Audio-gd Digital Interface

[Nada]

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  I received my Digital Interface 2 days ago....... I have only listened to it in the following configuration: USB2ISO (usb isolator) .......impressions:

Slim I want to thank you for posting this great initial impression. Your writing style is excellent. It answers many questions for me and has saved me a lot of time trialling different USB interfaces in my system. 
 
I wonder if I can ask you to post your impressions of the USB2ISO (usb isolator) - can you just trial it quickly with and without to let us know if it makes any audible difference for you with the DI (which already  has galvanic isolation on the SPDIF out) sometime please?
 
Cheers mate.

 

[Pacha]

Thank you slim for the review, now I know I won't try the DI myself, I trust you a lot about your descriptions.

 

[Alexdad54]

As a current owner of a stock HiFace I am seriously considering the DI option versus having my HiFace modified into a MK2 (i.e. with built-in battery and charger) from jkeny particularly if, as per slim.a's review, I can get virtually all of the benefits of the modded HiFace without using drivers, etc. and at a lower cost.
Edit: Mea culpa, I was remiss at not thanking Slim.A for his impressions, I also found them very useful.  Thanks!

 

[slim.a]

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Great and much appreciated to (finally) hear your impressions.
 

 
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Thanks for the review Slim.a.  It is much appreciated and enjoyable to read.
 
Realizing that a battery powered transport may be in a class by itself, how does the DI compare to the stock HiFace, which is also one of the entry level converters?
 
USG
 

 
Quote:

Slim I want to thank you for posting this great initial impression. Your writing style is excellent. It answers many questions for me and has saved me a lot of time trialling different USB interfaces in my system. 
 
I wonder if I can ask you to post your impressions of the USB2ISO (usb isolator) - can you just trial it quickly with and without to let us know if it makes any audible difference for you with the DI (which already  has galvanic isolation on the SPDIF out) sometime please?
 
Cheers mate.

 
Quote:

Thank you slim for the review, now I know I won't try the DI myself, I trust you a lot about your descriptions.

Thanks for your comments guys. Much appreciated.
 
@ upstateguy: I don't have the stock Hiface anymore so all I can do is extrapolation on how both the DI and the battery powered Hiface compared to the Teralink X2 relative to the Hiface.
To make it simple I would consider that the Teralink X2 and Stock Hiface are in the same class (I personally prefered the stock Hiface) and that the DI and modified Hiface seem to be in the same class (I have no strong preference at this point as I could live with either).
 
@Nada: I am currently finishing writing the second part of the USB to spdif shoot out thread (see here). I am planning to post there amongst other things my impressions on the USB2ISO in order to not derail this thread which is aimed at the A-GD Digital Interface. I should post the full review of the DI as well as my impressions on the DI on the other thread in the next few days. I will post the link for those who are intersted when it is done.

 

[dmac03]

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I managed to sell my STX so I went and ordered the Digital Interface from Kingwa. HiFace was my another choice but I've had enough of craptastic drivers and non-existant support for less-popular operating systems, so I won't be taking the gamble. I also prefer paying for nice gear, not software.

I'm in a very similar situation. I've got an STX. I'm very happy with it, but its not quite in the same league as my other equipment.
 
I am planning on purchasing something along the lines of a re5/nfb1 - ref7/nfb7 (I haven't decided which chip yet). The problem is that I'm not sure if my stx coax out is up to snuff with these dacs.
 
Is the DI a considerable upgrade from what I already have?

 

[ninjikiran]

Imo it should be as long as the driver implementation allows bit-matching, but the benefit of having an external transport(or a dac with a good USB implementation) is you can dedicate it for music purposes.  Then you can connect the STX directly to your amp and use its game features.
 
 
Quote:

I'm in a very similar situation. I've got an STX. I'm very happy with it, but its not quite in the same league as my other equipment.
 
I am planning on purchasing something along the lines of a re5/nfb1 - ref7/nfb7 (I haven't decided which chip yet). The problem is that I'm not sure if my stx coax out is up to snuff with these dacs.
 
Is the DI a considerable upgrade from what I already have?

 

[upstateguy]

Quote:

 
 
@ upstateguy: I don't have the stock Hiface anymore so all I can do is extrapolation on how both the DI and the battery powered Hiface compared to the Teralink X2 relative to the Hiface.
To make it simple I would consider that the Teralink X2 and Stock Hiface are in the same class (I personally prefered the stock Hiface) and that the DI and modified Hiface seem to be in the same class (I have no strong preference at this point as I could live with either).
 

 
That's a pretty good recommendation. 
 
Are you using the DI with usb power, with the Audio gd power source, or a separate wall wart type of power source?  If using  an external power supply, is there much difference between usb power and the external power source?
 
Thanks
 
USG

 

[lag0a]

Is any USB->SPDIF device that has asy usb or a pretty good receiver chip like in the DI using an external PSU will produce sounds that are better than a sound card's digital SPDIF output using the computer's PSU?

 

[FauDrei]

Yes.

 

[Dynobot]

Okay just got my DI yesterday.
 
It works with the ADuM isolator,  my DI is being powered by the Adum's linear/regulated power supply.
 
Sounds good, the low end is better defined vs standard USB into the Dac...a little more punch.
 
It will earn its keep if it sounds better than straight coax to the Dac and straight USB to the Dac without any losses.
 
I still haven't opened it up...mine came with a bunch of black jumpers, I am assuming they are to be used inside for something.  Has anyone used these jumpers????
 
Edit:  Yes coax from the DI does sound better than the coax from my computer...smoother up top [didn't think that was possible] and still more umph in the low end, even the vocals have more texture.
 

 

[Pacha]

I guess you now have enough jumpers for lifetime

 

[Dynobot]

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I guess you now have enough jumpers for lifetime

What do they do????

 

[Pacha]

DSP-3 settings I guess, like on the new version of the DSP-1 like I have, with jumpers.

 

[tim3320070]

Bass is something that seems more apparent since introducing the DI- more palpable and .... just better. I can't be certain it's the DI but I don't remember this kind of depth and definition in my headphones or speakers which have not changed recently.

 

[Pacha]

 
Quote:

Bass is something that seems more apparent since introducing the DI- more palpable and .... just better. I can't be certain it's the DI but I don't remember this kind of depth and definition in my headphones or speakers which have not changed recently.

 In comparison with what other interface?