[wushuliu]

I just added an external linear power supply to the ODAC and the performance improvement is immediate. No longer sounds strained and now the soundstage is nice and wide (I am using speakers not headphones). Overall 'clinical' quality is still there but certainly could be due to other factors. So power is definitely a factor in my case.

 

[maverickronin]

Quote:

Sounds like a case of the DAC being too revealing of poorly mastered content, perhaps.

 
Not that I always agree with Anax on issues of DACs and amps but I don't think it's too likely he would have missed that...

 

[alphaphoenix]

Quote:

 
Not that I always agree with Anax on issues of DACs and amps but I don't think it's too likely he would have missed that...

 
^My brief discussion with Anax proves this being correct.

 

[thune]

Reportedly, using a USB cable with a ferrite choke at the ODAC-end results in a measurable improvement. I'm curious how much subjective improvement this simple change makes.
 
Wushuliu,
Are you just using 5v supply (leaving the negative rail to the internal charge-pump in the  ES9023)? And how are you addressing power on sequencing?

 

[wushuliu]

I use this usb extension connected to a  +5v linear power supply.

 

[LFF]

Quote:

Reportedly, using a USB cable with a ferrite choke at the ODAC-end results in a measurable improvement. I'm curious how much subjective improvement this simple change makes.

Huzzah! That makes sense! My USB cable has a ferrite choke.

 

[mac336]

Quote:

I just added an external linear power supply to the ODAC and the performance improvement is immediate. No longer sounds strained and now the soundstage is nice and wide (I am using speakers not headphones). Overall 'clinical' quality is still there but certainly could be due to other factors. So power is definitely a factor in my case.

hmm, interesting
 
what are you running the ODAC out of that makes the external power necessary?  laptop?  tablet? 

 

[mac336]

anyone know where I can get an ODAC with RCA in?
 

 

[SoupRKnowva]

Quote:

anyone know where I can get an ODAC with RCA in?
 

You cant, that was one of the design decisions made by Nwavguy when i started planning the odac. It only has USB input, no SPDIF inputs at all.

 

[mac336]

what about a 3.5mm in and using an RCA-3.5mm adapter
 
its not ideal, but would that compromise the signal to anything noticible?

 

[SoupRKnowva]

Quote:

what about a 3.5mm in and using an RCA-3.5mm adapter
 
its not ideal, but would that compromise the signal to anything noticible?

 
Im afraid you might be confused, this isnt a headphone amp. this is just a Digital to Analog Converter. The only way to input a digital signal to this particular DAC is through the USB interface

 

[sorue]

Quote:

 
^My brief discussion with Anax proves this being correct.

So, what tracks was he using with the ODAC?

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Sounds like a case of the DAC being too revealing of poorly mastered content, perhaps.

 
No, my PWD and HD800s kill the rig I'm using w/ the ODAC.  See below (all Wav btw).

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Huzzah! That makes sense! My USB cable has a ferrite choke.

 
Sweet, let me try that.
 
Quote:

So, what tracks was he using with the ODAC?

 
Shakti - La Dance Du Bonheur
 
Spyro Gyra - Groovin' for Grover
 
Tony Rice - Fiddler Medley
 
Green Day - American Idiot
 
Feist - Mushaboom
 
Gypsy Kings - Passion
 
Butthole Surfers - Let's Talk about Cars
 
Godsmack - Whatever/Voodoo
 
Eagles - Hotel California (Hell Freezes over)
 
Carole King and James Taylor - Fire and Rain
 
Lionel Richie - Stuck on You
 
Bread - Baby I'm A want You
 
Sublime - What I Got (Reprise)/Santeria
 
Bobby McFerrin - Bang!Zoom/Friends
 
Kool & the Gang - Ladies Night
 
Commodores - Nightshift
 
Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel - White Lines
 
Tori Amos - Little Amsterdam
 
Madonna - Holiday/La Isla Bonita/Lucky Star
 
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
 
Daft Punk - Recognizer/Sea of Simulation
 
Sacrosanct Toucan - Overdream
 
Various other binaural recordings and test tones, etc.

 

[muad]

Theres a possible fix... and if it doesn't fix the wubwub sound it minimizes the buffer lag with wasapi, so even at 1 sec the delay is non existent. Supposedly the later versions of foobar are having small issues with wasapi 2, but switching to wasapi beta 3, 4 or 5 fixes the problem. Im running 5 right now and was pleasantly surprised to find the lag improvements. As well you can switch playback modes on the fly... useful for comparing audio equipment
 
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=94907
 
 
 
Quote:

Playing music through my ODAC with Foobar + wasapi output and on 3 occasions so far, strange electronic noise starts starts invading the sound. It disappears after stopping playback but it is annoying when it does occur. The noise itself is rather difficult to describe and isn't like any other electronic interference I've heard before. Only thing I can compare it to is (I'm not joking here) is a dubstep track's beat. Wubwubwubwub. lol...
 
Edit: Ok just happened again as I was scrolling with my mouse. Guessing I've got the buffer in Foobar set too low. Annoying having a delay between input and playback though.