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Genelec 8361a vs 8351b
- Thread starter ilikesound
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staticV3
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Not necessarily.
For example, I don't know if any of these basic USB->AES converters (multiple versions available) support UAC2 hardware volume control.
Without UAC2, you'd need a GLM controller + 9310B/9101B to control volume with ASIO or Wasapi Exclusive output, at which point one could consider just unifying AES conversion and volume control via a 9320A.
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ilikesound
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They were supposed to arrive yesterday but the delivery was postponed which makes the weekend not as cool as it was planned to be
I will post my not so educated impressions for people like me that don't understand the complicated terms thrown here I ordered the said usb to aes converter from Ali express, thank you. But on a side note I found the Quloos QU02 USB Bridge and a good offer for MUTEC-MC-3+ which based on one review is said to increase the audio quality and even better soundstage??
I still can't grasp all the jitter and external clocks concepts and claims on all the aes to ebu interfaces to deliver the signal more cleanly (?) though. Will I really not miss anything regarding sound quality with that small converter? my head is telling me those chip packed boxes must deliver better audio than a small converter.
thanks
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Pearljam5000
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You're always the most knowledgeable person about this stuff here
Wow
No, you can sit 10 meters away and listen at a volume of 98dBA.
Pearljam5000
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They recommend up to 5 meters
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ilikesound
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So after some light research I saw one comment saying all the stuff before the genelecs dac in the speaker is pointless- the dac has a final say in any "clock", jitter etc. So buying a muted mc 3+ won't give me any noticeable benefit. Is that correct? Im seeing myself spiraling down the loophole that is this audio world which is a good thing for me, but not so much for my wallet.
I would go the mutec way. The dac conversion takes place in the speakers itself.
If you are only listening from a computer, volume can be controlled via glm installed on the computer.
To be save i would ask Genelec directly if i where you. They are very helpful and provide an exceptional service.
If you are only listening from a computer, volume can be controlled via glm installed on the computer.
To be save i would ask Genelec directly if i where you. They are very helpful and provide an exceptional service.
tmtomh
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SMSL PO100 Pro + coax to AES converter cable and you're all set, no muss, no fuss - and the PO100 Pro is tiny, like 3 inches by 4 inches by 1 inch or something like that.
PO100 Pro
Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...
www.smsl-audio.com
And as I've noted before, if the distance between your USB converter and your Genelec AES input is about 8 feet or less, you can be very safe in just using an analogue RCA to XLR cable with no ill effects. In fact, I'm guessing you could push that "safe length" to 12-15 feet, but as I can't be 100% sure, I'm being conservative here.
When I got my 8351b's I got both - a proper 110 ohm coax to AES cable from Sweetwater for about $32 plus shipping, and a Monoprice 75 ohm RCA to XLR cable for $9 shipped from Amazon. I tried both - zero difference. The Sweetwater cable was 1 foot shorter and only available in a bright blue, so I just left the Monoprice connected, as its extra foot of length enables it to rest fully on the floor, and its black color is much less obtrusive.
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I agree. Hence flagging his expertise!
I have used usb into active soeakers, with pc/Roon volume control with no issues. @staticV3 is the converter to AES the issue?
staticV3
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WDYM by "the issue"?
If you're used to controlling volume via the native OS volume control and your USB->AES converter does not support UAC2 hardware volume control, then you may experience a pretty nasty volume shock as the output will suddenly be locked to 100%, under certain circumstances.
On macOS, the OS volume would be permanently locked to 100%.
Only the volume sliders built into the various audio playback Apps would continue working.
On Windows, the OS slider would still work as long as you use regular Apps like Chrome, YouTube etc, which use either DirectSound or Wasapi Shared for playback.
As soon as you switch to ASIO or Wasapi Exclusive however, the volume will jump to 100% with no way to adjust (only mute by setting the OS volume to zero).
In the worst case, a USB converter may signal to your Windows PC that it supports UAC2, but won't actually have functioning volume control built-in.
In that case, just like on macOS, the OS volume will be locked to 100% regardless of which program or playback API you use.
On the other hand, should the USB->AES converter support UAC2 hardware volume control, like for example the PO100 Pro, then you will always be able to use the native OS volume control, no matter what.
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Ok, got it. I only allow Roon etc. to output, disable the speakers as an audio output in windows settings. Never had the full volume issue with windows output, but you cant select the speakers as an output in windows as its not an option. The only other software outputs have been hqp and hangloose/vb audio matrix. Again, never had an issue with volume, dropouts etc. - and I can run everything through there
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Should have qualified - i haver never used a usb to aes converter though.
@staticV3 - what do you think is the best option for @ilikesound? Almost think he should just use what he has with analogue/xlr into 8361a?
@staticV3 - what do you think is the best option for @ilikesound? Almost think he should just use what he has with analogue/xlr into 8361a?
staticV3
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Really depends on which OS and audio playback software/API he uses, how he likes to control his volume, how much time and money he'd like to invest, and how OCD he is about audio fidelity
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ilikesound
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Im on Mac OS using Tidal. Im sure I can still control the volume via GLM connected to the speakers so that is not the issue. Im OCD just enough to doubt the 20eur usb to aes converted regarding audio fidelity, hence all the questions.Really depends on which OS and audio playback software/API he uses, how he likes to control his volume, how much time and money he'd like to invest, and how OCD he is about audio fidelity
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ilikesound
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Why not? Would you care to elaborate some claims on review of the Mutec and how can it deliver better fidelity and soundstage even. In the reviews the Mutec went to the DAC aswell. But I did find someone saying that rechecking before dac is unnecessary.
I will try that after the converter too. Thanks you!
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