USB to USB?

Posted by: Holty on 09 July 2010

So from discussions on here regarding the quality of the USB interface on the ndac, has anyone tested the USB to USB (source to ndac) using a decent spec cable?

I've purchased an Atom chipset mini-itx as a source instead of a mac mini. Although they have a SPDIF on the motherboard I have organised a trial of a HiFace so I can hear the difference. They both will turn up next week so it's got me thinking about why everyone is bothering to convert from USB on the hiface to SPDIF when it seems that it's the USB that we all seem to crave?

Anyone tried this?
Posted on: 09 July 2010 by james n
The Naim DAC wont accept a USB connection from a computer.

James
Posted on: 09 July 2010 by Holty
quote:
Originally posted by james n:
The Naim DAC wont accept a USB connection from a computer.

James

well that's killed that. Thanks naim! This thread was going down a storm as well; definate hall of fame material... Winker
Posted on: 09 July 2010 by james n
Big Grin
Posted on: 09 July 2010 by John R.
But an asyncronous USB to S/PDIF converter will help Smile There are already some available and some will follow in the very near future.
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by SimonJ
Will a USB to S/PDIF and then back into the DAC approach not be prone to more jitter than just plugging a computer directly into a DAC or is the computer to USB approach just a prone to it?
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by PureHifi
We have been using (playing) with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic as our way of getting PC playback from USB in to the Naim Dac.

The DacMagic, will provide a digital output stream when using it's USB input - a neat feature I was not aware of until we tried it (maybe it is in the manual, but who reads those !).

Works well but we have not really had the time to do a critical listen to the results...the USB cable in use is a wireworld starlight, we have also used the wireworld ultraviolet and a cheaper LaCie cable...all sound different and way better than any std USB computer cable we have tried so far...
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by paremus
PureHiFi

with a preference for the "starlight"?
Posted on: 14 August 2010 by PureHifi
Uuummm, not sure yet...I have had far more time with the Ultraviolet, so there is a certain amount of security in that, the Starlight did not instantly take me by the lapels and drag me to it..it is smotther and more deatiled I think and I am sure it will grow on me with time.
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by Eloise
quote:
Originally posted by PureHifi:
We have been using (playing) with the Cambridge Audio DacMagic as our way of getting PC playback from USB in to the Naim Dac.

The DacMagic, will provide a digital output stream when using it's USB input - a neat feature I was not aware of until we tried it (maybe it is in the manual, but who reads those !).

Works well but we have not really had the time to do a critical listen to the results...the USB cable in use is a wireworld starlight, we have also used the wireworld ultraviolet and a cheaper LaCie cable...all sound different and way better than any std USB computer cable we have tried so far...


Seams a strange combination - isn't the USB input of the DACMagic generally considered inferior to the Optical and Co-ax inputs?
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by likesmusic
If you read Cambridge Audios response to the review of the Dacmagic in Stereophile you will indeed see that they themselves acknowledge that the USB input is inferior:

' the USB interface itself inherently carries a much higher level of jitter than S/PDIF/TosLink, as the audio data have to be inserted into a TDM stream according to a 12MHz clock nonsynchronous with the audio. Also, with USB audio 1.0, you are limited to 16-bit/44.1kHz or /48kHz transfer only. '

Isn't a dire state of affairs to consider driving a product of the purported calibre of the Naim Dac with a product of the calibre of the CA Dacmagic?
Posted on: 15 August 2010 by PureHifi
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
Seams a strange combination - isn't the USB input of the DACMagic generally considered inferior to the Optical and Co-ax inputs?


You are right, but we like to try lots of things from our product line up...at least it gives us a better understanding of what makes a great result over what doesn't...I never like to base recommendations on anything I haven't personally tried.

Our shop laptop does not feature Coax or Optical out so it was a case of making use of what was at hand for the purpose required.
Posted on: 16 August 2010 by likesmusic
The black Dacmagic sounds quite different from the silver one; the small box and circuit design means a lot of heat is generated.
Posted on: 16 August 2010 by Eloise
quote:
Originally posted by likesmusic:
The black Dacmagic sounds quite different from the silver one; the small box and circuit design means a lot of heat is generated.

Are you serious?

I bet it sounds better laid down than stood on it's end too!
Posted on: 16 August 2010 by rich46
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
quote:
Originally posted by likesmusic:
The black Dacmagic sounds quite different from the silver one; the small box and circuit design means a lot of heat is generated.

Are you serious?

I bet it sounds better laid down than stood on it's end too!


does it sound better on a sunday too
Posted on: 16 August 2010 by likesmusic
Depends whether it's night or day Eloise. And, to make matters worse, the recent Perseid meteor shower has disturbed the flight paths of some rare Nicaraguan butterflies, causing a perturbation in the gulf stream which in turn is causing wave power generators to put strange pulses on the mains ..