Dual AES EBU - a near future use, or a bit before its time
I have bought a DCS Network Bridge for streaming, instead of updating my Bryston BDP2 to the BDP3. I have quite a bit of Bryston kit, so it was a decision to see what else was out there.
The BDP2 is great with the AES EBU which is far superior to the normal coax, whatever cable I throw at it, so I definitely want AES into my sp3
.
My Bryston SP3 (wherefore art thou sp4?) has 2 independent AES inputs which is great flexibility.
The DCS has 2 aes outs, which can work independently or as dual combined.
The dual aspect AES is apparently for higher resolution files than 24/192 such as dsd.
The BDP2 can play dsd but the sp3 does not decode dsd so I use an external dsd dac.
Problem
To play dsd files on the DCS I need to use the dual AES, so I will lose the single AES for normal files up to 192 unless the usb can be used to send out dsd files (which is the normal method at present for dsd files), No dealer I have spoken to knows.what the usb socket does, probably just for access to usb storage!
I am sure there is an update pending to clarify this but it is heavy going.
Halfway answer
I am not fussed about losing any option to play dsd. There are insufficient numbers of dsd files out there to make it more of an option than just a plaything to compare from time to time, and I generally find them a bit dry and lifeless compares to say 192. I am extremely happy with 192 files.
It does mean that I am not going to utilise the dual aes any time soon, which is a bit sad if a highly rated company incorporates it in a product and presumably believes it is the way forward.
There are VERY few dacs and/or processors with dual aes inputs. I am amazed and so pleased the sp3 has two aes inputs when so many have ziltch. Who makes any? Well DCS do of course, but what a blinking price they are and they do not do digital signal processing either, so you are stuck in a stereo world!
Questions
Are dsd files going to go away like VHS did?
When will files greater than 192 be normal? - if indeed that is an option (I am not a techie). If so how will they fit with capabilities of dacs and processors? Is 192 the limit we have reached?
Should I be at all concerned I am not utilising the Network Bridge to its intended capabilities, and just be happy with what I have got, which regardless of other options is pretty decent indeed?
Or will the industry catch up with DCS products in the aes world?
Will I be dead before anyone is bothered?!