Merging's HORUS rumored to do 256fs DSD!

If confirmed, soon there will be no excuse for any recording studio not to make its studio masters in DSD. The new Merging Technologies AD/DA converter HORUS, a person with knowledge about the device says, will sample analog signals at more than 11 million times per second. This translates to a sample being taken every 88.577 nanoseconds - currently the highest audio density available. HORUS should reach first recording studios later this month...

Temporal resolution: 24/192 vs 64fs, 128fs, 256fs DSD 

No speed limits on the hi-rez highway for DSD USB DACs

Audiophiles have always been obsessed by the sampling speeds, and for good reason. Sampling at higher rates improves digital converters' temporal resolution and impulse response, leading to more organic and lifelike sound. It's what made the SACD so compelling a proposition in the first place. Although today the evidence mounts against using higher frequencies in traditional (PCM) DACs - read Benchmark's Vice President opinion on the 96kHz vs 192kHz issue here - DSD DACs streamlined architecture opens new possibilities for audio engineers.

Built by Japanese researchers at the Waseda University Acoustic Laboratory (1bit Audio Consortium) DSD USB DAC supports sampling rates from 2.8224MHz all the way up to 24.576MHz (512fs). The USB D/A converter takes the idea of a future proof device to another level, and could become a blueprint for Japanese companies which are members of 1bit Audio Consortium (TEAC, KORG, Yamaha, Pioneer and others), and which are yet to introduce their DSD-enabled computer audio products...

DSD over Eth update not possible for Yamaha's NP-S2000 network player

DSD streaming won't be implemented in the NP-S2000 due to hardware and software issues, we were able to confirm in an e-mail conversation with Yamaha. On a positive note, the company expressed its interest in incorporating DSD playback in an all new network streamer. A DSD Network Player from the Japanese electronics giant, and 1bit Audio Consortium member, Yamaha, would be without doubt an important addition to the growing number of DSD-ready computer audio products.

Could a USB-X like update turn current SACD players - with digital inputs - into DSD USB DACs?

Playback Designs has been at the forefront of the super computer audio movement for some time now, manufacturing first DSD-capable USB DACs and making DSD streaming possible on both Mac (Pure Music) and Windows (Emotion) platforms. 

The introduction of the USB-X is another noteworthy development by the manufacturer. The small eXteneder box (included with the purchase of Playback Designs SACD player) enables 64x and 128x DSD files streaming on the MPS-5 SACD player, sparing its users the expense of investing in a new DSD USB DAC. A very smart solution, you must admit, considering that the MPD-5 DSD DAC offered by the company "is identical in every way to the MPS-5 SACD / CD Player except it does not have a transport mechanism"

With the string of innovations coming from the US manufacturer, a question springs to mind - where are other long-time SACD/DSD format supporters, especially those in Japan, like Marantz, Denon, Esoteric when it comes to DSD over USB streaming? Could they enhance their SACD players to support DSD streaming by releasing USB-X like or even pure-software updates? The answer to this question is of great importance to anyone considering a purchase of a stand-alone DSD DAC, as the device is essentially identical to an SACD player (without transport), and.. well, no one likes to buy the same device twice.

Grimm Audio A/DSD transfer suggestions

Now that the Nat King Cole SACD series - the very first Analogue Productions SACD project done entirely with the Grimm Audio Converter - turned out to be a success for the company, and boy what a success it's been (as it turns out, some of the Nat Cole titles are already awaiting repressing), many audiophiles are wondering what other artists and albums could benefit from the Grimm Audio treatment. Here are a couple of our suggestions for the folks at AP/AcousTech:

Judas Priest -  Sad Wings of Destiny

The Clash - London Calling

 King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

 

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

Van Morrison - Moondance

DSD Amplifier Reloaded

DSD files and mobile DSD recorders recent gain in popularity among audiophiles, who are now able to rip their own LPs to 5.6448MHz DSD or even make 1:1 copies of SACD collections, has spurred innovative efforts on the manufacturers side this year. Playback Designs, dCS and Mytek added DSD support to their USB DACs, while FOSTEX enabled DSD files playback from high-capacity flash memory cards (SDHC) in their headphone amp/DAC. A come back of a DSD amplifier, tweaked for 2012, could shake things up even more in the upcoming year.

Although the concept of 1-bit DSD amplifier may seem completely new, a bulk of time-consuming and costly R&D work was already done by SHARP company, almost a decade ago. The engineering concept of a DSD amplifier was successfully implemented in an actual commercial product. Introduced in the early 2000s, the world's first 2.8MHz DSD amplifier SM-SX100 ($16000) amazed with its sound quality and stellar tonal neutrality.

„A number of people listened to this amplifier, including myself, my wife, Jason Serinus, and some professional speaker manufacturers. The opinion was universal. The SX100 is an awesome-sounding product. It does not have a "solid-state" sound or a "tube" sound. It is the most neutral sound I have yet heard from an audio product.”

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_1/sharp-sm-sx100-digital-amp-1-2002.html

Following the well-received SM-SX100 SHARP released two more models in the line, SM-SX200 and SM-SX300 (pictured below), working at 5.6MHz and 11.2MHz respectively .

 

http://mardius.world.coocan.jp/overture/cgi-bin/nicky/nicky200703.html

The three SHARP units had only one problem (aside from the very steep 'high-end' price tag), they were ahead of their times. The lack of an open standard at that time for sending DSD over digital interfaces forced SHARP engineers to create their own interface, shutting the doors to wider popularization of those amplifiers (they could only be connected to one SACD player model from SHARP). Today, with  the advent of DSD over USB streaming and computer apps (like Pure Music) allowing for streaming DSD from a computer to external devices the problem is no more. 

DSD DAC/Power Amplifier with asynchronous USB interface provides numerous advantages such as:

• highest resolution audio files playback support, DSD amplifier can handle DSD files up to  6.1MHz DSD (~140 times the sampling speed of CD). 
• unparalleled temporal resolution and quick impulse response, due to extremely high sampling speed utilized by the amplifier (latest machines are able to work at 24.5MHz /512fs). 
• elimination of lossy conversions between PCM and delta sigma present in traditional computer audio setups (either PCM-only USB DACs connected to digital amplifiers or PCM DAC/Integrated Amplifiers such as Bel Canto C5i, or ORB Jade Quartet).
• no need for purchasing separate USB DACs, USB/SPDIF converters, clocks, docking stations usually cramming up the space in computer audio setups. 
• backward compatibility; as all of today's delta sigma amplifiers, a DSD amplifier also accepts PCM data on its digital inputs.

Channel D and Playback Designs unveil Super Computer Audio at the Axpona audio show in NYC

DSD downloads have just become less virtual, as the two audiophile companies teamed up and introduced world's first consumer audio products enabling DSD files streaming. The latest released version (v1.8) of Channel D's Pure Music software ($129) allows Mac users stream DSD studio master files to Playback Designs MPD-3 D/A converter over USB. The software player/DSD DAC combo is surely a more consumer friendly option than playing DSD files on Korg DSD recorders (lacking USB streaming capability), but also much more expensive. Capable of handling DSD files (up to 6.1MHz) Playback Designs MPD-3 USB DAC is priced at $6500.

There’s no word if Pure Music app will work with the upcoming 192-DSD DAC from MYTEK USA ($1500)

Korg prepares a revolutionary Digital Audio Workstation, boasts pure DSD capability

An interesting bit of news from the 129th AES Convention that took place in San Francisco, USA on November 4-7th. Korg, earlier awarded by the 1bit Audio Consortium for its MR-2000s 5.6MHz DSD recorder, has just demoed its latest product, Clarity. The prototype Digital Audio Workstation from Korg takes the concept of 128 x DSD audio a one step further. By allowing not only DSD recording but also editing and mixing, DSD pure, at 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz sampling rates, Clarity DAW is able to maintain all the natural characteristics of the original analog signal captured during the recording session up to the final DSD master. Read more...
http://www.recordingmag.com/news/display/501.html

Lyric Nmode presents a new line of 1bit amplifiers at Tokyo Hi-End Show 2010

The company lead by a former SHARP engineer (involved in the development of SHARP's SM-SX100/200/300 1bit integrated amps) unveiled its new line of digital amplifiers at the Hi-end Show in Tokyo last week. Both units, Nmode X-PM2F (¥140000) and X-PM10 (¥330000), take advantage of 1-bit technology and extremely high sampling speed (24,5MHz!) promising to deliver sound of unprecedented resolution and transparency. Now, if that's not a technology capable of extracting every single detail from SACD, I don't know what is.

 

Rachel Podger performs Bach with Brecon Baroque (must-see video)

Her new SACD, Bach Violin Concertos, ships this Monday (October 4th)!

Customers don't want regular CDs anymore, says owner of Music Direct

"You can't collect a download. There's no physical attachment to a download; the sense of ownership is less clear. Vinyl has the large cover, the whole ritual of playing LPs, the warm sound, and they've all contributed to the resurgence and interest in vinyl from younger consumers. Surprisingly, our digital sales [SACDs] are doing just as well as our vinyl sales right now. Music Direct can hardly sell regular CDs at all—the customers just don't want regular CDs anymore."

- Jim Davis (owner of Music Direct), Stereophile, October 2010 issue

New music from Arvo Pärt, SACD out now!

In case you've missed our recent tweet about the new Arvo Pärt recording, Cantique, here's a video promoting the release of the latest Sony Classical SACD. Kristjan Järvi really does a splendid job conducting the Rundfunk Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin and the RIAS Kammerchor, the new version of Stabat Mater for Choir and String Orchestra with its transcendent and ethereal character, is especially appealing.

 

MoFi announces 5 Stevie Ray Vaughan SACDs, first title in October!

From Music Direct's Facebook page:

Mobile Fidelity proudly announces five Stevie Ray Vaughan SACDs in honor of the guitarist’s legacy! Twenty years ago today, the world lost a musical great. Upon hearing about Vaughan’s death in a tragic helicopter crash that immediately followed a triumphant performance with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray, our collective hearts still sink, knowing that a legend was taken before his time. Vaughan played each note as if it might be his last, infusing his original mix of Texas roadhouse blues, hot-wired rock, and fluid jazz with a soulful passion that permanently left its mark on everyone who heard his huge tones and lived-in drawl. The instantly recognizable guitarist might be gone in person, but he remains with us in spirit on records that remain as vibrant, visceral, and engaging as the day they were originally released. Mastered from the original master tapes and possessing a sound that takes the listener into the recording studio, Mobile Fidelity's hybrid SACDs are a tribute to one of the most beloved players to ever pick up the guitar and ignite our imaginations.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood (Release date: October 2010)

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand The Weather (Release date: TBD) 

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Soul To Soul (Release date: TBD)

Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Step (Release date: TBD) 

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Sky Is Crying (Release date: TBD)

Mytek Digital USA to unlock DSD files playback capability via stand-alone USB/FireWire DAC -- a game changer?

Despite growing attention at audio shows and hype in specialist magazines, the increasing buzz around the subject of computer audio has not in fact translated to making the idea of hi-rez files playback take off in a real way, with many customers satisfied with their hi-end Bose iPod docking stations. Although a few small firms have taken a more serious approach (Linn, Naim et al), aiming to convert the mp3 crowd and bury the legacy 16/44 RBCD format by offering 24/96 PCM files support, they couldn't provide the organic sound we got used to listening to native DSD recordings (available on SACDs).

In comes MYTEK DIGITAL, the US leading manufacturer of digital audio converters, with its new DAC. Aside from basic capabilities of handling hi-rez PCM files (up to 24/192), it will be a first device letting you play native DSD files directly from your hard drive, "with absolute state of the art accuracy and transparency". Mytek has not yet revealed if the device will support both DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz files (although already available Mytek A/D converters offer support for both sampling speeds).

Planned release date: 4Q 2010, price $1500. Now, if only labels like Sony could open their vaults and start selling DSD records through digital distribution...


Specifications:

• New 1/2 rack wide series
• audiophile quality conversion, 120dB, 192 kHz, DSD
• USB2.0 and Firewire interfaces
• Standard AES, SPDIF, SDIF, WCK, optical ins/outs
• Audiophile quality headphone amplifier
• Precision analog stepper attenuator
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs
• Built in optional upsampling to 192k w/ jitter reduction
• ultra stable clock reference source with wordclock out