[sajunky]

But yeah, maybe the clock upgrade is too difficult for me to figure out at this point.

Easier will be upgrading clock on U2 Pro or ordering upgraded version. However if you bought it from the same place on Amazon as I did, expect the same fault at 176k. It must be a batch of XMOS chips with the same 'feature'. I replaced oscilator 44.1kHz family, it didn't help.

 

[ku1185]

Easier will be upgrading clock on U2 Pro or ordering upgraded version. However if you bought it from the same place on Amazon as I did, expect the same fault at 176k. It must be a batch of XMOS chips with the same 'feature'. I replaced oscilator 44.1kHz family, it didn't help.

Thanks for the tip. I think I bought mine on ebay from doukmall. When I used the U2 Pro with the Ares II, 176khz worked but it didn't work on the r2r-11mk2. Kingwa noted that the r2r-11mk2 doesn't support 176khz through coax.

 

[sajunky]

Strang

Thanks for the tip. I think I bought mine on ebay from doukmall. When I used the U2 Pro with the Ares II, 176khz worked but it didn't work on the r2r-11mk2. Kingwa noted that the r2r-11mk2 doesn't support 176khz through coax.

Strange, as it works very well at 192kHz. My R2R-11 is an early model, not Mk2, U2Pro behaves the same on both. Can anyone confirm that there are problems with 176kHz on any version of R2R-11 (coax port)?

 

[ku1185]

I emailed kingwa and told him that 176khz via coax wasn't working on my r2r-11mk2, thinking that my unit was defective. He responded that the r2r-11mk2 doesn't support 176khz. I checked the audio-gd website and indeed, it doesn't list 176khz under coax as support for r2r-11mk2:

 

[Pharmaboy]

I know this reveals my ignorance, but why would you need this DAC (or any DAC) to pass 176 kHz?

I suppose there might be some benefit in recording studios, digital masters, etc, but in music reproduction?

 

[FredA]

I know this reveals my ignorance, but why would you need this DAC (or any DAC) to pass 176 kHz?

I suppose there might be some benefit in recording studios, digital masters, etc, but in music reproduction?

Some 176k files are available but they are rare.

 

[ku1185]

I know this reveals my ignorance, but why would you need this DAC (or any DAC) to pass 176 kHz?

I suppose there might be some benefit in recording studios, digital masters, etc, but in music reproduction?

I discovered the issue when trying 4x upsampling on Foobar. Though I don't really feel too strongly about upsampling either way.

 

[sajunky]

I know this reveals my ignorance, but why would you need this DAC (or any DAC) to pass 176 kHz?

I suppose there might be some benefit in recording studios, digital masters, etc, but in music reproduction?

176.4kHz files are rare, it will be more popular when studios upgrade their equipment to process DXD (352.8k). So far some audiophile labels use dual recording system PCM+DSD. DXD processing seems takes over, but is is still about future.

At the moment main limitation is playback of DSD files as DoP transfer embed data in PCM 176kHz frames. A workaround is conversion to PCM 88k in foobar, but some recordings benefit from a more smooth DSD presentation.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

I know this reveals my ignorance, but why would you need this DAC (or any DAC) to pass 176 kHz?

I suppose there might be some benefit in recording studios, digital masters, etc, but in music reproduction?

@sajunky nailed it, because DSD files when converted to PCM naturally work out to 176 KHz. In fact, Mutec MC-3+ has hardware PCM conversion of DSD (does not support direct DSD) and 176 KHz is what it uses.

 

[sajunky]

@sajunky nailed it, because DSD files when converted to PCM naturally work out to 176 KHz. In fact, Mutec MC-3+ has hardware PCM conversion of DSD (does not support direct DSD) and 176 KHz is what it uses.

Not a Mutec's limitation. Native DSD transfer is not supported by the S/PDIF standard.

Actually DSD64 data stream is 64xfs (88.2kHz). [deleted]
= 176.4kHz 16 bit
Packed with DSD markers in 24 bit 176kHz PCM frames

{88.2kHz came from the fact of giving similar quality after conversion DSD to PCM - sorry}

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Not a Mutec's limitation. Native DSD transfer is not supported by the S/PDIF standard.

Actually DSD64 data stream is 64xfs (88.2kHz). Embedding DSD markers in PCM frames cause that it exceed link speed, so a simple solution was switching to a double data rate. Not optimal, but doesn't require modification of device drivers.

It is a limitation of the MC-3+, Mutec simply decided not to support direct DSD. It is not because of S/PDIF, the device has USB, AES/EBU, optical S/PDIF, and AES3/11id inputs, and USB, AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF, and AES3/11id outputs.

I can send DSD to the DI-20HE using ASIOProxy thanks to your suggestion which then goes to the Mutec MC-3+ USB via AES/EBU. I can also play DSD direct via USB to the device again via pure DSD or DoP.

The MC-3+ USB recognizes DSD or DoP correctly whichever is sent, and it converts DSD in all cases to PCM. You can select 88 KHz as you noted, but they recommend 176 KHz.

 

[sajunky]

I had been blindfolded on the 176k issue and blamed my U2Pro.


It is a limitation of Wolfson WM8804 and WM8805 S/PDIF receiver. While is able to lock automatically on the frequencies up to 96kHz, it is not able to do the same above 96k. It requires external helper for recognising between 176k and 192k and dynamically reprogram clock dividers and PLL from outside. In the standalone mode registers cannot be reprogrammed, so designers having a choice, decided for 192k - to be compatible with commercial DVD Audio / Bluray players. R2R-11 has no microprocessor control, so software control is out of question.

 

[Pharmaboy]

@sajunky nailed it, because DSD files when converted to PCM naturally work out to 176 KHz. In fact, Mutec MC-3+ has hardware PCM conversion of DSD (does not support direct DSD) and 176 KHz is what it uses.

Well, thanks to you @sajunky, I have my answer.

I know little about DSD and don't really care (have no DSD files or DAC that can handle them in native fashion), so at least for me, this issue is not a concern.

 

[JKDJedi]

want one of these dacs badly.. temptation is strong..

 

[FredA]

want one of these dacs badly.. temptation is strong..

For a mifi setup, it's just great. It's pretty versatile, it will be good for jazz, classical and pop. Maybe not as good for metal and heavy stuff, never tried. If you own an excellent ddc, you'll be amazed by the clarity, when used as a dac (you then do not need the upgraded version, it's just worth it through usb) . It's a solid value.