Best Audiophile USB Card ?

[Dean Shias]

Whats the best audiophile USB card to stream to a OPPO UDP-205? Not looking to start a Network solution, but USB card>USB wire>OPPO UDP-205.

[emcdade]

I can make no assertion of "best", because I haven't tried them all.

 

However I can say that the Matrix Audio one sounds excellent.  It was noticeably better than out of my motherboard and there was no further improvement when using an Iso-regen attached to it feeding a T+A Dac.

 

https://matrix-digi.com/en/products/333.html

[Nenon]

It's an interesting question I have been wondering myself too. Here is the list

 

- SOTM - https://www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/portfolio-item/tx-usbexp/

- JCAT - https://jcat.eu/product/usb-card-femto/

- Matrix Audio - https://matrix-digi.com/en/products/333.html

- The Linear Solution - https://thelinearsolution.com/usbcble.html

- PPA - http://ppaproduct.blogspot.com/2013/07/audio-grade-usb-30-pcie-card.html

 

It would be amazing if someone can compare those 5. If you have any others to add to the list, please let me know.

 

I am quite interested in USB cards with OCXO clock. But with a good OCXO clock and implementation, not just an average one. The only USB cards with OCXO clock I am aware of are PPA and The Linear Solution. I have read in various places (not sources I know/trust) that the PPA OCXO clock is mediocre. I don't know if that is true or not.

Also, I have heard that Innuos is planning to package their OCXO USB reclocker with a dual rail power supply, but I expect that would cost $2K-$3K (my guess is closer to $3K).

 

[Dean Shias]

I guess everyone is stuck at the same place. But those 5 is basically where I'm at also.

[LTG2010]

3 hours ago, Nenon said:

I am quite interested in USB cards with OCXO clock. But with a good OCXO clock and implementation, not just an average one. The only USB cards with OCXO clock I am aware of are PPA and The Linear Solution.

Take a look at Pink Faun's USB bridge with their new 'ultra OCXO' clock, it comes at a price though.

https://www.pinkfaun.com/

[Ralf11]

can't the OPPO directly stream by itself?

[lucretius]

5 hours ago, LTG2010 said:

Take a look at Pink Faun's USB bridge with their new 'ultra OCXO' clock, it comes at a price though.

https://www.pinkfaun.com/

€325.00

[lucretius]

SoTM tX-USBexp = $USD 350

JCat USB Card Femto = €435

Matrix Audio Element H = $USD 249

The Liner Solution OCXO Audiophile USB Card = unknown

PPA (v3 or v4) = $USD 429

Pink Faun USB Bridge = €325.00

[Nenon]

12 minutes ago, lucretius said:

SoTM tX-USBexp = $USD 350

JCat USB Card Femto = €435

Matrix Audio Element H = $USD 249

The Liner Solution OCXO Audiophile USB Card = unknown

PPA (v3 or v4) = $USD 429

Pink Faun USB Bridge = €325.00

 

The Liner Solution OCXO Audiophile USB Card = $USD 449

Pink Faun USB Bridge with Ultra OCXO = €1,575.00

[Lebouwsky]

The sotm Tx-USBexp with the sclk-48 clock sounds very good in my server. It costs around 750 dollar/euro with and 350 without clock. You can power the USB card and or clock externally to lift it up even more.

 

I’ve red that the jcat (750 euro, no external clock) is better then the sotm card without the sotm clock, not sure how it compares in combination with clock to the jcat.

[Nenon]

3 hours ago, Lebouwsky said:

The sotm Tx-USBexp with the sclk-48 clock sounds very good in my server. It costs around 750 dollar/euro with and 350 without clock. You can power the USB card and or clock externally to lift it up even more.

  

I’ve red that the jcat (750 euro, no external clock) is better then the sotm card without the sotm clock, not sure how it compares in combination with clock to the jcat.

 

Just to correct that the Jcat is 435 euro, not 750. 

 

[Marcin_gps]

On 5/11/2019 at 4:43 PM, Nenon said:

 

Just to correct that the Jcat is 435 euro, not 750. 

 

Correct, the price  is 435EUR and the price includes free worldwide shippng via UPS too. 

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[FredericV]

As a manufacturer, I tested a lot of these cards. Let's go a little technical.

It seems there are 3 variations of USB cards:

1) a real PCI express card, where the card acts as a xHCI, so a usb host controller which is a real separate device visible in the OS

with 2 main variations:

- xHCI is not bus powered so does not work when inserting in a PCIe slot, but needs 12V or 9V (e.g. SOtM)
- xHCI is bus powered, 5V for USB output can be taken from a molex or external input (e.g. JCAT)

and with or without superclock
superclock on the card, or separate board
and with or without seperate power for the superclock

2) a USB hub card, which basically connects to the USB headers on the motherboard

- there's a SOtM card doing this

This shows up as a HUB to an existing xHCI on the motherboard, e.g. visible with lsusb
Also has similar variations like (1) but it's a usb hub instead of an xHCI and therefore does not connect to the PCIe bus.

3) a USB card without HUB, which is like a USB breakout cable going from the header to the chassis, with some extra power cleanup going on or replacing the power from an external source and cleaning it up, and they can be had very cheap:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/pc-htpc-modules/elfidelity-axf-100-pro-iii-internal-usb-power-filter-for-pc-p-9056.html

Dutch based Alpha Audio really liked this card, we never tried them. But for the price it's a bargain.

The third variation is invisible to the host OS.

[Nenon]

5 hours ago, FredericV said:

As a manufacturer, I tested a lot of these cards. Let's go a little technical.

It seems there are 3 variations of USB cards:

1) a real PCI express card, where the card acts as a xHCI, so a usb host controller which is a real separate device visible in the OS

with 2 main variations:

- xHCI is not bus powered so does not work when inserting in a PCIe slot, but needs 12V or 9V (e.g. SOtM)
- xHCI is bus powered, 5V for USB output can be taken from a molex or external input (e.g. JCAT)

and with or without superclock
superclock on the card, or separate board
and with or without seperate power for the superclock

2) a USB hub card, which basically connects to the USB headers on the motherboard

- there's a SOtM card doing this

This shows up as a HUB to an existing xHCI on the motherboard, e.g. visible with lsusb
Also has similar variations like (1) but it's a usb hub instead of an xHCI and therefore does not connect to the PCIe bus.

3) a USB card without HUB, which is like a USB breakout cable going from the header to the chassis, with some extra power cleanup going on or replacing the power from an external source and cleaning it up, and they can be had very cheap:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/pc-htpc-modules/elfidelity-axf-100-pro-iii-internal-usb-power-filter-for-pc-p-9056.html

Dutch based Alpha Audio really liked this card, we never tried them. But for the price it's a bargain.

The third variation is invisible to the host OS.

 

That's a good categorization. Thank you. 

 

If I can summarize, it comes down to:

- USB power clean up

- USB reclocking

- Both - reclocking and clean power

 

I am guessing the OP is asking for the best card that does both. So I think the card needs to take clean power from an external LPS and have a good and well implemented clock.  My ideal USB card would have a OCXO clock with separate power rails for the clock and the rest and would not take any power from the motherboard. It sounds similar to what Innuos has done. But that's not available yet.

 

If I was to pick based based on specs, I would speculate that the Pink Faun USB bridge with Ultra OCXO (€1,575) looks best on paper. But until someone actually compares them we are only speculating. 

[lucretius]

8 hours ago, FredericV said:

As a manufacturer, I tested a lot of these cards.

 

Recommendations?

[Marcin_gps]

On 5/13/2019 at 7:17 PM, FredericV said:

As a manufacturer, I tested a lot of these cards. Let's go a little technical.

It seems there are 3 variations of USB cards:

1) a real PCI express card, where the card acts as a xHCI, so a usb host controller which is a real separate device visible in the OS

with 2 main variations:

- xHCI is not bus powered so does not work when inserting in a PCIe slot, but needs 12V or 9V (e.g. SOtM)
- xHCI is bus powered, 5V for USB output can be taken from a molex or external input (e.g. JCAT)

and with or without superclock
superclock on the card, or separate board
and with or without seperate power for the superclock

2) a USB hub card, which basically connects to the USB headers on the motherboard

- there's a SOtM card doing this

This shows up as a HUB to an existing xHCI on the motherboard, e.g. visible with lsusb
Also has similar variations like (1) but it's a usb hub instead of an xHCI and therefore does not connect to the PCIe bus.

3) a USB card without HUB, which is like a USB breakout cable going from the header to the chassis, with some extra power cleanup going on or replacing the power from an external source and cleaning it up, and they can be had very cheap:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/pc-htpc-modules/elfidelity-axf-100-pro-iii-internal-usb-power-filter-for-pc-p-9056.html

Dutch based Alpha Audio really liked this card, we never tried them. But for the price it's a bargain.

The third variation is invisible to the host OS.

 

Correction: JCAT USB Card is not bus powered IF a PSU is connected to the card. 

 

Regards,

Marcin

[FredericV]

10 hours ago, Marcin_gps said:

 

Correction: JCAT USB Card is not bus powered IF a PSU is connected to the card. 

 

Regards,

Marcin

 

For DAC's that don't need 5V, this card always works with the xHCI being bus powered (e.g. connected to the motherboard, and no external or molex power applied).

So you are saying when you connect a 5V supply, the Renesas chip is using the same 5V?

[Marcin_gps]

13 hours ago, FredericV said:

 

For DAC's that don't need 5V, this card always works with the xHCI being bus powered (e.g. connected to the motherboard, and no external or molex power applied).

So you are saying when you connect a 5V supply, the Renesas chip is using the same 5V?

Correct. That's how it works in the latest FEMTO revision of the card. 

[zackthedog]

FWIW, I have used both the SOtM USB card and the older version of the Matrix card, which was less expensive than the current version.  For the money, the Matrix card was very nice, clean and lively.

[LJONESATL]

I'm currently using the SOtM USB card with an HDPLEX LPS providing the energy.  I'm very happy with the results.  For my next build, I'm wondering if others have noticed an improvement in SQ using the SOtM card with clock as compared to without clock.  I'm also very interested in the JCAT FEMTO USB card, and any comparisons others might have had between it and the SOtm (or any audiophile USB card for that matter). 

[soares]

On 5/9/2019 at 9:03 AM, Dean Shias said:

Whats the best audiophile USB card to stream to a OPPO UDP-205? Not looking to start a Network solution, but USB card>USB wire>OPPO UDP-205.

Not really a USB card, but I feed my OPPO with an uRendu with an sBooster MkII. The result is outstanding. I am wondering if using the OPPO with the next etherregen will achieve the same SQ.

[Dean Shias]

been a long time, but just to follow up. I went with the Matrix Audio element H and I'm VERY satisfied with it. Cleaner, a little more soundstage, quieter backrounds, everything was more refined. Thanks again.

[emcdade]

On 8/22/2019 at 8:46 AM, Dean Shias said:

been a long time, but just to follow up. I went with the Matrix Audio element H and I'm VERY satisfied with it. Cleaner, a little more soundstage, quieter backrounds, everything was more refined. Thanks again.

Good choice.

[Darryl R]

Anyone have a chance to compare some of these, particularly the Pink Faun Bridge?

[John Hughes]

I'm building a hackintosh for music.  Are there any USB cards that work with MacOS?