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How do 192khz USB-SP/DIF converters work?

post #1 of 8
11/27/12 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 

How do 192khz USB-SP/DIF converters, such as the V-Link 192, function if USB can only handle up to 176khz?

 

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere else, I couldn't find the answer.


Edited by Benjamin6264 - 11/27/12 at 6:29pm
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post #2 of 8
11/27/12 at 7:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin6264 View Post

How do 192khz USB-SP/DIF converters, such as the V-Link 192, function if USB can only handle up to 176khz?

 

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere else, I couldn't find the answer.

 

I'm not sure where you're reading that USB can only handle up to 176 kHz. USB 2.0 easily has the bandwidth to handle 2 channels of raw 24 bit data at 384kHz, with room to spare.  You might be being confused by some USB receiver chips, notably the WM8804 (only if programmed incorrectly), that have trouble switching between 176kHz and 192kHz.

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post #3 of 8
11/27/12 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 

Ah, I understand; thank you!

 

Then is there a reason why the Schiit Gungir can only do 176khz in USB, but 192khz with every other digital input?


Edited by Benjamin6264 - 11/27/12 at 7:07pm
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post #4 of 8
11/27/12 at 7:19pm
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Originally Posted by Benjamin6264 View Post

Ah, I understand; thank you!

 

Then is there a reason why the Schiit Gungir can only do 176khz in USB, but 192khz with every other digital input?

 

The Gungnir can do 192kHz via USB... the USB input is listed on the Schiit website as being 192kHz capable, and I have one in my living room that I've run at 192kHz via USB.

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post #5 of 8
11/27/12 at 7:25pm
Thread Starter 

Ah, another misunderstanding of my part; All inputs have 192kHz capacity, but USB cannot do 176khz sampling. I mis-read the user manual.

 

Which leads me to yet another question: why can't USB handle 176khz?

 

Thank you for the help, by the way.

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post #6 of 8
11/27/12 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 

Oh, and is it normal that the USB input is significantly less loud than the SP/DIF? I can easily bring my BHA-1 to the max with USB, and it hurts my ears too much with SP/DIF.

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post #7 of 8
11/27/12 at 8:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin6264 View Post

Ah, another misunderstanding of my part; All inputs have 192kHz capacity, but USB cannot do 176khz sampling. I mis-read the user manual.

 

Which leads me to yet another question: why can't USB handle 176khz?

 

Thank you for the help, by the way.

 

USB can handle 176kHz, it's just the Gungnir/Bifrost that can't. (The V-Link 192 that you mentioned in your first post can do 176 kHz for example.) I'm not sure why Schiit configured their USB firmware in this way. It may be a limitation of the CMedia chipset they use.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin6264 View Post

Oh, and is it normal that the USB input is significantly less loud than the SP/DIF? I can easily bring my BHA-1 to the max with USB, and it hurts my ears too much with SP/DIF.

 

No, if you've configured your computer for bitperfect output, properly configured they should be absolutely identical in volume level. Something is wrong with the software configuration of either your USB output or S/PDIF output (probably the USB).

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post #8 of 8
11/27/12 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 

Alright, thank you very much. I'll check the parameters to see if everything's normal.

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