Upconversion of digital audio

[sridhar-v]

I will be using a Media Player (most probably Xtreamer) with audio files ripped in full size WAV or AIFF format. (ie. original lossless)

I plan to use either a HARMAN KARDON 3450 stereo amp or DENON1610 AVR. Signals will be connected to these by optical cable. Both the units have inbuilt DACs which operate @ 24bit-96 Khz. Upconversion to 24bit-192Khz seems to be lacking.

Will the lack of audio upconversion make any significant change in SQ.

thanks
Sridhar V

 

[CLEARCUT]

Definitely depends upon your quality of analogue or optical cable. In those buy a moderate from mx or monster or really high end cheers

 

[partymonger]

Definitely depends upon your quality of analogue or optical cable. In those buy a moderate from mx or monster or really high end cheers

Optical cable either works or not works, Its a digital signal..Quality of cable doesnt really matter much apart from good fitting in the ports..

 

[uziel]

Yes and the tech specs does matter. Unless one craves for it, SQ will not matter

 

[venkatcr]

Sridhar V

There are a number of issues with your plan.

1. A media player (any media player) is not good at all for music. It is assumed that all decoding and conversion is done outside. Secondly media players are optimised for movies and not for music.

2. Both the HK and Denon you have mentioned are entry levels systems and can only go so far with music.

If you are serious about music, better options will be to store and play your music from a computer with a decent sound card. Asus is one of the best in the market today. It has been tested to send the music about faithfully without any loss or distortion. In the next stage use an external DAC such as one from CA or Beresford.

In terms of the difference between 96kHz and 192kHz, in a good resolving system, you can certainly hear the difference in terms of better clarity, instrumental differentiation, and soundstage. If you understand the conversion of a digital curve into an analogue curve, the higher the sampling, the closer will the output be to the original analogue curve. Some people confuse this with frequency and also ask that when a Redbook CD is at 44.1Kzh, what is the use of 192kHz. The point is accuracy in ADC and DAC. The higher the sampling rate, the better your digital signals will be.

Cheers

Cheers

 

[ontherocks]

In terms of the difference between 96kHz and 192kHz, in a good resolving system, you can certainly hear the difference in terms of better clarity, instrumental differentiation, and soundstage. If you understand the conversion of a digital curve into an analogue curve, the higher the sampling, the closer will the output be to the original analogue curve. Some people confuse this with frequency and also ask that when a Redbook CD is at 44.1Kzh, what is the use of 192kHz. The point is accuracy in ADC and DAC. The higher the sampling rate, the better your digital signals will be.

On the same lines, here is a very nice explanation of what bit-depth (bits) and sampling rate (KHz) mean in digital audio and their role in the fidelity of original audio.
Sample_Rates_and_Bit_Depth

 

[Amarbir[Lynx-India]]

Sridhar V

There are a number of issues with your plan.

1. A media player (any media player) is not good at all for music. It is assumed that all decoding and conversion is done outside. Secondly media players are optimised for movies and not for music.

2. Both the HK and Denon you have mentioned are entry levels systems and can only go so far with music.

If you are serious about music, better options will be to store and play your music from a computer with a decent sound card. Asus is one of the best in the market today. It has been tested to send the music about faithfully without any loss or distortion. In the next stage use an external DAC such as one from CA or Beresford.

In terms of the difference between 96kHz and 192kHz, in a good resolving system, you can certainly hear the difference in terms of better clarity, instrumental differentiation, and soundstage. If you understand the conversion of a digital curve into an analogue curve, the higher the sampling, the closer will the output be to the original analogue curve. Some people confuse this with frequency and also ask that when a Redbook CD is at 44.1Kzh, what is the use of 192kHz. The point is accuracy in ADC and DAC. The higher the sampling rate, the better your digital signals will be.

Cheers

Cheers

Venkat ,

thanks For The wonderful explanation