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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
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"How is transit stock? Pretty good quality?"

It's only mediocre as all stock equipment is.

"Why is the mod necessary and how do we do it?"

The mod makes it sound good. Add modded Superclock3 and change the circuit to S/PDIF output, improve power delivery/power supply. Not for amateurs.

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

Foobar upsamplers are excellent, particularly SRC, also know as "Secret Rabbit Code". I bundle this with my converters since I have a license to distribute it. You save the .dll file in the "Components" folder of Foobar2000. This is all explained on my website.

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

You have to select resampler in the DSP functions of Foobar2000. They when you play anything, it upsamples to 24/96 or 24/88 (you select) as it streams.

Steve N.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"How about a SPDIF with a Monarchy DIP? I would like to use a DAC soI just need good SPDIF output."

If you are wanting a "good S/PDIF output", this will not get it for you. It just changes the jitter.
melomaniac's avatar
melomaniac
19 posts
 
I have a headroom total bithead right now, which goes out of the USB of any computer (instantly recognized as a destination for sound out in your preferences) and to some ultimate ears or powered monitors. it's more than okay and a huge improvement over the minijack out for the cans. however, I am looking into the apogee mini-dac versus the wavelength brick, for a more permanent setup with a computer that I might leave in my main system. another thing I tried is the new outlaw rr2150 receiver, which is a strong integrated amp that has a USB input. sounds pretty great for the money. any comparisons already made between brick and mini-dac?
pardales
652 posts
 
Can anyone list all or most of the current devices out there that convert USB to S/PDIF for connecting a computer to a DAC?

I am aware of the products by:

Red Wine Audio
Empirical Audio
U24 Waveterminal
M-Audio Transit (modded and unmodded)
Airport Express (modded and unmodded)

Others?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Others:

HagUSB, LessLoss, m-audio audiophile USB

Waveterminal is not current, not manuf. anymore.

Steve N.
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