Quote:I have a bunch of flac. files with much higher sampling rates than 44.1.K But if my computer/ DAC combo doesn't pass it through I've been wasting my money.
Donnie, Don't lose hope!
I am running all 44.1 and getting awesome sound, as are many others. Though there is definitely merit to high res files...more information, you can get kickass sound from 16/44.1. The dB Audio folks have some very interesting discoveries on this....
As I understand it, their testing method is several engineers doing double blind testing as they sort out parts and the best possible synergy. Looking for a neutral analog sound, Master tapes are referenced. After some time, one aspect of the study seemed to become not getting caught by "the current belief" and remaining open to whatever works even if it does not necessarily make sense with current thought. It was in this sort of exploration that they arrived at their DACs and how they came to using a tweaked out Mac as a file source, while discovered tweaks for the computer in the same way.
Anyway, in these many many many tests they arrived at NOS DACs....16/44.1 period...no async...no high res...no upsampling. While the Tranquility evolved, their findings were that there is much more smooth information on 16/44.1 than was generally thought. All kinds of pointers to fine information showed up, obvious inner detail, and very fine ambient information, but also in nuance of voices and instruments as they became more fleshed out...and without digital hardness, instead with an analog liquidity. The Tranquilities can play high res files but not at high res in the DAC. In the end DbAudioLabs (and many serious audio heads out there) found that the Tranquility sounded better to them than a lot of big name, very good hi res and async DACs, including Ayre, Wavelength, Wyred, PS Audio, Peachtree.....
Of course this is a taste thing, but there are some pretty heavy listeners out there using the Tranquility which makes no sense within the async/high res mindset.
They kept working on async too, and referencing some mainline popular players with async and high res, but still thought their NOS DAC sounded better so stuck with it.
Not to say that the Tranquility is the end all, just making the point that some serious designers and listeners believe these guys have made an amazing discovery....that there is a lot more to 16/44.1 than was thought. And so much so that even in the async/high res belief system of todays market, they they held to this very unpopular approach believing thier sound is better, and from the lowly 16/44.1K files.
The thing is, this is a similar process Steve used to create your ZDAC, mod and listen, mod and listen for forever. So if you are not getting amazing sound, I would say it is not the DAC.
I just did some testing and though I have been using the V-Link, I tried just my wireworld cable in the ZDAC on its own. It sounds awesome. The V-Link pulls more micro detail (also, according to the Mini audio out, with toslink out, the V-Link can go to 96K as opposed to the ZDAC USB 48K, and probably the same with your laptop) but just the ZDAC with a good cable fed by the tweaked Mini is beautiful. The DbAudioLabs Essential USB cable takes it to another level, but the Wireworld Startrlight sounds really good. And I have the same amp and speakers you have though I have modded my MGs, and use a tweaked out Mini playing with PureMusic.