DizRotus Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 I'm tempted to buy this: http://www.hdtracks.com/catalog/product/view/id/286419?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=!HDtracks%20Newsletters&utm_content= using a 20% off coupon. The download is available as DSD or "regular" FLAC. I'll use my Pono player to play it in balanced mode through my "Wiener" TPA3118 amp. Apparently, the Pono player is capable of playing DSD files. I'll confirm this with Pono tech support later this evening. Is there any advantage to downloading in DSD format over "regular" FLAC? Does anyone have any experience with the recording? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfbane Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 To me it is worth it to acquire DSD or DXD downloads depending over FLAC on what format the master recording was done in and how much disk space you have You can try some DSD downloads for free. From the link on this post for example: https://community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/162267-great-example-of-a-dsd-music-file/?hl=%2Bfree+%2Bdsd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 Thank you. I'll try some of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfbane Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Let us know here what you think? I've been pretty selective of what DSD albums to download as I first had many of the same albums on vinyl, then reel to reel, then CD, then SACD... and now DSD. Next on my small DSD want list is Santana Abraxas. With the exception of the downloaded files all that media takes up valuable space (some women prefer the term 'clutter'). I have to say doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result (i.e. better sound) does somethings work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Is there any advantage to downloading in DSD format over "regular" FLAC? It's really not an easy question to answer as worded. The answer needs a couple of if/then/else statements. If the mastering is the same for both data formats. then there is little difference in how it sounds, assuming the FLAC files are 24/96 or even perhaps 24/48. But I've found that more often than not, the mastering isn't the same. The tools that allow mastering in DSD are still very expensive, therefore there is much less mastering (unless the file was converted from PCM to DSD, such as the Elton John DSD files found on his multichannel SACDs). Less mastering = better sounding...I've found experimentally through my unmastering of music data files. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Easy one for me. DSD is the universal format. You can transcode from it to whatever you want with no degredation aside from whatever may be native to the target format. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 (edited) Dsd if you really love the album and its available as such. Edited March 5, 2016 by Schu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 The problem with DSD is: 1) High frequency losses above 10 kHz 2) The inability to edit/remaster the files using low cost or freeware apps 3) The limitation of the wide range of players to handle DSD (foobar2000 is the only freeware player that I know of, and it requires a plugin) 4) The size of the files are really big--disproportionately big--without corresponding fidelity like you'd get with 24/96 FLAC flies. If you're using Pono, you need to be aware of the files using up available storage 5) The potential for extreme HF noise producing aliasing due to the player's anti-aliasing circuitry, if they aren't up to the task Other than that, no problem with DSD...if it isn't on a SACD already (which makes it extremely difficult to get off the disc as it turns out)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted March 5, 2016 Author Share Posted March 5, 2016 The problem with DSD is: 1) High frequency losses above 10 kHz 2) The inability to edit/remaster the files using low cost or freeware apps 3) The limitation of the wide range of players to handle DSD (foobar2000 is the only freeware player that I know of, and it requires a plugin) 4) The size of the files are really big--disproportionately big--without corresponding fidelity like you'd get with 24/96 FLAC flies. If you're using Pono, you need to be aware of the files using up available storage 5) The potential for extreme HF noise producing aliasing due to the player's anti-aliasing circuitry, if they aren't up to the task Other than that, no problem with DSD...if it isn't on a SACD already (which makes it extremely difficult to get off the disc as it turns out)... Chris, This is just the kind of information I was seeking. Regarding #1, I'm 67, I can't hear dog whistles, even with sub woofers. For many of the reasons you discuss, as well as some others, I've come to the conclusion that it would be unwise to purchase DSD downloads, unless that was the only available format. The Pono player's DSD capability is handy, but needn't replace other hi-res formats. A final reason to not download the Audiophile Hi-Res System Test in DSD format is that HDTracks now informs me that the coupon code "HDSURVEYDE20" doesn't apply to DSD downloads. I wonder if it's too late to change my responses to the survey that "earned" me the coupon code. If I download it in FLAC, I'll report my findings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 (edited) Someone on the forums pointed out this free software from Tascam. I've not tried it... It only runs on 64 bit Windows or Mac (All Macs are 64 bit) Bruce http://www.tascam.com/product/hi-res_editor/overview/ Edited March 5, 2016 by Marvel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Very cool. I'll give it a try on my machine. It says that is handles only mono and stereo files, however. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfbane Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Someone on the forums pointed out this free software from Tascam. I've not tried it... It only runs on 64 bit Windows or Mac (All Macs are 64 bit) Bruce http://www.tascam.com/product/hi-res_editor/overview/ Interesting, anyone use this SW for DSD Files on a PC running 64 bit Windows? If so, did you have any of the reported issues opening other (non-specified) software? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 As I read the user manual, it also says that it really only does fades, combines, and conversions to and from DSD/PCM. All the other EQ and filtering functions that Audacity provides seem to be absent. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I think they created it to go with their DSD recorder, hence the dearth of functions. It's only ver. 1.01. Perhaps they will add to it over time, or allow plugins to be added/used. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 There are a lot of free VST plugins that could potentially work, very well indeed, but I'd think that you'd have to apply them after converting DSD to PCM...? DSD was meant to be an archiving format, IIRC, and not an editing format. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 I finally downloaded the test album as FLAC 192/24. It's interesting. The test tracks remind me of the Sure Audio Obstacle Course record that came with a V15-III. The test tones should prove useful when dialing in my system. The music tracks seem to be well recorded. Don't be misled by "76" tracks, as many, such as the frequency test tones, are 10 seconds long. As a aside, the coupon from taking the survey did not work. Stephan, of HDtracks, responded to my emails on a Saturday and refunded the missing discount. My experiences with HDtracks have always been positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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