Quad dsd....on the Golden Gate

[Blizzard]

What is the "BE Engine"?

Likely something that upsamples like HQplayer. But if the source is already DSD256, the up sampling isn't required. Another option is offline SDM/SRC. Bottom line is, anyone looking for the best sound in digital period, should take this SD card transport seriously. Either that or find a transport/external Ethernet renderer like the Sonore Signature Rendu, that can output pure I2S/DSD over HDMI.

Seriously you guys are throwing your hard earned money in the wind just to get worse sound by not taking advantage of these protocols.

 

[bonzo75]

BE is Bughead Emperor and it doesn't upsample. It is a software that plays native, but sounds good because of its memory management

 

[Blizzard]

BE is Bughead Emperor and it doesn't upsample. It is a software that plays native, but sounds good because of its memory management

Yes something that's not required when you have a system that buffers data from SD card, and streams it direct to a RAM chip, then outputs pure DSD via the Altera hybrid FPGA to output direct to the DAC input with no further processing.

5 years ago, audiophiles tried to find every excuse in the book to not have a general purpose computer in their audio chain. 5 years later, it's impossible to get the same people to realize they were better off where they started?

Kinda sounds like when CD came about in 1982 doesn't it? Analog buff's were selling out to digital by the scores. Just to go back to analog later. Funny how history repeats itself.


Bottom line with digital is K.I.S.S if sound quality is top priority.

 

[andrew_stenhouse]

Greetings,

My first post here after searching the interwebs for the "Big 7" & Golden Gate

Thank you to the OP for posting his findings: most informative.

Most of the above technical discussion is way above my head, and I won't pretend to understand it. At the moment I have an Antipodes clone playing back DSD (64fs) to a Loki via USB. I am enjoying it very much. So much in fact that I am interested in acquiring a "proper" dsd dac. Hence my interest in the Big 7 and the Golden Gate.

So, thank you early adopters for your expertise, experiences and a willingness to share those experiences.

Kind Regards
Andrew

 

[Blizzard]

Greetings,

My first post here after searching the interwebs for the "Big 7" & Golden Gate

Thank you to the OP for posting his findings: most informative.

Most of the above technical discussion is way above my head, and I won't pretend to understand it. At the moment I have an Antipodes clone playing back DSD (64fs) to a Loki via USB. I am enjoying it very much. So much in fact that I am interested in acquiring a "proper" dsd dac. Hence my interest in the Big 7 and the Golden Gate.

So, thank you early adopters for your expertise, experiences and a willingness to share those experiences.

Kind Regards
Andrew

All I can say is if you buy one of these DAC's, just make sure it has an I2S/DSD over HDMI input on it. This future proofs the DAC, as well as allows you to interface the best sounding transport options available to the DAC.

 

[andrew_stenhouse]

All I can say is if you buy one of these DAC's, just make sure it has an I2S/DSD over HDMI input on it. This future proofs the DAC, as well as allows you to interface the best sounding transport options available to the DAC.

Thank you, I shall look into that when the time comes.

May I ask, are the "Big 7" and "GG" generally considered on this board to be the most vinyl like of all the dsd converters? or are there others I should consider?

ps - smaller is better.....if there s such a thing.

 

[Blizzard]

Thank you, I shall look into that when the time comes.

May I ask, are the "Big 7" and "GG" generally considered on this board to be the most vinyl like of all the dsd converters? or are there others I should consider?

I think so. Depends on what the attributes your seeking when you say "vinyl like". These attributes can also be emulated in the digital domain. With extremely transparent SS/digital technology you would never be able to tell them apart.

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you, I shall look into that when the time comes.

May I ask, are the "Big 7" and "GG" generally considered on this board to be the most vinyl like of all the dsd converters? or are there others I should consider?

ps - smaller is better.....if there s such a thing.

By far. That is because it is a DHT dac that uses NOS valves, and chipless DSD. If you want to save money, buy B7. The GG is only better than the B7 and is essentially a B7 with some better parts. The B7 is better than the rest.

 

[andrew_stenhouse]

By far. That is because it is a DHT dac that uses NOS valves, and chipless DSD. If you want to save money, buy B7. The GG is only better than the B7 and is essentially a B7 with some better parts. The B7 is better than the rest.

Excellent - thank you. Does anyone have experience with the volume control? does it make a pre redundant (being DHT?)

 

[Blizzard]

Excellent - thank you. Does anyone have experience with the volume control? does it make a pre redundant (being DHT?)

The best You'll do is a digital control capable of mulitbit DSP in SDM.

 

[bonzo75]

I have experimented with the pre and VC with Jadis and Shindo's second from the top of the line. It was faster and cleaner compared to both, while those two added some weight and playing distortion. Two of us preferred it straight, two of use preferred it through the pre. So it is a preference. There are many who running it direct though. It doesn't weaken the signal and for the cost, I would get out with the dac as out gives you a great option

 

[andrew_stenhouse]

The best You'll do is a digital control capable of mulitbit DSP in SDM.

I am sorry but I don't understand what you said.

I guess what I am asking is whether the volume control in the B7 & GG obviates the need for a pre. As you can tell I rather like simple (one box if possible) systems. I wondered if the eg B7 could go straight to a power amp?

 

[andrew_stenhouse]

I have experimented with the pre and VC with Jadis and Shindo's second from the top of the line. It was faster and cleaner compared to both, while those two added some weight and playing distortion. Two of us preferred it straight, two of use preferred it through the pre. So it is a preference. There are many who running it direct though. It doesn't weaken the signal and for the cost, I would get out with the dac as out gives you a great option

Ahhh, that is the experience I was after. Thank you very much. Very helpful.

 

[Blizzard]

I am sorry but I don't understand what you said.

I guess what I am asking is whether the volume control in the B7 & GG obviates the need for a pre. As you can tell I rather like simple (one box if possible) systems. I wondered if the eg B7 could go straight to a power amp?

Yes I was assuming you didn't want to add the additional sound degrading and expensive step of putting a preamp into the audio chain. It all depends on what your using for a digital source.

 

[bonzo75]

Yes I was assuming you didn't want to add the additional sound degrading and expensive step of putting a preamp into the audio chain. It all depends on what your using for a digital source.

How do you know it's sound degrading, or is that again a generic comment based on your textbook

 

[Blizzard]

How do you know it's sound degrading, or is that again a generic comment based on your textbook

If you can explain how this volume control implementation is superior to a 64 bit floating point digital volume control implementation, I am more than open to listen.

 

[bonzo75]

Listening?

 

[Blizzard]

Listening?

You are supposed to tell me how the system you use is superior to 64 bit floating point digital.

 

[bonzo75]

You are supposed to tell me how the system you use is superior to 64 bit floating point digital.

And I was suggesting you listen to some components instead of chatting theory.

 

[Blizzard]

And I was suggesting you listen to some components instead of chatting theory.

I have listened to many many preamps. But in reality it's impossible to outperform a 64 bit digital volume control if your sourcing your data digitally. I don't care if you want to spend a billion dollars. If adding euphoric coloration is your goal, yes I agree that is possible.