Questions regarding & relating to PC as source.

[GradoMan]

I’m starting this thread to hopefully answer questions I and\or others may have on this topic.

Right, firstly, why is “PC-as-source” under the “Headphone” sub forum?  O.K. seriously, first question:

1. When using a computer as source, what is the best option with regard to connection to DAC, taking into account things such as supposed lower RF noise vs. higher jitter over optical and the opposite over coaxial (assuming your PC has both onboard).  Is it better to go with something like asynchronous USB to s\pdif…?
…and which would you recommend?

[WaterHond]

Coax is normally the better option when choosing between optical and coaxial.
Usb to an asynchronous bridge or dac can however give very good results because jitter is effectively minimized.
I'm using the HRT Musicstreamer II+  feeding some prof. nearfield monitors (Genelec) in my office and it sounds better than any normal CD player.
In my main setup I have tried three asynchronous usb to s/pdif converters feeding an Emotiva dac and all three sound very good, much better than the dac's own adaptive usb interface. The Musical Fidelity V-Link is a good affordable converter and will work with any dac with a coax input, including the one in a surround sound amp, giving it an immediate SQ boost.

More expensive options, both converter and/or dac can be had for more $$ if you think your setup warrants it, including ones with built in preamps and headphone amps.
Good resource is www.computeraudiophile.com
Edit: Also look at Firewire dacs - a lot of professional audio is firewire and if I understand correctly it is also asynchronous.

[GearSlave]

Yup, async USB is the way to go. Firewire was the bees knees years ago as it pioneered async capability. Now that you can get it with USB2, Firewire is redundant (for this application) because it's so much more expensive. Don't get me wrong, Firewire is still the superior interface, just not for Joe Soap. In fact, my whole outboard measurement rig is Firewire.

When it comes to USB devices, the Musiland Monitor 01US is hard to beat in value terms. Yes, I'm biased as I'm considering taking on the agency, but I do believe in the product and wouldn't even consider such a move if I wasn't "bowled over"

[chipwelder]

Gert... you are going to bankrupt me.

[GradoMan]

I'm using the HRT Musicstreamer II+  feeding some prof. nearfield monitors (Genelec) in my office and it sounds better than any normal CD player.

This is what I’m lookig at, upgrading the sound in my office.  Up untill now I have been content with a FiiO e7 USB portable DAC\AMP feeding my Grado SR80’s.  I’m now looking at the Schiit Audio Asgard Discrete HP amp feeding Grado SR321is.  DAC still undecided.  I like the “warm” fun sound of the FiiO (Wolfson WM8740 DAC, ADI AD8692 OP Amp and TI TPA6130A Power AMP).  It’s something different to my mostly “neatral” home rig and somewhat “clinical” bedside listening rig.  I recall you mentioned the Halide Design S/Pdif Bridge “sounds warm and very musical”. 

When it comes to USB devices, the Musiland Monitor 01US is hard to beat in value terms.

I’ve been seeing\reading allot about this little device lately.    I recall there having been some driver issues or lack of driver support at some time.  Has this been ironed out?

[WaterHond]

 I recall you mentioned the Halide Design S/Pdif Bridge “sounds warm and very musical”.  
I’ve been seeing\reading allot about this little device lately.    I recall there having been some driver issues or lack of driver support at some time.  Has this been ironed out?

The Halide Design is my favourite but it can lose lock if you have anything that kicks out a spike (fridge or dishwasher) and need to be unplugged and replugged at usb to come back to life.
I'm waiting for a replacement from Halide design at the moment that promises to fix this problem. The Audiophilleo is probably all round the best, I've found, but the price is steep. The Musical Fidelity V-Link is best value for money and I probably wouldn't be able to definitely pick it out blindfolded from the the Halide. Not much to choose between the three; any one of which will transform a pc or laptop to what sounds as close as dammit to a high end transport.
Edit: The Audiophilleo can also handle right up to 24bit - 192khz sample rates while the other two top out at 96Khz.

[WaterHond]

Hi Gradoman,
Just noticed you're in Cape Town - you're welcome to come have a listen if you want - it's a nice drive to Onrus!
I do have the MF V-link that is going spare at the moment...

[GearSlave]

I recall there having been some driver issues or lack of driver support at some time.  Has this been ironed out?

Yup. For some unknown reason they shipping the devices with very old drivers. The latest drivers are solid and none of the many people I've assisted here have had any issues since. There's also been some enhancements in the drivers and this has totally transformed the units performance.

[MxT]

Yup. For some unknown reason they shipping the devices with very old drivers. The latest drivers are solid and none of the many people I've assisted here have had any issues since. There's also been some enhancements in the drivers and this has totally transformed the units performance.

Agreed with the above- for the money I dont see anything coming near it. Youd propably would need to start looking at the DAC magic or the ADL Gt40 to better this for your cans, either way you could still use this as a link between the PC and then another DAC, can only be beneficial to send a jitter free signal into a DAC in any case-so its pretty future proof imho

[GradoMan]

Hi, "waterhond".

Hi Gradoman,
Just noticed you're in Cape Town - you're welcome to come have a listen if you want - it's a nice drive to Onrus!

Thanks for the offer.  I come that way maybe once a year during December holidays.  We have a beach house near Uilenkraal.

I seee custom-cable.co.uk has it on special at $139.30

I do have the MF V-link that is going spare at the moment...

Were you hinting at selling?

[WaterHond]

Hi, "waterhond".

I seee custom-cable.co.uk has it on special at $139.30

Were you hinting at selling?

Yes, I was, I'll send you a PM.

[kamikazi]

I have ordered a Musiland Monitor 01US as well, then I'll also chirp in with my thoughts on USB audio when I get the unit. I intend to use it with my company laptop. The onboard audio on that laptop is atrocious... For my main computer rig I'm using a Asus Essence STX which has really exceeded my expectations as a source. It uses the same DAC as the Benchmark DAC1, but compared the DAC1, the DAC1 was still better, with better soundstage and was blacker between the notes. 10 times more expensive though.... I think with an opamp upgrade and good clean computer power supply the Essence STX should suffice for most people!

The headphone amp on the Essence STX is a nice added bonus, but I ended up getting a Lehmann Black Cube Linear which Im using as a single source pre-amp and headphone amp which is quite a substantial upgrade over the Essence STX headphone amp.

[GradoMan]

Right, I think I'm sorted.  Just bought the V-Link from "waterhond", so will see from here.

I'm using a Asus Essence STX which has really exceeded my expectations as a source.

I don't know hey, every fiber in my being rejects the notion of a PC sound card as source.  There is however one that caught my eye - The Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 Special Edition with Burson Audio Discreet HD opamps and a few other mods.  Apparently it came out as the preferred in user review and AB testing over the ASUS with similar mods.  It also has noise filtering (which they call PNK technology) built in as well as EMI shield layering of some sort on the card.  From what I read, this is where it really counts and I quote: "not just some halve arsed graffiti'd tin cap, marketed as an EMI shield."   

[WaterHond]

Right, I think I'm sorted.  Just bought the V-Link from "waterhond", so will see from here.

I don't know hey, every fiber in my being rejects the notion of a PC sound card as source.  There is however one that caught my eye - The Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 Special Edition with Burson Audio Discreet HD opamps and a few other mods.  Apparently it came out as the preferred in user review and AB testing over the ASUS with similar mods.  It also has noise filtering (which they call PNK technology) built in as well as EMI shield layering of some sort on the card.  From what I read, this is where it really counts and I quote: "not just some halve arsed graffiti'd tin cap, marketed as an EMI shield."   

By funny co-incidence I also have the Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 Special Edition (bought from their webshop on Ebay) in my desktop and it is very nice but I much prefer the HRT Musicstreamer II+ which is just so smooth and detailed. 

[Uriah]

Hi Waterhond
Are you using the HRT Musicstreamer II+directly connected to a pc using the onboard sound or are u using a external /internal seperate sound card,i am using a a laptop and a musiland us 2 connected to a nad amp as source but i am very keen on the HRT  not sure where to get it though
Regards
Trev