USB to SPDIF converters shoot-out : EMU 0404 USB vs. Musiland Monitor 01 USD vs. Teralink-x vs. M2Tech hiFace

[regal]

What about the TerraLinkX, any pops crackles or skips ?

 

[slim.a]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tosehee /img/forum/go_quote.gif I hear this pop every time I select a song to play. If the next song plays automatically, I do not get this issue. I am using Foobar 0.9.6.9 with Windows 7 64b

The only few times I get pops is when I first play a 24/88 or 24/96 file. But it happened only a few times after a few minutes of inactivity : I assumed it was coming from my dac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by regal /img/forum/go_quote.gif What about the TerraLinkX, any pops crackles or skips ?

I don't remember hearing pops, crackles and skips with the teralink-x as long as the buffer on ASIO4ALL wasn't set too low.

 

[xdanny]

tosehee,

Are the pops really loud or subtle?? I am trying to stay away from them as there was a scary issue with my receiver popping: almost to the point where I could get speaker damage.

Anybody else with hiFace has this issue?

EDIT: Nevermind, I got the answer...

 

[tosehee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xdanny /img/forum/go_quote.gif tosehee, Are the pops really loud or subtle?? I am trying to stay away from them as there was a scary issue with my receiver popping: almost to the point where I could get speaker damage. Anybody else with hiFace has this issue? EDIT: Nevermind, I got the answer...

Not really noticeable, but it still happens on mine, but I am using 64bit driver which could be the reason.

 

[regal]

I did an A-B comparison of
1. Quadcore Desktop- PCI EMU 0404 ASIO optical out - AudioGD 19MK3 - SOHA II -HD650's
2. 2ghz Laptop - TerraLinkX USB - Optical out - AudioGD 19MK3 - SOHAII - HD 650

The laptop is noticeably smoother has more detail and better soundstage.

I am really dumbfounded that a change in transport would make such a difference.

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkeny /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yipee, another sale for the company - my Chinese mates will be pleased Do let us know what you think, good or bad!

Musiland 01 USD arrived, installed drivers , connected, set up FooBar ASIO Device connected optical out to Optical switch box to allows for rapid switching A/B with Western Digital HDTV.

So far so good and so far sounds identical to WD HDTV as I would have hoped, bits being bits and jitter being a non issue, anyway very happy for now but only time will tell of course, I will post if I get problems.

Cheers !

EDIT: Well that did not take long, first blip encountered at 12:20pm Eastern Time ! - Set buffer to 2000ms see if that makes a difference ?

EDIT: Blips on source material from both transports, poor rip perhaps, blips in the same places on both, so changed music files and reset counter

 

[mmerrill99]

The company have asked me to enquire: What's your driver version- download 1.0.5.0 from here & follow these steps to use it:
Quote:

1, unplug your Monitor 01 US/USD/02US/MINI from your computer. 2, uninstall the old driver. 3, download and install the new driver: http://www.musiland.com.cn/downloads...on_1.0.5.0.zip 4, reboot, plug Monitor 01 US/USD/02US/MINI in, if the control panel shows 'Warning: License invalid', it needs the firmware upgrade, otherwise you can skip the following steps and enjoy it now. 5, download the Monitor 01 US/USD/02US/MINI firmware upgrade program and extract it to a folder('MlCyMonAct' from now on): http://www.musiland.com.cn/downloads...MlCyMonAct.zip 6, run 'MlCyMonUser.exe' in 'MlCyMonAct', it will create a file named 'License.dat'. 7, send the 'License.data' to activate@musiland.com.cn as an attachment, also your product name and serial, double check your mail before sending, the three entry must present and match each other. 8, we will reply your mail in business time using activate@musiland.com.cn, it will include a 'License.key' file as an attachment, save it to the 'MlCyMonAct' folder. 9, run 'MlCyMonProg.exe' in 'MlCyMonAct', it will upgrade the firmware for you. 10, reboot and have fun

If you want a more immediate driver update without registering then download version 1.0.3.2 & just use it - the download link is in here somewhere!

BTW, I would have expected it to sound better than WD HDTV

- what are you feeding it to?

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkeny /img/forum/go_quote.gif The company have asked me to enquire: What's your driver version- download 1.0.5.0 from here & follow these steps to use it: If you want a more immediate driver update without registering then download version 1.0.3.2 & just use it - the download link is in here somewhere!

Many thanks for the driver update information, I will investigate it

Quote:

BTW, I would have expected it to sound better than WD HDTV - what are you feeding it to?

Why ? both are outputting an optical digital signal, I am sending the signal to an Entech 203.2 and then to an M^3 amp and a pair of Sennheiser HD580s.

New driver installed but license is indeed invald , software run, details sent to Musiland , awaiting reply

 

[mmerrill99]

I won't get into bits is bits discussion - you've already stated your opinion - just try the new driver & give an honest opinion as I know you will

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkeny /img/forum/go_quote.gif I won't get into bits is bits discussion - you've already stated your opinion - just try the new driver & give an honest opinion as I know you will

Sure.

I have spent pretty much the whole day trying to get the card to work again after the 1.0.5 driver failed with invalid license , numerous uninstalls reinstalls, regedits, manual driver removals, driver directory purges, pnputil.exe runs , 1.0.3 worked a bit but was poppy on manual track changes - for most of today my system would not recognise the card at all, I finally got it recognized with 1.0.5 but it will not run (invalid license) so I will wait till Musiland get back to me with the key. Running their utility to generate a license.dat file coincided with a mini-crash and things got a bit messed something up , bizarre.

When it worked it was very good, I should have just left it alone as I think the blips were from my files not the card anyway, ho hum...

 

[erin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slim.a /img/forum/go_quote.gif I did my comparisons of the Teralink-x without the use of an external power supply.

Hi Slim,
thanks for your interesting reviews. I have the Teralink X and love it.
Could I implore you try using an external power supply to power the Teralink X and then report your results. I have found a very large improvement in the sound when using an external power supply. I think you will be impressed. I have had best results when using a 12V SLA battery.
Thank you and regards.

 

[slim.a]

Quote:

Originally Posted by erin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi Slim, thanks for your interesting reviews. I have the Teralink X and love it. Could I implore you try using an external power supply to power the Teralink X and then report your results. I have found a very large improvement in the sound when using an external power supply. I think you will be impressed. I have had best results when using a 12V SLA battery. Thank you and regards.

Hi erin,

I am glad to know that the Teralink-X works well for you and that my review was helpful

As for the external power supply, regal has also told me that he got a lot of improvements using a linear external power supply. So I am definitely going to try an external power supply.
I was however just too lazy to try a new change in my system as I was busy reviewing the great sounding Artisan Cables "Ultimate Silver Dream" (review here) and I was trying different power cords/power filters.

Anyway, I will definitely try an external power supply in the near future and report back my findings.

Out of curiosity, have you tried different usb cables ?

 

[regal]

Ha Ha, I even offered him a free linear power supply, but he has a different wall power than we do in the USA. I have faith he will comeup with something, maybe build one from AMB or the other guy (forget his name), don't use a switching power supply. It makes a huge difference.

 

[jsplice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by regal /img/forum/go_quote.gif I did an A-B comparison of 1. Quadcore Desktop- PCI EMU 0404 ASIO optical out - AudioGD 19MK3 - SOHA II -HD650's 2. 2ghz Laptop - TerraLinkX USB - Optical out - AudioGD 19MK3 - SOHAII - HD 650 The laptop is noticeably smoother has more detail and better soundstage. I am really dumbfounded that a change in transport would make such a difference.

This may be related to some type of electrical noise, since the desktop has A/C power coming into it. With a laptop, you either run off the battery, or the A/C is converted to D/C externally. Very interesting findings though.

 

[regal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsplice /img/forum/go_quote.gif This may be related to some type of electrical noise, since the desktop has A/C power coming into it. With a laptop, you either run off the battery, or the A/C is converted to D/C externally. Very interesting findings though.

Well I'm using optical out so I thought that would rule out any ground loops.

Starting to believe in Jitter, used to think it was hokus pokus