AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Digital Audio Devices => Topic started by: jimbones on July 22, 2014, 07:47:37 AM
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recently there has been a line of new products released in the subject category. In my setup I have USB ->USB/SPDIF converter to my DAC. This is because the last time I tried using USB into my DAC it wouldn't even synch because since the USB out on my laptop is so crappy ( or so i presume) Now would these new products from Schitt, ifi etc allow me to use a USB into my DAC? I don't even know if there would be any benefit of USB vs SPDIF. Thoughts?
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USB was not designed for audio. It is flawed from the start. USB 3.0 is better but still lacking.
Give me a single box player any day can you say Esoteric or DCS or Plinius. DAC,s are Vg no doubt however cables, interfaces powercords and transport or computer all matter big time.
KISS baby. Keep it simple.
charles
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After getting my Sony HAP-Z1ES I agree. Part of the reason I got it is that it doesn't require a dedicated computer / DAC with the flawed USB audio interface. USB is NOT error corrected as many believe. Errors are not resent, they are dropped or interpolated and the squarewave transmission of data has similar issues as s/pdif.
I doubt the Sony can be bettered or equaled by a computer / USB DAC combination anywhere near the price.
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Hi Jim
Do you mean the Schiit Wyrd USB tweak?
http://schiit.com/products/wyrd-usb-decrapifier
(http://schiit.com/public/upload/general/imagecache_thumbnail_product_gallery_large/wyrd-back-1000.jpg)
I was looking at it as well. I haven't had issues with USB outputs from my MS based laptops. I just had to set them up right on the laptop or get the appropriate drivers. An example was with the Schiit BiFrost Uber. I had to get the specific drivers to get it to work on my netbook. Was a bit of a hassle but once I got that right music was sounding fine.
I was thinking about getting the Wyrd and experimenting with it. Schiit stated you can use it with any DAC so I was going to use it with the HiFiMeDIY Sabre DAC I use at work.
(http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/U2Async-2-190x190.jpg)
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USB was not designed for audio. It is flawed from the start. USB 3.0 is better but still lacking.
Give me a single box player any day can you say Esoteric or DCS or Plinius. DAC,s are Vg no doubt however cables, interfaces powercords and transport or computer all matter big time.
KISS baby. Keep it simple.
charles
But simple is not having to get out of one's chair to change a disc, Charles. :rofl:
Rob
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After getting my Sony HAP-Z1ES I agree. Part of the reason I got it is that it doesn't require a dedicated computer / DAC with the flawed USB audio interface. USB is NOT error corrected as many believe. Errors are not resent, they are dropped or interpolated and the squarewave transmission of data has similar issues as s/pdif.
I doubt the Sony can be bettered or equaled by a computer / USB DAC combination anywhere near the price.
Dave, I haven't seen the DAC chip used in the Sony mentioned anywhere. Can you tell us what it is?
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Yep thats it!
BTW, I use the Cuinas converter which i find to be very good. I guess I would be substituting one box for another :wtf:
Hi Jim
Do you mean the Schiit Wyrd USB tweak?
http://schiit.com/products/wyrd-usb-decrapifier
(http://schiit.com/public/upload/general/imagecache_thumbnail_product_gallery_large/wyrd-back-1000.jpg)
I was looking at it as well. I haven't had issues with USB outputs from my MS based laptops. I just had to set them up right on the laptop or get the appropriate drivers. An example was with the Schiit BiFrost Uber. I had to get the specific drivers to get it to work on my netbook. Was a bit of a hassle but once I got that right music was sounding fine.
I was thinking about getting the Wyrd and experimenting with it. Schiit stated you can use it with any DAC so I was going to use it with the HiFiMeDIY Sabre DAC I use at work.
(http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/U2Async-2-190x190.jpg)
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So the box of Schiit probably passes the data and dumps the 5V USB power in favor of it's own power supply. Very good idea and i think ifi also has a solution with a cable that can be plugged into their own power supply.
This is the power supply:
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-160962-ifi-micro-iusb-power-supply.aspx
And the cable:
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-161058-ifi-gemini-usb-cable.aspx
Since the Schiit is 1/2 the price it might be worth using with the ifi USB cable or you'd need 2 conventional USB cables to use the Schiit.
MGalusha has tried the ifi and said it has greatly improved the performance of some DACs. I'd expect the same result from Schiit.
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Dave, I haven't seen the DAC chip used in the Sony mentioned anywhere. Can you tell us what it is?
I haven't either....
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Hi Jim
I know this goes against Rollo's idea of K.I.S.S. but would it be too much maybe insert the Schiit Wyrd in between the USB output from your computer and the Ciunas USB to SPDIF converter rather than replacing the Ciunas? I wonder what benefit if any you would you get if you did? Sometimes I think of this stuff as an additional level of filtering.
DaveC is right though you would need an extra USB cord. I priced dding another USB cord to my current set-up if I got the Schiit Wyrd or something similar and I may just be better off getting the IFI Gemini USB cord.
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Well the one to have according to the reviewers id the Berkley USB converter. Yes $1850 retail however the Cat's meow.
it would be interesting to compare to the Schilt or equal.
charles
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USB was not designed for audio. It is flawed from the start. USB 3.0 is better but still lacking.
Give me a single box player any day can you say Esoteric or DCS or Plinius. DAC,s are Vg no doubt however cables, interfaces powercords and transport or computer all matter big time.
KISS baby. Keep it simple.
charles
But simple is not having to get out of one's chair to change a disc, Charles. :rofl:
Rob
What no disc Girl ?
charles
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Just got an ultrafi cable with noise filters. Sounds awesome.
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USB was not designed for audio. It is flawed from the start. USB 3.0 is better but still lacking.
Give me a single box player any day can you say Esoteric or DCS or Plinius. DAC,s are Vg no doubt however cables, interfaces powercords and transport or computer all matter big time.
KISS baby. Keep it simple.
charles
But simple is not having to get out of one's chair to change a disc, Charles. :rofl:
Rob
What no disc Girl ?
charles
Not in my house. I'd get told to get my a__ up. :lol:
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USB was not designed for audio. It is flawed from the start. USB 3.0 is better but still lacking.
Give me a single box player any day can you say Esoteric or DCS or Plinius. DAC,s are Vg no doubt however cables, interfaces powercords and transport or computer all matter big time.
KISS baby. Keep it simple.
charles
But simple is not having to get out of one's chair to change a disc, Charles. :rofl:
Rob
What no disc Girl ?
charles
Not in my house. I'd get told to get my a__ up. :lol:
...... and not that nicely. :rofl:
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A few years ago friend/dealer was trying to sell me a new Manley preamp with no remote control. I told him I want a remote volume, he said, that's what your kids are for. I took his advice to heart and they've done volume runs for me ever since.
The funny thing is that from week to week my volume control is different. Sometimes it's on the DAC, sometimes it's on the integrated amp, lately it's been a software slider in JRiver, now back to the DAC. Sometimes they turn the wrong knob and complain it doesn't work.
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....... I told him I want a remote volume, he said, that's what your kids are for.
Always remember, be nice to your kids because sooner or later they will get to pick your nursing home.
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Good point. Hmmmm I better clean up my act.