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  3. 1088427969

Audiophile USB to PCM

I have an excellent upsampler and dac (dCS Purcell/Delius) and am looking for the very best USB to PCM conversion. So far, I've tried SlimDevices Squeezebox, and Xitel Pro Hi-Fi link.

Both are very good, but I was wondering if there are any other options I should be considering. Both the Sutherland USB Preamp and the Wavelength USB Dac convert to analog. I'd like something of similar quality that stops short of the digital to analog conversion so that I can let the dCS gear do that.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

harry
hbrandt
hbrandt OP
272 posts
 
Rives:
Even though I was an early adopter of TacT.......I'd have to commend you on the Parc. i think it is one of the all around best components to come out in a while. I basically don't let my TacT do anything above 300 Hz. I use it simply to knock out bass modes in my difficult room. And I also don't let it boost anything.....only cut. If the Parc had been around when I got into TacT...i may well have ended up with Parc. And it wouldn't surprise me if there is a Parc and Parc + in my future. I've followed the Parc at CES and HE 2004 and am VERY IMPRESSED.
mschamberlin3865
14 posts
 
Is there a way to bypass the waveterminal piece? Does the Edirol UA-1D work just as well as the waveterminal for digital to digital conversion?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
If you are wanting to go USB to coax S/PDIF, why not just do only that? The M-Audio Transit or the Edirol boards can be modded to give you virtually jitter-free digital out. Either one can also be installed inside a DAC, eliminating the S/PDIF cable.

I use one of these modified converters with my laptop and Foobar for playback. Foobar and the driver work together to upsample to 24/96. If your DAC can handle this, it is significantly better than the best transport on the market, not "just as good". It is even better than using a DAC to do the upsampling. I have compared 16/44.1 .wav playback to iTunes playback (also can do this) and the 24/96 upsampled by the computer. iTunes is definitely better than 44.1 .wav, but the 24/96 is even better. Forget about "bit-perfect" 44.1. Go with the 24/96 or iTunes and make sure that the converter and DAC supports these.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer
mschamberlin3865
14 posts
 
Is there a way to bypass the waveterminal piece? Does the Edirol UA-1D work just as well as the waveterminal for digital to digital conversion?

How does the Apogee mini-dac differ from the waveterminal for the digital to digtal conversion (since the Apogee has a USB in)? Which is better: waveterminal to mini-dac or USB directly to mini-dac?
gonglee3
304 posts
 
Audioengr,

How is transit stock? Pretty good quality?
Why is the mod necessary and how do we do it?

Also, can you explain how to upsample in foobar or itune?

Do they do it automatically, or do we have to do something?

Thanks for the info

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