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
Xrayz - regarding cables - I'm not going to tell you that cables ARE your problem. but I've found that with really good cables, even the most affordable component can perform to a very high level.

Having said that, my experience with the Bifrost DAC is as follows
- I purchased the original Bifrost with the USB port and UBER analogue output stage upgrade
- I then installed the newer USB port upgrade - but I was still left wanting more
- I  invested in the Musical Fidelity V-Link 192. This proved to be an exceptional purchase and really proved that not all USB interfaces are anywhere near equal - this provided a significant improvement to the really fine details.
- Lastly I upgraded the Bifrost to the 4490 upgrade option which provided a significant improvement in fine details

In parallel with that I started investing in really good cables

For USB cables that linked the computer to the V-Link192 I settled on a cable that had a separate power cable like this one and found it improved the details even more when powered with a separate power supply
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-supply-and-USB-cable-separate-audio-signal-cable-/251589388236

The power a cable for the DAC is a DIY cable that I developed...
http://www.image99.net/blog/files/be8de0c383c5434907610d6b55049e69-75.html

For IC's I started with the KLE Innovations gZero3 and ended up with the gZero20 - a cable which costs almost three times what I paid for the DAC + Upgrades.

However, I now use a DIY IC cable that I developed...
http://www.image99.net/blog/files/4127b5fe2694586e383104364360373b-74.html

Crazy you say? - certifiable in many peoples eyes -  but I no longer yearn to replace my DAC and the sound really is excellent.

The DAC you have looks very capable and I think it would benefit greatly from some cable upgrades - but rather than experiment as I did, I would recommend taking the DAC to a good audio store that sells high-end cables and get them to connect it to one of their systems - I'm sure that the prospect of selling you some high-end cables they will jump at the chance and you get to see how the DAC performs outside of your system

If you are in the Toronto region let me know - I might be able to arrange an audition of my DIY cables :-)

Regards...

@williewonka 

Thank you for taking the time for the comprehensive response. I didn't mention before my DAC is battery powered. I don't even know if the USB port needs to be powered through the cable or not, but if so, would I need something like an iPurifier?
yes - iPurifier is one solution - if the dac uses power from the USB cable.

regards
xrayz

As Allen said said in the second post, why??

Your only denigrating PCM by converting it to dsd in real time with a dsd dac, better off getting the right dac to it with, get a good Multibit dac, which converts it "bit perfect".

From MoJo Music:
" When a PCM file is played on a DSD or Bit Stream converter, the DAC chip has to convert the PCM to DSD in real time. This is one of the major reasons people claim DSD sounds better than PCM, when in fact, it is just that the chip in most modern single-bit DACs do a poor job of decoding PCM."

Cheers George