I noodled around the web.  Reaction has been positive.  

I did find that my CPU runs a little hotter.  I tried nearly all the filters and didn't notice much difference.  It loads songs fairly slow given its crunching as it loads, but only once did it not keep up.

The only thing I didn't like is that I lose volume control (I do on all DSD material).

Definitely worth a try.

By the way, it also has a Tidal interface now with a 3 month trial.  I'm not much of a streamer, but I will check it out this winter.

Yesterday I launched it and it keeps crashing.  It could have to do with my drive not delivering the data fast enough.  I fear it is on its last legs.

I read that too.  I changed filters and no problems.  Not sure I understand because the other day I ran all of them with no problem.

You busy this Sunday? Maybe it's time for another mini CDApS meet?

I still want to build a Windows PC for you to try out - I wonder if there is a software that does the DSD up-sampling on the Windows side?

Again, now you're seeing what I've seen in the DirectStream for the past year. Good DSD is the closest thing to Analog, and somehow seems to smooth out CDs and draw out more information!

I just wish more people got it.  :)

I'm flying solo this next Decfest. I have my room reserved and everything.

I'll bring some of my home brew mead to try out.  :)

Make sure to get the Rolling Stones 2003 remasters in DSD.  I have a lot of great stuff on DSD, but these in particular really stand out to me and show what the DSD format is capable of.  They are my go to DSD samples when I want to impress somebody and even sound great on non DSD capable DACs converted to PCM through JRiver.

Yeah the remastering has a lot to do with it, but the combination of attention to detail and the DSD format itself is pretty freaking awesome IMO.

Talk to LR ... he should have some of them.

I am mostly putting it together based on tracks I have as well.  I have some new stuff that I got from axpona.   Also some stuff I heard on the radio.

Here are my cartegories so far:

PRaT
Bass
Soundstage
Female vocal
Sense of room

The idea is without geeking out to much I'd like to evaluate each setup with a common set of songs.  Maybe just one per category.  

Lonely Raven wrote on 09/11/16 at 23:45:03:


The SACD/.DSF ~ there should already be some in your collection as I sent them to you.  Specifically you should have the following:

1966 - Got Live If You Want It!
1969 - Let It Bleed
1971 - Sticky Fingers
1972 - Exile On Main St.
1974 - It's Only Rock 'N Roll
1976 - Black And Blue

There are more out there, but that's all I have in my collection.  They were re-mastered by ABKCO sometime between 2002-2003.  You can tell a lot of work went into them and I'm sure even the CD versions sound good, but if you can get the .dsf's ... stick with those!

OK, I have figured out the crashing situation and now pretty stable playback.  It's really only on the first song in an album/playlist where the trouble appears because it loads continually into memory so subsequent songs are fine.

Anyway, the DSD playback has really helped the single driver sound.  I don't think I had so much shout as I had digititis in my playback that was made more apparent with the single drivers.

I have been rolling various input tubes and those deemed too bright before are fine now.  Really enjoying the single wire getter 6n23ps now where I could not listen to them before.

I am of the same opinion with the DSD upsampling.  Having tried it, I cannot go back to standard PCM.  The only issue is that I get occasional stutters and once in awhile my left channel completely drops out.

The noise from the computer is also a drawback.  I may look at a solution to get a computer with more power and also get it out of the listening room.

I see occasional mention of stutters over at the long thread on CA.

This DSd upsampling is so good that it is making me consider trying a HQPlayer/m Rendu combination.  That seems like an awful lot of work but getting rid of the computer in the listening room would be great.

Oh, I forgot to add - Palomino, I've been busy with family issues, but I'm getting those tracks you wanted tonight. We can chat about how to get them to you later if you'd like.

Pal, I'm going to be delving into the DSD upsampling as well. I'm going to be building an i5 Tiny Form Factor PC and running HQ player out to my DirectStream DAC. I'm also considering picking up a used TEAC or TASCAM unit for the computer desk/spare bedroom system that I pretty much have all the parts for. If you feel like switching to the dark side, I do have these great Tiny Form Factor i5 processor machines for sale cheap!

Also, speaking of digital audio - I sent Steve a message, and while I know we all tend to haunt the General forum here at Decware, Steve was nice enough to create a Digital Audiophile section for us to start populating! I'm going to start posting some links and neat info I'm finding while doing my research - and it would be a great place for us to post our digital exploration expeditions.  ;)

I totally missed Matchsticks question about MQA above, so that's going to be one of my first posts over in the new section. I'm hoping we can keep this new forum going, since there seemed to be quite a bit of Digital Audiophile talk during the last Decfest.  :)

I am in the same boat as far as not going back to PCM.  I should not have spent the money but I just picked up a new 2012 mini with an i7 processor.  Like you, I have been running a 2009 with a LPSU.  I'm looking forward to running 128 or 256 with the new Mini

Eventually, I will put a PSAudio LANRover or Sonore MicroRendu in the chain.  Digital can sound really good that's for sure.

I will report back in a week or two once I get it up and running