My DacMagic II does 24/96 but AFAIK USB can only carry Red Book. The DM upsamples before it converts back to analogue. I have a few 24/96 and they sound very good - but I've not compared them to 16/44 so I don't know if they're better.
The new Young DAC with it's ridiculously high sample rates only 'does it's thang' over USB. Apparently USB 2 is capable of carrying over 12 channels of 14/196!
I have a DM, and it's limited to 44.1kHz & 48kHz for USB. I believe the Caiman is also redbook over USB, which is why I haven't converted my Koln Concert (from HD tracks) yet.
The new Young DAC with it's ridiculously high sample rates only 'does it's thang' over USB. Apparently USB 2 is capable of carrying over 12 channels of 14/196!
I have a DM, and it's limited to 44.1kHz & 48kHz for USB. I believe the Caiman is also redbook over USB, which is why I haven't converted my Koln Concert (from HD tracks) yet.
The Young DAC, Wyred4Sound DAC 2 and others have their own trick chipset and driver to enhance USB.
I haven't downloaded anything from HD Tracks, but I have bought a few albums from Linn in 24/96 FLAC format. These can sound rather magical via a HiFace USB converter, but I am struggling to replicate the sonic bliss that my old HP laptop running XP/Foobar/ASIO provides, with other PCs using Win7/Foobar/WASAPI. The Win7 machines all produce a sound that's rather "matter of fact" in comparison with the XP laptop's truly glorious, vibrant, analoguey sound. One day I will understand these things. The HiFace gadgets (the original 'stick' and the new Evo) will both stream 24/192 via USB to my Lyngdorf TDA2200 amplifier. Does the sampling rate matter, though? I see that most of Linn's catalogue is in 24/44.1 FLAC format; and I have read that extra bit depth has a greater impact on sound quality than sampling rate. Anyone care to shed any personal experiences on that? I have held off buying any 24/44.1 albums so far, but maybe I ought to just go for it?
I'm bypassing the Win7 setup by using WASAPI in Foobar (and J River Media Center, too). Could I be labouring under a misapprehension here? Certainly, altering the output settings in both programs does change the sampling rate etc on the digital output.
I'm sorry I don't think I can help you on this one.
I'm desperately trying to resist having to run Windows on my audio server because of these kind of issues. However, Jason may still win and get me back into the Windows fold.
I haven't downloaded anything from HD Tracks, but I have bought a few albums from Linn in 24/96 FLAC format. These can sound rather magical via a HiFace USB converter, but I am struggling to replicate the sonic bliss that my old HP laptop running XP/Foobar/ASIO provides, with other PCs using Win7/Foobar/WASAPI. The Win7 machines all produce a sound that's rather "matter of fact" in comparison with the XP laptop's truly glorious, vibrant, analoguey sound. One day I will understand these things. The HiFace gadgets (the original 'stick' and the new Evo) will both stream 24/192 via USB to my Lyngdorf TDA2200 amplifier. Does the sampling rate matter, though? I see that most of Linn's catalogue is in 24/44.1 FLAC format; and I have read that extra bit depth has a greater impact on sound quality than sampling rate. Anyone care to shed any personal experiences on that? I have held off buying any 24/44.1 albums so far, but maybe I ought to just go for it?
Higher sampling rates allow the designer to position the digital and analogue filtering further away from the audio upper limit of 20kHz. The noise and digital image signals are easier to filter with gentle filters having better phase characteristics when you use higher sampling rates, or up-sample.
How audible this might be is open to question but it certainly makes good sense form a technical POV.
I haven't downloaded anything from HD Tracks, but I have bought a few albums from Linn in 24/96 FLAC format. These can sound rather magical via a HiFace USB converter, but I am struggling to replicate the sonic bliss that my old HP laptop running XP/Foobar/ASIO provides, with other PCs using Win7/Foobar/WASAPI. The Win7 machines all produce a sound that's rather "matter of fact" in comparison with the XP laptop's truly glorious, vibrant, analoguey sound. One day I will understand these things. The HiFace gadgets (the original 'stick' and the new Evo) will both stream 24/192 via USB to my Lyngdorf TDA2200 amplifier. Does the sampling rate matter, though? I see that most of Linn's catalogue is in 24/44.1 FLAC format; and I have read that extra bit depth has a greater impact on sound quality than sampling rate. Anyone care to shed any personal experiences on that? I have held off buying any 24/44.1 albums so far, but maybe I ought to just go for it?
Higher sampling rates allow the designer to position the digital and analogue filtering further away from the audio upper limit of 20kHz. The noise and digital image signals are easier to filter with gentle filters having better phase characteristics when you use higher sampling rates, or up-sample.
How audible this might be is open to question but it certainly makes good sense form a technical POV.
The positioning of that filtering within the upper limits of audibility with Red Book is always one of the sticks used by the analogue brigade to beat us digital listeners.
Using your paypal account, you can purchase from anywhere in the world. I bout my Keith Jarret from them.
When you join, don't forget to start with the free demo album. After you get it (I've not played mine yet) they give you a 15% off voucher for the next album.
Maybe I need to have the same e-mail addy with HD Tracks and PayPal.
I'll try again.
Did it work? It should have done.
I got the HD tacks newsletter this week telling me they're doing 24/192 downloads, which is good news. Until you see what they are...
Maybe I'm just a snob, but they look terrible, and there are only two albums! I wonder if people will buy them simply because they are 24/192? Hopefully time will improve the situation, but I wouldn't be advertising yet!
Comments
I have a DM, and it's limited to 44.1kHz & 48kHz for USB. I believe the Caiman is also redbook over USB, which is why I haven't converted my Koln Concert (from HD tracks) yet.
Hugo
Try this link from the computeraudiophile website which details how to set up Win7 & J River 15. I use it and find it very 'analogish'.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Windows-7-Audio-J-River-Media-Center-14-Configuration
Mervyn
ps Has anyone sent Jason an invitiation ?
When you join, don't forget to start with the free demo album. After you get it (I've not played mine yet) they give you a 15% off voucher for the next album.
I got the HD tacks newsletter this week telling me they're doing 24/192 downloads, which is good news. Until you see what they are...
Maybe I'm just a snob, but they look terrible, and there are only two
albums! I wonder if people will buy them simply because they are 24/192? Hopefully time will improve the situation, but I wouldn't be advertising yet!