Digital Transports - USB Solutions, CD and SD Players, DAPs, and More!

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Hands, Oct 11, 2015.

  1. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    I kinda doubt it, but I have good USB coming from my PC. I only use the Regen when running NOS mode on the Master-11, and the Wyrd wouldn't do anything to help with that.

    Not to get too off-topic, so I'll add...

    Found a few more contenders, most of which I've heard of and forgotten about:

    TeraLink X2 w/ or w/o LPSU: http://www.teradak.com/products/63.html
    Musiland Monitor 01: http://www.musiland.com.cn/index.php/Product/show/id/143

    DIY option that might be more than $200 all told depending on how it's built:
    WaveIO: http://luckit.biz/

    http://www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-k...high-quality-usb-tofrom-i2sdsd-spdif-pcb.html
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2016
  2. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    I've been using the WaveIO for about 2 years. Usb powered, it is good. LPsu powered (Sigma11 or Sjostrom super regs for example), it is tremendous value. But it comes without a chassis, as it's a DIY product. It's worth way more than its cost.

    I like it so much I actually have 2.

    Oh and for the price you get the Thesycon driver, optmized for the board, and updated regularly. Most of the cost goes there actually.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2016
  3. julian67

    julian67 Facebook Friend

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    A bit more on the Raspberry Pi:

    Mine is a 1st generation Model B. I'd suggest that anyone looking for an audio device should just look elsewhere. Using either the onboard ethernet port (actually it's on a USB BUS...bleeurgh) or a wireless N USB adapter on a powered hub I found it impossible to have a system that could be guaranteed to play back without interruptions or drop outs. Pulseaudio on the 1st gen Pi is essentially a non-starter, UPnP rendering is better but still unreliable and even MPD playback has the odd glitch. After a little while I changed the Pi for an ancient Eee PC 904HA. It's only a single core 32-bit Atom CPU and I got it for next to nothing as it had no hard disk. I added a very low end 30GB SSD I already had and started over with a Debian Stable non-gui install. Using the same generic USB DAC everything is excellent: silent hardware, low power, sounds excellent and is 100% reliable. I liked it enough that I put another old Eee PC (these things are deeply unfashionable and fabulously cheap!) in my bedroom to use as an MPD server and UPnP renderer outputting via a HiFimeDIY USB DAC to an ancient Yamaha HT receiver and Wharfedale Loudpanel NXT flat panel speakers plus passive subwoofer. Some of this stuff has been boxed and stored for over 10 years so it was very gratifying to find it all working perfectly and sounding OK(ish) and actually being useful again.
     
  4. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    Are you reading that thread (the gustard one, it's kind of a big comparison of different things) on head-fi? I was all set to check out the breeze audio but then he started talking about how much of an improvement unicorn power cables made so I dunno. We need a pyrate shoot out.
     
  5. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Yeah, I've read a bunch of comments on the Gustard, Breeze, and Melodious in particular.

    I PMed someone whose opinion I value and he said the Breeze is likely the best option for Coax under $200 that he's tried, so that means something.

    I also believe that cables can make a small difference, but not the difference a lot of people claim. Mostly, I believe bad cables cause problems, and nice but relatively inexpensive (well under $100) cables at least give peace of mind.

    I'm not looking for improvements in the sound necessarily so much as improvements in signal dropouts over USB. I know the Regen fixes it, but I sold my second one and was hoping to both not wait for another and spend closer to $100 for a USB->S/PDIF.
     
  6. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I'm seriously considering doing a Raspberry Pi 2 with Digiberry optical board connected to a Western Digital passport hard drive as my main music server, running Volumio most likely. Seems to be by far the most cost-effective method of making a music server.

    The Cubox-i also looks interesting. Same principle as a Raspberry Pi, but comes with enclosure and power supply and built in wifi/bluetooth. Still has a SPDIF out. Tiny footprint.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2016
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I bit the bullet and ordered a Raspberry Pi 2 with Hifiberry Digi+ board (the version with transformers). I'm going to run either Volumio or Rune Audio on it and use the digital coax out to my Bifrost Multibit. It'll be interesting to see how it sounds compared to my MacBook Air. Even if it sounds exactly the same, at least it will free up my Air, which lags sometimes when I'm playing music and doing anything else on it.
     
  8. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Anyone used the Audiophilleo 2? Thought about picking one up used but @GoldfishX hasn't replied.
     
  9. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Some folks I trust, local or otherwise, did not find it worthwhile.
     
  10. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Thank you. You can never tell from comments on Computer Audiophile. Ranked really high there, but so do many things that I'd never pay for.
     
  11. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    I have Soundsgoodtome sending me his Audio-GD DI-U8 for testing. Looking forward to directly comparing that vs. USB input on the MHDT Labs Atlantis (with and without the UpTone Regen). It should be here Friday.
     
  12. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Owned one for several years. It is worthwhile if your USB input is not so great. But, I am in the process or reviewing 4 very good bridges that are above the Audiophileo 2 (original) in sound quality and some of which are what I would call reasonable priced. The first bridge reviewed is up on my blog at digitalaudiodirections.blogspot.com

    the other will be done over the next few days, weeks.
     
  13. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Nice! I shouldn't be in the market for such things, but I am anyway. I always look for big sub-bass, smooth top end, and nice mids. Some of the converters seem to focus in on the details and make things sound more analytical than my liking. I'm concerned with musicality much more than detail.
     
  14. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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  15. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Comparing an Audio-GD DI-U8 to USB input (sans Regen because it won't fit next to the BNC) on my MHDT Labs Atlantis.

    Differences are incredibly subtle. Very slightly cleaner. Slightly better separation. Really nuanced improvements. I was expecting more, to be honest. I'm able to tell a bigger difference between my dac with and without the UpTone Regen.
     
  16. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Things to keep in mind in these sorts of comparisons (well, other than digital component differences are almost always the most subtle types of things to compare):

    1. Not all digital source components are created equally. That is to say, you can spend tons of money on, say, a USB->SPDIF converter with incredible specs on paper without it sounding better than even an average built-in USB input (possibly worse, even). So, how do you know which components are actually good? Well, really, you just have to keep trying different ones until you find something that works well (if you ever really do find one worthwhile, that is). It's risky to dive into all these products but can be well worth it when you find something good, and assuming you have good return policies or can easily sell crap you don't like.

    2. Some USB-implementations, built-in or otherwise, are better than others. Some will benefit from decrapifiers, and some won't. Some USB inputs with decrapifiers get really good, and some are still held back.

    3. Some DACs are more sensitive to source gear than others. Some are not so much sensitive as they are just picky, where one input in generally seems to sound better based on the implementation (chips, firmware, surrounding components, etc.).

    4. Not all DACs are revealing/resolving/transparent/neutral enough to reveal the differences between digital sources components. This is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it means you don't have to worry about this shit so much. On the other hand, unless you're just totally in love with something, you'll probably start to develop that itch in the back of your mind where you wonder if you're missing out. I know we all hate to admit when certain gear just doesn't cut it for revealing this stuff, but it's just how things go sometimes.

    5. Can't rule out the amp and transducer's ability to resolve differences. The better your amp and transducer, the more revealing source differences become. Something you just have to hear to understand. When you do, you'll know it. (See above note about how reality is that not all gear is that revealing, even if we hate to admit it for products we have a soft spot for.)

    6. Some people just don't have the ears or the training (or insanity coupled with placebo) to pick out differences as easily.

    I'm not trying to make any commentary or implications on which above point(s) might apply to your tests, @Luckbad, with the Atlantis and DI-U8, just that your post reminded me that these are all factors to keep in mind when you get into the nitty-gritty shit of digital source component comparisons. I know you'll be getting the Transient loaner in soon, so I wanted to throw this out there while I thought about it.

    This is all based on personal experience on crap I've tried myself. Usually digital source stuff makes a subtle difference. It is rare occasions, like the Gungnir Multibit paired with Transient (via BNC, this was vs. direct USB without decrapifier), where it's almost hard to believe the extent of the difference you're hearing. The times you hear large differences are going to be few and far between, but cool when you do.
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Only with the extra power supply. It wasn't effective compared to half way decent stock USB implementations.
     
  18. trung225

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    Some words about Mutec MC-1.2 with/vs USB Regen:
    My audio gig: Laptop with Jplay > USB Regen + iFi IPower 9V > Geek Pulse SFi > Schiit Valhalla 2 > HD650.
    I am a USB-believer, parts of the reason is that I have a nice collection of DSD. Contrary to some folks here, I found many DSDs (especially from Japan) are superior to Redbook, so USB is the obvious choice. But even with USB Regen, sometimes I still found it lacking. I have used some USB-to-SPDIF converters in the past, like M2Tech 2Face, Gustard U10, DI-U8 but I found them provide only something different but not really better when compared to Regen + USB. So, when @Hands and @MisterRogers reported some improvement when using some more expensive DDC like Mutec instead of USB direct and Regen, I am both excited and skeptical. But since I live in Germany, where obtaining the Mutec is relatively easy, I think I need to give it a try. And after searching here and there, I have found one for only 240 €, and it arrived to my house four days ago. Here is my impression:
    1. I use USB Regen + iFi IPower 9V to power the Mutec. The first connection I have tested is Toslink via an el-cheapo KabelDirekt Toslink cable, which I borrowed from my roommate. The first thing I noticed was the more relaxed sounding compare to USB + USB Regen, and it provided better bass- and treble-details. Sound like placebo but when I tested some Piano Concerto recordings, I actually easily heard every notes when pianists playing seventh and sixth octaves (with fast speed, of course) instead of something like noise I have heard normally through USB (with or wothout Regen). But that Toslink connection has a major drawback, the bass impact was reduced to almost non-existent, and I found it unacceptable. At that time, I am very disappointed.
    2. The following day, when some component arrived, I diyed a AES cable to use with the Mutec. Nothing fancy, only 2 m Mogami W3080 AES with Neutrik connectors, but it really make the Mutec shine. Unlike toslink connection, AES connection do not change the sound of my current set up. The amount of bass, mid, treble was nearly exactly the same as USB connection with Regen, and the Mutec via AES did not make something bu**it "magical" like make the bass note hit harder, but it provided some advantages like treble and bass resolution like Toslink, and brought small analog quality to my setup
    3. The Mutec MC1.2 is great device, so I thought I didn't need the Regen anymore. But I was wrong, removing the Regen yielded a small but noticable negative impact, like smaller soundstage. So the USB Regen is still remained in my setup.
    In conclusion, I concur with @Hands , the Mutec is a no brainer. If you can afford it, you can forget about USB defuckier. But if you have a really good USB cleaner like Regen, do not sell it, the Mutec can be improved with this kind of device.
     
  19. Hekeli

    Hekeli Facebook Friend

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    I guess you mean used one...

    Ordered B-stock from Thomann for 369€, gonna try out with Gungnir Multibit&Wyrd. Definitely shipping back if I don't hear any improvement.
     
  20. trung225

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    Yeah, I bought an used one. With the price I paid, I can easily resell it with no loss. One days after my Mutec arrived, I have seen one listed for-sale for 250€ in a German audio forum, and during that day, it has been sold.
     

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