|
Computer Audio Asylum Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies. |
|
|
|
Computer Audio Asylum Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies. |
|
My setup comrpises a white Macbook circa mid 2009 with 2Mb RAM, an external Firewire drive hosting iTunes ALC files, and Audivarna, Decibel or Pure Music depending on my mood.
These feed a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic via a Wireword USB cable into an Audiophilleo 2 USB->SPDIF converter.
If I select "Integer Mode" in Audivarna, or similar in the other two programs, I get clicks on the output. I understand this is an artefact of the specific chip used to drive the USB bus on my Macbook - a bit old and portly and not up to the latest chipsets. The click is some kind of 'keepalive' type signal/check that either the chip itself, or OsX, sends down the USB bus when Integer mode is selected.
Apparently, the solution is, apart from buying a newer Mac, to insert a powered USB2 hub in between the Macbook and the Audiophilleo.
My question: before I invest in one, will that be better, worse, or the same in terms of sound quality?
Integer mode may be an advantage. However, I found that using a Wireworld USB cable, and an AQVOX low-noise USB power supply, improved sound quality, presumably by reducing jitter. I therefore assume that inserting a USB hub into the chain will increase jitter once again, and may degrade sound overall despite any uplift given by the use of Integer mode. I suppose I could invest in another Wireworld USB cable to go from the Mac to the hub, and retain the existing one to go from the hub to the Audiophilleo, but that's yet more expens and may still not bring me back into parity with what I have today.
Any advice gratefully received!
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Peter Earnshaw 05:29:13 04/18/12 (21)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - saxman73 13:09:19 04/22/12 (0)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - fmak 03:36:22 04/19/12 (2)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - phofman 04:01:48 04/19/12 (1)
- Bugs. nt - Tony Lauck 05:51:01 04/19/12 (0)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - phofman 12:06:59 04/18/12 (6)
- Integer mode - Roseval 08:34:50 04/19/12 (1)
- RE: Integer mode - phofman 02:05:52 04/23/12 (0)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Mercman 12:22:26 04/18/12 (3)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - phofman 02:33:43 04/19/12 (2)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Mercman 05:41:53 04/19/12 (1)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Archimago 13:33:13 04/22/12 (0)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - mwheelerk 06:12:49 04/18/12 (9)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Peter Earnshaw 07:05:11 04/18/12 (8)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Archimago 07:23:19 04/18/12 (7)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Mercman 07:43:48 04/18/12 (4)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Archimago 17:22:19 04/19/12 (3)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Tony Lauck 07:12:51 04/20/12 (0)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Mercman 17:50:29 04/19/12 (1)
- RE: Using Integer mode and USB hub to avoid clicks - worth trying? - Archimago 17:58:38 04/19/12 (0)
- Try Macsales.com - Gordon Rankin 07:29:25 04/18/12 (1)
- RE: Try Macsales.com - Peter Earnshaw 08:15:53 04/18/12 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
