Next DSD firmware update in 2020 or 2021?

Can anyone give an example of a device that can supply quad rate DSD?

A computer with software that will play it, such as Korg Audiogate, would be the most common means. Some server/streamers. I believe it should work via USB, but donā€™t quote me. @tedsmith ?

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Quad rate DSD should be through the USB or I2s inputs. I already got a double rate and quad rate of (Holly) by Holly Cole to see if quad rate is any different. I am very impress with some of the double rates I have. My double rate DSD files seems to have a fuller more analog sound in general than my single rate DSD files. Maybe quad rate is even better? Weā€™ll have to see. Most of the newer servers now can do this quad rate thing. My former Aurender N10 cannot.

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My understanding is quad rate is I2S only. Thatā€™s what Ted talks about in the video above and I believe in prior posts he discussed why USB was not practical for the DS.

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One example: The Matrix X-SPDIF 2
Matrix Audio - X-SPDIF 2 (matrix-digi.com)
(Which I can heartily recommend to bridge high rate USB to I2S, and lower rates to AES3, S/PDIF and TOSLink)

To be clear only the I2S1 and I2S2 inputs of the DS will support quad rate with the new software. The Bridge hardware isnā€™t powerful enough, the USB would require a non-trivial amount of work in the XMOS and the PC USB audio drivers.

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@tedsmith - My weapon of choice:

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So if I have a server that specify it can output quad rate DSD, I canā€™t just plug it from itā€™s USB output straight into the DSā€™s USB input and play quad rate without modification or using the Matrix?

If the server doesnā€™t support quad rate output over a PS Audio compatible I2S then it canā€™t pass quad rate directly to the DS. Iā€™ve tried to be clear about this from the beginning of the release.

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Iā€™m new to this quad rate thing and I did not read what you wrote before so I got this thing wrong, sorry. I am using the Matrix not only because I want to use the I2s input, but also it just plain sounds better, so it should work once we get this Sunlight up and running. Thanks for your patience and information Ted.

I wasnā€™t even interested in better sound with the Matrix, it was just a great testing tool for me. But Iā€™m not complaining that it sounds better :slight_smile: Itā€™s also very well built and packaged. Iā€™m sure there are other devices like it out there (for example, see Next DSD firmware update in 2020 or 2021? - #726 by vkennedy61) but I havenā€™t had the chance to try them.

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This Kitsune unit looks like it may be a nice performer, if it works with the DSā€™s I2s. It certainly would be much less expensive than the Matrix Farad combo. The tricked out Farad alone already cost more. Has anyone compared the two?

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Say a Lumin streamer.

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@waymanchen11

Yes, it does work with the DS I2S. Iā€™ve been using with an ultraRendu which is powered with an Uptone LPS 1.2. Iā€™ve been comparing it back and forth between it and the Bridge II card. To my ears, thereā€™s no discernible difference. I was going to take it out of the mix and use the BII exclusively until I read Tedā€™s comments a few weeks ago concerning his breakthrough using the I2S input. Since I have a good number of DSD, I am looking forward to another round of listening.

Also, the Kitsune is built like a tank. Itā€™s not the most beautiful piece of gear. But it does sound very good.

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If you are looking for a streamer as an endpoint:
ultraRendu, opticalRendu, microRendu, and Signature Rendu SE

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In previous renditions you recommended pre-DSD upsampling to be 352.8 to minimize addition strain and therefore noise.

Do you think that up-sampling to DSD256 at the streamer level will yield a sonic benefit?

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We were originally scheduled for Wednesday but at the lat moment they found another small problem and wanted another day or two to polish. Fingers crossed we can release before weekend.

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All hooves crossed!

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Thanks for the update! Isnā€™t part of the fun letting us find the glitches? Just kidding.

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It would depend on the streamer and personal preference. Some streamers use different styles of filters that the DS does, this can sound better or worse to any given person. There are a few posters here that like using HQPlayer to upsample to double (and soon to quad rate) and prefer that to the DSā€™s upsampling.

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Hi. There seems something to be wrong within your setup. Can you describe in detail how you connect the DS to Roon?

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