Although the PSAUDIO DirectStream is a bit of different animal that tries to put what HQPlayer does into the DAC hardware itself on its FPGA, however on the back-end its basically the same thing although its limited to a set 128x DSD rate. Even the analog output is fairly similar with...

you may be correct. When data goes in my brain, it spits some out... I seem to have a shift-register up there doing the work. It would be limited by the XMOS chipset, if thats the case.

Couldn’t agree more. Getting lost in a 45 minute work by Brahms, Sibelius, Stravinsky and enjoying it so much the time seems to be no factor at all. Life is suspended in bliss. That’s what a great live performance does and it’s a rare thing to duplicate at home. It’s the highest praise I...

Filters really DO make a difference. The issue is the typical filter, in spite of the advancements in processing power (fpga,etc) makes it a real chore to hear the difference. Some DACs more than others. Leveraging the power of a modern x86 CPU and NVidia GPU allows for ‘fine tuning’ with...

I think we’ve had this discussion briefly before but yeah you were right it’s a very analog sound, but without all the negatives that come with say even the best vinyl playback. I still need to do some proper measurements but if I recall correctly. The dynamic range on the DSC2 I have is around...

I had owned an Icon Audio HP8 MKII tube headamp twice before. I regretted selling it each time, so I bought another. Likely an irrational impulse purchase. The 'real reason' haha, I did so was the SMSL SP400 THX headamp I was using. I love it. It sounds amazing. But I have also fallen in...

Yes its a winner. Quite good. The fact you get a headphone amp that is good at this price as well is the kicker. I have DACS up to to about the 400 dollar range that are in the same zone audibly via balanced pre-outs, the fact is none of those also have a very capable headphone amp built in...

yes, getting some clarity on how to define these things would be helpful. So many people seem to be speaking a different language. We need clearly defined terms. for instance, one major hangup in understanding PCM vs DSD is exactly what we mean by bits. Bits can be defined in different ways...

not the ZEN DAC, but I had to also take advantage of the new product updates to remove the ZEN Phono from my heavily modified Rega RP3 setup and try out the iFi ZEN Phono V3... cannot wait....

...the DAC, not end... Way back Before all that, ALL DSD first goes to a specific DSP that converts DSD to a multi-bit intermediate via FIR filter.(* see ESS diagram attached) However many bits comes out of the FIR filter, is multiplied by a 32 binary bit gain control. It would be easy to...

Okay I get it. Holo audio has two 'ladders' for each format.. PCM has two and DSD two. Redundancy. They call the DSD converter a ladder DAC, but that's more just marketing, and yes, while DSD FIR filters can use an array of resistor elements, (or caps) it isn't the same and IMO leads to...

so in most important ways, its is not a 'ladder' as in PCM ladder. It is like the DSC2 I have sitting here with its resistor 'ladder' of equal weighting fed by shift register. An FIR filter to put it simply. Where I am trying to understand the Cyan is the 8 by 8 architecture. I am...

thank you I knew Jussi probably had commented on it somewhere. Obviously he is among the most reliable and knowledgeable sources. Not the only one, but I don't think anyone has the pulse of the 'DSD Industry' quite like Jussi. Much respect.

that would be what I am looking for yes. Does it have that separate menu item allowing the choice. my apologies, S.M.S.L calls it 'FIXED DSD BYPASS' in its software and includes it with the other choices mentioned. So yes, it can be selected here. Good deal! Thanks so much

anyone aware of the DSD conversion path here? I have seen a lot about Holo being one bit, and the use fancy buzzwords that don't mean much when actually telling us what it does or how it works. I am assuming that as a true 1 bit converter, it is a thermometer coded multi-resistor element...

Does this version on the AK4191 +AK4499EX have access to bypass mode? No if it doesn't specifically have a bypass mode for DSD as a menu choice, it doesn't have it. (The ones I have reviewed with the Bypass have it as a third output option. You get 'variable' 'fixed' and DSD Bypass fixed'...

Good to know. At the time of my review of the ZEN DAC V2 this was not yet the case although it was available on the original ZEN DAC ( option for GTO filter) The default filter in the reviewed models I had was a standard linear phase FIR with very good stopband rejection ( over 80db if I...

In the middle of my review of the new iFi ZEN DAC V3 (fed by NAA through the iFi ZEN STREAM via HQPLAYER on my just finished today purpose build PC just for Roon and Hqplayer, so I am totally maxing out the quality of the ZEN DAC) via my trusty H650s (on my third pair now) BUT.... it sounds...

You have what I consider to be the best synergy I have heard between products. Likewise I have a Zen Stream with Zen DAC V2 and now V3 under test. I don’t think anyone has better sound for the money. The synergy is that good. And as good as the V2 is, the V3 has a better headphone amp...

You might say that. The ZEN V3 doesn’t just stand out for features. Sound quality is competitive or better than products costing twice as much. And that includes iFi’s own products such as the original Neo DAC/AMP. The Neo with Firmware upgrade had more features such as choice of standard...

But didn’t you know topping is making DAC’s with SINAD approaching 125db and dynamic range greater than 130db, and near perfect linearity to -120db? They are measurement kings which we all know means they are obviously better than anything iFi or Holo could possibly make Lol of course I’m...

Okay... just some early returns here. I started listening with my Focal Clear MG Pro headphones. Yes, they sounded great and the V3 had no issues at all driving them. But something wasn't quite 'iFi' about the sound. Certainly it needs more run-in time, so I make NO definitive pronouncements...

yes that was my speculation. Cost saving. Thanks so much

yeah, that is how I have it setup. I just wonder why DACs would not support DSD at 48khz base rate. Less resource intensive and I would presume higher quality too.

What is your opinion on oversampling to DSD? Should everything be oversampled to the same rate? I.E, 44.1 and 48khz both to 2,822,400 hz? Or should 48khz be oversampled to (I believe my math is correct) 3,072,000 hz? I would think the even integer oversampling would be the best way to...