HiFiMAN 602: Talk about your initial impressions and specs

[dallan]

^^I have the 801 and have done a lot of converting and bought another external hard drive and it was well worth it over my ipod at least.

 

[Darksyde]

Sorry for asking this question (it has already been asked, but I didn't completely understand the answer given), but will the 602 support 24/96 FLAC?  From my understanding, it will do so, but only to 192kH (is that was it means to oversample- extend the recorded frequency beyond what the human ear is capable of hearing?).
 
Please, correct me if I am wrong, and thank you.

 

[Hero Kid]

Wrong link. See bellow.

 

[dallan]

That post says no 24 bit by my reading.

 

[Hero Kid]

Oops I meant this post.
 
The whole sampling thing is over my head I have to say.

 

[dallan]

Well that post is pretty literal so I guess the answer is yes then.  That puts them back on my list.

 

[Darksyde]

Quote:

Oops I meant this post.
 
The whole sampling thing is over my head I have to say.

Thank you, Hero Kid!  I must say, I do enjoy your posts

 

[Anaxilus]

I've been reading quite a bit about this DAC.  Quite the controversial little DAC.  As stated no oversampling which is the whole point.  I'm a little lost about the whole 24 bit thing since its reported to only really do 8-12 bits out of the theoretical 16 bits on CD let alone 24bits.  The point of contention between the great minds is regarding a relatively higher noise level versus say the Wolfsons or Burr Browns, etc but a very high timbre or tonal accuracy true to real life.
 
If someone can correct me on the TDA1543A feel free to help out.  I could use it.

 

[Hero Kid]

Yeah I'm in deeper than I thought. I was reading this topic and although most of it is over my head and jargon I don't understand, I think there is more to this 24 bit playback and the HM-602 than a simple "Yes".

 

[Darksyde]

Quote:

Yeah I'm in deeper than I thought. I was reading this topic and although most of it is over my head and jargon I don't understand, I think there is more to this 24 bit playback and the HM-602 than a simple "Yes".

I read over it and it seems you're right.  I'm fairly certain that Fang has worked out whatever needs to be implemented and set in the 602 for it to operate as advertised.  If not I'm going to develop an aneurysm attempting to figure this all out for myself!

 

[Hero Kid]

Haha. It might be able to play 24 bit files but just down-sample them... or it might actually do what you expect from something being listed as being able to playback 24 bit files.
I don't know enough to be able to work it out for myself. I might ask Fang...

 

[Darksyde]

Quote:

Haha. It might be able to play 24 bit files but just down-sample them... or it might actually do what you expect from something being listed as being able to playback 24 bit files.
I don't know enough to be able to work it out for myself. I might ask Fang...

 
Only way to find out is to torrent hi-res Steely Dan and try it with the player.  If my pants need a change, so will my doubts
 
But yeah, asking Fang will save me the trial-and-error (as well as the potential emergency laundry-run!).
 

 

[Student_Driver]

I googled  the specs of the chip.."16 Bit economy version" Does not sound like it could handle 24bit natively with out oversampling. The HiFiman web description says "It is well known that Non-oversampling dacs offer great sound for little money. HM-602 is the first portable player using non-oversampling DAC: Philips TDA-1543. "
 
So I don't get how this does 24bit? I am a 'noob' so I may just be clueless on my understanding of the technical aspects. 
 
DATA SHEET 
TDA1543 Dual 16-bit DAC (economy version) (I2S input format) 
Product specification File under Integrated Circuits, IC01 February 1991 
Philips Semiconductors 
Product specification 
Dual 16-bit DAC (economy version) (I2S input format) 
FEATURES · Low distortion · 16-bit dynamic range ·

× oversampling possible · Single 5 V power supply · No external components required · No requirement for external deglitcher circuitry due to fast settling output current · Adjustable bias current · Internal timing and control circuits · I2S input format: time multiplexed, two's complement, (Fixed)

 

[cooperpwc]

That's very useful, thank you, especially the part about 1.95 - - - - - - - 90 - -30 - -0.6 MIN. 3.0 5.0 50 2.30 -75 0.018 -30 3.2 0.5 - - 96 ± 500 × 10-6 - 250.    
 
I believe that Scot Nixon has used this exact chip in his Chibi DACs. Maybe you don't hear a lot of people swooning at the mention but it is all in the implementation. As I noted before, the cousin EIJA-format chip, the TAD1545, is used in Monica and USB Monica. As implemented, it is wonderful.

 

[customNuts]

I read a post by Fang stating that it can play hi-rez (24bit) files but it will play them at 16 bit. It will still be able to play up to 96khz though.
so 24bit/96khz goes to 16bit/96khz as opposed to standard 16bit/44khz.
Hope that helps.