USB CARD XE - Xtreme edition USB Audio output with ground-breaking performance

[Marcin_gps]

USB CARD XE

XTREME EDITION USB AUDIO OUTPUT WITH GROUND-BREAKING PERFORMANCE 

The pinnacle of JCAT’s engineering and experience. State-of-the-art linear power supplies combined with latest generation high-precision Emerald OCXO offering ±5ppb stability deliver unmatched performance and set a new benchmark in USB Audio playback.    

 

 

THE USB AUDIO OUTPUT FOR HIGH-END USB DACS

The USB Card XE provides extreme sound quality improvement for any USB DAC or USB-DDC. Just Plug & Play in any PC or mini PC equipped with a PCIe slot and experience music to the XTREME.

 

±0.005 (±5 PPB) STABILITY EMERALD OCXO

State-of-the-art ±0.005 (±5 ppb) stability Emerald OCXO (oven controlled oscillator) delivers the most stable timing in the presence of environmental stressors such as airflow, temperature perturbation, vibration, shock, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

 

 

 

THE LOWEST NOISE LINEAR POWER SUPPLIES

Industry's best LT3045 linear regulators and filters eliminate noise interferences from a PC. Truly linear design: no switching power supplies anywhere.

 

LOW LATENCY USB CHIP

Next generation low latency & low noise ASM3142 USB 3.1 host controller generates a clear USB Audio datastream. 

 

 

 

EXTERNAL PSU OPTION

External PSU option eliminates computer as the source of power for lowest noise & best sound quality (requirements for the PSU: 5V/1A min). The OPTIMO 3 DUO power supply is highly recommended for absolute best sound quality.

 

‘DRAMATICALLY BETTER’

 

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW IN OUR ONLINE SHOP!

 

 

SPECIFICATION:

• PCI Express USB Card for High-End Audio
• Plug & Play in any PC or mini PC with a PCIe slot
• Extreme sound quality improvement for any USB DAC or USB-DDC
• State-of-the-art LT3045 linear regulators and filters eliminate noise interferences from a PC
• No switching power supplies anywhere
• State-of-the-art ±0.005 (±5 ppb) stability Emerald OCXO (oven controlled oscillator) delivers the most stable timing in the presence of environmental stressors such as airflow, temperature perturbation, vibration, shock, and electromagnetic interference (EMI)
• Highest quality industrial grade components with operating temperature range from -40*C to +85*C
• Next generation low latency & low noise ASM3142 USB 3.1 host controller
• Gold plated high durability EMI shielded USB connectors
• Two High-End USB Audio outputs supporting Low Speed (1.5 Mbps), Full-Speed (12 Mbps), Hi-Speed (480 Mbps) and Super-Speed (5 Gbps) data rates
• Supports all lossless formats and sample rates
• External PSU option eliminates computer as the source of power for lowest noise & best sound quality (requirements for the PSU: 5V/1A min)
• 5V PSU can be supplied via 2.1/5.5mm center-positive DC jack connector or via LP4 molex connector (Linear Power Supply recommended for best SQ)
• Both full-size and low-profile laser cut PCI-e brackets included
• All x1-x16 lane PCI Express 2.0 slots supported
• Supported operating systems: Windows (all editions), Linux, Mac OS (10.16 or later)

 

[Marcin_gps]

There is a review coming with A/B demo. Here is the preview:

 

Early feedback from @romaz is here: ‘DRAMATICALLY BETTER’

[Marcin_gps]

It was a typo in romaz post. I asked him to edit the post, but it was no longer possible to adjust. 

[Marcin_gps]

There is one important thing I discovered about the USB card XE that I think I should mention. I used to underclock my RAM to get more 'analogue' sound. Now, with the USb card XE this is no longer needed. in fact it is much better to keep the CPU & RAM on maximum performance settings - you get much better resolution, dynamics and air without any downsides. There is more clarity, but without digital trace. 

[Marcin_gps]

19 hours ago, guiltyboxswapper said:

@Marcin_gps how much current does the card use once its "warm" ?

 

Approximately 1A. I will give you the exact number once I hear back from my engineer. 

[Marcin_gps]

The first batch of USB Card XE is on the way.

 

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. Please give the card up to 200 hours burn-in before forming your final opinion - the LT3045 LDOs on the card need time to open up. 

 

Please share your feedback here on the forum or leave a review and star rating on the Polestar platform: https://audiophilestyle.com/polestar/computers-networking/jcat-usb-card-xe-reviews-r293/
 

The card has an external PSU option which eliminates computer as the source of power. The OPTIMO 3 DUO power supply is highly recommended for absolute best sound quality: https://jcat.eu/featured/optimo-3-duo-linear-power-supply/

 

Looking forward to your impressions!  

 

Yours sincerely,

Marcin Ostapowicz

JPLAY & JCAT Founder

[Marcin_gps]

On 4/13/2020 at 10:04 PM, guiltyboxswapper said:

@Marcin_gps how much current does the card use once its "warm" ?

730mA is the exact number when the card is warm.

[Marcin_gps]

We are currently accepting pre-orders for the next batch of cards available in June 2020. Current batch is sold out!!!

 

In case you wonder if it's worth the wait:

 

 

[Marcin_gps]

On 4/26/2020 at 5:58 PM, matthias said:

@Marcin_gps

Hi Marcin,

 

would like to use your new USB CARD XE with a new MacBook Pro with TB3 output to this device:

 

https://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo-express-sel-tb3/overview.html

 

Does the XE work with this device and can you recommend such a configuration when using a HQPS for the XE?

Do exist devices which are superior to the Sonnet, maybe passive cooled without fan?

 

Thank you

 

Matt

Hi Matt, 

 

In theory this should work, but I haven't tried this device, so can't be sure. 

 

The USB Card XE works under Mac OS. (This  is new, because USB Card FEMTO is not compatible with Mac OS)

 

On 4/26/2020 at 9:23 PM, Gavin1977 said:

@Marcin_gps When powering USB XE with a really high quality linear power supply, do you still find that the host computer power supply is as important? 

 

For example, some people here are spending large amounts of money on linear power supplies for their server builds (7700k, 8700k, AMS 3900x - all 95 watts)... high core count, large cache all sound better.  With JCAT USB XE would using a standard high quality ATX SMPS for the motherboard and CPU no longer be a compromise?

 

I ask because >8A of 12v linear power supply is very expensive and rare.

 

Yes, host computer PSU will always be important IMHO

 

We're designing our own no compromise ATX iinear PSU, but, as you already noticed, it will be very expensive. 

 

Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder

[Marcin_gps]

43 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

Actually I didn't notice - any further infromation / link?

 

There are no further information yet. I just mentioned what  you already observed about the high price of such power supplies.  

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

 

 

 

Our USB Card XE gets a 'SPECIAL PERFORMER' award from Pursuit Perfect System 

"remember the sonic benefits from the FEMTO USB card, the XE card does that all over again but improving every area"

Full review available here: https://www.pursuitp...-xe-review.html

 

 

 

 

[Marcin_gps]

NEXT BATCH UPDATE

 

I'm afraid I have unfortunate news. 

 

I've just received an email from Digi-key regarding availability of the OCXO oscillator we use on the USB Card XE. The original shipping date when we placed the order was June, 6th. Now the date is June 30, 2020, with an additional, approximate 6 business days transit from the manufacturer to Digi-Key.

 

The SiT5711 is popular and SiTime has not been able to get ahead of the demand. Regardless, we are pushing to get the oscillators sooner, but it seems that the USB Cards XE will not ship sooner than in July.  

 

I know this is disappointing, but there is very little we can do. 

 

I will keep you updated. 

 

On the bright side:

 

 

Sorry I ordered already and canceled 3 days ago cause of my already great sounding server but I heard it at a friends server and it’s a musthave….

 

 

Best regards,

Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

On 5/23/2020 at 8:13 AM, Gavin1977 said:

I have preordered mine now! What’s the present ETA for June, early/mid/late?

 

Also, I will be powering my motherboard with a linear power supply (Sean Jacobs)... I would imagine that this would largely remove the need for using an external dedicated linear power supply... any feedback on this?

 

 

 

linear PSU for the motherboard  is certainly good, but a separate LPS for the card is a different story. 

 

I'd strongly  recommend a LPS just for the USB Card XE

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

10 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

Thumbs up for the good communications - many thanks @Marcin_gps

 

Thank you, Gavin

[Marcin_gps]

Thanks for the suggestion. 

 

It's interesting, but a USB Card is only one piece of the music server puzzle. I think the results may vary quite drastically depending on motherboard, power supplies etc. 

 

Regards, 
Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

6 hours ago, Gavin1977 said:

Appologies, more questions along the same theme of optimising my approach.. 

1. If using bus power only (no dedicated linear) then what voltages is the card using through the PCI express connection... 12v (stepped down internally by LT3045?), 3.3v or both?
2. JCAT Website states "State-of-the-art LT3045 linear regulators and filters eliminate noise interferences from a PC" Would you be able to explain a little more about what filtering and noise reduction actually occurs at the PCI Express connection?
3. If powering USB XE using an internal/external linear power supply, then is it true that the only source of electrically transmitted noise through to the USB XE will therefore be just the SMDAT/SMBus data collection pins?  Do you know which voltage rail the SMDAT/SMBUS data tranmision pins are powered off?

Thanks

1. 3.3V

2. The filtration and noise reduction is provided by the LDOs.  You can see  the exact  specs here: https://www.analog.com/en/products/lt3045.html#product-overview

3. I don't know. But I can tell you that the PSU for the PC is still quite important and easily audible, if  that  was your question.  

 

As a matter of  fact, we are in the process of designing a high-power version of a PSU for a PC.

 

Regards,

Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

10 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

Any indication of release date for your PC PSU? 🙂

 

End of Summer.  

I will start a new topic with more details and some pictures from the lab. 

 

Regards,

Marcin

 

[Marcin_gps]

14 hours ago, CheapSplurge said:

I'm new to hqplayer and now I hear about jplay. What exactly is it.? I guess it's hardware? Can it be used with laptop? 

 

It's not hardware. It's a software player/playback engine optimized for best possible sound quality (subjective)

http://jplay.eu

[Marcin_gps]

12 hours ago, Pablooo said:

Hi Marcin, 

 

Could you provide us with an updated delivery schedule of the XE card?

 

Thanks!

The current lead time information for the OCXO SIT5711AC-KW-33E-20.000000F-ND is that they are expected to arrive at Digi-Key on July 8, 2020. We have  other  components in stock, so the assembly will start shortly. 

 

Regards, 

Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

On 7/20/2020 at 11:08 PM, WilliamWykeham said:

 

Hi Marcin, curious if the the clocks arrived and if you have an idea of ship dates. 

 

Thank you 

 

Hi William, 

The manufacturer of the OCXO (SiTime) delayed the delivery again from July 8 to July 30, but after a conference call with them we managed to expedite the delivery to this week. Once we receive the oscillators, we will start the assembly. Hopefully we will be ship the orders by the end of July. 

 

I wish I could give you better news, so you could enjoy the cards sooner. 


Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder

[Marcin_gps]

Good news! The delayed oscillators were finally shipped yesterday from DigiKey warehouse to our factory. 

[Marcin_gps]

22 hours ago, Summit said:

I have one question that I can’t figure out myself. Why are there no shield case on this and other TOTL audio cards that are meant to be placed inside a (noisy) computer?

 

Power related noise is much more harmful and we focus on this area.  

 

Regards,

Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

14 hours ago, Sonic77 said:

Any update on shipping? I ordered on June 26, 2020 it is now August 14, 2020, at this point I'd rather have a refund.

 

 

If you wish to receive a refund, please send an email. 

 

Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder

[Marcin_gps]

On 8/15/2020 at 10:27 PM, Pablooo said:

From what I understand is that the oscillators were in backorder and this causes the delay of the delivery of the XE card.  However, the oscillators were sent to Jcat 2 weeks ago so I figure the delivery of the XE card is about to take place. @Marcin_gps could you confirm a more precise dispatch date?

Hi Pablooo, 

 

Yes, this is the case. We received the oscillators and we're assembling the cards. Once  the batch is ready and tested, the cards will be shipped from the factory to our place. If everything goes smooth, all backorders should be dispatched within 2 weeks. 

 

Best regards,
Marcin Ostapowicz
JPLAY & JCAT Founder

[Marcin_gps]

I’ve just received an update from the factory - they promised to ship the cards by the end of next week.

 

regards

Marcin