DIY/Afordable high resolution audio

[Percy]

Hi,

I am new to the forum - Therefore appologies if you've seen this before! I would like to share a few idea's with you that will enable you to enjoy high-resolution audio at home with the minimum of expense.
 
Requirements:
DVD-AUDIO / SACD Universal Player - These players are actually quite cheap lately. I bought my Pioneer Universal Player around three years ago for R1500.00. The new Oppo Universal players are probably a good affordable starting point.
DVD-AUDIO Authoring software i.e DVD-Audio Solo or diskWelder (Price range $40 to $ 100 US)

When the above-mentioned is in place visit your favourite high-resolution audio sites like Linn,iTrax and hdTrax and purchase your album / track from a huge selection of top-notch artist. These are available in 24bit/96kHz and/or 24bit/192kHz  (and even D TS,Dolby Digital etc)and are mainly studio masters.
 
Utilising the DVD-Authoring software you now can create your very own legal DVD-AUDIO disk that will absolutely amaze you ito resolution, clarity and transparency. Your music will now be at the very same level as the best Blu-Ray audio releases, yet you don't have to fork out huge money ito blu-ray players and preamp/processors to enjoy the benefit right now.
 
In addition the same technique can be used to "back-up" those precious but ageing vinyl collections, it actually quite amazing to hear recoded vinyl at 24bit/192kHz you can say it's the best of both worlds...

Thx,
 
Percy
 

[Shonver]

Welcome, Percival! And thanks for that very interesting information.

[Mike M]

Hi

Thanks for that input Percy.

If I may ask, when do you need to durn disks when you can play them straight off the hard drive? I assume burning the disks does away with the need to have a DAC. If that is the case is it not better just to get a DAC?

Regards
M

[Percy]

Hi Mike,

There is two(maybe 3) methods to listen to high resolution audio:

1. PC or Music server via a USB dac (BUT "only" at 96kHz as no USB dac can currently accept 192kHz/24bit,this will change within this year with the new USB specification being finalised and implemented)

2. Dedicated high-resolution players from PSAUDIO (new drive and dac) - Excellent products, but quite pricey at around R60 000 for the two units, or Olive's new HD player(+- R40K)

3. The DVD-Audio solution - As explained

Computer music servers are definitely getting better, however they are radio frequency transmitters of note, I don't yet feel comfortable with them on the hifi rack. This can be overcome, albeit at quite an expense ito casing, noise and heat control etc. In addition Windows in my opinion isn't a workable solution just yet, rumors have it that Windows 7 will be great to use for a music server.

By using the DVD-Audio solution you can use a device that has been purposely designed for onething namely audio playback of hd music vs a PC that needs to be pampered most of the times.

In addition I don't know of any affordable dac's that can truly decode 192kHz (not up sampled)

I hope I have answered your question...

Cheers,

Percy

[Mike M]

Hi Percy

Yes, you have answered my question to a certain extent.

Another option (which may be a sub-catagory of your catagories) is devices like the Mede*er that decodes high res files and sends same via SPDIF. Once again one needs a DAC (and Mede*er) which may be more costly than the method you have outlined.

Regards
M

[Percy]

Hi Mike,

Yes that will work to a certain extend, and it is quite an elegant solution - One thing to remember though is the limitations of the (Optical/Coaxial) S/PDIF interface however it should be good to 96kHz/24bit and even 96kHz/24bit 5.1 but not 192kHz

Another thing to check is can these devices like Mede*er and others are certified to output HD audio sometimes it will be blocked due to copyright issues etc

Thx,

Percy

[Pimpin']

I miss it when listening to music or watching movies was so simple. Pick your favourite disc/tape/VHS/Beta/vinyl and just play. now its all this complicated download and upload, upconversion and the plathora of numbers and formats to memorise. i miss the old days.

[Enigma_2k4]

I don't miss the old days at all! I like to complexity of it all! I also like having everything on demand, how I want it, when I want it!