Synchronous downsampling is easy (ie from 192 to 96 or to 48). Compare this to Peter's AP algorithm: allways exponents of 2 (2-4-8-16). Downsampling is the same, just drop half the bits. I am shure it will make a difference to the reconstruction however which bits you drop.

Async interpolation needs interpolation (ie from 96 to 88.4). This is done by finite bandwidth filters. Here you go. Options and implementations are wide open. Many ways to mess it up.

The only way to truely compare is indeed to record 44.1 vs 192. But beware, adcs that can record 44.1 ' native' have not been made for many years (if ever). With 44.1 coming out of an adc there is allways a high risc that some dsp going on since professional recording standard is 48 kHz (or multiples). The best way to create an 44.1 kHz master is to start out at ie 176.4kHz and decemate from there. No dsp involved to do this!

Regards, Coen

Nick,

You really can't lower the gain of the amps to any extend. Iirc the datasheet tells that below 20X (26dB) the chip becomes unstable. You win 7dB at best.

A additional resistor devider at the input is easily calculated but introduces some unwanted series resitance, noise and minute distortions. I would go for a low as possible impedance that the opt of the NOS allows (1K?).

Another option is the transformer route. My opinion is that is can be done at very high cost, but some may argue that it will never work.

Both are a bit like introducing a fixed pre-amp in the chain.

If loud is -30 dB you might consider an unity gain amp (a buffer). I don't know if these a commercially available.

Otoh I am shure lowering the gain somewhat will work. Peter demoes on very sensitive speakers (his own and Berts latest) and i've had read no reports on having too much gain.

Fyi I have similar gain issues with my tube amp and have not found another solution that to redesign the amp with lower gain.

Regards, Coen

Thanks for sharing.

Well, these observations are not exclusive to this forum. Others have also noticed that hires is mostly "old wine in new bags" to milk the old cows a little further. Ever noticed how many versions of "Kind of Blue" are in your jazz collection?
Very little if any original hires material is available

With respect to the playback gear, last month steroephile contained an interesting article and comments about the msb platinum full option dac. The reviewer fwiw clearly preferred this discrete R-2R dac to a (also discrete) Sigma Delta DCS stack. The manufacturer indicated that meticulous execution of all dac aspecs improve the sound of "red book". Even so that on demos people where surprised to learn that no hires material was used. Shurely this can be interpreted as marketing mumbojumbo, but we know better by now. I think this article in a way supports Peters view on the adverse effect of The "wrong" (sigma delta LP FIR filtered) dacs on 44.1 vs hires.

I for shure have no special appetite for hires anymore since the nos1 got into 24/705.8 mode with the many gigs of 16/44.1 music I have collected.

The hype is starting to wear off.

Regards, Coen

check! the C button of course.

I've missed the additional download. Should do that soon.

regards, Coen

Right,

It shows in the "ShowData" left pane, not in the main coverart overview in the middle where I would expect it.

So it is by design?

regards, Coen

Coverart as .png file does not show in xx.

Will this be supported one day?

It is not a big thing to convert to jpeg with paint, but not converting would be infinitely more convenient! Sometimes I have the impression that picture quality is lost.

Regards, Coen

Today I noticed that if I clear the coverart cache (with the Q button) while playing music an error message pops up: musicfile xxx not found (or something like that).

The music keeps playing for some seconds and ends in a repetitive sound. Crossing the message away stops the music immediately.

I guess this is not a feature ?

Regards, Coen

Hi Peter,

You've got me thinking here about the vagueness sound of non isolated multi stranded cables.

If it is like you say that there is a resistance (or contact potential) to overcome for an electron before hopping to another strand, imho it becomes less likely that it occurs. The electron will allways follow the path of least resistance along the electromagnetic wave that is associated with their transport. Extra potential or resistance will just make the stay more in their conductor unless some serious advantage presents itself (a seriously thicker wire?, charge of other wires?).

What I think is that it is the wave along the strand itself that is much more influenced by waves of other strands than in the case of isolated strands. The same goes probably for wire impurities irt the preservation of the em wave. Restoring this wave looks to be the trick of the byebee tweaks. Reasoning this further it is, from a conduction perpective, better to have only one (thin) conductor (if you do not have the byebee devices in place).

The trick is to have a sufficiently large enough cross section of this conductor to transport the charge needed by the loudspeakers whilst balancing the impedance (inductance and capacitance). There is more to loudspeaker interfacing than conducting alone.

Anyway I would be surprised if the multi isolated conductor works for the better in your setup, that is letting you hear more distortions.

Regards, Coen

I had a Cantatis Ouverture 24/196 wich isn't a 24/196 dac under windows 7 and cought fire after the warranty passed. SQ was, kudos to XXHe, bearable, but never quite to my liking (like my modified to death M-Audio Ap24/96 FW dac).

Needless to say that the NoS1 is a kazillion times better, but this would be comparing grapes to pineapples.

Regards, Coen

My problem was solved  !

Contact Peter wether you're problem is the same as mine!

regards, Coen

I've done numerous bios updates without having to reinstall Windows.

I don't know if the bios update process transports old bios settings to the new version. Sometimes you have to walk through the settings to make shure that all is how you want it (or as it was).

Particularly the ahci vs ide mode drive setting can prevent windows from booting if not set like on the install of windows.

The update cam make a difference to sq, but in my experience the proper bios settings are more important.

Afaik XX activation has no relation with the bios (but to drive and os).

Regards, Coen

. That’s reversible to a degree.[/]

Like with Phase Alignment...

Regards, Coen

Thanks for the link.

Very readable as allways. His camera and lens reviews are in the same no-nonsense tone, highly recommendable.

Having it read, i feel our experience with well set up xx music servers fundamentaly agrees on the quality that 44.1/16 material is able to offer.
Perfect rips for ever!!

Regards, Coen

No problems here with the realtec audiocodec of the mobo. Plays pure ENGINE #3 @ unattended (but on "maximised OS"). Nice tight sound.

Very NON-NOS1 

Maybe you should try the codec on your mobo too if this works at all on your pc.

regards, Coen

p.s. did you check all BIOS settings? Maybe there is some interaction between os and mobo.

Paul,

Thanks for the tip. As a Dutch cheapskate I can really appreciate gbp 0,01 offers. Shipping to this side of the North Sea was dirt cheap too!

Regards, Coen