clemmaster said:

I own it and the Off-ramp 5 (coax + i2s upgrades + TeddyPSU).
The Ciunas is a much better value but has limited connectivity.

The OR5 makes everything sound a bit darker but has better separation and focus. It is not as convenient to use (bigger box, separate PSU), much more expensive... But it is the better converter, so...

The Hydra-X+ looks very interesting feature-wise (i2s + battery) and 6moons rated it's performance up there with the 2-box SOtM solution.

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Can you describe more about the OR5 and Ciunus differences? Lets say you were to i2s the Ciunas and run a Teddy PSU with it. Do you think things get a little more evened out or not quite? Trying to figure out where the Ciunus would need to be modded to go neck to neck with the OR5 setup you have.

audioexcels said:

  Can you describe more about the OR5 and Ciunus differences? Lets say you were to i2s the Ciunas and run a Teddy PSU with it. Do you think things get a little more evened out or not quite? Trying to figure out where the Ciunus would need to be modded to go neck to neck with the OR5 setup you have.

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You can't mode the Ciunas, it is BNC-Coax only and battery powered!
 
The main difference is that the OR5 is darker sounding, for some reason. It has more details and better focus. A better converter overall.
The Ciunas is not far behind but is limited in features. Different strokes.
 
In my system, an Adnaco SU1 USB fiber system had a better impact with the Ciunas DAC than the Offramp ever had. I must have a noisy USB port.

Clem,
 
What the heck is that thing used for (Adnaco)

It is a fiber USB 3.0 cable + receiver that is used to run USB 3 signal up to 100 meter- more than what a traditional copper USB 3.0 cable can achieve.
It has an active receiver at the other end that is powered externally by 5V switching PSU. I eventually want to replace it with a battery.
 
It basically provides galvanic isolation from the computer (like TOSLink cables), which improves the sound dramatically in my case. It is not a USB isolator (which don't support anything > USB 1.1), but it still "completely" isolates my DAC/Converter from the noisy USB ports. It is possible it adds a good deal of jitter (or not, I said possible, I really don't know) but moderns DACs are very good at dealing with that. Worst case: add a USB reclocker like the Schiit Wyrd and you should be good.
 
I realized that most of my DAC issues were not jitter but noise and IMD coming from the USB port itself, and not only the +5V part, the data part is obviously affected, too (there's no reason why only power line would be affected, right?). That's what USB isolators (like the Olimex USB-ISO) fight against. This USB 3 fiber thing is another way of providing galvanic isolation.

Hi all,

Just wondering what would be a fair price for the secondhand spdif converter atm.

Thanks!

Hey Clem, what usb interface are you using now?

antonyfirst said:

  Hey Clem, what usb interface are you using now?

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The Ciunas.
I just sold the Offramp 5.
 
I might give the Auralic aries a try in the future.
 
The Chord Hugo performs best with its USB input. I have the Ayre QB-9 DSD in mind, too, which only has USB input. It made no sense to keep the Offramp now that I sold the SA-2.

clemmaster said:

   
I might give the Auralic aries a try in the future.
 

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Or the new DI 2014 from Audio-gd - It should be released on July 20th .

preproman said:

   
 
Or the new DI 2014 from Audio-gd - It should be released on July 20th .

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Yes, that too 

clemmaster said:

   
The Ciunas.
I just sold the Offramp 5.
 
I might give the Auralic aries a try in the future.
 
The Chord Hugo performs best with its USB input. I have the Ayre QB-9 DSD in mind, too, which only has USB input. It made no sense to keep the Offramp now that I sold the SA-2.

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Can you comment on the differences between  the Chord Hugo and Ciunas in terms of sound characteristics and sound quality.
I haven't got a chance to listen to the Chord Hugo before paying.

+1
 
It would really help to justify the price of the Hugo if I knew I was avoiding a $550-1000 USB converter purchase.  
 
Clem, you like the USB Hugo implementation?  There are some who criticise it and buy a Ciunas or Audiophilleo and use it into the Hugo...what are they thinking?  If the Hugo's USB implementation is as good as these converters, I'm buying one immediately and cancelling by subscription to everything audiophile!

microbiologycor said:

  +1
 
It would really help to justify the price of the Hugo if I knew I was avoiding a $550-1000 USB converter purchase.  
 
Clem, you like the USB Hugo implementation?  There are some who criticise it and buy a Ciunas or Audiophilleo and use it into the Hugo...what are they thinking?  If the Hugo's USB implementation is as good as these converters, I'm buying one immediately and cancelling by subscription to everything audiophile!

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The Ciunas did not do much for the Hugo, honestly.
 
I preferred the SD USB input with an Olimex USB isolator over either the Ciunas or the Offramp-5 feeding it.

For anyone that might be looking to either pick up a different converter (or move to a DAC with a solid USB implementation), I'm in the market for a used one of these. 
 
PM me if interested! Thanks!