I've used JRiver to convert some of my FLAC rips to DSD128 (.dsf); the DSD sounds very good, I prefer it to the FLAC files when played through my Botic/SO3/Buffalo3SE renderer. That's what piqued my interest in DSD playback.
I'm currently using Cantata (MPD based DSD player) for playback but plan to explore HQPlayer soon (also expensive but a trial version is available).
Ray
I use filter below, with in paralell to output a resistor of 1k5
By changing the resistor you can change the low cutoff frequentie a bit.
L1 = 8.2mH
C1 = 5n6
L2 = 5.6mH
C2 = 1n2
On the software side i use Foobar with some plugins and it plays all. Converts anything to dsd64/128/256.
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Me too, but I beg to differ, hence my comment. I was just trying to be helpfull.
Me 3.
For me, Lightspeed bettered ladder with mf resistors. Replaced by Slagle autoformer which will not get replaced.
Quick Update:
I have now got HQPlayer (Linux) running on my PC and am upsampling everything to DSD256. There is a specific Linux kernel required to enable the JLSounds board to play back DSD raw at this rate (ie non-DoP). I have been spending a bit of time over at Computer Audiophile the last few weeks learning about this stuff.
At this sample rate I think I can rely on the filtering of the transformer alone and I have removed the LPF (15nF + 1.5k) I previously had after the transformer - see my original schematic
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/273474-best-dac-no-dac-10.html#post4323439
I have also replaced the switched mode power supply, the isolated clock on the JLSounds board and the flip flop are driven off a 6V SLA for low noise.
And I am very satisfied with the sound. There is no high freq noise that I can hear, and everything is analog smooth. Native DSD files sound better than flac files converted to DSD but more experimentation is required.
I have now got HQPlayer (Linux) running on my PC and am upsampling everything to DSD256. There is a specific Linux kernel required to enable the JLSounds board to play back DSD raw at this rate (ie non-DoP). I have been spending a bit of time over at Computer Audiophile the last few weeks learning about this stuff.
At this sample rate I think I can rely on the filtering of the transformer alone and I have removed the LPF (15nF + 1.5k) I previously had after the transformer - see my original schematic
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/273474-best-dac-no-dac-10.html#post4323439
I have also replaced the switched mode power supply, the isolated clock on the JLSounds board and the flip flop are driven off a 6V SLA for low noise.
And I am very satisfied with the sound. There is no high freq noise that I can hear, and everything is analog smooth. Native DSD files sound better than flac files converted to DSD but more experimentation is required.
When talking about FLAC you must specify the audio format contained in the FLAC-file, as the FLAC-file itself is only a 'kind-of' zip file and it implies no audio format, actually a FLAC-file can contain almost anything (digital audio).
Hi Hazard, interested in your experience with HQPlayer and upsampling to DSD256; what Linux distro are you running - I also have a JLSounds board? And what sort of spec hardware - I've read that you need a top-end i7 processor based computer for glitchless upsampling to DSD256.
Ray
Ray, my PC uses AMD Phenom X6 processor. Its about 4 years old now, so hardly state of the art. I had a few problems at first, but HQ Player has a multitude of options as you know, and its now running fine at DSD256 with oversampling filter set to poly sinc mp -2s, and modulator set to DSD7 256+fs.
I am using Ubuntu Studio 14. But you need to download a few extra files if you want to use JL Sounds USB board in raw DSD (no DoP). Send me a PM if you want more details. Again this took me a while to work out because I've never used Linux before. There is a big thread here:
HQ Player - Page 117
The developer of HQPlayer answers all questions relating to the player in this forum. His user name is Miska.
Oh, I have also set up my PC to dual boot Windows 10 and Ubuntu. Again this took a while to sort out but in the end it was pretty easy when I found this web page
Guide To Install Ubuntu 14.04 In Dual Boot Mode With Windows 8 Or 8.1 UEFI
I find it easy to set up tags etc in Windows (using Foobar) and then I only use Linux for playback. Maybe that's because I'm familiar with Foobar and don't know how to use Linux.
Good luck. I reckon its worth the effort. I'm listening to one of my vinyl rips (24 bit 192k) and HQ player is upsampling perfectly to DSD with sample rate 12MHz. No glitches at all. It sounds damn good!
Well you had me scratching my head for a while. What audio format am I using? FLAC, I thought. If I thought a bit harder - PCM? Definitely not DSD. Then I got it - you want to know the sample rate/ bit depth?
I have all sorts. Red book (any CD). 24 bit 44.1kHz (eg The Beatles USB apple). Plus 24 bit files at 48k, 88k, 96k, 176k and 192k. I have recorded over a hundred LPs at 24bit 192k and they are sounding good converted to DSD via HQPlayer and sent to my JLSounds USB board. I have recntly alos bought a Tascam DSD recorder. It records DSD64 and DSD128. I haven't had time to record anything yet, my mate borrowed it and recorded a few LPs at DSD128 an d they sound excellent when upsampled to DSD256.
So FLAC, which is PCM audio, sounds very very good when converted to DSD256. I haven't done proper blind tests or anything but my initial response is that DSD files sound even better. But usually I have any individual title in either PCM (flac) or DSD. So its not like I get a choice.
hazard500,
Thanks for your work! Can you put the latest schematic and parts list on your first post on this thread? I believe the creator of the thread can edit the first post for this purpose.
Very interesting work. I'd like to compare this to my Schiit Audio DSD DAC. To be honest, I don't really care for how the Loki sounds. Might be due to the op amp output stage, but who knows. I'd like to try an alternative approach.
Thanks,
Vince
Thanks for your work! Can you put the latest schematic and parts list on your first post on this thread? I believe the creator of the thread can edit the first post for this purpose.
Very interesting work. I'd like to compare this to my Schiit Audio DSD DAC. To be honest, I don't really care for how the Loki sounds. Might be due to the op amp output stage, but who knows. I'd like to try an alternative approach.
Thanks,
Vince
The revised PCBs arrived today. I'll build one up to test the mute function over the weekend and if all goes well I'll contact those who PM'ed me to arrange sending the boards out.
Ray
Thanks for the information and encouragement Hazard.
I've purchased a download of Audio Linux
AudioLinux - The audiophile realtime plug & play operative system
which includes a trial version of HQ Player. Will update on how things go.
Ray
Yep, as has been said before; fortunately, I don't plan to listen to the website though.
Audiolinux
What license is audiolinux using that allows using all of Linux/gnu operating system components but does not require the author to have to make available the source code? For example, the site says that you cannot copy the proprietary stuff,. You might not be able to copy it but you should be able to request the source code free of charge. Is this explained anywhere in the website?
What license is audiolinux using that allows using all of Linux/gnu operating system components but does not require the author to have to make available the source code? For example, the site says that you cannot copy the proprietary stuff,. You might not be able to copy it but you should be able to request the source code free of charge. Is this explained anywhere in the website?
Probably best to mail the guy behind the website for an answer to your question.
I do know the distribution, which is provided as a disk image, includes several proprietary packages bundled with it (HQPlayer and JRMC, for example) so perhaps there are restrictions on re-distributing them.
Personally, I'm content to pay a few £s to have something that should just work after restoring the image rather than spend time trying to make sense of the Linux world 'in an afternoon'. I want to become familiar with Linux but prefer to do that through osmosis over time.
Ray
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Thanks Ray, as others have pointed out, its not a great web site. But, I will wait to hear from you in this thread (I hope). Your experience with the application is more meaningful than web site design.
29 euro is not a lot but does this distro have any capability or performanc that Ubuntu does not have? What is it that attracted you to Audio Linux? And importantly, does it support JLSounds card at DSD256?