USB-SPDIF shootout proposal

[bequietjk]

We live in a time where digital music is a staple and high quality playback is important to us. But are we getting the full potential of the systems we invest in?

Amir, you've turned me on (and many others I'm sure) to the Audiophilleo and I've come across the Matrix Audio XSPDIF converter, along with the Wyred4Sound uLink converter. Not only these, but what else can we roundup and hopefully get a competition going for greatest USB-SPDIF converters? Is it even worth doing a comparison and will they be relevant in the near future?

Cheers. Back to work xD

 

[andreasmaaan]

Amir, you've turned me on (and many others I'm sure)

I’ll just leave this here

On a more serious note though, I think the testing Amir has done so far of various USB-SPDIF converters and inbuilt USB implementations in DACs indicates that there’s little need for a shoot-out; performance of even quite cheap devices seems to put any issues well below audible thresholds...

 

[amirm]

On a more serious note though, I think the testing Amir has done so far of various USB-SPDIF converters and inbuilt USB implementations in DACs indicates that there’s little need for a shoot-out; performance of even quite cheap devices seems to put any issues well below audible thresholds...

That's it really. It is rather boring testing them trying to tease out tiny differences. I think you can safely shop on basis of price among the ones I have reviewed. You can see the latest one from holo audio here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-measurements-of-digital-amp-dac-dac-hs.6370/

 

[bravomail]

agree with Amir. even cheapest digital-to-digital will work. It is a purely interface conversion operation, there is no audio to test.

 

[Voo]

I have used the topping d10 with good results...also have used the signstek 20 buck converter that did same thing

 

[Ratatoskr]

Basshead.club already did an S/PDIF Battle a few years ago but still relevant.

 

[Veri]

Basshead.club already did an S/PDIF Battle a few years ago but still relevant.

It's ridiculous how much differences he is claiming to hear. Utter nonsense.

 

[WondrousHippo]

It's ridiculous how much differences he is claiming to hear. Utter nonsense.

Seriously, this guy needs some blind testing in his life.

 

[bequietjk]

I don't know. I've been following Luckbad for some time now and own a Project Horizon myself. Personally, I found a huge difference adding a D10 to my chain, but that was before I had a usb spdif converter, so I don't have anything else to reference. He's actually the first person to help me consider using an LPS for my amp and it made an insane difference just as you all know the impact it can have on a system.

 

[Veri]

just as you all know the impact it can have on a system.

I think it again comes down to amp design though. The massdrop CTH, and the Project/garage amps, they benefit because they have power bleedage inherent to the design; most solid state amps like the O2, THX AAA, ... won't benefit from LPS at all. Yet people will recommend them all the time..
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...o-you-need-linear-power-supply-for-dacs.7021/