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Roon Upsampling - DSD vs. PCM

I've been listening to Roon using a variety of upsampling methods. Roon's DSP management is incredibly flexible, allowing you to select any type of input and scale it to any type of output, assuming your DAC and the Roon server has enough CPU to support it.

After reading a couple of recommendations I've tried using the DSD upsampling to feed my Mytek Brooklyn, which accepts DSD via USB 2.0, as well as PCM to PCM.

I have to say after some listening that the PCM to DSD upsampling does not sound great to my ears. It sounds brighter and harder, but not better.  The 2x PCM to PCM upsampling however sounds pretty nice. It extends the top octave without sounding worse or strained.

What are your experiences, and what DAC are you feeding?

Erik
erik_squires
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,464 posts
 
Agreed. Did the same thing as you and tried all manner of upsampling. Purchased a Mojo Audio NOS dac because it simply sounded right to my ears. No upsampling for me 🤓
jaytor's avatar
jaytor
758 posts
 
My favorite is to use the max power of 2 upsampling with the precise - minimum phase filter. I'm feeding a Denafrips Terminator with oversampling enabled (NOS off). For standard 44.1Khz source material, this upsamples to 176.4Khz. 
tuberist
951 posts
 
heh Erik, I use a LuminT2 fed by a server running Roon. I tried upsampling to DSD512 for a month or so....it was ok but I'm back to straight PCM play through Qobuz. The sound is more balanced IMO.
erik_squires OP
16,013 posts
 
@jaytor - So you are not using Roon to upsample, correct? You are doing it all in the DAC?
jaytor's avatar
jaytor
758 posts
 
@erik_squires - I'm using Roon to do the power of 2 upsampling, and then letting the DAC do whatever oversampling it wants after that. 
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