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Why you want upsampling and upconversion in a server and why it sounds way better!

One of Roon's and Jrivers best advantages is the ability to digitally reprocess your data. 

With an appropriate server you can take for example a 16 bit 44k Tidal stream and reprocess that data stream to DSD or to reprocess to 24bit 192k, 384k, even up to 768k.

In our tests almost accross the board most listeners perfer DSD or high res PCM data streams.

The counter arguement is that if you start with 16 bit 44k sample you can't do any better as that  is the source.

Going through Facebook we got a post that showed the Lumiere brothers first film shot in 1894 with a steam locomotive. 

The second video showed the same Lumiere video reprocessed using AI to create a 4k video stream out of the same video footage. 

The first video is the native source the second shows the reprocessed video the differences aren't subtitle even if you reprocess the native video you are able to extract a signifigantly higher quality image. 

We have been saying this for years even if you don't start out with a true high res source through the magic of computer reprocessing you can create a pseudo high res data packet that still sound far better than ifs original form.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/someone-used-neural-networks-to-upscale-a-famous-1896-video-to-4k-quality/

Watch the video and see what you think. Sure it is always best to start with a true high resolution image but in the case of not having a true high resolution music fille the ability to use digital reprocessing can create a signal that will sound far better providing that your dac and server are up to the task.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ



 
128x128audiotroy
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audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy OP
3,598 posts
 
Willrich how are you upampling? What are you using at your Roon Core?

Also the PS audio is not going to be the best test bed as it is converting everything to DSD internally.

So in the case of the PS audio your results may not mirror ours.

With the T+A  SD 3100 converting to DSD sounds amazing, the same thing with the Light Harmonic Davinci. 

Many Dacs Lumin, Bricasti sound amazing running DSD 

Part of this conversation is the ability to turn PCM to DSD with Roon many people prefer the warmer sound of DSD.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
erik_squires
15,764 posts
 
For me, all roads have lead back to native frequencies. I have yet to find any DSP combination in Roon that is more appealing than a native file,


I don't really care for the upsampling to DSD. In PCM mode it seems harmmless, but I do use the EQ features due to room issues and speaker placement.
willrich47
52 posts
 
@audiotroy 

My Roon core is currently on a MBP, and I recognize how busy and electronically noisy those can be. 

I’m one of those that want to like upsampling. I like to think that I’ve tried every combination of upsampling in Roon; though likely, I haven’t. 
I think you’re right to point out the different architectures in DAC’s . The native upsampling in the PS Audio Directstream DAC could absolutely contribute to perceptual differences when compared to upsampling in Roon. Its very possible that DAC’s from one manufacturer perform better with upsampling, than DAC’s from another manufacturer.

I have upsampled using the smooth, minimum phase filter, then 7th order CLANS to DSD, off and on for a couple of months. I think I’ve tried most of the other settings as well. I’m not saying I’m writing off upsampling as a legitimate method of increasing SQ, I just haven’t found the settings that would make me prefer it over native streaming on my particular DAC. 
I’d be interested to hear what you like best. I’m not above trying something new.

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