Best Audiophile USB Card ?

[satsuma]

4 hours ago, Jarek_Jcat said:

 

Here is update on this topic after we did some additional tests.

 

Power consumption of USB XE card without onboard oscillator and with no current draw from it's USB outputs is around 0.5A. So yes, single Nano can power both XE card and Master OCXO module after upgrade in most scenarios. 

Appreciate the update - thanks for testing. 

[flkin]

On 9/24/2023 at 6:26 PM, flkin said:

The 2023 Pink Faun v2 USB card has finally arrived. 😄

 

 

In my streamer burning in now 24/7. Probably will take a week or so. But I couldn’t resist having a quick listen first. Sounds very promising in comparison to my old v1 card with OCXO. Treble quality as yet can’t quite match the old card presently but the rest is good. 
 

More to come once the burn is done. 

 

100 hour mini review of the Pink Faun USB v2 bridge (card)

 

For the discussion below, I refer to v1 but that is the older v1 card with the Ultra clock module attached. This card is warmed at least 24 hours (makes a big difference when cold). The v2 is burned in around 100 hours.

 

Both are externally powered by a 5V Paul Hynes DR7t+ double regulated, extreme version.

 

After burning in the v2 for around 100 hours, my overall impression is this:

 

- More accurate modern sound

- Tight, controlled, great imaging which can challenge the v1

- Detailed and dynamic

- At the upper edge of dynamic sounds, the treble was a little shouty during the break-in time. After 100 hours of burn, this seemed to have reduced but not gone

 

Compared to v1:

 

- V1 is more liquid softer sounding, natural but slightly less clear

- Bass slightly less tight than v2

- Slightly more body, thicker in the lower mids and bass especially when clock is not warmed up.

- Vocals remain preferable especially with female voices. More analogue? Feeling of being present and real with no treble issues.

 

I think both cards can appeal to different audiophiles in different ways. After spending a lot of time optimising my system with the v1 inserted, it’s not surprising that I prefer its sound. And at 4 times the price, this should be the case. That said, I was surprised at the v2 performance. That newer tighter sound is engaging.

 

For those using Euphony as the playback software, one can try switching kernels 5.14 and 5.18 as an optimising tool to balance the sound character of the v1 and v2 cards. It is possible to use the v1 card with Euphony 5.18 kernel which then gives the modern sound of the v2.

 

And for those wanting to add a bit of the Pink Faun clock magic - natural sounding, spatial awareness and emotional connection especially to vocals, will have to wait for the Ultra card due later this year. Perhaps they will incorporate some of the newer tech of the v2 card into it as well? 

 

Some of the tracks used for this evaluation:

 

 

Live a FIP - Musica Nuda

Tracks: Quando, I will survive

Great live album where bass lines and dynamic vocals show the extreme edges of the system

 

 

Chasing a Dream - Gabor Csordas

Tracks: Chasing a dream, Fresh

The electric bass guitar and drums are pretty good tests for bass resolution and separation.

 

 

Alive at the Village Vanguard - Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding

Tracks: A Wish

Esperanza voice is goosebump real when the system is firing well. Emotional engagement at 100%. Lots of 'things' happening in the venue background which can show resolution power of the system 

 

My system details within which the cards were playing is in the signature link below.

[Rsmaximasr]

IMO, usb is a flawed technology to be used in a dac. For over a decade, I can count dozens of so called usb tweaks/gimmicks to try to make usb sound better. I tried/used a lot of them. Some of them, inside the dac, most outside the dac, did sound different, but nowhere close to analog. It wasn’t until I got rid of the usb dac and went with a quality dac with i2s and Ethernet that I could get rid of all my usb junk, and actually allowed me to get rid of all my analog gear. 
Maybe in the future someone might come up with a usb interface that sounds great, but in the meantime, enjoying my non-usb setup

[Exocer]

On 9/29/2023 at 1:02 AM, flkin said:

 

100 hour mini review of the Pink Faun USB v2 bridge (card)

 

For the discussion below, I refer to v1 but that is the older v1 card with the Ultra clock module attached. This card is warmed at least 24 hours (makes a big difference when cold). The v2 is burned in around 100 hours.

 

Both are externally powered by a 5V Paul Hynes DR7t+ double regulated, extreme version.

 

After burning in the v2 for around 100 hours, my overall impression is this:

 

- More accurate modern sound

- Tight, controlled, great imaging which can challenge the v1

- Detailed and dynamic

- At the upper edge of dynamic sounds, the treble was a little shouty during the break-in time. After 100 hours of burn, this seemed to have reduced but not gone

 

Compared to v1:

 

- V1 is more liquid softer sounding, natural but slightly less clear

- Bass slightly less tight than v2

- Slightly more body, thicker in the lower mids and bass especially when clock is not warmed up.

- Vocals remain preferable especially with female voices. More analogue? Feeling of being present and real with no treble issues.

 

I think both cards can appeal to different audiophiles in different ways. After spending a lot of time optimising my system with the v1 inserted, it’s not surprising that I prefer its sound. And at 4 times the price, this should be the case. That said, I was surprised at the v2 performance. That newer tighter sound is engaging.

 

For those using Euphony as the playback software, one can try switching kernels 5.14 and 5.18 as an optimising tool to balance the sound character of the v1 and v2 cards. It is possible to use the v1 card with Euphony 5.18 kernel which then gives the modern sound of the v2.

 

And for those wanting to add a bit of the Pink Faun clock magic - natural sounding, spatial awareness and emotional connection especially to vocals, will have to wait for the Ultra card due later this year. Perhaps they will incorporate some of the newer tech of the v2 card into it as well? 

 

Some of the tracks used for this evaluation:

 

 

Live a FIP - Musica Nuda

Tracks: Quando, I will survive

Great live album where bass lines and dynamic vocals show the extreme edges of the system

 

 

Chasing a Dream - Gabor Csordas

Tracks: Chasing a dream, Fresh

The electric bass guitar and drums are pretty good tests for bass resolution and separation.

 

 

Alive at the Village Vanguard - Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding

Tracks: A Wish

Esperanza voice is goosebump real when the system is firing well. Emotional engagement at 100%. Lots of 'things' happening in the venue background which can show resolution power of the system 

 

My system details within which the cards were playing is in the signature link below.

@flkin I enjoyed reading this!

 

Looking forward to your journey with the Ultra card.

[rafa]

On 9/29/2023 at 6:02 AM, flkin said:

After burning in the v2 for around 100 hours, my overall impression is this:

 

- More accurate modern sound

- Tight, controlled, great imaging which can challenge the v1

- Detailed and dynamic

- At the upper edge of dynamic sounds, the treble was a little shouty during the break-in time. After 100 hours of burn, this seemed to have reduced but not gone

This is very disappointing so far. Hopefully that goes away with time completely.

[flkin]

8 hours ago, rafa said:

This is very disappointing so far. Hopefully that goes away with time completely.

 

This character doesn't overwhelm the performance of the card, it's just one aspect of the sound. Just one data point in my own system.

 

The card is out on loan to a friend who is considering a modded version of the card with the existing clock swapped into a U.FL connector and then using an external reference clock. I'll try again after it's back from its rounds and when it's reached say 200-250 hours burn.

[MarcelNL]

7 minutes ago, flkin said:

 

The card is out on loan to a friend who is considering a modded version of the card with the existing clock swapped into a U.FL connector and using his external reference clock. I'll try again after it's back from it's rounds and inform when it's reached around 200-250 hours burn.

100 hours burn in is nothing for a new clock and circuitry, think 300-500 before passing any final judgement (IMHO)

 

[Exocer]

On 10/6/2023 at 2:33 AM, flkin said:

 

This character doesn't overwhelm the performance of the card, it's just one aspect of the sound. Just one data point in my own system.

 

The card is out on loan to a friend who is considering a modded version of the card with the existing clock swapped into a U.FL connector and then using an external reference clock. I'll try again after it's back from its rounds and when it's reached say 200-250 hours burn.

Hi @flkin do you happen to have an update on this journey? Thanks

[flkin]

Hi @Exocer, the card is still out on loan to another friend whose own card failed on him. I haven’t followed up as yet. 
 

Once it’s made it’s rounds, I’ll plug it back into my system and have a listen again. 

[Exocer]

1 hour ago, flkin said:

Hi @Exocer, the card is still out on loan to another friend whose own card failed on him. I haven’t followed up as yet. 
 

Once it’s made it’s rounds, I’ll plug it back into my system and have a listen again. 

Excellent - thank you for the update.

[Van Duc Uy]

On 10/6/2023 at 1:33 PM, flkin said:

 

This character doesn't overwhelm the performance of the card, it's just one aspect of the sound. Just one data point in my own system.

 

The card is out on loan to a friend who is considering a modded version of the card with the existing clock swapped into a U.FL connector and then using an external reference clock. I'll try again after it's back from its rounds and when it's reached say 200-250 hours burn.

Is it better any USB card that you tested(not V1) before?

[flkin]

On 11/10/2023 at 5:30 PM, Van Duc Uy said:

Is it better any USB card that you tested(not V1) before?

 

Sorry, nope, I don't have any more USB card comparisons to share right now. The friend @Acholate that I lent the v2 to thinks it's pretty good.

[Acholate]

 

I did a quick comparison against my broken JCAT XE card, where it only works intermittently. My JCAT XE card may sound off because it is broken. So, take my impression with a grain of salt.

Compared to JCAT XE:

• Highs are sweeter with less attack at the top.
• Vocals have a bit more holographic quality.
• There's slightly less bass and mid-bass; overall sound becomes more mid-focused.

The difference I described is quite small. Both cards sound pretty similar in my opinion.

[Van Duc Uy]

11 minutes ago, Acholate said:

 

I did a quick comparison against my broken JCAT XE card, where it only works intermittently. My JCAT XE card may sound off because it is broken. So, take my impression with a grain of salt.

Compared to JCAT XE:

• Highs are sweeter with less attack at the top.
• Vocals have a bit more holographic quality.
• There's slightly less bass and mid-bass; overall sound becomes more mid-focused.

The difference I described is quite small. Both cards sound pretty similar in my opinion.

That's enough info, thanks.

Slightly less bass and mid-bass may become from power supply and other in then whole system too

[Rsmaximasr]

There is no such thing as a good usb anything for audio. USB is a flawed interface and the better dacs / streamers don’t include usb

[Exocer]

16 hours ago, Acholate said:

 

I did a quick comparison against my broken JCAT XE card, where it only works intermittently. My JCAT XE card may sound off because it is broken. So, take my impression with a grain of salt.

Compared to JCAT XE:

• Highs are sweeter with less attack at the top.
• Vocals have a bit more holographic quality.
• There's slightly less bass and mid-bass; overall sound becomes more mid-focused.

The difference I described is quite small. Both cards sound pretty similar in my opinion.

It’s interesting that the two were so close. Thanks for the feedback!

[Van Duc Uy]

4 hours ago, Rsmaximasr said:

There is no such thing as a good usb anything for audio. USB is a flawed interface and the better dacs / streamers don’t include usb

I don't know which is better DAC/Streamer that you mentioned, but good USB card really benefit when using with USB DAC

[Rsmaximasr]

That could be if you are using usb. But usb has terrible sound quality compared to the better protocols. 
For usb, you can say that using a reclocker, femto clock, cable splitting the data/power, and other tweaks/gimmicks will improve the usb sq, and you would be right. I’ve been there, done that many years ago, and I sold all of that @&$& along with the usb dac and got a very good dac using the better input(s). 

[flkin]

ok, I'll bite. 😂

 

Please share what your system is, which streamers/DACs you prefer and which protocol you think is superior to USB.

[Van Duc Uy]

I'm not using PCIE card because I build my MS base on NUC, but i designed USB Reclocker myself and it really improve the sound

[Gavin1977]

Any more news on the Pink Faun Ultra card?

[flkin]

2 hours ago, Gavin1977 said:

Any more news on the Pink Faun Ultra card?

 

Heard from Jord 8 days ago :

 

".. The first small batch of ultra USB is in production now.. "

".. I have made some small changes in the shielding case for the ultra USB bridge, it is even better now.."

".. I hope to have some units ready in a month or so.. "

".. The casing .. is made for our ultra music server and standard PCIe brackets in normal computer casing .."

[Gavin1977]

Ah man… full height PCIe would be a challenge for me in the HDplex H5.  Will wait and see 😀

[flkin]

10 hours ago, Gavin1977 said:

Ah man… full height PCIe would be a challenge for me in the HDplex H5.  Will wait and see 😀

 

23 hours ago, flkin said:

".. The casing .. is made for our ultra music server and standard PCIe brackets in normal computer casing .."

 

From the wording used, the Ultra seems likely to fit into just one standard PCIe slot (rather than more than one as the case looks pretty wide). But as is, it doesn't fit my Pink Faun 2.16x streamer as well. PF is aware of this and so they will remove the protruding lip of the shielding case at the top for me.

 

 

Strange to design a card to fit only their latest Ultra streamer and not fit (without mod) into their older 2.16x. Wouldn't there be more 2.16x machines out there than Ultras? Or it's a ploy to get us to upgrade 😄

[Gavin1977]

Double width is fine for me, but I need half height…

 

I’ll wait till they put more info out… looking forward to your impressions!