2. digital
  3. 195049-199203

Native DSD versus DoP

How big of a deal should it be to ensure one has true native DSD capabilities in their digital front end?  Case example: I have a Lumin U2 Mini and a Denafrips Pontus 15th (out to McIntosh C53 and MC312, B&W 702 S3, REL t/7x).  I am thrilled with the SQ and I am really enjoying downloaded DSD playback.  I am just curious - would anyone suggest that I can match or beat this SQ with a non-native-DSD-capable DAC?  I mean, for a comparable price?

I play SACDs on an MCT500 to the DA2 in the C53.  Would anyone suggest I can get better SQ running SPDIF to a separate DAC?

P.S. If you think my speakers are a weak link, that's fine.  Assume I upgrade them, does that change your answer?

mattsca

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,962 posts
 

The DAC in my main system will not do DSD. I came to wonder if that was a big deal. I have a Ayre DAC on my headphone system so I made a quick survey of how much DSD material was available and compared some DSD recordings. The difference was small, as were the number of recordings. I decided it was of no importance for me. 

I find that the difference in ones system components make enormous differences... say the range of 100. The differences in interconnects and power cords make differences in a range of 10. The difference in recording quality a range of 20. Then improvements because of DSD a range of 0 to 2. Since I am sure no one has optimized your components closer than +/- 10 the over difference in recordings is another 20... the small DSD difference in the big picture is so tiny as to be obscured. 

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