Upsampling 16/44.1 collection a good idea?

[antcollinet]

Thus far the upsampled audio changes ranges from subtle to none.

Given that a competent DAC (and they nearly all are) already manages - without PC side upsampling - flat frequency response, and inaudible noise and distortion, then we can conclude one of the following is at play.

1 - You've managed to find one of the very few incompetent DACs that is creating massive (and hence audible) distortion.
2 - The filters you are applying are creating audible distortion.
3 - You are listening to the effects of your brain, and not of the signal (perceptive bias)

 

[boxerfan88]

Let me guess - audio quality judged by sighted listening? It is funny how most tweaks and "improvements" lead to subjectively perceived improvements but no difference (or poorer performance) when compared properly in a double blind test.

Did you read my post correctly?
I said, and I repeat, "changes ranges from subtle to none".
I am not a researcher therefore not interested in DBT.
You can have your views, I can have mine.

How do you verify that they handle the data rates "comfortably"?

If the PC pumps the audio data out at 384ksps to the DAC, and the DAC plays the audio properly with zero dropouts, means the DAC supports that data rate.
If the PC plays music for the entire day at 384ksps to the DAC, and the DAC plays the audio properly with zero dropouts, means the DAC can handle that data rate comfortably.
That's good enough for me.

Do you think the resolution limit from a 4k tap is audible?

Try experimenting. You will find out for yourself.

 

[boxerfan88]

Given that a competent DAC (and they nearly all are) already manages - without PC side upsampling - flat frequency response, and inaudible noise and distortion, then we can conclude one of the following is at play.

1 - You've managed to find one of the very few incompetent DACs that is creating massive (and hence audible) distortion.

Did you read my post correctly? I said, and I repeat, "changes ranges from subtle to none".
I am not sure how that would translate to "massive distortion".
My DAC is Topping DM7, the DAC is probably not it.

2 - The filters you are applying are creating audible distortion.

Yes, a distinct possibility. The "subtle changes" may have been due to my screwed up FIR filter design.
(I learnt not to play around too much with the phase-PEQ (not amplitude-PEQ) in rePhase, as it can really mess things up ... even when a sweep may show hardly any amplitude differences.)

3 - You are listening to the effects of your brain, and not of the signal (perceptive bias)

Maybe so.


.

 

[antcollinet]

I am not sure how that would translate to "massive distortion".

Distortion has to become massive (compared to a competent DAC) to be even subtly audible in real world listening. Some 40 to 60dB larger - probably more.

 

[Mnyb]

Some filters in DAC’s with selectable filters rolls of to early in the audible part of the treble .
Home tinkered filter can be even worse ie you get a frequency response error .

Or interesting combinations you select a “slow” filter in your ESS or AKM based DAC or what they are named ? Instead of the proper one .
And then upsample on your pc and negate the impact of your wrong filter selection

The filters in digital signal processing should not normally be a user choice , there is a mathematically correct solution to the reconstruction filters for example that should be picked by the engineer designing a DAC .

 

[boxerfan88]

Or interesting combinations you select a “slow” filter in your ESS or AKM based DAC or what they are named ? Instead of the proper one .
And then upsample on your pc and negate the impact of your wrong filter selection

Good idea!

 

[krabapple]

PC side upsampling is really good, me thinks. It allows one to tinkle with one's own DIY filters. Or try those pre-programmed million tap filters like PGGB.

Indeed.

 

[krabapple]

Did you read my post correctly?
I said, and I repeat, "changes ranges from subtle to none".
I am not a researcher therefore not interested in DBT.
You can have your views, I can have mine.

One can have different views on whether the earth is flat, but it doesn't make the earth flat.