questions on DAC's and digital audio

[wawaron]

Have a question for all. I'm looking to purchase an Integrated amp to simplify my life. It is a second to be used in my living room. My choices are Cambridge Audio Azur 851A(2000$) 120 w/c, 651A(800$) 75w/c, or Topaz SR 10(550$)85 w/c. These are all conventional power systems. My other option is a new Peachtree Nova 125 Digital power Amplifier(1500$) it can be used as an integrated amp. It has USB Digital Input, Optical input,Coax 1 and 2 inputs, Aux input a Pre-out and speaker out. I really like the efficiency of digital amps. I'd like to use either one of the above choices to listen to music through my MP3(not iPod) and eventually add more options. I've been told that I would need to change my MP3 to have a digital output or use my computer to stream my music. If I don't do this I will be bypassing the Sabre ESS9023 DAC and using the DAC in the MP3 player???

Any easy ways to get digital music through the Nova 125. Buy an iPod transfer music from my CDs to it, Place my laptop close by or what?

[wawaron]

Hi, I have a question about ripping CDs to HD. If the CD is 16 bit and 44.1 KHz how do we get higher resolution? Are 24bit/192KHz made from master tapes?

[SoundGame]

You are correct, all CD's are 16 bit/44.1kHzm. You could up convert themand in fact any lower resolution file to 24/192 or higher but with no real benefits. What you need to be concerned with is the native (or original) resoltion of the file.

A native 24/192 is from a master of that same or higher resolution. A native high rez file could come from an original digital recording of the artist or a mater of an analog tape recording, as analog has no real-world limit to resolution.

[wawaron]

Thanks for the answer. Follow up; So ripping CDs rip at the highest resolution of the CDs 16bit/44.1KHz. What does a DAC with upsampling do to this newly ripped CD as far as sound quality??

[SoundGame]

This is an area of much debate and many who choose a DAC that does upsample would also feel that it should have an upsampling defeat button, so that the upsampling can be disabled where the user decides that it doesn't provide enhanced sound or perhaps is detrimental. Many upsampling DAC's like those from Simaudio and Muscial Fidelity don't include an upsampling defeat - they upsample all of the time. The Bryston BDA-1 and 2 both allow for upsampling to be defeated.

Upscaling DAC's claim to provide less time-domain smearing and better (low distortion) reproduction of the upper most frequencies. This has got to do with the digital filtering that is employed vs. analog filtering.

Ultiimately you can't assume that a DAC that upsamples is better than one that doesn't and the best option is to have a DAC that allows you to defeat the upsampling. Though in this latter case, it is probably because the manufacturer is not absolutely confident in their upsampling application/performance.

Short answer: trust your ears.

P.S. I use a Musical Fidelity M1-DAC A, which upsamples everything incoming to 24/192kHz but does this in a very natural sounding way with no artificial sheen on the high frequencies. I've also hear my friend's Simaudio 300D DAC which upsample everything as well and it sounds wonderfully musical - not artificial in anyway. I've heard Suave's Bryston DAC, which he usually defeats the upsampling on, and it sounds great, as well. So there are great solutions out there in all camps.

[wawaron]

Thanks. I'm looking at the Parasound Zdac. It states "Signals are re-clocked and then up-sampled to 422kHz/24 bit for vivid and effortless reproduction." Plus in the features page "All inputs re-clocked and up-sampled to 422kHz/24 bit"

I have so many questions about going to a computer based system for my living room. I will try to ask at least 1 or 2 questions per day .

[SoundGame]

Though I don't have experience with Parasound's DAC components - I did see this DAC and it captured my attention, as well. They do have a fine reputation for their amplifiers and preamplifiers - some of which I have heard.

If I were you, I'd seek out a local dealer where you can hear the Parasound DAC in comparision to some other competitive brands/models.

Cheers.

[Suave]

As SoundGame mentioned above I use the Bryston BDA-1 DAC in my system, and I do appreciate the fact that it allows me to turn the upsampling on and off. Normally I listen to music with it off but it certainly also sounds great with upsampling turned on. I just prefer my music not to be altered that's all. The most important thing about a good DAC is that it is capable of significantly enhancing music from all the connected sources. My Bryston DAC provided a HUGE improvement in my system and I absolutely love it!

[wawaron]

Hi, I'm looking to convert my over 1000 CDs so that I can listen to them in my living room. The best resolution from a CD is 44/16 right. So do I need a DAC that samples more than this, say 96/24 or any higher??? In what noncompressed format should I rip my CDs?? Do not use anything that starts with "I".

Thank you

[Suave]

Yes you are correct - CDs offer a resolution of 44 kHz/16-bit. You will need a DAC with a higher resolution, only if you'd like to be able to listen to higher resolution files such as those from www.hdtracks.com.

I ripped all of my CDs into the FLAC file format - this is a compressed, lossless format that many use. I used software called dbPowerAmp as recommended by users of this forum which can be purchased from www.dbpoweramp.com. WAV is another popular format, it is non-compressed and lossless, but it takes up a lot of space.

Do you have any specific DAC/price point in mind?