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https://www.xingcore.com/resource/XingCore_UsbAudio_v4.86.0.exe

Mqr1Xsn.png

 

https://www.xingcore.com/?page_id=12

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PCM 1.536MHz (bi-stream)

 

FYI - just found this alternative for Chord fans (without the blessings of Thesycon U-HEAR / XMOS) who might benefit from this potential solution — it could still get a chance to take advantage of the custom ASIO driver from Taiko Audio

 

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/361176-purchase-usb-i2s-converter-2.html#post6373052

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You see, I am not theorizing. I bought several (well, more than several) USB boards to evaluate. Same for dac boards. Reverse engineer most of them, sketching out circuits from following traces and ringing out connections with a meter. Many listening tests performed too. After enough time and effort invested, one gets to know a lot about how dacs, USB boards, etc. are designed just by looking at at pictures of them.

 

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/361176-purchase-usb-i2s-converter.html#post6366228

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Best sound quality I have found is either I2SoverUSB or the latest Chinese USB board with Accusilicon clocks. The latter board can be found at: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001033056460.html

Also, JL Sounds makes an optional oscillator board that allow use of alternative clocks with I2SoverUSB. There are clock footprints that can work with Crystek 975 or the large case size Accusilicon AS318-B.

 

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/singxer-su-6.902272/page-25#post-15997150

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I'm now using this new board with the most expensive clocks option. Denafrips actually licenses the XING hardware. It's easily one of the best DDC I've had.

 

I guess that latest Chinese USB board could be somehow mounted next to the Taiko USB card? Though we still have to convert its I²S output into DX outputs (i.e. 16fs) and here's another example with ComTrue CT7601

 

https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/products/src-dx-usb-to-dual-spdif-interface

 


 

Owners of other non-Thesycon / non-XMOS DACs with an I²S input might also consider going that route by adding BridgePi + FifoPi + TransportPi (or HDMIpi)

 

https://github.com/iancanada/DocumentDownload/tree/master/Adapters/BridgePi

https://github.com/iancanada/DocumentDownload/tree/master/FifoPi

https://github.com/iancanada/DocumentDownload/tree/master/TransportPi

https://github.com/iancanada/DocumentDownload/tree/master/HDMIpi

T07OfTW.jpg

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FYI - it's pretty hilarious that quite a few copycat switches were "inspired" by this thread below

 

G-Switch auf Basis des Zyxel GS-108B v3
https://www.aktives-hoeren.de/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=11581

 


 

https://community.naimaudio.com/t/english-electric-8switch/8345/1095

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Then offer it themselves–with an inexpensive upgraded clock replacing the $0.30 oval crystal–as the Silent Angel Bonn N8 at €400.

 

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They also offer it in a nicer case to other manufacturers, still with exact same circuits and clock. Here it is as the Nuprime Omnia SW-8 at €499

 

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And then as here it is branded by English Electric as the 8Switch
£450 (note currency change & difference) but ships with a 0.75m C-Stream cable worth £40.

 

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/value-of-audiophile-network-switches/129611/207

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It is actually the same as a ZYXEL GS-108B v3, and many many more.

ThunderData is a small OEM manufacturer in Guangdong, China. They designed a basic switch. Here is the board. It is pretty simple, nothing fancy, probably not more than about $30 assembled.

 


 

OTOH, his €4,165 JCAT M12 Switch Gold might not be necessary anymore

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/30376-a-novel-way-to-massively-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/page/656/?tab=comments#comment-1053701

On 5/22/2020 at 3:11 PM, darkfrank said:

I must say that even I'm already using the Telegartner M12 switch, by using ROON to play local file only, unplug the network cable still improve the SQ for about ~20%.

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/61249-the-ultimate-network-solution/?tab=comments#comment-1108489

On 2/10/2021 at 10:43 AM, darkfrank said:

Yes, I tried this method and its the best method that SQ is almost as same as to unplug the network cable.

Since I only play local files, I installed a second JCAT Femto net card on my normal PC, enter a separate subnet other then the Internet and connect to my server though a Lan cable. Install the ROON remote on this normal PC, create a pair of .bat file to enable network adapter>start ROON UI, select songs as usual, then click another .bat file to kill ROON process and disable network adapter.

 

http://www.headphoneclub.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=737776&page=5#pid5303362

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小弟現在已經連交換機都不需要用了,買了一個貝爾金的Lightning轉RJ45轉換器,直接從專機JCAT網卡拉網線到轉換器上,再通過一根2米的Lightning線接到IPad/Iphone上作遙控。
這樣你手機選完歌后扔一旁,立刻就自動斷網了,干擾為零
聲音嘛,明顯比接上M12的時候更通透純淨,少了一層紗霧,也去掉了接上網絡周邊時線電、電源線、接地等帶來的各種附加染色。

 

http://www.headphoneclub.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=737776&page=5#pid5304013

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由於iphone/ipad待機的時候會把外設斷電,所以轉接器甚本上是處於關掉的狀態。
就算不拔那根Lighting線,在Windows上的網卡上顯示為斷開
聽感上拔掉心理作用上會好點,但實際應該沒啥區別

 

Once M12 Switch Gold was gone, it's obvious to notice the increased transparency / purity of the sound. There's one less layer of fog, while getting rid of the coloring of PSUs / power cables / grounding for those network peripheral devices.

 

Basically he simply connected a network cable plus this Belkin adapter to his Apple device and picked some tracks to play from local storage

 

https://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-F8J227/

https://9to5mac.com/2019/02/04/belkin-ethernet-lightning-adapter/

 

Then iOS was put to sleep and the status of JCAT NET Card FEMTO on the other end was changed to "Disconnected" afterwards.

dw1aTey.jpg

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https://linustechtips.com/topic/1211595-true-phase-vrm-or-less-phase-with-doubler/

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Iirc, to get power to the cpu, using less phases and doublers makes it cheaper, but less stable power delivery and produces more heat. It's basically a way to cut costs.

More phases are expensive, but is more efficient and more stable.

 

World’s First 16-Phase Direct Power Design
X570 AORUS XTREME
https://www.aorus.com/First-16-Phase-Direct-Power-Design.php

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It’s important to note that this isn’t any 16-phase power design. It’s a direct 16-phase design and this is achieved without the use of any doublers at all. The direct design means that 16 direct signals are coming from the PWM chip, allowing for more stable voltage.

 

 

There's a fairly comprehensive list here

 

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1137619-motherboard-vrm-tier-list-v2-currently-amd-only/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Smj5dh97n32wJqm5dkdDcQt8ID7vH52-lKzaaXUUQx8

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If there were no power delivered to the integrated graphics in the first place, how do we expect DisplayPort Alt Mode to work?

 

Well, I guess that some of us (i.e. not everyone) could somehow figure out a way to "modify" the motherboard for that?

 

https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/9481/asus-maximus-xii-extreme-intel-z490-motherboard/index.html

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There is no iGPU power

 

Seems very solid & nice - for non-gamers as there is no way to utilize the CPU integrated graphics

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R13YYJEHV4U9J9

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I first ordered this king Asus Z490 motherboards but after delivery noticed that there was no ability to utilize on-board integrated graphics from the CPU (which I desire to use). So back it went.

 

Here's a different Z490 motherboard from MSI

 

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/z490-use-thunderbolt-as-display-out-with-igp.340937/

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Just watched a breakdown of the board on youtube and seems no power at all is delivered to the IGP

 

IMHO that didn't sound very feasible then.

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sha256sum DaiCosel/* GanCosel/* GanDaitron/*
9c163bb0c55e549aeedf97437c94efb95ef1043f61b94cb28d7e796c2d7284f1  DaiCosel/0.fat
4cbb497a9666eb1b908693009a5982cbf5a4bc0f64693ec0464fa74e07948a4f  DaiCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_44k.gz
1f8d2e81ad08571f421dc322a7e88c6f50c87fb0ca2e347f5b74718754f34e3c  DaiCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_48k.gz
f6cbc0bfb975ad9b882747e74d9b51fa435ddfcf6196687410c9dfc147c4b90a  DaiCosel/kernel419122v8_44k.img
68fbe95e0f9bce7fd8083b1b898a3c8d9247af056ea848bb6828d4eb49b2d74c  DaiCosel/kernel419122v8_48k.img
e5be39fa11123938c62947e818e2eaa503573d0066fe707daf059a2e77c71ac6  GanCosel/0.fat
3f8da38a89973eaac5f1cba9d66e2e9c8c242d0791e5bb9d149890dacd98b4bc  GanCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_44k.gz
5147885bb60f58f612aa230a856832634e2d31f0b36ec544676cc2b8c43d8ec7  GanCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_48k.gz
80ceaf4682b14b020b3419010123db6079f8893b9e2c58d06df108185bf1a92a  GanCosel/kernel419122v8_44k.img
99d11b205f25052f02f3420fcd9da0dc47294df112723d4ec6759ab8ef72ca7f  GanCosel/kernel419122v8_48k.img
7b9ff78b336332b228c7d623763474f48659657cc8658a12965c4dae3c3f2c7f  GanDaitron/0.fat
be392188a879d4bd88cd2c1c75cfa83c7f5c83effa78e32ccb8591aea9e23949  GanDaitron/initrd-4.19.122v8_44k.gz
d8cef1ba373c89fa011d5324ec67c66758a7b18e485fd8c6bfd8b57cd7432bf2  GanDaitron/initrd-4.19.122v8_48k.gz
c9bcdb5e5a8506408d68042e666e9acc04c53348d46454b440b5af84f6471da8  GanDaitron/kernel419122v8_44k.img
87a5bc973b91df3bc34c62bc8517c72fdd231a1cedf1502028bf503d65643a87  GanDaitron/kernel419122v8_48k.img

 

ls -og DaiCosel/* GanCosel/* GanDaitron/*
-rw-r----- 1 67108864 Mar 27 10:07 DaiCosel/0.fat
-rw-r----- 1  1103789 Mar 27 10:07 DaiCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_44k.gz
-rw-r----- 1  1103450 Mar 27 10:07 DaiCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_48k.gz
-rw-r----- 1  8890616 Mar 27 10:07 DaiCosel/kernel419122v8_44k.img
-rw-r----- 1  8890616 Mar 27 10:07 DaiCosel/kernel419122v8_48k.img
-rw-r----- 1 67108864 Mar 27 15:41 GanCosel/0.fat
-rw-r----- 1  1103867 Mar 27 15:41 GanCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_44k.gz
-rw-r----- 1  1103275 Mar 27 15:41 GanCosel/initrd-4.19.122v8_48k.gz
-rw-r----- 1  8890616 Mar 27 15:41 GanCosel/kernel419122v8_44k.img
-rw-r----- 1  8890616 Mar 27 15:41 GanCosel/kernel419122v8_48k.img
-rw-r----- 1 67108864 Mar 28 06:02 GanDaitron/0.fat
-rw-r----- 1  1103906 Mar 28 06:02 GanDaitron/initrd-4.19.122v8_44k.gz
-rw-r----- 1  1103433 Mar 28 06:02 GanDaitron/initrd-4.19.122v8_48k.gz
-rw-r----- 1  8890616 Mar 28 06:02 GanDaitron/kernel419122v8_44k.img
-rw-r----- 1  8890616 Mar 28 06:02 GanDaitron/kernel419122v8_48k.img

 

ls -og *DaiCosel.img.* *GanCosel.img.* *GanDaitron.img.*
-rw-r----- 1 25000000 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_DaiCosel.img.7z.001
-rw-r----- 1 23524433 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_DaiCosel.img.7z.002
-rw-r----- 1 25000000 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_GanCosel.img.7z.001
-rw-r----- 1 25000000 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_GanCosel.img.7z.002
-rw-r----- 1   577603 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_GanCosel.img.7z.003
-rw-r----- 1 25000000 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_GanDaitron.img.7z.001
-rw-r----- 1 25000000 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_GanDaitron.img.7z.002
-rw-r----- 1   499435 Mar 29 02:38 piCorePlayer6.1.0-Quantum_GanDaitron.img.7z.003

 

Dunno what the developer did (i.e. other than having different PSUs) before / after each compilation, somehow he just happened to end up with different flavors of kernels

 

https://www.stsd99.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=19586#p19586

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我把kernel大小和設定檔拿出來比對一次,沒錯。

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/15/2021 at 2:04 AM, Nenon said:

- A Chord DAVE DAC powered by DC4 using offline upsampled files with a program called PGGB. BTW, I can't stand the stock DAVE DAC.

 

Yay, @Zaphod Beeblebrox just announced that the embargo was lifted

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/reality-quest-power-and-digital-audio-with-the-sean-jacobs-dc4-and-sound-application-pgi-tt-7-part-2-of-2-r975/

On 1/21/2021 at 12:26 AM, ray-dude said:

For this review, all these tracks were off-line upsampled (using a custom software package currently in private beta) to 16fs (705/765kHz, 32 bit) to match the input pipeline of the Chord DAVE. The custom upsampling pipeline is optimized to maximize time domain accuracy in reconstruction, and minimize noise in the audio band. The result is an exquisite and natural holographic soundstage with remarkable timing accuracy, all of which is an excellent test of what a Chord DAVE is able to deliver at its best.

 

• Main site: www.remastero.com
• PGGB: www.remastero.com/pggb.html
• FAQ: www.remastero.com/faq.html
• Guide: www.remastero.com/guide.html
• Onboarding: www.remastero.com/onboarding.html

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FYI - for those of us who aren't interested in running both HQP and NAA on the same dual-socket Xeon Scalable motherboard, we could find specific single-socket ones (i.e. Skylake-SP and Cascade Lake-SP) with Sub-NUMA Clustering that's supported by relevant BIOS options

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/30376-a-novel-way-to-massively-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/page/616/?tab=comments#comment-1014096

On 12/16/2019 at 7:37 AM, romaz said:

"Well RAM is a topic on its own, to start with, the 2 cpu’s are split into domains (NUMA / SNC), so you really have 2 x 6 dimms, 6 for each CPU, they are not shared. Music services have their own cpu/dimms and the OS has its own cpu/dims. So its sort of a core and endpoint into a single machine going beyond just core allocations for individual processes.

 

https://software.intel.com/content/www/us/en/develop/articles/intel-xeon-processor-scalable-family-technical-overview.html

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SNC mode has to be enabled by BIOS to expose two SNC domains per socket and set up resource affinity and latency parameters for use with NUMA primitives.

 

I just DAFS on Google and only found motherboards from maybe a dozen vendors with such BIOS options

  • Cisco
  • Dell
  • EVGA
  • Fujitsu
  • H3C
  • HPE
  • Huawei
  • Intel
  • Lenovo
  • NEC
  • Oracle
  • Supermicro

The vast majority of them could only be purchased as a complete server system (usually the form factor itself ain't even close to SSI-EEB / E-ATX / ATX) instead of a standalone motherboard, therefore I just narrowed them down to these guys

  • EVGA SR-3 Dark
  • Supermicro X11SPL-F
  • Supermicro X11SPD-F
  • Supermicro X11SPA-T
  • Supermicro X11SPA-TF
  • Supermicro X11SPG-TF
  • Supermicro X11SPi-TF
  • Supermicro X11SPW-TF
  • Supermicro X11SPW-CTF
  • Supermicro X11SPH-NCTF
  • Supermicro X11SPH-NCTPF

IMHO it would be quite interesting to try SNC with a single 20-core Xeon Gold 6138 (125W TDP might not need any fans if we weren't upsampling with HQP?) and see if that were getting anywhere close to a pair of 10-core Xeon Silver

 

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/120476/intel-xeon-gold-6138-processor-27-5m-cache-2-00-ghz.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Xeon-Scalable-Gold-6138-SkyLake-20-Core-2-0-GHz-3-7-GHz-Turbo-LGA-3647-SR3B5-b/254921475866

 


 

I have no idea if this seller in China were legit or otherwise, though 20-core Xeon Gold 6222V @ 115W TDP could be found below for 4,300 RMB / 660 bucks

 

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=641024936013

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/193962/intel-xeon-gold-6222v-processor-27-5m-cache-1-80-ghz.html

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Part 1 is BIOS setup as shown on page 80 of the Supermicro X11SPL-F manual

 

https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/motherboard/C620/MNL-1950.pdf#page=80

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Chipset Configuration → North Bridge → UPI Configuration → SNC → Enable

 

Part 2 is the OS setup and Windows 10 should look like this

 

https://www.windowsdigitals.com/how-to-set-process-cpu-affinity-priority-permanently-in-windows-10/

 

Process Lasso and dAffinity could also handle something like that but not all features seemed to be free, though the freebies could already cover the basics

 

https://bitsum.com/howfree/

https://www.d7xtech.com/daffinity/

 

However, we're talking about 2 clusters on the same 10-core Xeon Silver 4210 processor and therefore I dunno if the primary one were occupying CPU 0 through CPU 4 and secondary one were occupying CPU 5 through CPU 9 respectively.

 

It doesn't hurt to try different combos and compare the results, though.

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