And that's a tiny fraction compared to those that are not DSD-native.
In any case, I'm with Schiit on this one -- it's a flat-lined format with no significant growth potential. Even Sony's dedicated HW + streaming HAP-Z1ES didn't kickstart it.
I don't disagree, but we are talking really early on. At one point, USB caught up and then some. I think one of the major issues was that USB sources sucked.
Virtually evey DAC maker has been offering async USB as a standard input for years. I thought it was odd Schiit chose to make it an add on option at the beginning,
But I don't begrudge your convictions, as the audio press overhyped USB, like everything else.
I also
think their resistance of DSD is rather stubborn. I have ripped over 1000 SACDs to my server and a DAC without DSD decoding
is non starter for me. And ripping SACDs is amazingly easy now with the new method.
Given that Schiit decided to focus on multibit PCM DACs with a proprietary exact upsampling filter for the great majority of us who have oodles of PCM material and constantly getting more (no DSD out there for any of the new music I buy every month), it makes total engineering and product sense to not provide DSD. The instrumentation DAC chips they use are PCM native, so DSD input would require a conversion from DSD to PCM anyway, which AFAIK is lossy. In contrast, delta-sigma DAC chips are by design DSD native, so no lossy conversions are required for DSD. If DSD is your thing, there are plenty of DSD-native DACs out there at all price points. This is not a mistake on Schiit's part, it's a rational product and engineering choice to give the best quality for the vast collection of lossless (PCM) content out there.
I'd also love some VU meters (the ones on the SPL Phonitor series would look good on Schiit), but I suspect it would blow up the volume and case work economics.
Agreed! If it adds 30%+ to the price or effects sound quality I would keep it off otherwise I personally don't mind paying an extra $100ish bucks or so for that feature. That's just me.
Given that Schiit decided to focus on multibit PCM DACs with a proprietary exact upsampling filter for the great majority of us who have oodles of PCM material and constantly getting more (no DSD out there for any of the new music I buy every month), it makes total engineering and product sense to not provide DSD. The instrumentation DAC chips they use are PCM native, so DSD input would require a conversion from DSD to PCM anyway, which AFAIK is lossy. In contrast, delta-sigma DAC chips are by design DSD native, so no lossy conversions are required for DSD. If DSD is your thing, there are plenty of DSD-native DACs out there at all price points. This is not a mistake on Schiit's part, it's a rational product and engineering choice to give the best quality for the vast collection of lossless (PCM) content out there.
I totally respect the choices Schiit made. And to cater to the relatively few like me would be bad business.
I will point out that Bryston was in the exact same situation. Their customers were constantly badgering them about DSD. They
bypassed it with the BDA-2. They were in no rush to stamp "DSD Ready" on the front panel for marketing purposes.
They have a proprietary upsampling option and did not want to do away with that for DSD, nor
convert DSD to PCM. Solution? The BDA-3 has two separate signal paths for PCM and DSD, with
DSD via USB.
Okay, time to reel it in. The DSD discussion has been done to death, over and over again. Our opinion is well-known. Other opinions are well-known. We get it. Move on.
(Though I have to say, MQA is the only format that makes me feel slightly warm towards DSD. At least with DSD, you have a choice. MQA is nothing less than an attempt at a complete takeover of the high-end industry, IMO. Again, other people have different opinions. We get it. Move on.)
Given that Schiit decided to focus on multibit PCM DACs with a proprietary exact upsampling filter for the great majority of us who have oodles of PCM material and constantly getting more (no DSD out there for any of the new music I buy every month), it makes total engineering and product sense to not provide DSD. The instrumentation DAC chips they use are PCM native, so DSD input would require a conversion from DSD to PCM anyway, which AFAIK is lossy. In contrast, delta-sigma DAC chips are by design DSD native, so no lossy conversions are required for DSD. If DSD is your thing, there are plenty of DSD-native DACs out there at all price points. This is not a mistake on Schiit's part, it's a rational product and engineering choice to give the best quality for the vast collection of lossless (PCM) content out there.
I personally agree. I was originally leaning toward the Ayer DSD DAC because it sounded real good with the Vandys BUT after reading Schiit's FAQ on Yggy I looked for a lot of the content that I like on DSD and discovered that most of it doesn't exist. Most of my 2-channel pals keep talking with me about DSD and some have some content but the ones that do have very little of it unless they searched it out specifically because it's DSD.
I'm good with lossless CD and Tidal in combination. The next step I think is turntable which at this point is not for me. I think a lot of people were sucked into the DSD marketing with some exceptions who actually do like the content. I do think Yggy sales would go up if it offered DSD but not necessarily because the buyers would use the DSD functionality, they would want it just in case they did at some point plus they want the bells and whistles to tell their friends "yes it is a newest best DSD DAC ".
I personally am very good not paying for DSD because I don't think I will ever use it Plus I love the way my Yggy sounds. Also Yggy is upgradable so if DSD gets bigger than Schiit can always pivot. Just my $.02
Re vinyl, it is interesting to note that they are starting to make new record presses, so this may go beyond bearded hipsters at Whole Foods buying a vinyl-covered portable turntable with a plastic arm at the feature island by the checkout stands.
Let that sink in: they're manufacturing new record presses.
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