[merlin2049er]

Hey, I haven't really touched my unit yet.  Just wondering if hdmi is sort of like the standard i2s interface?
 
I did buy a couple of hdmi connectors, but it would be way too hard to actually work with it.  I'm thinking of getting an easy to work with hdmi breakout board.
 
Oh, and do I use the + side of the output of the i2s interface?



Thanks,
Joe
 

 

[sgbwill2]

  Mine finally showed up. Got the drivers hooked up and looks like it's all up and running. 

I'm interested to hear your opinion on the u12 how do you think it stacks up in comparison to other DAC's? Thanks

 

[Chodi]

  I'm interested to hear your opinion on the u12 how do you think it stacks up in comparison to other DAC's? Thanks

The U12 is a usb converter not a dac. I have the U10 but the U12 contains a newer xmos chip. The U10 is excellent so I have no doubt the U12 is also very good and probably better than the U10 which is already very good.

 

[sgbwill2]

  The U12 is a usb converter not a dac. I have the U10 but the U12 contains a newer xmos chip. The U10 is excellent so I have no doubt the U12 is also very good and probably better than the U10 which is already very good.

oh ok thanks for clearing that up.

 

[conquerator2]

I am considering pulling the trigger on the U12, just to compare to the NFB7.
I am not sure whether there'd be any difference though... It would probably come from USB32 vs XMOS, rather than the surrounding circuitry.
Decisions, decisions 

Has anyone paired the U12/U10 with a Sabre DAC?
Any comments would be appreciated as they'd nudge me in the right direction 

 

[Chodi]

  I am considering pulling the trigger on the U12, just to compare to the NFB7.
I am not sure whether there'd be any difference though... It would probably come from USB32 vs XMOS, rather than the surrounding circuitry.
Decisions, decisions 

Has anyone paired the U12/U10 with a Sabre DAC?
Any comments would be appreciated as they'd nudge me in the right direction 

That is exactly how I used my U10 with the Yulong Sabre D18. The results were excellent. Far better than than the Hiface 2 I also owned. I have since moved onto another dac that uses the Amanero usb only because I wanted to finally get into dsd. Considering the modest cost of the U12 it is not really a life threatening decision.

 

[conquerator2]

^ Thanks!
I'll think it over then 

 

[phile1]

hello, 
is the U12 plug&play with linux source ? even with highRez files ? no special driver required ?
Has someone compared it with the DXIO PRO3A from DIYINHK (pretty much at the same price) ?
thanks

 

[lmitche]

phile1 - There is no need for a linux driver with the Gustard U12.  I use a SOTM-SMS-100, a Linux renderer, in front of the Gustard U12 and it works perfectly with all sample rates and formats from redbook though high res files recorded at both 2x DSD and 32/352.8kHz.  It may work with even higher resolution files, I just don't have any to test.

 

[phile1]

Thanks Imitche,
happy that it works well with the SMS100... I have a SMS100 too !
Then my concern is about my DXIO PRO3 (usb-spdif interface from DIYINHK), is the U12 better ?... 
the DXIO PRO3 is big like a pack of cigarettes, the U12 is far bigger with a nice power part (it seems). Thus, as the quality of the power is critical is computer audio, I guess this U12 is better than my DXIO...
 
Is there any quality difference between the output ? for instance coax & AES ?
My DXIO has only coax output, to enter my reclocker (Mutec MC3+) ; as my Mutec has a AES input, I guess it would be better through all AES connections...
 
if someone has reviewed both ?...
Rgds

 

[rb2013]

  phile1 - There is no need for a linux driver with the Gustard U12.  I use a SOTM-SMS-100, a Linux renderer, in front of the Gustard U12 and it works perfectly with all sample rates and formats from redbook though high res files recorded at both 2x DSD and 32/352.8kHz.  It may work with even higher resolution files, I just don't have any to test.

That's good to know - I've been thinking of building a new linux music server.
 
If you want to try higher sampling rates then 32/352.8k - you can use Foobar and the SoX upsampler (both free) - the SoX has a multiplier upsample options 2x and 4x.
You can get free hi res files at the L2 website.  Just take a DxD file and do the 2x, or a 192k and 4x.
 
It would be interesting to see if that rate passes through. 
 
http://www.2l.no/hires/

 

[conquerator2]

Well, I clicked the buy now button by mistake!
Ooopsies 

 

[lmitche]

Thanks for the advice.  I was able to stream a 384 khz 32 bit file just fine from the SOTM SMS-100 through the Gustard.  However, quite frankly, I will stop spending a premium on high resolution files.  The Gustard make redbook files sounds so fine, I just don't see the need for high resolution DSD or PCM.  

 

[Hun7er]

Did anybody compares the Gustard vs Berkeley or SOTM converter ?

 

[conquerator2]

Well, I can compare it to the Audio-gd DI-V2014 when I receive it,  if that'd be any help to anybody