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

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by zerodeefex, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    I'm not up on the latest-latest, but I don't read that as *is* discontinued, just that it's *likely* to be discontinued ... which may be a distinction without a difference, but there it is.

    I'm waiting for Unison on a DAC I want that's an upgrade to the Modi, and I'm getting a RME in meantime
     
  2. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Who ever heard of the IDEON AUDIO 3R USB RECLOCKER MKII? My friend upgraded his DAC and is no longer needing it. He is allowing me to borrow it for my Ayre Codex. I don't think it'll do much but who knows...
     
  3. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    I have heard of it and it is supposed to be one of the better decrapifiers. Let us know what you hear.
     
  4. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    Today is the day that I was liberated from PC/USB audio.

    I recently found a...well, two really... Oppo BDP-103 CD/Blu-ray players at my University's surplus store. One of them works fine, the other one has messed up video output but the CD player and audio work just fine. The one that works is set up with my TV and speakers. Tonight, I got the one with screwed up video hooked up to my headphone rig (Bifrost Multibit, supermodded Crack, Atticus and HD800) as a coax transport. The Oppo remote app... it's not great, but it works well enough that I can stream FLACs from a thumb drive through the Oppo. Unfortunately it crashes trying to stream over the network, which was my first choice, but it's easy enough to stick a thumb drive in the back of the thing and update the library on it from time to time.

    So how does the Oppo over SPDIF fare versus Bifrost Multibit's USB Gen 5? They are very, very close. I do notice that USB is a hair more rolled off on both ends, and I mean a hair. Snare drums on the first Rage Against the Machine album sounded a hair muffled from USB relative to the Oppo where it sounds like there's nothing at all holding back the snap and kick. Not different enough to lose any sleep over if the Oppo bites the dust tomorrow. I can hardly tell the difference unless I'm listening to really well produced music. But, I'm happy to say that I've finally graduated from PCs and USB (and for free, no less... can't beat that). Going to dust off my six year old tablet to see if it can hold together well enough to be a dedicated music streaming agent.
     
  5. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    super news. be prepared to flunk that so called graduated / Final Exam when future implementations of schiit USB surpass spdif and folks reverting to a simple usb cable is in vogue. (strike a pose)
     
  6. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    Hahahah, I'm so ready for Unison (Unity?). I would love to hear my laptop outdo SPDIF and to clear the space on my desk currently being taken up by a blu ray player. I paid exactly $0 for this Oppo, so if it dies or becomes obsolete, no skin off my back.
     
  7. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    So I used it in my setup. Running with the older Thinkpad X130 that I have laying around running LInux. Every few seconds a "click" noise can be heard when playing random tracks. I changed the USB Cables, no dice. Running bit-perfect from my laptop. Even changed the USB slot on my laptop.

    Did help the sound a bit, but the "click" noise was becoming too annoying for the reclocker to become a benefit.
     
  8. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Oh, no, where do we start. What flavor of Linux, what player, local or network files, any other things being used when trying to play a file ( eg. web surfing), other usb devices, why Linux, etc.

    My years long experiments with Linux and player left a lot to be desired. Things are getting better with Linux appliances now but my failures with it led me to Win.

    There may be problems with player app buffer, driver for the dac, alsa, etc. Is the Linux platform and player stable without the reclocker? You may have to temporarily switch to a Win system to test it and hear what you hear. But this is not too dissimilar to my issues with my Linux implementations and players. Sorry I am not an expert in Linux.
     
  9. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Hahahah it's ok.

    MX Linux, using JRiver only as a DNLA Render (local streaming FLAC via Wi-FI). THe computer is never used for anything else but JRiver always on for streaming.

    Without the reclocker, everything works just fine, which is the funny part if you ask me.
     
  10. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    folks, Gustard U16 or Matrix spdif 2?

    I have sold my Mutec mc3+usb and looking for a cheaper replacement for my Mosaic T DAC. Anyone have experience with both Gustard and Matrix?
     
  11. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    I've recently changed from x-spdif2 to u16. That said, if you don't have a particular design preference, go for matrix.

    Not considering sonic performance (which I couldn't discern well yet), U16 has several issues:

    1. U16 needs to be ac powered. X-spdif2 could run with either usb power or external dc power. Versatility goes to matrix.
    2. On Windows 10, U16 needs a dedicated driver installed. Otherwise, it only accepts 32 bit pcm and operates very unstably.
    3. Even with the most recent driver and firmware, U16 occasionally (once a week on average?) stops and reboots (taking only 1s or so though). I am fine with it but to some it's maybe annoying.
    4. I favor neither DSD nor IIS. But I heard many complaints about DSD via IIS with U16. Non-issue for me but perhaps meaningful decision point. Haven't heard any such thing for x-spdif2.

    Nevertheless I prefer U16 .. because its display, look and buttons are more in line with my taste.
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2019
  12. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    This, especially. Instead of modding an SU-1 for external power with a ghent audio kit and getting a good supply for it, I could have gotten x-SPDIF2 and used usb power and it probably would have been perfectly fine. Can't beat that for versatility/convenience!
     
  13. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    Hi guys. I recently got an Yggdrasil Analog 2 USB Gen 5. I have it for a week now and I find that it sometimes sounds a bit too sharp depending on the music. I'm wondering if I could be happier with the Gungnir Multibit.

    Anyway, I'm thinking of getting better cables for the Yggdrasil and a new transport - Allo DigiOne Signature player with a Shanti Dual Linear Ultra Low Noise PSU for the clean side. The software I use is Volumio. I plan to use the BNC input of the Yggdrasil for that setup.

    As for cables, I think of getting an Belden 1800F with Neutrik XLR interconnect and a Belden 1694A digital BNC cable. These are the same cables that Blue Jeans are selling, but I prefer to buy them from European manufacturers.

    So in short, do you think going from
    Asus Mini PC => Yggdrasil USB Input
    to
    Shanti Dual Linear Ultra Low Noise PSU => Allo DigiOne Signature player => Yggdrasil BNC input
    will be an improvement?

    Mostly, I'm hoping for some extra smoothness and analogue like sound. If that matters, I'm using Violectric V281 amp and a Sennheiser HD800S headphones.

    Thanks.
     
  14. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Have not heard the Digione but was quite impressed with Allo USB bridge, in my mind, worth a try. Since you are in Europe perhaps a cable from a Pro Audio seller using Grimm TPR for your XLR cable. Much better than any BJ cable I have tried or the 1800 F diy cable I made.

    Good luck and let us know how it sounds when you settle on the final config.

    EDIT: Assuming you are listening to the Yggdrasil after it has been on a few days, right?
     
  15. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    The DigiOne solution is a better digital transport and would provide improvements in the sound such as greater clarity, dynamics, contrast and ease. However I am not sure it would solve your ‘sharpness’ problem. I find the Gen5 USB to be slightly fuzzy and blunt sounding with regards to transients versus something like that.

    My suggestion before you spend any more money is to wait for 1 or 2 more weeks and see if the character of the Yggdrasil develops any further. When I had it last it was not fully settled in after a week of being on.
     
  16. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    I had the same experience using Gen 5 USB with Yggdrasil as well. I opted to run my USB streamer through an Eitr, which I found took the etch off the mids and highs, however it also adds a touch of mid bass bloat and dampens transients/dynamics a bit as well. For me, it was a worthwhile trade off to use Eitr however because otherwise fatigue would set in pretty quickly. I suspect a good SPDIF source like the Digione Sig would do much better (and certainly much better than a PC going direct USB into Yggdrasil).

    All that said, I agree with @k4rstar that you should give it more time to fully bake in before taking the next step.
     
  17. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    The Yggdrasil may be settling in -- lots here have reported it takes awhile from new and also must be kept on 24/7.

    With that said, I still think getting a DigiOne Sig is a great piece of kit and will be no doubt an improvement from Gen5 anyways. So whether you decide to keep the Schiit or go with something else, the DigiOne can still be used as a great streamer for any dac out there.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Not sure if Gungnir multibit would be a better solution. It's tonal balance is cooler than Yggdrasil.

    Eitr or good SPDIF solutions can help, but Yggdrasil is still going to sound like Yggdrasil. Continued use or warmup doesn't tone down the highs - it just decongests the bass.

    The V281 is a zippy amp, sharp sounding with HD800S. You might prefer a less incisive, more transient relaxed, denser tone DAC with that combo. Maybe mid to high-end Metrum (since you are in EU)? Denafrips if you are OK with Asia (although their stuff wasn't received well or is poor value / high mass).

    Heck, try Modi Multibit for a darker sound for cheap. I like the MM for brighter chains. Drop RDAC if available.

    EC Designs too (EU), but they only take toslink for input. Vintage Sonic Frontiers (still serviced by pcx in Canada).

    Otherwise I think most other good DACs I can think of are either brighter or more incisive sounding then Yggdrasil.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2019
  19. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    Another good reason to wait is there may be more critical consensus about the new PI2AES which is a bit less expensive than the DigiOne Sig and offers aes output which iirc is the preferred input source on the Yggdrasil.
     
  20. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    for the simple design and overly patient consumer, Schiit Unison USB is the answer.
    albeit with patience tested as we await the death of Windows 7.
     

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