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Firewire to SPDIF

Does anyone have any view on the superiority to Firewire to USB in terms of conversion to SPDIF.

one negative of USB is that if you are using a SPDIF conversion device then using another device like external HDDs is not recommended. it is also limited to 48/24 ..both unlike Firewire.

the only good device seems to be the Weiss Minerva..but that in the Uber price range for something like this.

Does anyne have any experience with Echo Audio ?
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/FireWire/AudioFire2/specs.php
arj
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Al, I missed your post. A sound card with spdif out would be great. I didn't want to spend the bucks for a top flight sound card (Lynx, etc) so just went the firewire route. I used spdif out which was on my motherboard (SigmaTel) and didn't like it. I'm sure I would love the Lynx spdif out, just, at this point, I'm kind of done opening up my 'puter, configuring sound cards, driver compatability and all those lovely windows issues (I'm not a Mac guy). Just my preference.
rabbani
61 posts
 
Hello Cerrot,
Nice to you see your respond for hi rez download n play back the same though M-audio solo. To be frank I am an audiophiler but new in setting of computer based Transport. Can you pls suggest other than Apple, which company/model (IBM,Hp,del)PC can do/handle hi rez audio files?in my place the apple computers are very expensive also not available all models.

Your info. help lot for me to do the setting the computer based auido transport to my dac.

Thanks in advance.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Rabanni,

I always built my own computers (never was a Mac guy) but got tired of it and purchased a gateway 2 years ago. Went a bit overboard spending $5,000 (it is a screamer) but I do photography so wanted the fastest available (CPU, HD and RAM) so went for the fastest I could find. You don't need to get that crazy. I absolutely HATE HP and most other commercial brands - they think loading up your hard drive with (nonsense) software is good while it only kills your operating system (in speed, boot up, etc)performance. I went with Vista OS. Would probably go windows 7 today. I have had a few Dells and as long as they followed my specs when they were built, I have not had any issues. (I would have gotten a Dell instead of the Gateway but they insisted in selling me a Blu Ray drive, which I did not want--gotta have it my way). I have no experience with IBM. Key is specs, no OEM products, licensed operating system, fast Intel CPU (try to get the latest), I like 10,000 RPM hard drives (in a RAID array suits me) and good ram (CORSAIR, etc). I don't need a good sound card as I use firewire out, so I don't have a spec for that. (I did go with a top shelf graphics card, though, for the photograpy). I'm a little fussy with my puter so I may not be the guy to ask. I'm sure you can get something very suitable for PC audio without spending that much money, in fact, I know you can.
rabbani
61 posts
 
Thanks Cerrot, Noted your detailed reply and can you confirm
whether vista and windows 7 is same?
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I think Vista is a huge improvement over the prior microsoft os. Must cleaner, faster and I have been using for 2 years and have never blue screened - meaning computer got stuck in an application, needed to be rebooted, etc. I have heard from my IT guys that 7 is much better than Vista, but I haven't played with it yet. I wouldn't think that for PC music, there wouldn't be much of a difference as both do not use the windows Kernal (a big no-no in PC audio), but do not know 7 first hand. Years ago I would be the 1st to install 7 but these days, just leave my PC alone as it runs great. I believe the new PC's come with OS 7 and I wouldn't have an issue with it.
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