:
I don't know mac Oscar but the 2 pieces of software I have experience with (Jriver and HQPlayer) live in both worlds, convert on-the-fly and are available as free trials - give them a whirl and see if you think any of this is worth it.

Fair warning though; once you hear what is possible, you might find yourself falling down a very deep rabbit-hole. :)
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You aint never lied! I so far down that hole, I cant find my way back out!
 
slippers-on said:
Bill...I think my experience is different. PCM on the fly isn't as good as redbook ripped to double DSD with the Micro. I dont know if its the DAC or the Music player that makes the difference.
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But as I no longer have a single cd in the house, as they were sold off back in 2006 seeming that I couldn't keep trying to fool myself into believing they'd ever equal vinyl - but I'm still interested in how things work out for those whom might only have standard downloads to begin with - so it's logical then that Billfort's method can in fact help those of us in said situation - no!.
 
!

Kt77 said:
Well enginedr, Byron, and Billfort,

I've just crawled back into my bedroom after a very brief, but entertaining experience as it relates to DSD - and I'm happy to say it's a sound much like some have stated here as having a very liquid type of texture to its sound that's more akin to vinyl then anything I've owned/heard short of a $6.500 turntable with all the fixings.

I'm hearing more transparency, better separation of each/every note as if it's placed inside their own space surrounded by a natural sense of enhancement added as a means of reaching ones very core and now I fully understand why a friend of mine whom is in the audio industry is so high on the iDSD and Lampi DACs doing DSD - because it's obvious that both are voiced uniquely enough to set each apart from the norm - and here I'm referring to hearing/feeling a sense of " truthfulness " and " correctness " I've only encounter in much more expensive gear, so it's quite shocking to have it available to the masses at these prices, while it seems are increasing as I type this very letter.

Byron............, as hearing is believing and now that's I've, I can say in all honesty I've never heard/felt a CD Player reproduce music as naturally as these devices, and here I was thinking you guys had found a batch of some form of properly aged hash or opium - yet I must now apologize publicly for my doubts as I now know in my very being there's no going back......., not that I had much of a choice or intend, but this **** is the bomb and then some.

Yes - E,

I can clearly hear a superior means of music reproduction right before my very eyes/ears and those whom aren't willing to admit there are grave differences, well how does one put it without coming across as a know/hear it all?.

You simply can't hear, or your system isn't resolving enough to emphasize said naturalness or purity, so maybe it's time to better certain components as this is the future and lest you enjoy being left behind?, it's time to acknowledge that a change is around the bend.

I for one am going forward, so excuse me while I step over a few of you whom are into nostalgia just for the sake of it. Naw..........., there's no going back from this once heard done correctly.

It has been a joyous ride, thanks guys, and thanks little Brotha for taking the time to walk me through the setup to get things up and running, and now that I know the truth of the matter - ****, it's about to get real sick up in our space, ya heard!!!!. ( joking ) but those that understand my ways?, know I'm somewhat of a cornball at times.

Later dudes.
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Ahhh - HA! You've discovered the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow!:yes::banana: woo whoooooo!

But for real, yeah man double DSD is where its at! And you're welcome on the walk through....im glad you finally got there....Now go and get a very good deal on a pair of $500 headphones for half that price for the times when you dont feel like getting out of bed.....have I told how much fun listening to DSD 128 through a very nice pair of headphones can be? And I aint joking bro!
 
Kt77 said:
No......., I've yet installed a single hard drive and am just using the storage on the M Mac which has 256GB SSD to which I've another 105GB left, so at some point I've to learn how to use the external ones - all in due course I can assure you.

It's great to see you remembered to join in on your own thread - I was beginning to be a tad bit worried.

Ina minute little Brotha.
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That's what I mean....old dudes like me call all storage, doesn't matter if its internal or external....SS drive or HD drives ....its all hard drives to me.
 
Kt77 said:
But as I no longer have a single cd in the house, as they were sold off back in 2006 seeming that I couldn't keep trying to fool myself into believing they'd ever equal vinyl - but I'm still interested in how things work out for those whom might only have standard downloads to begin with - so it's logical then that Billfort's method can in fact help those of us in said situation - no!.
Click to expand...

Bill gave you excellent info. There are a few advantage to keeping all PCM as PCM and convert on the fly...he's even gave you a few of those advantages as well as You save a lot of space on your drives...as well as money.
 
slippers-on said:
Bill...I think my experience is different. PCM on the fly isn't as good as redbook ripped to double DSD with the Micro. I dont know if its the DAC or the Music player that makes the difference.
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Maybe just a matter of personal taste Byron - that certainly happens and there is no right or wrong IMO. I really don't think it's the DAC (both on-the-fly and pre-converted hit my DAC exactly the same - a DSD128 stream via DoP) but I bet it's mostly about software and how our computers do during that conversion process. Hard to leave out the NAA angle too - HQPlayer makes the NAA/2-PC thing pretty easy to do and it decidely beats out having the same computer and software in the room doing the up-sampling.

We use completely different systems and implementations too - which is why I mentioned my experiments of going back and trying music I had previously converted - it was an easy call to decide I like on-the-fly better.

We are talking about subtle nuances here though - that BIG hit is using DSD128 straight into that DAC in the fist place, the rest is icing on the cake. :)
 
slippers-on said:
Ahhh - HA! You've discovered the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow!:yes::banana: woo whoooooo!

But for real, yeah man double DSD is where its at! And you're welcome on the walk through....im glad you finally got there....Now go and get a very good deal on a pair of $500 headphones for half that price for the times when you dont feel like getting out of bed.....have I told how much fun listening to DSD 128 through a very nice pair of headphones can be? And I aint joking bro!
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Yes, it caught me by surprise that's for sure, but I'm not much into headphone listening as I merely prefer to listen at lower levels when needed, as far as I'm concerned $500 buys a nice set of Stillpoint Isolation Feet or even a decent amp stand - but as pointed out earlier on, I'm the one most of my closest friends call the technical type when it comes to isolation and tweaks in general, so those olde days ( the 80s ) when I had a Pioneer RTR underneath the bed using headphones for late night listening sessions are well behind me, life goes on, maybe one day before the Creator calls me home.
 
slippers-on said:
I told you...upon first experience, it would make a grown audiophile cry like a little school girl.
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Admittedly I do have a box full of tissues nearby for said eye/ear openings and can cry with the youngest school age girls in the neighborhood depending upon the event?, even some movies get me teary eyed these days, I guess that mean green fighting machine in me has become more human after all.

Whom would've thunk it?.

:nono:
 
slippers-on said:
Bill gave you excellent info. There are a few advantage to keeping all PCM as PCM and convert on the fly...he's even gave you a few of those advantages as well as You save a lot of space on your drives...as well as money.
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Yes, he certainly did and I can't say not a moment to soon - as I'm simply put, in heaven. Back to the B Ball Game.

Later Black!.
 
Guys it has been a blast having the sleeping giant within awaken to new beginnings and here's hoping more of you are able to enjoy these wares as well as the sound these simple, yet very well voiced towards musical correctness brings to those who's are curious about DSD on a whole - I now I'm smitten and intend to carry onwards until there's no end.

Be well Fellas.

O_o scar
 
Oscar wrote:..... after only listening through 4 tracks man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, what the hell is going here with this little cheap DAC is beyond belief, I'm talking charity - hidden nuances - space around every...... instrument - different shadings and textures very seldom heard outside of a nice concert hall - a sense of realism and purity that seems to unravel layer upon layer of hidden passages right before my very being.
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Yeah man....Like I said....PCM may hit a little harder....thats the nature of PCM....DSD is 1 bit, but a much higher sample rate. Just think...those little nuances are on the CD, but you really cant hear them. DSD done right can be unbelievable! Glad you've come over to the right side of things mi bro!
 
slippers-on said:
Yeah man....Like I said....PCM may hit a little harder....thats the nature of PCM....DSD is 1 bit, but a much higher sample rate. Just think...those little nuances are on the CD, but you really cant hear them. DSD done right can be unbelievable! Glad you've come over to the right side of things mi bro!
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No doubt - rather late then never I'd say.

Later little Brotha.
 
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