USB to SPDIF converter OR dedicated computer w/ SPDIF out?

[Szadzik]

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[Philharmoniker]

Quote:

 
In my opinion if you're on a budget get the Musiland and spend the rest on Dac, headphones, speakers etc.
 
If it's cost-no-object you may prefer the peace of mind of a $500 USB converter.
 
 
The Kernel Streaming from Foobar has unlocked my 24/192 content, I find the difference a little more audible now. Using MM01 and driver version 1.0.7.0.

I was just getting the YULONG D18 DAC, and since this is the first DAC for me not to have a USB in, I am on the look for a USB SPDIF interface for the first time...
In fact for now I am gonna have to stick with TOSLINK out from my desktop MOBO until I don't feel guilty to make the next purchase...
 
 

 

[sorue]

IMO, Get a good, mean solidly well engineered converter with the measurements (not merely specs) to back it up, or don't get one at all. The cheap ones are a waste of time and money, frankly.

 

[DaveBSC]

Quote:

IMO, Get a good, mean solidly well engineered converter with the measurements (not merely specs) to back it up, or don't get one at all. The cheap ones are a waste of time and money, frankly.

Agreed, coaxial digital out from a basic soundcard will likely outperform a junky USB converter/input. I do believe that USB is ultimately the best way to get audio from a computer, but it takes several hundred dollars to do so. If you only have $150 to spend, you're better off with an M-Audio card.

 

[JRG1990]

Whats wrong with this http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-LINK/v-link.asp , It doesn't take a ton of money to get a good line level output from usb longs jitter, noise , disortion etc are all below audiable and you can get the full 16bit output a cheap usb dac would be fine.

 

[DaveBSC]

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Whats wrong with this http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-LINK/v-link.asp , It doesn't take a ton of money to get a good line level output from usb longs jitter, noise , disortion etc are all below audiable and you can get the full 16bit output a cheap usb dac would be fine.

In theory there's nothing wrong with it, and in a mid-level system it's probably fine. When you get to the high-end though, the bus power and the lack of galvanic isolation become problems.
 

 

[JRG1990]

It's a digital to digital converter it probley doesn't draw that much power, not like a dac or headphone amp which would be more relant on a good power source, I've seen no solid evidence that galvanic isolation makes any difference with usb dacs, also in a digital to digital converter where would the noise go it would probley end up as jitter but on a device where jitter is so low to begin with it would be far from audiable.
 

 

[kiteki]

Quote:

IMO, Get a good, mean solidly well engineered converter with the measurements (not merely specs) to back it up, or don't get one at all. The cheap ones are a waste of time and money, frankly.

My requirements are 24bit/192kHz support, upsampling, and either ASIO or KS.
 
What options do I have?
 

 

[DaveBSC]

Quote:

It's a digital to digital converter it probley doesn't draw that much power, not like a dac or headphone amp which would be more relant on a good power source, I've seen no solid evidence that galvanic isolation makes any difference with usb dacs, also in a digital to digital converter where would the noise go it would probley end up as jitter but on a device where jitter is so low to begin with it would be far from audiable.
 

It's not the amount of power, it's the quality of power. USB power is extremely noisy, which is the whole point of galvanic isolation. You don't want that garbage dumped straight into the DAC. Jitter is an aspect but it's only one aspect.

 

[DaveBSC]

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My requirements are 24bit/192kHz support, upsampling, and either ASIO or KS.
 
What options do I have?
 

Short of the Empirical Off-ramp 5, the JKMK3 Hiface is probably your best bet.

 

[leeperry]

 

I know there is a HUGE difference in price, but can anyone compare Musiland US02 and Stello U3?

The Musiland 02US is using buggy drivers and an uber-sloppy clock synthesis: http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=199&t=6611
 

Would anyone have experience with a ~$500 USB to SPDIF converter and/or a dedicated computer for music playback.  I am contemplating purchasing a JKSPDIF MK3 or building a dedicate computer to play my music.

 
A friend of mine was also in the market for a battery powered hiface and decided to try the Tabla Pico(as they provide a 2 weeks cooling-off period): http://www.human-audio.com/humanaudioeng_tabla_pico.html
 
The nice thing is that it seamlessly switches to filtered USB power when the battery's flat and then seamlessly switches back to battery power once it's full again, I believe you're SOL w/ jkeny's interfaces once the battery's flat? Anyway, it looks great...I'll chime in w/ more impressions in due time if anyone's interested.

 

[kiteki]

 
Quote:

 
The Musiland 02US is using buggy drivers and an uber-sloppy clock synthesis: http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=199&t=6611
 

 
The clock synthesis looks pretty good to me - http://hifiduino.blogspot.com/2010/02/musiland-driver-1082-fast-vs-precision.html
 
They could have 'cheated' and just used a Tenor TE7022L without drivers, in which case I'd have glanced over it, it's the fact they use proprietary drivers and 'push the limit' that makes it appealing, even if it's designed in China and far from eye-candy.
 
 
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Short of the Empirical Off-ramp 5, the JKMK3 Hiface is probably your best bet.

Not sure if we can link to banned members sites or why he was banned? but the JK MK3 looks pretty good thanks.
 
The Empirical off-ramp 5 is $1099, I think I'll spend that on the Fostex HP-A8 instead, which supports DSD/.DSF and SD cards.
 
 

 

[leeperry]

 

The clock synthesis looks pretty good to me - http://hifiduino.blogspot.com/2010/02/musiland-driver-1082-fast-vs-precision.html

Playing your CDDA audio 21Hz too quickly is ever so slightly out of tune AFAIK, and in "precision mode" you have to wait forever for the sloppy FPGA to readjust...and yes it's dropping samples while switching. None of this will happen when using two discrete 2.5ppm TCXO's for 44.1/48kHz multiples

 

[DaveBSC]

Quote:

 
Not sure if we can link to banned members sites or why he was banned? but the JK MK3 looks pretty good thanks.
 
The Empirical off-ramp 5 is $1099, I think I'll spend that on the Fostex HP-A8 instead, which supports DSD/.DSF and SD cards.

IIRC John left due to arguments about not posting as a MOT. The MK3 is considerably better than earlier versions, and is at the very least as good as if not better than the Audiophilleo. I mentioned the OR-5 because it seems to be the best of the best. Clock synthesis is a joke. If you're not using discrete clocks, you might as well not bother.
 

 

[ROBSCIX]

There are many great USB to S/Pdif converters out right now.  The M2Tech HiFace, Teralink X-2, JK modded units...newer M2Tech units.