[Pacha]

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the V3 and give it a try myself.
 
Is the TCXO clock the exact same as the one used in the V1? It looks like it is. As I already have one, I may keep it and try it in the V3.
 
By the way, would you say that the improvements are quite subtle or truly noticeable without needing to make A/B tests?

 

[hawkhead]

The clocks are different speeds:
V1 24.5760Mhz
v3 12Mhz
 
Does anyone know why there is a spare firmware chip ?

 

[Kingwa]

The spare firmware is the #5 for replace the default #4 in the DI-V3,  consider slight on the warmer sound flavor and have not I2S output , the #5 working with the V1.1 driver under windows, have not driver install necessary under mac and Linux.

 

[seaice]

Quote:

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the V3 and give it a try myself.
 
Is the TCXO clock the exact same as the one used in the V1? It looks like it is. As I already have one, I may keep it and try it in the V3.
 
By the way, would you say that the improvements are quite subtle or truly noticeable without needing to make A/B tests?

In my case, the change is not subtle. Fidelity of piano and other instruments is really something. There are many nuances of the sound that I was missing from my DAC before. So far, I have never heard this level of fidelity from my setup. To my ears, the change is really distinctive and, day by day, I enjoy everything more and more. At some moments I am almost amazed by the sound because of its correctness. Imagine a yellow filter over your screen. You have an odd feeling that something is not right with your screen but you are not sure about it because you have nothing to compare your screen with. One day, someone takes the filter off your screen and you encounter that everything lost some odd touch. White is white now. I love this aspect of the upgrade V1>V3. It is really noticeable.
 
As for the TCXO, I haven't opened the DI-V3 yet and not sure if I can identify this... Ask Audio-GD, they will provide you an exact answer.

 

[Pacha]

@ hawkhead : thanks for this. I'll have to order the specific clock for the V3 then
 
@ seaice : thank you for your answer, it makes it even more clear that I'm going to upgrade.
I've just came across the fact that there won't be any item shipped during the next few days or weeks from audio-gd due to the New Chinese Year (at least that's what they wrote on audio-gd website), and I'm leaving mid-March till September.
It looks like I'll upgrade in September now... Anyway, I'm going to ask Kingwa if he cannot quickly prepare a parcel for me before audio-gd closes in February, I've nothing to loose by trying it.

 

[hawkhead]

Kingwa
 
thanks - you should put that information on your website.
 
I am running v1.22 drivers (I followed the instructions and have left the drivers where they were installed)
 
In foobar v 1.1.18 I can use KS, WASAPI but VIA ASIO will not play (no sound) and VIA ASIO will not open (It will open from the desktop shortcut). It will play if I use ASIO4ALL
 
 

 
 
 
Quote:

The spare firmware is the #5 for replace the default #4 in the DI-V3,  consider slight on the warmer sound flavor and have not I2S output , the #5 working with the V1.1 driver under windows, have not driver install necessary under mac and Linux.

 

[Pacha]

I've just emailed Kingwa (or Edwin, I don't know), I hope they'll be able to dispatch before closing.
 
By the way, are both firmwares included in the package by default? I didn't see any pricing for a separate firmware part. I would like to try both especially if the #5 is a little more warm-sounding as Kingwa just said here (I'd hope for it not be colored but maybe add a little more bass and taper treble peaks a little).

 

[seaice]

@Pacha: I am still trying to describe the sound with my non-native English. After more listening and studying this thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/220770/describing-sound-a-glossary I can describe the sound definitely as non-bright but crisp, well defined, extended in bass and treble with good peak control, focused, grip (bass is very well controlled), lush, natural, resolving, smooth, textured... I think that the V3 is better than the V1 in these areas.

 

[hawkhead]

Pacha
 
certainly I received both firmware without requesting them
 
Quote:

I've just emailed Kingwa (or Edwin, I don't know), I hope they'll be able to dispatch before closing.
 
By the way, are both firmwares included in the package by default? I didn't see any pricing for a separate firmware part. I would like to try both especially if the #5 is a little more warm-sounding as Kingwa just said here (I'd hope for it not be colored but maybe add a little more bass and taper treble peaks a little).

 

[icecap]

so far the comparisons have been V1 with V3.. I am using a V2.. anyone using a V2 has also a V3 for a detail comparison? or I am missing somewhere in the thread?

 

[seaice]

One warning to the V1>V3 upgrade: If a recording was ugly before the upgrade, it can be even uglier after the upgrade - I have encountered some treble peaks on ugly recordings. On the contrary, you will love nice recordings more than ever before
 

 

[Pacha]

I'm not surprised by what you say, as the more my USB to SPDIF converters were improving, the crappiest bad recordings sounded. I'm prepared to that, and even if I regret sometimes to be able to listen to some (bad) records which I enjoyed on my PC sound card at least 5 or 6 years ago, the pleasure I get from good records now outclasses it by far.
 
Concerning V2, the V2 was said to bring improvements over V1, but not really striking improvements from what I can remember. You should forget about the V2 anyway as the drivers issue makes it not worth considering it.

 

[Gavin Ly]

Hi Everyone,
 
I'm interested in DI-V3 after reading some very positive reviews here. Thanks for all the posters! Can I ask if it plays 44.1khz and its multiples as well as the multiples of 48khz? Because I read somewhere that the older version DI-V1 plays 48khz files better.
 
And the new DI-V3 doesn't have upsampling function. Am I right?
 
Thanks!

 

[Pacha]

I'm asking myself the same question about upsampling on the V3.
If there is any upsampling, it looks like you can't change the rate like on the V1.
I think it may be non-upsampling then, avoiding compatibility trouble with some DACs.

 

[Pacha]

For those using the PSU + USB input on the DI and who want to get rid of USB power completely (and its noise), I found a quick and easy workaround not requiring cable surgery:
 
 
I've read on some websites that many DAC won't work without USB power, obviously. But we shouldn't be limited by that with the DI as it can be powered by its dedicated PSU.
I cutted small pieces of paper from a post it note, which I pushed in until I reached the bottom of the connector computer side, and held them both in place with some tape, letting only the data pins visible.
I plugged that and the DI was recognized by the PC when power via PSU. Switching to USB power at the back of the DI, it wasn't recognized anymore, so no USB power.
I had small pops in the sound so I think my paper insulation isn't very good and I must had brought bad contact with the data pins, but it proved that we can go this way if we want data only USB, it will definitely work with the DI.
 
I finally worked it out using rubber electrical insulation sticky tape, and that fixed the pops. Same deal, just cut small pieces of that tape and place it over the power pins of the USB plug computer side (that's both pin outward the inside of the plug).
I had the same power behaviour that with paper i.e. with power switch set on USB on the DI, the DI wasn't recognized, while with switch set on PSU, the DI worked. So no USB power any more going through the USB cable then.
 
After a short try, I don't find any difference in the sound after this mod though. It seems that the DI's USB isolation is already pretty good. Anyway, it couldn't be a bad mod, plus it was cheap and easy to make. I'll let it plugged like that.
 
Those who wish to try may let us know what they think about changes in sound if any.