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USB to SPDIF Reclocking Adapter?


I noticed a Mapleshade device as described above for $189.00 in their latest catalogue.

As "jitter" is often described as the key limitation in PC based audio, I was wondering if this might help me create a very simple PC playback chain?

So far, I have experimented with WAV files ripped from EAC, and played back through Foobar, using USB out to an external DAC.

Thank you,
cwlondon
4est
507 posts
 
The mapleshade is a modified hiFace async usb>spdif adapter. Either it, the hiFace or the Empirical devices would be nice additions to using you ARC via computer. You really cannot go too wrong. Buy one, if you do not like it you are only going to loose $30 or so if you resell it (hiface that is).
tobias
1,534 posts
 
As a side note, I have had a good time recently with a Valab USB-to-S/PDIF converter that sells for about $60 on eBay. Using it, I discovered that a good USB cable makes a worthwhile difference.
4est
507 posts
 
The Valab is not know for having the best USB input. I'd imagine that their USB>spdif would be the same...
panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
559 posts
 

Jitter is the variation in arrival time of data. In non-packet based digital systems, there is a similar phenomenon known as 'ragged edge triggers'. In a 16 bit system, all bits have to fire (trigger) within a very short window. Chips are rated in part for speed based largely on how narrow that window is. How long it takes that bit to rise from nominal 0 to nominal 1 is the rise time. Chips with large variations in trigger and rise time are considered 'ragged' and only suitable for slow and undemanding applications. Not surprisingly, cheap chips tend towards 'ragged'. G

 

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