Help me build a fine PC sound system

Thanks for the heads-up on HDTracks. I got Ray's Genius and it sounds mighty good at 16/44, so can only imagine what the Hi res would be like.

Two of the Lynxes are included in the TAS review. Your less costly AES 16 was cited as having the better SQ.

But since you're feeding into a Bel Canto DAC 3, I'm wondering how your PC Board > AES/EBU > DAC 3 pathway compares to using one of the now ubiquitous USB converters, such as Bel Canto USBLink, M2Tech, etc.

Sandstone
Sorry I’m so late with a follow up here… been really busy fortifying the hacienda…. And I’ve had yet a couple more attempts by ???? to get in here. Amazing. That’s all about to come to a screeching halt… I assure you. Can you say 930 SPX 8 round semi auto 12 ga.?

I just read that TAS article myself. Fella was using a Bryston DAC, right? Woulnd up liking the less expensive PCI card than the AES 16….

Too bad he didn’t try the PCI Express card.

I use an AES 16 E. PCI Express… bigger… uses less memory and CPU resources… and costs a bit more. From what I’ve read, the Express has a bit more liveliness to it than does the AES std card.

I’ve tried a few of those same reviewed cards in my past. Wrote about some right here too in reviews section.

I’ve tried a few of the converters. USB to SPDIF or USB to BNC… they’re ok.. but IMHO, if you want to lessen jitter…. Improve performance… and increase resolution and detail in order to gain greater presence and get closer to the recordings attributes I’d say decreasing the juncture thru which the signal travels is key.

Take the signal off the bus, not off the USB. USB buses share thruput and chatter from mouse, keyboard, maybe even the PC’s speakers? It’s a minor item but I just prefer not to use the USB interface… for now.

The interface then, is as important too. Following that, the cabling sets the stage or IMO allows the stage to be set best.

I tend to believe too, there exists some synergy between the PCI/USB card or USB converter and the DAC ‘du Jour’. Naturally, it always goes without saying around here or anywhere else, and the ears of the listener and their preffs determine if a thing gets a nod or a shake. I don’t doubt the reviewers setup favored the combo of that particular card and his Bryston DAC. Not at all. My ears, rig, and so forth favorver the lynx + Bel Canto DAC 3. Sooo?

I’m a front to back (SOURCE FIRST) guy way more so than a back to front (SPEAKERS FIRST) guy.

THE SIGNALS INAUGURAL exposure or introduction into the system IMO needs be as pure and unadulterated as is possible. That’s why we use lossless conversion and secure rips. And why we should be placing high priorities on the Media Player too!

My problem, is I can not afford the setups that use exclusively one interface dedicated and highly optimized like Wavelengths, or Weiss’…. Or for that matter, Imperical Audio’s tact on personal confuser audio…. And now as we jot down new posts, PS Audio is getting into the mix…. Deeper and agressively.

A while back at least one audiophile had said he felt the PSA Bridge was better than his DCS outfit that cost many times the PS Audio Bridge setup in the confines of his system.

I’ve got the SACD of Ray Charles’ “Genius Loves Company”, and as well the Ray sings & Basie Swings ripped to FLAC off the CD from Concord. I might just do the HD download of it too… so I can have a playlist with better consistency in the fidelity department…. Or at least less disparity.

But as I said it is curious that HDTracks is yielding 24/88 & 24/96 offerings of those concord remixes not long after Concord releases them on CD.

Now… when HDTracks posts up Little Feat’ “Waiting for Columbus” now… that one I’lll re-buy… probably till God comes or I’ go to meet Him.

According to what I saw the other day on the DVD Extractor web site… a Blu Ray version is upcoming. Now that will stay on my short list till it is released. Talk about direcrt High res! Ripping BR tracks will be outstandingly easy.

"I’ve tried a few of the converters. USB to SPDIF or USB to BNC… they’re ok.. but IMHO, if you want to lessen jitter…. Improve performance… and increase resolution and detail in order to gain greater presence and get closer to the recordings attributes I’d say decreasing the juncture thru which the signal travels is key.
Take the signal off the bus, not off the USB. USB buses share thruput and chatter from mouse, keyboard, maybe even the PC’s speakers? It’s a minor item but I just prefer not to use the USB interface… for now."

I doubt if you have used a decent async USB converter with a good clock. This makes all the difference. Some of these have won Golden Ear awards, as well as taking best of show at RMAF. It's like trying a few cheap phono stylus and concluding that vinyl is a lost cause. Just more misinformation being broadcast on the web IMO.

Also, I dont understand your comment about my "confusing products", and the name is Empirical Audio, not Imperical. I make USB DACs and USB converters just like other companies. I offer upgrade clocks unlike other companies. Why is this confusing????

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I just made some sweet changes on my PC rig. I just ordered the ESI Juli@ but, in the interim... I reinstalled the Sigma Tel Audio which is on the motherboard. I never knew it was capable of 192/24. I got rid of the MAudio firewire/spdif converter and replaced the MF XDac V3 with a Benchmark Dac. The benchmark is driven directly off the board via spdif. I must say, the improvement in sound is excellent. I am enjoying some nice hires recordings. (The Maudio maxed at 96k). I should have the Juli@ by the end of the week.

I know there are people who think usb audio has its limitations ,but there are no such limitations of USB interfaces. I have owned the m2tech hiface & evo & few other reclockers like the monarchy dip & was never happy until i bought the empirical audio offramp4. It was the last piece of gear i tried because of me being cheap, well my mom use to say buy cheap get cheap & thats the sound i got until i bought the empirical audio offramp4. You will never know the true sound of the rest of your components until you get the best possible source. I run a mac mini
into the offramp4 via usb & run spdif out of the offramp into the wyred4sound dac2 & am simply amazed & neither dac nor the offramp are even broken in!