If I put my notes here, I might be able to find them again later!
Choosing a USB DAC
My Onkyo soundcard drivers stopped working when I upgraded to Windows 10. Onkyo says they have no plans to release a patch, so I'm left with no high quality audio solution for my computer. Since I already have a good headphone amplifier, what I'm mainly looking for is a high quality line level analog output.
One options is another soundcard, the ASUS Xonar STX being the obvious choice. I dunno, it doesn't grab me.
I was thinking with going with an external box this time, connected via USB. As this opens up about a zillion options, I'm going to limit things to,
My current thinking is that while the Denon has the nicest form factor by miles, with a plastic case and external 15V wall wart power supply it isn't particular good value compared to the Lux or the TEAC 501. Unfortunately the Lux - and the Onkyo - are still stylin' like it's 1985. The TEAC units seems to be borrowing some Tascam DNA with a pro-audio vibe I personally find attractive.
*****
Update 1. The Luxman seems to get so-so reviews. It uses the PCB5102 DAC which does not inspire confidence. The TEAC UD-501 is highly rated and ticks all the right buttons with me - full marks for true dual mono circuitry. PCM1795 DACs - much better. It is available for little more than the cost of a UD-301, making it my "object of primary interest" currently. Pity it is relatively large.
Update 2. Almost got a UD-501 but declined to fight a Sunday night auction. Thinking more carefully about the UD-301. It shares most of the circuitry of the UD-501 but with a simpler power supply and cheaper casework. The main advantage is the smaller chassis.
Update 3. The ORB Jade Casa DSD just made my shortlist ... as well as the now discontinued JADE-1.
Update 4. Ordered a used JADE-1 for ~$350US (41,500 yen).
Update 5. JADE-1 delivered. Bigger and heavier than I imagined. Very high quality construction, it certainly feels like high-end audio!
Update 6. The JADE unit is good, but the DAC section sounds to my ears too much like digital. I tend to agree with some of the Japanese language reviews I've read: resolution (signal to noise, i.e. low noise floor) is exemplary but it lacks musicality. The upper midrange has a hard, overwound, shouty quality I do not care for.
Update 7. Bought a Xonar STX. I have very low expectations, but we'll give it a shot. Failing that it will have to be the TEAC unless I through caution to the wind and decide to spend a lot more money. The Meridian Prime for example.
Update 8. Xonar STX arrived today. Installed without a problem on Windows 10 64 bit. It's ... pretty decent! It's a little rough and boisterous maybe, slightly cutting while not the last word in resolution but it's makes a good first impression with lively and enjoyable sound. My Onkyo card was smoother and reserved, but probably even less resolving.
One options is another soundcard, the ASUS Xonar STX being the obvious choice. I dunno, it doesn't grab me.
I was thinking with going with an external box this time, connected via USB. As this opens up about a zillion options, I'm going to limit things to,
- Respected audio brands with a solid reputation for digital audio.
- Small enough to be placed on top of my computer case.
- $500-ish, used or new.
My current thinking is that while the Denon has the nicest form factor by miles, with a plastic case and external 15V wall wart power supply it isn't particular good value compared to the Lux or the TEAC 501. Unfortunately the Lux - and the Onkyo - are still stylin' like it's 1985. The TEAC units seems to be borrowing some Tascam DNA with a pro-audio vibe I personally find attractive.
*****
Update 1. The Luxman seems to get so-so reviews. It uses the PCB5102 DAC which does not inspire confidence. The TEAC UD-501 is highly rated and ticks all the right buttons with me - full marks for true dual mono circuitry. PCM1795 DACs - much better. It is available for little more than the cost of a UD-301, making it my "object of primary interest" currently. Pity it is relatively large.
Update 2. Almost got a UD-501 but declined to fight a Sunday night auction. Thinking more carefully about the UD-301. It shares most of the circuitry of the UD-501 but with a simpler power supply and cheaper casework. The main advantage is the smaller chassis.
Update 3. The ORB Jade Casa DSD just made my shortlist ... as well as the now discontinued JADE-1.
Update 4. Ordered a used JADE-1 for ~$350US (41,500 yen).
Update 5. JADE-1 delivered. Bigger and heavier than I imagined. Very high quality construction, it certainly feels like high-end audio!
Update 6. The JADE unit is good, but the DAC section sounds to my ears too much like digital. I tend to agree with some of the Japanese language reviews I've read: resolution (signal to noise, i.e. low noise floor) is exemplary but it lacks musicality. The upper midrange has a hard, overwound, shouty quality I do not care for.
Update 7. Bought a Xonar STX. I have very low expectations, but we'll give it a shot. Failing that it will have to be the TEAC unless I through caution to the wind and decide to spend a lot more money. The Meridian Prime for example.
Update 8. Xonar STX arrived today. Installed without a problem on Windows 10 64 bit. It's ... pretty decent! It's a little rough and boisterous maybe, slightly cutting while not the last word in resolution but it's makes a good first impression with lively and enjoyable sound. My Onkyo card was smoother and reserved, but probably even less resolving.
Total Comments 5
Comments
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My advice would be - go for one that has its audio output grounds isolated from the PC's ground. Otherwise you have potential common-mode noise issues from the ground loop you'll set up, coupling the PC's SMPSU noise into your audio kit. Exasound has a couple of nice FFT plots for how much noise is reduced with isolation.Posted 26th September 2015 at 11:07 PM by abraxalito
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Thanks for the comment. The Denon unit has isolation. It's the only one on the list that does.
Thing is, I've never noticed that as a problem though. Comparing COAX vs. Toslink inputs, that should hand a clear win to the optical connection but this is almost never reported to be the case even with computer as the source. (Many motherboards have those outputs as part of the on board sound features) Or, for that matter, my previous soundcard which had all the analog circuitry in the PC chassis itself and shared the power supply as well!
While it would help in the event that a bad layout creates a ground loop, I don't think a good layout should need isolation to have low noise.Posted 27th September 2015 at 12:20 AM by rjm
Updated 27th September 2015 at 12:25 AM by rjm -
I'd not go back to a soundcard now - they use PC power but barely any filtering between it and the opamp rails. But then I rarely use my PC as any kind of audio source, preferring dedicated players - normally battery powered ones for the isolation and convenience.
How much of an issue the isolation is, is going to be context dependent. If you share the same mains distribution block for all the audio kit then the loops may be jolly small in practice. Coax might have the advantage of transformer isolation in practice however I've not found trafos to give enough isolation where the layout's compromised by common ground impedances between analog and digital. Given the choice I'll go for layout over isolation though.Posted 27th September 2015 at 04:34 AM by abraxalito
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This is a very interesting thread, perhaps the best way of preserve the quality of your CD's and/or vinil, is converted to DSD:
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digit...ac-no-dac.html
In the thread say that the ifi nano idsd use this tecnique of no-dac, i don't now if the ifi micro also use the same technique:
nano – iDSD
Or perhaps you can think in increase your budget and buy a Chord 2Qute DAC (Hugo derived) , yes, more expensive, but I think that you are cover the next years:
Products: 2Qute DACPosted 28th September 2015 at 04:13 PM by raul_77
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Posted 15th October 2015 at 10:30 PM by raul_77
