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In the Forum: Didital Things
In the Thread: The BSO and Digital Music.
Post Subject: About the Soundmirror comments.Posted by Romy the Cat on: 4/22/2009
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 Mark Donahue wrote:

Mani,
Yes, the files were created using the HDCD Model 1 AD converter and you
will actually get improved audio if your DA converter properly decodes
the HDCD (Even at 88.2 kHz /24 bit!)
There is information about the filtering and dithering used in the AD
conversion process encoded into the master that allow the DA converter
to optimize its own reconstruction filter.  If you can turn off the HDCD
decoding you will find a significant decrease in the spatial imaging and
overall imaging acuity.
After extensive listening tests to all the available DSD sample rate
converters and many of the top tier AD converters (Meitner, dCS, Prism,
Lavery and Mytek) we concluded that the Pacific Microsonics conversion
was the best available means of converting the DSD source material to
88.2 PCM.
We're glad you're enjoying the new releases. 
 
Mani,

Thanks for sharing this, it is interesting and a bit disconcerting.

I disagree with Mark that HDCD is beneficial for 88.2kHz/24bit, at least my experiments suggested that it was not. From a different perspective to decode HDCD I need to play Pacific DAC and it is not my DAC of preference for 88.2kHz/24bit. When Mark suggests you to compare imaging with HDCD and without it hi is a bit misleading you. The advantages that you might hear would not come from the HDCD itself but from the fact that when HDCD is activated then Pacific might run LLE (Low Level Extension) algorithm  - reportedly by some serious pro folks with whom I consulted -  the best compression algorithm ever was  made available:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/GetPost.aspx?PostID=5432

You remember I was compiling above that the BSO files with all their quality are not as good imaging wise as I would like them to be. Here it why: because apparently the Soundmirror guys referenced the files compression-wise the HDCD mode activated. Well, how many 88.2kHz/24bit DAC out there that can decode HDCD?

However, what bothered me in Mark Donahue reply is the evidence that the fucking SACD keep screwing us up. Take a look: the record in SACD, well they call it DSD but let pretend that it is the same. Then they need to convert it to PCM. Pay attention what they do – they run SACD D/A and then A/D in to PCM via Pacific. This is idiotic as the DSD to PCM conversion must be done via D to D operation with no conversion to analog. Pacific in D to D mode can’t not read DSD and apparently there are no god D to D convectors out there if the Soundmirror decided to do via analog conversion route. That is a shame. Now how much better would be if people abandon that idiotic SACD/DSD and Mark Donahue would record BSO right in PCM at 88.2 kHz/24bit or 172.2 kHz/24bit format? Then the files that we get will be as close to raw master files as it might be.

Once again: the marketing idiots who force professionals to use and consumers to buy SACD  keep vandalizing our recordings with own agenda.
The Cat

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