[gLer]

Yeah definitely. As you said, you can't add more information onto Redbook, but as Dargin pointed out, you are presently losing information through the conversion processes. DSD can better minimize those losses. Beside what he mentioned, upsampling to DSD also allows you to improve the filtering so that you can extract more of the signal from the noise. This all results in sonic improvements across the board: more detail, blacker background, better clarity, more natural timbres, etc., a generally less digitally harsh and more fluid analog sound.

There has been so much debate with A/B comparisons, and then discussions about the psychological legitimacy of A/B comparisons. The thing is, there are so many factors involved, like your overall system. In the end, you really have to sit with DSD (at whatever sample rate) for a while, in a quiet space, with your gear, to appreciate it.

Upsampling into DSD is not the same as simply upsampling the frequency. UAPP has included a basic upsampling algorithm, and Dave himself would tell you that its not great and not to use it. You're right, with a simple algorithm like that you only get more mathematical errors the further you get from your source frequency rate.

Look at that, we're back to talking numbers again.

Not to detail this thread but this is all very interesting. I'll ask one last question before getting back on topic - what do you use to upsample your source files to DDD512? I'll certainly try a few upsamples myself, although my current gear (dap and desktop) top out at DSD256 so I'll stop there.

 

[edwardsean]

Not to detail this thread but this is all very interesting. I'll ask one last question before getting back on topic - what do you use to upsample your source files to DDD512? I'll certainly try a few upsamples myself, although my current gear (dap and desktop) top out at DSD256 so I'll stop there.

There are a few great upsampling programs available, but the place to start is with Xivero, XISRC, as it is the simplest to use. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued, but the download is still available and, I think it will still function in trial mode.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Not to detail this thread but this is all very interesting. I'll ask one last question before getting back on topic - what do you use to upsample your source files to DDD512? I'll certainly try a few upsamples myself, although my current gear (dap and desktop) top out at DSD256 so I'll stop there.

Linking it back to M15, I tried HQPlayer Desktop real-time DSD512 conversion with M15 as a USB DAC. It is a pretty advanced piece of SW. There is also an offline conversion version (Pro) targeted for studios (costing about $3000). Desktop version is what you can try by connecting M15 as a USB DAC to your computer:

https://www.signalyst.com/consumer.html

For offline conversion, I have this one in addition to what edwardsean mentioned. It also has an evaluation version you can use to evaluate:

https://samplerateconverter.com/

 

[edwardsean]

Linking it back to M15, I tried HQPlayer Desktop real-time DSD512 conversion with M15 as a USB DAC. It is a pretty advanced piece of SW. There is also an offline conversion version (Pro) targeted for studios (costing about $3000). Desktop version is what you can try by connecting M15 as a USB DAC to your computer:

https://www.signalyst.com/consumer.html

For offline conversion, I have this one in addition to what edwardsean mentioned. It also has an evaluation version you can use to evaluate:

https://samplerateconverter.com/

Just to finish derailing the thread: I've used all three, and from a quality standpoint, for me, it goes from XiSRC to AuI to HQPP, HQP/P is the best by far, but XiSRC is the easiest to figure out by far.

Best of luck with DSD.

 

[greyforest]

Mm... I'm going to sidestep a potentially lengthy debate and simply answer your good questions:

My entire library is upsampled into DSD512 and the ones in current rotation get put on a 1TB SD.

I'm using an LCDi4 with an EA Horus cable, and the sonic benefits of DSD512 are superb. It is like upgrading your hardware's digital section–weightlessly.

It is a good point about using a desktop DAC over a DAP for DSD512, but the opposite also holds true for me. Portability puts limitations on how sophisticated you can make your D/A section. All the more reason to leverage the offline computing power of a PC to upsample files into DSD512 and transfer them for decoding on a DAP–provided your DAP is capable of it. Most are not, but the M15 seems to be able to handle it, which is why I'm perplexed that the Fiio's native app restricts playback to DSD256.

O', yes, I do love numbers. 512 is a good one.

the first time i heard m15，immediately I thought to myself this thing is built for a lcdi4 build. Nice to see someone actually did it

 

[AudioBomb]

the first time i heard m15，immediately I thought to myself this thing is built for a lcdi4 build. Nice to see someone actually did it

the first time i heard m15，immediately I thought to myself this thing is built for a lcdi4 build. Nice to see someone actually did it

I use the LCD-i4 with the M15 (I don't even have any other IEM at the moment - sold them all) and the marriage is perfect.

 

[gLer]

I use the LCD-i4 with the M15 (I don't even have any other IEM) and the marriage is perfect.

Between you an me, 80% of the performance comes from the IEM. My U12t on an M11 will sound better than a $1000 IEM on the M15. Of course you want to pair the best IEMs with the best source, so an M15 will sound better with your i4 than the M11. But start with a great IEM and the rest is just gravy.

 

[AudioBomb]

Between you an me, 80% of the performance comes from the IEM. My U12t on an M11 will sound better than a $1000 IEM on the M15. Of course you want to pair the best IEMs with the best source, so an M15 will sound better with your i4 than the M11. But start with a great IEM and the rest is just gravy.

I have no doubts about that.

 

[JamesFiiO]

@JamesFiiO, will a future firmware release allow DSD512 files to be played on the stock music player app? Right now it only seems to work through Neutron.

we will try.

 

[edwardsean]

we will try.

Thanks James. It just seems like a shame to not take full advantage of the great components you put in the M15. The hardware is already there. Full native local DSD512 playback would be a worthy addition for the M15.

 

[littlexx26]

is 64 audio noir a good match with m15?

 

[aaf evo]

is 64 audio noir a good match with m15?

M15 is a warm, smooth, laid back presentation with some thick mids (imo), if that's what you want with your Noir then go for it. I think very few people on Head Fi own the M15 as of right now due to CNY and then coronavirus keeping businesses closed for an extended period of time. Not sure you'll find someone here that has both the Noir and the M15.

 

[AudioBomb]

is 64 audio noir a good match with m15?

Fourte Noir is an extremely detailed IEM, even more so than LCD-i4 due to better seal. Due to M15's warm tonal character, it could very well be a match made in heaven. Another advantage is soundstage. Fourte's soundstage, being a closed headphone, is not as wide as LCD-i4 and M15 possesses one of the widest soundstages I've heard. Both width and depth.

 

[edwardsean]

Fourte Noir is an extremely detailed IEM, even more so than LCD-i4 due to better seal. Due to M15's warm tonal character, it could very well be a match made in heaven.

I would agree with that last part. For me, there are all IEMs, and then there is the LCDi4. No IEM touches its full-size phone like presentation. It is my favorite transducer.

However, it also has that velvety stereotypical planar sound. The M15 is warm and lush and the combination of the two may be too much. Setting staging aside and focusing on frequency response, I would say a leaner phone would pair better with the M15.

 

[littlexx26]

But the impedance of Noir match M15?. Noir is 10ohm.