Signal Processors
A+
Chord Hugo M Scaler: $5650
The Chord Hugo M Scaler is a digital processor but not a digital-to-analog processor, its purpose being the upsampling—referred to in the UK as upscaling—of incoming data. When connected to a Chord DAC via BNC connectors, the M Scaler can upsample up to 705.6kHz or 768kHz, but with non-Chord DACs the upper limits become 176.4kHz and 192kHz. (In all cases, incoming DSD data is converted to PCM, with a 6dB reduction in level.) JA used the M Scaler with Chord's DAVE D/A processor, and with his own PS Audio and Mark Levinson DACs. In all cases, but especially with the DAVE, upsampling via the M Scaler offered such improvements as "more image depth, an increased sense of drive, and even more clarity." That said, owing to the fact that the M Scaler is "relatively expensive," JA recommends auditioning it with your DAC of choice "before getting out the credit card." (Vol.43 No.3 WWW) A AudioPraise VanityPRO HDMI audio extractor: $1595
The VanityPRO extracts a digital audio signal from the HDMI stream and offers several options for processing and outputting the extracted audio for playback on a high-quality audio system. KR appreciated the opportunity to apply DSP, channel-level adjustments, active crossovers, and room correction while playing discs, without redundant D/A–A/D conversion. "It's a pleasure to run DiracLive—to balance channels and compensate for room acoustics—not just with files but also while playing discs," he wrote. KR's review sample was fitted with four AES3 (XLR) stereo outputs supporting up to eight channels of audio. The multichannel version is also available with four electrical S/PDIF outputs with either RCA or BNC connectors. The stereo version, which costs the same, comes with AES3, S/PDIF over RCA, and TosLink—one of each. (Vol.45 No.5 WWW) Accuphase DG-68 Digital Voicing Equalizer: $24,000
See "Digital Processors." GeerFab Audio D.BOB: $999
"This unique device is a solution to a problem that previously couldn't be solved," wrote KR. The GeerFab D.BOB digital breakout box takes a universal player's HDMI output and with SACDs, extracts two-channel DSD data from the HDMI audio stream, and outputs DoP (DSD-over-PCM) via RCA and TosLink S/PDIF connectors. GeerFab assures users that this implementation is both legal and compatible with HDMI 1.4b and HDCP 1.4. JA's measurements confirmed that the D.BOB's output was bit-perfect—ie, the bits it outputs via S/PDIF are the same as those sent to it via HDMI. (Vol.43 No.5 WWW)
B
Denafrips Gaia D/D reclocker: $1822.89
The Gaia takes in digital signals through its USB, S/PDIF (including optical TosLink and RCA electrical), or AES3 inputs, buffers them, and reclocks them with the same OCXO clock used in the Terminator Plus. Perhaps because of this similarity, HR found that the Gaia gave only a small improvement when used with the Terminator Plus: "The Gaia's positive effect on the density and clarity of sound ... was smaller and less music-enhancing than I expected." With the Gaia inserted (USB in, coax out) between his Roon Nucleus+ and the Terminator Plus, he wrote that "clean and resolved" became a tiny bit more "grainless and sanitary." But that was all. (Vol.45 No.5 WWW) Nordost Qnet Network Switch: $3199.99
See Jason Victor Serinus's review elsewhere in this issue. (Vol.45 No.10)
The Chord Hugo M Scaler is a digital processor but not a digital-to-analog processor, its purpose being the upsampling—referred to in the UK as upscaling—of incoming data. When connected to a Chord DAC via BNC connectors, the M Scaler can upsample up to 705.6kHz or 768kHz, but with non-Chord DACs the upper limits become 176.4kHz and 192kHz. (In all cases, incoming DSD data is converted to PCM, with a 6dB reduction in level.) JA used the M Scaler with Chord's DAVE D/A processor, and with his own PS Audio and Mark Levinson DACs. In all cases, but especially with the DAVE, upsampling via the M Scaler offered such improvements as "more image depth, an increased sense of drive, and even more clarity." That said, owing to the fact that the M Scaler is "relatively expensive," JA recommends auditioning it with your DAC of choice "before getting out the credit card." (Vol.43 No.3 WWW) A AudioPraise VanityPRO HDMI audio extractor: $1595
The VanityPRO extracts a digital audio signal from the HDMI stream and offers several options for processing and outputting the extracted audio for playback on a high-quality audio system. KR appreciated the opportunity to apply DSP, channel-level adjustments, active crossovers, and room correction while playing discs, without redundant D/A–A/D conversion. "It's a pleasure to run DiracLive—to balance channels and compensate for room acoustics—not just with files but also while playing discs," he wrote. KR's review sample was fitted with four AES3 (XLR) stereo outputs supporting up to eight channels of audio. The multichannel version is also available with four electrical S/PDIF outputs with either RCA or BNC connectors. The stereo version, which costs the same, comes with AES3, S/PDIF over RCA, and TosLink—one of each. (Vol.45 No.5 WWW) Accuphase DG-68 Digital Voicing Equalizer: $24,000
See "Digital Processors." GeerFab Audio D.BOB: $999
"This unique device is a solution to a problem that previously couldn't be solved," wrote KR. The GeerFab D.BOB digital breakout box takes a universal player's HDMI output and with SACDs, extracts two-channel DSD data from the HDMI audio stream, and outputs DoP (DSD-over-PCM) via RCA and TosLink S/PDIF connectors. GeerFab assures users that this implementation is both legal and compatible with HDMI 1.4b and HDCP 1.4. JA's measurements confirmed that the D.BOB's output was bit-perfect—ie, the bits it outputs via S/PDIF are the same as those sent to it via HDMI. (Vol.43 No.5 WWW)
The Gaia takes in digital signals through its USB, S/PDIF (including optical TosLink and RCA electrical), or AES3 inputs, buffers them, and reclocks them with the same OCXO clock used in the Terminator Plus. Perhaps because of this similarity, HR found that the Gaia gave only a small improvement when used with the Terminator Plus: "The Gaia's positive effect on the density and clarity of sound ... was smaller and less music-enhancing than I expected." With the Gaia inserted (USB in, coax out) between his Roon Nucleus+ and the Terminator Plus, he wrote that "clean and resolved" became a tiny bit more "grainless and sanitary." But that was all. (Vol.45 No.5 WWW) Nordost Qnet Network Switch: $3199.99
See Jason Victor Serinus's review elsewhere in this issue. (Vol.45 No.10)
