My First USB DAC Sounds Dull, Please Help

I also have this DAC (non-USB version) and it is one of the better DAC's for the money. May sound better after some break-in time. Others have reported improved performance when connected to a "USB converter" such as the Trends UD-10, rather than directly via USB. Also, different tubes will affect the sound...detail, smoothness, etc.

Steve, this DAC uses one of the CM-1xx chips, which I believe are worse than the popular TI PCM270X chips. Don't recall which one maybe 108? The orginal Paradisea USB used the CM-102.

I almost purchased the DAC in question (paradisea+) and did very much research on it. I have read several threads on different sites and there are many happy campers using this DAC. In fact i haven't read anything negative anywhere about it. This being said i believe you have problems elsewhere and if not then you have a faulty DAC. I would look into what Mglik has suggested here. I know it took me awhile to get the PC sound i was looking for and the correct drivers installed. Also had to learn how to bypass the "Kmixer" etc. This information can be found in these forums. good luck

By the way, i am using JRiver MJ12(free) and it is fantastic. I found this to be far superior sounding then the WMP9 i was using prior. Lots of positive feedback on that program as well.

Before jumping to conclusions on the DAC or cables etc… I highly suggest backing up a few steps, first off get a hold of (unless you have already in the house) a basic DVD player or CD player with a digital out, coax or toslink, If the DAC has one of these inputs test it out, or is it USB only? If so this will not be testable as most disc transports probably don't have a usb out, but anyway simply run the old fashioned way with an optical Disc transport playing a few of your CD's and see if its just an inherited problem of a "Rolled off:" Dac sound or simply the files on the pc your playing…

If its better than its obvious and very possible an optical disc transport is still superior in your case for the time being.. Other than that if it is a Tube DAC I can tell you most newer especially cheap taiwan type components today come with really flat and steril sounding Tubes, you may want to just make a small investment in a better tube for the unit as an experiment before spending more on another dac and hoping it solves the issue… Good luck

Good idea Undertow

Thanks guys for all your inputs.

All my files are in wav format, and I believe I did by-pass the Kmix (I selected the "bypassing Windows kernel mixer" option on the output preferences page). But, I could be wrong. Also, the sound quality was equally terrible with both Windows Player and Foobar.

I would suspect, as you guys have pointed out, that it could be the USB interface on the Laptop. I am going to test the DAC as per Ejlif's suggestion. Unfortunately, I am away on a business trip until December.

But, I will keep you posted.

Thanks
Tasi