Hello from Canada!- great thread by the way...
I am also considering the Hermes (modded- obviously) to use with my Pioneer DV-09 DVD as transport in my second HT system (already using A. Aero Capitole 24/192 CDP in 2-channel system). I am re-printing a message from Kora below regarding my question as to whether or not the 24/192 aspect of the Dac is actually VALUABLE without the addition of an outboard upsampler. There are very few Dac units that actually upsample- the A. Aero Prima- same Dac as in my Capitole CDP, actually does 're-sample' at 24/192, however this is rare in the Dac world. You must instead use an upsampler in the chain (I have owned the DCS Purcell which was excellent in this regard). A good analogy is my previous CD player- the Sim Audio Moon Eclipse. The Dac can READ 24/96, however the tranport can only output 16/44. Ergo the need for the upsampler, and the Purcell worked well in this regard.
OK, back to the Hermes. The response I got from Kora WAS what I expected. The Hermes will READ 24/192, but does NOT 'automatically' up/over/re sample to that rate WITHOUT adding an upsampler in the digital chain. Interesting, huh? By the way, if you check their response below, you will note that Kora 'plans' on maybe adding an actual internal upsampling feature next year.
There is one guy here on the Gon- user 'Ligi' or something like that? Anyways, I found his experience interesting, in that he IS using an upsampler in the chain with the Hermes- the Perpetual Tech P1-A with excellent results. Hey J.C. Audio- maybe you could provide a 'package deal' on a hot-rodded Hermes/P1-A combo. NOW you're talkin!!
Sutts
"...Hello John,
Thanks for your email and your interest in the Kora Hermes.
The Hermes can read signals that are up to 24bits & 96khz frequencies, even
though most CDs are recorded at 18bits.
The new chip 122 (CS43122) does oversample the data, 44.1 = x 128, 96 = 64
times and 192 = 32 times.
This is upsampling or 'oversampling' but not 'true' upsampling.
It can't take18 bits and upsample them to 24bits, though, which is 'true'
upsampling.
One of our future projects is to bring out later next year, a new Hermes
with many new features, including 'true' upsampling with an upsampling
output whereby you can even connect an exterior DAC at 18 bits and make it
upsample to 24bits.
It would eventually be possible to include a digital input but I'd have to
check out the price for this.
Hope this helps..."
Best regards,
Jeff Starrs, Kora EC..
www.kora.net
I am also considering the Hermes (modded- obviously) to use with my Pioneer DV-09 DVD as transport in my second HT system (already using A. Aero Capitole 24/192 CDP in 2-channel system). I am re-printing a message from Kora below regarding my question as to whether or not the 24/192 aspect of the Dac is actually VALUABLE without the addition of an outboard upsampler. There are very few Dac units that actually upsample- the A. Aero Prima- same Dac as in my Capitole CDP, actually does 're-sample' at 24/192, however this is rare in the Dac world. You must instead use an upsampler in the chain (I have owned the DCS Purcell which was excellent in this regard). A good analogy is my previous CD player- the Sim Audio Moon Eclipse. The Dac can READ 24/96, however the tranport can only output 16/44. Ergo the need for the upsampler, and the Purcell worked well in this regard.
OK, back to the Hermes. The response I got from Kora WAS what I expected. The Hermes will READ 24/192, but does NOT 'automatically' up/over/re sample to that rate WITHOUT adding an upsampler in the digital chain. Interesting, huh? By the way, if you check their response below, you will note that Kora 'plans' on maybe adding an actual internal upsampling feature next year.
There is one guy here on the Gon- user 'Ligi' or something like that? Anyways, I found his experience interesting, in that he IS using an upsampler in the chain with the Hermes- the Perpetual Tech P1-A with excellent results. Hey J.C. Audio- maybe you could provide a 'package deal' on a hot-rodded Hermes/P1-A combo. NOW you're talkin!!
Sutts
"...Hello John,
Thanks for your email and your interest in the Kora Hermes.
The Hermes can read signals that are up to 24bits & 96khz frequencies, even
though most CDs are recorded at 18bits.
The new chip 122 (CS43122) does oversample the data, 44.1 = x 128, 96 = 64
times and 192 = 32 times.
This is upsampling or 'oversampling' but not 'true' upsampling.
It can't take18 bits and upsample them to 24bits, though, which is 'true'
upsampling.
One of our future projects is to bring out later next year, a new Hermes
with many new features, including 'true' upsampling with an upsampling
output whereby you can even connect an exterior DAC at 18 bits and make it
upsample to 24bits.
It would eventually be possible to include a digital input but I'd have to
check out the price for this.
Hope this helps..."
Best regards,
Jeff Starrs, Kora EC..
www.kora.net