Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe - ending point in my search for a new reference

[Rasuti]

To upgrade with POW connection do we need to send back the DAC to Cen Grand?

from what ive been reading on their site, they recommend it, but distributors if they are capable and knowledgeable of the process can do it too I think.. Its mostly flashing the firmware that seems difficult? installing the pow into the dac seems simple.

Are you able to do both @ArthurPower ?

 

[project86]

I'll be trying that upgrade myself soon and will document my thoughts once I am done.

From what I'm told it involves opening up the case (obviously), removing that rear blank panel via several screws, placing the POW card where it belongs, and plugging in a connector. Then there's a socketed FPGA chip on the Deluxe main board that needs to be swapped out, which shouldn't be much different than swapping an opamp. Lastly we connect a USB cable to a header on the Deluxe main board, run a windows program to upgrade the firmware, then close up the case and it's all done. So, not the simplest thing in the world but not rocket science either.

Supposedly flashing the firmware is not the most user friendly process. Maybe some command line strings or something? Still, seems like if instructions are given it should be easy enough to follow along.

I am told this firmware update process is the same one used by Benchmark, though I've never upgraded one of their DACs myself.

 

[Traiguen]

Hello DSDAC owners, could you please help me with the below 2 questions:

1. Is this a bit-perfect DSD DAC? this DAC upsamples all PCM to DSD.
2. Does it also do this to DSD files, and if it does, can it do DirectSDM?

Thank you.

 

[Rasuti]

Hello DSDAC owners, could you please help me with the below 2 questions:

1. Is this a bit-perfect DSD DAC? this DAC upsamples all PCM to DSD.
2. Does it also do this to DSD files, and if it does, can it do DirectSDM?

Thank you.

For 1, technically.. yes. It can be bit perfect with DSD files at 128/256/512, when changing the mode to Non-rising. DSD64 still gets upsampled to 128 so that would not be bit perfect when switched, and PCM still converted to dsd256.

For 2, It does when in Rising Mode. For the latter, is this a HQPlayer question? I am not familiar with DirectSDM with anything other than that so let me know if you are talking about something else. I presume this is still connected to the first question in regards to disabling processing, for the DSDAC the most that option would do is disable volume control making it fixed from the source, would not stop its internal upsampling. Refer to my first answer for bit perfect DSD playback.

 

[Traiguen]

For 1, technically.. yes. It can be bit perfect with DSD files at 128/256/512, when changing the mode to Non-rising. DSD64 still gets upsampled to 128 so that would not be bit perfect when switched, and PCM still converted to dsd256.

For 2, It does when in Rising Mode. For the latter, is this a HQPlayer question? I am not familiar with DirectSDM with anything other than that so let me know if you are talking about something else. I presume this is still connected to the first question in regards to disabling processing, for the DSDAC the most that option would do is disable volume control making it fixed from the source, would not stop its internal upsampling. Refer to my first answer for bit perfect DSD playback.

Thank you!
Yes, question 2 was an HQPlayer question & internal upsampling.

 

[Traiguen]

For 1, technically.. yes. It can be bit perfect with DSD files at 128/256/512, when changing the mode to Non-rising. DSD64 still gets upsampled to 128 so that would not be bit perfect when switched, and PCM still converted to dsd256.

For 2, It does when in Rising Mode. For the latter, is this a HQPlayer question? I am not familiar with DirectSDM with anything other than that so let me know if you are talking about something else. I presume this is still connected to the first question in regards to disabling processing, for the DSDAC the most that option would do is disable volume control making it fixed from the source, would not stop its internal upsampling. Refer to my first answer for bit perfect DSD playback.

Thanks Rasulti,

Would you be able to confirm if the below is correct?

It seems in Non-rising mode the DSDAC will not upsample DSD files at 128/256/512. That would allow the HQPlayer upsampled DSD files to play with the filters and modulators of my choosing. Just to certain the Non - rising mode turns off upsampling for DSD at 128/256/512?

 

[Rasuti]

Thanks Rasulti,

Would you be able to confirm if the below is correct?

It seems in Non-rising mode the DSDAC will not upsample DSD files at 128/256/512. That would allow the HQPlayer upsampled DSD files to play with the filters and modulators of my choosing. Just to certain the Non - rising mode turns off upsampling for DSD at 128/256/512?

This is correct. I tried this out when I was upsampling music to dsd512 in HQPlayer.

 

[Traiguen]

This is correct. I tried this out when I was upsampling music to dsd512 in HQPlayer.

Many thanks!!!!

 

[tedacura1]

Do you guys keep your DAC on all the time or do you turn it off at night?

 

[Rasuti]

Do you guys keep your DAC on all the time or do you turn it off at night?

mines on 24/7.

 

[tedacura1]

I am not clear on how the Preamp works. How would I be able to use my tube amp with the preamp if possible?

 

[Rasuti]

I am not clear on how the Preamp works. How would I be able to use my tube amp with the preamp if possible?

Holding down P/D will put it in Preamp mode and I believe the same for switching back.

DAC/Pre mode you hold down input and it will switch to Volume Mode. When switching back to direct you'll have to hold input again, and it will give a volume warning, after you just press input again once.

 

[tedacura1]

Holding down P/D will put it in Preamp mode and I believe the same for switching back.

DAC/Pre mode you hold down input and it will switch to Volume Mode. When switching back to direct you'll have to hold input again, and it will give a volume warning, after you just press input again once.

Is putting the DSDAC in volume mode pre-amping my tube amp? When I hold down P/D to go into preamp mode, I hear nothing from my tube amp. What am I missing here?

 

[Rasuti]

Is putting the DSDAC in volume mode pre-amping my tube amp? When I hold down P/D to go into preamp mode, I hear nothing from my tube amp. What am I missing here?

Volume mode will make it dac/pre so you can attenuate from the dac instead of your stratus, I don't know what unity gain is for it so you'd have to experiment.

In Preamp mode its purely a pre, dac is disabled, hence no sound. It would need to be connected to another dac.

 

[tedacura1]

Volume mode will make it dac/pre so you can attenuate from the dac instead of your stratus, I don't know what unity gain is for it so you'd have to experiment.

In Preamp mode its purely a pre, dac is disabled, hence no sound. It would need to be connected to another dac.

Thanks for the info It has been helpful.