TPA - USB Transport

[Russ White]

Is there an ETA on the USB module?
I'm in the final stages of building my BII and I'd like to implement USB if possible.

My goal is to have it done by the end of November. What I mean by done, is that the module will be designed and the PCBs for prototypes will be ordered. It may take a few weeks after that for it to become widely available.

It will all depend very much on how much time I have to devote to it.

Cheers!
Russ

 

[artfg]

NO you won't need any extra power supply.

This board will be bus powered and have only digital outputs.

Thanks again Russ.

 

[markusA]

Thanks for sharing.
It would make a perfect x-mas present.

 

[BrianDonegan]

I do not expect them to be shipping before Xmas.

 

[TheShaman]

Looking good guys!
Estimated price?

 

[Forane12]

Hi Russ,
What will you recommend for the I2S connection - will it be something like the IVY to Buffalo II but on top instead of under the BII? Or will we need wires of some type to connect the two? I am sure you have thought of everything but still...

 

[Russ White]

It will be wired similar to our MUX/Metronome and our other receiver boards.

That is because it is designed to be useful for anything that takes I2S or SPDIF. Not just Buffalo II.

 

[barrows]

Thanks Russ!

For all your work on this. I am sure this USB receiver will be well worth the wait.
I am very excited to add this board to my B-II.

 

[Luke]

The current USB module is based on the PCM2707 and is limited to 16-bit 44.1/48kHz material.

The new USB module will be based on an XMOS processor and will reproduce material up to 32-bit/384kHz.

Different in every way.

I didnt know that, when I throw higher res material at my TP usb module I think it pops, but Im sure it still plays, am I confused? I think I need one of these for my new buffalo 32 dac I need to build up soon

 

[analog_sa]

am I confused?

Quite likely. The soft downsamples.

 

[Luke]

Quite likely. The soft downsamples.

Yes thats what I thought, but it makes a loud pop before it starts playing.

 

[Bunpei]

The module itself will support 32bit (at least for I2S output as SPDIF is inherently limited to 24bit). The only question is will the readily available drivers support it? I will need to test this from the driver end, but there is no hardware or firmware hurdle here.

Yes, that might be a problem. Even on MSB's USB2 web page, USB 2 Input Option, we find no word "32 bit" for their USB2 interfaces.
If 32 bit is tested and found feasible, are you going to provide a MCU upgrade for conventional Buffalo DAC? My understanding of a current bit length setting of Buffalo DAC is 24 bit.

 

[Russ White]

My understanding of a current bit length setting of Buffalo DAC is 24 bit.

The Buffalo already accepts 32bit I2S. No firmware change is required.

The nice thing about I2S is even when set for 32bit words (64fs bit clock) it still works fine for 24 or 16 bit data.

 

[Bunpei]

The Buffalo already accepts 32bit I2S. No firmware change is required.

Thank you very much for your prompt reply! That's fine!
(Is it also for Buffalo32s?)

 

[Russ White]

Thank you very much for your prompt reply! That's fine!
(Is it also for Buffalo32s?)

Yes. It is even true for the first generation buffalo, though internally the extra bits are ignored on the older ES9008.

 

[tripathdude]

Will the XMOS chip support ASIO?

 

[Russ White]

Will the XMOS chip support ASIO?

That is really a driver detail, not a hardware detail.

But yes, the windows driver supports ASIO 2.1

 

[LeonvB]

Russ, a couple more questions arise...

What Windows drivers will be available? Window XP/Vista/7? 32/64 bit?
How would development look for this module, by which I mean things like source code, amount of space available (on the SPI?), how to update the firmware, etc.

 

[rbrockman]

I'm happy to hear that TP is working on a USB transport. I was about to pull the trigger on a MiniDSP miniSTREAMER in order to get USB support for my Buffalo.

Any thoughts about what this USB solution will offer that may be different than the features offered on the miniSTREAMER?

Looking forward to this.

 

[labjr]

I'm happy to hear that TP is working on a USB transport. I was about to pull the trigger on a MiniDSP miniSTREAMER in order to get USB support for my Buffalo.

Any thoughts about what this USB solution will offer that may be different than the features offered on the miniSTREAMER?

Looking forward to this.

The TP solutuion should be much better. The MiniStreamer is isochronous and only goes up to 24/96.