AV2 sample rates - explained

Posted by: zorba on 01 March 2013

Dear all,

 

Please excuse my ignorance, I have been to the FAQ and used the search function but still do not find it clear enough.

 

I understand the analogue side of the AV2 what goes in comes out.

 

Any help and clarification would be most welcome with the following;

 

1. What would be the highest resolution stereo music download the AV2 dac can play?

 

2. I understand DTS 96/24 will be played at 48khz due to the processor limitation. Does this mean 48/24? 

 

3. I understand that the AV2 cannot play HD surround digitally and many here recommend DTS CORE on the merits of how well the AV2 deals with it. How is DTS CORE accessed?

 

4. Where and when does PCM come into play? Is this 96/24?

 

5. Are there any recommended digital input and output settings to get the best from the AV2?

 

Many thanks 

 

 

Posted on: 05 March 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by zorba:

Dear all,

 

Please excuse my ignorance, I have been to the FAQ and used the search function but still do not find it clear enough.

 

I understand the analogue side of the AV2 what goes in comes out.

 

Any help and clarification would be most welcome with the following;

 

1. What would be the highest resolution stereo music download the AV2 dac can play?

 

2. I understand DTS 96/24 will be played at 48khz due to the processor limitation. Does this mean 48/24? 

 

3. I understand that the AV2 cannot play HD surround digitally and many here recommend DTS CORE on the merits of how well the AV2 deals with it. How is DTS CORE accessed?

 

4. Where and when does PCM come into play? Is this 96/24?

 

5. Are there any recommended digital input and output settings to get the best from the AV2?

 

Many thanks 

 

 

Hi zorba.

 

Just copied this from the FAQ:

 

There's probably more info in the manual but i don't have mine to hand at the moment.

 

Cheers,

 

Rack.


Analogue inputs (processing modes only - i.e. mono, stereo, PLII, NEO:6):

A/D - D/A sample rates = 96kHz

SPDIF PCM: 

32 - 96KHz (i.e. what goes in, comes out the same equivalent analogue)

SPDIF Bitstream: 

Max output 48kHz equivalent analogue (so DTS 96/24 will output at 48kHz - Processor limitation)

Posted on: 05 March 2013 by zorba

rackkit,

 

Many thanks for your reply, I saw that info too and could not find any more info in the manual.

 

Posted on: 06 March 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by zorba:

rackkit,

 

Many thanks for your reply, I saw that info too and could not find any more info in the manual.

 

You could always fire an email to Naim's technical guys for any extra info. Not sure they follow these AV boards much now.

Posted on: 06 March 2013 by zorba

Thanks again.

 

I was after some quick info as an AV2 came up for grabs. Although I have reluctantly made up my mind to move on and get something more modern in tech specs I have always wanted one and the price and age was low enough to put back on my most wanted although with reservations on what I may be missing out on, hence my questions.

 

I missed out on it but it would still be good to know the next time one pops up.

 

Posted on: 07 March 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by zorba:

Dear all,

 

Please excuse my ignorance, I have been to the FAQ and used the search function but still do not find it clear enough.

 

I understand the analogue side of the AV2 what goes in comes out.

 

Any help and clarification would be most welcome with the following;

 

1. What would be the highest resolution stereo music download the AV2 dac can play?

 

2. I understand DTS 96/24 will be played at 48khz due to the processor limitation. Does this mean 48/24? 

 

3. I understand that the AV2 cannot play HD surround digitally and many here recommend DTS CORE on the merits of how well the AV2 deals with it. How is DTS CORE accessed?

 

4. Where and when does PCM come into play? Is this 96/24?

 

5. Are there any recommended digital input and output settings to get the best from the AV2?

 

Many thanks 

 

 

I've a bit of ABing with DTS Core and HD decoded in the player which is a Denon 3800DVD BD and well regarded for it's HD through analogue and TBH, preferred the Naim decoding overall. The Denon sounded a bit recessed, slightly thin and tied to the speakers compared to the AV2. 

Posted on: 07 March 2013 by zorba

I have always been after an AV2 but as it has taken so long to find the right one that I have began looking at more modern alternatives such as the audiolab 8200ap and now the Oppo 105 which I hope to pair up with Naim amplification direct with nothing in between. 

 

An AV2 came up and I had last minute thoughts. Your comments above only add fuel to my dilema in that although hd audio is here Naim has a certain character.

Posted on: 08 March 2013 by Roy Donaldson

Let me add that the way you get access to the DTS Core is simply to select the DTA Track on the BluRay and it is then output on the Optical/Coax output of your BluRay player. Remember, the nice thing about this, is that is full rate DTS that you get here, so usually a better DTS track than you would normaly get on a DVD.

 

I've listened to my AV2 with DTS Core, vs. have the BluRay player decode DTS HD and output over analog and to be honest the AV2 doing DTS Core is remarkably good. In fact, it's so good that I haven't bothered wiring up all the analogs, or changing processor.

 

Roy.

Posted on: 08 March 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by Roy Donaldson:

Let me add that the way you get access to the DTS Core is simply to select the DTA Track on the BluRay and it is then output on the Optical/Coax output of your BluRay player. Remember, the nice thing about this, is that is full rate DTS that you get here, so usually a better DTS track than you would normaly get on a DVD.

 

I've listened to my AV2 with DTS Core, vs. have the BluRay player decode DTS HD and output over analog and to be honest the AV2 doing DTS Core is remarkably good. In fact, it's so good that I haven't bothered wiring up all the analogs, or changing processor.

 

Roy.

Hi Roy.

 

What's the bit rate difference between core and full HD?

 

Posted on: 09 March 2013 by Roy Donaldson

A BluRay has a DTS core I track on it, this is a 1.5m DTS track and is the max DTS bitrate, so effectively the best you could get off a DVD.

 

It will also have a DTS HD track. There no point in looking at the bitrate of that, as the main difference is that the DTS HD track is compressed using a lossless codec, so there is no compression done to it. That's the benefit and main difference between tracks on a BluRay and a DVD.

 

Roy

Posted on: 10 March 2013 by zorba
Originally Posted by Roy Donaldson:

Let me add that the way you get access to the DTS Core is simply to select the DTA Track on the BluRay and it is then output on the Optical/Coax output of your BluRay player. Remember, the nice thing about this, is that is full rate DTS that you get here, so usually a better DTS track than you would normaly get on a DVD.

 

I've listened to my AV2 with DTS Core, vs. have the BluRay player decode DTS HD and output over analog and to be honest the AV2 doing DTS Core is remarkably good. In fact, it's so good that I haven't bothered wiring up all the analogs, or changing processor.

 

Roy.

 

Originally Posted by Roy Donaldson:

A BluRay has a DTS core I track on it, this is a 1.5m DTS track and is the max DTS bitrate, so effectively the best you could get off a DVD.

 

It will also have a DTS HD track. There no point in looking at the bitrate of that, as the main difference is that the DTS HD track is compressed using a lossless codec, so there is no compression done to it. That's the benefit and main difference between tracks on a BluRay and a DVD.

 

Roy

Many thanks for your replies.

 

Although it may sound way behind the times I have yet to experience the digital sound for av. I have surround via use of a legacy processor.

 

Although I have been building my music library in itunes I have yet to experience it through a dac which is why I am asking about what maximum stereo sample rates the AV2 can play.

 

I am set to soon audition an oppo 105 as a purchase today I think should be made for todays' capabilities but having a desire to have always wanted an AV2 one came up and I had last minute thoughts.

 

It's gone now and maybe by the time the next one comes along I may have an oppo 105.

Posted on: 11 March 2013 by rackkit
Originally Posted by zorba:
Originally Posted by Roy Donaldson:

Let me add that the way you get access to the DTS Core is simply to select the DTA Track on the BluRay and it is then output on the Optical/Coax output of your BluRay player. Remember, the nice thing about this, is that is full rate DTS that you get here, so usually a better DTS track than you would normaly get on a DVD.

 

I've listened to my AV2 with DTS Core, vs. have the BluRay player decode DTS HD and output over analog and to be honest the AV2 doing DTS Core is remarkably good. In fact, it's so good that I haven't bothered wiring up all the analogs, or changing processor.

 

Roy.

 

Originally Posted by Roy Donaldson:

A BluRay has a DTS core I track on it, this is a 1.5m DTS track and is the max DTS bitrate, so effectively the best you could get off a DVD.

 

It will also have a DTS HD track. There no point in looking at the bitrate of that, as the main difference is that the DTS HD track is compressed using a lossless codec, so there is no compression done to it. That's the benefit and main difference between tracks on a BluRay and a DVD.

 

Roy

Many thanks for your replies.

 

Although it may sound way behind the times I have yet to experience the digital sound for av. I have surround via use of a legacy processor.

 

Although I have been building my music library in itunes I have yet to experience it through a dac which is why I am asking about what maximum stereo sample rates the AV2 can play.

 

I am set to soon audition an oppo 105 as a purchase today I think should be made for todays' capabilities but having a desire to have always wanted an AV2 one came up and I had last minute thoughts.

 

It's gone now and maybe by the time the next one comes along I may have an oppo 105.

You'll more inputs from the AV2 but the Oppo will be able to handle more formats at full sampling rates. It all depends on what your primary use is going to be but the Oppo looks to be a very versatile but of kit. 

 

There's a couple of threads about it on here with some expert input from a couple of dealers who stock them.

 

I'll search for them in a mo...

Posted on: 11 March 2013 by rackkit

As promised: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/21699649968734625

Posted on: 12 March 2013 by zorba

rackkit,

 

thanks again, a very interesting read

Posted on: 20 March 2013 by zorba

I have been informed;

 

24bit 96khz is the highest resolution the AV2 dac can play

 

24bit 96khz will be correctly decoded by the AV2 and output to the analogue outs but 48khz from the AV2 digital output.