Mobile Fidelity Plans Quad DSD to SACD Releases

[bmoura]

Looks like Mobile Fidelity is jumping into the Quad DSD arena at CES.
http://www.twice.com/news/audio/mobile-fidelity-wants-more-fidelity-discs/55259

 

[Bruce B]

Looks like Mobile Fidelity is jumping into the Quad DSD arena at CES.
http://www.twice.com/news/audio/mobile-fidelity-wants-more-fidelity-discs/55259

All I see is Quad-DSD for their processing of SACD's and CD's.

From there the signal is directly coupled to Mobile Fidelity’s 4X DSD A/D converter, which samples at 11.2 MHz or 256fs (or 256 times the CD sampling rate of 44.1 kHz). The 4X DSD file is then down-sampled to 1X DSD for the SACD layer if a hybrid CD/SACD disc. The 4X DSD file are also down-sampled to 44.1 kHz for the CD layer. - See more at: http://www.twice.com/news/audio/mobile-fidelity-wants-more-fidelity-discs/55259#sthash.knQl9wOi.dpuf

Too bad that don't actually release the Quad-DSD files!

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

All I see is Quad-DSD for their processing of SACD's and CD's.

From there the signal is directly coupled to Mobile Fidelity’s 4X DSD A/D converter, which samples at 11.2 MHz or 256fs (or 256 times the CD sampling rate of 44.1 kHz). The 4X DSD file is then down-sampled to 1X DSD for the SACD layer if a hybrid CD/SACD disc. The 4X DSD file are also down-sampled to 44.1 kHz for the CD layer. - See more at: http://www.twice.com/news/audio/mobile-fidelity-wants-more-fidelity-discs/55259#sthash.knQl9wOi.dpuf

Too bad that don't actually release the Quad-DSD files!

I just saw that this morning. Are there any players that can handle 4xDSD?

 

[Bruce B]

I just saw that this morning. Are there any players that can handle 4xDSD?

Quite a few!

 

[bmoura]

I just saw that this morning. Are there any players that can handle 4xDSD?

There are DSD DACs that handle 4xDSD in Stereo and Multichannel. See the DSD Database for a list - http://www.dsd.sonore.us/

 

[bmoura]

All I see is Quad-DSD for their processing of SACD's and CD's.

From there the signal is directly coupled to Mobile Fidelity’s 4X DSD A/D converter, which samples at 11.2 MHz or 256fs (or 256 times the CD sampling rate of 44.1 kHz). The 4X DSD file is then down-sampled to 1X DSD for the SACD layer if a hybrid CD/SACD disc. The 4X DSD file are also down-sampled to 44.1 kHz for the CD layer. - See more at: http://www.twice.com/news/audio/mobile-fidelity-wants-more-fidelity-discs/55259#sthash.knQl9wOi.dpuf

Too bad that don't actually release the Quad-DSD files!

Agreed. So far, Mobile Fidelity has been pretty emphatic on Facebook that they are not planning to offer downloads.
Could that change over time? We will see.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Quite a few!

There are DSD DACs that handle 4xDSD in Stereo and Multichannel. See the DSD Database for a list - http://www.dsd.sonore.us/

Thanks guys. Another question (forgive me...digital is really new to me). I suppose that specs would indicate better quality from 4x to 2xDSD, but is there a real audible difference?

 

[Bruce B]

See the DSD Database for a list - http://www.dsd.sonore.us/

wow Brian... that thing needs updating!

 

[bmoura]

wow Brian... that thing needs updating!

They just gave me access to start the updates. Send me your suggestions.

 

[Hiro]

From there the signal is directly coupled to Mobile Fidelity’s 4X DSD A/D converter, which samples at 11.2 MHz or 256fs (or 256 times the CD sampling rate of 44.1 kHz).

I'm curious to know what DSD ADC they are using, is it an in-house developed machine capable of 4X DSD? That would be nice indeed

Too bad that don't actually release the Quad-DSD files!

Hear, hear!

 

[Hiro]

Agreed. So far, Mobile Fidelity has been pretty emphatic on Facebook that they are not planning to offer downloads.
Could that change over time? We will see.

I don't understand why they are so reluctant to start offering hi-res downloads. Now that they have upgraded their DSD chain to 256Fs/11.2MHz DSD, and downloads are the only way to deliver this kind of audio quality to audiophiles, it makes all the more sense for them to make the leap. They can't sit on their vaults of meticulously mastered 11.2MHz DSD files forever, can they?

 

[bmoura]

I'm curious to know what DSD ADC they are using, is it an in-house developed machine capable of 4X DSD? That would be nice indeed

Hear, hear!

I wondered about that. Mobile Fidelity Quad DSD A/D? Hmm...

On Quad DSD tapes, yes let's hope they hang on to those for potential download later on.

In May at The Show in Newport Beach, David Robinson at Positive Feedback Online was playing a few Analog Tape to Quad DSD transfers he did with the Horus.
Pretty impressive! More please....

Until then, we'll have to keep an eye on the Native DSD web site. Today they are rolling out 5 more Quad DSD titles - 4 from Yarlung (Stereo, Analog Tape to Quad DSD) and 1 from Eudora (Native DSD recording in Stereo & Multichannel Quad DSD). Nice.

https://yarlungrecords.nativedsd.com/
https://eudora.nativedsd.com/

 

[DavT]

Why Quad DSD. Why not just jump to Octo DSD, ( oh wait, thats for 2017 so we can buy the same records again ). I wonder when we will get to Octoginta DSD? One of the finest stereo's I have ever heard had as a source a Naim CD555 with two power supply's playing Redbook CD's. I have heard nothing from any digital source sound as good. Now, I do have Hi Res downloads, sound good, have a few hundred SACD's, and about a thousand redbook CD's. I have come to the realization that the mastering, the material and performance of the musicians is so much more important the the format. But then again, I have not yet heard the Dual Quad Octoginta DXD yet. Oh My.

 

[bmoura]

Why Quad DSD. Why not just jump to Octo DSD, ( oh wait, thats for 2017 so we can buy the same records again ). I wonder when we will get to Octoginta DSD? One of the finest stereo's I have ever heard had as a source a Naim CD555 with two power supply's playing Redbook CD's. I have heard nothing from any digital source sound as good. Now, I do have Hi Res downloads, sound good, have a few hundred SACD's, and about a thousand redbook CD's. I have come to the realization that the mastering, the material and performance of the musicians is so much more important the the format. But then again, I have not yet heard the Dual Quad Octoginta DXD yet. Oh My.

Actually HQ Player now offers the ability to upsample CDs (PCM) and SACDs (DSD) to DSD-512 (Hexa-DSD). So one can go even higher than what Mobile Fidelity is planning to debut at CES in January. There are a lot of upsampling fans out there who will check that out no doubt.

But we do need to remember that even single rate DSD-64, recorded well, can deliver some really excellent sound. Check out the Stereo & Multichannel DSD Downloads from labels like Channel Classics, Challenge, Cobra and Fone, among others over on Native DSD.Com for a listen. Really excellent sonics - no multiple rate DSD required.

 

[Joe Whip]

This is all part of a rush to higher and higher sampling numbers that make no sense. Of course, the higher the sampling rate the higher the cost to the consumer. Hummmmmmmm. 24/192 is enough. So is DSD128. Enough already. The most important aspect of all is the quality of the engineering of the original recording as well as the mastering. All of that is captured by current standards. IT is be interesting to see if MQA makes a difference. But quad DSD and DXD surely doesn't.