24/192khz playback on DAC

Hi Guys,

Has anyone tried to determine whether the DAC machine is truely capable of
sampling 24/192khz from Digital to anolgue. The problem is that my Made in China DAC does not have a display.

Nothwithstanding the above, some DACs use the receiver (either from USB or Firewire or SPDIF or AES) as the source for displaying the sample rate. In this case the actual sample rate (from DAC chip) is not displayed.

If I play a 24/192 master recording file (program and sound card set at 24/192) followed by a new setting of 16/44. Compare the sound reproduced by both settings. In this procedure can I conclude that if the sonics are similar or almost similar the DAC is not a 24/192.

A frequency monitor may help but it is not an easy task. The cost is a factor but
the technique applied is also an issue.

Your comments appreciated.


Thanks

Hi,
If you want to monitor the SPDIF, I do not know if this may help you: http://www.tauntek.com/DigAudMon-low-cost-digital-audio-monitor.htm

Alternatively, I DIYed this (see picture below) using the "Arduino" microcontroller (and the program provided by the developer) and its already working and waiting for the Buffalo II DAC pcb to arrive. This also controls the volume (you can always set to -0dB and use your preamp volume) and reads the registers of the Sabre 9018 chip to get the sampling rate. For reading reference : http://hifiduino.wordpress.com/category/arduino-code/
and Buffalo II DAC : http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/digital/buffalo.aspx
The SR reads zero as no SPDIF signal connected. The pot controls LCD contrast.

Hi fordtelstarghia,
Even if your DAC has a display, it will only display the incoming signal frequency not the DAC processing frequency. AFAIK there are not many true 24/192 capable DAC chip in the market. If the DAC Chip can't handle the 24/192 signal it will just down sample the signal to its capability and then process it to analog.
There are three hurdles for the 24/192 signal to pass in the processing chain.
1. The computer software must be capable of processing 24/192. Mac iTune and Windows Media Player cannot process 24/192. Only third party software like Amarra for Mac and J River for Windows can.
2. USB 1.0 cannot process 24/192 and most hardware come with USB 1.0. There are very limited USB 2.0 capable hardware currently available. Firewire requires it own firmware to process 24/192.
3. Currently there are very limited DAC chip that are capable of truly processing 24/192.

IMHO CAS is still in its infancy.

Dr Who,

Interesting information for newcomers like me going into CAS.

On this same subject are you able to name the DACs currently available in the market that use true 24/192 chips and able to play true 24/192 materials ?

Thanks

I own a Weiss DAC202 which the manufacturer claims it is 24/192 capable but I have also read someone stating it is not. Market place info is still quite murky.
You may want to start from here:

Computer Audiophile

Well Tempered Computer

Hi,
IMHO the more common issue is the inability of the USB>SPDIF to do 192kHz and mostly reach only 96kHz(even some high end ones). But if the input SPDIF is already reaching 192kHz the DAC has to follow suit because its digital phase lock loop(DPLL) circuit should lock onto the signal, otherwise no sound out. The DPLL must generate the same freq and keep it in phase with the signal (SPDIF) to lock on (whether 44.1/80/96/192), hence reading off from the DPLL register is sure way of getting the freq. Checking & displaying the bit rate (frequency) is easy but for the bit depth (16bit or 20bits or 24bits or others) is difficult and another story... that's why you find commercial DAC displays showing/indicating freq only is common.

Hi,
You are right. Thank you for the clarification. May I ask what signal source you would be using for the Buffalo DAC? How are you going to deliver 24/192 signal to the DAC?

Hi Dr,
I am just toying on the DIY path for the 'cheapest' DAC using the Sabre ES9018 chip hence the Buffalo II pcb which was selling like hot cakes online and I managed to grab one but still waiting for its shipment. My plan on sources via the SPDIF input shall be CD transport (16bit/44.1) and computer via USB>SPDIF using M2Tech Hiface(reputed for its true 24bit/192kHz capability) for the lowest cost solution for computer audio.

Sounds like a very interesting project. Are you thinking of using an external word clock? I am getting very good result with external word clock.

EXTERNAL WORD CLOCK = OMG = $$$$

External Word clock need not cost you an arm and a leg. As low as US$99 from here. I have not tried this one though!

DrWho wrote:Hi,
You are right. Thank you for the clarification. May I ask what signal source you would be using for the Buffalo DAC? How are you going to deliver 24/192 signal to the DAC?

Completed project with CD transport or PC running MediaMonkey (using downloads from HDTracks) into Musiland 01 USD (USB>SPDIF) to Buffalo II DAC with DIY sample rate(SR) display. It correctly shows the SR for 44.1k for CD, and from HDTrack Flac files, 96kHz all the way up to 192kHz below.

Nice. More importantly, are you getting good sound from the system?

audiofan1 wrote:

On this same subject are you able to name the DACs currently available in the market that use true 24/192 chips and able to play true 24/192 materials ?

the newer ayre qb-9 dac can play 24/192 through usb, but u hv to configure for class 2 audio and download the Thesycon music player for PC and if u use mac, u need the snow leopard os.