Although I understand that size will be enormous, is it possible to get some DSD512 files and play them using a "normal" player, other than the HQ Player?
T+A 1- bit converters in the PDP-3000HV and DAC 8 DSD
- Thread starter EuroDriver
- Start date
Although I understand that size will be enormous, is it possible to get some DSD512 files and play them using a "normal" player, other than the HQ Player?
I am unaware of any music that is recorded in DSD512. The highest I know of are DSD256. You could up-sample offline to DSD512 if that helps you.
Though in order to play DSD512 you still would need a player that can handle that rate. What player did you plan on using?
I have but recently caught up with this most interesting thread, particularly from my own perspective as I mull over my short list of potential digital purchase in course of this year, the T+A DAC8DSD having now added to that list.
I would be most interested in any first hand user experiences of comparison with the DCS Rossini or Vivaldi 2.0.
I will have a sample to review in a couple of days. Will have it set up to upsample all to DSD512 as recommended. Will be comparing it to my MSB Diamond Plus IV
Yes. You'd need to upsample music files to get to DSD 512.
And the number of DACs capable of DSD 512 playback is pretty small. But there are 23 shown in the DSD Database (out of 432 DSD DACs listed), including the ones from T+A.
http://www.nativedsd.com/database
Can you tell us what sort of hardware setup, and what flavor of OS you will be using ?
I will be using my CAPS Zuma as per CA running NAA with a JCAT USB card and both powered by a LPS by Core Audio called Kaia with his top cables. The CAPS will be AO optimized Server 2012 R2.
The computer running Roon and HQPlayer will be a Win 10 Pro with a 5960 Processor and Nvidia Titan (one card) networked to the CAPS
System is ARC REF10-->ARC GS150-->Nola Concert Grand Golds all wired with Valhalla 2 with a Silver Circle 5.
Nice !
It should be a very interesting comparison between the MSB DS IV and the T+A DAC 8 DSD
Which HQP filters and SDM modulators do you prefer ?
I have my HQP filters, etc setup EXACTLY as you recommended even though I have no endpoint at this point until tomorrow or SAT although NAA is on my CAPS waiting for the T&A to be streamed to. I am not sure how many hours the unit I am getting to demo has on it so I will let it run for awhile. I am very excited to hear this thing
The settings I would recommend are a bit of a moving target !
Send me an email, and we can try discuss. There are 3 filters which are interesting and 4 modulators which seem to shine. Noise shaping setting is also something to experiment with
The settings which work well are pretty PC platform and system dependent.
The T+A DAC 8 DSD responds very positively to vibration control too !
Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Lothar Wiemann, the Chief Engineer of T+A for the first time. The meeting was short as I had to pick up the PDP-3000 for testing before Munich. We audiophiles are very lucky to have such a talented, creative and innovative guy like Lothar pushing the envelop on DSD. I will just give one quotation
"for DSD playback, jitter control is really important"
Lothar then went on to describe the measures he has taken to get the jitter under control, some of which are pretty dam clever and elegant
I think it's going to be some time before another sub US $ 20 K DSD 512 converter sounds as good as Lothars !
Last edited:
Thank you . I will this weekend.Yes the Fone DSD Downloads are very good. Check out their "Pink Panther & Friends" DSD Download. Very nice.
https://fonerecords.nativedsd.com/albums/SACD154-the-pink-panther-friends
I found a test review of the PDP-3000HV on a German website and cleaned up the Google translation of the discussion about the 1-bit converter
https://www.fidelity-magazin.de/2016/01/13/ta-pdp-3000-hv/
https://www.fidelity-magazin.de/2016/01/13/ta-pdp-3000-hv/
I just wanted to clarify a few things.
While the T+A DAC 8 DSD is very special when being fed DSD512 it is no slouch when it is given DSD256.
It sounded damn good, and I am trying to be conservative here, when it was given DSD256. IMHO, it would outperform many, if not most, at around its price point using DSD256, and at worst equal some. Again I have not heard every DAC out there but I have heard many of the ones that are considered top in there class.
So if someone needed to wait to upgrade their PC they would be very happy in the mean time with using DSD256 and HQ Player.
But of course the ultimate in sound with the T+A DAC 8 DSD is with DSD512. And you can get more out of it depending on your PC. You can start with a "basic" PC with a powerful enough Processor (i6700) W10 and AO, using HQ Player (and Roon if you want) or you can trick out the PC to get even further sound quality (or a SGMS).
Not bad when you think about it.
You have a DAC (T+A DAC 8 DSD) that can equal or exceed other DAC's at its price point but once you are able to upgrade your PC you now have a DAC that plays with the big boys and in many cases have been reported to beat them at their own game.
Not bad, not bad at all
While the T+A DAC 8 DSD is very special when being fed DSD512 it is no slouch when it is given DSD256.
It sounded damn good, and I am trying to be conservative here, when it was given DSD256. IMHO, it would outperform many, if not most, at around its price point using DSD256, and at worst equal some. Again I have not heard every DAC out there but I have heard many of the ones that are considered top in there class.
So if someone needed to wait to upgrade their PC they would be very happy in the mean time with using DSD256 and HQ Player.
But of course the ultimate in sound with the T+A DAC 8 DSD is with DSD512. And you can get more out of it depending on your PC. You can start with a "basic" PC with a powerful enough Processor (i6700) W10 and AO, using HQ Player (and Roon if you want) or you can trick out the PC to get even further sound quality (or a SGMS).
Not bad when you think about it.
You have a DAC (T+A DAC 8 DSD) that can equal or exceed other DAC's at its price point but once you are able to upgrade your PC you now have a DAC that plays with the big boys and in many cases have been reported to beat them at their own game.
Not bad, not bad at all
I just got the DAC8 DSD in my store. Big improvement over the previous DAC8. I absolutely love it. It matches well with the AMP 8. I have listened to the Wilson Sophia 3, T+A Criterion TCD speakers and also the Aerial 5T Bookshelf speakers.
I am very impressed.
Come on by and audition this amazing DAC at Sunny Components Inc
I am very impressed.
Come on by and audition this amazing DAC at Sunny Components Inc
I am going to try and set up HQPlayer and Roon on the laptop so I can do DSD512 upsampled but what I have heard so far with an Aurender N10 feeding the DAC8 DSD is very good.
The "word" is that Roon and HQplayer sound best via a Windows 10 optimized audio PC......with appropriate isolation (sonore microrender or Jitterbug/Regen combo). Hope you get to hear it that way some day (dsd 512 upsampled).
How does your stock $869 Gustard compare to the stock $4000 T+A? Too bad you never heard a level one or two modded Gustard!!! For only $425 the level one mod to the Gustard puts it in another dimension from stock....I sure you have read Quadman's posts.
How does your stock $869 Gustard compare to the stock $4000 T+A? Too bad you never heard a level one or two modded Gustard!!! For only $425 the level one mod to the Gustard puts it in another dimension from stock....I sure you have read Quadman's posts.
With Linux, which the microRendu is running, the DAC 8 DSD can only do DSD 128 over DOP. To deliver DSD 512 (native) the computer has to run Windows 7, 8 or 10 and have the Windows ASIO USB driver installed. Same story with Mac OS, maxiumum is DSD 128 over DOP
I am going to try and set up HQPlayer and Roon on the laptop so I can do DSD512 upsampled but what I have heard so far with an Aurender N10 feeding the DAC8 DSD is very good.
I'm limited to using an old MacBook running Audirvana+2 which will output DSD128 Max and will not play reliably any PCM>DSD, too small processor/ram.
On a whim, well my partner needed a new one in any case, I purchased a MacBook Pro quad core/16gb/1tb to give the PCM>DSD a try whilst waiting for the SGM server demo.
Can you believe that the Pro will not play ball with the T+A, something to do with ElCapitan and USB3 audio. The Dac is just not recognised. I even thought the cable or port was dead but no, the Dac is just not seen.
If anyone knows any 'trick' to get this working it may give me a taste of what is to come.
I'm still thrilled with PCM on this dac and with some DSD recordings it's stellar, but not all. Ella Fitzgerald, Let no man write my epitaph, AP DSD download sounds worse than the CD rip (DCC Gold) with the rip upsampled to DSD one point better still (apart from the old Mac not playing the whole track continuously).
So I'll just have to bide my time until the SGM server gets here next month.
Almost forgot, the Dac is sensitive to footers. I believe Stillpoints are the preferred option but I'm having great success with Yamamoto MGB2 and a sturdy power cord, Sablon Reserva.
And recommendation for music tonight, Leyla McCalla, A Day for the Hunter, A Day for the Prey, available from Qobuz.[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=czmaR4wVqoQ[/video]
I think there is an update to the Microrendu that lets it play native DSD512. I just asked Jesus about it on their forum on Audiocircle. I will let you know what he says.
Similar threads
Members online
- kennyb123
- R Johnson
- tradubois
- Jim in Missouri
- barbz127
- Mike Lavigne
- dbeau
- analogsa
- EuroDriver
- marty
- Elliot G.
- tsaett
- andromedaaudio
- Oracle1974
- respected_ent
- stephen_volker
- Down in Devon
- Argonaut
- rau
- Gregadd
- MD Zenoble
- Toymanmark
- John T
- Mikeyaya
- GroovySauce
- VoicesInMyHead
- J007B
- Buggy
- jasond
- HeavyD
- conoid
- cdka
- Blake
- sbnx
- lwr
- wbass
- miniguy
- rsorren1
- TomS999
- Sun King
- Geoffkait
- mainelotus
- dakabali
- wokeuptobose
- Emilzebira
- Glide3
- Król_Artur
- Audiofreak71
- SlapEcho
- trekpilot
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Co-Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |