Chords New M -Scaler

[mansr]

10 hours ago, mansr said:

I've upsampled part of a CD track 16x using a variety of filters. If you don't mind, I'd like to randomise the order and get some impressions without anyone knowing what's what. I'll post a link once the upload completes.

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C4cQeYDZ06myC1lYo6Qfbo69HbHtc1RHpgZObGLhv5D

 

There's the original file and 12 different upsampled versions. Give them a listen and send me your impressions in a PM. I'll post them in public once a few people have had a chance to respond.

[mansr]

@Jud, IIRC you have an iFi micro DAC capable of 705.6 kHz playback. Perhaps you'd like to try these files too.

[Jud]

1 hour ago, mansr said:

@Jud, IIRC you have an iFi micro DAC capable of 705.6 kHz playback. Perhaps you'd like to try these files too.

 

From this I get the impression that if I'd like to touch at least one of these files as little as possible with the filtering run by my software and hardware at home, I should use x2 rather than maximum upsampling.  Perhaps all of it will be subject to the modulator settings in that software, perhaps some of it won't.

 

I have always heard that initial filtering was most important.  But I wish I knew more about interactions among the various filters and modulators used at different stages of processing.

[mansr]

10 minutes ago, Jud said:

From this I get the impression that if I'd like to touch at least one of these files as little as possible with the filtering run by my software and hardware at home, I should use x2 rather than maximum upsampling.  Perhaps all of it will be subject to the modulator settings in that software, perhaps some of it won't.

 

I have always heard that initial filtering was most important.  But I wish I knew more about interactions among the various filters and modulators used at different stages of processing.

These files are upsampled 16x (to 705.6 kHz) from the CD rip. The idea is to send them directly to the DAC with no software processing.

[Jud]

1 hour ago, mansr said:

These files are upsampled 16x (to 705.6 kHz) from the CD rip. The idea is to send them directly to the DAC with no software processing.

 

What if the modulator in the DAC isn't as good as the ones available in software, or don't you think it will make a difference?

[mansr]

2 minutes ago, Jud said:

What if the modulator in the DAC isn't as good as the ones available in software, or don't you think it will make a difference?

You could try both and find out. To anyone reporting on these files, please specify your DAC and if you're using any software processing.

[beautiful music]

3 hours ago, mansr said:

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C4cQeYDZ06myC1lYo6Qfbo69HbHtc1RHpgZObGLhv5D

 

There's the original file and 12 different upsampled versions. Give them a listen and send me your impressions in a PM. I'll post them in public once a few people have had a chance to respond.

Just out of curiosity. did you upsample 12 files with HQPlayer or what?

[mansr]

3 minutes ago, beautiful music said:

Just out of curiosity. did you upsample 12 files with HQPlayer or what?

Some with Sox, some with Octave.

[asdf1000]

@mansr too many files. My brain hurts ?

 

I was hoping for 2, maybe 3 files max.

 

Can you do the reveal after this weekend, say Monday? To give us (me) time when not so stressed, to have a listen and make notes?

 

I'm playing bit perfectly via Roon to a Chord Hugo2 btw.. So I'll be comparing your files to the WTA 1 filter (his first stage filter that up-samples to PCM705/768kHz)

[beautiful music]

Just now, Em2016 said:

Too many files. My brain hurts ?

 

Can you do the reveal after this weekend, say Monday? To give us (me) time when not so stressed, to have a listen?

 

+1

 

[mansr]

8 minutes ago, Em2016 said:

Can you do the reveal after this weekend, say Monday? To give us (me) time when not so stressed, to have a listen and make notes?

No problem. Take your time. If you don't want to listen to all the files, that's fine too.

[jhwalker]

5 hours ago, mansr said:

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C4cQeYDZ06myC1lYo6Qfbo69HbHtc1RHpgZObGLhv5D

 

There's the original file and 12 different upsampled versions. Give them a listen and send me your impressions in a PM. I'll post them in public once a few people have had a chance to respond.

 

Thank you for doing this!  Very interested in the effects of digital filtering / upsampling and I have a couple of iFi DACs capable of supporting the testing.  Will take a listen

[austinpop]

6 hours ago, mansr said:

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C4cQeYDZ06myC1lYo6Qfbo69HbHtc1RHpgZObGLhv5D

 

There's the original file and 12 different upsampled versions. Give them a listen and send me your impressions in a PM. I'll post them in public once a few people have had a chance to respond.

 

Could you explain why so many versions are necessary? 12 makes for a really daunting test. Any way you can limit the test to what you consider the best 3, say?

[mansr]

5 minutes ago, austinpop said:

Could you explain why so many versions are necessary? 12 makes for a really daunting test. Any way you can limit the test to what you consider the best 3, say?

I wanted to get a good mix of filter lengths and design strategies. I'd rather not say which I consider "best." If you don't want to listen to all the files, feel free to pick a subset at random. Or how about all the even-numbered ones? I'm not expecting anyone to do an in-depth review of each file. (Is that even possible?) I'm more interested in any immediate reactions you might have. If you can't hear any obvious differences, that's useful information too.

[austinpop]

4 minutes ago, mansr said:

I wanted to get a good mix of filter lengths and design strategies. I'd rather not say which I consider "best." If you don't want to listen to all the files, feel free to pick a subset at random. Or how about all the even-numbered ones? I'm not expecting anyone to do an in-depth review of each file. (Is that even possible?) I'm more interested in any immediate reactions you might have. If you can't hear any obvious differences, that's useful information too.

 

OK thanks.

[peterlim8]

No m scaler discussion here? We shall ditch this thread.

[mansr]

On 8/7/2018 at 9:59 AM, mansr said:

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/C4cQeYDZ06myC1lYo6Qfbo69HbHtc1RHpgZObGLhv5D

 

There's the original file and 12 different upsampled versions. Give them a listen and send me your impressions in a PM. I'll post them in public once a few people have had a chance to respond.

Is anyone other than ecwl listening to these test files?

[darkless]

1 minute ago, mansr said:

Is anyone other than ecwl listening to these test files?

I plan on listening to your test files during the weekend using my DAVE.

[mansr]

13 minutes ago, darkless said:

I plan on listening to your test files during the weekend using my DAVE.

Cool. To everyone taking part in this test, while I don't want to make it too formal, it would be great if you could report a few things for comparison:

• Which filter(s) you prefer.
• Which is most similar to your DACs native filter.
• Any filters you dislike, and why.

Thanks for listening.

[Jud]

Building a new PC - very much hoping to get some time to put it together and have it running so I can download and listen to the files at some point during the weekend.

[mansr]

2 minutes ago, Jud said:

Building a new PC - very much hoping to get some time to put it together and have it running so I can download and listen to the files at some point during the weekend.

Let me know if you need an extra day before I reveal the results.

[darkless]

On 8/10/2018 at 1:28 PM, mansr said:

Cool. To everyone taking part in this test, while I don't want to make it too formal, it would be great if you could report a few things for comparison:

• Which filter(s) you prefer.
• Which is most similar to your DACs native filter.
• Any filters you dislike, and why.

Thanks for listening.

Unfortunately my weekend listening plans were cancelled due to a change of family plans. Feel free to publish the results at your leisure.

 

I will try to download the files tonight so that I may be ready in case another listening opportunity presents itself. 

[mansr]

12 minutes ago, darkless said:

Unfortunately my weekend listening plans were cancelled due to a change of family plans. Feel free to publish the results at your leisure.

 

I will try to download the files tonight so that I may be ready in case another listening opportunity presents itself. 

I won't be revealing anything for another day or two. Whenever you do have time for a listen, please report your impressions, even if by then you've seen what others had to say.

[mav52]

On 8/10/2018 at 6:20 AM, peterlim8 said:

No m scaler discussion here? We shall ditch this thread.

 

Its typical , yes the thread should be closed and the other topics taken up in their own thread. 

[kennyb123]

4 hours ago, mav52 said:

 

Its typical , yes the thread should be closed and the other topics taken up in their own thread. 

 

Hopefully there will be some relevant posts once the Hugo M-Scalers begin shipping.  I will be buying one at some point.