DSD sound quality in nDac

Have you tried another USB stick

DSD sounds freakin' good, it's a shame that there are only a few DSD records out there. I start elaborating how to rip SACD but the effort is too high (cracked PS3 etc.) DSD kills my LP12 without any problems (never thought that I would say that...). 

Regards,

Ralf

I too, am not impressed by DSD. But it is early days. I downloaded the Carmen Gomes album, Little Blue in dsd128k, I also need to crank up the volume control. I do find the sound quality very thin, but there seems to be a very low noise floor. I will try a few more in the near future, but I am having problems finding USB sticks that the NDac likes. Most of mine will not play, but they are old and so I've ordered a few 4GB ones from Amazon so we'll see how that works out.

Tim

Don't know about how it is via Ndac but some of the DSD I have heard via my Mac has been stunning.  I just wish that there was more of it around

After installing new firmware (although in DAC V1, not nDAC), I listened some DSD versions of my recordings I had before on CD or 16/44 rips. They sound different, and not always DSD wins or loses. It is more of mastering I guess, as most of the time there is no exact same mastering for 16/44 PCM, HiRes PCM and DSD, so you can not objectively compare formats, as it wouldn't be fair. If it is original DSD recording, or some properly done master from original master tapes, it potentially could sound stunning. Try to listen DSD64 versions of Cat stevens "Tea for the Tillerman" or M. Jackson "Thriller", for example. For me at least, theese sounded lot better than any other versions I had before. On the other hand, I preferred Genesis albums on CD rather DSD/SACD, but then again - CD versions were original pressings, and DSD/SACD were remasters. So in the end is more "what you prefer" rather "what format is superior". You should listen for yourself, compare and then decide what you like most.

The point is same DSD files sound much better in terms of sound stage, bass when I play them using PS Audio Direct Stream. The albums I tried are Elton John's Good Bye Yellow Brick Road and Santana's Abraxas.

Only the difference is in case of PS Audio I'm streaming the file using Minim Server (which supports DSF) from my Mac Mini to PS Audio Streamer (which supports DSD too). The streamer in turns create a DoP to pass it to the DAC.

Also there is no problem playing Hi Res PCM files using nDac - sounds awesome. Believe handling of DSD file has some problem in nDac.

Regards,
Sourav

I get tired of dsd, it is even more a rip off than 24 bit remasters in terms of price.

Claus

Sourav posted:

Just upgraded the latest firmware for nDac. 

Somehow not happy with the sound quality I'm getting out of DSD files. I'm using  .dsf files through a USB stick inserted in the front usb slot of the nDac. The sound is thin, need increase  in the volume to get better quality and lacks bass. 

I compared playing the same dsd file using my PS Audio Direct Stream dac. The quality is much much better. The difference can be recognised by even a non audiofile.

From the same usb stick when I play regular PCM files (in flac), 16 bits and 24 bits types, the sound quality is awesome. Probably better the PS Audio. My CDX2 paired with nDac also has improved sound quality I must say with this new upgraded  firmware.

Any idea what is going on with DSD ? 

Regards,

Sourav

I agree with you i played some DSD files through my NDS i also didn`t like the sound,the sound is thin without bass, you need to increase volume, and it still not alive and not involving so in the meantime i stayed with my regular PCM files and HDtruck that sound best to me.

Even if NDS is not able to play it properly then I believe there must be some issue.

Today I'll try the same by connecting my Mac Mini to nDac using Musical Fidelity Vlink 192. Mac Mini has the dsd files. I'll run jRiver there to create DSD over PCM. The Vlink will connect to Coax of nDac.

Regards,

Sourav

Sourav posted:

The point is same DSD files sound much better in terms of sound stage, bass when I play them using PS Audio Direct Stream. The albums I tried are Elton John's Good Bye Yellow Brick Road and Santana's Abraxas.

For me DSD appears to come into own with choral and orchestral music - there is a certain space around the complex layered sounds of orchestras and choirs that sound infectiously lifelike to me - and for whatever reason it just doesn't sound quite as good on PCM. Of course the master will need to have been recorded in DXD.

Now this could be the DSD processing and noise shaping. mastering - I don't know - but I have a few DSD recordings that sound sufficiently more satisfying than their PCM equivalents (of the same recording). I agree cost is silly for the better recordings- so I only buy those recordings I am confident are going to be special. I also use a Chord Electronics Hugo fed DoP from a NDX.

Simon

I agree with Simon's assessment. I spent last evening enraptured by the DSD 64 version of Rachel Podger's readings of Vivaldi's Estro Armonica. There really is a great sense of space and a heightened ability to focus on individual musicians. This appears to be an all DSD recording, from the info on the Channel Classics site. The only downside I found was a slightly unrealistic top end to the violins. I've ordered the physical copy so that I can rip the CD layer to the UnitiServe, just to see how well the 16/44 version fares and to check if the violins sound more realistic.

Moving on to a DSD version of Dire Straights Brothers in Arms was, well, strange. The bulk of the music sounder thinner and flatter, yet the guitar came across too loud, as though it had been set too high in the mix. There was a processed quality to the guitar that left me with the impression that DSD was trying very hard but not quite getting it right.

It would be great if DSD were better across the board, but that does not seem to be the case. Buy carefully...

Tried out DSD files from my macmini to nDac using musical fidelity vlink 192. The music server running on macmini is Audirvana.

Yes the quality of sound is Awesome !!! 

Audirvana increases the gain by 6 db. I believe that makes the difference ( compared to the situation when I played the same files using usb stick directly fed to the usb slot of nDac).

Regards,

Sourav

I have spent quite a bit of time comparing DSD v hi res PCM equivalents. A number of sites allow you to download tracks for comparison. I use USB into nDac. For example I compared the Rachel Podger Vivaldi release in 24/44.1, 24/96, 24/192 and DSD 64. Noticed difference from 24/44.1 to 24/96, but little/no difference then moving up to 24/192 or DSD 64. I therefore purchased 24/96. To be honest I have similar experiences from other comparisons. Critical is the original recording/mastering process. Record companies using DSD generally are critical over this process. Therefore all their recordings tend to be very good - from CD upwards!  Accordingly I am very circumspect regarding DSD, generally much more expensive with no noticeable again over hi-res PMC equivalents. 

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

Moving on to a DSD version of Dire Straights Brothers in Arms was, well, strange. The bulk of the music sounder thinner and flatter, yet the guitar came across too loud, as though it had been set too high in the mix. There was a processed quality to the guitar that left me with the impression that DSD was trying very hard but not quite getting it right.

 

There's MFSL and SHM remastering for Brothers in Arms in DSD, the later version is different, as it "cut shorter", like vinyl. This was also the version I preferred. Which version you tried?

As it was a (ahem) gift, I'm not sure of the version. The album cover shows it as the "20th Anniversary Edition". I've read that the 2005 remaster was heavily compressed ; perhaps that's the one I have...

Andrius, it looks like Jan-Erik has the Mercury/Vertigo 20th Anniversary Edition which has multichannel whereas the MFSL is stereo only.

Steve

Thanks for the clarification. I'll purchase the MFSL version.