[dlcastles]

Lee, Thanks for all the info on your system. Can I ask you if you've tried this USB isolator http://electronics-shop.dk/galvanically-usb_isolation and how does it compare to the Olimex model?
Also, what are using as a link between the Olimex dongle and your DAC? Seems like there is some kind of adapter in there...
Thanks for your help, Duncan
 

 

[dlcastles]

Lee, also wanted to ask you which USB cable you were using that you'd bought off ebay for a fiver. Sounds like a bargain buy...

 

[kyrill]

Lee how is USB life at present? still using the dongle?

 

[leeperry]

 

Lee how is USB life at present? still using the dongle?

I got bored of the Olimex as it really veiled the trebles...this said, Firestone have just recently released an audiophile grade USB Isolator, and I'm quite tempted to try it: http://www.google.com/search?q=firestone+audio+green+key
 
It's too pricey in Europe, so I'd have a friend reshipping it to me...but I don't see it for sale in the US yet.
 

Lee, also wanted to ask you which USB cable you were using that you'd bought off ebay for a fiver. Sounds like a bargain buy...

I currently use a $5 Lacie Flat Cable, it sounds very good to my ears: http://www.head-fi.org/t/576075/april-music-eximus-dp-1/60#post_8065304
 
It's also available as an extension cord in order to fit a USB Isolator without extra adapters.
 

Originally Posted by dlcastles /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Lee, Thanks for all the info on your system. Can I ask you if you've tried this USB isolator http://electronics-shop.dk/galvanically-usb_isolation and how does it compare to the Olimex model?

 
This one was by far the worst sounding in the shout-out I posted in this very thread a little while ago.

 

[kyrill]

2x post

 

[kyrill]

2x

 

[leeperry]

Can't say that I have, no, as jplay won't do gapless and doesn't support VST plugins. My brain requires xfeed, otherwise it goes into kernel panic mode when I feed it dual mono.
 
And tbh, I love the sweet sound of uLilith and it's got many features I enjoy greatly(like the "open current folder" right-click option on any audio file...no need for pesky cue/m3u files anymore)

 

[kyrill]

HI Lee
Jplay mini also in hibernation ( superb sound)  plays gapless, I also belief as a plugin for Foobar and Jriver it is gapless too
 
But even then
my post was not about Jplay
I have the dongle now in house too So i have to construct a nice 5-8V pws

 

[leeperry]

I realize that real men supposedly use hibernation mode, but I kinda like using the computer while listening to music...it's also pretty convenient for watching movies to actually get a video display out of the computer

 
uLilith provides native VST plugins support in 64fp, it would appear that the only way to use VST plugins in jplay is to run a system-wide jitter-ridden/resampling klduge around VAC, duh.
 
I plan on trying a few audiophile full-of-placebo tweaks myself, like feeding all the fans of the computer from a discrete laptop brick...I keep reading raving feedback about those filters, so we'll see: http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/more_info/21176.html
 
They're polishing a turd by minimizing ripple and noise to the ATX PSU, I will use a discrete 12V brick I found attached to a busted LCD screen on the street, I shall find out whether fans are as evil as they say

 

[leeperry]

Either way, Firestone claim in their new USB isolation dongle sales pitch that "the noise from the power lines has effected the data integrity creating problems with the timing of the digital signal, known as jitter."
 
and this link says: http://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/which-digital-isolators-for-i2s-or-not/
 
"Galvanic isolation of the I2S output from the FPGA core and the USB ground virtually eliminates jitter and common noise originated by the PC."
 
OTOH, all those I2S isolators distort the signal to some extent...so it's never a black or white story I guess. IME, non-isolated coax sounds good off the Asus ST..but it's a potential groundloop feast. I think isolation is a necessary evil, and depending on your gear it can either outcome the cons or ever so slightly worsen the SQ indeed, but no groundloop!
 
And I'm using speed pots on all my fans that use PWM(pulse width modulation), it seems to be a very noisy method to throttle fans speed...moving them to a discrete PSU should be salutary

 

[grokit]

As much as I enjoy my Bravo, I want to upgrade to a 24/192 converter. So I have decided to try the V-Link 192, for a couple of reasons. It has an XLR AES/EBU balanced digital output for my Mini-i, and I found that they are much cheaper if they come from outside the US. And I can still use the Bravo if I want a second USB input. I could actually have three USB devices if I wanted to use the Mini-i's native USB, but it's adaptive 16/48 and is really the Mini-i's weakest feature. The Bravo really stepped up my SQ, it would be great if I get a similar improvement in SQ with this little bugger:
 
http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/vSeries/v-link192/

 

[grokit]

Just to update my last post, the Vlink 192 brought more sampling rates but not much else to the table. It could be the fact that the Mini-i's smooth/musical presentation is compounding things, but the Bravo even seems to have a leg up to it in my system. It is more assertive than the Vlink dynamically, bringing more clarity to my tube-based system than the Vlink does. I think the fact the the Vlink is USB rather than DC powered could contribute to this (I have also added a Supplier PSU with an aftermarket SPC DC cable to the Bravo).
 
The Vlink did reveal a further weakness of the Mini-i that I was not aware of; it's AD1955's do not feature 176.4 input, which I was looking forward to trying. Also I learned that audio XLR cables are not suitable for AES/EBU use as it is not the correct impedance. But the other way around (110 ohm for audio) is supposedly fine. And in the case of my setup, its "balanced digital output" claims bot withstanding, the AES/EBU sounded the same to my ears as coaxial/BNC.

 

[oneofthem]

hi
 
this thread made some serious impact on $ my savings :[
 
just a noob question here..
 
do i need that ADUM isolator if i will be getting that SOtM tX-USB pci card? (what kind of power do you recommend to get for it?)  and what is best isolator currently and power supply for it to use
 
also their usb silver cable http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOtM-dCBL-USB-St-1m-Performance-USB-Cable-for-tX-USB-/250862825383?pt=US_USB_Cables_Hubs_Adapters&hash=item3a6896efa7      $700 for a cable

(and i thought $100 was insane for cable before) any info what does silver usb cable do to audio?(in my case pc>bravo)
 
also there is a new upcoming product...
 
 
tX-USBexp
 
http://www.sonore.us/SOtM3.html    << scroll down
http://jplay.eu/forum/computer-audio/tx-usb-exp-is-pci-express-usb-3.0-host-card/

 

[grokit]

I'm still using the Bravo, but now it's with the Bel Canto DAC2 and it sounds great with the XCANS amp into a D7000. That's a keeper of a setup.
 
But the main reason I posted was because I think I finally figured out why the Bravo isn't one of the components that supposedly improves with the optional Supplier PSU, according to Firestone. I have been participating in the iPad DAC thread, and basically some USB DACs work without a powered hub, and some draw too much power from the iPad and shuts down the digital audio output from it. The Bravo is of the latter category, meaning it needs a powered hub in between the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit's USB output and the Bravo.
 
This makes me think that there is no interaction between the incoming AC power required to operate the Bravo and the USB receiver component of it, and that the USB receiver is entirely bus powered so the AC power is going toward reclocking or something. So the Supplier's "better" power would therefore have no impact on the sound quality?
 
Anyways I finally found the original AC adapter, I've been wanting to get the Supplier out of this new setup for a while now for aesthetic reasons. So I will test this theory and see if I notice anything different in the sound.

 

[DavidK35]

So, is there any difference without the supplier?