Upscaling low quality audio

[jtaylor991]

I have seen things that somehow do this like the Marantz NA7004 with its M-DAX2 chip (http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=HiFiComponents&SubCatId=0&ProductId=NA7004).
 
Is there a product specifically for this that goes between the DAC and amp?

 

[Head Injury]

It's not possible to recreate lost data. That's just advertising copy. If it does anything special, it's probably just EQ.
 
Creative's X-Fi Crystalizer claims the same thing. That's just a glorified pre-defined EQ.

 

[jtaylor991]

Ah OK thanks. It seemed a little bit odd. There were audible improvements with it in reviews though. Whatever it does, it is still something positive.

 

[Head Injury]

Quote:

Ah OK thanks. It seemed a little bit odd. There were audible improvements with it in reviews though. Whatever it does, it is still something positive.

 
Only if you like the effect.
 
When comparing two equalizer settings, a V-shaped one will sound more exciting. That doesn't mean it's objectively a good thing to use.

 

[khaos974]

Quote:

It's not possible to recreate lost data. That's just advertising copy. If it does anything special, it's probably just EQ.
 
Creative's X-Fi Crystalizer claims the same thing. That's just a glorified pre-defined EQ.

Come on, don't be disingenuous, there's probably a multiband harmonic exciter and dynamics processor thrown in together with the EQ

And while you can't recreate lost data, it may be possibly good enough to fool one's ears and sound "better" to some ears.
 
 

 

[Uncle Erik]

Ah OK thanks. It seemed a little bit odd. There were audible improvements with it in reviews though. Whatever it does, it is still something positive.

Every review claims audible improvements.

My favorite is how reviews always claim the audio is "better" than devices costing several times the price.

Every $300 amp is better than some $1,500 amps and the $1,500 amps are always better than some $5,000 amps.

 

[Redcarmoose]

Funny how it really works well to upscale regular DVDs to 1080p, but it just does not work with audio. 

 

[khaos974]

Quote:

Quote:

Ah OK thanks. It seemed a little bit odd. There were audible improvements with it in reviews though. Whatever it does, it is still something positive.

Every review claims audible improvements.

My favorite is how reviews always claim the audio is "better" than devices costing several times the price.

Every $300 amp is better than some $1,500 amps and the $1,500 amps are always better than some $5,000 amps.

Following this line of reasoning, the cheaper the device, the better it is

 
 

 

[sterling1]

I've got Windows 7 set for 24/96 as that's the limit of my audio device. Using my X-FI-HD for USB to Toslink conversion,  iTunes and 24/96 HDtracks material is enjoyed at 24/96 from my HT. It all sounds fantastic. Listening to the Rolling Stone's, Love In Vain, from iTunes download, HDtracks 24/88, and original LP as well as a new DSD mastered LP, I can only distinguish the LP's from digital when I hear a dust pop or defect in the vinyl.  I see no need therefore to adjust Windows 7  so as not to up-sample the iTunes downloads.. Interestingly, since the iTunes downloads are indistinguishable from HDtracks, I wonder about the point of HDtracks; yet, I'm still downloading from their 24/96 store,  since, so far; nothing else, even SACD, sounds better to me. I'm thinking however, multi-channel BD audio might be the daddy if it gets some wind behind it.

 

[jtaylor991]

Quote:

 
And while you can't recreate lost data, it may be possibly good enough to fool one's ears and sound "better" to some ears.
 
 

Quote:

Funny how it really works well to upscale regular DVDs to 1080p, but it just does not work with audio. 

 
Exactly what I was thinking!


Quote:

I've got Windows 7 set for 24/96 as that's the limit of my audio device. Using my X-FI-HD for USB to Toslink conversion,  iTunes and 24/96 HDtracks material is enjoyed at 24/96 from my HT. It all sounds fantastic. Listening to the Rolling Stone's, Love In Vain, from iTunes download, HDtracks 24/88, and original LP as well as a new DSD mastered LP, I can only distinguish the LP's from digital when I hear a dust pop or defect in the vinyl.  I see no need therefore to adjust Windows 7  so as not to up-sample the iTunes downloads.. Interestingly, since the iTunes downloads are indistinguishable from HDtracks, I wonder about the point of HDtracks; yet, I'm still downloading from their 24/96 store,  since, so far; nothing else, even SACD, sounds better to me. I'm thinking however, multi-channel BD audio might be the daddy if it gets some wind behind it.

Hmm interesting. I went to my sound devices, and Advanced tab in my Speakers Properties and there it was, a drop down list of different qualities and a test button. If the option is there, does that mean that the sound card (onboard for me) is capable of that quality? My list goes to 24/192 for my onboard audio.
 
 

 

[sterling1]

Your audio device will determine your Windows setting need. My Sony TA-E9000ES will accept up to a 24/96 digital input, so, that's my chosen Windows setting. My DAT recorder however will only accept up to 16/48; and, therefore, it requires me to re-set Windows. Of course, I could re-set Windows to match just about any file size found in my computer's music library up to 24/192; but, it seems, when set to 24/96, up-sampling everything not already stored at 24/96, everything sounds as good as anything I've heard from my digital audio library, so that's where I've set it. Only occasionally, for DAT recording, do I need to re-set Windows to be able to accommodate recording to  that specific audio device. 
 
Back to you, since your audio device is the computer you could up-sample everything  to 24/192 and listen to  your computer's audio library at that rate from your computer's speakers, or from external speakers, that's to say, if you're using the computer's DAC. If you are outputting from USB to an external DAC, the DAC will determine what Windows  setting you will need to use. BTW, you can still  download  24/192 stuff, assuming you've got the space for files so big and a media player on your computer which will play those big files. You might do that  in anticipation that someday you may get a better external DAC than you're using today. Until then, you would just need to set  Windows 7 to down-sample to accommodate what ever external DAC you've got now.

 

[Hifianddrumming]

Quote:

Following this line of reasoning, the cheaper the device, the better it is

 
 

 It's true. Let's do the science
 
 300 dollar amp> 1500 dollar amp> 5000 dollar amp. In the long run that means some 300 dollar amps> some 5000 dollar amps.
 
 You're mind, is blown.
 
 Aside from that, my favourite analogy when I just started learning about audio: trying to convert an MP3 file into a FLAC file (or upscaling in anyway for that matter) is like taking a 250ml glass of water and pouring it into a 500ml glass. you will still only have 250ml of water.