Does this dac exist?

Bryon,

I don't know whether I2S has the potential to sound better than asynchronous USB, but I suspect that the answer is: maybe.

1. Again, you always need an audio device somewhere on the line (Ethernet, USB, Firewire, PCI) to convert your audio files to I2S. There is no such thing as direct I2S from computer.

2. Why Ethernet? My understanding is that latency is much higher than USB and Firewire.

3. You can get I2S from any PCI audio card and some USB converters.

4. As already suggested, try the M2tech EVO I2S out connected to a DAC with I2S input.

5. There are 3 major audio data formats that DAC chips take. I2S is one of them, but not my favorite.

Best,
Alex Peychev

Bryon - I2S does not come direct from any computer. Nor is it related to Ethernet. Empirical Audio, as well as Northstar and Ayon use RJ-45 connector for I2S. Has nothing to do with Ethernet. Just using the connector.

Likewise, PSAudio uses HDMI connector for their "differential" I2S. Has nothing to do with HDMI spec. They are just using the connector.

I2S will generally deliver the lowest jitter to most D/A chips because this is their native interface, however an async reclocked USB interface driving I2S to a D/A chip in a DAC is about as good as you can get. This is assuming that the clock used for the USB interface is very low jitter, and the design and implementation is executed well.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Alex - I am interested in a dac that connects to the computer via ethernet so that (a) the data delivered to the dac can be error corrected; and (b) the computer can be placed at a significant distance from the dac (30 feet+).

Steve - Thank you for clearing up something that was confusing me -- I was under the impression that I2S and ethernet were somehow related. From your post, and from more reading, I see that they are not. So really what I'm looking for is a dac/computer interface that...

(1) ...is very low in jitter.

(2) ...allows the dac to communicate with the computer such that the data delivered to the dac is error corrected (as ethernet can, as I understand it).

(3) ...allows the computer to be placed far away from the dac (30 feet+).

(4) ...allows for the use of software, like Amarra or Pure music, that is not proprietary to the dac.

I don't know if such a thing exists, or could possibly exist, which is the reason for the OP.

Thanks for you help.

Bryon

Bryon - the problem is that Microsoft and Apple have not yet put any audio streaming software out that interfaces with networking. This may never happen, but we hope it will. This is the only thing that will enable third-party software packages like Amarra to work with a networked DAC.

Until this happens, you are stuck with custom software for each networked implementation, such as Sonos or Squeezecenter etc..

If you are needing 30 feet, you can actually use a USB cable. There is a special build for this length. You can also split the cable length between the I2S and the USB cables, but I would not recommend making the I2S cable longer than 2 meters. It has to carry signals to almost 50MHz.

It is really more important that you like the sound of the particular DAC. Trying to buy components based on specs or what chip is used never works IME. You should definitely go for an adaptive USB interface with low-jitter clocks however. There will be one compatible with PSAudio I2S soon.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Steve - Thanks for the explanation and the advice. FWIW, I agree with you that a person should not choose a dac based on specs or chips.

What I am trying to do is maximize SQ (low jitter, error correction), flexibility (distance of computer to dac), and functionality (compatibility with Amarra/Pure Music). The thing I am most willing to give up is the long distance of the computer to the dac.

A few questions for you, Steve:

1. Can the EA Overdrive dac be controlled with Amarra or Pure Music when using the async USB input?

2. Does the Overdrive require drivers with a Mac, or is it like the Pace Car in that you plug it in and it automatically shows up in Preferences>Sound>Output?

3. Is the Overdrive compatible with Mac's "aggregate device" function, so that the outputs of a software-based crossover can be sent to two different dacs simultaneously?

Thanks,
Bryon