[dpulez]

What sound card would you recommend for a Wadia 830 with a digital input? I only care about the spdif quality- bit perfect.

For those who don't know what a Wadia is, they are upsampling home audio cd players that aren't too cheap; I'd like a good card.

I can't decide between these:

Chaintech AV710 is a very affordable card that provides bit-perfect data

E-mu 0404 has inputs and outputs with bit-perfect data, designed for studios

M Audio has a good card

Lynx is another good, but expensive card

Thanks

 

[Bones13]

I am confused, what are you wanting to send bit perfect data TO an understandably wonderful source for? Are you outputting data from the computer to the Wadia?

Or are you looking to put the cd data stream from the Wadia into the computer?

Most folks here record the CD data into their computer from the standard CDROM computer drives. Folks with expensive sources (such as a Wadia CD unit) usually utilize the nice electronics in the source directly out to an amplifier.

If your Wadia is a transport only, most folks would not consider the DA conversions done on the sound card to be of the same quality as your Wadia.

Tell us a bit more what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

For the best output and drivers, you'll want to use the AES/EBU from an RME or Lynx card. They are more expensive, but worth it, to have true pro-grade drivers, build quality, and balanced digital output.

 

[shplorgh]

Supposedly the best is either a Squeezebox from slimdevices.com or a USB off ramp from empiricalaudio.com, since they are both isolated from the computer's psu and noise.