Jump to content
IGNORED

USB improvement gadgets - a survey


USB improvement gadgets - a survey  

52 members have voted

  1. 1. Which of the following are you using or have used which you believe improves USB performance?

    • Dedicated/weird cables (Curious, iFi Gemini, Phasure, Total), not regular audiophile cables
      20
    • Signal regenerators (UpTone, W4S, etc.)
      31
    • Signal filters/isolators (Intona, etc.)
      9
    • Split USB cable w/ external LPSU feeding 5V
      7
    • USB input board mods (improvements or replacing of original board)
      6
    • Self-designed/made gizmos (please specify)
      1

This poll is closed to new votes

  • Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.
  • Poll closed on 08/31/18 at 10:59 PM

Recommended Posts

I am resurrecting this topic to report the unexpected but significant improvements that resulted from tweaking the USB connection.

 

My file playback system now consists of a laptop running HQPlayer feeding a Cubox with the NAA buffer through Ethernet. The Cubox, powered by a LPSU, is connected with a USB A to B "hard" adapter to a Teradac split USB adapter which feeds the DAC with the clean 5V current from another LPSU.

Files have never sounded better in my system and are now "comparable" to my memory of CD sounded like, better in some aspects.

 

There's an effortlessness and a clarity to the sound that are just delicious!

The sceptical in me has just been taught a lesson...

Must try really hard not to get too carried away with the volume knob.

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes

 

HQPlayer Desktop / Mac mini → Intona 7054 → RME ADI-2 DAC FS (DSD256)

Link to comment

Sounds familiar ... B|.

 

Sometimes which ingredients and how to combine them, which eliminates a key lacking in the sound can be very hard to determine - the key thought to carry in one's brain is that no matter how good the sound is at a particular time, that it is always possible to improve it, sometimes dramatically so. The hard work is usually to track down the culprit holding the quality back; can be an extremely frustrating exercise.

Link to comment
4 hours ago, semente said:

I am resurrecting this topic to report the unexpected but significant improvements that resulted from tweaking the USB connection.

 

My file playback system now consists of a laptop running HQPlayer feeding a Cubox with the NAA buffer through Ethernet. The Cubox, powered by a LPSU, is connected with a USB A to B "hard" adapter to a Teradac split USB adapter which feeds the DAC with the clean 5V current from another LPSU.

Files have never sounded better in my system and are now "comparable" to my memory of CD sounded like, better in some aspects.

 

There's an effortlessness and a clarity to the sound that are just delicious!

The sceptical in me has just been taught a lesson...

Must try really hard not to get too carried away with the volume knob.

 

Interesting - the Cubox is a developer platform for embedded systems...

 

~~ $100

Link to comment
17 minutes ago, Ralf11 said:

 

Interesting - the Cubox is a developer platform for embedded systems...

 

~~ $100

 

Sonore used to sell the Cubox as (their entry-level?) renderer  not too long ago: http://www.sonore.us/Sonicorbiter.html

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes

 

HQPlayer Desktop / Mac mini → Intona 7054 → RME ADI-2 DAC FS (DSD256)

Link to comment

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/12/measurements-intel-i7-pc-and-raspberry.html#more

 

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/12/measurements-raspberry-pi-3-b-as.html#more

 

 

6 hours ago, semente said:

There's an effortlessness and a clarity to the sound that are just delicious!

 

Wonder what creates the effortless clarity?  My guess is the only electrical changes are in the organic components.  

And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. 

Link to comment

Maybe, because it's closer to the actual sounds on the recording .... Nahhh!! Everyone knows recording engineers are hopeless, and the equipment they use is shite - our brilliant hifi rigs expose how dreadful their efforts are, ruthlessly - as it should be ...

Link to comment
6 hours ago, esldude said:

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/12/measurements-intel-i7-pc-and-raspberry.html#more

 

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/12/measurements-raspberry-pi-3-b-as.html#more

 

 

Wonder what creates the effortless clarity?  My guess is the only electrical changes are in the organic components.  

 

That is a good question.

Maybe this can help explain why? http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/05/measurements-computer-usb-5v-power.html

 

I've often mentioned the friend that used to optimise gear. Changes to grounding and power supplies did have an impact, sometimes quite significant, even in unsighted listening sessions where a few of us would compare two of the same gear, one unmodified.

 

I am quite sceptical of tweaks and foo in general and didn't have any expectations, nor did I invest any serious money (£50 at most) because I already had the PSUs around from my Raspberry Pi setup...

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes

 

HQPlayer Desktop / Mac mini → Intona 7054 → RME ADI-2 DAC FS (DSD256)

Link to comment
7 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

 

what did they do to it for the extra $200 ??

 

 Well, they buy it from the manufacturer, pre-install dedicated sofware, add an SD card and a L-PSU.

Then put 100%? of profit on top.

 

Would you sell for less?

 

 

Of course you can always have a fancy case made for it and ask for $500...

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes

 

HQPlayer Desktop / Mac mini → Intona 7054 → RME ADI-2 DAC FS (DSD256)

Link to comment
23 minutes ago, semente said:

 

That is a good question.

Maybe this can help explain why? http://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/05/measurements-computer-usb-5v-power.html

 

I've often mentioned the friend that used to optimise gear. Changes to grounding and power supplies did have an impact, sometimes quite significant, even in unsighted listening sessions where a few of us would compare two of the same gear, one unmodified.

 

I am quite sceptical of tweaks and foo in general and didn't have any expectations, nor did I invest any serious money (£50 at most) because I already had the PSUs around from my Raspberry Pi setup...

No that doesn't explain anything.  It shows there is variable noise on USB connections to different devices.  We knew that.  But how much does that get thru to the analog output of a USB connected DAC.   That is the signal we listen to you know.  The later measurements show no measurable difference in the analog output.  Would be nice if Archimago had those other computers to run the test with all of them.  I'd expect from other such measurements that the output would be clean with all of them.  

And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. 

Link to comment
25 minutes ago, esldude said:

No that doesn't explain anything.  It shows there is variable noise on USB connections to different devices.  We knew that.  But how much does that get thru to the analog output of a USB connected DAC.   That is the signal we listen to you know.  The later measurements show no measurable difference in the analog output.  Would be nice if Archimago had those other computers to run the test with all of them.  I'd expect from other such measurements that the output would be clean with all of them.  

 

What about how noise affects the D/A conversion, Isn't that a possibility?

 

I agree that measuring the output would provide more information. I could always capture a 48/16 of the output with my lowly UCA222 if you wish, but it may not be transparent enough...

Though to be honest I'm not looking forward to fiddling with the connections again for a while.

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes

 

HQPlayer Desktop / Mac mini → Intona 7054 → RME ADI-2 DAC FS (DSD256)

Link to comment
47 minutes ago, semente said:

 

What about how noise affects the D/A conversion, Isn't that a possibility?

 

I agree that measuring the output would provide more information. I could always capture a 48/16 of the output with my lowly UCA222 if you wish, but it may not be transparent enough...

Though to be honest I'm not looking forward to fiddling with the connections again for a while.

That is part of the point of archimago's tests.  There appears to be no effect on the DA conversion that is large enough to matter.  Noise on the USB varies, but DACs seem able to reject most of that or enough of it to not be a problem. 

And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. 

Link to comment
1 hour ago, semente said:

 

What about how noise affects the D/A conversion, Isn't that a possibility?

 

 

Yes of course.

 

Some people will deny that what’s upstream of the DAC matters and instead tell you that the buffer and relocking in the DAC is enough.

Link to comment
39 minutes ago, esldude said:

That is part of the point of archimago's tests.  There appears to be no effect on the DA conversion that is large enough to matter.  Noise on the USB varies, but DACs seem able to reject most of that or enough of it to not be a problem

 

That is a possibility as well. At least if we go on measurements alone.

"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes

 

HQPlayer Desktop / Mac mini → Intona 7054 → RME ADI-2 DAC FS (DSD256)

Link to comment

Ahhh, the lust for 'measurements' continues, unabated, ^_^. The ears are doing the "real measuring", and that will remain so until someone eventually nails a full set of criteria for truly, objectively evaluating an audio system. Floundering around in the meantime, playing with rulers for the sake of jotting down numbers on paper will please some - but solve very little...

Link to comment
12 hours ago, Summit said:

 

Yes of course.

 

Some people will deny that what’s upstream of the DAC matters and instead tell you that the buffer and relocking in the DAC is enough.

The DAC does not  reclock. It is the only clock. USB does not have an imbedded clock for the DAC.

And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. 

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



×
×
  • Create New...