CHORD ELECTRONICS DAVE

[Hummer25]

Connect one of these Topping D10s (with display) between your pc and Dave using toslink out to isolate from your PC's noise. Its Xmos USB chip is true bitperfect to my ears. (Just like the Xmos in my Questyle as DDC)

I am currently using a Douk audio U2 Pro DDC between laptop and DAC which uses the XMOS X208 chip so will try the optical out of this instead of coax.

 

[edwardsean]

I seem to remember an interview with the developers of ROON in which they described a computer as an "electrical firestorm" - so maybe it is not a good idea to connect such a thing directly to your system.

My current chain between streamer and DAVE is: FIBBR optical alpha USB > Phoenix reclocker > Sablon USB > SRC-DX > High Fidelity BNC cables.

The Phoenix is spendy, but the FIBBR alpha USB is an effective way of cleaning up the signal though optical conversion. Alex Crespi, over at Uptone, thinks very well of the ViaLabs VL671 USB translator chips that are used in the FIBBR optical USB cables. The alpha USB improves on the concept through galvanic isolation by powering the converters at the downstream end. There are no power or ground lines running the length of the cable. Combined with a good power supply (I’m using a LPS-1), the results are pretty fantastic.

A while back, I tried everything to get one of these alpha USB models to no avail. I was pleased as punch when they became available to order from the U.S. They’re worth checking out.
https://fibbrcable.com/products/alpha-usb-a-b-optical-fiber-digital-audio-cable

 

[Hummer25]

I use a LPS on my DDC which does seem to make a difference. I will take a look at the optical alpha USB.

One item I did hear plugged into my system was a Chord PowerARAY professional. The difference was huge as it did seem to clean up all the power or suppress unwanted noise very well indeed.

https://chord.co.uk/product/poweraray-professional/. Not cheap though!

 

[Reactcore]

Since for 2 years now i have my Mscaler dual optically connected to Dave without any additional PSU or battery ..the used input on Mscaler being electrical or optical dont matter anymore as my Dave is noise isolated in all cases. So for convenience i changed toslink (which was cleanest before) to coax input. And can source 384/32 via my Xmos DDC.

Also using an optical network link is not needed anymore imo as noise can't pass Mscaler to the DAC.

My Mscaler acts as an optical isolator actually.

I stll have the network optical only cause i feel no need to change back to wired.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

The Xmos and all that stuff doesn't matter at all In my case, I'm using an iFi Zen Stream via USB into M Scaler, the iFi is on battery and it sounds absolutely fantastic, even better than Toslink at this point. With the M scaler and Ifi Zen Stream both on battery it is just perfect. The Ifi is also on WiFi, so no contamination At all.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

The Xmos and all that stuff doesn't matter at all In my case, I'm using an iFi Zen Stream via USB into M Scaler, the iFi is on battery and it sounds absolutely fantastic, even better than Toslink at this point. With the M scaler and Ifi Zen Stream both on battery it is just perfect. The Ifi is also on WiFi, so no contamination At all.

It seems that you like noise

 

[Reactcore]

The Xmos and all that stuff doesn't matter at all In my case, I'm using an iFi Zen Stream via USB into M Scaler, the iFi is on battery and it sounds absolutely fantastic, even better than Toslink at this point. With the M scaler and Ifi Zen Stream both on battery it is just perfect. The Ifi is also on WiFi, so no contamination At all.

No more Ifi PSU?

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hug...nics-the-official-thread.885042/post-18267134

 

[Progisus]

My streamer (Antipodes) needs to handle 768/24 min for the magic of pggb. The Allo usbridge on the secondary system.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

No more Ifi PSU?

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hug...nics-the-official-thread.885042/post-18267134

I go back and forth, the iFi is very good, but in the case of Toslink, in the case of using USB with the Ifi Zen Stream the battery is better.

 

[dsyzling]

I am currently using a Douk audio U2 Pro DDC between laptop and DAC which uses the XMOS X208 chip so will try the optical out of this instead of coax.

I've been running some tests comparing a Douk U2 (non pro) vs Audiowise src-dx into a Hugo 2. Source is a laptop running on batteries using Roon remote - which was recommended by Dan at Audiowise. USB and coax cables are Audiowise supplied, USB cable has ferrites but both sets were cheap in comparison to other top end cables. The Douk is USB-C input so in order to use the same cable I needed a USB-C -> USB-B converter.

I've found the src-dx to provide more clarity and definition, particuarly in the bass, mid bass and midrange - the optical route is muddy by comparison. I'm concious Rob often discusses distortion can provide the illusion of extra detail and a somewhat brighter sound, but I don't think this is is the case here, I'm not noticing a harshness. In fact on some tracks (one of the Sohn electronic tracks he uses for testing) I just flat out prefer listening to the track via srx-dx over optical, the vocals are cleaner, calmer and the overall track makes more sense. He uses this track for depth comparison and I hear more reverb and detail in the background - hearing more into the depth. Other tracks I've listened to have similar results - less definition in the bass, sometimes more sibilance in vocals. I've also run some tests using Foobar2000 with with the PGGB plugin (not the full product so conversion is highly constrained) - I would say on a lot of tracks the separation of layers and definition appear to improve, which has peaked my interest to try PGGB.

I can accept Rob's view that Optical is the way to go - my source is on battery, no ground loops, the only element that I can think that is adding that muddyness is the Douk U2 - although the USB C->B converter could play apart - that's the only difference between the two configurations. Optical cable is a straight Kabledirect model and I think even Rob suggested this would be fine. The only way I could isolate this further would be to buy a streamer with direct optical out - and run off grid.

In terms of cabling for src-dx, do the BNC cables make a huge difference? What about the USB cable when used with the src-dx?

 

[dsyzling]

I go back and forth, the iFi is very good, but in the case of Toslink, in the case of using USB with the Ifi Zen Stream the battery is better.

I was mulling the iFi - in terms of the testing I was running above. The critcisms over the software have largely put me off with some people bricking their device trying to upgrade it. I'm guessing here with optical, the difference is down to running from the battery.

 

[Progisus]

In terms of cabling for src-dx, do the BNC cables make a huge difference? What about the USB cable when used with the src-dx?

I use Dan’s short bnc or belden bnc. Both sound very good. The tripp lite usb cable from Dan while plain looking is better than most high end ones. I felt the douk sounded veiled compared to src-dx.

 

[Red Rd Wolf]

Cables always make a difference. I use Nordost and have been very happy with them.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

Cables always make a difference. I use Nordost and have been very happy with them.

I use the red dawn cables from Nordost, they added to my system, which cables are you using from Nordost?

 

[dsyzling]

I use Dan’s short bnc or belden bnc. Both sound very good. The tripp lite usb cable from Dan while plain looking is better than most high end ones. I felt the douk sounded veiled compared to src-dx.

Thanks, sounds like we have similar results in comparing the src-dx to the Douk/optical. Very useful to know about the cables as well.