1 bit Dac?

[F1Fan72]

Question if I my..

1 bit Dac (like the Topping Discrete) .. Is this snake oil and would you really hear a difference compared to something like the Eversolo A6 Gen2?

Thoughts..

 

[Purité Audio]

Depends if the one bit dac is adding audible distortion.
Keith

 

[oleg87]

Considering Topping's stuff is usually transparent, as is the Eversolo, any differences will likely be imaginary ones.

 

[F1Fan72]

Depends if the one bit dac is adding audible distortion.
Keith

To be honest, the only 1bit DAC I’m aware of is then Topping

Looking to get the Eversolo A6 Gen2 but for a couple of pound more, I could get the Topping ..

 

[F1Fan72]

Considering Topping's stuff is usually transparent, as is the Eversolo, any differences will likely be imaginary ones.

Yeah , I thought that would be the case ..

 

[gvl]

I’m still waiting for a half-bit DAC, hopefully soon.

 

[F1Fan72]

I’m still waiting for a half-bit DAC, hopefully soon.

So snake oil ..

 

[solderdude]

Question if I my..

1 bit Dac (like the Topping Discrete) .. Is this snake oil and would you really hear a difference compared to something like the Eversolo A6 Gen2?

Thoughts..

All marketting...

 

[gvl]

So snake oil ..

Topping marketing material about superiority of their 1-bit design is a bunch of BS of course, but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad DAC. I assume it’s a custom 1-bit Delta-Sigma design, I think industry gave up on this concept long time ago as they tend to be difficult to get right.

 

[F1Fan72]

All marketting...

isn’t there some connection between 1bit and DSD though?

I have been looking at getting some DSD tracks (downloads /SACD) ..

I know the Eversolo can handle DSD /DSF formats

 

[gvl]

isn’t there some connection between 1bit and DSD though?

There is. 1-bit DAC can directly convert DSD data to analog signal. Not sure how they handle volume control, perhaps in analog domain post conversion otherwise they would need to convert it to PCM first which sort of defeats the purpose. 1-bit design tend produce excess ultrasonic noise, and the specs I think hint that is the case here.

 

[F1Fan72]

There is. 1-bit DAC can directly convert DSD data to analog signal. Not sure how they handle volume control, perhaps in analog domain post conversion otherwise they would need to convert it to PCM. 1-bit design tend produce excess ultrasonic noise, and the specs I think hint that is the case here.

View attachment 443903

Thank you!

 

[solderdude]

isn’t there some connection between 1bit and DSD though?

DSD is a file based on 1 bit and remains 1 bit from the mixing console to the DAC output.
The 1bit DAC converts the PCM to 1-bit output (I assume DS alike) but will show pre-and post 'ringing' by the essential steep (digital) reconstruction filter. DSD does not have that. Audiophiles attach 'smoother sound' to DSD just because of that.
So while both have the word '1 bit' in them the results are not the same.

Basically it is a hardware version of PCM to DSD conversion. A bit like HQ-player except that one has more flexibility.

DS DACs usually are 4-5 bit for a good reason namely to have lower HF noise to filter out (post filtering) can be slow this way.
Going 1 bit thus requires steeper post filtering or a higher switching frequency. I assume the latter is what the Topping does.
Topping isn't really clear on how it works exactly though.
It could be PCM remains PCM (multibit) and DSD is converted directly. Could also be the DSD has volume control by simply lowering the reference output voltage of the DSD output (using the discrete DAC to generate a variable reference voltage).
Just a gimmick...

Still performance is excellent, it has built-in PEQ (10 band no less), can store a few profiles and specific looks one may or may not prefer.
Me ... I'll just keep using the E30 which can do all that I need it to do and more.

 

[Hayabusa]

I’m still waiting for a half-bit DAC, hopefully soon.

I am thinking about 1.5 bit dac

 

[boxerfan88]

isn't psaudio dac a 1-bit dac also?

 

[boxerfan88]

isn’t there some connection between 1bit and DSD though?

Yup. For example, DSD64 is 1bit @ 2822400 samples/sec.

 

[JSmith]

1.5 bit dac

half-bit DAC

I'm after a 3.50 bit DAC... I need about tree fiddy.


JSmith

 

[dartinbout]

I'm after a 3.50 bit DAC... I need about tree fiddy.


JSmith

I'm a 2-bit audiofly guy!

 

[antcollinet]

So snake oil ..

Depends on what you call snake oil.

Does it sound better than any other competently designed DAC : No.

Does it operate as a competent DAC producing low distortion, low noise and flat frequency response. Yes.
Does it do that using a 1 bit topology, as reuqested by some (deluded) customers? Yes.
Does it provide a load of useful interconnection options (such as balanced outputs)? Yes.

Do/will they make claims for the DAC that are significantly different in tone and nature, than the claims made by the manufacturers of all DACS - probably not really.

(EIDT : some of these are assumptions about a not yet released product - we'll find out how accurate they are when it is reviewed)

I'd say not snake oil - just another overpriced offering trying to find a niche in the world of audiophillia.

 

[boXem]

https://sjeng.org/ftp/SACD.pdf

TL;DR impossible to dither, so intrinsecly distorted, even if at very low level.