Do hi-res files sound better than Redbook when converted to DSD?

[Mike Rubin]

I am using Roon on a trial and did not expect to as impressed as I am with the sound quality. I hugely prefer the businesslike JRiver interface but tried Roon because someone I respect told me that he had gotten better sound quality from the ESS chip that both our DACs use by converting the stream to DSD256. JRiver can convert similarly for local ASIO playback but not over DLNA. 

 

Converted Roon DSD is a substantial improvement over DLNA, one I really didn't expect and one that might overcome my loathing of Roon's extravagant pricing. 

 

Quick question to anyone else trying this:  I have replaced a big chunk of my library with hi-res PCM and DSD versions of CD's I ripped to FLAC and DSD files from ripped SACDs. With the conversion of files to DSD256, does it matter whether the source is Redbook or hi-res?  In other words, do hi-res files sound better when converted than do "regular" lossless files? 

 

Or maybe this all is in our heads. Who knows?