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Owner’s Guide 8
Owner’s Guide
©2013 PS Audio International Inc. All rights reserved.
®
Owner’s Reference
NuWave Phono Converter
Select which of these output sample rates you wish to use. Selecting any of these sample rates
does NOT affect the A/D Converter’s input sample rate, which is a constant 5.6MHz, (352.8kHz)
irrespective of the output sample rate or digital audio format selected.
The NPC’s A/D Converter features zero group delay for any PCM sample rate up to 96kHz. The
two higher sample rates, 176.4kHz and 192kHz use a more conventional digital filter that does not
enjoy the benefits of zero group delay in the PCM mode. DSD does not use similar filtering.
Our recommended maximum sample rate for all vinyl phono or Analog inputs that do not exceed a
usable input bandwidth of 48kHz, is 96kHz. As there is no usable information on a vinyl LP above
30kHz, it will always sound preferable to restrict the maximum output sample rate to 96kHz. If you
have an Analog input source that exceeds 48kHz in useful information you wish to preserve, use
either 176.4kHz or 192kHz output sample rates. The maximum input bandwidth of the NPC’s A/D
Converter is 80kHz (it is -3dB at 80kHz) and is always running at 352.8kHz sample rate.
The lower SELECT button chooses the bit depth of the output digital audio stream. Selecting any
of the available bit depths, 16, 18, 20 or 24 does not affect the input bit depth which is always at
maximum. We recommend to always keep the bit depth selected at 24 bits.
If you have selected DSD as the digital output audio format (and USB is disabled), the next
screen available is the DSD screen. Using the upper SELECT button labeled RATE, choose either
Standard Rate or Double Rate DSD. Standard Rate is the same as you would find on an SACD
(Sony Super Audio Compact Disc) and is the equivalent of 176.4kHz in PCM. If you are recording
vinyl LP’s it probably doesn’t make any sense to use Double Rate DSD as the Standard Rate DSD
is more than capable of perfectly preserving all the information possible on an LP.
If you have a live performance you are recording and using the NPC as the A/D Converter, you will
have increased performance sound quality using the Double DSD rate, analogous to 352.8kHz
sample rate in PCM.
DSD output is sent using the DoP format (Digital over PCM). This format takes the raw, bit perfect
DSD stream and chops it up into smaller sized identical packets. Each of the packets is wrapped
in a PCM acceptable frame so that to a DAC or computer, the output format is the same as
PCM. This then permits PCM based programs, such as Audacity, to record the DSD files as well
it permits computers, both Windows and Mac, to manage and accept DSD files despite the fact
those files are not natively acceptable for the computer to recognize or manage.
While the DoP standard permits computers to easily handle DSD files without any additional
software or configuration, it should be noted that only programs specifically designed for DSD
playback will playback the DoP DSD files. Other programs, such as Audacity, cannot playback
DSD even though it can record it. Refer to the section on USB and recording for further details and
suggestions.
If you have USB enabled the control for sample rates will be transferred to the computer connected
to the NPC via the USB cable. To enable or disable USB go to the 3rd screen A/D Mode on the
NPC front panel. You should only enable USB if you are actually connected to a computer and
Sample rate select
affects only the
output
Use 96kHz as your
standard output
Bit Depth Select
DSD Select
DSD uses DoP
USB Select
