Hi-resolution source 192KHz 24bit (USB to Analog)

[qusp]

I think you'll find that high speed clock signals like those that sabre lives on dont look too great after a dip socket like you believe.

also for best performance the ground plane should be segmented for this chip and all the supply pins should be decoupled as close as possible to the chip, i really dont think its a good idea even if you can make it happen. dip sockets are a compromise wherever they are used and implementation is everything with this dac.

[UnixMan]

Andrea, you should rather consider this one instead:

www.audiofaidate.org • View topic - Async USB2 - SDR/Audio-Widget collaborative project

Open-source USB interface: Audio Widget

IMHO, it's a way better solution than using m2Tech ones. And it's cheaper, too.

One of the main advantages of the AW (besides being fully Open Source, which is a huge advantage on its own) is that it uses the clean DAC clock and feeds it back to the USB interface (avoiding most of the jitter problems) instead of the other way 'round as is done by most other available interfaces.

Other advantage is that it is fully standard compliant (implements UAC2 and UAC1, being always asynchronous even when used on USB 1.1 bus), which means (among the other things) that it works without drivers on any OS which support the standard (including MacOS/X and Linux).

[audiodesign]

M2Tech is a reference for the USB-I2S convertion but if the open source solution have a competitive cost I will try it in the near future to make a direct comparison.

[UnixMan]

Originally Posted by audiodesign

but if the open source solution have a competitive cost I will try it in the near future to make a direct comparison.

"competitive" would be an understatement.

Currently there are two different versions available:

Yoyodyne Consulting//Audio Hardware/USB9023

Q N K T C USB-I2S Module and Analog Board 1.1

They costs US$ 93 one and US$ 120+shipping the other (which comes fully assembled in its case and tested).

Both are not just USB-I2S modules, but complete DACs using the famous ESS ES9023 "Sabre" DAC chip. At that prices, it's a bargain!

Børge version is split in two separate boards, the small USB-I2S interface and the "Analog Board" with DAC, clocks, ecc. One may also use only the USB-i2S module and build an alternative AB to his taste or possibly adapt an existing DAC to work with it.

George's versions instead are built on usually smaller, "all-in-one" single boards. He is also working on other alternative versions based on different DACs. Namely TI PCM5102, TI PCM1794, ESS ES9012, Wolfson WM8741.

(the version using PCM5102 seems to be already available).

N.B.: I have no connection whatsoever with either Børge or George. I only like their group-based, fully open-source efforts.

[audiodesign]

Both these release have no driver to play 96-192KHz 24bit for Windows.

M2Tech work with Windows and Mac.

I could make a test on Mac and using only I2S signals to get a direct comparison.

[UnixMan]

Originally Posted by audiodesign

Both these release have no driver to play 96-192KHz 24bit for Windows.

well, it would be more correct to say that it is the Windows OS which lacks support for the UAC2 USB standard. But indeed the result is the same.

(while m2Tech have chosen to use the USB interface in a non-standard, proprietary way - which unavoidably require a custom driver on any OS - the Audio Widget was designed to implement the new official USB 2.0 standard for asynchronous audio. A standard which can and should be implemented natively by all OS supporting USB. Linux and MacOS/X supports the new standards, windoze does not).

There are plans and efforts in progress to provide a (possibly open-source) UAC2 windows driver for the AW in the future, but to date the only option is using AW in UAC1 mode. Which is also asynchronous, but limited to 24/48 (or less). Or use a better OS, such as Linux!

Originally Posted by audiodesign

M2Tech work with Windows and Mac.

yet unfortunately it has no support for Linux, which is arguably the best system to use for audio...

[audiodesign]

So M2Tech module on Acko DAC USB-I2S module is the best solution for Windows users.

For Mac user is necessary compare the Acko DAC USB-I2S to the open source project to check which is the best.

For Linux users the M2Tech module on Acko DAC USB-I2S mdodule cannot be used.

[audiodesign]

New info

USB DAC 1 - Hi-Resolution System

soon test with other DAC chips

[UnixMan]

Originally Posted by audiodesign

So M2Tech module on Acko DAC USB-I2S module is the best solution for Windows users.

For Mac user is necessary compare the Acko DAC USB-I2S to the open source project to check which is the best.

For Linux users the M2Tech module on Acko DAC USB-I2S mdodule cannot be used.

you forget the Xmos-based solutions. Definitely better than M2Tech. And possibly work on all systems (to be verified).

XMOS-based Asynchronous USB to I2S interface

[audiodesign]

Why you consider the XMOS better than M2Tech ?

XMos driver for Windows is not free.