[ebag4]

A new job has kept me away from this site and minimized my listening time, however I am seeing a break in the clouds and I see more of my listening time coming back.

I currently run a very simple system with a single board PC (Alix , on battery power) running Voyage and MPD feeding a Tranquility SE which in turn feeds a Bottlehead Stereomour into my GR V1s with servo amps covering the bass frequencies, I run lossless flac files.

I had an opportunity to bring my Oppo 103 upstairs to my 2 channel space for a listen, I was playing various SACDs in 2 channel....WOW, this sounded really great, excellent synergy with my system.  This has me thinking about replacing my Tranquility with the Oppo 105 (which I have not heard in my system).  The 105 would allow me to play SACDs, play my current files from MPD, and allow me to play DSD files from a HDD, ultimately headless.  I understand the user interface for the Oppo when using file from a connected HDD is not the best at this point, but I would be OK with waiting for a better interface while beginning to generate DSD rips or purchases on-line.  If push came to shove I could ultimately ditch the Alix and use a windows based machine to play DSD files with appropriate software.

I haven't been keeping up with this as well I I should have in the last year.  Please let me know where this solution may fall short.  If there are superior options in the same price range I would like to know that as well.  The digital volume control of the Oppo is reported to not lose bits, this is also an important consideration for me as I do not have another viable volume control in my system.

Thanks,
Ed
 

[InfernoSTi]

Hi Ed,

Great to see you on the forum!  I've made the inclusion of DSD into my system slowly over the last year.  I took a different approach in that I focused on acquiring a suitable PS3 to modify to rip SACDs (under the assumption that there was a limited window of opportunity to accomplish that task before supplies ran out).  More recently I have acquired two different DSD capable DACs and settled on the Teac UD-501.  I've been building a Windows based music server (yeah, not a Mac system, almost like going from tubes to SS but for a series of very good reasons).  I can tell you that I've not been happier with digital than I am right now.   It seems that the improvements one would want to make to accommodate DSD (.dsf) file playback has a beneficial impact on Redbook and Hi Res PCM file playback, too.

I have heard great things about the Oppo 105, particularly as it relates to DSD playback. I can't really give you anything more than encouragement to push forward as I think you will really like the outcome.  Also, in a year or two, DSD DACs will be the norm, just as Hi Res PCM DACs are the norm today (remember a few years back trying to get something that would play 24/192K files, not just 24/96K, not to mention the availability of such files that are common today?).  Just in the year I've been fooling with this, the market has gone from one consumer DSD DAC (essentially) to literally nearly every major DAC having an offering and multiple DSD download sites.

Best,
John

P.S. I have recently moved (as in still unpacking) and I used some of my old boxes to tape up some corner triangles like you recommended back in the day...funny, I was just thinking what you were up to as I taped those up last week!

[ebag4]

Hi John!

Thanks for the reply.  I did see where you have gone with the Teac, I did not see what the other DAC you were considering was.  Congrats on the new digs, you system looks (and I bet sounds) fantastic.

One of the advantages of the 105, is that I have a buddy with a good collection of SACDs that I am free to borrow, so the optical drive (boo hiss, wrong forum! )is a plus although not necessarily a necessity . 

Best,
Ed

[TomS]

Ed,

Just FYI the 0.9 releases of Voyage play DSD just fine for me.  I'm using an Auralic Vega DAC.

Good to see you back!

[InfernoSTi]

Thanks, Ed.

Have you seen this thread (on that "other" forum, very sorry, just trying to help):  http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/oppo-103-105-does-stereo-multi-channel-dsd-15575/

Best,
John

[ebag4]

Thanks Tom.  I will look into upgrading my Voyage, I love the interface and if it can play DSD I see no reason to change.  That is one sweet looking DAC you are running.

Best,
Ed

[ebag4]

Thanks, Ed.

Have you seen this thread (on that "other" forum, very sorry, just trying to help):  http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/oppo-103-105-does-stereo-multi-channel-dsd-15575/

Best,
John

Thanks John, I had somehow managed to miss that one.

Best,
Ed

[InfernoSTi]

Perhaps your Oppo 103 has more life in it with the firmware that allows DSD playback?  That would be cool and along with your Voyager upgrade, you would be there with your existing equipment!  Or were you going to leave that in your theater system...perhaps I got that hashed up.

Best,
John

[ebag4]

Perhaps your Oppo 103 has more life in it with the firmware that allows DSD playback?  That would be cool and along with your Voyager upgrade, you would be there with your existing equipment!  Or were you going to leave that in your theater system...perhaps I got that hashed up.

Best,
John

The Oppo 103 happily lives in the HT, in fact I am considering pulling my Integra pre out of the system and letting the 103 permanently handle the pre duties as well.  I am currently running it this way and it is working quite well.

Best,
Ed

[TomS]

Thanks Tom.  I will look into upgrading my Voyage, I love the interface and if it can play DSD I see no reason to change.  That is one sweet looking DAC you are running.

Best,
Ed

Yes it is 

There are a number of DSD capable USB DACs under $1k now. Eric was working on a Hi-Rez DAC though I don't know about DSD on it. You might want to give him a ring to see what's new there.

[ebag4]

Any other opinions?  I would really like to hear what you believe the real world impact would be regarding the DSD64 capability vs. DSD128.

Other recommendations are welcome as well.

Best,
Ed

[ebag4]

Anyone?.... I must have stumbled upon the perfect solution!!

[golfugh]

Might get more play in the Hi-Res circle.  I'm sure Ted can give you a great perspective.
Mark

[ebag4]

Might get more play in the Hi-Res circle.  I'm sure Ted can give you a great perspective.
Mark

That's a good idea, thanks.

Best,
Ed