Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Return to Computer Audio Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Newbie question on USB DAC

222.166.2.28
Posted on April 16, 2014 at 09:29:31
akltam
Audiophile

Posts: 1057
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: September 29, 2002
 Thinking and planning for music download as source and have the following questions.

I am interested in the Marantz SA14 S1 with USB input.

1) The ad said the Marantz support up to 24/192 but did not specify file type like FLAC or WAV. Whereas those download site specify the format of the files whether it is FLAC ...etc. Does it mean the media player like FooBar 2000 will decode these files and send out native PCM down the USB ?

Can some one explain what I need to look for when planning a source like these ?

2) The Marantz ad said they support DSD 2.8M and 5.6M where as the download site said it is DSD64 and DSD128 !!! Is the DSD2.8M correspond to DSD64 and DSD5.6M corrspond to DSD128 ?

Thanks in advance.
Alan

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Newbie question on USB DAC, posted on April 16, 2014 at 10:32:18
flatmap
 Going with the SA14, it seems like you'll still be playing SACD and CD disks but you want to simply add computer-based playback as another source. Is that right?

Looking at the Marantz site, they say: "Via the rear panel USB-B port, you can connect your computer and enjoy linear PCM decoding as well as DSD (direct stream digital) decoding via bitstream or DoP (DSD over PCM)."

So you're right, you'll have a music player application (like Foobar) installed on your computer and that application will read the FLAC (or WAV or etc) source file off the hard disk and send a bit stream to the USB port. I don't have experience with DSD, so you'll need to make the music player application on your computer supports this.

It looks like you can also use optical connection if your computer supports that. I've seen cases where these inputs are not all equal, so if your computer supports optical output, you might want to try both. Occasionally you'll find a product where one digital input supports a higher sample rate compared to other digital inputs on the same device. And the ad copy will not always make this clear. I'd try to get more information on this.

I never got into SACD -- although I've heard them and they sound great -- so in my situation I sold my expensive CD player, ripped all of my CDs, and bought a DAC. Never looked back. Not sure whether you can rip SACD however....

 

RE: Newbie question on USB DAC, posted on April 16, 2014 at 18:31:14
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 "Is the DSD2.8M correspond to DSD64 and DSD5.6M corrspond to DSD128 ?"

Yes.

DSD64 is 44100*64 = 2822400, a.k.a. 2.8M
DSD128 is 44100*128 = 5644800, a.k.a. 2.8M

Redbook CD is 44.1/16. Normal DSD is 2822.4/1. Double rate DSD is 5644.8/1, etc.

DSD is really not a technology. It is a Sony / Philips trademark. Its magic (somewhat debatable by some on this forum) comes from the very high sample rate. Its detractors focus on its very low bit depth. As with all things, there are tradeoffs.



Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

Page processed in 0.016 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]