2. pc-audio
  3. 1295404132

USB reclocker pecking order?

Opinions on what the pecking order, best market options are for USB reclockers to a DAC via fiber optic or coax SPDIF? I've seen comments on the Hi Face (~$180), the Hiface EVO (~$500) and the OffRamp (~$800) Had the MusicStreamer II for a while but as I improved the music server my modded Adcom DAC won out for musical ease.
I've stripped my PC music server into a lean, sweet kernel streaming machine (6.7 on windows user experience rating), but I can still hear edge/grit in the highs on various sound card SPDIF sources from my PC that I don't get direct from CD source.

Is there any clear winner for $500 or less that would make a difference at 48Khz? Or am I possibly picking the wrong priority to resolve?
davide256
larry_s
128 posts
 
Get an async USB DAC and then you don't need reclockers. USB can handle 192Khz easily.
cbw723
89 posts
 
There is a USB to SPDIF converter comparison in a recent issue of Positive Feedback Online. An interesting option is the unit from Audiophilleo, which can be connected directly to your DAC, avoiding the use of a SPDIF cable. (The Halide Bridge does this, too, but you are stuck with the Bridge's built-in USB cable.)

Wavelength also has a converter for $900.
ekwisnek's avatar
ekwisnek
27 posts
 
I think the first question you would have to ask yourself is "How much am I willing to spend?" Relative to the cost of your source material, preamp, amplifier, and speakers, do you really want to spend as much as $895 for something like the Audiophilleo? I am currently using a modified HiFace, into a budget-level Beresford DAC. I'm please with the results and doubt adding a $900 USB/S/PDIF converter would greatly improve the system as a whole. As long as the converter supports up to 24bit/192k resolutions and has independent reclocking circuitry, you should be set. To get any more granular would require a great deal of downstream upgrades for proper upgrade justification.

To more directly address your question, I would say that you are most certainly picking the wrong priority. I say this, of course, without knowledge of your system as a whole.

Evan
cbw723
89 posts
 
It may be that in some particular systems one converter is as good as another, but there is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence that the various converters "sound" different in some reviewers systems.

For the record, the Audiophilleo can be had for $495. It appears to perform identically to the more expensive model, but lacks the display, some options, a Wireworld USB cable, a choice of colors, and a fancy case. I haven't used this product, but it's interesting and I wish there were more reliable reviews of it and other converters head-to-head.
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
405 posts
 
thanks for the responses. I've decided to wait a while to see if HRT chooses to make a BNC/RCA digital out model using the fairly good digital circuitry in their existing Music streamer.
More to discover