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Isn't there an "asynchronous mode" USB DAC out there that is reasonably priced? Under $1000? Any response is appreciated.
With all the expensive but awful sounding digital playback sources I've encountered, and observing lots of "flavors of the month" coming and going over the years, with all the hype about "asynchronous mode USB", I just don't want to blow $$$$$ on such a product, only to find out it's a hideously-expensive "flavor-of-the-month".....
Follow Ups:
I see conflicting answers to this - can anyone definitively answer the question "can the Transit operate in asynch mode using an external clock"?
Has anybody done this and can say what they did?
I have a 24.567MHz Guido low Jitter clock which would be connected to pin 3. Page 74 of the datasheet the register for controlling the divider of this clock, the adaptive clock generator1 divider control register (ACG1DCTL) bits 0 to 2 is set to 0000 for a divide by 1. The next register, ACGCTL is set to 00010101 (MCLKO1S0=1 & MCLKO2S0=1 sets MCLKI & DIVEN=1.
But I haven't found how to set the chip into asynch mode? Is there anything else needed?
...with a slaved sound card to it.
Who knows..... Maybe if the latest Don Allen mod knocks off my Prism rig on the main system, the Prism DAC might end up being the outboard DAC for my PC.......
But I'd probably try a "slave-able" transport with the Prism before relegating it.......
The Wavelength Proton is the only one I know of. New technology is expensive in high end audio. Asynchronous DACs seem like a great idea for PC based audio though.
.
The proton also has the advantage of being able to do 24/96 which was a key point for me. With this size of investment, I didn't really want to be limited to 44.1kHz. Well-built, portable, and has headphone out (via mini plug. It has very good sound, IMO.
Agreed. The Proton sounded very nice in my system. An excellent product.
Mercman,
how does the Proton compare to the Brick? I have been tempted by a Brick v2 (used to a own a v1) but really would prefer being able to play 24/96 without getting the Cosecant.
Thanks,
Rene
Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derjenigen, die die Welt nicht angeschaut haben.
Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859)
Hi Rene,
I've heard all of the Wavelength DACS in my system. The Proton is not as "full or rich" sounding as the Brick. The Brick also puts out a bigger soundstage, particularly with the upgraded Mortar power supply. The Brick uses a different dac chip than the Proton, and will have a similar voicing as the Brick v1. The new Brick has more defined bass, better detail and resolution now that it is using an asynchronous interface. I think the Brick v2 is the better sounding DAC compared to the Proton. But the Proton is darn good!
I think you should consider the Cosecant v3. It is modular in design and can be upgraded easily like the Crimson. Besides doing 96/24, the Cosecant with the Numerator module, betters the Brick in all respects.
Since you used to own a Brick v1, I don't think you will be happy with anything less than a Cosecant.
All of this comes from the mind of a demented audiophile.
Steve
Steve,
thanks for the detailed comments and great comparison - just what I was looking for. I was tempted to just go for the Brick as I was able to already improve the first version with careful tube rolling and I could use the same tube in the Brick v2. The Cosecant opens a new can of worms in that regard ;) and of course is quite a bit more than I am willing to spent on a DAC at this time - but I guess I should consider it sometime. And then there is the new Ayre DAC coming out...
Thanks very much,
Rene
Die gefährlichste Weltanschauung ist die Weltanschauung derjenigen, die die Welt nicht angeschaut haben.
Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859)
M-Audio Transit runs 44.1 and 48kHz in async mode.
EMU-0404 USB runs async.
(I own both of them)
Guys,
Remember just like any other interface all Async's are not created equal.
The big payoff is using an ultra low jitter Master clock as the reference clock to output the I2S to the dac/spdif converter.
This is the real key...
The Transit does not do this. The EMU does, but has a lot of DCDC converters and power supply issues.
Thanks
Gordon
J. Gordon Rankin
The original question was, if there is an async USB DAC below 1000$.
Yep -- the fun starts at 70$ -- delivering a decent sound with a bit of tweaking.
And continues with an 0404 USB at 199$, which will be a very good
USB device with a bit of tweaking.
Cheers
I'm not in a position where I can blow a lot of time tweaking something that I don't know much about.....
Fair enough. That's why you have to pay 1000 and I pay 150$.
But think about how much time one spents over here discussing the same things over and over. This time could easily spent to get the soldering iron going.
I'd never be happy (anymore) with 100% commercial products. They all have to live up on compromises.
Cheers
"But think about how much time one spents over here discussing the same things over and over. This time could easily spent to get the soldering iron going."
I have been thinking about that very thing, and you are manifestly right. However that feels more like "work" and this feels more like "play", but I think it's pretty clear which has the most chance of increasing musical satisfaction.
Rick
You're absolutely right. I never felt better and had better sound, since all my stuff is DIY. ;)
But I still feel pretty bad thinking about my overpriced amps and CDPs stuff (new > 15k) idling around in the cellar in comparision to my 50$ amp and 150$ Sabre running my main rig nowadays (with a much better soundquality).
Cheers
Sounds ok; will output 96k spdif; plays 192k. But whatever mode, not a great sounding unit
Were you referring to both the Transit and the 0404?
Cheers,
Bill
No, I have no experience with the transit
I applied quite some tweaks to the Transit to improve its performance substantially on the analog side.I am running the Transit from external regulated power (through my own Opticis battery suppply), galvanical isolation, replacement of caps (BG) and removal of coupling caps. ToDo: A swap of the op-amps.
Currently I actually prefer the Transit over my USB0404 (same PS, but without Opticis (USB 1.1 only) as used for Transit and no other tweaks).
I currently use the Transit as desktop device to fire my ADAM A5 monitors.
Cheers
Edits: 04/17/09
Hi there.
To avoid loose ends I'd like to come back to my earlier post.
I had one tweak outstanding: Swap of the opamp on the analog output.
It's done!
As replacement I used a Maxim MAX4477.
Very nice. All improvements what you'd expect from an OpAmp upgrade are clearly audible. The DAC sounds much better now.
Now I can try to get my 0404USB at least to the same level. Unfortunately I still don't have a clue how to galvanically isolate an USB 2.0 connection.
Cheers
Something like this?
http://www.baaske.net/usb_galvanisch_trennen.html?&L=1
http://www.edn.com/article/CA6347257.html
The Well Tempered Computer
This is going in the right direction. Though the device needs to be able to handle 480MBit/s.
I also had a look at iCoupler devices from Analog Devices. These run at 100Mbit/s. Obviously too slow.
Cheers
Networks cards doing ethernet (FTTH?) over optics must be able to match this speed (10 G max). Maybe you can find a fast opto there.
Waiting for USB 3 (optics is part of the standard)is another one...
The Well Tempered Computer
for those using the Transit, they just had a driver upgrade last month. First one in over 4 years (probably the last one?). I love my little Transit. lol
Edits: 04/17/09
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