The Schiit SACD/DSD Research Thread--Your Chance to Win a Bifrost!

[Jason Stoddard]

Hey all,
 
It's that time of year again--time we pick your brains. The topic of SACD and its associated DSD datastream have come up in questions about our DAC products, and we want to know what you think about it.
 
So, in order:
 
1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
2. Do you own any SACDs? 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
 
That's it. Please let us know what you think by May 15, 2012 in this thread to enter for your chance to win a Schiit Bifrost with USB. We'll announce the winner, chosen by random drawing, within a few days afterwards.
 
Thanks to all in advance for participating! 
 
All the best,
 
Jason Stoddard
Co-Founder

 

[obzilla]

Quote:

 
1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Yes,
 
2. Do you own any SACDs?
Yes. 
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
~5% SACD, 5% HD FLAC downloads (24/96/192), 90% CDs (Ripped to lossless @ 16/44)
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 
It is not currently a deal breaker, but I think future DACs should look to this format as it is the next step for audiophiles in the digital realm.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
 
If reasonably priced, yes.
 
 

 

 

[tkteo]

Quote:

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
 
Yes.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs? 
 
Yes. (Mostly classical music SACDs.)
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
 
5% SACD 95% CD
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 
 
No, because I own a SACD player and SACDs form a low percentage of my collection.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
 
Yes I will because I would like to have second DAC option in addition to my SACD player. And to elaborate, I see the specs for the Wolfson, AKM etc chips and I see that these chips are DSD-capable to begin with. So it has been disappointing that there are few DSD-capable DACs on the market. (Yes, I know that it has been a real pain dealing with Sony?)
 
Also, I would also add that in my opinion, a higher end DAC should offer not just balanced outputs but also the choice of digital filter. Minimum phase, apodizing, etc. To sum up, I want to have the option to tweak the sound.
 

 

 

[sridhar3]

Quote:

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Yes.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs?
No.
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
0% SACD, 5% CD, 95% files.
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC?
No.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
I would.  Not sure what I would pay.  Maybe $300?

 
Thanks!

 

[BigTony]

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Yes, I have a SACD player with HDMI DSD and have a DSD Decoder in my main home audio amp
 
2. Do you own any SACDs?
Yes - some say too many!
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
Probably about 10% SACD - as a collector I have quite a few duplicates
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC?
Yes - the SACD player is just a transport - getting the best possible audio chain onwards is very important, I have 2 players but only 1 dedicated DSD system.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
I most certainly would.
 
As an addiditon, I have a bunch of 5.1 multichannel and Quad SACDs - so keep this in mind when developing a SACD/DSD solution - a straight 2 channel decoder isn't my cup of tea
 
BT

 

[Magihyren]

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Yes
2. Do you own any SACDs?
Yes
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
2% SACD, 98% CD
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC?
No, because I have small collection of SACDs.
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
Sure, why not, I have been looking to get more SACDs. Not sure how much I would pay, but I would consider it if priced resonably.

 

[Lord Soth]

Quote:

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Ans: Yes.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs? 
Ans: Yes.
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
Ans: Vinyl 25%
        CD 50% ---> Estimated 10% ripped to FLAC files
        SACD 5%       
        10% Audiophile FLAC purchased online 
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 
Ans: Not a dealbreaker for me. IMHO, SACD is one of those exotic formats which is losing ground against audiophile FLAC readily available for sale online.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
Ans: Depends on the price differential. If <200, I do not mind paying for the extra option.

 
 

 

[obzilla]

 
Quote:

 
As an addiditon, I have a bunch of 5.1 multichannel and Quad SACDs - so keep this in mind when developing a SACD/DSD solution - a straight 2 channel decoder isn't my cup of tea
 
BT

Not to detract from your affection for multi channel, but what good would that possibly do for headphone users? Best case scenario is to use software to downmix to stereo when sending out.
 
A home theater DAC would be a different story, but for 2 channel, I can't see any benefit??

 

[ZorgDK]

Quote:

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
I've heard of SACD's, that's it.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs? 
No.
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
-
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC?
I don't know anything about DSD, but if digital downloadable DSD files is a growing and superior format, it would be an important feature for me in a new DAC. 
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
I Don't know, say 200$. 

 
 

 

[JoeyRusso]

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
    Yes to both
2. Do you own any SACDs?
    Yes 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
    1%, 30%, 69% (mostly FLAC/lossless)
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC?
    Not at this time
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
    No more than $150.00

 

[guix314]

Quote:

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
I know what it is about.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs? 
No.
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
I mostly have redbook music.
My aim is to go fully computer-audio, so SACD/DSD format is a no-go for me.
Instead, I purchase hires music online (I have very few as of yet).
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 
No, as explained above.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
I would tolerate this feature at 0$
 
 

 

 

[Rebel975]

Quote:

 
1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?  Heard of it. Never used it.
2. Do you own any SACDs? Nope.
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files? N/A
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? Absolutely not.
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade? I wouldn't. It's not even a consideration for me.

 

 

[christophrowley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Stoddard /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Yes.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs? 
No. Too small a catalogue to warrant the investment.  
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
N/A
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 
Not really. I'd prefer a superior PCM implementation than have DSD onboard as well. 
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
$150-200 if I felt like experimenting. 
 

 

 

[gmahler2u]

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?
Yes.
 
2. Do you own any SACDs?
Yes.
 
3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?
Sacd - 2%
CD - 96%
Files - 2%
 
4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC?
yes, but right now no money.  Near future i'm considering.
 
5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?
$300 - 500 range.  I was think about Schiit or cambridge or rega. yes i'ts $1000....
 
Thanks love your Asgard!

 

[Defiant00]

1. Are you familiar with SACD? DSD?

1. Yes

2. Do you own any SACDs?

1. No

3. If so, what percentage of your collection is SACD vs CD or files?

1. N/A

4. Is SACD/DSD decoding an important consideration when you're looking for a DAC? 

1. No, if I want higher resolution it'll be from lossless purchases online.

5. If you owned a DAC that could be upgraded to playing SACD/DSD, what would you pay for the upgrade?

1. While I think it's good to have options, it is not one I would pay to have as I would not use it.