[iFi audio]

REQUEST: Don´t make more entrylevel dacs please, evolve on the Diablo being designed around the Elite psu ... Zen and Air is enough in the entry level desktop line. We need something between the ZEN/AIR and iDSD Pro

Worry not, we always have multiple projects in our pipeline to please as many people as we possibly can. In our world affordable products coexist with those that are expensive

 

[OCC7N]

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[iFi audio]

To anybody concidering buying the JCAT USB XE: Its good but should not cost more than 500 euro when comparing with other alternatives and external.

Sound quality aside, let me just say that JCAT is a small audio company that designs and manufactures their own PCBs on their own, rather than modding boards already on the market. That alone probably impacts the price of their products a lot.

 

[OCC7N]

Sound quality aside, let me just say that JCAT is a small audio company that designs and manufactures their own PCBs on their own, rather than modding boards already on the market. That alone probably impacts the price of their products a lot.

I am actually most concerned about the USB enhancer which I will record/sound test or else I agree with you that pricing can be very hard/competetive.

 

[iFi audio]

I agree with you that pricing can be very hard/competetive.

It can be indeed

 

[leeperry]

Long time ago I created a thread about markups in the audio world: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/are-most-headamps-overpriced-cmoys.472214/

Short story is that R&D, prototypes, RMA, etc etc cost a lot and then company also has to make a living.

XE USB clock cost $110 on its own(and prolly more by now), board is manufactured by a canadian contractor so it all adds up, also $/€ exchange rate has gone down the drain lately & they certainly get plenty of import customs duty taxes on top, warehouse rental, high taxes on labor, housing, profit etc etc

Last percents of performance never come cheap, that's true in every hobby. If you can't hear any improvement with USB ENHANCER then good for you, you just saved a bunch of money you can now invest in a better headamp for instance

If you have better options and/or feel being conned, you could just go back to your mobo USB output if you dare and live happily ever after, problem solved.

Or you might as well open your own business and sell the same card for 500€ as you appear highly knowledgeable about economics, I'll gladly try it so please advise.

 

[kingoftown1]

For the isolator, are you talking about the dongle that's a SPEC rebrand? If so, try connecting it to your dac using a USB a-b adapter.

Regarding the USB XE, imo power supply used makes a big impact here. Recently changed from hdplex to a plixir elite bdc with the upgraded DC cable, and the difference was not subtle.

 

[leeperry]

I live in a pretty big city and as it turns out there is quite a number of JCAT nutcases in my area, so if all goes well I should be able to run a PSU shoot-out in a not so distant future on XE USB, will be sure to post my findings here

 

[OCC7N]

Long time ago I created a thread about markups in the audio world: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/are-most-headamps-overpriced-cmoys.472214/

Short story is that R&D, prototypes, RMA, etc etc cost a lot and then company also has to make a living.

XE USB clock cost $110 on its own(and prolly more by now), board is manufactured by a canadian contractor so it all adds up, also $/€ exchange rate has gone down the drain lately & they certainly get plenty of import customs duty taxes on top, warehouse rental, high taxes on labor, housing, profit etc etc

Last percents of performance never come cheap, that's true in every hobby. If you can't hear any improvement with USB ENHANCER then good for you, you just saved a bunch of money you can now invest in a better headamp for instance

If you have better options and/or feel being conned, you could just go back to your mobo USB output if you dare and live happily ever after, problem solved.

Or you might as well open your own business and sell the same card for 500€ as you appear highly knowledgeable about economics, I'll gladly try it so please advise.

I will make a test and record everything and also let people judge. Right now I dont hear any difference on the usb enhancer. I am saying motherboard are getting better with audio.

Right now its connected and I will make final judgements when I have recorded everything. Sell everything that I feel makes no difference 2023/Q1

 

[leeperry]

ideally USB ENHANCER connects to second USB port of XE USB.

 

[OCC7N]

ideally USB ENHANCER connects to second USB port of XE USB.

That part dont make any sense for me. Only one USB port for 1000euro. That part should be either built in the card or not.

But I can hear a very good difference on the jcat vs motherboard without usb enhancer.

Maybe I need some guidance. What does the pcie card exactly do? I also have the matrix spdif2 that sound as good on motherboard. Maybe a tiny bit better on jcat card. Maybe placebo.

Right now I just feel its very expensive for what it is. Nothin else than USB(+better crystal) vs Spdif2

 

[OCC7N]

USB ENHANCER then good for you, you just saved a bunch of money you can now invest in a better headamp for instance

Assumption is the mother of all …

Trust me it sounds better on TT2 than the SE output. I approve this message.

 

[leeperry]

I fully agree that it should be built into XE USB but sadly it's not and improvement is very audible on my rig.

It's a japanese dongle built by SPEC, these ppl always appear to have an ace up their sleeve.

 

[OCC7N]

Well If I could rewind time from what I know now

I would have bought a really good network streamer with clock/ext clock, usb and optical out. Something like the Auralic G1. I know its alot more expensive, but Im still searching for something with ocxo.

 

[iFi audio]

Short story is that R&D, prototypes, RMA, etc etc cost a lot and then company also has to make a living.

To that I'd also add regular upkeep costs of a legal audio business (office rent, taxes, bookeeping, employee salary etc.). These days that alone really is a lot and product price is calculated to cover these payments too.