buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 I’m on the lookout for a new USB dac. I have a decent library of 16/44 cd rips but really good DSD capability is essential - I’m a convert and now have a pretty substantial collection. I use Audivarna. I was pretty much decided on a Qutest - I’ve had a short audition with one and liked it, but wasn’t able to have a good listen to it with DSD at the time. Recently I’ve read some negative stuff about it’s ability to play native DSD. Apparently it converts it to PCM for playback. In the real world does this matter in terms of SQ? Anybody have any experience or opinion on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BATMAQN Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Russ I'm no expert but why wouldn't you just buy a DAC that you enjoy flavour wise isn't that more important than kowtowing to a format I'm just saying, not trying to start a war of words mate? Both my DAC's are getting long in the tooth in fact one of them is the Octave (a pity your's died) they both still sound good to me perhaps I'm just content. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) Yes, that’s the plan - to find something I like. I’m not a flipper - I tend to find things I like and keep them for ages so that’s why Im doing due diligence in this confusing and argumentative world of dacs. I have no loyalty to files or formats - I’ve got and enjoy everything from Tidal to vinyl. But I have recently acquired a collection of DSDs - a lot of them are double ups on my own cd rips and I find them significantly better. While I enjoyed cd rips on my Octave for years DSD even on my little cheapie Topping dac has got me wanting more. Edited October 9, 2018 by buddyev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewantsmoore Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 2 hours ago, buddyev said: In the real world does this matter in terms of SQ? It doesn't need to. Generalisations about it being bad are usually misguided. For a DAC which did do a poor job of converting DSD to PCM.... an option is to have the player convert the DSD to PCM first (assuming that software can do a better job than the limited logic inside the DAC) AFAIK Audirvana can do this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 Yes , happy to use software for conversion. I use Audivarna at the moment to upsample pcm and to convert to dsd. The jury is out for me whether this is better - I think it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewantsmoore Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 For all the hand wringing around .... DSD or PCM each are able to provide a "no better than the other" representation of audio. Certain DACs will work better playing one over the other. Many things recorded with/for, or remastered for, DSD/SACD have had more care or production values applied than your usual recording ... and so can sound relatively excellent. The same can be said for things recorded in/for PCM, of course. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) Thanks for that, Dave. Do you have an opinion on Chord dacs? I’m auditioning a few dacs this next few weeks and plan on buying something soon. I was hoping something would come up in the classifieds but it’s been pretty lean for dacs recently. Edited October 9, 2018 by buddyev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulinap Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/cd-players/listing-1790066436.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) 3 minutes ago, pulinap said: https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/cd-players/listing-1790066436.htm How the hellareya Puli? Reading a bit about that denafrips today - it gets rave reviews. If it was up the road I’d give it a go. Edited October 9, 2018 by buddyev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulinap Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 1 minute ago, buddyev said: Reading a bit about that denafrips today - it gets rave reviews. If it was up the road I’d give it a go. And if it doesn't work out....you can always donate it to me...I am just a short tram ride away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 1 minute ago, pulinap said: And if it doesn't work out....you can always donate it to me...I am just a short tram ride away... Welfare dependency stunts aspiration - I would to want to do that. You can come and have a listen, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pulinap Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Just now, buddyev said: Welfare dependency stunts aspiration - I would to want to do that. You can come and have a listen, though. I knew you were a laissez faire capitalist...! It won't be long, we, the downtrodden take pictchforks and start marching up the Richmond hill....that dac may be the only thing between you and the lynching mob..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Castlehill Hifi has two Chord DACs, both should do DSD Neo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 12 minutes ago, pulinap said: I knew you were a laissez faire capitalist...! It won't be long, we, the downtrodden take pictchforks and start marching up the Richmond hill....that dac may be the only thing between you and the lynching mob..... Problem is that mob is more likely to be Young Liberals hunting down Greens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Misterioso Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, buddyev said: was hoping something would come up in the classifieds but it’s been pretty lean for dacs recently. Hmm, someone sold a $10k Meitner for $2750... was surprised that you were not interested. Edited October 9, 2018 by Misterioso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) 43 minutes ago, Plattenspieler said: Hmm, someone sold a $10k Meitner for $2750... was surprised that you were not interested. Yes, I know. I had a lot going on at the time and probably wasn’t paying proper attention. Plus I was just starting my research for a new dac then and didn’t really know what I was looking for. Edited October 9, 2018 by buddyev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyW Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Why not take a look at the Gieseler range of DAC's. The Gross DAC will do DSD512 and remains the best I've heard to date. I do have some others that sound very nice though none is as the tappingly musical as the Gieseler Gross. One of the best purchases I've ever made. Clay is a really lovely bloke to deal with too. Probably the only thing stopping the DAC from being perfect is lack of buttons on the front for selecting sources without the remote. This is a small gripe though. It's more due to my habit of misplacing the remote. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 17 minutes ago, MattyW said: Why not take a look at the Gieseler range of DAC's. The Gross DAC will do DSD512 and remains the best I've heard to date. I do have some others that sound very nice though none is as the tappingly musical as the Gieseler Gross. One of the best purchases I've ever made. Clay is a really lovely bloke to deal with too. Probably the only thing stopping the DAC from being perfect is lack of buttons on the front for selecting sources without the remote. This is a small gripe though. It's more due to my habit of misplacing the remote. That is all very good to hear — I ordered a Gros last week. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKay Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 On 20/10/2018 at 2:50 PM, buddyev said: That is all very good to hear — I ordered a Gros last week. So did I. Mine is arriving tomorrow. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raffinator Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 I hope you both have fun with it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill125812 Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 +1 for Clay GroB dac. I’ve owned one for quite a few months now. Won’t be going anywhere Will do what your looking for and sounds sublime 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eternaloptimist Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Can I put a vote in for the T + A DAC 8 DSD? https://www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/series-8/dac-8-dsd/ Amazing DSD section, particularly when fed DSD512 from HQPlayer. I previously had a Cyrus DACXP Sig (which was nice), the T + A is amazing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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