Amarra for iTunes at RMAF...

Hi Dan (Drubin). I have continued to read your posts, even though I stopped contributing here a long time ago. I guess I am back, particularly to discuss computer audio, which interests me a lot these days - and active open baffle speakers.

Chadeffect, I had a quick look at devices that would convert Firewire to AES/EBU and found the Weiss too pricey to consider. At the other end of the spectrum I can see affordable units like M-Audio. Is there a middle ground worth considering? But maybe I should keep my eye out for a DCS DAC. My assumption is that a Delius with Firewire. Is there anything I should look out when for buying one on Audiogon?

Hi Antipodes_audio,

I think you have to be careful here. Remember that DCS dont have firewire as I believe you are thinking of it. The firewire on DCS devices is a DSD connection, not a computer connection. Therefor you still need an interface for your computer ( Although try your computers digital output. It may surprise you). The DCS ring DAC will make the best of it. If you cannot stand the sound of the computers built in digital output, or it doesnt have one, then a soundcard of some sort is needed.

You must remember that the Weiss is both an interface and a DAC. So if you went for a DAC2, that would be all you need. So in that light not a bad price, plus Amarra of course.

There is a version of the Weiss AFI 1 (digital output only), but aimed at a AES/EBU stereo output, as opposed to 8 AES/EBU outs or more, which will be much cheaper. I guess around $500. I am sure it will be just the ticket. Not sure when it is out though and you still need a DAC and cables.

If you want to go for Pro/semi Pro soundcards, life gets a little complicated. There are many, and all have specs that may be useless to you, like mic preamps, multiple ins and outs and so on. Also a lot of the new Rack mounted equipment uses space saving TRS balanced sockets (Large stereo headphone jack plug used as balanced mono), or D connectors with multiple outputs.

You are probably capable of making your own cables(!) so in that case RME are good. There is a PCIe card too, the HDSPeAES, but it is 16in/16out 192k with word clock in/out. Good though. I dont know of a card with just a single AES/EBU. The Lynx 2 is good too.

It is very hard to recommend you something as I dont know your set up, or exactly what you need, ie Volume control etc, but I suspect Weiss is the best simple option. Otherwise you get into a soundcard plus a DAC etc.

I am not a fan of M-audio. I have had some problems with them, but one of my friends has the cheap firewire soundcard and it is ok at less than $100. Not Highend though.

There are also a number of budget pro audio devices you can use as Firewire to SPDIF converters, such as the Focusrite Saffire and the TC Electronic Konnekt 8, both of which can be had for around $300. The new Weiss converter, the INT202, is expected to cost >$1000, which still makes it a lot less than their Vesta, which is a product whose price makes no sense to me at all.

If you have a computer that can accommodate a PCI card, the Lynx is supposed to be a great way to go, as Chadeffect says. You go straight from computer to DAC via AES/EBU, without an intermediate device. I'm giving that some serious thought myself, even though it will require me to get a desktop Mac I really don't need want.

Oh, and Mark, you should be sure to visit the forums at Computer Audiophile, if you haven't already.

As a Windows software engineer for some 15 years now (independent consultant) I agree with Antipodes_audio. Windows has it's place, but OSX is a unix platform...read 40+ years of ongoing development. Unix in any flavor is inherently more stable and manages memory FAR FAR BETTER (and I would know) than Windows. I like Windows (heck, I make a living with it) but would I ever let it serve up my music ? AH! noway. It simply does not (fact not opinion) manage memory or the processor as well as OSX and every developer knows this. I write for both platforms .NET for Win and Objective C for iPhone apps/OSX. Bits are not just bits when you are dealing with irq's, threading stacks time-slices and the such. Again, I make a living with Windows dev, but I will tell you right now, if it came to a mission critical system...Ah Chuck I'll take the Unix based system for $200.00. I am always amazed when folks attempt to make Windows look as stable or handle memory or the processor (multi-cores) as well as OSX.

Not trying to start anything just saying that as an informed developer on how the internals of both work..., well I think you get it.