If there’s a more appropriate thread, please provide a link.
What’s the most costly known DAC AB tested vs. BADA Series 3 in which users preferred the latter?
If known: did the AB test include BAD’s USB to SPDIF convertor?
My streamer/music player is state of the art or almost, with USB output only. I use Audirvana Studio which I’m almost positive allows all programs to upscale to 176.4k. (Is DSD to 176k PCM best defined as "downscaling?")
Is it ideal to upscale/downscale all source programs to 176.4k feeding BADA Series 3?
My phone conversation today with Mike @ BAD was pleasant and inspiring. Mike states that BAD’s 176k PCM outperforms any DSD format, something my past experience contradicted: I prior owned a particular renown and technically good DAC (unnamed, between $5k and $10k) with a good PCM section but a superb proprietary DSD section (with NOS option) designed by HQ Player author Jussi Laako. Upscaling all programs to DSD > DAC set to DSD NOS absolutely incinerates native PCM programs > DAC set to PCM; the latter sounds forgettable and irrelevant.
BAD’s pedigree adds gravitas to Mike’s words. Two of my lifetime music reproduction high points included the Berkeley-designed PCM-only Pacific Microsonic DAC. One of those events was (likely) native 4.0 DSD downscaled to PCM to feed two PM DACs. The other event was good ole-fashioned 2-ch recorded and reproduced with the same PM ADC/DAC, Boz Scaggs solo in his SF home singing and playing his grand piano, My Lovely Valentine. The latter rivaled the Studer half-track master deck (1/2" IIRC) @ Different Fur Trading Company. DFTC co-owner with Dr. Patrick Gleeson/Engineer John Viera upgraded that 7.5ips deck to 15ips.
Needless to say, I must audition BAD’s Alpha Series 3.