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I am eventually planning to buy an Audio Note DAC which is a no over or upsampling DAC that is not designed for computer media. But hey I like the sound of them and I like the convenience of computers so I need a USB to SPDIF converter to shoehorn the technologies.
I was very highly impressed by their little iPhono (not so little actually) phono stage that for the price was maybe the best I have ever heard.
I've seen some jaw dropping $5k converters and I am looking for something less than 1/10th of that if possible.
The other reason I'm looking at this is because I understand Thorsten Loesch is involved in the design and he seems to have similar beliefs about the use of older school DACs. The 777 CD replay I heard was very very good.
Follow Ups:
I'm using a John Kenny USB to SPDIF converter with an Audio Note 2.1 signature. Works for me.
I bought the iFi iDSD nano last year as a USB DAC for my office system - and I am very pleased with it (it can also work as a portable). Another thing that made it attractive is an SPDIF output so I could try out the digital inputs on my Wadia 830 CDP (they were optional and I didn't want them at the time but my dealer only had models with them fitted). Now, after 17 years (!) I tried out 24/96 through the Wadia for the first time last night using the iDSD and it works!
I'm sure the iLink does the job much better and I will purchase one unless I decide to get a USB DAC for hi-res in the main system and leave the Wadia for CD only.
Regards
13DoW
Thorsten Loesch is involved with iFi product development. Though I'm not yet using computer audio, and haven't heard the iLink, I shoudn't be surprised if it is the best performing solution at the price.The only significantly less expensive high performance solution I can readily think of is the $99 WaveIO module, but it requires mounting inside the DAC's enclosure.
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Ken Newton
If you want a NOS dac that fits into a computer Audio system, try the Wavelength Brick V2 with Outboard Linear Power supply at around $1,000. ONLY PLAYS 44.1/16. Gordon likes bit perfect for music software. These have OPTs in the ouput section.
Edits: 02/12/17
I find it to be too expensive as from what I see it lists at $1,750??
It's just a converter - USB to SPDIF. Absolute quality is not too critical here because the AN isn't really designed for "so-called" high res recordings. At $1750 I would just keep my LM 502CA USB DAC for computer audio and the AN DAC for high quality sounding music (CD).
Dave Cope was using the Musical Fidelity converter which was something like $199. But they no longer make it.
I'll certainly keep an eye out for the Wavelenth but it may be too pricey.
I am presently using the Line Magnetic 502CA DAC - everything sounds better via CD than computer playback. I haven't heard good computer playback by anyone yet - so it's tough to be motivated to drop $1500 plus on anything. I'm barely motivated to spend on the iFi.
Every dollar spent there is a dollar less to be spent elsewhere like a better cartridge or tube.
I'll be attending an audio show in the US later this year and if Wavelength is there I will put them at the top of my audition list because if you stand behind them - I bet they are pretty darn good.
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