USB Nervosa Thread Decrapifiers, pro interfaces, and bears oh my

Was still debating between a BDP-103 or jumping into the Lynx PCI-E pool, but I think I'll wait to try out the upcoming Oppo UDP-203 which hopefully retains the $499 price. A good disc spinner and decent media player combo (at par or better than Pi) will complete my setup. #noUSB

(I know, hashtags used outside of Twitter, so lame )

 

Interesting! Didn't know the RME had Linux drivers. I have the day off today, think I'll try setting up a dual boot with daphile myself.

 

I just ordered a Juli@. Thinking inside the box... like the old days. No conversion, no digital out to anything... analogue out to my amp. I'm taking ten years off my life, and I hope my fading good looks improve accordingly.

Assuming it doesn't sound horrible, it's, USB: bye-bye from me!

 

On further listening to the Singxer F-1, I will say this, it sounds better than usb on other dacs I've used in terms of noise. I'm still not sure if this is actually better or just in my head better. However I'm almost leaning toward getting one just for meets, if nothing else it's certainly no worse than my essence ST SPDIF out, and that would be helpful off my laptop.

I'm just using a generic usb cable and a BJC 75ohm coax.

Also I don't like this thing because this almost makes me believe that you all aren't totally insane. Still this is very last few percent stuff, to me.

 

As long as were on the topic of decrapifiers, has anyone used a Shiit Wyrd as a stand alone linear power supply? I'm thinking of powering a Raspberry Pi at 5v by buying or making a frankenstein cable USB directly out of the Wyrd, and a micro USB to the Pi. Any thoughts?

 

Anyone with experience with music streamers such as the Melco N1A? A friend of mine has one and claims it made improvements to his Lampi Lite 7. While I'm sure the USB output on the Melco is better than from his MBP, it's still USB after all. These streamers cost so much money relative to something like the Lynx or Rednet.

 

Totally missed this, thanks for the heads up. As a 103 owner, and owner of a 1080p plasma I will not be upgrading for some years to come, I'll probably sit this one out. But the upgrader in me wants it real bad. But the 103 can rip SACDs now as well as play them back, so that is quite a value-added feature for me. And no details yet on HEVC/h265 support (i'm sure it will be there, and upgraded over time, but it's a big deal). Also no visible HDMI inputs. The 103 had two which is really cool and has let it replace a receiver in my home setup. Decisions decisions. Regarding audio disc spinning, you should be good but if you have (or desire) SACDs you should make sure they're still including it, and still supporting DSD output (if you care about that).

 

I'd be weary that the Wyrd wouldn't be able to provide enough current at times. While the rPi3 usually idles in the 100-400ma range, it can draw 800ma or over during certain bursts of processing (e.g. during boot-up). The wyrd is spec'd for USB (I.e. ~500ma or less).

These currents also assume that you have no peripherals plugged in. A USB peripheral could use up to 500ma each...

 

FWIW I just tried powering my Raspberry Pi2 + SPD2 hat via the USB out of a Wyrd.

It's amazing! It boots up 1.7x faster!! The colors are 317% more vivid!!!

Just kidding.

The Wyrd powers things just fine. Nothing blew up. I'll leave it running and playing tunes for a while to see if there are any deleterious effects, but as far as I can tell it sounds great, just like the SMPS did.

 

Guys, you've all been doing it wrong.
https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,112803

 

It was kind-of funny that, after a GUTBing session, I felt I needed a dose of hydrogen audio, and that was the thread I hit.

 

My exact conclusions but don't think it's just a placebo. After about 400 hours then switching back and forth from usb to the F1, there is definitely a difference. But yeah.. last few percent.

 

Someone on SHF used a Hydrogen Audio thread about R2R vs. D/S to "prove" that D/S was superior to R2R. Most of the thread revolved around a guy saying the only reason he would ever use an external DAC at all is because his onboard headphone jack emitted audible noise. A circle jerk of superiority.

 

Just like @phillipmorgan, I powered up the Raspberry Pi with the Wyrd. I'm running a simple Pi hat Digi+>Gungnir Multibit>mojo, I'm not sure what the total current draw is, but it boots up with no problem. Can I hear an audible difference using the Pi as a Roon bridge? Nope. Nice repurpose of the Wyrd though.

 

Hi

After reading much information on here and on the other website, I have been experimenting with different methods of feeding my Modi Multibit from my Linux PC.

Originally, I was using a QED USB cable. I changed this to a Supra USB cable and this made things clearer. Next, I added an Elfidelity AXF-100 PRO III internal USB Power Filter. This made the sound further clearer and better defined. The difference between the two USB cables was smaller with the power filter than without.

I compared the Elfidelity + Supra USB to Toslink from the motherboard, I could not hear any difference.

After reading about the Lynx and RME cards on this forum, I decided to try a Xonar Essence STX II with TCXO clock source. This gave a further improvement, the instruments were better defined and the sound stage became more three dimensional. The effect is subtle and dependent on the music.

I was wondering how the Xonar Essence STX II compares to a professional sound card such as the Lynx E22 or RME HDSP 9632 / HDSPe AIO using S/PDIF out? I don't believe the Lynx has a driver for Linux nor Toslink output. The RME, however, has Linux drivers and Toslink output without requiring a breakout cable. I imagine difference between the cards would come down to the quality of the power filtering, the accuracy of the clock, and the quality of the optical output transmitter? Does anyone have experience of the STX II versus a professional card? Or perhaps could offer a technical critique / opinion of the STX II ?

There is also the Cantatis Overture, which is quoted as having jitter less than 75pS, http://www.cantatis.co.uk/index.php?pag=cms&id=129&p=overture.html .

The Toslink cable I am using is an Ixos XHD308. i am using the mini-Toslink adapter that comes with the STX II - would this have a detrimental effect on the light transmission (and therefore sound quality)? I was considering the Lifatec glass cable, but this would be expensive with import taxes.

Many thanks

 

@ultrabike - Lynx Hilo getting Dante

http://www.proaudiola.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=LYNX-HILO-DT-SILVER

 

Dante enabled Schiit would really be superlative. Guess AES is the preferred input for Schiit now, if not it's gonna be a high quality toslink cable

 

In my experience, yes, the adapters do muck up the sq with toslink. You should be able to source a decent toslink to mini in the EU. And it should not be too costly.

 

103D / 1080p plasma owner here too. I found the Trusted Reviews UDP-203 preview more helpful. HDMI 2.0 input confirmed (see picture of player rear). Oppo is also doing away with the built-in video streaming functionality. See id. ("The only snag is that the UDP-203 doesn’t offer any video streaming from services such as Amazon or Netflix."). AppleTV or similar via HDMI input seems the way to go for that functionality now. Oppo doesn't list the OEM Roku sticks on its website anymore... Forgot to buy one last year.

As @Azteca hinted at, the downside is that SACD/Blu-ray disc players are difficult to pair with external DACs when using the player's coaxial/optical output playback due to copyright restrictions. SACDs are unplayable and certain audio tracks on movie discs are limited to lower resolution versions. I've outlined these issues and potential solutions here: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sacd-players.1267/#post-40046. With all the hubbub lately on SBAF around reclockers, #noUSB, etc., I'm surprised people, especially those with living room / HT rigs, aren't looking at the Oppo 103/D with an Audiopraise Vanity HD board. I use this combo to great effect (see choice #1, option 1 in previous link).

Schiit DACs do not respond well to HDMI de-embedders, so using a 103/D with the Audiopraise board is the only way I could get two-channel, 24/192 PCM (including high-quality DSD-to-PCM conversion at up to 24/176.4) from any disc/file to my Yggdrasil via coaxial cable in my living room stereo/headphone rig. With the 103D's built-in stereo downmix (for non-2.0 tracks), this has worked seamlessly. For those more into multi-channel HT than I, one could use a 103/D and Audiopraise board together with up to four external stereo DACs for up to 7.1 HT. It's a really cool product.

The Audiopraise board is effective at what it does, as partially shown by the measurements below from the Oppo's built-in coaxial output compared to the Vanity's transformer-coupled, reclocked coaxial output:

Oppo:



Audiopraise Vanity:



I imagine Audiopraise will develop a Vanity card sometime next year that is compatible with the UDP-203.