Caiman DAC Optical input

[goody]

Hi, I was wondering whether when the optical input is fed with 24bits/192kHz signal, would my Caiman DAC able to decode the 24bits/192kHz optical signal and convert it to analog signal? I suppose it could since it has a 24bits/192kHz Wolfson WM8716 DAC chip, right?

If not, why? Can this be overcome?

[chrism]

The Caiman is 24/96 and I am not aware of any mods to realize the 24/192 capability of the Wolfson.

Have you managed to sort the Touch/Caiman issue?

Regards

Chris

[goody]

Is there any input digital receiver (Wolfson or others) that can directly substitute the digital receiver in the Caiman? (like the way we substitute the PCM1716 with WM8716 DAC?)

[HighFidelityGuy]

Is there any input digital receiver (Wolfson or others) that can directly substitute the digital receiver in the Caiman? (like the way we substitute the PCM1716 with WM8716 DAC?)

This subject has come up before and I don't believe anyone could think of a receiver chip that was pin compatible. I have wondered if there were any non-pin compatible receivers that could be made to work with some kind of adapter board like those that Tirna sell. Providing one could be found that had the same electrical characteristics but a different pin layout, I don't see why this couldn't work but I don't really know enough on the subject to take this any further, at least not at the moment. It's something to think about though.

[StanleyB]

Last year I asked in more than one thread how many people owned 192KHz files and how many people were playing them as well. I also asked about any non-PC based players that could play 192KHz. The replies indicates that hardly anyone owned 192KHz audio files, let alone played them. As for non-pC based players: no results on that one either.

So getting involved with modding the Caiman for 192KHz playback is at the moment unlikely to be a popular exercise.

I myself have only got less than 10 192KHz files, of which most of them are vinyl rips. Now, trying to compare a vinyl rip against a digital transfer is not a technically conclusive test. Too many variables with too many posibilities of false positives.

[HighFidelityGuy]

This is the main reason I've not bothered looking into it as I don't have any 192KHz files. To be honest most of my music is still 44.1KHz CD quality as the music I like is only really available on CD/LP. I've looked for high res downloads on numerous occasions but have only purchased a couple of 96KHz albums and I rarely listen to them. If someone can tell me how I can get good 70's, 80's and 90's rock/metal/prog in high res I'll be a very happy man.

[Reid Malenfant]

If someone can tell me how I can get good 70's, 80's and 90's rock/metal/prog in high res I'll be a very happy man.
Buy a dCS Purcell or another type of upsampler ;)

[Welder]

Err, how will that work then Mark? :scratch:

[HighFidelityGuy]

I've nevery really understood what good an upsampler can do. Surely no amount of processing can restore the subtleties or extra frequenties that were lost when the recording was encoded into CD quality?

What I want are new high res files made direct from the studio masters. They seem very rare though. :(

[Reid Malenfant]

Err, how will that work then Mark? :scratch:
John i have no idea fella, all i know is that upsampled CDs (at least on the dCS kit) are very nearly as good sounding as any SACD. At £12,000 when new they damn well should be. Talk to Data Conversion Systems or get a listen to their kit ;)

What I want are new high res files made direct from the studio masters. They seem very rare though. :(
Unforunately you don't appear to be finding them :(

[Welder]

I reckon I must mate coz I can’t see how upsampling can provide information that wasn’t there in the first place; not that I could afford one even if it interpolation works ;)

Hi Res; terrible lack of material imo.

[HighFidelityGuy]

John i have no idea fella, all i know is that upsampled CDs (at least on the dCS kit) are very nearly as good sounding as any SACD. At £12,000 when new they damn well should be. Talk to Data Conversion Systems or get a listen to their kit ;)

Unforunately you don't appear to be finding them :(

I guess It's one of those things that you have to hear for yourself before passing judgement. However unless I find one for 1/12th of the RRP or less I doubt I'll be buying one. ;)

You've lost me a bit on your last comment though. Are you saying there are high res files taken from studio masters available for some good classic rock bands? :)

[Reid Malenfant]

Sorry Dave, no what i mean't was that as you aren't finding them i'm assuming you must be looking carefully enough & that they simply aren't available :(

[HighFidelityGuy]

Ah, I see. :)
I've looked on most of the well known websites and for the most part it's all Jazz, Classical or avantgard stuff I've never heard of from independant labels. I like a bit of Jazz and Classical from time to time when the mood suits me but they're not my favourite genres.

There do seem to be more new recordings from new artists being released in high def and that's surely a good thing but I'd love to hear some of my favourite classic rock albums in high def. About the closest you get are re-masters but they often sound worse than the originals and are still only CD quality at the end of the day.

I'm sure some of the bands simply don't have the studio masters anymore so going back to them is impossible but there must be some around. I get the impression the labels simply don't want to entertain the idea and I really don't understand why. There are plenty of old albums re-released every year, but they usually sound worse than the originals as they've brick wall comressed them. :rolleyes:

[Reid Malenfant]

Well if you can't afford the dCS kit (& admittedly a lot of people can't) then how about trying something cheaper like a sample rate converter (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=sample+rate+converter&_sacat=0&_odkw=sampler&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313) ;)

At least then you can make use of all the 24 bits of the Caiman :)