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Anyone using a USB DSD DAC?

Is anyone using a USB DSD DAC?
I only know of 3 ways for someone who might want to playback DSD files from there PC.
- Mytek Stereo192-DSD-DAC with USB
- "USB-Dual-Audio" PCB from ElectArt
- USBPAL PCB from RigiSystems

The New Mytek Stereo192-DSD-DAC is capable of playback of DSD 64fs 2.82Mhz files over USB, I believe with a ASIO 2.1 driver, possibly being the first device to support this new standard. 1/2 Rack Mount, XLR I/O, SPDIF and USB. Price is $1500USD. This is the first real device available to play DSD files from your home computer for under $10k.

The "USB-Dual Audio" is an assembled PCB from ElectrArt, a small japanese hobbyist company. It consists of a assembled and tested PCB with an FPGA programmed to record and playback PCM and DSD (64fs/2.82mhz or 128fs/5.6mhz) over USB, USB; SPDIF; and DSD bitstream and wordclock i/o connections, and a proprietary driver and software for recording and playback. Price is $384USD Shipped for an assembled and tested "USB-Dual Audio" PCB and unassembled DSD-1794a DAC PCB, recording meter PCB, and PCM4202 ADC PCB. If you dont want to solder pcb's, you can find other options for the ADC and DAC.

The USBPAL from RigiSystems, a swiss company, is also just a pcb. Yet it appears more refined, and is designed to be used in commercial DAC's, while the "USB-Dual Audio" is geared to the hobbyist. It has a driver to send DSD and PCM over usb. I don't know what software is used for playback. Price is around $400USD for a development kit, no DAC included, gotta find/make your own.

Is anyone playing DSD, either recorded with a device like the Korg or Tascam recorders, or files purchased from a 'Audiophile' recording company selling either DSD-Discs or DSD Downloads?

I sense a coming wave of DSD products possibly. Korg is apparently working on a DSD DAW and 8 channel DSD ADC and DAC. The Rigisystems PCB can be licensed and allows any developer to incorperate DSD into there device. The ElectArt board lets the hobbyiest develop there own DAC and ADC. There was an article showing a working USB-DAC prototype shown at a convention in japan from the DSD consortium.

Maybe the time of playing (and recording) DSD as easily as PCM with our computers is coming. I know software needs development, and there are certain limitation inherent in the format (simple manipulation can be difficult or mathematically problematic). Still I know some have a real desire for very high quality digital audio.
alexcount
radknee
25 posts
 
>> I have over 100 SACDs, and they're not all hybrids, and I still don't have a viable solution for getting them into my computer.

You can record them via PCM at hi-rez -- sounds great. I've done this with my Korg MR1000. Not DSD, but still better than CD, and you'll have it on the 'puter.
radknee
25 posts
 
Recording with a Korg MR1000, you can create DSD disks with Korg AudioGate software that will play back on the Sony 5400es and PlayStation.
2muse
52 posts
 
I heard that it was only an older model of the Sony PlayStation that can play a DSD disc. I just received my Korg MR-1000, so I am counting on future developments to exploit the format. For now, I want to be able to record vinyl through my preamp. It only has unbalanced outputs and the Korg has balanced inputs. What is the best way to adapt? I have seen cables (auction from Silnote for their Morpheus LE RCA/XLR cable) but is this the best solution? I will also be using this unit with a mic, but that is already XLR terminated cable. I know I can play files directly from the Korg. It offers RCA and XLR outputs. Is one better than the other? Is it better to use the XLR to RCA again or straight RCA to RCA? I won't get to play until this weekend, so I am just reading the manual for now.
alexcount OP
5 posts
 
There are already people in japan using both the Usb-Audio PCB from electrart and the USBPAL from Rigisystems to record and playback DSD from Windows based PC's. After reading through every Japanese forum (using google translate) talking about this I could find, I was convinced they had this working for more than 1 year, and still NO talk about it in English except 1 single post on diyaudio from member 'Bunpei', the guy behind the sdtrans192 project!!
Needless to say I ordered the USB-Audio PCB as soon as I could contact them, and now I am waiting on receiving the Buffalo-II DAC to finish wiring it up. I also ordered a TI PCM4202EVM ADC evaluation module, so I could test recording immediately.
As soon as the Buffalo-II comes I will post updates. The only other hardware required was a few power supplies, 2 Bipolar supplies for the analog stage I/O, 2 5v supplies for the logic on the ADC and DAC. I have made tested my supplies, so as soon as the Buffalo-II arrives (already assembled and tested) I will be up and running.
mcroth
81 posts
 
I have been researching(aka reading on the internet) DSD downloads over the holidays. I figured out how to download the iso image and burn it on a DVD-R using the Audiogate software. I downloaded several free samples and it worked very well. I then purchased Blue Coast Collection from Blue Coast records, downloaded the DSD iso image and burned it to a DVD-R. I can now take these DSD discs I've created and play them on my Sony XA5400es. I must say they sound wonderful, exceeded my expectations. If you have a XA5400es or any other DSD machine you owe to yourself to try this.
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