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Best Digital Input from PC to DAC

I'm currently using a Kimber USB cable from my PC to my DAC to play FLAC files ripped from my cd collection to a hard drive. Although the results are quite good I'm interested in other Goners experience with USB or alternate input choices using a lap top computer for manipulating music streams. I've found that FUBAR and the free ASIO drivers render the best results in play back.
frontier1
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
A low cost option might be iTunes feeding an Apple Express with TOSLINK output connected to a Benchmark DAC1. The DAC1 is not the latest and greatest but has a long reputation at being good at removing bad jitter. Another option would be to get the USB DAC1 version (which is newer and may not be easy to find second hand - also being newer I am not sure if it has an established good track record). An alternative would be the Lavry DA10 which claims to have good jitter rejection (although I have no experience with that one)
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Be careful of those "low-jitter" claims. Even Stereophile made measurements on Squeezebox and Sonos - they were both low according to them (under 500psec), and the Sonos was only slightly worse, and yet the jitter is obvious on both and a LOT worse on the Sonos.

Steve N.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Cerrot - you have not heard every USB converter or DAC, so please reserve judgement. I will put my USB converter up against your Firewire anytime. I'm confident that I would win the shootout.

I realize that you believe your system sounds great etc., but trust me, there are lots of systems out there are are superior. Everyone is at a different level here. It is all relative.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
frontier1 OP
42 posts
 


Thanks for the grate feedback.
I'm using the Emm Labs DAC 2 which has numerous input choices, 1 of which is USB. I find the results to vary significantly from my stand alone single box player. Music files sound Slightly distorted and compressed. I know this DAC is capable of very good audio output.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
If you are using XP, I would recommend unmapping the device. This will make the USB interface sound a bit better. USB interface quality varies a lot from one product to another, so it may stil not be better than the S/PDIF input. Here is how to unmap:

Go to Control Panel - System Hardware - Device Manager - Sound Video and Game Controllers – Empirical 1.1 - Right-Click and select Properties - Audio Devices – Empirical 1.1 - Properties - Set "Do not use audio features" and set "Do not map through this Device"

You will need to reboot and then if you change it back to mapped, then you must re-boot.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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