24/96 Upsampling

Sonic Frontiers has just announced their 24/96 upgrade to both their SFD2 Mark II and the P-3 DACs. My SFD2 upgrade will cost $1300, but I will still have to purchase the $700 outboard D2D-1. So for $2K I'm ready for the next upgrade which will be the DVD-Audio capable machine probably available by the end of the year. (See the May Stereophile page 62 for the ad/announcement.

You may want to hold off on getting excited about upsampling. I just finished an audition of the Perp P1-A in my system, using alternatively an EVS Millenium DAC, the Muse 296, and Lexicon DC-1 processor. In all cases, I found the sound was BETTER when driving the DAC directly from a transport, than when inserting the P1-A in-between and doing resolution enhancement to 24/96 (for the EVS and Muse), and 20/48 (for the Lexicon). The upsampling seems to rob the music of its dynamics, and the bass gets DRAMATICALLY softer and flabbier. I found this shortcoming to be most pronounced, perhaps surprisingly, by the best DAC; the Muse 296. Using the P1-A, I strongly preferred the Sony SCD-1 alone to the P1-A/Muse combo. When taking out the P1-A and driving the Muse directly with a transport, OTOH, I preferred the Muse over the Sony alone perhaps in a 60/40 ratio. In short, my one person's impression is that upsampling is definitely not a panacea, it is not lightning in a bottle, but in some systems to some tastes, it may offer a slightly different presentation that is marginally preferable.

upsampling IS the SAME thing as oversampling(been around since 1984) just a new way of "marketing" new DAC's.And oversmapling is pretty much essential for the 16/44.1 format(almost every cd player I know of does this).My opinion, do one of three things:#1 - sit out the initial stages of the DVD-A/SACD war and check out how much software is available before choosing sides;#2 - buy a good/great(new or used) cd player(1 box)now while prices are falling on them;#3 - if you have to pick a side now, go for the SACD - they are awesome CD players, and you've hedged your bet for the future! I really don't know much, and I want to know more!!!!

MONK: Upsampling is not the same as oversampling. You need to learn more, and come back later. To Dekuip: Scull preferred the dCS upsampling of a CD to an SACD playing in the SCD-1. Perhaps the Perpetual isn't a good performer, but when properly executed, upsampling only increases dynamic and tonal resolution of the Red Book format.

The level of confusion on this subject (up/down/over/under - sampling) has risen to a point that has caught my attention. I intend to write on this matter in the near future. This article will appear on the Muse Electronics website ( www.museelectronics.com )within the next week.