Hello,
I want to try the Exasound e22 ... I wanted to know if this DSD DAC will improve AIFF files (non DSD files). Will it sound better?
Bushikai,
There are two ways to use the e22 DAC. It is designed to play every file in its original form - recording format, resolution, sampling rate etc. With other words the e22 will play your files with the minimum processing possible. The idea is that less processing gives you the most natural sound, or at least brings you as close as possible to the sound recorded in the studio. If you just play your AIFF files with the e22, you will benefit from the lossless bit-perfect drivers, fine D/A conversion, analogue stage etc. There will be no conversion to DSD, but it will bring the best out of every file.
The other approach is to use an advanced audio player like HQPlayer. It can convert and upsample your files in various ways and you can play your AIFF files in up to quad speed DSD, or DSD256. The rationale here is that HQPlayer has access to significant computer CPU resources and can do processing that no DAC chip has the power to do. It also matters that the HQPlayer has more flexibility and can use more advanced algorithms. Note that HQPlayer needs the transparent sound streaming of the e22, otherwise you will end up having two different kinds of processing at the same time.
At the end of the day the final judgement on sonic fidelity is subjective. You may like better one of the two approaches, either way the e22 Mark II will serve you well with your AIFF audio library or when you acquire new DSD files.