Lynx PCIe AES interfaces: AES16 and E22

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Sep 8, 2016.

  1. MellowVelo

    MellowVelo Friend

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    I've been looking into this as well. What chassis are you using?
     
  2. gurubhai

    gurubhai Friend

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    So, your DAC doesn't already have a transformer coupled galvanically isolated spdif input ?
    Even my ancient DAC has one, what kind of cheap ass schiit are you running ? :p
     
  3. 3X0

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    Oh damn, 60% of the price of the Rednet 3 without all the gratuitous channels and ugly chassis.

    I'm more interested in this than the Focusrite.
     
  4. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Brian: go the PC case mod route. How much voltage is supplied to the fan? Use a hole saw and a drill, mount a silent 120mm on there and call it a day. Bonus points if the current fan is only getting 5V and you can find a fan that starts up and runs ultra low RPM with that voltage.

    Edit: also, the salamander archetype! Our systems are converging.
     
  5. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Audirvana bypasses CoreAudio so sample rates are changed automatically, but do you know if other media players, such as VLC specifically (DVD, Blu Ray playback) will also automagically change the sample rate when outputting to the E22? The alternative being manually changing it via 'Audio Midi Setup' app.
     
  6. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Let the USB purging begin!

    I wonder how well the transformer for AES->BNC would isolate the noise from my PC. I dunno if it's my new GPU or what, but any audio-related gear I use with my PC now measures with a shit ton of noise compared to what it used to. Oh well, separate Chi-Fi transport box does the trick for me. When you hear "it," whether using a good CD player or other method of non-USB transport, it's almost spooky good compared to what you're used to.

    This is really great news for those that feel tied to their PCs for their rigs and don't necessarily want to screw around or take up all their desk space with a RedNet, even if it might end up sounding better. Disclaimer, only if you're at that level of having good enough gear, settled in with that, and just can't find it in your heart to buy Legos instead of audio gear.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I was messing around. 99% of coax or AES implementations use transformers at the receivers and transmitters. I simply needed an AES to BNC adapter, which have different characteristic impedances. I took the transformer route instead of mess-of-resistors-route to do the impedance conversion.

    Some hidden costs with this. It appears that we need PoE switch or 24V power supply. Also might need to buy software that turns local Ethernet in a Dante virtual soundcard. On the other hand, has AES outputs, which would require RedNet D16.
     
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Ah, duh, you're right. Point still stands my PC is noisy as hell. But I would happily try one if lended to see if it still worked well!
     
  9. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Proly uglier chassis, but 65% the price of a Attero Tech unDAES-0 (Dante to AES) - and may not need to buy the wall wart separately for another $100:

    https://us.focusrite.com/ethernet-audio-interfaces/rednet-am2

    And it sports a quick and dirty headphone amp... which one can completely neglect of course.

    EDIT: Shit. Those are just balanced line outs it seems (more like pre-outs given the independent volume knob). Not AES. NVM, carry on.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2016
  10. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Which external chassis are you using? I'm pretty sure this is something I want to do.
     
  11. 3X0

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    Yeah, seems the required software they point to is $30.

    https://www.audinate.com/products/software/dante-virtual-soundcard

    Might be able to get away with a complete solution for about $50 on top? Still much more interesting than the RN3 I think.

    Yeah, finding Dante->AES is the hard part. Wouldn't mind a cheaper solution than any of these.
     
  12. bazelio

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    The case takes 12VDC in, so it's likely the fan runs on 12V. Not sure. Also the case is too small for a 120mm to fit in there. A different case like the Helios with its different form factor might fight a 120mm fan, but I don't know.

    I think the purpose of the fan is to provide cooling for big boi graphics cards. These little wimpy sound cards spec'd at 500 mA max, are probably OK to survive without active cooling.... is my *guess*. I think a few extra vent holes are still a good idea, though.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2016
  13. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I agree...kill the fan. I can't see that card breaking a sweat with some ventilation. I may be wrong, but that's what my gut says.
     
  14. Clemmaster

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    I disconnected the fan and the AES16e didn't break a sweat. I don't expect the E22 to be any different.

    If you want to go further and totally isolate the Akitio from the Mac, use a Corning Fiber cable.

    In the end, the Rednet 3 was more convenient and sounded better to me.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    What is your chain. Were you running a reclocker after the RedNet when you compared against Lynx E22 / AES16? What DAC? Yggdrasil?
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2016
  16. Clemmaster

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    It was Mac mini -> thunderbolt NIC -> Bluejeans CAT6a -> Rednet 3 -> AES snake -> Theta DSPro Basic IIIa -> Liquid Carbon/F6 -> EdX/HE-6

    No reclocker anywhere.
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Interested in this, but I am wondering if there are any other differences between the Attero and Focusrite. Any design elements that lower jitter, noise, etc. I know that Lynx has concentrated on a lot of measurement type stuff with expensive jitter measurer instruments on their designs. (One of the members here worked at Lynx).

    Also the D16 is a semi-known quantity with several including myself having heard it on familiar chains, albeit with a reclocker and master clock, and some others vying for it. I have no idea on the Attero. I want to make sure the Attero stuff isn't designed in China, marketed by US Chi-Fi deal.
     
  18. Clemmaster

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    Who knows if the Rednet sound so good because of Dante or because they have an advanced clock management (JetPLL), which the AtteroTech doesn't have.
     
  19. Clemmaster

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    @schiit : WE NEED YOU TO MAKE A AES-67 CARD FOR THE JOT!

    Sorry, I didn't mean to shout. Or did I? :rolleyes:
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    What kind of sucks about the Dante Virtual Soundcard is that we can't bind it to a wireless network adapter. Was thinking it would be a cool idea for wireless: using an un-tethered laptop as a source.
     

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