Lee Scoggins
Senior HTF Member
Comparing DSD and PCM sampling rates is comparing apples and oranges.Yes, that's what I have often repeated. A better way to describe it is that PCM looks at the height of the waveform and DSD rides the wave by looking at the changes in height. In either one, you are just approximating.
The great thing about analog tape and other analog sources is that you don't lose musical information.
Regarding the Chesky Super Audio discs. I found out something surprising tonight from Barry Wolifson, the chief engineer...the SACDs are all analog to DSD conversions. So I must take back my comments regarding PCM to DSD using the New York Reunion as an example. Prior conversations had led me to believe that the PCM masters were the source of the SACDs, but in fact all the Chesky CDs are based on the analog tapes Bob Katz (or Barry's team) recorded during the sessions.
That explains the better sonics. We really are listening to an analog source sampled to DSD. No wonder they sound so good.
So what does Barry like? Analog.
He simply feels that digital audio still sounds terrible whether PCM or DSD.
I also found out today that Michael Hobson is working on a DVD Audio disc that has 24/192 DVD Audio on one side and a DAD 24/96 playable on DVD players on the other.
Mark Waldrep, is AIX still going to have a "hybrid" DVD Audio disc out soon?