exaU2I - Multi-Channel Asynchronous USB to I2S Interface

[Bunpei]

I hope the following improvements in the authorized DSD support of the new model of exaU2I.

- compatible with such players, HQPlayer and JRiver Media Center, through a genuine ASIO DSD framework
- free from any glitch or click noises at start play or stop play timings of DSD sources, and also protective for unintended DC output
( Not a player on PC but your board may need to insert DSD-zero signals at inter-tracks or paused or initial state.)

[exa065]

Originally Posted by Bunpei

I hope the following improvements in the authorized DSD support of the new model of exaU2I.

- compatible with such players, HQPlayer and JRiver Media Center, through a genuine ASIO DSD framework
- free from any glitch or click noises at start play or stop play timings of DSD sources, and also protective for unintended DC output
( Not a player on PC but your board may need to insert DSD-zero signals at inter-tracks or paused or initial state.)

Yes, all of these requirements are on the task list.

[RayCtech]

Originally Posted by exa065

We provided several free upgrades for the exaU2I at no charge:

• 384 kHz sampling rate was a free software upgrade
• dsd64/dsd128/dsd256/dsd512 was a free software upgrade
• OSX drivers
• We released a second generation ASIO drives and the Dashboard
• We also upgraded the clocks with 1ps crystals without changing the price
• The devices with upgraded clocks have a new firmware with lower jitter

At this time we are discussing a new device, not an upgrade.

Regards,

exa065

I expect the clocks to be the ones that I recommended

[exa065]

The clocks recommended by you are excellent. We are also testing new clocks from two other manufactures.

[phi]

Originally Posted by exa065

Here is again an updated list of features for the next generation exaU2I:

• Just about 1ps jitter
• Two sets of clocks for synchronous and asynchronous operation with ES9018
• 8 channel DSD
• 8 channel DXD / 384 kHz PCM
• Individual LEDs for all PCM and DSD sampling rates
• Easy elimination of USB power
• Macro USB connector
• Header for connecting external USB connector
• Connectors for external power sources
• New ground isolation technology
• Micro BNC output connectors
• Elimination of the USB daughter board
• No need to rewire the outputs for DSD and PCM (ES9018 only)
• I2C header for ES9018 volume control - if we can make it.
• Multichannel support for PCM1704. This option will rewire alternative firmware, and it may be a separate product.

Attached is an early version of the PCB. Please post to this thread if you think you are interested to buy one. Indicate your preferences:

• ES9018, PCM1704 or a third party DAC.
• Let us know your priorities - all in one board or multiple specialized products for lower cost
• Asynchronous operation (only two clocks) or all clocks installed.
• Two channel only, PCM only etc.

Cheers,

exa065

Hi, Should have answered you long ago. These are my preferences:

- 8 channel PCM.
- Specification and flexibility before cost.
- I2S output to external DAC's of own choice (PCM 1704, PCM17XX, ADxxxx, TDA1541 etc)
- Low CPU-load drivers (Yes they are today...)

What I did like from your original list with deleted items and some changes:
(quick and dity editing....)

• Just about 1ps jitter -> YES
• Two sets of clocks for synchronous and asynchronous operation with ES9018 -> YES (or other DAC)
• 8 channel DXD / 384 kHz PCM -> YES
• Individual LEDs for all PCM sampling rates
• Easy elimination of USB power -> YES
• Macro USB connector
• Header for connecting external USB connector
• Connectors for external power sources -> YES
• New ground isolation technology -> YES, if you know how to improve
• Micro BNC output connectors -> Would be nice
• No need to rewire the outputs for DSD and PCM (ES9018 only)
• Multichannel support for PCM1704. This option will rewire alternative firmware, and it may be a separate product.
• All clocks installed -> With option to supply my own clocks for synchronous operation.
• ES9018, PCM1704 or a third party DAC.

Keep up the really good work you are doing.

(( Per

[Blitz]

For me THE key-priority: Linux-Suport like WaveIO gets automatically detected by MPDPUP. Once you have listened to a Linux-Setup, you find the Windows Stuff unnatural. And I tried a lot to make it work. Today I am a happy camper with Alix-Board with USB-SOTM-Card for USB. I even have your product, bought, but cant use it as it is currently not designed for Linux.

[exa065]

I am sorry, I don't follow you. If you use bit-perfect jitter free interface, you won't be able to tell apart Windows from Linux. When you use ASIO on Windows, you don't listen to Windows, you experience ASIO. There is no such thing as Windows Stuff. There are different implementations.

I understand that there are pros and cons to every platform, but I disagree with the notion that Windows is inferior to Mac or Linux when it comes to high-end audio.

Has anyone measured the noise floor of the USB-SOTM-Card?

Regards,

exa065

[acko]

Hi George,

Really excited about the new version!
Yes, would like to register my interest for purchasing one. Even the current one has become my preferred transport for the AckoDAC System

Mine is all 9018/12 DACs so hopefully you would maintain support for these.
The rest on the list is really good, native DSD especially. Possibly dedicated 2CH or 8CH versions if these make things more optimized?

OSX support?

Is the I2C a slave or master? Can the sample rates be read over I2C? I will be using the AKC12 Controller (master), so DAC Vol Cntrl is taken care of but sample rates from EXA2UI needed (for display purpose mainly).

Those U.FL coax, if you could leave it unpopulated would make it easier for my DAC that uses the smaller w.fl types. I could kludge a connection in place.

From the looks of it you have got re-clocking done after the isolation. If true this is great! For your current version (2.0) I am doing the re-clocking externally using a separate module after the isolators. So this could become redundant

Has the dimensions and mounting positions been finalised? Nice if you could keep it the same as the current one for easy upgrades. ETA? would like to start the integration process already.

Well done and thank you for the great efforts!

Originally Posted by exa065

Here is again an updated list of features for the next generation exaU2I:

• Just about 1ps jitter
• Two sets of clocks for synchronous and asynchronous operation with ES9018
• 8 channel DSD
• 8 channel DXD / 384 kHz PCM
• Individual LEDs for all PCM and DSD sampling rates
• Easy elimination of USB power
• Macro USB connector
• Header for connecting external USB connector
• Connectors for external power sources
• New ground isolation technology
• Micro BNC output connectors
• Elimination of the USB daughter board
• No need to rewire the outputs for DSD and PCM (ES9018 only)
• I2C header for ES9018 volume control - if we can make it.
• Multichannel support for PCM1704. This option will rewire alternative firmware, and it may be a separate product.

Attached is an early version of the PCB. Please post to this thread if you think you are interested to buy one. Indicate your preferences:

• ES9018, PCM1704 or a third party DAC.
• Let us know your priorities - all in one board or multiple specialized products for lower cost
• Asynchronous operation (only two clocks) or all clocks installed.
• Two channel only, PCM only etc.

Cheers,

exa065

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by exa065

I am sorry, I don't follow you. If you use bit-perfect jitter free interface, you won't be able to tell apart Windows from Linux. When you use ASIO on Windows, you don't listen to Windows, you experience ASIO. There is no such thing as Windows Stuff. There are different implementations.

I understand that there are pros and cons to every platform, but I disagree with the notion that Windows is inferior to Mac or Linux when it comes to high-end audio.

Has anyone measured the noise floor of the USB-SOTM-Card?

Regards,

exa065

I have used of course Asio. I used jriver, jplay, cmp, cplay etc. I tweak win7 and before vista. I build 5 different pcs with special components for best sound.

Bottom-line: Linux with Alix-Board and Sotm-usbcard with external linear psu. Most natural and transparent sound ever in my setup. Therefore, it would be great if the new version will support Linux...any chance ?

Regards

[RayCtech]

Originally Posted by exa065

Here is again an updated list of features for the next generation exaU2I:

• Just about 1ps jitter
• Two sets of clocks for synchronous and asynchronous operation with ES9018
• 8 channel DSD
• 8 channel DXD / 384 kHz PCM
• Individual LEDs for all PCM and DSD sampling rates
• Easy elimination of USB power
• Macro USB connector
• Header for connecting external USB connector
• Connectors for external power sources
• New ground isolation technology
• Micro BNC output connectors
• Elimination of the USB daughter board
• No need to rewire the outputs for DSD and PCM (ES9018 only)
• I2C header for ES9018 volume control - if we can make it.
• Multichannel support for PCM1704. This option will rewire alternative firmware, and it may be a separate product.

Cheers,

exa065

The most important issue (missing in the list) are USB 2.0 Audio compatibility for driverless use with Linux and OSX...