DSD with Delta-Sigma, PCM with R2R? SACDs?


I recently found this very interesting article that claims DSD recordings sound better with DACs with Delta-Sigma chips, while PCM recordings sound better on R2R DACs:  https://www.mojo-audio.com/blog/dsd-vs-pcm-myth-vs-truth/ 

The article also provides some very revealing ideas about the resolution equivalencies of PCM and DSD files, suggesting that 24/96 PCM would be close in resolution to DSD64 (e.g., SACDs) and 24/192 would be superior.  The article also explains how, on the other hand, many hi-res recordings are manipulated such that editing by the original producer as well as later digital transformations from one resolution to another wind up degrading the original sound quality.

So now I'm wondering if SACDs would sound better on a bespoke SACD player through its own Delta-Sigma internal DAC than equivalent hi-res PCM files that I stream into my R2R Denafrips Venus 15 (which is equivalent to the Denafrips Terminator 12th). I do like the analog-like sound of the Denafrips R2R DACs (I was using an Ares II, which provides a high percentage of the sound quality of the Venus--a great value.).  I don't care for unnatural, highly-analytical sound.

What experiences have any of you had making such comparisons?  I have found that through the Venus, Qobuz 24/96-or-higher files can sound at least as good as the equivalent Mo-Fi SACDs through my Venus.  I'll be upgrading my streaming setup further, with a Hermes DDC, maybe a network switch and other tweaks, so that will presumably further advantage the streaming. 

Should I just forget about any SACDs for which I can find hi-res files on Qobuz?  I only own about a dozen SACDs, and I have left some unopened, wondering whether they're even worthwhile.  I'm thinking they might be worthwhile only if streaming were to no longer be available, which seems unlikely short of a major catastrophe.

128x128drmuso

Rip your SACDs. Convert copies to PCM.

Blindly listen to tell if you can hear a difference.

You might have nothing to worry about.

Since you have such a small SACD library and are happy with hi-res PCM I wouldn’t waste any time/$$$ on it.  If you do get curious or want to further dabble in SACD I’d just buy a good, used Marantz SACD player and use that.  I like your idea of the Hermes that should give you a nice performance boost while allowing you to use your DAC’s superior i2S input.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 

The article also explains how, on the other hand, many hi-res recordings are manipulated such that editing by the original producer as well as later digital transformations from one resolution to another wind up degrading the original sound quality.

This was a known issue all the way back to the introduction of the SACD format. It’s not necessarily degradation, per se, but definitely had strong evidence that the SACD versions were being significantly altered and remastered, perhaps deliberately attempting to convince listeners of the SACD superiority. It was an altogether different product than the CD version.

In modern times however DAC’s got especially good at playing even Redbook 44/16 format (CD) files, while pre 2000 DAC’s showed a large gap in performance between 44/16 and higher resolution formats.

These days there’s no difference I can’ hear that I can’t attribute directly to the anti-aliasing filter performance. CD’s sound a lot better and high resolution files sound just as good in PCM or DSD formats, so I prefer to save the storage space and stick to PCM.