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anyone using Roon to convert PCM to DSD? it sounds a lot different and maybe better

I always felt leaving files in their Native format was best.  I also did not think using  Roon sounded better than not using Roon,  Roon offers a lot of cool features such as integrating your stored files and researching artists, looking for different versions of songs, etc. but I didn’t think it was worth the money.

I learned about a DIY streaming setup using Raspberry Pi computers.  I’m NOT a computer geek, and it was not difficult to implement. I don’t think it’s been discussed in this forum - https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/71280-diy-a-three-tier-roon-endpoint-with-diretta-on-raspberry-pi/#comments

I feel like the sound quality of this setup provides an incredible value for the money, but the way it’s implemented does require Roon.

So anyway - back to the topic.  Roon offers what I call "tone controls" in addition to their Parametric EQ function (which in itself can be useful) .  These are in the "Sample rate conversion" functions.

I started experimenting with the PCM to DSD conversion and I’m quite surprised with what I’m hearing.  This effect may be DAC dependent (I’m using a Gustard x26Pro).  I’m playing a track called "Roach" by jazz pianist Larry Goldngs which is a 96kHZ, 24 bit file and switching from Native to "Roon converted" DSD512 and the difference in depth and soundstage in my room is startling. 

Now I find I’m pretty much always leaving the conversion on all the time.

I haven’t gone over the Roon forum on this - I’m not sure it’s a very welcoming place but I like the vibe here.

Curious to know if anyone here has tried this.

boulder_bob
mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,081 posts
 

I always felt leaving files in their Native format was best. 

I have read and "felt" that as well. Unfortunately I cannot buy all the music I like to listen to from Native DSD, so I use PGGB to convert my favourite rock redbook cd’s to 512 DSD files, and then play that "remastered file" from the streamer to the DAC. It does wonders to the music- all aspects of the sound are improved. Call it "processed" and "non-native" but it works for my ears. Keep in mind it depends on the DAC. My T+A DAC 200 does prefer a 1 bit DSD file as its converter does a much better job than its internal 8fs upsampling PCM converter, I believe the feeling is unanimous among T+A DAC owners. 

You have a DAC which does work really well with DSD files as well, according to PGGB. 

I also did not think using  Roon sounded better than not using Roon, ...Curious to know if anyone here has tried this.

Been years since I used Roon to upconvert, upsample, or do any convolution or any other processing; to my ears it wasn’t worth it, but my streamer doesn’t have a lot of processing power and wasn’t designed for this. Roon doesn’t sound as good as other software’s in this streamer in the first place, for 90% of the music, but I still listen to it half of the time as it is nicer to work with. 

@boulder_bob  have you heard of HQ Player? It is the most common upsampler/dsp software and is reported to do a much better job than Roon. 

 

 

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audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,937 posts
 

@mclinnguy thx! Let me read up on this. 

benstelz
50 posts
 

For the past few years I've experimented with Roon DSD upsampling, HQ Player, Remastero PGGB, and Audirvana. They all have different strengths and weaknesses. I wouldn't say one is better than the others, it really depends on your preferences. People say Roon is the weakest, that isn't my experience.

Also it depends on your DAC. I had some DACs that prefer PCM, others respond well to DSD conversion. I've even noticed that I like one DAC with HQ Player, and another DAC with Roon, and another DAC with PGGB. Maybe I'm crazy but it feels like another system and listener dependent situation. 

hhudo's avatar
hhudo
19 posts
 

All DACs, well except R2R NOS, are resampling inside - upsampling to higher bitrate (to move noise into higher range and to make 22khz brickwall filter more steeper), and also converting to 1 bit if its DSD based DAC (AKM, ESS, Chord, PS Audio ... all except R2R wich are PCM native). 
So doing the same before it gets sent to the DAC can be better if you're using better algorith for that processing.

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