Audio-gd USB-32 Firmware, Drivers, and Feedback Thread
Apr 18, 2014 at 3:20 AM Post #271 of 646
Downgrade to FW2014v3 and you gain 32bit support back.
 
Apr 18, 2014 at 7:14 AM Post #272 of 646
Any source on why using 32bit would be = to an external re-clocking device? 


www.head-fi.org/products/audio-gd-master-7/reviews/8087

Back when I first ordered a Reference 1 from Kingwa, it only had a S/PDIF input. No other inputs were available. When I asked about adding an optical input (since I was using a MacBook Pro) Kingwa refused, as he didn't want to compromise the sound quality on his top-of-the-line DAC.

Now, however, we have 6 inputs to choose from, all added by demand from customers. I2S has been the last to come, but it is significant not because of itself alone, but because Kingwa's latest USB chip, a 32-bit asynchronous model from VIA, outputs to one of two I2S inputs on the digital board, not to S/PDIF as other chips do. This negates the need for double conversation.
 
Apr 18, 2014 at 9:57 AM Post #273 of 646
2014v7 was just released. Perhaps it fixed the 32bit support.
 
Apr 18, 2014 at 11:56 AM Post #275 of 646
  2014v7 was just released. Perhaps it fixed the 32bit support.


There did you find a 2014 v7? I have looked at the AG site but didn’t see it.

 
Apr 18, 2014 at 12:17 PM Post #277 of 646
Apr 18, 2014 at 12:41 PM Post #278 of 646

Thanks guys!
 
Are both the FW 7 and FW 9.3 for Master 7 or only FW 9.3?

 
Apr 20, 2014 at 1:11 PM Post #280 of 646
Looking for some advice , I have a NFB-11.32 but during the FW Update I lost USB connection . The coax and analog work fine . Today I did a remote connection with
Kingwa  and he agreed to send me 2 FW chips . I was asked if I wanted (2) FW2014v7 or (1)  FW#9-3 and (1) FW2014v7 since people reported they have a different sound.
I will be hooking up my Squeeze Box to the NFB-11.32 .
 
Can I get some input on the different FW
 
Apr 20, 2014 at 2:26 PM Post #281 of 646

I have upgrade/downgraded to FW 9.3 but still can’t select 32 bit in Jriver. Do I need to change the windows driver as well? I have Master 7 btw.
 
Edit: I found it!


 
Apr 23, 2014 at 3:29 AM Post #282 of 646
I have upgrade/downgraded to FW 9.3 but still can’t select 32 bit in Jriver. Do I need to change the windows driver as well? I have Master 7 btw.

Edit: I found it!


FYI :)

Fun fact: the CM6631A can easily do up to 32/384. Why don’t we enable it? Two reasons: (a) There is no 32-bit music, and never will be.*** (b) There is no 384k PCM audio for sale that we know of. Sure, there’s DSD 2X at 352.8k, but that’s a whole ‘nother discussion.

***There’s a famous napkin-scribble by a famous analog designer floating around out there on the internet somewhere, regarding the noise and precision of analog circuitry necessary for different digital resolutions. I can’t find it at the moment, but it went something like this:

14-15 bits: standard parts and layout
16-17 bits: attention to power supply noise, premium parts, careful layout
18-19 bits: extreme measures taken with low-noise parts, multi-layer boards, and exceptionally fine layout
20-21 bits: God’s domain

Fact is, 24 bits is 144dB dynamic range, which is about the limit of our Stanford analyzers. The best DACs, to date, manage 19.5-20 Equivalent Number of Bits (ENOB), even if they are “24 bit” or “32 bit” spec’d. 32 bits is 192dB dynamic range, which ain’t gonna happen, no way, no how, not even in temperature-controlled circuits sitting within 2 feet of solid lead shielding. Consider that a stun grenade is 170-180dB, and you’ll see how crazy this is.
 
Apr 23, 2014 at 10:52 AM Post #283 of 646
Then Jason needs to look harder as he is wrong about there never being 32bit music for sell or made as they are some here right here on amazon for sell http://www.amazon.com/Sounds-Ultra-Definition-32-Bit-Master/dp/B0056K4VXG  and I have seen other masters for sell too on another store but I don't recall the name. Also I sure articnoise has his reasons for wanting 32bit option back in the first place, Just as much why I use the function when I produce music. No offense but it just sound like a excuse he making to not to include something in his dac's that part of what the chip the CM6631 supports since it does what not include it anyway and let the user decide, Also I never cared for the dB range that mentioned with dac's or sound cards as i know better. Plus famous or not it still a guy opinion do not mean every one has to accept it because hes famous, plus he did not even link the site nor the name of the guy he was talking about.
 
Jason has made a comment about no 2 channel  external dac's accepting DD or DTS in the schiit thread was not true, well for me that is I haven't tried this with other external dac's but the one I own. I watched many movies using my NFB15.32 all the time and it accepted DTS-HD and DD-MA blu ray audio formats thru USB input not down-sampled at all and then optical down-sampled and I used WinDvd for my blu ray movies and it was during the actual movie and not the menus or the trailers.
 
Apr 23, 2014 at 12:18 PM Post #284 of 646

I’m not really up for discussing digital technologies, because ever sins the introduction of that media in the 80s there have been people saying it is perfect and can’t be improved. Clamming things like it’s only 1 and 0 and they are ether decoded and transmitted totally correct or not at all.  I don’t believe it to be that simple. And as I’m not a technician I try by listening to see what I prefer.
 
I have before tested and come to the conclusion that 24 bit depth was a little better overall than 16 on my dac, but to up sampling of bitrate didn’t improved SQ, actually the outcome was the opposite IMO. I’m now testing if I prefer 32 bit better when 24. AFAIK Kingwa advise us to use 32 bit on his dacs. My last comment on this subject is that I think some company’s use different filters on 16, 24 and 32.  

 
Apr 26, 2014 at 6:18 AM Post #285 of 646
Does anybody now if the usb chip on lower end audiogd dac such as NFB12 can be replaced with usb32?
 

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