DSD .. It's growing on me

Posted by: Simon-in-Suffolk on 08 March 2015

what with one thing or another i have started sampling more DSD64 files.. Nearly all classical.. and streamed into my Hugo using DoP and then into my Naim. however I do feel there is something about these recordings that just feels and breathes more naturally.. It's hard to point your finger on it.. But orchestral strings, ambience, textures, woodwind, brass etc just sound more right, and the effect is quite astonishing. Choral and opera is amazing.. ok my collection of DSD is a drop in the ocean currently.. But all my limited recordings have been great..

I think for classical i might be coming a convert... Does anyone else think this or perhaps I am simply dilluisional.. or possibly both of course. 

Simon

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Hmack

Simon originally posted:

 

"Naim have already announced DSD (DSF and DFF) file playback is coming to its streamers.. Just like it has for the N272. If your media server can dish out these files then your Naim should  hopefully be able to play them before too long.

Simon"

 

Thanks Simon.

 

Yes, I was aware of this, but my understanding Is that the Hugo will only play DSD files (I think all the files I have are DSF) via the USB input, which I assumed would rule out the possibility of streaming DSD files via my ND5XS streamer - unless of course I bypass the Hugo and revert back to the ND%'s internal DAC. 

 

Have I got this wrong?

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by mackb3
Originally Posted by DrPo:

With NAIM now delving into DSD territory I was thinking that this makes no good sense if it is contemplated exclusively for the Streamers. At some point sooner or later it's got to find its way into the DAC proper. As the latter is (to my knowledge) not upgradable via firmware I would dare predict that a new DAC is on its way .. sooner or ... later..

 

 

The NDAC is definately firmware upgradable. See NDAC product page.

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hmack - the UPnP media server will  deliver the DSF and DFF files within a DoP  24 bit word data structure  (subject to the capabilities of the media server ) or the streamer will directly access the DSF or DFF files from a USB memory stick.

 

I expect the streamers to output DoP via SPDIF. The Hugo can decode DSD via its TOSlink and SPDIF using DoP. When the streamer is creating a DoP stream using SPDIF from the media received by Ethernet - it needs to do nothing with the DSD data contained within the DoP data structure  other than very accurately clocking the created SPDIF DoP stream.

 

Simon

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by DrPo
Originally Posted by mackb3:
Originally Posted by DrPo:

......

The NDAC is definately firmware upgradable. See NDAC product page.

thanks for the correction, I was wrong.

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Steve J

Free DSD download samples can be obtained from Blue Coast Records. They sound very good via Audirvana through the Hugo.

 

http://bluecoastrecords.com/formats/dsd

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Hmack

Simon-in-Suffolk originally posted:

 

"Hmack - the UPnP media server will  deliver the DSF and DFF files within a DoP  24 bit word data structure  (subject to the capabilities of the media server ) or the streamer will directly access the DSF or DFF files from a USB memory stick.

 

I expect the streamers to output DoP via SPDIF. The Hugo can decode DSD via its TOSlink and SPDIF using DoP. When the streamer is creating a DoP stream using SPDIF from the media received by Ethernet - it needs to do nothing with the DSD data contained within the DoP data structure  other than very accurately clocking the created SPDIF DoP stream."

 

 

Simon, thanks very much for pointing this out. It's very good news - I had assumed that I wouldn't be able to stream DSD to the Hugo. Now, I guess all I need to do is establish whether or not the Synology UPnP media server that I use is capable of delivering the DSF files correctly.

 

Excellent news - I completely concur with Steve J's view of the Blue Coast samples. The ones that I downloaded sound absolutely superb. Just a pity that their album prices are so high! 

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Mike-B

Hmack,  my Synology DS214 Media Server (UPnP) plays .dsf

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Fokkelman

I was very skeptical, but DSD is growing on me too. Even my wife hears the difference and that means something!

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Hmack

Mike-B posted:

 

"Hmack,  my Synology DS214 Media Server (UPnP) plays .dsf"

 

Thanks Mike. Good to know!

 
 
Posted on: 09 March 2015 by mackb3
Originally Posted by DrPo:
Originally Posted by mackb3:
Originally Posted by DrPo:

......

The NDAC is definately firmware upgradable. See NDAC product page.

thanks for the correction, I was wrong.

No worries. It's updated vis USB stick. I've done it once. Wish DSD was a possibility for the NDAC but looks not to be unfortunately. Maybe we'll be surprised.