DAC Recommendations for 48k DSD

[ShadDynasty]

I just started using Roon into HQPlayer instead of Foobar2000 and I'm blown away by the improvement in sound that I got.

There is a problem however; my favorite filters do not convert 48k family sources to 44.1k for conversion to DSD into my DAC.

Are there any good DACs below 200 USD that can play 48k family DSD?

 

[Sokel]

What kind of recordings use the 48k family, I'm curious, I never had one.

 

[ShadDynasty]

What kind of recordings use the 48k family, I'm curious, I never had one.

I haven't either. I'm just resampling all of my music to DSD256 and then into my DAC. So I can play music that's in RedBook and 44.1 * x but not 48kHz files and 48 * x.

 

[Sokel]

I would first check how each DAC handles DSD vs PCM and then narrow down what you're looking for.

Not many measurements around but from what I have seen some are better at one and some at the other.
Example:

PCM vs DSD

Did a little comparison and I was wondering if any friend with better gear here has tested this. Results you're about to see is probably narrowed to the specific DAC but it's interesting to see how it handles things differently. I will not try to decipher the results other that DSD seems much...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(the one used has the potential to be borderline audibly bad at PCM with the perfect storm, others may be the opposite but without measurements...)

 

[DVDdoug]

I'm just resampling all of my music to DSD256 and then into my DAC.

That shouldn't change the sound. And if it does alter the sound it could be randomly better or worse. Usually when digital is "accidently altered" it goes horribly wrong, making clicks & pops or making pure-noise, or not working at all. You won't get a change in the bass or anything like that... Changes like that require specific DSP algorithms. Downsampling to 44.1kHz probably won't make any difference either (although IMO it's best to avoid any "unnecessary" re-sampling).

Typically, the "ideal" is to keep the digital audio data "bit perfect" unless you are applying EQ or other effects. Tone control/EQ is usually the best & easiest way to change the sound. Or different speakers/headphones always sound different (better or worse).

It looks like HQPlayer has several settings to intentionally alter the sound. Whether any effects improve or degrade the sound is a matter of taste, although EQ can be used to correct speaker/room frequency response.

Have you done any blind listening tests?
What is a blind ABX test?
Controlled Audio Blind Listening Tests (video)

 

[sunhuino1]

I am also an upscaling player developer, 48k DSD refers to 48000x64, 128... This kind of magnification DSD file needs DAC support, as far as I know, the current chip decoder (AKM/ESS) does not support much, but R2R decoder supports more, such asDenafrips, holo support;

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Holo Cyan 2 works with such dsd "familly"

 

[sunhuino1]

this 48K up resample to 48K dsd use cayin RU6 (R2R DAC）

 

[linuxfan]

Let's first clarify that PCM-to-DSD conversion is optimally performed at multiples of the source PCM sample rate, with the "standard" multiple being 64x, according to the Scarlet Book standard for Super Audio CD. The Red Book PCM sample rate of 44.1kHz multiplied by 64 equals 2.8224MHz DSD sample rate.
But if your PCM source is 48kHz, a DSD64 conversion will have a sample rate of 3.072MHz.
So what's being discussed here is not really 44.1 versus 48 family, but more accurately 2.8224 versus 3.072 family sample rates. And Google tells me that DACs which support 3.072 DSD are uncommon.
So my suggestion is simply to configure ROON to leave 48 / 96 / 192 kHz PCM files untouched - and pass them natively to your DAC.

If you remain curious about the alleged benefits of DSD conversion, you could consider pre-converting your 48k PCM sources to 88.2 kHz or 176.4 kHz, then (obviously) the DSD conversion will be a multiple of 2.8224 MHz, and OK for your DAC.
Maybe try this as a test, just with a few tracks, to satisfy your curiosity.

 

[dlovesmusic]

Cheapest dac I am aware that supports dsd 48k is the ifi zen dac v3

 

[sunhuino1]

据我所知，支持 DSD 48kHz 的最便宜的 DAC 是 iFi Zen DAC V3。

Portable DAC cayin RU6 support DSD 48K [DSD64~256]

 

[Burki]

So my suggestion is simply to configure ROON to leave 48 / 96 / 192 kHz PCM files untouched - and pass them natively to your DAC.

Roon DSD upsampling don't use adaptive upsampling like HQPlayer can.
This means: If you set Roon upsampling to DSD256 you'll get always 11289.6 kHz (44.1 based).