I’m eagerly awaiting the ability to try out DSD256 over I2S on my DS.
It would be great if PS Audio would update the firmware for the XMOS USB chip to accept DSD256 too, Native or DoP. It’s the same chip as used in the Matrix, I believe, so it would seem to be possible with “a bit” of elbow grease.
During preliminary comparisons between I2S output from the Matrix and USB output using the Intona ground isolator, I often find the latter sounds better in my system (both just using the 5v USB supply).
So c’mon, PS Audio. Don’t leave the burden of all this “obsolescence is obsolete” stuff to Ted alone!
My I2S into the DS Sr. only does 2.8MHz DSD because I’m using the Sony DSD over Audio/Video HDMI with my Sony UBP-X1000ES and some HDMI to I2S adapter boards which gives me true DSD not DSD over PCM. I can play my 5.6MHz files via Audirvana over USB direct into the DSD Sr. which is DoP. Honestly, I find the 2.8MHz I2S sounds better than the same tracks @ 5.6MHz DoP. Maybe it’s all in my head and I’m wrong, but that’s my take on all this.
I have heard zero differences sending native DSD and DoP (both are “true” DSD) at DSD64 (2.8MHz) or DSD128 (5.6MHz) to the my DirectStream DAC via I2S. Ted has said that is to be expected based on how the DAC works internally.
I am not surprised that you find the I2S input to sound better than the USB input.
DSD started acting up after Windom update.
I have updated my DSD to Windom yesterday and now it freezes trying to play internet streams through both USB and Bridge II inputs.
Also AAC files are no longer playing after the update.
I am using Roon Rock version Build 186. There were no problems until the update.
Should I roll back to the previous software?
I hadn’t updated the device for some time now, and therefore not sure what was the previous version.
Could someone tell me please?
Thanks.
Yes, give our service guys a call when you can. I’m not aware of any consistent freezing issue like what you describe, so our guys should have a fix for you. Rolling back the FW is a good thing to try.
If you haven’t already done so you might try powering everything off all the way back to the modem and restarting them one at a time with the DAC and computer last.
There is definitely more room for filter coefficients in the TSS. Tho the DS has plenty of horsepower for the filters I’d like to use, it doesn’t have enough coefficient and scratch pad memory.
Speaking as one guy with an unsolicited opinion, if/when you tweak the DS filters don’t be afraid to push the envelope towards the high bandwidth, fast transient, low ringing/pre-ringing sound. To me that is the real fun of what DSD can do, the punchiness and immediacy, even more so than detail.
Filter are bandwidth limited by half the frequency of the lowest of the input frequency and the output frequency of an upsampler. I use filters with sharp cutoffs to eliminate aliasing (have a cutoff at least down by 144dB at the Nyquist rate) and have as high of a cutoff as I can get with the processing power and memory available. That frequency is the only limit on the transient response. I don’t worry about the ringing required by doing so since it doesn’t show up with properly bandwidth limited inputs. I.e. when you avoid aliasing on an input signal when being converted to digital from analog or being sample rate converted you don’t have any ringing. If you use perfectly squared off test signals which therefore have aliasing and are illegal input signals for a DAC you will see ringing. The better filters that DS users prefer have very long impulse responses, but they deliver minimal distortion of the waveshape on the output. Minimizing the ringing on illegal signals simply causes more distortions.
The thing I tend to learn about EE and such programming is, that 10% seems to be schoolbook, 30% common experience and 60% individual experience…anywhere near?
