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where next to go?

Loosing track now of how long I've been dabbling with computer audio... something like 12-18 months of constant experimentation and tweaking. Many problems solved but one problem just doesn't seem to resolve; to wit, the human voice on many recordings sounds grainy/raspy, like an old black and white photograph shot with fast film at the compromise of fine detail. My LP's still best digital side by side where singing comes into play.

So my question; given that this is a digital only problem in a system where PC audio betters digital disc, has anyone else experienced/resolved this with upgrading their D-A chain? Trying to decide what should I target next.. the async USB converter or the DAC?

Current D-A chain
Vlink Async USB converter (96khz version)
PS Audio Dlink III

Using JRiver player with JPlay add on (JPlay actually works!!)
PC built from scratch as music server.
All uncompressed wav files for playback.
128x128davide256
edorr
714 posts
 
Feeding SACD to the DlinkIII is probably DSD converted to 88/14 PCM. This is obviously not apples to apples with your Vlink source. Try playing a redbook CD with the Sony and see of voices are OK.
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
398 posts
 
I believe the blue ray player downsamples SACD to 48khz/24 bit for coax out. Since I have 96khz/24bit hd recordings, these should sound better, but they don't in that narrow arena of the human voice when comparing Sony blue ray into the Dlink III vs. PC and Vlink into the Dlink III. And since the Vlink I have only does 96khz, its easy to get motivated to buy a better converter that does 192khz... Jplay bombs when I hit the few recordings I have at higher bit rate than the Vlink supports, can't downsample.
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
398 posts
 
ok, did a little more testing just to be sure. resurrected the idle Asus Essence STX card I have and set it up for A/B comparison to the Vlink for coax digital. Before Jplay the Vlink clobbered the Essence for more life like reproduction. With Jplay the Essence digital out is sweet and life like, better bass than the Vlink and most of the fatigue causing edge on upper register voices is gone. So I've pulled the trigger and ordered the JK MKIII with every hope that will put to rest for the present my PC digital to DAC aggravations.
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
398 posts
 
The JK MKIII arrived yesterday, immediate success. Tight low bass wth substance, authority on details and pitch.
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