How important is DSD compatibility when buying a new DAC/Streamer?

How important is DSD compatibility when buying a new DAC/Streamer?

  • [B]Very important.[/B] I want my DAC to handle DSD natively.

    Votes: 32 53.3%

  • [B]Important.[/B] I want my DAC to be fully compatible with DSD, but I'm not concerned about how it

    Votes: 5 8.3%

  • [B]Somewhat important.[/B] I don't have a huge DSD collection, so I won't sacrifice PCM quality for

    Votes: 9 15.0%

  • [B]Not Important At All.[/B] I only have PCM files. If I buy any DSD files, I can just convert the

    Votes: 14 23.3%
  • Total voters
    60
What's DSD? :what:

My CDP/DAC can handle true native DSD but I don't have any files or plans to purchase any. Even the other, more common, hires formats have precious few titles I give a rat's fanny about. I would have voted for an additional choice on the poll. "Don't care at all"
 
Dizzie does you Dac handle DSD natively, as in true 1 bit fashion with now PCM step involved?

You do realize that you don't need DSD files to enjoy DSD hi rate playback?
 
Dizzie be careful Wisnon does this magic voodoo thing and gets you all googly eyed... next thing you know you can't buy DSD albums fast enough... seriously though... huge improvement in my modest system...
 
Wisnon,

Has pricing been announced for the sound galleries server yet? Or is this planned for the launch in Munich?
 
I don't know. I had heard an estimate months ago of Euro 10K but and mot sure if that is still valid. I know that one will be made for the US and at least one lucky forumite here will be able to demo it.

I hear its divine! Noise floor lower than whale crap.
 
wisnon said:
I don't know. I had heard an estimate months ago of Euro 10K but and mot sure if that is still valid. I know that one will be made for the US and at least one lucky forumite here will be able to demo it.

I hear its divine! Noise floor lower than whale crap.
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Wow that's pretty steep. I'm just curious how it could make an improvement with DAC's that have SOTA USB interfaces with the latest generation of galvanic isolation and reclocking technology? Or that use Ravenna interfaces? I'm going to be trying the Sonore Microrendu when it comes out to see if it makes a difference with the PD2, and to see if it's as good as the future Ravenna interface. It would be cool to try that server as well.
 
wisnon said:
I don't know. I had heard an estimate months ago of Euro 10K but and mot sure if that is still valid. I know that one will be made for the US and at least one lucky forumite here will be able to demo it.

I hear its divine! Noise floor lower than whale crap.
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Norman.......Playing devils advocate for a moment, you do know whale crap floats, right? That would make your analogy appear to make the noise floor very noisy. :blush:
 
Double-D said:
Randy.......I guess I missed that post, although I have since read it, but pointing out the obvious again was still fun. . :woot:
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Hahahaha....
I am NOT the expert on whale crap and you know what...I am good with that. LoL
 
CPP said:
Interesting as a whales crap is not low or sinks. A whales fluffy (poop) plume floats at the surface's :D and ps: its extremely valuable as sperm whale poop is a very expensive ingredient in luxury fragrances such as Chanel No. 5,

Now back to our scheduled DSD story.
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OK, chanel just came off my gifting list!
 
DSD via the Lampi is a chipless design. It is my understanding that Lampizator uses filters to handle the DSD signal. It's a very unique design I believe and frankly, comes as close to my R2R masters as anything I've ever heard.

If you don't care about DSD....well, you're definitely missing something, but that's ok too, because the same can be said about not wanting to mess with a Reel-to-Reel setup. R2R care & feeding makes vinyl care and feeding looking like a breeze. If the thought of getting down on your hands and knees with a little cup of rubbing alcohol and a mitt full of Q-tips is not your idea of fun....stick with digital. :)

If you read my review on the Lampizator posted a year ago (here: http://www.audioshark.org/lampizator-186/lampizator-big-7-review-7213.html) -- then you will note that even as a PCM lover, you can experience a good percentage of the Lampizator DSD magic by simply upsampling your PCM to DSD. Does it sound better than the new Lampizator R2R PCM? You be the judge.

If you're a PCM only guy and voted for such, well, the Berkeley Alpha Reference DAC is PCM king (and even sounds great with DSD converted to PCM ahead of time)
If you voted for occasionally dabbling in PCM and DSD, and want to keep your digital life simple and amazing sound, the Lumin reigns supreme.
If you're a DSD fan and want to experience digital that's as close to R2R, then the Lampizator DSD is the ticket. Switching back and forth between inputs with volume matched, I mumbled to myself, "holy crap that's close." You know what is telling? The DB level of background tape hiss between my Jacintha Here's To Ben and the DSD version on the Lampi was almost identical.
 
I would love a Lampizator, but unfortunately I do not have a spare $10k laying around :(....

I have been thrilled with the Wyred 4 Sound and how good it handles DSD all the way up to DSD 256.... Sounds spectacular in my system and definitely sounds much better than PCM or CD. Yes the PCM and CDs sound great just DSD is better, in my system.
 
The Lumin is more than good enough for me,as far as listening to digital.

The VPI Avenger has reset the percentage of digital I listen to!
 
Randy Myers said:
I would love a Lampizator, but unfortunately I do not have a spare $10k laying around :(....

I have been thrilled with the Wyred 4 Sound and how good it handles DSD all the way up to DSD 256.... Sounds spectacular in my system and definitely sounds much better than PCM or CD. Yes the PCM and CDs sound great just DSD is better, in my system.
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Randy, have you thought of getting a Lumin? The D1 is an amazing piece, and priced right! I used to own a Cambridge CD player, while it was good the Lumin will take you to a much higher level.

Everyone is different, but I actually preferred my Lumin A1 over the Lampi GG.
 
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