DSD X2 - Light Harmonic

Light Harmonic "Geek Out" USB DAC / Headphone Connector

If you read the major audio publications (plug), Stereophile, The Absolute Sound (TAS), you will see that high-definition audio is finally getting mainstream playback.

Since the introduction of the Korg MR-2000S, audiophiles have enjoyed an unbelievably in-expensive (now, $1000) high-resolution playback (and analogue recording...) device.

http://www.korg.co.jp/Product/DRS/MR-2000S/

Sanders 10C Electrostatic System

http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/products/electrostatic-speakers/model-10

Earlier Korg units have been featured in audiophile trade displays in place of regular CD players and LP's.

The latest digital audio introduction to hit popular consciousness is the Light Harmonic "Geek Out" USB DAC at $199 USD per unit. Combined with its' "Slacker" USB Cable, it may give our Audioquest Dragonfly some plucky competition for the preferred headamp for a home-PC.

The Dragonfly, along with most popular USB DACs supports up to 24/96 KHz. For an older (>5 years) PC, this is about right. We quite like the 24/96 sound with our Stax 007's running propellerhead's Reason, the "Demo Song".

Even without an outboard DAC, with HP's implementation of Intel's Integrated Audio, you'll find the sound quite smooth, though noisy at 24/96 (power-supply and inductance).

Roger Sanders would agree with us that 24/96 is quite nice. His Sanders's Sound System 10C System's Digital-active cross-over (Behringer DCX Ultra-Drive Pro) is of 24 bit / 96 KHz digital resolution. He has argued (link) that his 10C gives the Focal Grand Utopia III's a run-for the splendor.

Now, back to DSD.

DSD or Direct Stream Digital is an audio format invented by Sony. We're a big fan of Sony. We have their Digitial Audio TCD-D7 "Tape-Corder" on desk-display in our office, an an ES-Set of TA-2000ESD, TA-N55ES, and CDP-C79ES still on active duty, and even a PS-X40 turntable set up, to rotate our headphones, with a Grado cartridge no-the-less.

That says what we think about Digital Audio Conversion, or DAC.

DSD X2 is parlour speak for 5.6448 MHz (1-bit recording) or 128 times that of a CD. Last we heard of "128," it was with reference to the famed Commodore 128, which had 128 K of RAM.

That same Commodore 128 could store less than a 1/4 second of DSD X2, which really gives credence to Moore's Law.

That 1985 $300 C128 is equivalent (not including adjusted inflation) to a Light Harmonic "Geek Out" 1000 mW model in price, if not in memory.

You'd need to step up to a Cray 2 supercomputer from that age to store even one full song at Light Harmonic's Geek Out's "DSD128" or 32 bit /384 KHz playback setting.

We'd like to try the Geek.

Cray-2 Memory Module (1984 design).

Cray Titan, #2 Top 500.

A contemporary computer, like a Titan, should do quite well. :)

http://www.top500.org/system/177975

Even the Titan will only hold so much, with DSD256, 512 and other formats looming. From our perpective, DSD x2 should do quite enough, given the noise inputs of microphones and semi-conductor technology.

Others, such as the esteemed Mola Mola DAC and pre-amp designer, Bruno Putzeys, could have something to say.