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

I have my Wyrd, never actually tried Gungnir Multibit without it yet.

 

Ehm... the wyrd... I don't think it counts as a transport, nor the mutec is a decrappifier. So your only reference is schiit gen2 usb?
I suggest you loan something like a god cdp\cdt if not another worthy DDC. Otherwise it is an apples to oranges comparison and you'll end up buying the mutec

 

Has anyone used the Ciunas USB to BNC converter? I'm currently listening to USB-Ciunas Dac-Liquid Carbon-HD650m and the musicality is great. It's not as detail oriented as the Gungnir Multibit but the stage depth and width are very speaker like compared to Gungnir Multibit where the sound is considered more HD but when played through headphones, is presented how the headphones naturally do, i.e. no HRTF.

 

Well honestly I don't care about the semantics, either things sound better from BNC or USB, doesn't matter how I get there. Mutec seems well spoken enough, I like the company, and there's not many candidates that can be simply bought and returned here in the EU, not to mention it's decendly priced. I don't want another crapifier like Regen, Mutec is way more versatile tool generally anyway. Trying MC-3+ USB for Gungnir Multibit seems crazy, better save for Yggdrasil in that case..

Does seem a bit disappointing that the switching psu is possibly that prone to crap out.. good thing German shops like to give 3 year warranty to everything. Got a second black B-stock coming in already, since it made so good impression already, subtle but effective enhancement. I'll still want to make some crappy measurements to verify whether there's any volume or other difference seen between inputs and stuff..

 

@Hekeli
I like the anti semantics attitude
My advice meant that it is very likely you'll hear improvement with the mutec 1.2 over the Gungnir Multibit usb, but you may not get a look at it in perspective related to other DDC or CDP\CDT. That's all.
Back to semantics, I don't know how something like the mutec could be classified as a usb decrappifier. My understanding is that decrappifier act on usb clock\noise\power. I don't know if the mutec does that. Very unlikely with the smps it has onboard
If it does something good, shouldn't it be the after usb meaning in the conversione part?
It's not a critic, just a honest question from ignorance.

Edit: IMHO the transport can sound as much as a dac. Not so crazy to spend money if you find something really able to improve the sound.

 

I just hooked up the MC-3+ Smart Clock USB. The very short first impression: Better than anything I've ever tried.

It definitely bests the Gustard U12, Audio-GD DI-2014, Audio-GD DI-U8, CI Audio Transient Mk2, UpTone Regen, Juli@ XTe, Asus Xonar Essence STX II, straight USB... anything I've ever used in front of a DAC.

This is the first USB -> S/PDIF solution I've heard that I immediately identified as superior and really am not sure I could do without now that I've heard it.

Everything else has been, "yeah after hearing it for a few hours I can A/B between USB and this thing... but it's not that much better."

It's not like this is night and day, but it's "obvious improvement" territory.

The Transient MKII was the best I'd heard to this point. I've only heard it via USB power and don't have a linear PSU to try it with, but the Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock USB is better enough that I can't imagine the Transient would best it even with super clean power.

Consider this USB transport skeptic shut up forever. I've never been convinced enough of improvements to keep any of the solutions I've purchased apart from the UpTone Regen (which gave objective improvements).

P.S. This costs more than my DAC. I don't care.

P.P.S. The current chain is USB DAC-UP port (unpowered USB) -> Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock USB -> MHDT Labs Atlantis via BNC -> Garage1217 Project Horizon III (because I'm more familiar with its sound than my new amp) -> Sennheiser HD650.

I'll try it out with the Amps & Sound Mogwai tonight.

One objective improvement is that when changing sample rates, there is no click at all. That's nice.

 

The one thing I'm confused about with the Mutec is which of the outputs I should be using with my MHDT Labs Atlantis. I'm using S/P-DIF OUT right now since it seems like the safer choice. I briefly checked AES3/11id OUT and it worked as well, but I turned it off just in case it could cause problems.

2 »S/P-DIF OUT 3« The S/P-DIF output transmits an unbalanced electrical S/P-DIF digital audio or blank frame signal in compliance with the IEC 60958 standard. The interface impedance is 75Ω (BNC connectors, female).
3 »AES3/11id OUT 4« The AES/EBUid output transmits an unbalanced electrical digital audio or blank-frame signal in compliance with AES3id-2001 (revision of 1995) or AES11-2003 (revision of 1997).

AES3id Output (AES3/11id OUT 4) Interface 1 x BNC, 1 V, unbalanced, input impedance 75 Ω, buffered Formats & Resolutions AES3id: AES3id-2001 (rev. 1995) or AES11-2003 (rev. 1997), 16 -24 bits Supported Sampling Rates 44.1 kHz to 192.0 kHz

S/P-DIF BNC Output(S/P-DIF OUT 3) Interface 1 x BNC, 0.5 V, unbalanced, input impedance 75 Ω, buffered Formats & Resolutions IEC60958, 16–24 bits Supported Sampling Rates 44.1 kHz to 192.0 kHz

 

Okay, the Mutec MC-1.2... Excellent! It's definitely on the level of the CI Audio Transient MKII. It also has a few other random functions and can use USB power or normal power, which is neat (though I can't imagine using USB when I have a power outlet nearby).

I very well may be sold on both units. 1.2 at work, 3+ USB at home. Lord I'm glad I paid too many taxes and have a decent return on the way.

 

Thank you. That's great to hear the 1.2 holds up. Now, the question is: if you had to keep the 1.2 and send back the 3+, how much would you miss the 3+?

 

More than none. It's a bit better. It's not twice as good if all you're doing is converting USB to AES/BNC. The 1.2 is definitely a much better deal.

 

Did you try if there's any difference with USB power only? Didn't realize it can do that.. wondering if it bypasses the noisy switching psu.. I'm in a fever so not testing much right now.

 

Hard to tell a difference because I can't really swap between them super quickly. The switching power supply isn't actually noisy. It seems rather well implemented.

A linear might be better, but I doubt I could hear it.

 

I was actually referring to my broken one which makes a loud whine inside the case... Need to try out USB only to see if it still makes a noise or something is bypassed..

 

Actually you can, I just tried. When powered from USB and just keep IEC cable connected, you can turn mains power on and things will keep playing. Only if you turn IEC power off, it will also reset the machine.

Now whether I could hear a difference the moment I switch mains on, I don't think so. But quick switching tends to mess up listening anyway. Certainly there isn't any immediately obvious difference to me, perhaps Wyrd supplying clean USB power helps.

And yes there's zero whining from my psu when USB powered, so I guess those circuits are bypassed. Perhaps should ask Mutec to clarify if there's any actual measurable difference etc between the powering options. Surely there must be a reason it's not completely USB powered.

 

Wait wait... seriously interested in this. Yes, all I wanna do is convert usb to spdif\aes.
Would you mind to elaborate a little more about similarities and differences beetween the two?
Clarity, tone, soundstage, details, dynamic and every feeling that comes to your mind.
This is the first time I read someone has the two interfaces side by side, I was led to think they were on a complete different level. Thank you!
Also some thoughts about the difference beetween the two and your stock onboard usb would be nice.