Hiface into Supernait advice
Posted by: Rocabarraigh on 26 April 2010
I am using itunes on my Mac into a Snait. I have tried optichord Toslink connection and am quite impressed; still prefer my CDI, but it is very close, don't think i could tell the difference if played a track and asked is that MAC/DAC or CD but can clearly tell in direct A/B.
So, in possession of a few nice Linn hi res files and corresponding CDs, which i already have thought i would get the Hiface interface on a trial and buy/return basis. Ordered from a well known supplier, all arrived but there are no detailed instructions on how to set up itunes and the 'sound interface'. Quite confusing. Have installed latest driver, made what i think are the correct audio midi settings and Hiface settings and ... it works. But to be quite honest there is no difference between the optical connection and the Hiface, and no difference between the standard and hi res files played through itunes (converted to apple lossless format from FLAC downloads). And the Hiface settings only allow a 32 bit setting. So have i set all the correct parameters? I did notice that the volume control in itunes still works if using Hiface, so is this not bit perfect kernel streaming? I guess not. I also notice that Winky tried it and was not impressed that there was a difference. There are no detailed instructions with the Hiface. Are they available for download anywhere? Will i not expect to notice any difference until i use Pure Music or Armarra? Can anyone point me to the info i need to understand the correct setup? Many Thanks.
Patrick
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by winkyincanada
I await your findings with interest. I am perhaps contemplating a HiFace.
To be clear, I only tried Pure Music (and couldn't pick a difference), not the HiFace. It was suggested, I think, that one needed a higher quality set-up (perhaps using a HiFace) to be able to pick it.
I remain openminded about the potential for alternative hardware/software to make a significant difference in the digital realm. I just haven't heard it yet.
Loving my Lossless - Mini - SPDIF - SuperNait (with HiCap) setup, though.
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by james n
Winky - you need to try Pure Music with a decent interface - HiFace or the Weiss INT202. It'll really make your Supernait sing
James
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by james n
Patrick - when playing the hi-res files, are you going back into Audio Midi and setting the sample rate (and the restarting itunes)otherwise iTunes will downsample them.
James
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by ferenc
quote:
Originally posted by Rocabarraigh:
I am using itunes on my Mac into a Snait. I have tried optichord Toslink connection and am quite impressed; still prefer my CDI, but it is very close, don't think i could tell the difference if played a track and asked is that MAC/DAC or CD but can clearly tell in direct A/B.
So, in possession of a few nice Linn hi res files and corresponding CDs, which i already have thought i would get the Hiface interface on a trial and buy/return basis. Ordered from a well known supplier, all arrived but there are no detailed instructions on how to set up itunes and the 'sound interface'. Quite confusing. Have installed latest driver, made what i think are the correct audio midi settings and Hiface settings and ... it works. But to be quite honest there is no difference between the optical connection and the Hiface, and no difference between the standard and hi res files played through itunes (converted to apple lossless format from FLAC downloads). And the Hiface settings only allow a 32 bit setting. So have i set all the correct parameters? I did notice that the volume control in itunes still works if using Hiface, so is this not bit perfect kernel streaming? I guess not. I also notice that Winky tried it and was not impressed that there was a difference. There are no detailed instructions with the Hiface. Are they available for download anywhere? Will i not expect to notice any difference until i use Pure Music or Armarra? Can anyone point me to the info i need to understand the correct setup? Many Thanks.
Patrick
You should have to realize quite a bit of a difference if you compare HiFace to Toslink, mainly with Hi-Res files. I easily can pick it up, even in my PA system with Mytek pro DAC, so you do not need very high-end system to realize it.
Be sure Audio/Midi is always set to the same sampling rate as the files you play before you start to play another sampling rate file in iTunes. 32 bit is not a problem at all. Usually the pro interfaces have 32 bit floating settings too in the Audio/Midi app.
Few days ago I had a chance to try a DAC which displays not only the sampling rate of the input but the but resolution as well. It was nice to see HiFace/Mac/iTunes kept the bit resolution, it was the same as the file itself, in Win 7 and Foobar/Wasapi it was 16 bit even if the file was 24 bit. Strange and do not know the reason.
Posted on: 26 April 2010 by Rocabarraigh
First, there appear to be no setting changes that can be made in the hiface driver apart from sampling speed. No of bits in wordlength seems set at 32 and are unchangeable (compare this to audio midi settings which allow you to change no. of bits. I have set the sampling speed to the same as the file being played both in the Hiface driver and the audiomidi settings. I have on each occasion 'forced a quit' and restarted itunes.
I have compared this with the optichord connection direct from my Macbook pro.
I have also noticed a third thing; if you set up an airport express and connect this to the Snait using the optichord and then set itunes to 'allow multiple speakers', it is possible to simultaneously output from itunes to the optical input (via express which i know is limited to 96 kHz) and to the Hiface and allow toggling between the two DAC inputs - again no real difference. I think i must have done something wrong.
KR
Patrick
Posted on: 27 April 2010 by 0rangutan
Hi Patrick,
I was sceptical about whether a HiFace would do much, but could hear a clear difference over USB and an improvement over optical into a MF V-DAC and a modest valve amp.
A few things you could try:
1. Install Rogue Amoeba's Soundsource app (free) to easily switch between HiFace and Optical in your Mac's menu bar. This also provides an easy shortcut to your Mac's MIDI settings.
2. In your Mac's MIDI settings the HiFace will default to 32-bit output (good), but you should set the sampling frequency to suit both your source and input capabilities of your DAC. 96Hz is probably best.
3. Try taking iTunes out of the equation briefly and use VLC (also free) for playback of your HiRes files, including your Linn FLACs - no need to convert these. You can right click on the playing track within VLC and confirm the bit depth and frequency. Once working, you can then toggle between iTunes and VLC to confirm whether iTunes may be configured wrong or misbehaving.
4. If iTunes doesn't sound right, check that all sound enhancement and checking features are off and that iTunes volume is at maximum.
Good luck,
John
Posted on: 27 April 2010 by gav111n
Hi Patrick,
I don’t think there is much to get wrong with the HiFace on a MBP. I just selected HiFace as output on sounds in user preferences. I also selected HiFace as input rather than the onboard microphone as a way to shut it off, just in case having the microphone on all of the time affects the sound.
The bit depth is fixed at 32, so nothing to do there. I then choose the sample frequency to match that of the recording in midi settings (quitting and re-starting iTunes), having said that, if I choose the ‘wrong’ frequency I can’t really notice much difference.
For me, going from Optichord to HiFace(BNC) with DC1(BNC-BNC) was a significant improvement, no question. Definitely not something you have to work at to find subtle differences.
I think the difference between our experiences may be more related to the characteristics of our systems rather than the HiFace set up. I am using a naim DAC. I have never heard the DAC in a SNAIT. Maybe the quality of the connection between the HiFace and the DAC also plays a part.
In terms of player, I just run iTunes for ripping and play back (AIFF). I can clearly hear what Pure Music does but I prefer iTunes. The effect of PM compared with iTunes, for me, is no where near as big as the effect of HiFace over Optichord. Again, this probably says a lot about my system and my sound preferences.
Gavin.
