I use Audirvana on my iMac and was looking at some setting and decided to give upsampling to DSD a try. What surprised me is that it sounded really good, better to my ears than the bit perfect PCM at 24/96. Of course that doesn't make sense that a converted file would sound better than original, but maybe the DAC just does a better job with DSD. I know a lot of people on these forums swear by DSD and SACD so maybe there is something to this.
Anyway, I'm using an iMac with quad core i5 3.3ghz processors, the latest Audirvana, and UPnP into an RPi with Allo Boss DAC running Volumio. When first starting a track the iMac goes into about 75% utilization, that's 3 processors worth, and it does a look ahead and converts the next track on the list as well. As each track starts it will then convert the next. I'm using Qobuz as the music source. If you switch tracks there is some hesitation as it has to start over again, but consecutive tracks still play gapless. I tried Tidal MQA but it won't upsample that.
I've also experimented with the bit depth, at DSD256 it will play smoothly but only if I don't touch the iMac, and when I start typing the music will break up on occasion. At DSD128 it will work without skipping. I haven't tried DSD64 because I started high and settled on 128. I haven't tried 512 either but not sure my DACs can handle it anyway. You need good wifi and a fast processor to do this, which was already in place.
Bass is a bit tighter, and the highs more sparkly. We're not talking a huge difference but still noticeable. And it just sounds more alive.
Anyway, I'm using an iMac with quad core i5 3.3ghz processors, the latest Audirvana, and UPnP into an RPi with Allo Boss DAC running Volumio. When first starting a track the iMac goes into about 75% utilization, that's 3 processors worth, and it does a look ahead and converts the next track on the list as well. As each track starts it will then convert the next. I'm using Qobuz as the music source. If you switch tracks there is some hesitation as it has to start over again, but consecutive tracks still play gapless. I tried Tidal MQA but it won't upsample that.
I've also experimented with the bit depth, at DSD256 it will play smoothly but only if I don't touch the iMac, and when I start typing the music will break up on occasion. At DSD128 it will work without skipping. I haven't tried DSD64 because I started high and settled on 128. I haven't tried 512 either but not sure my DACs can handle it anyway. You need good wifi and a fast processor to do this, which was already in place.
Bass is a bit tighter, and the highs more sparkly. We're not talking a huge difference but still noticeable. And it just sounds more alive.
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