[Ric Schultz]

I just listened last night to a 32 bit/211khz upsampler chip directly in front of the AKM 32 bit DAC in our Oppo 980......the resolution went through the roof!!!!  I was playing Brubeck's "Time Out" (an SACD) and I have never heard such inner detail, speed, space around instruments, clarity, decay, etc.  The Oppo already plays an SACD as 24/88 PCM so upsampling to 32 bits and 211khz makes all the difference.  If you can take an already high resolution signal and make it way, way better......oh man....this is good stuff!

All the info is here: http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_Player_Mods.html

For you Streamers:  We will be hardwiring the 32 bit upsampler chip and 32 bit DAC from the Slim Devices SB-3 and Duet as well as mounting it inside the Transporter.  You are going to be mind blown!  The 32 bit upsampler, DAC and output stage (if needed) will be run off batteries using discrete regulators.  Yes, I can mount the 32 bit DAC and upsampler in a Modwright modded Transporter......not easy, but doable.

So, whether you are playing discs or streaming, we have super high resolution for you.

From what I am hearing 32 bits is the magic new bullet.  AKM is working on a 32 bit ADC and I imagine recording at pure 32 bits and playing back at 32 bits (with low jitter) will make SACD (DSD format) completely obsolete.  You need no filtering on the output with high sampling rate PCM whereas DSD always needs some filtering as the out of band noise is very close to our hearing threshold.

[IronLion]

Ric, how much would it cost to put the 32bit chip into a Modwright Transporter?  Thanks again for the Ultimate Attenuators, they are great. 

[Ric Schultz]

Cannot say how much it would be until I did one.  I don't know if the Jung regulators are as good as my discrete regs, etc.  Anywhere between $3-500 I would guess.  I won't be able to do one for a few weeks as I will need to get the Oppos going.

[Jon L]

Rick, I saw this on your website:

"The output stage is a pure passive output (1 volt RMS) using a nude (latest version) Vishay resistor and a nude damped Blackgate cap soldered directly to the added OFC output jacks."

Does the lower 1V passive output mandate a good active preamp for the macrodynamics and slam, or is it "good enough" driving a benign input load, say 50K-100K tube amp input impedance? 

And for us hard drive guys, is digital input possible at all, going through the 32/211 upsampler chip?

[Ric Schultz]

Jon,
The bass is amazing driving one meter of interconnect into my 10K Ultimate Attenuator inside my amp.  In fact, better than the Pioneer DV-58 with its discrete high current fet output stage.  I will be trying to parallel the DACs on the output and it may get even better. Obviously, 1 Volt RMS will not be enough for some passively based systems.

I will be making an optional super output stage for those that need more voltage.  It will be battery powered and either discrete or super op amp based.


No digital input on the Oppo.  I may make a stand alone DAC using this technology.

[mca]

Ric,

Not to change the subject, but could you post elsewhere about your new amps? Curious minds want to know!

Also, any further details on your Behringer DCX modifications?

[Jon L]

I may make a stand alone DAC using this technology.

Please do make a DAC.  I'm sure I speak for many when I say:

1.  Cut costs by using plain-jane but resonance-friendly chassis.
2.  No fancy doo-da's to raise costs. 
3.  No added cost by tagging on USB input for show, using just usb-to-spdif converter.
4.  Cut costs by utilizing a mod-friendly ready-made DAC made "elsewhere."

You build it, and we will definitely come 

[Ric Schultz]

I am not going to post any info on the amps until they are ready to produce.  Just a teaser for now.  It is good!

The current info on the Behringer mods is on the website.  I will have more info in a couple of weeks when I have done the advanced mods: Superclock, upsampled 32 bit DACs and discrete regulators.

I can very easily make a stand alone DAC with I2S in.....in fact, the box that will mount on the back of the Duet and SB3 will be just such an item.  I2S gives the purest digital transfer (short cables, of course).  The DAC box for the duet/SB3 will be I2S hardwired directly from inside the Duet/SB3 and hardwired directly to the upsampler chip in the DAC box.  Alternately a connector could be put on the box for an I2S cable.

If I were to do a box with SPDIF, USB, etc. then it would have to be much larger......but an I2S DAC can be small and relatively inexpensive, including 32 bit upsampler, 32 bit DAC, discrete regulators.....obviously the big 12V battery will be external.

[bummrush]

Please do make a DAC.  I'm sure I speak for many when I say:I wouldnt mind listening to one,i bet a lot of people would be up for something like that from you.

[Big Red Machine]

The standalone dac gives us flexibility to use a transport or SB.

[Ric Schultz]

By the way, the Behringer xover can be used just as a DAC.....and also at the same time can be used for full room correction (equalization).  The Behringer normally upsamples the digital inputs to 24/96 and on the output could then be upsampled further to 32/211 and run through the AKM 32 bit DAC just like I am doing in the other products.  You really don't need to bi or triamp with the Behringer.....however, you can use the eq with a separate sub, etc......lots of flexibility......the stock Behringer is like $275 delivered!!!!  Then you add the coax in mod, the 32 bit mods and the output stage mods........Superclock naturally.  It would be killer!

[NewBuyer]

...in fact, the box that will mount on the back of the Duet and SB3 will be just such an item.... The DAC box for the duet/SB3 will be I2S hardwired directly from inside the Duet/SB3 and hardwired directly to the upsampler chip in the DAC box...

How is this project coming along - do you have any good news to share about it yet?

I think this will be an amazing product...

[BlkNotes]

Dear Rick;

    Has the double speed DSD master tape project with modded playback system been scrapped? 

Thanks;
BN

[Ric Schultz]

Now that the upsampler works great I can start on the other projects using it including the Slim Devices mods.  Next week I will start on an SB3 here and will have the information online as soon as I finish the mods.  I should have it all done within a month.  Does anyone have a full schematic to the SB3?

The DSD masters thang is going to start up later this year.  Delayed due to needing to make money....as the project will not generate any income till I have at least 6 or more superior recordings.  I will be recording myself over the next month and then start to record others as I keep tweaking the recording gear and techniques.

[BlkNotes]

Hi Rick;

    I would assume that DSD master tapes played on its play back system is still superior to the upsampled 32bit oppo system? Are you able to compare the 2 systems. What audio parameters does the DSD superceds the 32bit and by what margin?

Thanks;
BN

[Ric Schultz]

The only way to know what does what is to do very, very controlled tests.  When I have an excellent recording of some complex music in space (via double speed DSD) I will transfer it to the computer and then create a 24/192 disc from it and then upsample to 32 bits when playing it back in the Oppo.....whenever I get around to doing this.....then some noted differences might be relevant.  But as long as you have two different playback systems (hard drive versus nasty laser) then you are not really A/Bing anything.  The only way to really tell would be to have a recorder that could record at double speed DSD and at 32/352 and then compare the difference and also compare between live and recorded.

My feelings about 32 bit are based on:

1. The fact that most feel that 24/352 sounds about as good as single speed DSD (a couple of recorders can do this A/B).  Until AKM releases their 32 bit ADC and someone puts it in a recorder we will not know for sure the actual benefit of 32 bits.......

2. The results of upsampling to 32 bits in the Oppo.....trouble is, there is also jitter reduction from using the Superclock 4 directly into the asynchronous sample rate converter and you are also up sampling the frequency.......my sense all three things contribute to the amazing sound I am getting.  There is no way to properly correlate which thing does what but the combo of Superclock 4, 32 bit upsampler and 32 bit DAC is way cool.  The 32 bit DAC by itself was good, maybe better than any other DAC out there, but was not doing didley till the 32 bit upsampler was added in front of it. 

Other manufacturers are using this upsampler chip (for instance, the $2500 Bel-Canto DAC III), however, they are using it to upsample to 24 bits and then feeding a 24 bit DAC.  As far as I know, only Alex Peychev and myself are using this combo.....his unit costs a little bit more ($30,000!!!).  The $7500 DAC from Esoteric is also using the 32 bit AKM DAC and is said to use 32 bit processing in their digital filters.  The Esoteric uses op amps on the output and Alex uses a tube and transformer......I use one nude $10 Vishay resistor and one nude damped Blackgate cap bypassed by a Wima cap......we are talking very, very pure output stage.