AN Dac's

Peter Q. does not think that hard disks make for good music.

That being said, I regularly play 24/96 files through mine, using a separate USB-SPDIF converter. The DAC board will accept and use up to 96 Hz files, and up to 18 bits. The least significant 6 bits are discarded during this process.

This is to the best of my poor understanding. I have read Peter Q.'s remarks about hard disk based music systems, and I will be surprised when they eventually change the DAC board to accomodate that. I think he has a big stockpile of the specific DAC chip that he feels sounds the "best" The 18 bit limit exists in this chip.

RE: AN Dac's, posted on June 11, 2013 at 13:31:50

AudioNoteKits
Manufacturer

Posts: 321
Location: Canada
Joined: May 29, 2004

We are embracing computer audio - Most of our customers do not use transports but rather a computer based server - I have a large collection of WAV and FLAC files on my computer both 16/44 and 24/96 which I stream through a DAC2.1 with USB - I use an ASIO driver to avoid the windows drivers and get amazing digital sound! So as far as computer audio - AudioNote is there - if you are asking when is AudioNote going to support 24/192 and higher sampling rates - then read on!

Good question and a great topic of conversation!! I am currently writing some articles for the ANK web site with regards to digital audio - check out the DAC4.1 page and read the article we have on the first part of this universal question : Sigma Delta DAC's vs Resistor Ladder DAC'S.

The second part of the question is 16/44 vs 24/96 vs 24/192 etc.etc.. coming shortly !

- Let me rephrase your question - when is audionote going to support higher and higher sampling rates and data widths - assuming that higher and higher sampling and data widths are the key to great sounding recordings! - what if I told you that a 16/44 CD already contains more dynamic range than any LP! (then why do CD's not sound as good)

An AudioNote DAC is using REAL bits as in real resistors voltages and currents to reconstruct the analog waveform - while SIGMA delta (oversampling hi resolution) dacs use virtual bits - in other words "COMPUTER PROCESSING" to produce an approximation of the digital data - this causes fatigue in our brains , less musical detail and shortens our listening sessions!

I hate to say it but higher and higher sampling rates and data widths will unfortunately not enhance our enjoyment of digital music - AudioNote continues to use the highest bit size R-2R DAC chip available which has the capability for a larger dynamic range than on any recording source!

Theres a lot to learn in this area but do some research on
SIGMA DELTA DACS , R-2R DACS, dynamic range on CD, 16/44 , 24/96

Let us know what your goal is with regards to digital music and we can help you!

RE: AN Dac's, posted on June 12, 2013 at 03:06:35

astrostar59
Audiophile

Posts: 250
Location: Almeria
Joined: February 11, 2006

Hi Abel

I understand your thoughts re higher bits rates.

I run a Mac Mini with firewire external drive and Audirvana+ feeding an M2Tech EVO full stack, then into my AN Kits 3.1 DAC SE. What can I say, it sounds fabulous on Redbook and 96K recordings.

I used to have Meridian, Naim and Musical Fidelity DACs that handled 192, but they used the Delta Sigma chip seta and upsampled all 44.1 Redbook. Honestly, the sound was dissapointing, very digital and unrealistic especially on vocals and wood wind instruments.

I have bought some 96k tracks from HD Tracks, and they sound good, but I would question the jump in quality. With an Audio Note None Oversampling DAC ALL 44.1 sounds so good, the gap is so close that I can't really see any benefit in higher resolution material.

It seems to me that folk are getting hung up on this subjct, like we all did on SACDs format and before that DVD Audio. And I would question the integrity of many HD Tracks. Did they really get back to the masters? Or are they upsampled from 44.1 I have read a lot about that, and it is very unclear.

For example, I bought YES Fragile from HD Tracks, and it was the old original track selection, not the more recent remastered selection with the extra tracks! So was it simply upsampled from 44.1?

Anyway, I would ,listen to an Audio Note DAC with Redbook and 96k capability before getting hung up on 192k. I am in the 'it's another blind alley' camp' as regards HD Tracks. And I can't afford to pay 250% increased prices for those 192k files.... Seriously, how many titles would you buy? Maybe it would be like Blue Ray, and you buy 2% of your collection....

RE: AN Dac's, posted on June 12, 2013 at 07:46:37

RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

It's funny you say this

I just began to read the article linked that 24/192 may in fact be worse - not better than CD. Going by cursory auditions at shows Computer Audio comes in dead last.

I am reviewing a 384/32 bit capable USB Asynch DAC at the moment - playing back Lossless versions of CD the sound has been good - waiting to get some hi res files to see what happens when compared with the CD in a CD player as well as the CA version of the lower res download.

http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

RE: AN Dac's, posted on June 12, 2013 at 08:06:36

RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

Download a few torrents at the Pirate Bay of HD Tracks first to determine if you think they're better or not. Normally I don't support doing this sort of thing but to me this serves to take out confirmation bias. If you spend $25 on an album that advertises that it's HIGH RESOLUTION 24/192 blahblah - then you're going to assume it's better.

If however you get the album for free you can just do a test against one of your regular CDs of the album.

Also, try to ensure that the download album has not been remastered because that isn't the same comparison anymore.

I have a few 24/192 mastered CDs on a special technology (the disc itself is different than regular CD - well so they claim - and I will try high res downloads and CD of the same albums.

I don;t have an Audio Note CD player - but the player I have is one of the better ones available for $1500.

RE: AN Dac's, posted on June 12, 2013 at 09:45:32

lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 2006
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003

Well said Astro. My thoughts exactly.

I would add that I buy cd collections for a few bucks a piece as people are ripping and dumping. The idea of spending $40 on a hirez download seems absurd even if it was consistently superior (which it isn't by a long shot).

The only issue I see going forward is if I was ripping vinyl or recording over the air radio broadcast, I would be very curious as the SQ of the higher rates.

RE: AN Dac's, posted on August 25, 2013 at 22:57:16
mawerc Audiophile Posts: 2 Joined: August 8, 2011	I have replaced the Hagtec USB board with a Luckit WaveIO USB board and am able to play 88.2k files through my DAC 2.1 kit. It sounds so good that I sold my transport. The problem with even higher res is the CS8414 receiver chip on the digital board. This http://www.pavouk.org/hw/modulardac/en_ad1865i2s.html may be a solution.

RE: AN Dac's, posted on October 3, 2013 at 16:13:10

Kipp
Audiophile

Posts: 142
Location: CA
Joined: June 5, 2005

"I run a Mac Mini with firewire external drive and Audirvana+ feeding an M2Tech EVO full stack, then into my AN Kits 3.1 DAC SE. What can I say, it sounds fabulous on Redbook and 96K recordings. "

Astrostar59 or anyone:

I just bought a Mac Mini (i7 16GB RAM, USB 3.0) and have been using a CAL Sigma II DAC on my previous desktop- a W7 PC using optic cable output. But Mac Mini has no optic or S/PDIF co-ax output (right?), so I have to get a DAC with USB input, or get a USB>S/PDIF converter if I wanna still use the CAL Sigma II. I have been considering AudioNote DAC 2.1A kit with USB input option. I am listening to Pandora and TuneIn Radio on the computer. Will eventually expand my audio sources to whatever DAC I have.

Looking for any tips/advice. Was using native SoundBlaster program on motherboard of Windows 7 PC>optic cable>California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC>RCA cables to vacuum tube stereo setup. Have Linn Sondek for vinyl. Plan to use Mac Mini now for computer audio instead of W7 PC. Seeing if there is consensus on equipment that works well with Mac Mini. Is there a preferred connection technology for path between the Mac Mini and DAC's? Thanks, Kip..........
Dr. Feickert Blackbird w Reed 2A tonearm, Linn LP12, Ittok, Lyra Skala, Lingo, Garrard 301, Audio Note DAC 2.1, BeePre, Bottlehead Eros 2 phono stage, BottleHead Paramount 1.1 monoblocks, Altec A7 VOTT, Fostex 168FE sigma in Nagaoka folded horn

RE: AN Dac's, posted on October 3, 2013 at 23:38:56
The Bat Audiophile Posts: 21 Location: England Joined: January 10, 2007	The Mac Mini does have an optical output. It's shared with the headphone socket and you need a mini-toslink adapter - mine came with the cable.

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