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[mindblanking]

Once again, another newbie question... I downloaded Sonny Rollins "The Bridge" from HDTRACKS in 176/24 pcm but just realized my new Arcam IrDac doesn't read 176... It does read 192/24, 96/24, 88/24 etc... My assumption was that if it read 192, it would read 176... alas, I was wrong.  Any suggestions on what to do with those files to play them through my dac... Downsample?  Upsample?  Any help, of course, greatly appreciated...

[6233638]

If you go to Player > DSP Studio > Output Format there are options for what you want each input sample rate output at.
You could choose to downsample to 88.2kHz (176.4/2) or upsample to 192kHz. Most people would probably recommend 88.2kHz, but I'm not sure that it matters.

[mindblanking]

Thanks... I guess for me though, the problem now is that I can't, or at least shouldn't, buy anymore 176 files, right?  Will have to either purchase the 88 version of stuff or avoid... Unless I'm missing something.

[TedSmith]

Thanks... I guess for me though, the problem now is that I can't, or at least shouldn't, buy anymore 176 files, right?  Will have to either purchase the 88 version of stuff or avoid... Unless I'm missing something.

I wouldn't pay extra for 176.4 over 88.2 (or 192 over 96) but for the same price I'd probably get the higher resolution and downsample on the fly with MC.  Someday you'll probably have a DAC that can do higher rates...  (This is all assuming you don't mind the extra disk space...)

[mindblanking]

My DAC can do 192, just can't do 176 which is weird to me but there you have it. 

[mindblanking]

Also, is there a way to permanently "downsample" a file in JRiver?  I think i can do it in HDAudioSolo which is burning software but not in JRiver.  Idea would be to downsample (or upsample) 176 stuff so that file always reads as a compatible sample rate so I don't have to go into DSP studio everytime I want to listen to that particular album.  Thanks!

[6233638]

Also, is there a way to permanently "downsample" a file in JRiver?  I think i can do it in HDAudioSolo which is burning software but not in JRiver.  Idea would be to downsample (or upsample) 176 stuff so that file always reads as a compatible sample rate so I don't have to go into DSP studio everytime I want to listen to that particular album.  Thanks!

The output format options in DSP studio are a set-and-forget thing, there's no need to change it.
 
You can convert files if you want to, but I don't recommend it, as you may end up with hardware capable of 176.4 at some point in the future.

[kstuart]

The output format options in DSP studio are a set-and-forget thing, there's no need to change it.
 
You can convert files if you want to, but I don't recommend it, as you may end up with hardware capable of 176.4 at some point in the future.

The Schiit Bifrost DAC originally did 192 and not 176.4 and the latest version now does 176.4 (not sure if the change is the drivers or in hardware).

So, leave the files as 176.4 in case of an upgrade.

And, if the OP does make the setting described earlier, it will work for all 176.4 files, as number just stated.

[Awesome Donkey]

The Schiit Bifrost DAC originally did 192 and not 176.4 and the latest version now does 176.4 (not sure if the change is the drivers or in hardware).

Hardware, as it requires the USB Gen 2 Upgrade.

This new USB input card for Bifrost and Gungnir improves USB performance across the board, and allows you to enjoy music encoded in 24/176.4. Featuring the C-Media CM6631A receiver and additional isolation and filtering, the Gen 2 USB input outperforms external USB-SPDIF converters that cost several times as much.
The Gen 2 USB board ships standard with every new Bifrost USB or Gungnir USB. It can replace the existing USB board in any existing Bifrost or Gungnir, or be added to any existing Bifrost or Gungnir without USB.

[mindblanking]

Hardware, as it requires the USB Gen 2 Upgrade.

Ah, so this explains why my Arcam IrDac doesn't offer 176... It simply doesn't have the hardware.  I'm going to email the company and see if they plan to offer it as an upgrade.

[mindblanking]

A companion question to all this-  Does it make a difference in terms of sound quality if I purchase a DSD download, convert to PCM and then upsample or downsample to something my Arcam can read?  Or, if there is a PCM version of something that's 176 would I be better off purchasing that?  Case in point is Dave Brubeck "Time Out" which is available as a DSD download from Acoustic Sounds or a 176 PCM download from HDTracks.  Which makes more sense for me?  Thanks...

[6233638]

A companion question to all this-  Does it make a difference in terms of sound quality if I purchase a DSD download, convert to PCM and then upsample or downsample to something my Arcam can read?  Or, if there is a PCM version of something that's 176 would I be better off purchasing that?  Case in point is Dave Brubeck "Time Out" which is available as a DSD download from Acoustic Sounds or a 176 PCM download from HDTracks.  Which makes more sense for me?  Thanks...

Well it depends on whether it is natively a DSD or PCM track, which is difficult to know unless they actually specify.
There are very few pure DSD recordings (they have typically been PCM at some stage in the mastering process) so if you don't know one way or the other, the PCM track seems like the safer bet to me.
 
And again, you do not need to convert the files, unless your PC is not fast enough to do so during playback.
Media Center will output DSD as PCM if necessary.

[mindblanking]

Well it depends on whether it is natively a DSD or PCM track, which is difficult to know unless they actually specify.
There are very few pure DSD recordings (they have typically been PCM at some stage in the mastering process) so if you don't know one way or the other, the PCM track seems like the safer bet to me.
 
And again, you do not need to convert the files, unless your PC is not fast enough to do so during playback.
Media Center will output DSD as PCM if necessary.

When I say convert I mean in JRiver I'd have to select a sampling rate that works with my DAC.  As to the native question, yes, it's tough to know sometimes.