jelt2359

For those who don’t know, Chord Dave can do DSD512 and DSD256, with its asio windows driver. The Chord Dave is the only “non-decimating” Chord DSD dac, and going DSD direct at DSD512 and DSD256 allows you to skip WTA 1 and 2. It is actually quite an ideal DSD Dac as long as you feed it upsampled DSD. Actually “decimating” is not necessarily bad. For example, PGGB DSD’s “always 44.1k” option decimates 48k files but in my estimation sounds good enough that I’m choosing it for all my files.

If you're worried about processing time and already have a 139k (I have a 139k and 149k with custom cooling, so I know this setup well)- at least compare 512x1 to 1024x1 one time before you decide. The choice between 512 and 1024 seems very dac dependent. But 512x1 is where things start to get pretty magical imo..

You did use dsd+ setting on Dave? And 9th order modulator on pggb dsd? Thanks for the feedback. I’m also a headphone user. Here is the block diagram for Dave, btw. At DSD 512 you skip both WTA 1st stage <and> WTA 2nd stage, which in a normal Dave situation means you’re basically bypassing all of rob watts magic filtering. It hence makes absolute sense if you’re using Dave without PGGB DSD that you use PCM to maximise his filters. But PGGB DSD is a different beast…

I understand. My taiko extreme’s usb card comes with its own driver that doesn’t work with usb out to the chord dave. In short, it’s suboptimal. But once I started playing pggb dsd, none of that mattered. The sq difference is so pronounced that I’ve never looked back since.

My primary dac is the Chord Dave. I used to feed it PGGB with SRC-DX for PCM, but for DSD I have to go USB direct. Prior to this, I have never heard DSD that I like- not even on the Holo May with HQP upsampled. It always sounded overly smoothed, like I lost clarity to gain richness. With PGGB DSD, it is no contest. I can no longer listen to PGGB PCM 256. The first thing that strikes me is the difference in noise floor- it's like watching OLED for the first time, and discovering that what I thought was 'black' was not actually black. The background on PGGB DSD is so jet black it is incredible- and the corresponding increase in resolving ability makes me feel like I upgraded a DAC all over again. This is through USB direct to my Chord Dave, in DSD+ mode. Luckily for me, the Chord Dave is the only Chord Dac that does not decimate DSD- and it sounds glorious. My settings: 512x1, 44.1k mode (which converts 48k to 44.1k as well), as the Chord Dave does not play 48k DSD512 material properly. But no matter, Roon can't play 48k either so this works for me. Anyone else who has a Chord Dave, please try it. It doesn't sound like traditional rich/warm DSD. It sounds like PGGB taken to its absolute limit. All the beneficial richness of DSD with increased resolution and lower noise floor to beat. PS, I own a Taiko Extreme, and this upgrade (just going by memory, which is of course never accurate) is bigger than the impact of the Taiko Router + Switch combined!

Any other impressions?

With the latest update, I can still see my chinese language albums, but now when I try to play them HQP says 'emptytransport'... :( that's most of my library now unplayable... Thanks in advance Ales!

Quick question- I'm guessing since your music server is the only device on your music subnet, that means your switches connecting to your Extreme are outside that subnet. Why did you make this choice? Why not put the switches in the same subnet too?

Thanks for the clarification! My router can do that too, but I don't have a spare router to put my server behind- maybe I'll try that next.

PS- does this mean that all traffic from VLAN1 gets shared to VLAN2 (if this is where your hifi is)? May still get 'unwanted' signals going into VLAN2?

That would indeed solve the problem, too! My method can work with probably all routers, though. And it’s a really simple change. Of course the downside is no internet access unlike your method...

In a bid to try this without creating another VLAN or subnet (worried about control issues across networks), I went to my asus router and blocked internet access for my server (and my switch connecting that server to the router). I play only local files so this works for me. REALLY nice bump in SQ!

Personally, I have waited for 16 months and I'm prepared to wait for another 16 months. I like that Paul is willing to open up my slot for others and refund me at any time if I so desire. That actually ensures I don't lose money, and I don't have to go through the hassle of posting on a forum and having to try and sell it myself. These products aren't for everyone. I value the customisation aspect of things (aka not scaleable), and hence am prepared to wait as a result. Also I can understand why, since they are customised, people can take over builds- this is not like all of us are getting the same product and someone just 'leapfrogged' us. But these are just my two cents!

Interesting. Previously when I tried it sample rate follow did not work without rednet control open... is your Dante controller open?

So sample rate follow works without Rednet Control running?