Digital Processor Reviews

Sidebar 1: Manufacturer's Comment

Editor: When I started my quest to extract DSD64 and 24/192 PCM from discs to an external DAC, I knew legality was paramount. USB and AES/EBU outputs would have stripped the HDCP encoding, so I went with S/PDIF Coax/Toslink and a manufacturer well-versed in HDMI and HDCP devices. End result: the DSD and PCM at the Coax/Toslink outputs are fully HDCP copy-protected, adhere to the DTCP standards and are not in violation of the SACD and Blu-ray Audio regulations. An indication of industry acceptance: SACD label Channel Classics has welcomed the D.BOB to the industry by selling it online!

Contrary to naysayers, SACD and Blu-ray Audio discs are alive and well, with roughly 6000 SACD titles (about 4500 classical) and more releases coming every month from dozens of classical, pop, and jazz labels: new recordings and DSD remasterings of analogue classical, pop, and jazz recordings from the '50s through the '70s—collectively giving vinyl more than a run for its analog money. Blu-ray Audio is less well represented but is the chosen format for UMG.

Significantly, the D.BOB allows one to enjoy through an external DAC the Giles Martin remix/remasters of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's, White Album, and Abbey Road in their full 24/96 Blu-ray Audio glory.

I have found that even the untrained ear can hear the huge differences between the DSD and CD layers of an SACD played though the D.BOB and an external DAC. The CD layer sounds squashed by comparison.

Make sure your player passes hi-rez audio through HDMI and your DAC accepts DoP over Coax/Toslink. Some DACs only accept it via USB, though most DACs with DoP over USB can be made to accept it via Coax/Toslink with a firmware update.—Eric Geer, Founder, President GeerFab Audio