Best Audiophile USB Card ?

[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).

 

[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

[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. 

 

[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. 

[Nenon]

2 hours ago, Exocer said:

Very interested in the Pink Faun USB bridge and JCAT Femto USB XE. I am wondering if the latter will be worthwhile on my Linux system though. Some say the Jcat cards work more optimally with Windows.

 

Go for it. They both sound very good on Linux. 

Many Jcat users use Jplay on Windows, and that's probably where that came from. In my experience the benefit of upgrading to a JCAT or PinkFaun card on Linux (Euphony and AL before that in my case) is equally good as it is on Windows (which is what I am using now on my dual Xeon server). 

[Nenon]

11 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

in my experience thus far the best USB card is none, I went from USB to SPDIF to I2S an find that less conversion is more. See if you can use I2S to feed your DAC,  I'm using the Pink Faun I2S OCXO and it really shines, going to upgrade to the ultra ocxo soon.

 

That was my reference for quite some time - Pink Faun I2S with ultraOCXO. 

As the server, power supplies, etc. improve I found USB to sound better. This is still DAC dependent of course, but it has been my experience with multiple DACs now. No longer using I2S. 

[Nenon]

8 minutes ago, Topk said:

Do you use USB with or without DDC like Gustard or audio Gd or denafrips? Do you use Isoregen? The reason I ask is that those are important in my experience for top sound quality (with LPS on Isoregen)

No DDCs between my server and DAC in my system anymore. 

 

 

21 hours ago, wittao said:

We finished some weeks ago our first own developed USB card family’s first two pieces:

 

- USB P24

- USB P24 OCXO

 

I am planning to finalize on our webpage the USB card’s subpage.

 

Some parameters about the cards:

1. USB P24:

- 2pcs USB 3.0 port

- low profile bracket option

- normal bracket with external 24MHz clock input (miniXLR socket)

- 4pin molex inside PSU connection (5V@1A DC)

 

2. USB P24 OCXO:

- 2pcs USB 3.0 port

- low profile bracket option

- normal bracket with external 10MHz clock input (miniXLR socket)

- 4pin molex inside PSU connection (5V@1A DC)

- 24MHz VCTCXO in PLL with onboard 10MHz OCXO

Can order from 15th April.

 

If you need further information, please ask me.

Thanks,

Viktor

 

 

@wittao  - those are nice looking cards. I am interested to test one and write about it if you want to send me one. 

 

Now that we know the Taiko USB card would not be available to DIY, my alternatives for the new DIY server recipe I am working on are the JCAT XE and PinkFaun with ultraOCXO. Your reference card is worth considering as well.

 

One thing that I can't get manufacturers to do is to give an option to separately power the clock than the card. Something for you to consider.

[Nenon]

1 hour ago, k27R said:

 

The 4pin molex on the back of the Pink Faun cards takes from 12v and 5v lines, do you know if one of these lines goes to the clock only?

 

It takes 5V only. 

[Nenon]

14 hours ago, Mops911 said:

Any recent experiences with Matrix or CoreAudio USB cards?

 

Not by me, but we do expect the Taiko USB card to be available this year.