2. digital
  3. 125685-10404

DACs that upsample to DSD internally?

Hello Everyone,

I'm wondering if we can form a list of DACs that are capable of upsampling PCM to DSD internally? I realize there are various software programs that could do this on the fly from your PC. But for the truly computer illiterate among us (like me) who find learning to use such programs incredibly frustrating, it would be great to know which DACs can to this. I only know of the Directstream. Thanks to all!
xrayz

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,657 posts
 
@kijanki

I sit corrected! I thought by now there were a few DAC chips with this ASRC built in, but after browsing it seems I was confused.  Perhaps this was an outboard filter chip with ASRC built in. My mistake.

Best,


Erik
erik_squires
15,657 posts
 
I think you mean the DAC is a Delta-Sigma, which some mistake for DSD.  DSD is encoded using Delta-Sigma.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta-sigma_modulation

DAC's are either multi-bit or delta-sigma, although I think there's some hybrids with 2 bits, and I think the famous dCS ring DAC was  complicated 5 bit Delta-Sigma, but now I may be making stuff up. Schiit makes a big deal of using multi-bit DAC's.

99% of current DAC chips are Delta-Sigma types.

A common feature is "Asynchronous Sample Rate Conversion" though it may be called "reclocking" or upsampling or something. ASRC can go up, or down or even keep the sample rate the same, but with a new low jitter clock.

Best,


ERik
More to discover