DSD, The last thing we need....

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or not...

Up to this point in time (15 yrs into the SACD era) I can't say I've noticed (for me) a clear preference for DSD vs. hires PCM
Or not what though? He said he AGREED...I think he should know his own mind...You and others are free to disagree.
 
or not...

Up to this point in time (15 yrs into the SACD era) I can't say I've noticed (for me) a clear preference for DSD vs. hires PCM
Look, the article the OP pointed to is old and has been thrashed on many fora. The author of the piece has a vested commercial interest to naysay DSD, and that is fine, as long as that fact is not hidden.

Some like Matej and Myles suffer from digititis, needle in the head syndrome, when listening to PCM for too long. Matej says Daniel Hertz Masterclass playback engine solves this for $650.

One indisputable fact is that it is easier to get our hand on a pure DSD recording to playback chain than it is to a pure PCM chain. There are enough PURE DSD recordings/analog transfers available that an be played back on 1 bit converters, multibit DSD converters and Chipless solutions like Lampi/Direct Stream that preserves the chain of custody right until the analog output. This is VERY rare with PCM, which needs to source old material which happened to be recorded on devices like the Pacific Microsonics 2 and then played back on a R2R Multibit NOS dac like CH, Phasure, AMR DP777, Trinity, Metrum Octave, Killer dac, etc.

This whole debate is pointless to me, arguing over whether chocolate ice cream is better than vanilla. Almost everyone loves ice cream, so there...
 
If you mean "pure DSD" with no analog generations, that is much more rare than "pure PCM (24-96 or better)". If you mean a PCM recording also played through a ladder-type DAC, then that is indeed a rare bird today. And of course it's all opinion, I was just giving mine, which I admit (by this time) is probably well-known to you and probably to Mark as well.
 
Pick the music, not the format and enjoy. I love DSD, but I look at the music first, second and third. The format is a distant fourth. Redbook, fine. 24/96, fine. 24, 192, fine. DSD, fine. DSDx2, fine. It's all good - but focus on the music and the mastering first. If you have a network music player or DAC that allows all formats or most formats, then you won't worry yourself with the dreaded format wars. Pour yourself a drink, click play and sit back and relax.
 
Pick the music, not the format and enjoy. I love DSD, but I look at the music first, second and third. The format is a distant fourth. Redbook, fine. 24/96, fine. 24, 192, fine. DSD, fine. DSDx2, fine. It's all good - but focus on the music and the mastering first. If you have a network music player or DAC that allows all formats or most formats, then you won't worry yourself with the dreaded format wars. Pour yourself a drink, click play and sit back and relax.

I 2nd that! :D
 
Pick the music, not the format and enjoy. I love DSD, but I look at the music first, second and third. The format is a distant fourth. Redbook, fine. 24/96, fine. 24, 192, fine. DSD, fine. DSDx2, fine. It's all good - but focus on the music and the mastering first. If you have a network music player or DAC that allows all formats or most formats, then you won't worry yourself with the dreaded format wars. Pour yourself a drink, click play and sit back and relax.

I absolutely agree with you Mike. As long as you include vinyl in the equation. Haha.
 
Pick the music, not the format and enjoy. I love DSD, but I look at the music first, second and third. The format is a distant fourth. Redbook, fine. 24/96, fine. 24, 192, fine. DSD, fine. DSDx2, fine. It's all good - but focus on the music and the mastering first. If you have a network music player or DAC that allows all formats or most formats, then you won't worry yourself with the dreaded format wars. Pour yourself a drink, click play and sit back and relax.

Agreed.
 
I'd further add that if 16 bit PCM is unlistenable in any audio system then the owner should seek professional help - perhaps from a trusted local dealer or a more experienced audiophile.

Made me smile; though a dealer or an audiophile wasn't the first person to come to mind...
 
Welcome to the forum John.
Thank you for joining!

Thanks Joe.
The forum, and this thread, has helped me decide to keep pottering-on with PCM.
This is a good thing really as I am heavily committed to FLAC, mostly 16-bit 44.1kHz via EAC.
I have been deliberately cautious with my streamer purchases.
Before selling my final CD player, I tried an outboard DAC with the wife's laptop, but decided against that route.
I had a Pioneer N-50, before purchasing the Stream Magic 6, which reassured me I was heading in the right direction.
The next step over here would have been a Naim or Cyrus - What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Awards 2013: Best Music streamers - but I swithered and ultimately bottled-out of spending more money.
The SM6 > VK-3iX > VK-55 > Ninka provides a reasonably beefy American sound which I like, whereas the N-50 was more of a thin and tinny British sound so, as good as it was in defeating most CD players, it had to go. I lost a serious amount of balls-out grunt replacing my 4B-ST with the VK-55, but just had to have the extra clarity for vibraphones, etc.
Now it's just a case of waiting for other people's cast-offs as they upgrade.
All the best.
 
I'd further add that if 16 bit PCM is unlistenable in any audio system then the owner should seek professional help - perhaps from a trusted local dealer or a more experienced audiophile.

Made me smile; though a dealer or an audiophile wasn't the first person to come to mind...

LOL, my thoughts exactly....;-)
Welcome to AS.

Thanks Mark.

Like me, you will have thought of an otolaryngologist first :) ...of course.
 
What! Another audiophile and industry professional who makes DSD ADC's and DAC's who prefers PCM?? It must be a conspiracy...

Wasn't there some controversy over this comparison? I thought I read something about this before. It really doesn't matter though. If PCM makes your socks roll up and down, enjoy it. The only person you have to please is yourself and your ears.
 
I'm still in the agnostic camp; I have great sounding SACD's and great sounding PCM (downloads and Bluray/DVD-A). As I have posted before, I don't really have a preference except to prefer either over CD or LP.
 
I'm still in the agnostic camp; I have great sounding SACD's and great sounding PCM (downloads and Bluray/DVD-A). As I have posted before, I don't really have a preference except to prefer either over CD or LP.

Yes. Perfect attitude. Personally, I doubt if any high-res format (DSD vs 96/24, or higher, PCM) is superior to the other. At least not enough to be concerned about.

For example, the Japanese SHM SACD of Exile on Main Street is much better than the CD. However, my Blue Ray Audio of Exile on Main Street is, to me, just as good as the SACD, plus I can rip it to my music server.
 
Yes, but the DSD master downloaded is better than the SACD, given all the processing and compression tech to fit it on as an ISO file in SACD format!

So yes, in disk format or even ripped, you still dont get the full potential of DSD material. Plus when you go to DSD128 and above, you can hear the immediate improvement.

This is why I say I will listen to people gargling in DSD128! LoL

Well recorded PCM is great for me as well, as I dont suffer too much from digititis sensitivity!
 
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