Are you sure that is with dual BNC though, it might just be with USB input. There are many people on that other forum, including the designer of the software using 16 FS /24 bit with the SRC DX for a reason.They talk about using dual BNC to avoid the USB Amanerro (could be wrong on the name) chip on the USB input.
You got it… that’s exactly it. It will accept 32bit but when received by Dual BNC it will convert it down to 24bit. So, it will work (does) but for absolute performance, you are better off with 24bit recordings.
I’ll get around to that at some point but, it sounds very good now so I would compare an album or two at 24bit compared to the 32bit version before repeating the process with them. All new files will be at 24bit though!
The private seller I bought my MScaler from just a few days ago was switching over to PGGB-processed files in his PC-audio environment feeding his DAVE. He had an 8TB drive to fill…
I have around 20 songs that I know very well converted to PGGB. To my ears, they sound better with the Chord supplied USB cable coming directly out of my cheap Laptop to the USB input of my TT2, than the same songs (not PGGB’d) on my Naim Core>ND5XS2>DC1 (BNC)> Mscaler>Wave Storm BNC >TT2>Nagra integrated.
There is a reason you see a lot of Mscalers for sale, but for now I am keeping mine, until I get a new computer and an SRC.DX to do a shootout.
I use Jriver on the Laptop to play the PGGB files.
@NO-QUARTER I’m waiting on a new (replacement) HQPlayer… i.e., Mac mini M1. I have the 8gb ram version which works just well but some people mentioned the 8gb uses more swap memory which can cause added strain. The 16gb doesn’t have this problem and as such is better suited for the job. Should arrive in the next week or so.
I’d also imagine this would work very well for the ripping of PGGB files. And, as Apple are very good in terms of letting you use / return it may well be a good option for you… unless of course you can get a more powerful laptop for a similar price. I was sort of thinking that it may double as a PGGB ripper for a short spell and when that’s done, it can be used as a standalone HQP player or Roon Core?
@T-elmi I have approx 2.4TB of PGGB files which translates into 110 albums (32/705). As NQ mentioned above, if I use 24bit, it will require less work on the DAC and save space…more albums per TB.
I have had quite a few emails with the designer/creator of PGGB, and I mentioned to him about maybe getting the new M1 Mac mini. He advised against it, said Windows machines are much better suited.
Best to stick to what they recommend.
The system I used to rip was the latest maxed out Intel i7 Mac mini with 64gb ram with a large eGPU. Just depends on how they’re set up. But, buying new, it would make more sense to go for something they recommend not everyone likes MacOS either.
Reading the PGGB requirements, it looks like a virtual windows machine in a Mac Mini M1 could be excellent. Perhaps I will also try.
True, forgot about using it like that… the M1 actually outperformed the 2018 intel i7 Mac mini by a reasonable margin in bench testing.
The only reason to get that one now over the M1 is if you need a lot of Ram. For work I do so for now it’s still Intel but if you don’t, you’re better off saving a chunk of money and buying the M1. I certainly expect it to be an excellent HQPlayer… I’ll just strip it of all other software
Here is what he recommended I get at minimum:
Intel i7 Windows PC
32 GB Ram ( minimum) and 2 TB of NVME Hard disk.
The more Ram the better he said, he has 64 GB of Ram on the computer he uses, he also has Mac’s that work ok he said, but the Windows machine just fly through the blasting I guess.
Here is his reply to me when I asked about the M1, hope I am not breaking forum rules:
For the same amount of RAM, Windows PC is able to do more Taps than Macs, Macs seem to have an issue with virtual memory. Mac mini M1s top out at 16GB RAM. For a Mac I would recommend double the RAM of what I recommend for PC.
Yes, it’s the RAM and hard drive space that complicates things. More so the RAM though.
I use small NVME enclosures… size of a cigarette lighter, that have Thunderbolt 3 connecters. Very fast and easy to upgrade as and when… but RAM is expensive with Apple unless you can and are happy to upgrade yourself… far easier to just get a windows laptop that meets your needs.
Buy the way, RAM on MacOS is the opposite to windows. You need far less. Certainly as far as normal use and even heavy Media, Motion and Still graphics. It’s why Macs normally sell with a lot lower RAM amounts compared to windows as they’re able to optimise the RAM, CPU and software better. Windows isn’t as efficient because it’s designed to use with numerous hardware configurations. It’s selling point is there are more hardware configurations and flexibility to custom builds. MacOS uses memory in a different way to Windows… can’t really make a direct comparison in RAM amounts.
@NO-QUARTER Just for reference for you. If they charge too much for internal hard drive space, the pic below is a 2TB m.2 NVME SSD. The enclosure is £35 and the ssd drive just clicks in. You can then spend as much / little as you like for the SSD from cheaper sources. TB3 and USB C connections. It also makes it easy to transfer from one system to another.
I wonder if it would be worth setting up a separate strand for this subject in case other members are interested? If it’s buried in this strand only those with chord products are likely to see it
We tried again PGGB here with a friend yesterday. The PGGB 352 KHz files sent from a fanless linear powered PC over USB to Dave, absolutely didn’t matched the far better performance of my spdif streamer into the M-Scaler on my system. Even USB into the M-Scaler sounds bad (harsh, flat, congested, bloated) as compared to the spdif streaming. PGGB may be good but not over USB in my opinion. Investing in a gigantic NAS to host the PGGB files, giving up streaming platforms, I prefer to keep my M-Scaler from what I have heard for the moment. May be it’s another story with the SRC DX.
Correct. It makes a big difference. It also gives 24/768 via BNC connection the same as the MScaler. The problem with Chord DACs & MScaler is the Amanero USB controller apparently. The SRC.DX removes that from the equation and gives you dual BNC instead.
Storing files away from the DAC and using a USB endpoint so only the endpoint and SRC.DX are in the same room as the Chord Dual BNC DAC. Keep all computing, servers etc away from the DAC. In my system, there is 10 metres of fibre optic cable separating them.
Personally, I don’t consider PGGB as my main source though, that’s HQP as it allows streaming but the same principle applies.
As Toonartist said, the SRC.DX might be what you need. My files are 705 KHz/32 bit and I am using the USB cable that comes with the TT2.
I have about ten Ferrites clipped to the cable, and use Jriver to play the music. What player are you using with the Laptop? I had to install the ASIO driver on my Laptop too. There is also a chance you have some settings wrong, but I have not blasted my own files, the founder and Nick (Fourlegs) did mine for me.
Too much tech for me. I spend all day at computers for work (O365, Teams, Outlook) so park them in the evening unless there is a client deadline. PGGB has promise but the computing & storage needs require investment of money and time. Let’s see how their Cloud processing option matures.
Got a good deal on an ex demo DC1 to go between the ND5XS2 and MScaler, first impressions a bit more bass and lower noise floor overall very pleased
Also in shot is an AR Lunar RCA to DIN this goes between Qutest and 282, purchased a couple of weeks ago on the used market this has also brought a nice lift in performance.
Regarding the supplied wobbly Mscaler BNC cables I have an open ticket with Chord, more on this later.
Happy days
PGGB? Google suggests Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster
Also, can I ask how the you Chord converts would characterise the sound of the Qutest? I’m tempted dip my toe in the water by paring one with an Opticalrendu but I’m wondering how it might compare with the NDS and if it would sound detailed and open but perhaps a bit polite compared to the NDS and more expensive Chord DACs?
Keith