Constantine USB DAC Rant

[ecclesand]

Based on the documentation I have it shows the USB Audio Chip as the CM101s...

[upstateguy]

Originally Posted by PhaedrusX

hmm...well, poor usb implementation knocks this down a notch or two.
a soundcard as transport is an option, but i'd rather keep the chain uncluttered.
i wonder if the paradisea uses the same usb chip and design?

usg...as much as i'd like to hear yours and everybody else's equipment and impressions in november, there's the small matter of an ocean that separates me from gotham.
stupid ocean.

peace.

Where are you located Phaedrus?

[upstateguy]

Originally Posted by ecclesand

I originally had a toslink from monoprice.com which was not glass. I then bought a glass toslink (around $50...I'd have to dig to remember where I bought it) and the SQ was noticeably better. More details, richer sounding.

The digital coax to my CDP sound very good...almost as good as the optical, but then again, I'm using a cheap digital interconnect. I just haven't replaced it with a decent Signal or Heartland interconnect, yet.

I recall reading on this forum a while ago that the implementation of the USB on the Constantine was horrendous.

I changed from a high quality plastic fiber to a Dayton Glass and also thought I heard an improvement, but somewhere in the back of my mind I keep thinking that 1s are 1s and 0s are 0s regardless of what they pass through...

[jinp6301]

yup, laxx's constatine I heard was definitely worse through the usb then through the optical, even with a cruddy pcdp mini optical output

[upstateguy]

Originally Posted by jinp6301

yup, laxx's constatine I heard was definitely worse through the usb then through the optical, even with a cruddy pcdp mini optical output

Thanks for the confirmation.......

Well, that settles that !

Is laxx still using his Constantine, or did he move on to something better?

Btw, I didn't see his name down for the meet.

USG

[jinp6301]

Originally Posted by upstateguy

Thanks for the confirmation.......

Well, that settles that !

Is laxx still using his Constantine, or did he move on to something better?

Btw, I didn't see his name down for the meet.

USG

i dont think he's been on headfi for a little while but I think he'll probably be at the meet. I'll ask him for ya!

[PhaedrusX]

righteo...does anyone have any suggestions for a nos dac that does usb right?

scott nixon's dacs are currently being overhauled, and so am not keen to purchase a product at the end of it's shelf life.
i've been talking to yeo about the monica, as well.

can anyone else contribute their wisdom on the topic?

i don't want to hijack usg's thread, but if anyone can point me in some other directions, it would be much appreciated.

regards.

[G-U-E-S-T]

MHDT Labs recommends using the ASIO4ALL driver when using USB input. Are you guys using this driver? It's supposed to make the difference...

[bonkon]

MHDT Labs themselves do not think the USB connection is good enough for their DACs, so maybe their USB connection was designed more as an extra. For a NOS USB DAC try the Monica II USB, I think it was designed with the USB connection in their mind.

[jinp6301]

Originally Posted by PhaedrusX

righteo...does anyone have any suggestions for a nos dac that does usb right?

scott nixon's dacs are currently being overhauled, and so am not keen to purchase a product at the end of it's shelf life.
i've been talking to yeo about the monica, as well.

can anyone else contribute their wisdom on the topic?

i don't want to hijack usg's thread, but if anyone can point me in some other directions, it would be much appreciated.

regards.

the old microdac? Noone seems to have a problem with that one, and as always headroom is awesome