best way to deal with the USB output?

Another one from CES. It better be bloody good at this price!!

This very simple looking box is Swiss company Soulution's new USB to SPDIF/Toslink/AES converter that will set you back approximately $4k. It can handle streams up to 24/192 and can sync with the company's 745 and 540 players.

I use a JKenny MK3 modded HiFace and am very satisfied with that.

I hear that the SonicWeld Diverter HR is about top of the range at the moment

http://computeraudiosystems.ne...-officially-released

I don't believe it is the best way. What you're effectively doing is two conversions - USB to SP/DIF, then SP/DIF to I2S which is the native "Language" of the DAC. Better to convert USB straight to I2S, and the latest USB inputs use an XMOS chip which, unlike previous types, has the potential to handle 32/384 sample rates (if you can find stuff in this sample rate...)

I notice that Weiss are using USB input with the XMO in their latest 202 version.

I tend to agree with Tony. I would like to see the evidence. From an engineering point of view I am struggling to see how SPDIF has an advantage over a good USB asynchronous implmentation. They both have pros and cons. Its also fair to say that some of the current crop of top DACs use USB or Firewire interfaces, and of course SPDIF is limited to 24bit 192kHz stereo uncompressed and USB isn't.

However i wouldnt say I2S is the native interface of DACs but if implemented (as used by Naim)  it clearly allows a clocked synchronous data path - rather than having to rebuild the clock in an asynchronous manner as per SPDIF.

Simon

I am surprised Empirical Audio's "Ramp" products aren't more popular.

I'm not, I've seen the price of them, especially with the Ultraclock or whatever  There are lots of expensive gadetary out there, but do you really think they'll give you a better listen than your juli@ sound card in to your DAC .... I'm unconvinced. Just tune in to Lumpy Money or your set-up and tune in to the chrome plated megaphone of destiny. 

Tony, the Weiss's marketing blurb puts me off its products, plus I couldn't hear any improvement using its expensive INT202 over the MF V-Link. I thought they were firewire disciples, have they gone USB? Stello has products that use I2S between transport and DAC, as I think does PS Audio. However, I have found a Wireworld Supernova 6 (WWSN6) from new Mac Mini to Naim DAC is brilliant and inexpensive, so any funds will go on the "what comes after the DAC" bit. 

I have not heard a Weiss DAC, but I think if it does sound good then this, as you imply, is down to a good holistic design rather than choice of I2S, firewire, USB or S/PDIF out. I think the same is true of the best two DACS I have heard: Naim DAC and BAD Alpha. I'm pretty sure the BAD Alpha is S/PDIF only, but if Naim didn't make a great DAC then that would be my choice. 

Here is the BAD Alpha USB to S/PDIF convertor 

Does anybody think it'll make my system sound better than the WWSN6? The box is my favourite colour. 

Just make sure you got the right USB cable to go with your SWD HR:

Some of the people all of the time.

Where's your sense of humour Big...

I think the snake swallowed it!

It's a Locus Design Cynosure v2 USB cable selling at $3549 / meter. (http://www.locus-design.com/in...p/cynosure-usb-cable). Makes a HiLine look cheap in comparison 

Make a hi-line an acceptable looking object too.

Looks like the wife's legs in her tights. Damn good value though!

My view was (perhaps erroneous) that this started as a slightly tongue in cheek pop at the idea of paying such ridiculous sums for a less than ideal conversion from a computer USB port to an SPDIF input. That some people would consider paying such sums to have a computer tied to their DAC solution amazes me.

As has been mentioned by others here this is a relatively 'difficult'  interface at the best of times with all the concerns about synchronous vs asynchronous and how to reconstitute jitter free timing. 

It took Naim quite a long time to see that network streaming is a better approach, where no timing info is necessary and the DAC can buffer and completely control the accurate timing itself without compromise.

As for I2S this was designed by Philips way back when as a very short distance internal connection method ( between adjacent circuit boards in CD players, for example). Using it between separated boxes  really means introducing output and input IC boards into the signal flow and there is no wiring or signal transfer standard for this, Manufacturer's do their own thing causing bespoke solutions that are not readily interchangeable.

regards

Geoff

That's what I was getting at. Soon after I realised though that " to look cheap" also has quite a different meaning... Never thought the HiLine looked cheap, quite the opposite.

Interesting to note that Naim's original and much-criticised stance on not supplying their CD players with an SP/DIF output and instead using I2S to connect transport output to the internal DAC is technically the more satisfactory.

Geoff, you may be interested in looking up the forthcoming Twisted Pear Transporter device that uses CAT5/6 to transmit I2S (& DSD) over greater distances than the standard 10cm maximum for I2S, using LVDS (Low-voltage Differential Signalling).

I've fiddled around in a DIY way with my Teralink USB/SP/DIF convertor, which in its basic form was a considerable step up from the iMac's built-in optical output. Adding better power supplies, regulators, high-quality clock with its own power supply and galvanic isolator all made worthwhile improvements to sound quality. This indicates to me that SP/DIF is flawed and alternatives probably have greater potential.

Guido, I only mentioned Weiss because it's a very high-quality DAC. Very overpriced in my opinion, and stuffed full of features that I wouldn't want, but their adoption of USB is significant. It might be just a response to market forces but I'd be surprised if sound quality in comparison with their usual Firewire interface is less.

Tony

I did try to do I2S in my RAKK DAC. The drawback for me was I could only do this via a USB -> I2S converter and it was uncertain the connections were correct. Never got it to work. My ignorance I am sure.

That said I wanted to access the music on my NAS via the network anyway. Ended up using a Logitech TOUCH to give me SPDIF off a network connection. The DAC works great and sounds excellent via that so have not persevered with I2S for that reason.

TheTwisted Pear Transporter looks interesting but no network 'in'.

regards

Geoff