Upsampling in Roon 1.3

[octaviars]

I have listened to a dSC Vivaldi upsampler converting 16/44.1 to DSD64, only for the Devialet to convert back to PCM.  In theory this seams like a lot of processing only to end up back at PCM, but for some reason it works brilliantly.  

I absolutely 100% concur with this.

What was most impressive was the ability to toggle between sample rates and formats and hear very real changes to the sound. The soundstage would increase in size or contract depending on the settings chosen.

Even music streamed from an iPhone using Airplay could be upsampled and made to sound superb. 

Speaking to the dCS rep at the time (and sorry if I am repeating myself here since I did post about it shortly after) he seemed to think that this was more due to the noise shaping algorithms and filters involved in the conversions. The idea being to remove digital artefacts and improve the quality of the bits.

In some ways this turns the whole bit perfect paradigm on its head.

There are many reports on the internet of another server called the SGM which is capable of upsampling to DSD 512 and DXD and supposedly completely transforms the performance of DACs. This is achieved by HQPlayer and Roon running in the same shiny box, in a highly optimised and powerful Windows 10 environment with a fancy power supply to boot. The price? A cool 16k euros. I wouldn't mind hearing what this thing could do to the Devialet.

Based on what I have read it seems that the HQPlayer algorithms are on a par with the processing carried out by the dCS Vivaldi Upsampler. So far I have only heard the latter and I can assure you it is no joke. Jaw droppingly good.

Guillaume

Lampizator also builds a custom Linux solution with Roon and HQ Player price is 6900€ with 1Tb SSD (8Tb possible) 

The SUPERKOMPUTER

In June 2016 we introduced the product family split into a cheaper KOMPUTER and top of the range SUPERKOMPUTER. 

The Komputer is a very good machine capable of extremely good playback of all sorts of files. Due to our expertise and bulk procurement we are able to offer reasonable price for very competent product without insanely costly components. 

The SUPERCOMPUTER is a more costly version where everything is on the cutting edge. Namely: 

1. -Processor is the Intel i7 Skylake-The motherboard is DDR4/Skylake type-The RAM is 16 GB of PRO series DDR4-The system drive boot is from SUPER-SSD - the fastest memory on Earth-The music storage is a four-dock bay with external access to 4 SSD drives of up to 8TB of SSD. We provide 1TB of Samsung Pro SSD for starters-The USB output is from highest spec audiophile SotM card USB3-There is an option for battery power from car battery-An optional provision for tube SPDIF output versus solid state in the Komputer-Software is embedded linux with ROON plus HQplayer

http://www.lampizator.eu/Fikus/KOMPUTER_...ERVER.html