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USB Audio Output Recommendations? Questions...

Now that I'm actually ripping all my CDs to hard drive in uncompressed format, I'm looking into USB audio outputs again... One thing I can't figure out is whether the 24/96 USB devices are USB 2.0 or USB 1.1--I think someone implied in a prior thread you really need USB 2.0 to do 96 kHz sampling. Any ideas?

Right now I'm using an Edirol UA-1D hanging off an WinXP Pro box and running coax to a Theta IIIA DAC. From there, it goes to an ARC LS16 to a pair of ARC D240IIs to a pair of ProAc RS2s. Doesn't sound bad at all, but I wonder what sonic benefits I get by going to 96 kHz sampling... The UA-1D, to my knowledge, only does 24 kHz.

Which brings me to my questions. How do you get playback of WAV files at 96 kHz sampling? I'm using MusicMatch for playback, but just for it's organizational features. Can 96 kHz playback be enabled in that? Should I switch to foobar or something else?

Anyone compared the Edirol UA-5 with the Waveterminal U24 or the M-Audio Audiophile? Anything else that should be on the list?

Thanks for any input.
edesilva
edesilva OP
768 posts
 
Thanks for all the good input... Anyone have any feedback on the various devices out there--Edirol/Waveterminal/M-Audio? I don't like the transit b/c it doesn't have coax out.

Also, in terms of computer interface issues, if I'm running the hard drives off USB 2.0, should I stay away from a USB audio interface and use firewire instead?
rives
953 posts
 
We use (and sell) the waveterminal U24 for our acoustical test kits. I use one at my desk and have it connected to a pair of Stax headphones. It's really excellent sound--but it is a very "matter of fact" kind of sound. I wish I had the tube amp for my Stax--that would sound a great deal better.
awagner2957
1 posts
 

I seem to have awful luck with USB audio devices. I've gone through an iMic and an Edirol UA-1X and they have both functioned properly for less than a year, if that.

I think my next attempt to upgrade my computer audio system will be with S/PDIF and an external DAC or AV reciever. Or maybe I just need to throw more money and get a firewire based adapter...
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