Haha, I know, I always try to make informed decisions, especially for these expensive toys. Also learning the techs behind it is very fun and makes the hobby more interesting. Probably I am just looking for excuses to spend the $.
I think what you just mentioned is probably the case…data comes in through Ethernet, then user has two options to upsample the incoming data to either DXD or DSD, before the bitstream hits the Ring DAC, which will then up/over sample the bitstream to 5-bit / 3Mhz or 6Mhz in dCS’s own format within the Ring DAC. If we use Roon to do the upsampling, Bartok doesn’t need to do the step 1, but Ring DAC (DAC Core) will still do its proprietary up/oversampling to 5-bit / 3Mhz or 6Mhz before converting to analog waveform. Hope I get this right…haha. Andrew, please correct me if I still do not get it.
It seems to me the juice is really inside the Ring DAC and the 5-bit upsampling feature. Of course Bartok does a good job in the step 1 pre-DAC upsampling as well (I would think better than using Roon to upsample).
I would love to listen to the Nagra HD DAC too, but that is probably a different topic in this other thread.
I think you’ve nailed the process here!
I assume the upsampling is an option though, so you can always try which combination sounds the best to you.
But i do think Andrew has a point, the DAC is built for the upsampling part and might do a better job that Roon which is merely a software on a generic computing platfom. (However nice we think it is!)
I honestly don’t have enough visibility into the production side to be able to give you an accurate estimate. I know we’re still waiting on a few key components before production can start in earnest. Best guess, given the info I have, is that December will be all Bartók all the time at the factory.
It’s totally worth the wait. Of everything we make this has to be my favorite product. We’ve never hit this level of performance at this price before. I’ve lived with, owned, used, and/or taken apart a number of the other DACs on the market at the same price point. There’s nothing like this out there.
Plus this gives us a little time to continue to refine the software. Nothing major, just little UI quirks that have been on the, “we should change that when we have the time” list.
I hope that goes also for the HP amp. I currently enjoy my Simaudio Moon 430HA, and wonder if the Bartók can beat it. HPs are Sennheiser HD 800 S and Focal Utopia. Roon is music player.
I hope so, but the Bartók is not listed anymore/ yet again as a Roon Ready network player at https://roonlabs.com/partners/dcs.html , the manual is not yet on the dCS website, and the iPhone/ iPad Bartók app is not yet available.
Production started on Bartók last week and the factory is working hard to get the first batch out the door. We have a huge backlog of Bartók orders and I don’t have any info on how specific orders are timed so I can’t tell you when a particular unit will be shipping.
The Roon certification is done, but like us the Roon guys are buried right now so it hasn’t been posted yet.
Bartók / MQA question. I just set up my dcs Bartok. Tidal MQA files streamed through the Roon app display as MQA ( with a green dot) in the Bartok app, but there is no MQA indication on the display of the Bartok DAC. Tidal MQA files streamed directly with the Bartok app show no indication of MQA either in the Bartok app or on the DAC. Is anyone else having this problem?
