Audiowise Opto-USB, SRC-DX and early experiments with the Chord Qutest before moving to TT2

[Middy]

To play with for your delectation and edification..

Original intona..

The ISOREGEN with the fabulous LPS1

IFI I purifier. Gen2

I have x4 I silencers not in the chain but sat in unused USB ports. As plug in USB BUS noise filters.. it worked for me.. I already had 2 before....

 

Headless..NUC low latency as I can for Win 10 Pro audio hacks.. Just EMI RFI shielded the internal cables... just a touch of Mu metal to go..

 

The ISOREGEN is pulling 7v pre moat so that's not an issue I think.

And just raw from the front USB port..

 

The big boys on the PGGB thread know more and this backwards Rajiv Ray et al.. cutting edge stuff...

 

To be honest just the ISOREGEN normally, but with tinkering and a new toy, I can see if helps or not... Up stream... I don't think I'll have Nenon or Raj asking me for advice soon😁

 

But their good work got me here and better for it... when spotify do real music soon I'll be happy.. simple connect. Easy peasey budgeted... 

 

Dx is really the 🍒 on the 🎂

 

Nick Bacon's super cables add more and those inbetween... I hear.. so more wiggle room...

 

My system is a bottom draw bits box to some here.. but sounding great...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Middy]

A Chord Qutest lurkers tale. SRC DX

Everything matters..does it?

 

I watched the SRC DX and optos come out and thought yer ok, another toy. 

Maybe another Nth degree small improvement.

Ray Dudes great review on head fi was for the Optos and all the optional extras... power lps's and if wanted RFI EMI shielded boxes to maximise the SQ delta ect.. Out of my league and no chance of an Chord upscaler anyway.. in my case its the Starter Chord Qutest...

 

Finally backed up in reference to using Dave's Amanero USB implementation and the Uber TAIKO  extreme thread on WB's forum. Its holding the Dave back..

 

Even the with PBBG or HQP, with a good powerful PC and more apacer 'RAM' than a super tanker full of male sheep.. explored here on AS.

The SRC DX is for the high-end upscaling guys only and good on them, for pushing the envelope and their enjoyment in this hobby.🙂👍

 

But those 2 BNC's connectors just keep mocking me.. sat there doing nothing... Wheres my up scaler Middy?

 

In conclusion the SRC DX is a no brainer for me.. put simply its made the DAC sound like the DAC i hoped it would be. Not a little but a lot more.

Thrilled if it was just another layer of micro detail or a bit more sound stage.  This is everything just better.. details SQ bass vocals..smoothness transients...better than USB alone.

 

whats that means to you ? I don't know, it's the audiophile trap sorry.. The price of admission is knowing for yourself...but no doubt in you can't miss its effects ..

 

Is the chord USB that bad?

 

Probably not but things move on. Rob always had Chord owners filling forum threads with glass Toslink arguments and giant car batteries tripping up wife's in bedrooms around the world..

Anyone want 3 Toshlinks going cheap..

 

Is the SRC DX that good? 

 

Our hobby is full of well made DDC's, low phase noise world clock box's and USB converters I can't compare too.

I can't tell you if DSD sounds good, i am only using a single cheap 30cm BNC cable..i have its twin coming today and a simple CCTV coupling later.. 

I just know it works well and makes the DAC shine... or finally show Mr Watts creative designs in its best light.

 

Will it scale up the Chord family...? 

Posts seem to say TT2 users and Dave owners seem too anecdotally...

I am i getting a free TT2 i hope so or near!! But doesn't matter i am happy.

 

Everything matters and never a free lunch.. ?

My Qutest has an LPS1.0,  A DXP-1A5DSC and a IFI DC purifier 2 hanging of it... fed by an IFi AC purifier and balanced isolation transformer... 4 expensive black and blue fuses...

 

My euphony trial £90 ebay Celeron NUC with Apacer Ram, Mu metal and tape shielding fanless case added.. not even Roon tidal or Qobuz.. win10 and Basic fidelizer...

ISOREGEN and LPS1.0 and more cleaning the stream up..

 

No not at all is this hobby ever a free lunch. At what ever level...😐

 

The point being i am positive better upstream equipment would still be of benefit using a Chord DAC in the sense scaled benefits.. streamers and PCs.

 

I am just basking in my play list to try experiments with the USB cleaners or think about a Mid-fi cables upgrades..

There still plenty of tinkering we love there to play with.. For that extra % gains..

 

I am not here to convince you either way. Just give another perspective and option And I hope it helps... i am the least of us and not even that knowledgeable...

 

This tiny box give me freedom to use my current setup and bypass the Chord USB. 

 

Everything matters should be qualified with ..Everything matters if it matters to you.

 

 The SRC DX matters in my set up and I really like what its made my DAC into...

 

Thank you to everyone on AS and beyond for your help, I hope this pays a fraction back..

 

Good luck regardless 

Kind regards

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gavin1977]

42 minutes ago, Middy said:

A Chord Qutest lurkers tale. SRC DX

Everything matters..does it?

 

I watched the SRC DX and optos come out and thought yer ok, another toy. 

Maybe another Nth degree small improvement.

Ray Dudes great review on head fi was for the Optos and all the optional extras... power lps's and if wanted RFI EMI shielded boxes to maximise the SQ delta ect.. Out of my league and no chance of an Chord upscaler anyway.. in my case its the Starter Chord Qutest...

 

Finally backed up in reference to using Dave's Amanero USB implementation and the Uber TAIKO  extreme thread on WB's forum. Its holding the Dave back..

 

Even the with PBBG or HQP, with a good powerful PC and more apacer 'RAM' than a super tanker full of male sheep.. explored here on AS.

The SRC DX is for the high-end upscaling guys only and good on them, for pushing the envelope and their enjoyment in this hobby.🙂👍

 

But those 2 BNC's connectors just keep mocking me.. sat there doing nothing... Wheres my up scaler Middy?

 

In conclusion the SRC DX is a no brainer for me.. put simply its made the DAC sound like the DAC i hoped it would be. Not a little but a lot more.

Thrilled if it was just another layer of micro detail or a bit more sound stage.  This is everything just better.. details SQ bass vocals..smoothness transients...better than USB alone.

 

whats that means to you ? I don't know, it's the audiophile trap sorry.. The price of admission is knowing for yourself...but no doubt in you can't miss its effects ..

 

Is the chord USB that bad?

 

Probably not but things move on. Rob always had Chord owners filling forum threads with glass Toslink arguments and giant car batteries tripping up wife's in bedrooms around the world..

Anyone want 3 Toshlinks going cheap..

 

Is the SRC DX that good? 

 

Our hobby is full of well made DDC's, low phase noise world clock box's and USB converters I can't compare too.

I can't tell you if DSD sounds good, i am only using a single cheap 30cm BNC cable..i have its twin coming today and a simple CCTV coupling later.. 

I just know it works well and makes the DAC shine... or finally show Mr Watts creative designs in its best light.

 

Will it scale up the Chord family...? 

Posts seem to say TT2 users and Dave owners seem too anecdotally...

I am i getting a free TT2 i hope so or near!! But doesn't matter i am happy.

 

Everything matters and never a free lunch.. ?

My Qutest has an LPS1.0,  A DXP-1A5DSC and a IFI DC purifier 2 hanging of it... fed by an IFi AC purifier and balanced isolation transformer... 4 expensive black and blue fuses...

 

My euphony trial £90 ebay Celeron NUC with Apacer Ram, Mu metal and tape shielding fanless case added.. not even Roon tidal or Qobuz.. win10 and Basic fidelizer...

ISOREGEN and LPS1.0 and more cleaning the stream up..

 

No not at all is this hobby ever a free lunch. At what ever level...😐

 

The point being i am positive better upstream equipment would still be of benefit using a Chord DAC in the sense scaled benefits.. streamers and PCs.

 

I am just basking in my play list to try experiments with the USB cleaners or think about a Mid-fi cables upgrades..

There still plenty of tinkering we love there to play with.. For that extra % gains..

 

I am not here to convince you either way. Just give another perspective and option And I hope it helps... i am the least of us and not even that knowledgeable...

 

This tiny box give me freedom to use my current setup and bypass the Chord USB. 

 

Everything matters should be qualified with ..Everything matters if it matters to you.

 

 The SRC DX matters in my set up and I really like what its made my DAC into...

 

Thank you to everyone on AS and beyond for your help, I hope this pays a fraction back..

 

Good luck regardless 

Kind regards

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good to know that it’s working well for you.

[Middy]

30 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

Good to know that it’s working well for you.

I might have mentioned that in so many words....  100%  yes...

 

Fair comment though Gavin?

For others thinking of investing? Or a trial

 

[edwardsean]

The psychology of audiophiles is such an interesting thing. Sometimes, your system sounds so good you can’t imagine how an upgrade will improve it. Then you upgrade and you can’t imagine going back. 

 

Yeah… the SRC-DX into Dave’s dual BNC (bypassing the USB chipset) is for real. I wasn’t unhappy with my system a week ago. And, still, the combination of PGGB and SRC-DX made quite a sizeable jump in SQ in a short span of time. For the tests I used PGGB 16fs processed files, 32bit for USB and 24bit for BNC.

 

I first tested the optical feed out of my server straight into Dave’s USB against straight SRC-DX into Dave’s BNC. The SRC-DX>BNC path immediately emerged as better, more clear and precise. Bringing my Innuos Phoenix back into the USB chain brought a smoother, more spacious and detailed sound, but still lacked the substance and definition of the SRC-DX>BNC. On the other hand, the SRC-DX>BNC seemed a bit raw and unrefined compared to the USB chain w/Phoenix. It would be tough to choose one over the other.

 

Adding the Phoenix into the SRC-DX>BNC chain was just so—many—good—things. Like PGGB, the resulting image was larger, more precise and focused with better separation, while generating a smoother, denser, more analog render. After using PGGB the textures/timbres could never feel malnourished, but it is like they now went to the gym. The sound was even more muscular, and also disciplined, reflexive, and lithe. 

 

I thought maybe I could lose the Phoenix if I went into Dave’s BNC, but @Gavin1977and @Fourlegs were right. Whatever the Innuos does, in terms of better power and signal regeneration, benefits SQ, it seems, regardless of input protocol. Not that you need a Phoenix, but as we all learn, the quality of the upstream signal matters to the components you feed. PGGB files and a high quality signal feeding the SRC-DX into Dave’s BNC is transformative. 

 

So, I join my voice to the chorus of praise for PGGB > SRC-DX > BNC Dave+SJ PS (DC3 in my case). Among these units, the SJ power supplies and even Phoenix are spendy. However, PGGB and SRC-DX comprise an enormously outsized value proposition. 

 

I still haven’t upgraded my computer, so I’m producing PGGB files on a MacBook Pro (Bootcamp). It took 3-4 days of solid non-stop crunching for it to convert my library. I just wiped my external drive and all that work was erased in a second. It’s now busy repopulating the drive with 24bit versions for SRC-DX>BNC. My poor little Mac. I think you’re going to be pretty busy these days until we get you a big brother. 

 

So, fellas, what are we upgrading next?

 

[Gavin1977]

14 minutes ago, edwardsean said:

The psychology of audiophiles is such an interesting thing. Sometimes, your system sounds so good you can’t imagine how an upgrade will improve it. Then you upgrade and you can’t imagine going back. 

 

Yeah… the SRC-DX into Dave’s dual BNC (bypassing the USB chipset) is for real. I wasn’t unhappy with my system a week ago. And, still, the combination of PGGB and SRC-DX made quite a sizeable jump in SQ in a short span of time. For the tests I used PGGB 16fs processed files, 32bit for USB and 24bit for BNC.

 

I first tested the optical feed out of my server straight into Dave’s USB against straight SRC-DX into Dave’s BNC. The SRC-DX>BNC path immediately emerged as better, more clear and precise. Bringing my Innuos Phoenix back into the USB chain brought a smoother, more spacious and detailed sound, but still lacked the substance and definition of the SRC-DX>BNC. On the other hand, the SRC-DX>BNC seemed a bit raw and unrefined compared to the USB chain w/Phoenix. It would be tough to choose one over the other.

 

Adding the Phoenix into the SRC-DX>BNC chain was just so—many—good—things. Like PGGB, the resulting image was larger, more precise and focused with better separation, while generating a smoother, denser, more analog render. After using PGGB the textures/timbres could never feel malnourished, but it is like they now went to the gym. The sound was even more muscular, and also disciplined, reflexive, and lithe. 

 

I thought maybe I could lose the Phoenix if I went into Dave’s BNC, but @Gavin1977and @Fourlegs were right. Whatever the Innuos does, in terms of better power and signal regeneration, benefits SQ, it seems, regardless of input protocol. Not that you need a Phoenix, but as we all learn, the quality of the upstream signal matters to the components you feed. With PGGB files and a high quality signal, the SRC-DX into Dave’s BNC is transformative. 

 

So, I join my voice to the chorus of praise for PGGB > SRC-DX > BNC Dave+SJ PS (DC3 in my case). Among these units, the SJ power supplies and even Phoenix are spendy. However, PGGB and SRC-DX comprise an enormously outsized value proposition. 

 

I still haven’t upgraded my computer, so I’m producing PGGB files on a MacBook Pro (Bootcamp). It took 3-4 days of solid non-stop crunching for it to convert my library. I just wiped my external drive and all that work was erased in a second. It’s now busy repopulating the drive with 24bit versions for SRC-DX>BNC. My poor little Mac. I think you’re going to be pretty busy these days until we get you a big brother. 

 

So, fellas, what are we upgrading next?

 

Always nice to have findings confirmed by other sources - I don’t have a Phoenix at the moment, but would like to get one back in my chain again at some point.

[Middy]

Hi @edwardseanreally glad its improved your setup. I am still not sure of whats so special about the DX. 

Would any old DDC do the job? But sounds so much better than USB alone.

My experiments are paying off on my little set up. Shielding, RAM cables, USB connectors on my pc worked but adding EMI absorber much more so..

3M AB5030.

 

The xilinx in my intona some ICs and USB connector shells.. a touch more SQ with 3m

Custom shielded supra cable shortened...Tick...

Windows debloater and scripts very nice..opening cores ect no power saving throttling for low latency... Big tick....

The main drive being EMI RFI the DX designer bases his products and engineering principles on....

 

The Qutest will be the last to be stripped and shielded.... i never knew about noise being reflect about the case not just noisy FPGAs and clocks transmitting RF emi..  pure luck but its working out and better SQ. Fingers crossed for the dac...

 

Lastly i just got this... from his website.

The intona ipurifier should block DC but it seems to help... subtle YMMV ECT

One thing you'll need is an adapter as its  a male/female in-line filter..

From a DX you need a female to female..

 

"DC•BLOCK Leakage Current Isolation – AudioWise" https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/products/gnd-zro-signal-ground-isolation

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNC-MALE-to-MALE-COUPLER-ADAPTER-FOR-TV-CCTV-CAMERA-CABLE-JOINER-CONNECTOR-/332086047040?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

 

If you asked me 2 weeks my system was ok.  Eye's closed i could be tricked into believing its a good streamer TT2.

 

Finally a real step up in sound quality not perceived mini gains or marginal at best...

 

So happy..

 

Dave...

[Gavin1977]

6 minutes ago, Middy said:

Hi @edwardseanreally glad its improved your setup. I am still not sure of whats so special about the DX. 

Would any old DDC do the job? But sounds so much better than USB alone.

My experiments are paying off on my little set up. Shielding, RAM cables, USB connectors on my pc worked but adding EMI absorber much more so..

3M AB5030.

 

The xilinx in my intona some ICs and USB connector shells.. a touch more SQ with 3m

Custom shielded supra cable shortened...Tick...

Windows debloater and scripts very nice..opening cores ect no power saving throttling for low latency... Big tick....

The main drive being EMI RFI the DX designer bases his products and engineering principles on....

 

The Qutest will be the last to be stripped and shielded.... i never knew about noise being reflect about the case not just noisy FPGAs and clocks transmitting RF emi..  pure luck but its working out and better SQ. Fingers crossed for the dac...

 

Lastly i just got this... from his website.

The intona ipurifier should block DC but it seems to help... subtle YMMV ECT

One thing you'll need is an adapter as its  a male/female in-line filter..

From a DX you need a female to female..

 

"DC•BLOCK Leakage Current Isolation – AudioWise" https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/products/gnd-zro-signal-ground-isolation

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNC-MALE-to-MALE-COUPLER-ADAPTER-FOR-TV-CCTV-CAMERA-CABLE-JOINER-CONNECTOR-/332086047040?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

 

If you asked me 2 weeks my system was ok.  Eye's closed i could be tricked into believing its a good streamer TT2.

 

Finally a real step up in sound quality not perceived mini gains or marginal at best...

 

So happy..

 

Dave...

DC•BLOCK, gosh it never ends - but might be good if you can use this to directly connect the SRC-DX to Chord DAC rather than using a pair of cables?  I also like the idea of ultra short spdif links.

 

SRC-DX definitely does something special - I have used x-spdif 2 before this which gave nice boost, but SRC-DX is superior. 

 

You are right that you can get the qutest to (almost) scale upto SQ of a TT2 - will be interesting how far TT2 scales above this.

[BlueDL]

13 minutes ago, Middy said:

Hi @edwardseanreally glad its improved your setup. I am still not sure of whats so special about the DX. 

Would any old DDC do the job? But sounds so much better than USB alone.

My experiments are paying off on my little set up. Shielding, RAM cables, USB connectors on my pc worked but adding EMI absorber much more so..

3M AB5030.

 

The xilinx in my intona some ICs and USB connector shells.. a touch more SQ with 3m

Custom shielded supra cable shortened...Tick...

Windows debloater and scripts very nice..opening cores ect no power saving throttling for low latency... Big tick....

The main drive being EMI RFI the DX designer bases his products and engineering principles on....

 

The Qutest will be the last to be stripped and shielded.... i never knew about noise being reflect about the case not just noisy FPGAs and clocks transmitting RF emi..  pure luck but its working out and better SQ. Fingers crossed for the dac...

 

Lastly i just got this... from his website.

The intona ipurifier should block DC but it seems to help... subtle YMMV ECT

One thing you'll need is an adapter as its  a male/female in-line filter..

From a DX you need a female to female..

 

"DC•BLOCK Leakage Current Isolation – AudioWise" https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/products/gnd-zro-signal-ground-isolation

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNC-MALE-to-MALE-COUPLER-ADAPTER-FOR-TV-CCTV-CAMERA-CABLE-JOINER-CONNECTOR-/332086047040?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

 

If you asked me 2 weeks my system was ok.  Eye's closed i could be tricked into believing its a good streamer TT2.

 

Finally a real step up in sound quality not perceived mini gains or marginal at best...

 

So happy..

 

Dave...

At this rate, I’ll be hiring you to help one of my team out with an EMC problem on a bit of aerospace kit. 😆

Two bites at the cherry (formal test campaigns) so far and both times we’ve not been able to fall within the stringent dB/frequency spectrum envelope! 🤔🙄

[Middy]

Lol, i have a passing interest as i am an Electronics ME, the real brains sit upstairs programming FPGAs, designing circuits for Trent 1000 engine controllers.. EMC testing costs a fortune...like i said i am a monkey with a roll of tape and a screw driver at best... Most have been done by members here in part.. better power.. mundorf custom wire, faraday shielding cables. 

Daniel Mance DX designer must think its important, so go the extra mile in my madness..

pure luck if it works. EMC is so highly specialised...

Its £2000 an hour on a 2 year contract.... i am only cheap as its my first EMC job......🤣

 

Don't feel the need to rush out and get some, i got it on a whim and you guys need 2.. the adaptor is solid with one twisting ground BNC shell..£2..

 

Here's what it looks like in situ..

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Hey there @Middy! Did you happen to listen with the filter direct, per your pic, and with a cable added? Cheers, fella...

[Middy]

1 hour ago, Gavin1977 said:

 

You are right that you can get the qutest to (almost) scale upto SQ of a TT2 - will be interesting how far TT2 scales above this.

* as a wild guess only... but its all added up Gavin.. Sudo Linux effect using pro audio/gaming hacks stripping everything on Win10... Basic industrial EMC shielding.... i would have been fooled with a blindfold that it was an expensive replacement... My TT2 and Dave are at the dry cleaners... 

 

Some things were subtle, like using Apacer DDR3 or going fanless but obvious not expectation bias. New song details aren't concentration in a dark room but valid gains...

 

I'd love a chance to know but i am confident it can now hold its own...

 

Leveraging what you have and getting the best out of it.... all part of the fun of getting that magical transient or wispy breath on a song.. i honestly don't envy you guys and the fabulous set ups but I do hope, you find that next SQ milestone.

 

Nick called today and mentioned your good self.. Such a nice guy seeing if i had it and everything was ok 👌.

 

Keep smiling all i hope it helps

 

Cheers

Dave🙂

 

 

[BlueDL]

35 minutes ago, Middy said:

Here's what it looks like in situ..

Hi Dave. Is that the DC-Block filter from Audiowise that you linked to?

 

Has it had a tangible impact similar to the SRC-DX?

[Middy]

5 minutes ago, MarkusBarkus said:

Hey there @Middy! Did you happen to listen with the filter direct, per your pic, and with a cable added? Cheers, fella...

Not with a cable yet as i had this adaptor and it saves space.. i have the basic onès, like on the Audiowise site off ebay.. £7 for experimenting and stole Nick idea and tried a ferrite... not the same 😔

  If you have one of Nicks beautiful cables you don't want.....we can swap..ill pay the P+P😇

 

I should have in principle DC blocking already from my NUC...

Random mishmash of INTONA>  IFI IPURIFIER > ISOREGEN LPS1> into SRC DX..

From chasing the SQ dragon, small purchases on here over the years.

 

They are staying as they are my baseline until i can shield my DAC then look at what works or not..

 

Even the website says its subtle, i wouldn't bet the house on it. Not like adding the DX effect...

But you guys know whats feeding your DACs and may scale better..

 

I only post if i think it could help someone or just interested, I'd be gutted if it didnt.. i am the opposite of an expert...

[Middy]

11 minutes ago, BlueDL said:

Hi Dave. Is that the DC-Block filter from Audiowise that you linked to?

 

Has it had a tangible impact similar to the SRC-DX?

Yes the very one and nice adapter for £2 top's 

 

 

As I just  posted the site says subtle, i am supposed to already have some DC protection in my random spares draw chain... I'd say yes just but I've just got it this afternoon at 4 pm..

So no late night electrically quiet in the dark critical listening..

I'd hope you guys with more resolving systems, upstream streamer scaling uber boxs yes..

 

But and a big but.. yes only if you don't mind sending it back if it doesn't work for you.... Nick.. 4legs said he saw a review but i lucked out for anything close to a mention... as I know I am the only one..  

 

Not much help i am i...🤔

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Thanks @Middy I have that filter, but wasn't cagey enough to just hook it directly instead of with the cable. Will do when Sweetie takes her walk and the HiFi volume comes up!

 

Just today I was at the hobby shop looking at small amounts of copper or stainless screen mesh. Thinking to make a little cage for the dac. 
 

Honestly, I don't like the dac wrap product; I worry about heat dissipation and if the front and back is unwrapped, well...the wave lengths are small and it's ubiquitous, so I'm thinking it's all or nothing. 

 

Happy to hear from any EMI/RF honchos regarding feasibility of a screen wrap. Good Luck Sunday...I'm pulling the 3Lions all the way! 

[MarkusBarkus]

@BlueDLI have had the filter in place for a couple of weeks, but via BNC cable. That is, filter at Dave, cable back to SRC box. I tried with it in and out.

 

With it in place continuously for a bit now, I like the sound...smooth...but I don't think (I couldn't) one would notice a dramatic difference on an in/out A/B test.

[Middy]

The wife complaining there's a full on mil/MI6 spec comms secured EMI tent in the living room as it helps the top end/ bass response... and it matches the new couch...

 

 

[Middy]

@MarkusBarkus But thank you for the extra confirmation and not me leading people up the garden path..

[seeteeyou]

1 hour ago, Middy said:

Would any old DDC do the job? But sounds so much better than USB alone.

 

Definitely go for one of the best candidates as mentioned below, provided that we're gonna assemble that ourselves

 

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

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/page-277#post-697099

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/page-278#post-697305

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/page-278#post-697566

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/page-280#post-698755

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/page-319#post-706060

 

I2SoverUSB v.III

http://www.jlsounds.com/i2soverusb.html

 

Coaxial and Toslink optical output board for I2SoverUSB v.III

http://www.jlsounds.com/toslink.html

 

The whole point of adding the DDC here really is all about bypassing that awful Amanero USB interface with high latency, unfortunately it's found inside all DACs from Chord these days.

 

Though we're getting RCA connector on the DDC's end while BNC connector on the DAC's end, an adapter might not be the best bet and therefore we could replace RCA with BNC accordingly. Other than that, simply make our own cables with RCA on one end and BNC on another.

 

Obviously we don't have to touch any of that with Toslink.

[Middy]

@seeteeyou

From the DX and opto release and the Whats best confirmation i still didn't believe the Amanero was that bad/ was holding the Chord  back so much from its true potential..

As always you are the king of great information... thank you..

 

[MarkusBarkus]

The guys on Head-Fi will turn into Head-Explosion-Fi if you say it, but: Dave sounds better (to me) when you by-pass Amanero USB workflow into Dave. Even single BNC input via a converter. Better with DC-4 mod too, but...shhhh...

[Middy]

The thing thats so nice is anything short of a BNC out like a world clock..all the upstream USB chain stays in place... feeding the DX...

 

I know what you mean Markus..it seems that bit better

 

 

Fields of gold by Eva that bit intimate sharp but smooth...  Nancy Sinatra..

Janis Ian at 17...

 

Lovely..another few millimetres in the right direction...

 

 

[edwardsean]

1 hour ago, MarkusBarkus said:

The guys on Head-Fi will turn into Head-Explosion-Fi if you say it, but: Dave sounds better (to me) when you by-pass Amanero USB workflow into Dave. Even single BNC input via a converter. Better with DC-4 mod too, but...shhhh...

 

I guess we’ll see soon enough. I’m originally from Headfi (hold for gasps) and I can’t not share all of this with the folks “back home.”

 

 

10 minutes ago, Middy said:

The thing thats so nice is anything short of a BNC out like a world clock..all the upstream USB chain stays in place... feeding the DX...

 

I know what you mean Markus..it seems that bit better

 

 

Fields of gold by Eva that bit intimate sharp but smooth...  Nancy Sinatra..

Janis Ian at 17...

 

Lovely..another few millimetres in the right direction...

 

 

 

Also, It’s so nice to be free of the squealing and loud bursts of white noise that came with 768 over USB. 

 

Eva… ahhh…. Such a loss. It makes that track so preternaturally poignant. 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I know, I know, I'm over there too. And honestly, I should have written "some guys" will flip their lids. I like it over there too. Actually, no one nuked me when I described Dave as an excellent platform from which to tune a bit. I am a Chord supporter and owner of a few lusty objects of aural desire...