[rb2013]

  my speculation is that with the pcie card it will further improve the sound.

I think you are right there - not cheap though.  Certainly the latency will be lower.
 
My next step is acquiring a Mutec 3+ for SPDIF reclocking - that definitely works to improve the SQ.
 
Any word from DIYinHK on the PRo4a?  Should be soon.

 

[atomicbob]

 
Well I have to say looking at the Focusrite REDNET design - it is well made - but can certainly be improved (hoping with your suggestions) - notably the SMPS power supply.  So how long before the modding begins?
 
I'm very excited about the Raveena AES67 AOIP implementation - at least how Merging Tech has done it - maybe, just maybe better?
 
It would be a complete surprise and our luck - to just happen to serendipitiously find and buy the best AOIP possible.  Now there must be some issues with the Dante AOIP - aside from the minor operational annoyances found so far.  Things that can and will be improved down the line.
 
I get the feeling this train is just leaving the station.

 
I guess I am thinking of someone entering this thread and concluding generical AoIP is responsible for the results being described. Here is an example of a more generic AoIP solution:
http://www.digigram.com/products/product_infos.php?prod_key=15350
Any guesses as to how that AoIP solution compares to the ones being discussed, especially the Focusrite / Dante implementation? I'd be willing to bet that it may not delight the ears nearly as well as a better USB implementation.

 

[auvgeek]

Really bummed about no linux support.

 

[rb2013]

  Really bummed about no linux support.

Hopefully at some point

 

[rb2013]

   
I guess I am thinking of someone entering this thread and concluding generical AoIP is responsible for the results being described. Here is an example of a more generic AoIP solution:
http://www.digigram.com/products/product_infos.php?prod_key=15350
Any guesses as to how that AoIP solution compares to the ones being discussed, especially the Focusrite / Dante implementation? I'd be willing to bet that it may not delight the ears nearly as well as a better USB implementation.

Well AoIP and AOIP are different.  The former is an actual std in video broadcasting.  The later I coined to reference AES67 Audio over IP.  The newly implemented AES67 is just a min set of stds for common communication on a shared LAN.  Audinate's Dante and Raveena - are both seperate protocols that exceed those stds, but can communicate with each other - and operate at Layer 3 over a LAN.  Certainly for 2 channel audio not requiring QoS GB switches. 
 
There is another std AVB - that has not yet been formalized by IEEE.  It operates at layer 2 and does require special switches.
 
I believe the device you linked to is a USB - LAN extender.  That is technically audio over IP - but with USB in the equation.  Like the ICRON/Startech USB LAN extenders.  And the upcoming PS Audio LANRover.  But what we have agreed (I believe) to mean when using the abbrev AOIP - is the true Ethernet only AES67 Audio over IP stds - Dante, RAVENNA and Livewire.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AES67

 AES67 is a standard for audio-over-IP interoperability. The standard was developed by the Audio Engineering Society and published in September 2013. It is a layer 3 protocol suite based on existing standards and is designed to allow interoperability between various IP-based audio networking systems such as RAVENNA, Livewire, Q-LAN and Dante

 
Now there is another competeing and maybe compatible std also coming very soon.  That is Thunderbolt, which is now in it's third revision.  The TB3 also does audio over IP - but using a external PCIe std - with direct DMA access.  Now with MS and Intel support - TB 3 will move away from Apple's expensive prop cable to unify with USB 3.1 to the new USB-C connector, dropping costs.
 
Focusrite also has an implementation of this - but only at the TB2 level (I'm sure working on a TB3 version)
https://us.focusrite.com/clarett-range
 
The Clarett Pre4 is cheaper then the REDNET 3 at $700 list - looks very interesting
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Clarett4Pre?adpos=1o1&creative=93365752201&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjwp-S6BRDj4Z7z2IWUhG8SJAAbqbF3JtnraBjhNdbDQf858CSCGZtSsA4Olf3wVmfwOr_GlxoC
 
Here is a link to the thread I started on Thunderbolt 3:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/806121/thunderbolt-3-for-audio-is-this-the-next-computer-audio-standard

 

[auvgeek]

  Focusrite also has an implementation of this - but only at the TB2 level (I'm sure working on a TB3 version)
https://us.focusrite.com/clarett-range

Maybe a dumb question, but are you sure the line outs are spdif? Not analog out?
 
Edit: nevermind. The 2Pre (which is the one I was looking at) doesn't have spdif, but the others do.

 

[rb2013]

  Maybe a dumb question, but are you sure the line outs are spdif? Not analog out?

Yes -

And note the DC power input.  But no ASIO support  - so this is a no go for me.  But hoping on the next TB3 version it will have
 

 

Plenty of ins and outs

Clarett 4Pre offers a full 18 audio inputs and eight outputs, including four front-panel multi-function inputs, four independent line inputs and line outputs, stereo S/PDIF I/O and dual headphone outputs. There are also eight channels of ADAT-format digital input – ideal for adding eight channels of digital mic pre.

 
Also no WIN support yet:

Supported Operating Systems

OSX 10.9 Mavericks, 10.10 Yosemite or 10.11 El Capitan
Windows support coming soon – Please submit your e-mail address so that we can keep you up to date with more information. 

 

[auvgeek]

^^See my edit above. I was looking at the 2 Pre because I don't need 4 inputs. Doh!
 
But the 4 Pre seems like a great options for those with MBP laptops.
 
Thanks for the quick reply to my dumb question!

 

[rb2013]

This is the big news for TB3:
 

Microsoft Announces Plans For Thunderbolt Support In Windows 10

Posted on January 29, 2016 by synthhead

Microsoft has announced plans to support Thunderbolt on Windows 10>



Microsoft Windows Platform Evangelist Pete Brown has announced plans for Thunderboltsupport in Windows 10.
Microsoft will not officially support Thunderbolt 1 & 2 devices on Windows 10, though they may work with vendor support. They are focusing their support on Thunderbolt 3.


 
 
 
 
 
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2016/01/29/microsoft-announces-plans-for-thunderbolt-support-in-windows-10/

 

[rb2013]

  ^^See my edit above. I was looking at the 2 Pre because I don't need 4 inputs. Doh!
 
But the 4 Pre seems like a great options for those with MBP laptops.
 
Thanks for the quick reply to my dumb question!

When they say MAC OS support  - do they mean Core Audio?  This will still be some time down the road.  But once WIN10 has full TB3 support could accelerate quickly.

 

[atomicbob]

Well AoIP and AOIP are different.  
 
/* much very good information deleted */
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AES67

Guess I just want to stress that the standard doesn't necessarily guarantee great results. Important to note the particular implementations as well.

 

[rb2013]

  Guess I just want to stress that the standard doesn't necessarily guarantee great results. Important to note the particular implementations as well.

Yes - agreed!  So far - so good.

 

[auvgeek]

 
When they say MAC OS support  - do they mean Core Audio?  This will still be some time down the road.  But once WIN10 has full TB3 support could accelerate quickly.

No idea. If I weren't planning to get rid of my MBP for a linux machine, I'd give it a try.

 

[Acrobat77]

   
I didn't even notice it's your first day here. Welcome! 

 

Thank you!

 

[Acrobat77]

 
I think you are right there - not cheap though.  Certainly the latency will be lower.
 
My next step is acquiring a Mutec 3+ for SPDIF reclocking - that definitely works to improve the SQ.
 
Any word from DIYinHK on the PRo4a?  Should be soon.

 
About the "Mutec 3+" you mention here (but elsewhere as well including your score lists), there's of course the Mutec MC-3+ and the Mutec MC-3+ USB which I believe you tested. The latter is not just a MC-3+ with an USB port. Functionally it is but it's a newer version which also had an internal re-design for better re-clocking and overall performance. I remember one person who had three MC-3+ which could be replaced with one MC-3+ USB offering the same SQ performance.
 
There's much more information and detail in the Mutec MC-3+ thread on CA (which after some pages also starts to discuss the MC-3+ USB). http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/mutec-mc-3-a-17300/