Some of the DACs will convert the PCM to DSD or if you have Roon or other software you can do it there and the DAC would need to be capable of playing DSD. I've tried that and to me the DSD conversion seemed to "sound better". I think it's because DSD is louder. When you compare the high resolution PCM to DSD and level match the volume the " sounds better" evaporates. If you like down loads in DSD then it makes sense to get a DAC that can handle it but like others have said there are not a lot of DSD recordings. A lot of these high priced DACs you're looking at like the Mystique use R2R which if done right is expensive to implement and adds to the cost.
Understanding DAC's
Hey,
So I am trying to understand something about DAC's and once again it is probably due to being a novice.
Now, I understand the basic duty of a DAC, convert digital audio/signal to an analog one. I get that part, that's easy.
Initially when I first discovered DAC's (or I should say, starting paying more attention to them), my impression was besides converting to an analog signal, a DAC should be able to playback high res music. That's why I got one and I was specifically after DSD playback after I discovered there was such a thing.
So, in my mind I figured all DAC's will have this feature, to be able to decode DSD.
But as I started researching them, I discovered many high end DAC's do not do DSD duty and to me, it just doesn't make sense. They are probably already decoding upto 24/192 or higher for PCM, so why not DSD?
And secondly, these higher end DAC's that only do PCM, are they making that PCM file sound that much better then say a $1000 or lower Dac?
Here is just one random DAC, Mojo Mystique v3, it's about $7555 and as far as I can tell, no DSD capability.
Maybe it's just me. I don't see the sense in getting an expensive DAC and not having DSD Capability.
I have DSD on mine and have purchased a few DSD albums and they sound so much better then CD quality or 24/192 even.
I get that some might not care to listen to DSD but on the manufacturer side, I wonder some do not include those features.
So I am trying to understand something about DAC's and once again it is probably due to being a novice.
Now, I understand the basic duty of a DAC, convert digital audio/signal to an analog one. I get that part, that's easy.
Initially when I first discovered DAC's (or I should say, starting paying more attention to them), my impression was besides converting to an analog signal, a DAC should be able to playback high res music. That's why I got one and I was specifically after DSD playback after I discovered there was such a thing.
So, in my mind I figured all DAC's will have this feature, to be able to decode DSD.
But as I started researching them, I discovered many high end DAC's do not do DSD duty and to me, it just doesn't make sense. They are probably already decoding upto 24/192 or higher for PCM, so why not DSD?
And secondly, these higher end DAC's that only do PCM, are they making that PCM file sound that much better then say a $1000 or lower Dac?
Here is just one random DAC, Mojo Mystique v3, it's about $7555 and as far as I can tell, no DSD capability.
Maybe it's just me. I don't see the sense in getting an expensive DAC and not having DSD Capability.
I have DSD on mine and have purchased a few DSD albums and they sound so much better then CD quality or 24/192 even.
I get that some might not care to listen to DSD but on the manufacturer side, I wonder some do not include those features.