MLGrado
500+ Head-Fier
There are some other DACs out there that use Burr Brown chips, therefore they convert DSD to analog in a similar way as the iDSD Nano and Micro.
I wanted to see if users of these DACs also reported pops and ticks when switching DSD tracks, etc. Indeed, just a cursory google search says yes. For instance, the Teac UD-501, which has the TI PCM1795 Dac. A later version of the DSD1793, though according to many 'in the know' an inferior chip. There are indeed reports of pops changing tracks and formats, especially when using DSD on the Teac. I have also seen reports of similar pops and ticks on the Schitt Loki. It uses an AKM chip, that according to the datasheet does NOT process DSD natively. But, datasheets are notorious for being wrong, and sometimes outright deceptive. It may indeed actually offer native conversion. At least one 'expert' I have spoken with suspects that may be the case. But the jury is out on that. In any case, it apparently suffers from similar pops.
Seems that indeed it is just an unwanted byproduct of DSD and DoP. iFi has done a good job explaining the phenomenon. iFi has a great software team, and if this can be eliminated within reasonable constraints, it will be. But it may just be something we have to deal with. Yeah, it is annoying. But I would put up with small annoyances if the tradeoff is great sound. Or, like in my case, use ASIO Native, and there are no pops at all.
That leaves us with just the Bitpefect issue. And I am very hopeful that iFi can work out the issue that some people are having. If not, though, we just have to use minimum phase for a couple of rates. Now that is not a solution, but then again, iFi didn't have to go with custom programming to enable a feature that really isn't supposed to be possible anyway. The BitPerfect filter is like gravy, or icing on the cake. If I can't have it, oh well. I still have a helluva tasty cake. But, my hopes are still up that they can make a few programming changes that will eliminate the issue completely.
I wanted to see if users of these DACs also reported pops and ticks when switching DSD tracks, etc. Indeed, just a cursory google search says yes. For instance, the Teac UD-501, which has the TI PCM1795 Dac. A later version of the DSD1793, though according to many 'in the know' an inferior chip. There are indeed reports of pops changing tracks and formats, especially when using DSD on the Teac. I have also seen reports of similar pops and ticks on the Schitt Loki. It uses an AKM chip, that according to the datasheet does NOT process DSD natively. But, datasheets are notorious for being wrong, and sometimes outright deceptive. It may indeed actually offer native conversion. At least one 'expert' I have spoken with suspects that may be the case. But the jury is out on that. In any case, it apparently suffers from similar pops.
Seems that indeed it is just an unwanted byproduct of DSD and DoP. iFi has done a good job explaining the phenomenon. iFi has a great software team, and if this can be eliminated within reasonable constraints, it will be. But it may just be something we have to deal with. Yeah, it is annoying. But I would put up with small annoyances if the tradeoff is great sound. Or, like in my case, use ASIO Native, and there are no pops at all.
That leaves us with just the Bitpefect issue. And I am very hopeful that iFi can work out the issue that some people are having. If not, though, we just have to use minimum phase for a couple of rates. Now that is not a solution, but then again, iFi didn't have to go with custom programming to enable a feature that really isn't supposed to be possible anyway. The BitPerfect filter is like gravy, or icing on the cake. If I can't have it, oh well. I still have a helluva tasty cake. But, my hopes are still up that they can make a few programming changes that will eliminate the issue completely.