C47, C52, C2600, D1100 Native DSD issues.

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by Dr Tone

No, the Sabre ES9018S is a Delta Sigma DAC chip. PCM is converted to native format before going analog. Feeding them the highest DSD possible removes most but not all of the internal filtering, there is no or shouldn't be any decimation to PCM.

Have you tried going higher than DSD256 with the C47? I'm curious if the sound quality improves even more at the DXD level.

[Dr Tone]

Originally Posted by brownbear

Have you tried going higher than DSD256 with the C47? I'm curious if the sound quality improves even more at the DXD level.

DSD256 has a higher bit rate than 352/24 PCM(DXD). It's the same old PCM vs DSD sound debate.

I've moved on from McIntosh DAC completely. My Ayre Codex sounds better.

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by Dr Tone

DSD256 has a higher bit rate than 352/24 PCM(DXD). It's the same old PCM vs DSD sound debate.

I've moved on from McIntosh DAC completely. My Ayre Codex sounds better.

Ah, for some reason I thought you could get 32 bits out of it.

[Dr Tone]

Originally Posted by brownbear

Ah, for some reason I thought you could get 32 bits out of it.

32bit isn't useful for most if not all modern DACs. It's something you would want in the studio when mixing.

[1KW]

I'm listening to Tin Pan Alley by Stevie Ray Vaughn that I download as Flac into my HDtracks folder on my mac. computer then wirelessly dropped into the music folder on my Aurender. The album is in 24/176 and it sounds amazing with the D1100. This McIntosh DAC regardless of what others may think or say really is good . I can go from one type of file MP4, Flac, AIFF, 16/44, 24/44 ,24/96, 24/176 all in one Playlist without any issues. I might say the difference in audio quality between this download vs my cd or my vinyl lp is very noticeable especially with the soundstage, drums and bass guitar.

[Dr Tone]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I'm listening to Tin Pan Alley by Stevie Ray Vaughn that I download as Flac into my HDtracks folder on my mac. computer then wirelessly dropped into the music folder on my Aurender. The album is in 24/176 and it sounds amazing with the D1100. This McIntosh DAC regardless of what others may think or say really is good . I can go from one type of file MP4, Flac, AIFF, 16/44, 24/44 ,24/96, 24/176 all in one Playlist without any issues. I might say the difference in audio quality between this download vs my cd or my vinyl lp is very noticeable especially with the soundstage, drums and bass guitar.

Staying in the PCM domain isn't an issue. Throw some DSD in that playlist and it will get temperamental.

After thinking about it there has to be more going on with the DAC in your D1100 for the preamp to be all digital and costing as much as it does. I hope it's a true balanced DAC design or something a little more special than what the McIntosh analog preamps get.

[leftside]

Originally Posted by Dr Tone

Staying in the PCM domain isn't an issue. Throw some DSD in that playlist and it will get temperamental.

I have a mixture of FLAC and DSD files. I'm going to remain on the fence regarding the D1100 for a while.

Originally Posted by Dr Tone

After thinking about it there has to be more going on with the DAC in your D1100 for the preamp to be all digital and costing as much as it does. I hope it's a true balanced DAC design or something a little more special than what the McIntosh analog preamps get

The D1100 is true quad balanced I think. The more expensive McIntosh analog preamps are true balanced.

[1KW]

What is the advantage of dsd vs pcm?

[Dr Tone]

Originally Posted by 1KW

What is the advantage of dsd vs pcm?

No advantages, just personal sound preference one way or the other.

[krustycat]

That is indeed a big debate, but if I had to choose, I would say I prefer DSD native recordings over PCM native recordings from the same mastering.

The same way I prefer the sound of the Esoteric K-03x DAC over the C2500 DAC.

It's all personal preference though.