Hi Triplefun
There are a number of reasons why I chose the WaveIO.
I knew the DDC and computer interface market was changing really fast, and becoming so complex
it was going to take a long while to finally decide on the best way to feed music files into the DAC.
So, I decided to let the hype (and impulse purchase urge) around all these new products settle down
a bit, and make a decision in 6/12 months, when the waters were clearer on what products actually
proved to be worth having.
However, I still wanted something to play with so I could learn about this whole
area. After a bit of reading round I decided on the WaveIO.
It's very economically priced for what it offers. Taking into account the exchange rate
at the time of purchase, I think I paid the equivalent of £75.00 plus P&P.
It's been manufactured for a number of years, so reliability and customer feed back
are easy to see and assess. Plus, there is no hype surrounding it, yet I've seen it used
in some seriously 'no compromise' systems.
The build quality is simply the best you will find. It may be tiny, but every single
solder joint is sparkling and perfect.
Support from Lucian who produces it is great, and he's happy to discuss stuff via email
or the WaveIO forum page. As well as providing up to date drivers and firmware updates to
the Xmos chip as and when necessary (eg DSD 256 functionality).
As for the question of why I'm using the WaveIO the way I am, when all it appears I've done
is replace the existing decent Gustard Xmos based card with the WaveIO based Xmos card.
Well, like much in HiFi, a lot of it comes down to power supply quality.
The Xmos chip on the Gustard card is popular with many companies, as it intergrates a USB
hub and many small smps regs into it to power the various functions. This keeps build costs
and size down. However, there are those who feel this approach compromises this chip a bit.
The Xmos chip on the WaveIO has a seperate USB hub and many off-chip high quality linear
regulators to power all the various chip functions and board parts.
The Gustard card is fed 5 volts of power from the X20. At the higher sample rates
many people like to use now (DSD256/PCM384 etc) this card will probably be consuming
between 0.3A & 0.4A . Removing the card will reduce the demand on the X20's digital
power supply circuitry, as well as possibly producing a cleaner electronic environment
within the DAC for the clocks and Altera FPGA chip to do their thing.
The WaveIO is able to be powered by it's own separate external high quality liner power
supply. Add this to the high quality on board regulation, and this Xmos chip has, in theory,
much cleaner power to work with than the standard card.
Plus, the WaveIO has both direct and isolated I2S outputs. I use the isolated outputs,
which require another totally separate high quality linear psu.
It also has USB header pins as well as a USB plug socket. So I can easily attach
ultra short jumper leads to a (modified) W4S Recovery (this will also go inside the
X20's case & have yet another linear PSU) and so get rid of one more cable from the
chain.
However, despite offering (what in my opinion) is a significant hike up in sound quality.
The WaveIO is no easy or cheap option. This is a 100% diy device, for those who know
at least a little about electronics . Plus, once you add up the cost of two high quality
PSU's, as well as having to mount it safely internally, route cables, as well as supply
3.3v and 5v control lines, and work with some very small fiddly wiring. It's only really
for the dedicated.
Non diyer's are probably better served with something like the SU-1. You just buy a
HDMI cable and plug it in to get good sound. Lol ...
Hope that helps clarify my reasons for using the WaveIO a bit.
I've never compared DSD 256 to DSD 128 DOP, so can't help you there I'm afraid.
Also, whilst I'm happy to post up general information about my experiences and what I've tried.
I won't be doing anything like a comprehensive guide. Partly due to the time it takes, partly
because, if someone decides to follow my 'instructions' and it all goes horribly wrong, then I
will undoubtedly be 'somehow' held to blame. Also, apart from working out which pins to use on
the X20's internal PCIe slot, I've only followed what others have done on this and other forums.
Though I can solder, my electronics abilities are probably best described as enthusiastically
incompetent. If you're concerned about warranty, or uncomfortable messing about with the insides
of your DAC, don't try this stuff. There are plenty of qualified electronics engineers out there
who will happily provide an upgrade service to you for a reasonable fee, and unlike me actually
know what they are doing, rather than my 'hey if I just poke this wire in here' approach. Lol ...
Best regards
Simon
