Yes. Started for me a few years ago and on very highly resolving systems, I really liked what I heard – particularly high-rate DSD – so that’s what I focused on. A few years ago, only exaSound was demoing DSD256 and to me it was the best digital I’d ever heard, something that finally had me forgetting about vinyl (for a little while anyway
).
As good as the DSD256 was (or is) though, I feel DSD128/SDM5.6 is MUCH more here-and-know and obtainable – certainly if you are in the test-drive mode. Here’s the thing though and this is very much just my opinion (which many here will disagree with) – decide first if you like DSD128 on a DAC that does it well and set your focus. Maybe borrow a DSD DAC (shoot for 128 right off the bat), grab some source files, a laptop, load some demo software and listen in your own system. Go beyond sound-bite wow-factor evaluation, really ‘listen’ to some music and see if it sucks you in enough to forget about the system.
Try source material that has no PCM conversion along the way - analog or DSD recordings & mastering, preferably DSD128 files. It’s out there (including free samples), particularly from the likes of;
https://www.nativedsd.com/
http://bluecoastrecords.com/
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/
These sites have a fair bit of DSD128 to pick from and are pretty careful about disclosing provenance. The likes of
[URL="http://store.acousticsounds.com/"]http://store.acousticsounds.com/[/URL] have a much wider selection of material and formats and may end up more of a go-to source but I’m suggesting making the call on DSD128 first. If you prefer hi-res PCM or have no interest in DSD, you are on a different path but if DSD128 is the ‘sweet spot’ for your DAC and tastes – my rambling might have meaning.
DSD128 works on many DACs now, from the $200 iFi iDSD nano on up to the top dog $15k Lampizator but believe me, you get a very good taste of what this format is capable of even from something as pedestrian as the $800 Concero HD (that I use). DSD128 can work using DoP USB DAC drivers that are widely available for Mac, Windows and Linux (Linux opens up 2pc streaming options on low horse-power/low $ hardware), but DSD256 currently puts you in bleeding-edge territory where custom Windows ASIO drivers (don’t know Mac) become necessary.
Then there is conversion and I’ve found that if you really get the DSD128 conversion right off-DAC, you can get amazing results by utilizing the hot-rod/PCM filter by-pass routes provided in some of these modern DACs – forget sending them PCM. Now you get into software from free to expensive (Signalyst’s HQplayer is about $150) and this is worth spending time experimenting with – there IS a difference and IMO the best costs $150. Exactly how well this software does conversion is the difference between all digital sounding fantastic as DSD128 or the often pushed view that PCM should stay PCM. Sure, I’ve heard some amazing PCM DACs like the Berkeley and AudioNotes but forget DSD on those and at the lower price points (maybe most any price point?) one size does not necessarily fit all – a do all DAC might not do all as well.
Software choice then dictates all kinds of downstream decisions but suffice it to say that DSD128 via Jriver in a Mac or Pc world (for example) might be a very different place than what can (must?) be done to get the best out of HQplayer - especially if even higher DSD rates are in your future. Again, getting to a comfort level with a format first makes subsequent decisions on software, hardware, even network infrastructure easier and more focused. And yes, just 'playing' these formats straight-up can be done with low-end machines and free software; worth a try but keep an open mind - you just might find as I did that there is a hell of a lot more that can be done by looking beyond this view.
I wish I would have been happy with Jriver on a laptop or the view that one DAC can do everything just fine, that bitstreaming straight-up is all that is needed, etc. but then I heard what is possible with on-the-fly conversion to higher rate DSD and a good DSD DAC – and I’m hooked. Yes, DSD128 source files sound incredible but the really exciting thing for me is how good well recorded and mastered DSD64, 24/192, 24/96, even 16/44 PCM sounds on that same DAC. Pretty cool to be able to grab a crusty old used CD for $1 and be blown-away by the sound quality of the rip playing as DSD128 (assuming good mastering) – that hasn’t happened for me with a used vinyl record in a VERY long time.
‘Super-HD’ formats above and beyond this are interesting to me and I’ll get there when the edge isn’t so bloody but DSD128 is here-and-now, convenient, relatively affordable and with the right up-sampling, brings all my digital into a place I didn’t think possible a few years ago.
