NDac source options

Yes, the first series of CDX2 can be converted (in which case it becomes just a digital transport), but not the CDX.

I feed my NDac with a Auralic Aries Femto, superb.

My own experience, in case it helps: using Hugo DAC, I switched from ND5XS as renderer to Mac Mini running Audirvana (fully optimised) through Gustard U12 isolator, and it was an improvement. (Subsequently Hugo was replaced with Dave, still with MM/Audirvana, but no longer needing the Gustard.) A brief comparison of MM/Audiv against Melco N1A into Dave suggested the sound was inditinguishable. (However, Melco is a neater solution than Mm/Audiv.)

As for other low cost sources I don’t recall seeing any that have claimed RPi as renderer compares favourably with high level sources, however - though this only from received wisdom - microRendu might be another matter. See The Hugo of Streaming thread.

Innocent Bystander posted:

My own experience, in case it helps: using Hugo DAC, I switched from ND5XS as renderer to Mac Mini running Audirvana (fully optimised) through Gustard U12 isolator, and it was an improvement. (Subsequently Hugo was replaced with Dave, still with MM/Audirvana, but no longer needing the Gustard.) A brief comparison of MM/Audiv against Melco N1A into Dave suggested the sound was inditinguishable. (However, Melco is a neater solution than Mm/Audiv.)

As for other low cost sources I don’t recall seeing any that have claimed RPi as renderer compares favourably with high level sources, however - though this only from received wisdom - microRendu might be another matter. See The Hugo of Streaming thread.

Thanks Innocent, I new you would come through!

Ok, new into streaming, and don't know  what a Gustard is.

But, The Dave > Hugo > Mojo > Airport Express

Melco ~ MM/ Audirvana = Renderer

So!!!!!

Would my MM/Audirvana be my renderer?

NAS = Network Attachment Storage

NAS = NDS > NDX > MM/Audirvan = MMA

Front End:

HCDR > 282 ~ Analog Hub

Cdx2 > 282 ~ Digital Source = DS (1)

Core/Ndac/MMA > 282 = DS (2)

Would the meta-data be accessible by MMA?

Am I on the right Track?

New to Streaming!

Thanks In Advance!

Allante93!

PS. 

HCDR > 282

DS (1) = Cdx2 > 282

DS (2) = MMA > Ndac > 282

Rear End = 3 x (250.2) > Briks > EARS!

Hello Pat,

I went through the same reflexion some time ago.

If USB feeding is considered as the reference, then how do I get the same sound quality and overall presentation?

My music is stored in a PC with Windows 10 and JRiver (windows 10 is stripped down and used only for JRiver).

My solution is : Audiophilleo 1 (MKII) + Pure Power.
I use it directly connected to SPDIF (no coax cable). 

I have a few reference audio files (voices, instruments and small groups of instruments – all acoustic) which I use to compare between setups. The result is the following: there no noticeable difference between USB and Audiophilleo feeding.

Audiophilleo isn’t cheap, but it does the job quite well.

Hope it helps.

Tom

Allante93 posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

My own experience, in case it helps: using Hugo DAC, I switched from ND5XS as renderer to Mac Mini running Audirvana (fully optimised) through Gustard U12 isolator, and it was an improvement. (Subsequently Hugo was replaced with Dave, still with MM/Audirvana, but no longer needing the Gustard.) A brief comparison of MM/Audiv against Melco N1A into Dave suggested the sound was inditinguishable. (However, Melco is a neater solution than Mm/Audiv.)

As for other low cost sources I don’t recall seeing any that have claimed RPi as renderer compares favourably with high level sources, however - though this only from received wisdom - microRendu might be another matter. See The Hugo of Streaming thread.

Thanks Innocent, I new you would come through!

Ok, new into streaming, and don't know  what a Gustard is.

Gustard U12 is a USB isolator/converter. Has USB input and SPDIF electrical, optical and AES/EBU outputs. Its prime function in this use is to remove any RF or other electrical noise and isolate the DAC from the computer source. There are many isolators available - I found the inexpensive Gustard to be very effective between MacMini/optimised Audirvana and Hugo.

But, The Dave > Hugo > Mojo > Airport Express

Melco ~ MM/ Audirvana = Renderer

So!!!!!

Would my MM/Audirvana be my renderer?

To stream from a home source the basics are a music store, a renderer (aka transport or player)and a DAC. Most common is a separate music store such as a NAS, connected via a network  to a 'streamer' such as Naim ND5XS, NDX or NDS output to your preamp, otherwise the components can be separate, or combined in different ways (eg streamer and preamp combined as in the NAC N272).

Audirvana is a renderer, and needs a Mac on which to run. (Mac Mini is a convenient implementation of Mac for this, easy to dedicate, small and virtually silent.) Audirvana can play files from a NAS, and the highest quality output is USB - but being a computer the signal can be ‘contaminated’ by RF noise, and some DACs are very susceptible to that, with adverse effects on sound quality - this is true of the otherwise excellent Hugo, hence my use of Gustard at that time. Not needed with Dave, which has very good isolation of its own.

Using this approach, the Mac Mini can also be used as the music store, so you can have the files all in the same machine and no need to stream files across a network from a NAS to the renderer, which has the advantage of avoiding any issues arising from the network, which causes problems for some people (but not all).

But compared to, say, Melco or Innuos Zenith or Uniti Core, MM/Audirvana is a bit more “hands on”to set up. And personally I find Audirvana’s library handling to be frustrating , though others are quite happy - it depends on your metadata, and mine seems to have lots of issues. I am hoping Audirvana’s writer will fix it, but if not one day I will switch to something else.

An alternative is a separate DAC fed by a combined music store + renderer (e.g MacMini+Audirvana, Melco, Innuos Zenith, and possible the new Uniti Core

NAS = Network Attachment Storage

NAS = NDS > NDX > MM/Audirvan = MMA

Front End:

HCDR > 282 ~ Analog Hub

Cdx2 > 282 ~ Digital Source = DS (1)

Core/Ndac/MMA > 282 = DS (2)

Would the meta-data be accessible by MMA?

Am I on the right Track?

New to Streaming!

Thanks In Advance!

Allante93!

PS. 

HCDR > 282

DS (1) = Cdx2 > 282

DS (2) = MMA > Ndac > 282

Rear End = 3 x (250.2) > Briks > EARS!

 

 

 

 

 

See in red above

Wow! I really appreciate that, the Forum at its best.

Informative mode!

I'm learning!

Just to be clear, I only have one source now.

DS (1) = bare Cdx2

But I do Stream locally.

MM > Airport Extreme > itunes > Airport Express > 282

This Core all started with a 300 mile trip to an Linn/Naim Dealer 3 weeks ago.

He suggested the core, whilst we were listening to the S1 etc......

Hence, I thinking two moves.

1st,  Naim's Reference Hard Disk~ $2.6K

The Core

2nd, Pre-loved Ndac ~ $2.0K

Note: NDS ~ $ 13K

Dave~ $$$$$

So my intro into Streaming:

HCDR>282 ~ Analog Hub

Time trusted simple bare Cdx2 = DS (1)

MMA = MM Audirvana

Core > Ndac > MMA = DS (2)

Then down the road, Pre-loved NDX.

Nice Thread PATB!

Once Again Thanks to the OP, and all that have corrected my flawed thinking!

Allante93!

PS. I owe you Innocent.

Thanks!

Allante93 posted:

Wow! I really appreciate that, the Forum at its best.

Informative mode!

I'm learning!

Just to be clear, I only have one source now.

DS (1) = bare Cdx2

But I do Stream locally.

MM > Airport Extreme > itunes > Airport Express > 282

This Core all started with a 300 mile trip to an Linn/Naim Dealer 3 weeks ago.

He suggested the core, whilst we were listening to the S1 etc......

Hence, I thinking two moves.

1st,  Naim's Reference Hard Disk~ $2.6K

The Core

2nd, Pre-loved Ndac ~ $2.0K

Note: NDS ~ $ 13K

Dave~ $$$$$

So my intro into Streaming:

HCDR>282 ~ Analog Hub

Time trusted simple bare Cdx2 = DS (1)

MMA = MM Audirvana

Core > Ndac > MMA = DS (2) Not quite sure what you mean by this: Core and MMA can dor exactly the same as one another (store music, and provide a rendered output direct to a DAC (Core=SPDIF, MMA=USB), Of course they do what they do in different ways, and the challenge would be for up you to decide which suits - unless you mean you’ll run both as options. ((N.B. I don’t think nDAC has USB input, so you would need a convertor if you use MMA: Richard Dane actually trialled the Gustard U12 in  that mode and seemed to like it - have a search on the forum) 

Then down the road, Pre-loved NDX. Presumably into nDAC? No guarantee that would sound better than the other renderers:  IIRC, early this year Phil Harris noted on the forum something to the effect that he couldn’t discern a difference between Core and NDX rendering - whether there,are more people’s comparative opinions now given the time it has been around I am unsure:another one to research on the forum perhaps. Maybe an even better DAC might be an alternative goal...

Nice Thread PATB!

Once Again Thanks to the OP, and all that have corrected my flawed thinking!

Allante93!

PS. I owe you Innocent. It’s a pleasure - nothing owed!

Thanks!

Using a Toshiba Tecra Windows laptop with Foobar, the Gustard was better than an M2Tech that I used into the Naim DAC as well as into a Hugo. Better still was a Yellowtec, although I reckon s/pdif out from the Core via DC1 possibly trumps all.  That's just casual impressions and I will have to do a proper test to be sure, but then there are so many other things that take priority.  The Core is rather nice to use too from either iPhone or iPad - particularly since the recent firmware and App improvements. Next fw update should hopefully bring error counting on the rip engine too.

Richard Dane posted:

Using a Toshiba Tecra Windows laptop with Foobar, the Gustard was better than an M2Tech that I used into the Naim DAC as well as into a Hugo. Better still was a Yellowtec,

{although I reckon s/pdif out from the Core via DC1 possibly trumps all. }

That's just casual impressions and I will have to do a proper test to be sure, but then there are so many other things that take priority.  The Core is rather nice to use too from either iPhone or iPad - particularly since the recent firmware and App improvements. Next fw update should hopefully bring error counting on the rip engine too.

Dear Richard, please help me out with this:

Posted by Innocent:

"But compared to, say, Melco or Innuos Zenith or Uniti Core, MM/Audirvana is a bit more “hands on”to set up.

{And personally I find Audirvana’s library handling to be frustrating , though others are quite happy - it depends on your metadata, and mine seems to have lots of issues.}

I am hoping Audirvana’s writer will fix it, but if not one day I will switch to something else."

Chris explained that the core was a music server, and would be worth considering.

However, it was not capable of handling the meta-data.

Which I just learned was the genre, artist, etc...

NDS>NDX>ND5XS, I guess = NAS

My thinking was, save a boat load of Cash$$$!

HCDR>282> Analog Hub

I already Stream locally, MM Airport.

Just add the Audirvana Application.

And as Innocent has noted, it can handle the metadata, unlike the Core.

So in my case, it seams like a No-Brainer!

The Naim Sound is Prevailed!

DS (1) = Digital Source 1 = bare Cdx2

DS (2) : Core>Ndac>MMA

@ Richard!

Am I on Point?

Thanks In Advance!

Allante93!

PS. Lets hope the latest fw, reduces the worms some members have mentioned.

After all, it's Naim's Reference Hard Disk!

Not Bad @ $2.6K US

NDS ~ $13K US

Allante, I find the metadata on the Core just fine and the ROVI lookups are excellent, if with a few surprising omissions (Only one Talking Heads album?? but that's a ROVI thing, I guess). But then I rip to WAV on the Core and have most things ripped using DBpoweramp to FLAC on a Lenovo (which is also used for tidying up downloads, converting between FLAC, WAV and ALAC) and also have stuff ripped to iTunes on my Macbook Pro for my in-car iPod.  So I have things quite well covered. What I haven't ripped so much are my classical CDs - mainly because they are a pain to sort out metadata and require a lot of manual changes (that applies to whatever you rip on or with - classical music has always presented a problem here).  IIRC this is the nub of some criticism about the Core's metadata - i,e, it has been designed to make life easy, while not giving you all the "keys to the kingdom".  However, I believe Naim have listened and have already made the editing much stronger and will probably give even more flexibility in the near future, so 'conductor' is probably coming along with other updates...

Allante93 posted:

Posted by Innocent:

"But compared to, say, Melco or Innuos Zenith or Uniti Core, MM/Audirvana is a bit more “hands on”to set up.

{And personally I find Audirvana’s library handling to be frustrating , though others are quite happy - it depends on your metadata, and mine seems to have lots of issues.}

I am hoping Audirvana’s writer will fix it, but if not one day I will switch to something else."

Chris explained that the core was a music server, and would be worth considering.

However, it was not capable of handling the meta-data.

Which I just learned was the genre, artist, etc...

NDS>NDX>ND5XS, I guess = NAS

My thinking was, save a boat load of Cash$$$!

HCDR>282> Analog Hub

I already Stream locally, MM Airport.

Just add the Audirvana Application.

And as Innocent has noted, it can handle the metadata, unlike the Core.

 

 

Allante, I didn't say, nor did I mean to imply that Core has a problem with metadata (or anything else), though some other people have criticised some aspects. I have no reason to think Core is anything other than good at its job, and I see it as one of my options if I do one day give up on Audirvana because of its library - subject to confirming both sound quality and suitable library handling.

Regarding cost, MMA is low cost if you already have a MM, or otherwise buy an upgradeable model cheap secondhand and upgrade it by DIY, which is what I did. If you have to buy a new MM with enough hard disk space and RAM factory fitted, the cost differential from Core and base Melco is much less so would need careful consideration of pros and cons to decidethe best solution. 

As for metadata, it is a potential minefield - classical is worst, as Richard has noted, but I have plenty of non-classical CD rips and downloads that don't show up  right in Audirvana' requiring a bit of a fiddly work-around. Roon did not fare much better (and was actually worse because I didn't know of a workaround). interestingly when I had an ND5XS I managed perfectly, able to default to my file storage structure (both using Logitech Media Server an a NAS and Serviio UPnP player on a Mac Mini acting as a NAS). If Core also allows that, it is a bonus. I don't know about library/ file handling on Melco etc. the important thing with metadata is to get in the habit of checking and adjusting as necessary after every rip and download, to minimise problems arising later. I've probably made this sound worse than it is, as I know some people seem to have little or no problem at all - it may depend on your choice of music as well as the player.

yeti42 posted:

The core is a work in progress firmware wise, it’s slowly improving. I don’t have roon so don’t know if it works with the Core or just the players but it might be the answer if it does. I used to keep my CD shelves better ordered than the firmware does its indexes.

I’m feeding a humble Rega DACr via a Belden 4794R cable with a BNC to RCA adapter on the DAC end and the results through my 552/500/NBLs are far far better than expected from a £600 DAC and a £20 cable, the cable is important but I think DAC dependant. The plan was to wait for Naim’s next top streamer when the Core and DAC join a Rega system in my spare room but it’s absolutely no hardship through the 500 system in the meantime. I have a propper Powerline on the Core as I had a spare and it lifted the performance significantly, at least via the SP/dif output.

Spill over Thread, 300 mile trip to the dealer:

I have a lot of classical on my Core, it can be tricky to find some of it, the rock, folk and jazz stuff is a lot easier as it can be indexed by artist or album title though it’s on first name terms here so Zappa comes under F, you can’t look under composer so easily so I have to remember who plays on my Scriabin discs or just start scrolling. It may be possible to search but I don’t usually think of that.

Some more thoughts on USB bridges can be found in this thread:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...sb-audiobyte-hydra-z

I‘m quite happy with the Shiit Eitr, but have not yet compared to USB stick directly into nDac.

PatB posted:

Hi All,

Some time ago I switched from a CDX+xps to an nDac+xps with raspberry pi as a source. Having 'lived' with it for a while I find myself missing the presentation, liveliness and drive of the cdx. NDac sounds much better (increased separation and soundstage predominantly) and more to my liking via the front usb port but it makes usability a sore pain. The question: what source would bring me closer to the USB-fed quality of sound on the nDAC? Or should I simply look for another source like the ndx for instance? 

Many thanks. 

Pat

Didn't mean to hi-jack your thread, But to answer your question, Maybe the Core! 

The last couple of days, has been very informative to say the least.  Most of the threads on this Forum are spill-overs, which is a good thing! 

I don't have any hands on experience, but from what I gather: 

Core as a Music Server, in conjunction with your Ndac.

MM as your renderer, with Audirvana application, on the Cheap!  

No $13K NDS, NDX, just role with the $2.6K Reference Hard Disk Server! 

But if you desire even more insight on your Ndac, as a source:

Just left the Streaming room.

             <Core Impressions>

A direct spill-over,  recently published.

Just a couple of short quotes, if you're interested,  check out the madness!

"Agree that metadata will probably never be fixed.

I'm probably going to rip everything using a spare iMac and dbpoweramp. Then use a synology nas for storage. 

At that point, I have to choose whether to keep either the HDX/SSD or the Core as an SPDIF player to my NDAC/XPSDR. There is little point in keeping both. Yes, HDX.SSD is unsupported, but then it could be argued that so is Core.

Or just dump all three and use my rather lovely Mojo/Poly and set up a Roon service, thus avoiding the Naim app entirely."

"I think at the moment the Core is a flawed product that should not have been released when it was or even released now come to that, and for whatever reason Naim have put corrective action, much of which they know how to do, on the back burner.

I bought one of the first Cores, but If I had my time again, I would wait until Naim got it working properly first before I gave them my money, especially if I had a working HDX or US (especially as I do still have a working US).

So if you haven't committed yet Andrew, I would suggest you leave it another 6 months or so and see what Naim does to sort out the Core's well known issues."

"I would agree with Richard, although the Core SPDIF output is very good, so it is not a sound quality decision so much as a question of functionality. Given that both Core and Nova need internet access, connecting both of them, and an Airport Express, to a switch would make sense (even if you choose SPDIF for playback.)"

Redundant, and I don't like the wireless connections, which I'm familiar with! 

{And last but not least, the point where I'm at with one Digital Source. DS~ Cdx2:}

"I’m still hesitant to swap my CDX2 for a core, maybe I should give it more time?"

Convenient, but simple, I think not!

But in any event, I think Richard nailed it:

"IIRC this is the nub of some criticism about the Core's metadata - i,e, it has been designed to make life easy, while not giving you all the "keys to the kingdom".  However, I believe Naim have listened and have already made the editing much stronger and will probably give even more flexibility in the near future, so 'conductor' is probably coming along with other updates..."

Allante93!

PS. I think I understand why some members of the Forum, still prefer the Digital CDP! 

CD 555> S1> Active Ovators 

Perhaps I will slow my roll, and heed the advice of the Streamers! What's the Hurry! 

Thank you All, the Forum at its Best.

Informative Mode! 

Allante93 posted:

Filipe posted:

It’s such a shame that the US software is full of bugs as well. I have a Preloved US SSD on loan having loaned a US HD a year ago and ripped 800 CDs and created MP3 libraries for the car. Now it seems to think it should offer wav and mp3 for playing. I have renamed the LQ and rebuilt the library but it still shows the mp3! Seems I have to make the directory a Music Store rather than a Share. Can’t think why the code should be different other than to prevent updating metadata in a share. I can also just move it somewhere else, which is better for me.

It seems Naim have history with their software development. 

{Until the Core is fixed I will stick with CDX2 which sounds better even when both play through the nDAC/XPSDR.}

I tried the Core a year ago and just could not face fixing the metadata errors in my large collection of classical. The US got most of my Opera collection right much of it being quite obscure!

Phil

Ok! 

Jon, and a number of you, have confirmed that Naim has some issues as it relates to Core.

Naimly, its metadata!

If the US fairs better than the Core, Naim should be able to work those issues out.

But let's cut to the Chase!

Assuming No issues with Classical metadata, or Jazz, which is 90% of my collection.

{Which Sounds Better!}

I sold my LP 12 to aquire Pre-loved Naim, and Activate my Briks.

Now I'm at the point, Do I introduce a second digital source DS (2) ~ Core, or purchase A Brand New Snaxo 362 & Pre-loved SC 2.

@ Jon Honeyball, and others!

Which Sounds Better, assuming no metadata issues at all.

DS (1) ~ CDP ~ CD 555/CDX2

DS (2) ~ Streaming ~ Reference Core/NDS

SOUNDS LIKE AN HI FI CORNER THREAD!

Allante93!

PS. My Present System:

HCDR > 282 ~ Analog Hub

Cdx2 > 282

HCDR > 3 x 250.2

Fraimlite

Passive Tri-Amped Briks

Next Upgrade?????????????

 

The World Of Streaming!

Streaming Audio ~ Core impressions

Very Interesting

The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Allante93!

PS. @ the OP

Your Call, Perhaps you should pay Streaming Audio, a visit!

Streaming may be  convenient, but Simple?

I think not!

But let's not get distracted from our Core Theme:

SOUND QUALITY~ SQ

Right, having dug through forums on NDac source options I am giving a Raspberry Pi (my Mac will also be tested as a source) another chance and will get a USB to SPDIF converter to test it further. The chain will be Raspberry Pi (or other computer source)  > USB to SPDIF converter > NDac (with XPS). The feedback from users is reassuring enough to try it out first. 

PatB posted:

Right, having dug through forums on NDac source options I am giving a Raspberry Pi (my Mac will also be tested as a source) another chance and will get a USB to SPDIF converter to test it further. The chain will be Raspberry Pi (or other computer source)  > USB to SPDIF converter > NDac (with XPS). The feedback from users is reassuring enough to try it out first. 

I use a Mac with Audirvana >> USB lead >> Gustard U12 >> optical  lead >> NDac.  It works OK but I  prefer the SQ provided by the USB stick into the USB port, unfortunately it has an awful UI.   I have not tried other converters or other connections.

Last year (lol) i did an audition between Auralic Aries Femto and NDX in Ndac.

I preffered in all ways the Aries.

Its only a streamer, beside better sound, you dont have to pay for the Dac in Ndx/Nds you dont use.

Tidal and Quobuz is integrated, what i realy like.

The only downside for me is the cheap look.

But now you can buy the Auralic G2, better look, again improved sound.

And you can add an internal SSD, so you dont need a server anymore.

Downside ca. 3800€ to 1600€.

Thanks Erich

Hmm... that looks very similar to the chain I am going to test. The only difference would be a coaxial rather than optical from the USB/SPDIF converter to the nDac. Any reason for going with optical? Again, at least in theory, SPDIF coax should be superior. 

What's with those USB SQ discrepancies?!? Even HDX to nDac does not give the same SQ as per the USB input!? People either suggest upgrading to NDS (outside the budget) or they scrap Naim and change ships altogether... and I thought ditching a CDP in favour of file-based audio would be smooth sailing... 

I had been playing my CDX2 through nDAC+XPSDR until yesterday when I decided to give Simon’s bare CDX2 a try. The last time I tried this was 20 months ago since when my system has evolved a bit! I really am impressed at how good it sounds even with the standard DIN IC. 

Having said that the demo UnitiServe SSD via DC1 is nearly as good, loosing a small amount of the dynamics of a concert piano which the CDX2 captures. The dealer is pricing the 5 1/2 US SSD around £1k, but although the functionality is stable it’s not as good as the Core could be!

By contrast the demo Core firmware and App is a bit flakey still. The Core with the DC1 sounded a bit harsh, but with the Chord Clearway digital it is better and not far short of the bare CDX2. It is necessary to experiment to find the right combination. I haven’t got a network switch yet either, but I use AQ Pearl cables.

I use a 5m Audioquest Forrest toslink from the tv. It’s pretty good all things considered. We enjoyed the BBC New Year’s Day Concert from Vienna conducted by Ricardo Muti very much.

If Naim made an enhanced Core to add the other streaming services I’d buy it, because I would rather stick with the Classic boxes.

I will probably try the Core again in 6 months.

Phil

PatB posted:

Thanks Erich

Hmm... that looks very similar to the chain I am going to test. The only difference would be a coaxial rather than optical from the USB/SPDIF converter to the nDac. Any reason for going with optical? Again, at least in theory, SPDIF coax should be superior. 

What's with those USB SQ discrepancies?!? Even HDX to nDac does not give the same SQ as per the USB input!? People either suggest upgrading to NDS (outside the budget) or they scrap Naim and change ships altogether... and I thought ditching a CDP in favour of file-based audio would be smooth sailing... 

I use optical just because is what I had.  I will buy a good quality coaxial and try.

I think most of forum members agree that the USB port provides the reference SQ in the Ndac.

I still have my CDX2 connected directly to the 252 and I prefer that configuration instead of connecting it to the dac and then to the 252.   Is not a matter of SQ, I just prefer the presentation or may be it's because I like so much the CDX2.

I agree, sound preference is a huge factor. I really enjoyed the cdx (before I moved to nDac) even though some people describe it as harsh and fatiguing. Anyway, even if I don't get the same SQ as per USB (which appears to be impossible judging by user feedback) but manage to improve the sound the whole exercise will be worthwhile.