A toast to PGGB, a heady brew of math and magic

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Using a 2015 MacBook Pro (16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM; 2.5 GHz Quad Core Intel Core i7, Big Sur 11.2.3) I encounter no problems upsampling DSD64 to the PGGB default configuration of 705.6/768 kHz sampling rate, Auto 512 m taps, 32 bit output depth and auto adaptive noise shaping.  The only issue is with track lengths over 20 minutes, for which I change the output sample rate to 352.8/384.

 

The average DSD album takes around 10 to 12 hours to convert, so I run one DSD album overnight and multiple pcm albums during the day, using the trial version of PGGB. 

 

Playback with a bog standard headless 2011 mac mini running Roon or Audirvana 3.5 into a Chord Mojo is mind-boggling -- absolutely smashing.  My ears have arrived at their happy place.  I will purchase PGGB as soon as I can do so comfortably.  The best news (for me) is that I find it a complete cure for DAC upgradeitis.  Goodness gracious what a wonderful toy this is.  Thank you to Zaphod Beeblebrox and everyone else involved!

[CNoblet]

Having listened repeatedly to the files I upsampled with PGGB during the trial period, I concluded that I no longer wish to listen to the rest of my 2,000-plus digital albums without the benefit of PGGB.  The improvements it has made to digital music playback are many and extraordinary, as I listen at 32 bits/705.6-768 via Audirvana 3.5 thru the Chord Mojo DAC direct to a naim NAP160 power amplifier and Spendor/REL speakers.  No more playing around with audio settings, and no more EQ/convolution!  My only regret at the time of purchase is that this software wasn't available 10 years ago.  I haven't enjoyed listening so much since the days when I first discovered the music I would love.  Indeed, PGGB enables a voyage of musical rediscovery that I am only now beginning.  Thank you to ZB and the contributors to Audiophile Style who have promoted this software!

[CNoblet]

14 hours ago, Kalpesh said:

I think anyone who can afford Chord Dave + Terabytes of storage of PGGBed files+ 128 GB RAM ultra powerful PGGB processing PCs and would not consider a DAC implementing, at least as a route, Sigma Delta Modulation as in the vast majority of ADCs since the 90's, should support @Zaphod Beeblebrox accomplishment and support by acquiring a license.

 

You.... ? I'd rather save for another DAC + HQP

 

I processed my files to PGGB with a quad-core i7 using 16 GB of RAM with no hiccups whatsoever.  

 

The sound in my main system via a Chord Mojo (by a good distance the least expensive/cheapest digital music device I've used in that system) is simply wonderful, to the point where my only upgrade to consider would be a Mojo2 with selectable WTA2 filters.  

 

HQ Player via Roon/Qobuz is fine for streaming upsampled to 7XX rates.

 

SDM upgrades: been there, done that.  I prefer to direct my limited play money to music, musical instruments and adequate backup storage for my delightful and insightful PGGB files,. 

[CNoblet]

Zaphod, 

Have you already a Mojo (1)?  If you do obtain a Mojo2, I would be interested in differences you note w/regard to PGGB.  At this point, my spending has been on disk drives, with perhaps another 15TB to go before I complete converting my collection.  I wonder how much improvement there may be over the earlier model when the 32/7xx PGGB files may make moot the slight increase in the Mojo2’s number of taps.

[CNoblet]

Just an update on my experience with PGGB and Chord Mojo dacs.  The USB micro input on my Mojo finally crapped out, so I purchased a Mojo 2.  Listening with no EQ applied, at same volume setting, I find it significantly better than the original Mojo.  For me, the upgrade in sound quality is well worth the cost increment of the purchase.  For anyone buying the Mojo 2 as their first Chord DAC, it is an amazing bargain.  Just for example, Hotel California had become really old stuff to my ears over the years, but listening to the 32/765 PGGB file (from 24/96) on my main system was a riveting experience.  Large, meaningful improvement over the original Mojo.  BTW, I have 13 TB of PGGB files at this point, with another 6-7 TB needed to complete the conversion of my digital collection.  With PGGB (32-bit, 16 fs) and the Chord Mojo 2, I am in Seventh Heaven listening-wise.

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I just compared "Easy Money" from Billy Joel's 'An Innocent Man' rendered at 64-bit vs 128-bit.  Not even close.  Amazing improvement.  And I rendered it from 16/44 FLAC on my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) 2.5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3.  Using Mac OS Monterey, it took about 45 minutes.  Which is about as long as it would take to render the same song from DSD using 64 bits.  File is 32/705.  Played on my Mojo2.  BWAHAAHAAAHAAHAA!!!!  Thenkyew, thenkyew, thenkyew!  You have brightened my day in this currently miserable world.

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I was very much enjoying a PGGB’d album this afternoon.  Never has my stereo sounded nearly so fine (Mac mini>Mojo 2>Naim power amp>Spendor/REL).  Thanks again to everyone involved in actualising this wonderful software.

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Thank you!!!  Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!