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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...
Not quite accurate - Mhdt didn't originally assume USB would be good for DAC input, but decided to try it anyway after many customer requests. After careful design and much test, Mhdt does feel their USB implementation is a success - but recommends using ASIO4ALL to achieve best sound quality with this interface. If Mhdt didn't think USB was appropriate, they wouldn't have implemented it in their DACs. [This info comes from direct communication with Mhdt.]
Not quite accurate - Mhdt didn't originally assume USB would be good for DAC input, but decided to try it anyway after many customer requests. After careful design and much test, Mhdt does feel their USB implementation is a success - but recommends using ASIO4ALL to achieve best sound quality with this interface. If Mhdt didn't think USB was appropriate, they wouldn't have implemented it in their DACs. [This info comes from direct communication with Mhdt.]
ASIO4ALL does not work with my USB connection. It does work, however, when connected optically.
ASIO4ALL does not work with my USB connection. It does work, however, when connected optically.
USG
there's no reason why asio4all shouldn't work with your usb connection. you should:
1. make sure it's set up and configured correctly
2. make sure it's compatible with the OS you are running, and there's no conflict with other devices you are running
3. if all else failed, contact mhdt lab directly to see if you might have received a defective unit with a bad usb connection.
__________________ Desktop System: Apple Lossless > MHDT Lab USB cable > MHDT Lab Paradisea+ (Zu Cable Birth Power Cord) > DH Lab Silver Sonic RCA Interconnect > NAD 701 Stereo Receiver > Monarchy Audio Bi-Wire Speaker Cable > Totem Mite Speakers Listening Room System: Apple Lossless or Yamaha CD Changer> Generic USB cable or Monoprice optical cable> PS Audio Digital Link III (Zu Cable Birth Power Cord) > Zu Cable Oxyfuel RCA Interconnect > Simaudio I-3 Integrated Amplifier (Zu Cable Birth Power Cord) > Tara Lab Prism Bi-Wire Speaker Cable > Totem Sttaf Speakers
there's no reason why asio4all shouldn't work with your usb connection. you should:
1. make sure it's set up and configured correctly
2. make sure it's compatible with the OS you are running, and there's no conflict with other devices you are running
3. if all else failed, contact mhdt lab directly to see if you might have received a defective unit with a bad usb connection.
Hey Happy
MY Constantine USB works fine with c-media chosen as the output device, but it's worse than horrible when Asio4all is used, in any of its configurations. Optically, on the other hand, everything works as advertised, including Asio, with a much richer and more full bodied sound than the USB connection is capable of delivering.
Running from a receiver and speakers, you might not have the resolution to hear what I'm talking about, but several of the posters, using headphones and headphone amps, have already commented that the USB implementation falls way short of the optical.... which is exactly what I discovered and posted about.
Fortunately I only use optical, so the diminished quality USB provides in comparision is not a concern.
MY Constantine USB works fine with c-media chosen as the output device, but it's worse than horrible when Asio4all is used, in any of its configurations. Optically, on the other hand, everything works as advertised, including Asio, with a much richer and more full bodied sound than the USB connection is capable of delivering.
Running from a receiver and speakers, you might not have the resolution to hear what I'm talking about, but several of the posters, using headphones and headphone amps, have already commented that the USB implementation falls way short of the optical.... which is exactly what I discovered and posted about.
Fortunately I only use optical, so the diminished quality USB provides in comparision is not a concern.
USG
nah, what you were describing has nothing to do with resolution. plus even if my speaker + amp setup might not be in the ultra expensive exotic range, they probably still cost a few times more than the average headphone setup most people have on this forum. not to mention that i did own most of the headphones in Sennheiser's line-up at one point a few years back...
anyway, the problem you were having has nothing to do with whether usb is better than optical or vice versa on the constantine. sure the optical might still be better than the usb connection. but even if that's the case, the usb should still be far from unlistenable, and definitely should not demonstrate any static as you described even when used with asio4all. so if you are hearing any static noise on your constantine through the usb connection, then something is not right. you should really check with Mhdt Lab for a fix. but what the heck, it's your DAC, if you don't think it's worth investigating and can live with the optical input only. i guess it's really none of my business...
__________________ Desktop System: Apple Lossless > MHDT Lab USB cable > MHDT Lab Paradisea+ (Zu Cable Birth Power Cord) > DH Lab Silver Sonic RCA Interconnect > NAD 701 Stereo Receiver > Monarchy Audio Bi-Wire Speaker Cable > Totem Mite Speakers Listening Room System: Apple Lossless or Yamaha CD Changer> Generic USB cable or Monoprice optical cable> PS Audio Digital Link III (Zu Cable Birth Power Cord) > Zu Cable Oxyfuel RCA Interconnect > Simaudio I-3 Integrated Amplifier (Zu Cable Birth Power Cord) > Tara Lab Prism Bi-Wire Speaker Cable > Totem Sttaf Speakers
* I'm going to reactivate this thread for an UPDATE *
Look how the worm turns.....
I now find my self using the Constantine USB with a laptop...
First, I updated ASIO4ALL to see if the newest version worked any better with USB (since that is what mhdt recommends and low and behold, ASIO4ALL v2.8 works perfectly with the Constantine's USB connection. That's the good news.
The bad news is that from what I remember, the optical connection sounds much better than USB and I have no way to use it from my laptop....
So, I'm looking for a high end widget to go from USB to optical or coaxial.....
but I don't know which one is going to give me the best sound.... or even if a widget will give me a better sound than what is already built into the Constantine USB.....
So now you are going from the laptop to the constantine and then an amp/headphone. Why add something else to the chain? In my simple mind the less items on the chain the better off you could be. Of course I could be wrong!
So now you are going from the laptop to the constantine and then an amp/headphone. Why add something else to the chain? In my simple mind the less items on the chain the better off you could be. Of course I could be wrong!
Hey Miguel what's happening in Fla?
When I had the Constantine hooked up to my main computer, I had both the optical and the USB plugged in and I was able to compare the Constantine's optical implementation with its USB implementation. The optical sounded much better so I only used optical, but now that I'm using USB, I was wondering if I converted the USB to optical I would be able to get the fuller, bassier, optical sound again.
Or do you think that the built in USB will sound the same as optical that has been converted from USB?
When I had the Constantine hooked up to my main computer, I had both the optical and the USB plugged in and I was able to compare the Constantine's optical implementation with its USB implementation. The optical sounded much better so I only used optical, but now that I'm using USB, I was wondering if I converted the USB to optical I would be able to get the fuller, bassier, optical sound again.
Or do you think that the built in USB will sound the same as optical that has been converted from USB?
Regards
Eric
d-_-b
Eric, good question which may cost a few bucks to get an answer to. For example, there are a few systems to convert from USB to optical (Hag, Trends UD10, etc). Of course they will also add their distortion and "flavor" to the sound.
Is it possible for you to get a soundcard w/ optical out so no conversion is needed?
Eric, good question which may cost a few bucks to get an answer to. For example, there are a few systems to convert from USB to optical (Hag, Trends UD10, etc). Of course they will also add their distortion and "flavor" to the sound.
Is it possible for you to get a soundcard w/ optical out so no conversion is needed?
but several of the posters, using headphones and headphone amps, have already commented that the USB implementation falls way short of the optical.... which is exactly what I discovered and posted about.
Linear Mode
