Typical Digital File Formats:


DSD (Direct Stream Digital);
DSD stands for Direct Stream Digital. It’s a high-resolution format that produces a high-resolution signal in a different way to that employed by the PCM system that can be transmitted as WAV, FLAC, ALAC or AIFF.

MQA Audio (Master Quality Authenticated);
​​​A method of digitally storing recorded music as a file that’s small and convenient enough to download, or even stream, without the sonic sacrifices traditionally associated with compressed files.

Studio Master WMA (Windows Media Audio);

High Definition download sounds identical to a Super Audio CD. For people who want the best. Can be burned on to a DVD-Audio. Best for Windows Media Player users only.
 

CD quality FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec);

Sounds identical to a CD and great if you want to burn a copy onto CDR without any loss in quality from the original CD. Suitable for all computer users.
 

CD quality WMA (Windows Media Audio);

Sounds identical to a CD and great if you want to burn a copy onto CDR without any loss in quality from the original CD. Best for Windows Media Player users only.
 

MP3;

The highest quality of MP3 possible is 320kbps. Want to add music to your iPod or other portable player? Then this format is best for you. These are the smallest files so will download fastest if your download speed is slow. Suitable for all computer users.

There is much conjecture over the sound quality benefits of DSD and MQA being superior to all other formats. However, from our listening sessions and with the right set up, we've found that FLAC can produce results that are very close in performance to both DSD and MQA

Basic Set Up: (PC or MAC)

The most important obstacle we must bypass in order to successfully couple your MAC or PC to your hi-fi is the audio output of the computer itself. If you make the easy mistake of connecting a stereo mini to RCA from the computer you are relying solely on the computer's internal DAC. Not good! We learned just how important DACs were during the dawn of the CD era. Out-board transports and DACs, as opposed to one-box players, became the path to digital nirvana. OK, well, not Nirvana, but closer to real music! Fortunately for us there are plenty of companies coming up with high quality DACs for both MACs and PCs (and even for Squeezeboxes; bypassing its internal DAC for on-the-go performance). This way our computers/music libraries act simply as the digital source, and with a decent DAC you are positioned well enough to enjoy decent sound through your own stereo system.

First you need to download a high quality media player capable of playing uncompressed 24/192 FLAC/Hi Res files, such as Media Monkey  or JRiver  

So you've got your computer updated and want the simplest route to play high resolution files. What next? You need a DAC that will cope with 24/192 via it's USB input and is asynchronous, removing jitter issues. Such as Graham Slee Bitzie DAC along with a quality USB Cable - Black Rhodium Minuet USB Cable. 

Graham Slee Bitzie USB DAC Digital to Analogue Converter

Streamer System Set UP (Wired or Wireless)

Typically music streamers and network player/renderers come complete with a DAC-section and typically play lossless, DSD and high resolution digital content. They are a dedicated hi-fi component designed to work without being attached to directly to your a computer. It sits within your hi-fi system, and connects to your home network and has the ability to play audio stored in another location. This location can be over the Internet, in the form of a streaming service like Spotify, Qobuz or Tidal, or an external hard drive.
Control applications can be bespoke or universal such as Roon, Orange Sqeeze, Sense and so on, which are readily available for your smart phone, tablet or computer, depending on the requirements of the product and user.

Here the key components are led by the front end with Network Streamers such as the Innuos Pulse Series or the Innuos Zen/Statement Series Players.
 

Innuos PULSAR Network Player + USB Reclocker       Innuos ZENMINI MK3 Music Server/Streamer + Linear PSU

or the Bel Canto e One Network Bridge


Bel Canto e.One Stream Network Bridge Streamer

You now have a number of options for storing and accessing your music.(depending on product features) with the use of your control software you can create a music library, access Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify type services, also set up an external NAS drive, save files on your computer, a usb stick etc. Even more so, you'll need a high quality USB cable and perhaps a high quality Ethernet cable for that extra touch. 

Audiophile Set Up (Music Server/Streamer)

To get the best audiophile experience with digital music we've found that there are four issues that need to be addressed in order to provide the best sound;

  1. To minimise power noise
  2. To minimise Ethernet Line Noise
  3. To reduce vibration
  4. To optimise firmware
In our experience, The best sound quality comes from PURE DSD files downloaded and transfered to a music server, played back via on board SSD storage. The problem with PURE DSD is, unless you are heavily into clasical music, there ain't a fat lot of choice! Also, expensive.
There is a large selection of Jazz, Rock, Pop, etc available as Hi Res Files in Flac or similar lossless formats. These are typicaly limited to 24/192 and are quite often upscaled or not as specified. Also, expensive.
Wouldn't it be great if you could achieve the same sound quality as a PURE 256 DSD download from a streaming service such as Qobuz. Well, you can get damn close and here's how you do it. 

Start with the Innuos ZENITH MK3 or The PULSAR these components are  outstanding Music Server/Network Players with the ability to outperform any computer audio set up, improve upon a Wireless Streamer or Computer/NAS drive set up, with far more rewarding results

The Innuos ZENITH MK3 provides typical network streamer functionality with t
he convenience of having your entire music library and streaming services incorporated into one unit with the ability to control remotely with a mobile device. (You can also connect your existing streamer if preferred) More importantly, there are significant sound quality gains to be had by using a digital transport solution like the Innuos ZENITH MK3 with a lower noise floor and a more organic, natural sound that sounds more focused and unconstrained at the same time.
The Ultimate performance comes from the vastly more expensive, but also taking your audio to another level, The INNUOS Statement with Next Gen PSU. Sublime!

Of course a first class DAC is required to take advantage of this superb server with the perfect intro being the superb performing Lampizator Amber 4 DAC. (Never heard a Lampizator? Prepare for the shock of hearing real singers and musicians in your room.) This is just the starter DAC from Lampizator!


Lampizator Amber 4 DAC
To take your Innuos Zen Series, (Streamer, PC, Mac) to the next level, the best solution available is the Innuos Phoenix USB re-clocker. An amazing product! (Not required for the PULSAR)
Innuos PhoenixNET Audiophile-Grade Network Switch
The next step is to add a Network Switch and coming highly recomended for an exeptional cost to performance ratio is the English Electric 8 Switch.or the for the utmost in performance, the Innuos Phoenix Switch.
English Electric 8 Switch Audiophile Network Switch
Don't skimp on those cables! the Purist Audio Design Diamond 30th Ann'y USB Cable or the Network Acoustics ENO USB 111 are stellar performers of the USB Cable Brands and will provide a wonderfuly transparent and coherent sound. The Purist Audio Design Cat7 Ethernet cable perhaps providing the best sound to performance ratio of all the Ethernet Cable Brands.
The real magic for a truly 3D analogue sound however, comes from the Network Acoustics Eno and Muon Ethernet Filters. They work exeptionaly well with the majority of streamers/servers, but if you are using an Innuos product, you cannot be without. If you realy want to obtain the most natural and realistic sound that you would find hard to hear differences between streamed 192/24 and downloaded PURE DSD, you need to install one of these exeptional filters.
Follow the above route and I guarantee you will never look back. Remove the noise from a wired connection and you will far surpass what can be acheived with a Wi-Fi set-up. Say goodbye to all those expensive downloads. Happy Days!
For more advice or just a general chat, give us a call and we'll be more than happy to help.