Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP ordered, help with configuring it?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP ordered, help with configuring it?

post #1 of 15
11/27/10 at 11:58pm
Thread Starter 

 

Mr. Kingwa just confirmed my order. I've already gone for 2x RCA outs over a single ACSS output and one RCA. Should I opt for 2 x coaxial over the single USB port? Or two optical? Given that from what I've read on head-fi and otherwise, (arguably), coaxial offers better quality over USB. Or should I stick with the default. I've got till tomorrow to confirm.

 

BTW my MBP has an optical out, can I use a coaxial cable with it? Or will I need an adapter? If so, any coaxial to optical adapters available? Can Audio-GD sell me one? Doesn't show up in their cables section.

Thanks.

Reply
post #2 of 15
11/28/10 at 12:04am

How are you going to force your media player or windows to output two at the same time?  Either one coaxial or toslink is fine for it.  It comes with all three connections but they are rather short.  It's best you invest in a longer cable if you need the length.

Reply
post #3 of 15
11/28/10 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 

If USB is useless in terms of SQ, I thought having another coaxial or optical might be good in the long run, in case a port conks. In any case, I would probably use my PMP also, which means 2 coaxials/opticals? Not sure whether I'd bother switching sources.

 

Just want to know, since the option is there. And since people seem to agree about USB being inferior.

Reply
post #4 of 15
11/28/10 at 1:50am
Thread Starter 

About my MBP and the optical out, which cable would you guys suggest I use? Are their optical to coaxial converters available?

 

Secondly, can I use a digital out on my iPod Touch using the data cable port?

Reply
post #5 of 15
11/28/10 at 6:47am
Thread Starter 

Please help. I have to order the cables by tomorrow or latest Tuesday, if I want the DAC shipped this week.

Reply
post #6 of 15
11/28/10 at 9:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vandal View Post

About my MBP and the optical out, which cable would you guys suggest I use? Are their optical to coaxial converters available?

 

Secondly, can I use a digital out on my iPod Touch using the data cable port?



I don't know well ipod data cable to tell you if you can use ipod digital out to send data to your DAC...

 

I think that the 3 options : USB, Digital and Optical is a good choice, in case you want to re-sell your DAC later, USB is a positive point for majority of users...

Reply
post #7 of 15
11/28/10 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vandal View Post

About my MBP and the optical out, which cable would you guys suggest I use? Are their optical to coaxial converters available?

 

Secondly, can I use a digital out on my iPod Touch using the data cable port?



I don't know well ipod data cable to tell you if you can use ipod digital out to send data to your DAC...

 

I think that the 3 options : USB, Digital and Optical is a good choice, in case you want to re-sell your DAC later, USB is a positive point for majority of users...

 

For the cable just une a simple Mini-Toslink to Toslink like this one : http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-27015-Velocity-Toslink-/dp/B0002JFN10/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1290964611&sr=8-24

 

For the RCA cable the cables sold by Audio GD are good, robust and well built.

Reply
post #8 of 15
11/28/10 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 

Thanks! I've also enquired about the cost of an RCA 1m cable. Should be ordering that from Audio GD as well.

Reply
post #9 of 15
11/28/10 at 3:00pm

I would recommend not taking out the acss output. In the future you may want an acss amp. But if you are handy with electronics I suppose you could put back acss output on the dac in the future.

 

Audio-gd's cables are pretty well priced. One brand that pops up in my mind as being cheaper is monoprice, but I think it would be cheaper for you to get the rca cable from audio-gd.

Reply
post #10 of 15
11/29/10 at 12:01am
Thread Starter 

But isn't it true that ACSS is hardly used anymore, and even Audio-GD is moving away from the design gradually? And wouldn't ACSS be limited to Audio-GD only? I have confirmed the audio GD cable, but what say guys about the ACSS? Don't want to start another thread.

 

What's the use of ACSS anyways? Is it like balanced?

Reply
post #11 of 15
11/29/10 at 2:48am

ACSS is the best way to connect your gear if you have an all Audio-gd (ACSS line) rig... Compared to RCA or XLR connections, it results in a clearly higher signal to noise ratio and makes the sound more neutral. It also makes the signal path shorter. Some people here have said it´s possible to get the same quality with high end interconnects, but ACSS cables are very cheap (20 dollars or so) and to match them you´d need to use very expensive (200-300 dollars+) interconnects.

 

Where did you hear Audio-gd is moving away from the design? ACSS is their flagship technology, I see no reason why they would abandon it. It is fantastic technology... I´d also advice against taking out the ACSS port. If you one day want to get an Audio-gd amplifier to match your DAC-19, you´ll then want to connect the two with ACSS. And many of us start with just an Audio-gd DAC, but soon end up running an all Audio-gd rig ;)

Reply
post #12 of 15
11/29/10 at 4:16am

ACSS connections is helpful if you plan to use an ACSS device, but if you plan to pair your DAC with non-ACSS device, you won't need ACSS connectors...

 

But it's true that DAC 19 + C-2 connected both with ACSS and RCA interconnects is a "Magical Pair", i can even drive my K340 with it, C-2 is a Very powerful amp for this price...

 

Mainly the choice of using ACSS or not is conditioned to the choice of your headphone amp...

Reply
post #13 of 15
11/29/10 at 5:39am

Vandal, audio-gd is not moving away from acss.

 

Quote:

ACSS (Audio-gd Current Signal System) is Audio-gd's system for transmitting audio signals in the current domain. This concept, first seen in 1966, we have used for many years, and since 2006, have evolved the technology to include all audio signals in our systems from the digital source to the power amplifier. Since 2007, ACSS components have become Audio-gd's most popular products, with a great many customers purchasing them in China and Hong Kong.

 

The ACSS connection allows you to bypass two i/v conversions, and the signal remains in current from dac to amp. A lot of people prefer it to rca.

Reply
post #14 of 15
11/29/10 at 8:14am
Thread Starter 

Arghh! Mailed Edwin to cancel the 2 RCA connects. 1x RCA, 1x ACSS. Just in case I decide on the C2 or something in the future. Hope it's not already built!

Reply
post #15 of 15
1/31/12 at 10:58am

Tried switching my DSP modules again. the DSP5 have 2 pins more then the DSP 3. I decided to let the pins that is to the right looking at the DAC from behind hang loose? Right or wrong? Seemed to align to the holes best this way.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Audio-GD DAC-19 DSP ordered, help with configuring it?