Musiland Monitor 01 USD 24/192 USB to SPDIF

[okkyn]

Found this newly release product:

http://www.musiland.com.cn/ProductShow.asp?ID=156

Sound promising!!

SPDIF optical & coaxial (RCA/BNC), use xilinx FPGA for SPDIF controller. How do you think??

 

[luxury54]

there are already for sale on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Hifi-USB-So...ItemQQimsxZ20090509?IMSfp=TL090509129004r4855

but USB conversion to SPDIF has it's own problems so I think that the DAC should be placed right in the small box directly to the I2S signal

 

[okkyn]

there are already for sale on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Hifi-USB-So...ItemQQimsxZ20090509?IMSfp=TL090509129004r4855

but USB conversion to SPDIF has it's own problems so I think that the DAC should be placed right in the small box directly to the I2S signal

They use their own controller (XILINX). Not sure whether we can tap I2S or they use other format... 🙄

 

[jkeny]

I ordered one - the US model (the one with a PCM1793 internal DAC) even though I'm probably not going to use the DAC (this still has SPDIF output via optical!). One of the reasons I ordered this is that from what I can tell from the pics, there is far more PS supply filtering in the US model. I'll know better when I get it if this extra PS treatment is just for the DAC & output stage or also applies to the USB controller & FPGA chips.

Anyway, I intend to do some mods on this board
- providing it with an good external supply
- possibly changing the crystal to a low jitter Crystek clock+ clean supply
- tapping into the I2S signal traces that go to the PCM1793 (from the pics I'm sure this is the connection to DAC)
- possibly making coax SPDIF out

Has nobody picked up one of these yet? Looks like a unit worth investigating

Edit: Some tests over at DIyhifi http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=40430#p40430
and posts at headfi http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/musiland-monitor-01-usd-24-192-usb-spdif-423960/

 

[jkeny]

I'm surprised nobody here has caught wind of these - the reviews are coming in from users who are very happy with them.

I just looked into their forum & in translation I see a posting from moderators that Linux driver is planned but waiting confirmation of this from a native Chinese speaker.

 

[agerstrom]

I bought one in the middle of July from seller: snow48_6. She then claimed it was sold out and relisted 9 identical items for a higher price. Since I opened a complaint errand with paypal all the sudden its shipped but I haven't received it 5 weeks later. Avoid this seller.

 

[jkeny]

Agerstrom, that wasn't a great experience - what price originally?

I ordered a monitor 01 US from Tam's Audio http://stores.shop.ebay.com/TAMS-AUDIO - his service is excellent - he posts (JTam) on this thread http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/musiland-monitor-01-usd-24-192-usb-spdif-423960/ Highly recommended - I've no connection to him other than as a buyer (see my posts on that thread)

 

[agerstrom]

I bought mine for $29. There were 4 left in the auction at the time.

 

[jkeny]

Whoa, that's way underpriced - I imagine the seller made a typo in the price - still that's the rule under eBay, I imagine - you have to sell at the price you posted (even if it is a mistake) - Good luck on getting it!

 

[okkyn]

Anybody done tapping of I2S on musiland 01 USB (without the DAC)? I would like to know which pins at xilinx to tap. Should be the same as the version with PCM1793. I want to aquire one without PCM1793 since it cheaper, and I only interested in I2S output.. 🙂

 

[jkeny]

The FPGA pins that serve I2S are not connected on the 01 USD so no I2S available, I'd imagine (software driver might even be different) - A cheaper, smaller version of 01 US (one with DAC) is being released 01 Mini Monitor

 

[okkyn]

The FPGA pins that serve I2S are not connected on the 01 USD so no I2S available, I'd imagine (software driver might even be different) - A cheaper, smaller version of 01 US (one with DAC) is being released 01 Mini Monitor

Thanks jkeny. I assume no one done tapping I2S for the 01 USD yet, so I won't risk experimenting with that... 😀

 

[jkeny]

As I said I'm pretty sure there is no I2S available in the 01 USD (FPGA pins not connected to any tracks and the software is probably different) - is this the unit you have or have you not bought one yet?

 

[okkyn]

I have not bought any unit yet. Thanks for the info on the 01 Mini, I might consider that also.. 🙂

 

[jkeny]

This is cheaper than the 01 USD & has a internal DAC, like the 01 US - $60 delivered, I think

 

[Pjotr]

As far as I can see it has no separate clocks for multiples of 44.1 kHz and multiples of 48 kHz. So it must rely on a (digital) PLL anyway with a single crystal.

I have ordered one. Lets see what it will bring to jitter compared to my E-MU 0404, which has separate fixed crystal clocks. And my M-Audio Transit, which is really nasty considering jitter on its S/PDIF output.

 

[okkyn]

As far as I can see it has no separate clocks for multiples of 44.1 kHz and multiples of 48 kHz. So it must rely on a (digital) PLL anyway with a single crystal.

I have ordered one. Lets see what it will bring to jitter compared to my E-MU 0404, which has separate fixed crystal clocks. And my M-Audio Transit, which is really nasty considering jitter on its S/PDIF output.

Hi Pjotr,

Could you give me any literatures that mention EMU0404 uses separate crystal for 48k and 44.1k? I am curious myself...

 

[Pjotr]

Hi Pjotr,

Could you give me any literatures that mention EMU0404 uses separate crystal for 48k and 44.1k? I am curious myself...

quote: "Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz from internal crystal (no sample rate conversion)"

Have a look at the board:

 

[okkyn]

Thanks Pjotr, wonderful insight!! Now I wish EMU made DAC-only version of 0404

 

[robot]

musiland monitor 01usd

I bought one from e bay for 80$, and am pretty pleased with a sound; haved some smaller problems to install it and maked it work with foobar, especially with a dts audio materials. Anyway, this little gadget allows you to made any computer vulgaris a nice sounding device. The "sound" of this device which is connected to a diy tube dac is much better then before with my creative sound card & modified kx drivers, music is much better defined, with nice bass and detailed highs. Verdict -to buy and forget expensive fancy media centres...