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DACs and audio formats

I have been reading up on DACs and the formats that they play and have certain questions if someone would care to clarify, please.
1. I have mainly been using CDs and SACDs. Though there are many DACs that handle 24/92, does it mean that they "upsample" the CD data?
2. I see that some top-end DACs are sporting DSD capability. I know that you have to have DSD file to send to these DACs either via a computer USB or via a DVD disc on which the file would reside. But what about the SACDs that I have? Will I be able to play my SACDs using these DACs?
3. Assuming that there are DACs that can play SACD streams, what transports are available to do this?
4. Some DACs that do not do DSD do have USB. Can these DACs be later upgraded, via firmware, to play DSD files? Yes, I do understand that if their "base chip" cannot handle DSD, then these DACs will not be able to play DSD. But what about those non-DSD DACs that might have DSD capable chip? Or a player like Marantz SA-11S3 that cannot do DSD files currently but have USB and DSD capable chip.

Probably novice questions, but I have ignored computer audio long enough. I have been thinking of replacing my aging Marantz player with a new SACD player(like the Marantz SA-11S3). But a discussion with a colleague, who is coming back into audio after 15 years, got me thinking about the DAC route.
Thanks!
128x128milpai
nd4speed
16 posts
 
Hi Milpai,
I agree with Erik's recommendation of the universal player if you need to have the transport.

If you can make the investment in the equipment and the time to rip everything I think this would be a better solution. Once it's properly setup, computer audio is the very definition of ease of use, if that's what you're after. Couple this with a tablet control interface and you might find it a game changer; I did.

Since you're an IT guy like myself, you should have no trouble figuring out how to rip SACDs, it's really not difficult once you procure the hardware.
audioabc
10 posts
 
The Marantz CD/SACD Player SA10 which will be released in the end of the year (2016) meets all your requirements. 

erik_squires
16,262 posts
 
Upsampling and oversampling are optional.

A DAC that handles 24/96 means it can handle that signal natively. This is something you would get by buying high resolution music or listening to a high res station like Toronto Jazz 91, or by upsampling your own music via software such as ffmpeg or sox (Linux/MacOS).

It does not mean that all input signals are up or over sampled.  It just means if your data is that dense it can still read it.  Vendors make different choices and some use very closely guarded algorithms to accomplish up sampling, while some just use simple linear interpolation.  For instance, some convert everything to quad rate DSD. That's their shtick. Others insist on never over or up sampling.  That's Audio Note's shtick.

Lots of makers claim upgrade-ability, but never actually offer it. 

Honestly from a personal perspective, I find the DSD and it's derivatives over-hyped. I've not personally not been blown away by any of those standards.  The current MQA hype is in there as well.  Usually any differences in sound quality are really engineering differences and not really related to the underlying technology.

What I have found that seems to matter a lot more is the quality of the output stage. I love Ayre for this reason.  Whether it's a CD player, preamp or Pono, I just love love the sound, no matter the original format. Same thing for portable players.  I can play normal and high def music, and the difference isn't as big a deal to my ears as the amplifier and headphones.  I'd much rather listen to redbook CD via an Ayre QB-9 than high rez or SACD through a lot of other players.

I would strongly suggest you start listening with this in mind and see what you are sensitive to, and what kind of music production seems to appeal to you the most.
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