USB->SPDIF: M-Audio Transit or HagUSB?

[a1rocketpilot]

Just as the question says, which is a better USB->SPDIF converter? (Be aware that if I get the HagUSB, it will be a halfkit, which I will populate with Vishay-Dale's and other good stuff)

Aditya

 

[cmirza]

Vishay-Dale's and other good stuff are only going to really matter for the analog out. For the SPDIF out, what matter is can you get a good non-resampled output. M-Audio provides excellent ASIO drivers. I think you have to use generic USB Audio drivers and ASIO4All with the HagUSB, unless you get the $50 USBAudio.com drivers.

 

[gevorg]

If you can build and customize HagUSB to your needs, go for it! Clear and open design, without any audiophile "magic-in-the-box" attributes.

Another choice is M-Audio transit, but its not that good in stock form.

 

[cmirza]

If all you're going to be using is the SPDIF, what is wrong with the Transit in stock form?

 

[mikechai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmirza If all you're going to be using is the SPDIF, what is wrong with the Transit in stock form?

Nothing wrong. But the SPDIF out of Transit in stock form is just ordinary and it has only optical out. Even the now obsolete ESI Waveterminal U24 is superior to it. I don't know exactly why since both units uses the same USB controller, TAS1020B.

But the modded Transit, like the one RedWine Audio and Empirical Audio offer, sound much improved from stock mainly because its powered externally or battery. Price also quadruple though.

Myself has the U24 and this USB-SPDIF interface, which I find to be as good if not better than the U24. Works with ASIO4ALL and ASIO2KS. I'm also able to get bit-perfect output using Foobar2000->ASIO4ALL as it passthrough DTS successfully to receiver. I'm now using a quality usb cable which is similar to the Belkin gold series, and definitely sound better than the ordinary cable.

 

[hanon]

Hi Mike,
I followed the link to the aegophile site; must say the usb>spdif converter does look nice - a very clean, no-nonsense design.

I found the Yulong Minidac on the site very interesting. It looks also to be well-designed. I am wondering how it sounds, compared for example to a stock or modified Dac-Ah (maybe others are interested in a comparison with the Zhaolu). Also how the headphone amplifier of the unit sounds.
Not too many - none? - reports on the Yulong unit here on this forum.

By the way, I also have the Waveterminal U24 and agree with you that it is a fine little device.
If the Aegophile USB-SPDIF interface is as good as the U24 (or better) for usb-spdif conversion, then it really is a good deal!

 

[mikechai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanon Hi Mike, I followed the link to the aegophile site; must say the usb>spdif converter does look nice - a very clean, no-nonsense design. I found the Yulong Minidac on the site very interesting. It looks also to be well-designed. I am wondering how it sounds, compared for example to a stock or modified Dac-Ah (maybe others are interested in a comparison with the Zhaolu). Also how the headphone amplifier of the unit sounds. Not too many - none? - reports on the Yulong unit here on this forum. By the way, I also have the Waveterminal U24 and agree with you that it is a fine little device. If the Aegophile USB-SPDIF interface is as good as the U24 (or better) for usb-spdif conversion, then it really is a good deal!

Yup, the U24 is a little gem and I won't sell it evar.
I'm glad the USB-SPDIF sounds at least as good as U24, plus its bit-perfect unlike U24. But its a bit more sensitive to cable than the U24.

The Yulong minidac pro 1794 is also a fine dac, which definitely sounds better than the Zhaolu D2. I've even compared it to a D2 CS4398 with OPA2107 opamps. As impressive the 2107 D2 over a stock unit, the Minidac is even better. Particularly in dynamic range, imaging and detail. The Minidac also sounds a bit more airy. Also good if your system is not aggressive enough. However same thing cannot be said with its headamp. In fact its just a headphone driver. I will definitely use it with a good external headamp if I own a pair of high end headphones.

 

[cclragnarok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikechai Nothing wrong. But the SPDIF out of Transit in stock form is just ordinary and it has only optical out. Even the now obsolete ESI Waveterminal U24 is superior to it. I don't know exactly why since both units uses the same USB controller, TAS1020B. But the modded Transit, like the one RedWine Audio and Empirical Audio offer, sound much improved from stock mainly because its powered externally or battery. Price also quadruple though. Myself has the U24 and this USB-SPDIF interface, which I find to be as good if not better than the U24. Works with ASIO4ALL and ASIO2KS. I'm also able to get bit-perfect output using Foobar2000->ASIO4ALL as it passthrough DTS successfully to receiver. I'm now using a quality usb cable which is similar to the Belkin gold series, and definitely sound better than the ordinary cable.

Looks interesting indeed. How do 24-bit and ASIO work though? I assume that some kind of custom driver would be needed.

Does it reclock to its own internal clock? And how much do you think it'd be shipped to the US?

 

[hanon]

@mikechai Thanks for your report. I hope some head-fi'ers will give it a go. I must say, whatever its sonic merits, in terms of build quality the Yulong sure looks a lot better than the Zhaolou!

 

[mikechai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cclragnarok Looks interesting indeed. How do 24-bit and ASIO work though? I assume that some kind of custom driver would be needed. Does it reclock to its own internal clock? And how much do you think it'd be shipped to the US?

With ASIO4ALL, you'll need to set playback at 32bit.
With ASIO2KS, set playback to 16bit + strong ATH noise shaping.

It's reclocking to its own internal clock.

Shipping to US is USD36.

 

[Atchoum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikechai However same thing cannot be said with its headamp. In fact its just a headphone driver. I will definitely use it with a good external headamp if I own a pair of high end headphones.

I've just bought an YuLong mini-DAC (french ebay) and I'm planning to use it both for its DAC and headamp. Do you think I will waste the benefit of the DAC with the internal headamp ?

Btw, how does it compare to dedicated amps (say Aria or Xcan...) ?

my current setup is : Squeezebox v3 > Cairn 4807 integrated > HD 650

 

[mikechai]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atchoum I've just bought an YuLong mini-DAC (french ebay) and I'm planning to use it both for its DAC and headamp. Do you think I will waste the benefit of the DAC with the internal headamp ? Btw, how does it compare to dedicated amps (say Aria or Xcan...) ? my current setup is : Squeezebox v3 > Cairn 4807 integrated > HD 650

The minidac that you bought is the standard version that comes with PCM1798 instead.

About the internal headamp, as I said earlier, I will definitely use it with a good external headamp if I own a pair of high end headphones.

 

[LeChuck]

As a SPDIF transport, the M-Audio Transit is great, and has great driver ASIO support. It's cheap, reliable, and it does exactly what it's supposed to.

It does everything you want, don't make the question harder than it really is.

 

[Scrith]

If you prefer coax output, why not try the M-Audio Audiophile USB, which also has the advantage of not using USB power (it has its own power adapter)?

 

[Superpredator]

The Aegophile USB-SPDIF sounds like an intriguing option but I think I'd prefer something with onboard ASIO support (like the U24 or Transit) to running ASIO4All. I found ASIO4All a little obnoxious (a year ago--maybe things have changed a bit). Of course, maybe I'm just lazy, but I prefer simplicity and hate trying to manage concurrently running pieces of software to perform one basic function. If Aegophile ends up adding ASIO support in the future I'd definitely consider adding the USB-SPDIF to my setup. Of course, cost would likely increase, but that's something I'd pay for.