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RE: Upgrading a Dac 2.1 to 3.1

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In Reply to: RE: Upgrading a Dac 2.1 to 3.1 posted by AstroSonic on January 23, 2011 at 08:46:10

I too would love to see Audio Note Kits embrace one of the OEM offering for an inbuilt USB input, M2Tech and a host of others offer these now.

The Audio Note Dac remains a simply brilliant piece of kit and this would bring it bang up to date.

Please....

Follow Ups:

RE: Upgrading a Dac 2.1 to 3.1 - Tubeheadz 03:55:12 01/24/11 (2)
Hi blueixus

I take it that you read my post???..... The M2Tech products (none of them) lend themselves to internal mounting in the DACs. There are also too many variables out there right now to make the case for a viable research project (within AN K). For example.... it is well known that Firewire is a better transfer protocol, but there just aren't the drivers available. There are other approaches such as the Logitech Duet, that convert from TCP/IP to S/PDIF. Which is the right one? For the long haul.... or right now? So, I am starting an objective study and I am asking if any members out there are interested in somehow participating? I do understand that for the most part, once someone has found "their baby," they stick to it and defend it vociferously... that is human nature. I guess I'm not human (all those years working at IBM)! So I put it out there.... if anyone else in interested in computer based music and the interface to the AN K DAC's feel free to e-mail me.

btw... I am not talking about music servers or music stored on a PC used for other things as well.... I'm talking about dedicated computer storage and playback of hi-res music, using a hard wired (not WiFi) system. This also entails optimizing the O/S to remove unnecessary services.

At this point I am using an IBM/Intel computer with a 1TB Cinemastar drive, Windows XP and J River application software.... however that may change, as the MacMini guys have been able to make their case quite convincingly. I also tried the Ubuntu version of UNIX and unfortunately abondoned that, at least for now, due to the learning curve required.

Until next time.... enjoy the music

Tubeheadz
- RE: Upgrading a Dac 2.1 to 3.1 - blueixus 10:05:40 01/24/11 (0)
  Actually I was following up on Astrosonics note, but that does not matter.
  
  You are right there are many many variables. I've been down this track for the past two years seriously.
  
  I don't have a 'baby' in this area, as I have not found something to call my 'baby' yet.
  
  I have moved from PC to Mac, and tried the Logitech products along the way. With PC I found one application that was quite excellent - XXHE - but also found it too difficult to use as a daily item. More a criticism of me than the software.
  
  With Mac there are a range of software solutions than seem easier and more akin to itunes which brings both benefits and downsides. I am in a Mac place now and the results are steadily improving.
  
  All of this has been from a dedicated computer, non wifi system. I do and will always struggle with OS as I simply do not have enough knowledge in that area.
  
  I have a view that the computer approaches may not be right. Computers are not built for audio alone and therefore will always be compromised in context of the standards HiFi should be built to.
  
  I spend a lot of time of the computeraudiophile forum where people spend a lot of time trying to minimise the activity of their computers on the process, often Macs.
  
  So logically The TCP/IP to SPIDF conversion outside of the PC in a dedicated 'audio enviroment' seems better but I found the operation of these is not great and I don't want a network as it is more complexity.
  
  Ideally I would like to use vanilla itunes like player to select the tracks (rather than PM or Amarra) and have the computer pass the entire file/s (of what ever resolution - upto 96kHz for Audio Note)) via USB (your point about firewire is valid but it seems to be on a longterm losing to streak to USB 2.0) to a dedicated external converter to SPIDF or I2S. That way all the conversion from WAV or AIFF to SPIDF/I2S can be handled outside the computer with decent clocks and PSUs.
  
  There are also few interesting SD card players floating around that output in SPIDF/I2S that look interesting - I am going to take the plunge and try one soon as they are dedicated standalone players - I don't think they are the future but they may provide some of the DNA!
  
  Anyway coming back to the interface with the AN K Dacs it seems SPIDF or possibly I2S will be the route in.
  
  Excuse this stream of thought but it is a very interesting area I just wish I had more skills that were pertinent to it!
- Optimum USB to SPDIF Converter for AN DAC Kits - AstroSonic 08:17:11 01/24/11 (0)
  Once some critical parts upgrades are made to the AN DAC kits, I think that the USB to SPDIF converter is the next critical performance 'bottleneck' for a Computer/USB based digital source.
  
  I would be interested in an effort in choosing optimum usb to spdif converter for use with the AN kit DACs. I recognize that it may come down to personal preferences. An asychronous approach may be the best, but reviews suggest that a more ideal implementaion of the 'adaptive' approach used by the Hagerman unit currently offered with the kits might also be good. See the Stereophile review if the Halide Design Bridge - the difference between the Bridge and the Stello U2 was subtle. A recent 'converter comparo' in Positive Feedback (http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue51/usb_converters.htm) also suggest this. I would certainly be open to modification of the Hagerman, if it is a worthy modification platform (in other words, if that would result in sound compretitive with other potentially built-in options like the U2, EVO, etc.).
  
  Regards,
  
  Bob

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