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Looking for Better Jitter Reduction in a DAC

I'm looking to improve the jitter control in my digital setup, which hopefully will create a more analogue presentation. I own a PS Audio PW Memory Transport, which sports a FPGA, and a Nuwave DSD DAC with a scaled-down version of the gate array.

   I have owned a Chord which uses this technology and it was like listening to analogue recordings. I sold it only because it's soundstage was very forward, like sitting in the front row of a concert hall. My current PS Audio setup has wide and deep imaging, as does my Atma-Sphere preamp.
   I have auditioned the Schiit Grundir and it was a bit too fast in the attack and transients, but had the dynamics and deep imaging that I like. So, I guess what I'm looking for is a unit with a laid-back, realistic musical presentation.

The Mytek Digital Stereo192 DSD and Blue Circle DAC are in my price range, but there is no way to audition them.
  So any recommendation and advice is appreciated. DSD preferred, budget is about $1200 used.


128x128lowrider57
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Ground-loops don't generally cause harshness, only HF background noise.  Some reclockers provide galvanic isolation, so eliminates ground-loop.

Cables make a big difference and you should be using the best I2S or the best S/PDIF you can get, without breaking the bank.

The problem with virtually ALL transports is that the S/PDIF output signal has a fairly long risetime.  This makes it jitter-prone at the receiving DAC, and makes the requirement of at least a 1.5m long cable.

Faster risetime from a computer converter or a reclocker will reduce added jitter, but requires a really good impedance match at driver and receiver and the cable.


Steve N.

Empirical Audio

bruce_philly
31 posts
 
Try this...

https://www.mutec-net.com/product_mc-12.php
https://www.mutec-net.com/product_mc-3-plus-usb.php

These unholy units interconnect anything to everything and have super clocking systems.    I know you say USB is secondary, but these system's drivers ensure bit-for-bit transfer through Windows kernel.

I have the 1.2 on order..... I am connecting an Accuphase DP55v CD player with digital ins to my computer (Foobar, bit-for-bit library from a home server).  I contacted Accuphase a long time ago and they noted their unit does not re-clock the incoming signal so I need one of these.  Long history.... I used an Audio Alchemy DTI Pro 32 for computer to DAC interface but these new Mutec units are far superior in their jitter is lower, connect more things, and pass more sampling rates.

The unit has plenty of in/out options....  It looks like I can use it to A/B tons of grear as a side benefit.

Peace
Bruce in Philly
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
5,417 posts
 
Bruce, the 1.2 looks like a great unit and it's affordable.
The reason I said USB is not a priority is due to the fact that my Mac has some bugs in it and is not running any music player software. It will go into the shop soon. Plus, I would like to get CD running smoothly since I just bought the PSA Perfectwave.
bruce_philly
31 posts
 
Actually, I just purchased the 1.2 from eBay for $190. A great deal IMO.

If anyone cares, I have a few moments to type..... I had an old laptop running Windows XP as my player. This PC sat in my equipment rack and was a real challenge to get bit-for-bit out of it... XP was not that sophisticated and I had to remove some of Microxoft’s kernal programs... anywho.... I took the SPDIF out to an M-Audio converter to optical... then to the Audio Alchemy, then to my Accuphase (Accuphase has both optical and RCA ins). Foobar’s kernal streaming driver worked well. Since the Accuphase is both a DAC and player, I could put a CD in the tray and A/B the exact same bit stream from my computer...... I got it 99% there.... jitter was a big problem so I understand your real needs.

Then I dumped that whole rig and purchased a Benchmark DAC1 with native USB port and one that touted no jitter. Life got way easier.

I was using a pair VTL 300 Deluxe tube monoblock amplifiers and one just died... so I just received my new PrimaLuna HP intetgrated amp.... I chose an integrated so I could hook up more than one source..... so now I could pull out my Accuphase and A/B with the Benchmark... and hook up some old stuff like a tuner etc...

Now I am back to using that Accuphase... it just sounded so much better than that dead sounding Benchmark.... I dumped the Audio Alchemy but could never part with that wonderful Accuphase... now I need something back again with native USB interface with Windows 10 hence the MUTEC (temporarily, I am using the M-Audio Transit product that I will retire.)

An interesting lesson here...... the Benchmark DAC 1 was generations ahead of the Accuphase but it didn’t sound as good. The lesson here is that just because there are newer chips out there does not mean the old stuff sounds worse...... as we old guys know, it is all in the details of implementations and the subtly of designs. The Accuphase used four stereo DACs in some goofy configuration that sounds beautiful.... I have no idea what they were doing but they did it right.

There is more to this story (more like a journey), so some of the equip configurations above may not make sense... lotsa stuff came in and out over the years, but I thought I would share the highlights.

Peace
Bruce in Philly
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Bruce - often older D/A chips sound more musical because of the limited digital filtering and ladder-DACs used etc..  I used to sell a tubeDAC called the Spoiler with ladder DAC in it.  Very musical  The problem with them is that they don't render the HF transients very well and they don't support hi-res.  Need a newer D/A technology for this.  To get the beauty of the older chips and the speed of the newer chips in the same design, it requires a really good designer and implementation, including excellent power delivery.  PD includes power supply, wiring, ground-plane correctness, regulation and decoupling.  All of these are critical, particularly with D/A chips.  Very few designers have a good grip on all of these aspects.


Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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