Audio-gd Digital Interface
May 29, 2012 at 3:46 AM Post #2,896 of 4,156
got some good news here:
 
 
Quote:
Dear Igor,
We think can start shipping at today, we order some better USB cables for first batch users, will arrive in today.
 
Sorry for the delay.
Kingwa

 
May 29, 2012 at 10:54 AM Post #2,897 of 4,156
Very nice! Looking forward to receiving my DI-DSP soon too!
 
May 29, 2012 at 12:01 PM Post #2,898 of 4,156
Sweet, was wondering when they were gonna start shipping, have been checking the consignment page like a madman every couple hours.
 
May 30, 2012 at 10:05 AM Post #2,902 of 4,156
no DI-DSP's yet
angry_face.gif

 
May 30, 2012 at 11:16 AM Post #2,903 of 4,156
The S/PDIF cable (or connection) matters a lot; the USB cable and connection should not matter at all (within reason).
 
The whole point of an asynch USB adapter (like the Audiophilleo or the HiFace) is that the adapter does the clocking instead of the computer. Since the clock is now generated by the adapter, any timing issues that occur before the adapter no longer matter (unless they are so bad that they actually change the numbers). The computer and cable now supply perfect numbers, the adapter supplies a very good clock, and the timing of the stuff coming in through the USB cable should no longer matter. (This means that, if you can hear a difference between USB cables with this type of adapter, it's only because the adapter is failing to entirely filter it out).
 
The S/PDIF connection now becomes more important because, since it is AFTER the adapter, it has the opportunity to introduce new jitter into the process - and, since it's after the adapter, the adapter really has no control over it. Some adapters (like the AP) offer options about the shape of the data waveform at the output to try and improve this, and the quality of both the output driver in the adapter and the input receiver in the DAC matter a lot, but what really helps is either a direct connection or a really good (and really short) S/PDIF cable. Any of these will limit the overall signal quality, and can quite possibly completely negate the benefit of a fancy USB interface adapter if they're bad enough. A direct connection (like the AP uses) seems like the best choice there.
 
In addition, any DAC that uses a sample rate converter CORRECTLY to eliminate jitter, or some other method of entirely reclocking the signal, should entirely obviate ANY audible differences of ANY upstream components since it, like an asynch adapter, uses the original data but entirely replaces the clock with its own (so the jitter should now be TOTALLY dependent on the jitter in the DACs clock and nothing else). Assuming this is done correctly, this should be the best solution, and should eliminate ANY audible (or measurable) differences between cables or interfaces.
 
Anything like an upsampler, which creates entirely new numbers according to some algorithm, basically becomes an entirely new signal source - so how good IT sounds depends entirely in how good a job it does... and what's between it and the DAC.
 
 
May 30, 2012 at 11:32 AM Post #2,904 of 4,156
There seems to be a bit of confusion (by lots of folks) about the whole point of an asynch USB interface adapter l (like the Audiophilleo, or the HiFace).
 
The whole point of an asynch USB interface is that the interface adapter supplies the clock for the data. If the interface does its job correctly, then the computer AND THE USB CABLE no longer matter at all unless they are so bad that they are incapable of providing the correct data when it is requested. If the interface adapter is doing its job, then you will NOT hear a difference between USB cables. If you DO hear an obvious difference between cables, then the adapter is NOT doing its job well.
 
(Considering how bad the USB output is on most computers, I'm pretty surprised that cable differences would be audible at all. It's about equivalent to worrying about how much better stagnant pond water tastes from a particular crystal goblet instead of a paper cup. It's going to taste like pond muck either way. To continue that analogy, a good asynch adapter like the Audiophilleo is like distilling the water; you end up with pure water, and it would be really surprising if any of the taste of the pond scum makes it through.... and very important to prevent it from getting re-contaminated after it was filtered.)
 
 
May 30, 2012 at 2:38 PM Post #2,908 of 4,156
Quote:
There seems to be a bit of confusion (by lots of folks) about the whole point of an asynch USB interface adapter l (like the Audiophilleo, or the HiFace).
 
The whole point of an asynch USB interface is that the interface adapter supplies the clock for the data. If the interface does its job correctly, then the computer AND THE USB CABLE no longer matter at all unless they are so bad that they are incapable of providing the correct data when it is requested. If the interface adapter is doing its job, then you will NOT hear a difference between USB cables. If you DO hear an obvious difference between cables, then the adapter is NOT doing its job well.
 
(Considering how bad the USB output is on most computers, I'm pretty surprised that cable differences would be audible at all. It's about equivalent to worrying about how much better stagnant pond water tastes from a particular crystal goblet instead of a paper cup. It's going to taste like pond muck either way. To continue that analogy, a good asynch adapter like the Audiophilleo is like distilling the water; you end up with pure water, and it would be really surprising if any of the taste of the pond scum makes it through.... and very important to prevent it from getting re-contaminated after it was filtered.)
 

I think you just burst some people's bubbles....
 
May 30, 2012 at 7:08 PM Post #2,910 of 4,156
Quote:
I think you just burst some people's bubbles....

 
Not really. There are companies like Audiophilleo who believes that USB cable affects the sound on their product and even advised their customer to get one. They bundled the basic wireworld ultraviolet in their Audiophilleo 1 package.
 
The best way to test if USB cable affect/doesn't affect your rig is to compare using (1) the stock USB cable and (2) a USB A-B Male-Male adapter. If there is no audible difference, then it is good. If there is an audible difference, that means that the USB cable, for whatever reason, is still culpable.
 

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