Computer Audio Asylum

Posted by bullethead (A) on July 19, 2007 at 10:48:18

Well I recently compared a Musical Fidelity A3 CD Player (used as a transport), a Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX USB 2.0 Soundcard, A Slimdevices Squeezebox v3, and the Trends Audio UD-10 USB digital transport together in a comparison. All four were used in "transport" mode feeding into a Bel Canto DAC2 DAC (still a wonderful product after many years).

Thoughts on the MF A3 CD as a transport. This is what set me into PC audio. Sure I was happy for a couple of years but I kind of new there was another way. I just never tried to get any better. Hence PC audio came to the rescue as a cure for my recent itch. The MF A3 is a good transport but it sounds a bit muddy at times. The bass is loose and the upper frequencies are "smeared" (keep in mind this is comparing spinning disk to harddrive transports as per below).

Thoughts on the Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX USB 2.0. This is what made me look into better USB to Digital out converters. Sound quickly surpassed the CD Transport. More inner detail, lack of loose or "muddy" bass. High frequencies were extended and spacious. Full of air, organic vocal music sounded better, almost "unreal".

Thoughts on the Squeezebox v3 (stock unmodified). Didn't sound better than a PC driven source. The Audigy 2 NX USB sounded better all around, and the MF beat in in body. Sound was good and acceptable, clearly excellent by most standards, but not the best I have heard.

Thoughts on the Trends Audio UD-10. Before serious listening (you'll know why in a second, out of the box using USB power its acceptable but not that good) I put in a 5v digital switching power supply and had that connect up to the Trends UD-10. Before adding in the power source I noticed lack of well everything when compared to the Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX which has its own power supply. Unpowered externally, I was immediately dissapointed and knew it was that the USB connection didn't have enough juice to power this thing sufficiently. So since I retired the Squeezebox I used that power adaptor and connected it to the device. An immediate improvement and the sound I will get to next.

Sound when compared to the MF, the Soundblaster USB and the Squeezebox. Absolutely no contest. I'm not kidding, and I am certainly not saying this because the Trends Audio UD-10 is now a new favorite gadget of mine. The sound has more body and substance than the better unit of the rest of em (Audigy 2 NX USB). The detail is there, there's more of it than I have heard before. The sound is a lot "warmer" than the Audigy and seems more like real music and not as coated with aluminum to put it into words. Bass is tight and really present. The Audigy USB bass was laid back but tight as well. Trends UD-10 has bloom to it. I compare the FLAC files I play almost to the fluid like Vinyl experience now. Audigy USB sounded too futuristic, Trends UD-10 sounds more real.

Well I hope I shed some light. This would be a great thing to get if you already have a DAC and don't want to fiddle with yet another DAC w/ USB built in.

Enjoy the music.

Edits: 07/19/07

• One Caveat - Kenn 09:02:40 07/21/07 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Trends Audio UD-10 USB to Digital Output Audio Converter thoughts posted by bullethead on July 19, 2007 at 10:48:18

  When my 2NX stopped working (turned out to be a failed AC converter), I looked at UD-10 seriously because I just got its cousin TA-10.
  
  I did not get it because it is limited to 48khz sampling rate. That means I had to give up Secret Rabbit Upsampler. Otherwise, this appears a good choice.
  
  I will probably get one if I ever buy a NOSDAC.
  
  Thanks for the detailed comparison.
  
  
  

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• You should try the Trens with the USB-AUDIO driver. - Gmood1 13:43:04 07/20/07 (1)
  In Reply to: RE: Trends Audio UD-10 USB to Digital Output Audio Converter thoughts posted by bullethead on July 19, 2007 at 10:48:18

  I've tried the little guy many different ways. The best sound I got from it was using the USB driver from USB-AUDIO.com. It's not cheap but it does work well with the UD-10.

  I've since moved on to a USB version of the same Dac that I used with the Trends. The sound is about the same. I was just eliminating one extra component in the chain..that's all. I could have happily lived with the UD-10 to Dac without complaint.
  

  Little brother (31) having some fun!
  Go BADGERS!!!
  
  

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  Edits: 07/20/07
  • RE: You should try the Trens with the USB-AUDIO driver. - bullethead 16:39:36 07/20/07 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: You should try the Trens with the USB-AUDIO driver. posted by Gmood1 on July 20, 2007 at 13:43:04

    No go on that one. I am using a low latency version of Linux. I am sticking with the default USB Audio kernel module. Thanks for the tip however.
    
    

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• Does it support ASIO? - Jon L 07:55:32 07/20/07 (1)
  In Reply to: RE: Trends Audio UD-10 USB to Digital Output Audio Converter thoughts posted by bullethead on July 19, 2007 at 10:48:18

  I see the Trends uses PCM2704 USB-to-spdif chip. Does Trends ship with its own driver software or uses the generic Windows/Mac USB driver?
  
  Basically, I'm wondering if one can use Foobar with ASIO dll output, or do you have to resort to things like ASIO4All?
  
  

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  • No Drivers - creativepart 10:58:11 07/20/07 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: Does it support ASIO? posted by Jon L on July 20, 2007 at 07:55:32

    The Trends doesn't ship with any drivers. You simply select the USB Audio driver of your choice from your computer and that's all there is to it.
    
    

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• Monica USB - Albert B. Broman 23:31:17 07/19/07 (3)
  In Reply to: RE: Trends Audio UD-10 USB to Digital Output Audio Converter thoughts posted by bullethead on July 19, 2007 at 10:48:18

  I wonder what this unit from that crazy Yeo guy (Charlize) would sound like.
  
  http://diyparadise.com/usbmonica.html
  
  It goes from USB to I2S - EIAJ
  
  

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  • RE: Monica USB is very good - Jade East 16:38:31 07/20/07 (2)
    In Reply to: RE: Monica USB posted by Albert B. Broman on July 19, 2007 at 23:31:17

    The USB Monica sounds very good to me.
    
    

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    • RE: Monica USB setup - Sidewinder 17:48:10 07/20/07 (1)
      In Reply to: RE: Monica USB is very good posted by Jade East on July 20, 2007 at 16:38:31

      Hello,
      I'm new to the world of USB dacs, computer music server etc..and I'm interested in putting a music server together. The USB Monica dac sounds interesting. Could you describe your set up?
      Regards,
      David
      
      

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      • RE: Monica USB setup - Jade East 21:30:14 07/20/07 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: Monica USB setup posted by Sidewinder on July 20, 2007 at 17:48:10

        My set up with the usb Monica, for now.
        Macbook > usb monica > 100k alps pot > Charlize Amp > pmb100 headphones or B&W 302
        & small sub.
        
        DAC is powered by a SMPS from an old hardrive at 12 volts.
        
        

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• Trends UD-10 - creativepart 14:22:15 07/19/07 (1)
  In Reply to: RE: Trends Audio UD-10 USB to Digital Output Audio Converter thoughts posted by bullethead on July 19, 2007 at 10:48:18

  I have the Trends UD-10 running from a Mac Mini to a Musical Fidelity X-Dac v3 and I like the unit quite a lot too.
  
  I also had a Squeezebox 3 and used that for a while but felt the USB trends to X-Dac to be significantly better. I had bought a linear regulated 5v power supply for the Squeezebox so I've always used that to power the Trends.
  
  I have a feeling though that getting a USB Dac and getting rid of the "middle man" Trends that the sound can be even better. Which is my plan for the future. But in general the Trends UD-10 works great.
  
  

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  • RE: Trends UD-10 - xsparky 23:52:03 07/19/07 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: Trends UD-10 posted by creativepart on July 19, 2007 at 14:22:15

    Thanks for the post and your thoughts on the UD-10.
    I too have a UD-10 feeding a Musical Fidelity DM25 tube dac and could not be happier.I will have to try an external 2 amp 5v switching power supply.I did not notice a huge difference with the supplied battery pack,just more liquidy and Involving.As for getting a better dac with USB......I don't think so.The UD-10 conveys the music!
    
    

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