Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi Hal,

I would begin my answer to your question just above by noting the second sentence in the Wikipedia writeup on delta-sigma which you linked to:

It [delta-sigma] is also used to convert high bit-count, low-frequency digital signals into lower bit-count, higher-frequency digital signals as part of the process to convert digital signals into analog as part of a digital to analog converter (DAC).

So in that sense, yes, the original samples are "thrown away."  However that says nothing at all about the degree to which musical information is lost in the process.

And regarding my opinion, I would say that as is usually the case in audio how well a design approach is implemented can be expected to be more important than which approach is chosen.

Best regards,
-- Al
 

I played great Redbook and all sounded better on the Bricasti. If RTR is better it sure is not the total dac. I would love to hear the best MSB dac in my system and I could finally put this to rest. I loved MSB at shows but the 100,000.00 price is steep. Please someone bring over a MSB I’m in Michigan.

However that says nothing at all about the degree to which musical information is lost in the process.

@almarg

Hi Al.

Please allow me to preface this post by stating that in no way am I looking or wanting to be argumentative, and you already know how much I value your input in particular.

Does your statement (quoted above) in effect mean "yes, musical information *is* lost, however, exactly how much musical information is lost is not known (or undefined), and presumed to be irrelevant"?

Jeff (Jwm),
Even if you were to hear the MSB 100K dollar DAC and found it to sound exquisitely superb(😊) it still wouldn’t settle any debate in regard to superior D/A conversion. Rather it would speak to A to Z implementation and the "multiple " factors that contribute to a successful audio product.

You’ve been at this a long time and know it’s just a matter of time before the next "best DAC is anointed. Not being critical but you and I know this is the inevitable course. BTW the next anointed best DAC could utilize R2R, delta sigma or some other approach. So this question of superior conversion method is never settled.

Implementation trumps specific design approach as Al astutely summarized above.
Charles

@gdhal
Hi Hal,

No, my statement was not intended to imply that musical information is lost when data having more bits per sample and a lower sample rate is converted to fewer bits per sample at a higher sample rate. From a theoretical standpoint nothing will be lost if the increase in sample rate is sufficient to compensate for the decrease in bits per sample.

And while I do not have detailed familiarity with the specifics of modern delta-sigma DAC designs, user reports of good results with high end delta-sigma designs, published measurements, comments by some who have such familiarity (such as the comments provided by Steve and Shadorne yesterday), as well as my general belief (shared by many others here) that in audio how well a chosen design approach is implemented is usually more important than which approach is chosen, all lead me to believe that "throwing away the original samples" (as referred to by Schiit) is a non-issue in modern high end designs.

Best regards,
-- Al