About 7 years ago, Andrew with dCS provided invaluable advice on the Roon community dCS forum that shaped my decision to purchase a Bartok. Now, years later, I have some general setup questions. I posted these in the Roon forum, but remembered that dCS runs its own forum, and so am also posting here.
Several general questions about settings for the Bartok.
As background, I utilize ALL of the inputs on the back of the Bartok, on the assumption that the Batok DAC does a better job than the cheap DAC chips built into Roku; Kaleidescape or Apple TV.
The Bartok Ethernet input is for Roon. Roon is primarily PCM streaming of jazz and classical from Qobuz, but also includes DSD 128 and PCM 24 bit 192 downloads from my own server.
The Bartok toslink input is used for stereo streaming from Roku of classical music sources. Roku has a dedicated two channel toslink audio output.
The Bartok coax input is used for stereo steaming from Kaleidescape of classical music.
The Bartok coax BNC input is for a Geerfab d.bob, that receives an HDMI audio signal from an Oppo 205, using the Oppo anti-jitter special audio-only HDMI output. The Geerfab and the Bartok decodes DSD using DOP (which I believe was developed by dCS) and for the first time, I can hear a clear difference between stereo SACD with DSD versus PCM on the CD layer. Stereo SACDs also sound better with the Oppo/Geerfab/Barok DOP decoding as compared with just sending SACD signal to the Anthem which uses PCM to play SACDs, and that sounds identical to the CD layer on SACDs. That combination also sounds better with redbook CDs. So the Oppo is a transport mechanism only, using the Oppo 205 audio-only HDMI output with its anti-jitter circuit routed to the Geerfab d.bob, and from the Geerfab to the Bartok coax BNC input.
The Bartok AES input is from an Anthem processor, for classical streaming on Apple TV. (Apple TV lacks an audio output, but Anthem has a two channel toslink audio output. Since the toslink input on the Bartok is used by a Roku (which has a dedicated toslink output) I am forced to convert the toslink output from Anthem to coax with a converter, and then using coax to AES connector, to the Bartok.). Most of the time I listen to stereo classical streaming from the Roku toslink output, which sounds better than Apple TV through the Anthem, probably due to some additional processing by the Anthem when it takes the HDMI Apple signal and splits out of it the stereo audio signal. But some classical music streaming is only available on Apple and not Roku.
With that background, some questions about settings on the Bartok:
(1) I asked my local dealer, JS Audio in Bethesda MD, twice about the voltage settings but never received a response. Two strikes and youāre out.
So I am posting here.
Is there a disadvantage with regards to setting the voltage at 6 volts instead of 2 volts? I vaguely recall that I was once told to use 2 volts but donāt recall why. The 6 volt setting and the increase in volume by 10 db would be an advantage for my system, which utilizes a Dagostino Momentum C2 preamp and Progression stereo amp.
For example, 6 volts would be an advantage for classical video/audio streaming from Roku, since the DAC chip in a Roku probably costs 50 cents. But the output from Roku is at a pretty low level.
Due to the low output signal of the Roku, the resulting volume on the Dagostino C2 can be in the 60 to 70 range. Reducing that by using the 6 volt input, to make it safer to switch to other inputs at a lower volume level, would be useful.
But is there a downside to using the 6 volt output rather than the 2 volt?
(2) The Bartok can upsample using either DXD, DSD or DSDX2.
What is the difference ā explained in plain English rather than technicial specifications? If I wanted to set it once, for jazz and classical, using all of the inputs listed above, which would you recommend and why? The upsampler must be set once, and applies to all inputs and types of music, as far as I can tell.
(3) Similar questions for the Filter and DSD Filter. But those can vary depending on the input, so which PCM filter would you use for jazz and classical with (a) ethernet input from Roon; versus (b) redbook CDs with coax BNC input from the Oppo and Geerfab; versus (c) classical streaming with toslink input from Roku, versus (d) classical streaming with coax input from Kaleidescape, versus (e) classical stereo streaming with Apple TV through an Anthem on toslink converted to coax and then using AES adapter?
Which DSD filter would you use for DSD 128 classical and jazz files, or SACD stereo output from the Oppo using DOP and the Geerfab?
Instead of just telling me to listen and decide, Iād appreciate your input based on your intensive listening and engineering expertise. The actual difference in these settings is very subtle.
(4) For all of the above is Map 3 the best setting for the DAC Mapper?
(5) Finally, which sync mode is best for (a) Roon on ethernet; (b) direct audio toslink input from Roku; (c) coax input from Geerfab and Oppo; (d) coax input from Kaleidescape; and (e) AES/coax input from Anthem and Apple TV?
Since each of those can be set separately?
MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR RESPONSE!