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Topic: What are the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling? (Read 4421 times) previous topic - next topic
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What are the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus (a DAC unit) says that it upsamples the audio output fixed at 24bit/384kHz.

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/en/products/hifi-and-home-cinema/dacmagic-plus
(Check the "Tech Specs" button on the webpage)

As I could understand, for example if we play a CD rip (16bit/44kHz) and send the digital audio to this DAC, before it converts the audio to analog, it will upsample the 16/44 data to 24/384. Is it true?

If so, what is the benefits of this kind operation?

Thank you.

Mod edit: subject verb agreement in title “what’s” changed to “what are”. I’m growing increasingly tired of cringing at these things. One of these days I’ll learn not to judge someone’s intelligence based on his ability to use language properly.

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #1 –
Do you think you magically get high-resolution images and high-resolution audio if you copy a VHS tape to Blu-Ray?  (You do end-up with a high-resolution format.)  

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #2 –
@DVDdoug, I also think the same, I mean upsampling audio won't improve the sound in my opinion - but I couldn't understand why they do that?

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #3 –
The output of the DAC must go through an analog filter, and increasing the sampling frequency makes the filter simpler and cheaper.

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: pdq on
The output of the DAC must go through an analog filter, and increasing the sampling frequency makes the filter simpler and cheaper
But delta-sigma DACs convert signal to 1 bit with multi MHz frequency anyway.

Also, Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus uses WM8740, which by datasheet supports maximum 192 kHz.

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Levent on
As I could understand, for example if we play a CD rip (16bit/44kHz) and send the digital audio to this DAC, before it converts the audio to analog, it will upsample the 16/44 data to 24/384. Is it true?

Almost certainly.  Almost all devices do this.  384 KHz is actually very low.  MHz is common. 

Quote from: Levent on
If so, what is the benefits of this kind operation?

Cheaper/better:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oversampling#Oversampling_in_reconstruction

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Rollin on
Also, Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus uses WM8740, which by datasheet supports maximum 192 kHz.

Quote
The WM8740 is a high performance 128fs oversampling rate stereo DAC

Since it uses 128x oversampling, a 48 KHz input will be resampled to 6.144 MHz for playback. 

Re: What's the benefits of DAC's audio output upsampling?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Levent on
@DVDdoug, I also think the same, I mean upsampling audio won't improve the sound in my opinion - but I couldn't understand why they do that?

It's just a scam. Audiophiles will believe anything.