USB Audio and Computer Audio

[upgrade]

Mar 12, 2013 13:10:58 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

Mar 12, 2013 13:00:35 GMT -5 upgrade said:

Okay, I've read through this thread and others, but still have a few basic questions. I've ordered an XPA-200 and XSP-1 as the start of a new system. I need an option for digital playback from a Mac, so I need a DAC. I was looking at the XDA-2, but was concerned at the redundancy aspect, already having an XSP-1. Am I better off going with a DAC-only unit (like a Schitt Bifrost), or does it matter? In other words, does injecting another preamp into the signal matter, and if not, how would I set the XDA-2 so that it's only being used to convert the signal and send it to the XSP-1. The XDA-2 would only be $50 more than the Schiit.
Finally, I'll probably be running a Toslink cable from the Mac to the DAC, since Apple TV has some limitations on output. However, the cable length may need to be around 15-20 feet. Does that pose a problem with the Toslink or USB cable?

There is no redundancy aspect with having an XDA-2. It merely adds a volume control but is not going to be like doubling up on preamps. Also, it has more inputs and is more versatile than the Bifrost.

And.. since it sounds like you need a USB input the Bifrost would actually cost you $50 more than the XDA-2 because Schiit charges an additional $100 to add the USB input.

I don't think you will hear much if any difference between the two so I would recommend the XDA-2. It will match the Emo gear footprint-wise, too.

Thanks, that's the response I was hoping for. Aesthetically, the XDA-2 wins, as it would be sitting with the XPA-200 and XSP-1. The price difference between the Schiit Bifrost and XDA is negligible, and the XDA has more flexibility. I'm sure the next step up Schiit (the Gungdir) is a great piece, but at $350 more than the XDA, I doubt I'd hear the difference. My current speakers are a set of Montior Audio Silver R-8.

[GreenKiwi]

And emo will theoretically have a step up with their pro stealth dac

[navybuck]

A question I am a bit confused about is how the signal from a CAT5/6 input is handled? The Oppos have an input as does many AVRs. IS the signal routed through the DACs like the USB input is?

[snafujg]

Signals thru a CAT5/6 are networking. Using an Oppo, you are accessing your home network thru the CAT5/6, then the Oppo DAC is doing the decoding.

[KeithL]

One thing to note:

With the XDA-2, you will want to set the volume control to 0 dB (NOT to max / +12 dB) for optimum sound quality if you plan to use it just as a DAC. (Since it's not a digital volume control, there's no reason to "pin" it - and, with some very high level inputs, you might risk clipping it if you do.)

Mar 12, 2013 20:03:11 GMT -5 upgrade said:

Mar 12, 2013 13:10:58 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

There is no redundancy aspect with having an XDA-2. It merely adds a volume control but is not going to be like doubling up on preamps. Also, it has more inputs and is more versatile than the Bifrost.

And.. since it sounds like you need a USB input the Bifrost would actually cost you $50 more than the XDA-2 because Schiit charges an additional $100 to add the USB input.

I don't think you will hear much if any difference between the two so I would recommend the XDA-2. It will match the Emo gear footprint-wise, too.

Thanks, that's the response I was hoping for. Aesthetically, the XDA-2 wins, as it would be sitting with the XPA-200 and XSP-1. The price difference between the Schiit Bifrost and XDA is negligible, and the XDA has more flexibility. I'm sure the next step up Schiit (the Gungdir) is a great piece, but at $350 more than the XDA, I doubt I'd hear the difference. My current speakers are a set of Montior Audio Silver R-8.

[el501]

I am new to computer audio. My original setup was as follows:
XDA-2
USB
JRiver
WASAPI (not using Event Style)

The above setup did not work. A lot of skipping (= continuous "dat" "dat" "dat" noise).

I have tried to maximize buffering (to 500 ms), maximize prebuffering to 20 seconds and playing file from memory. The situation improved; but still got some skipping.

Question: Anything else I can do to resolve the issue?

Will using V-Link 192 help?

Many thanks for help.

[garbulky]

Hmmmm..... have you tried the different WASAPI mode? did that work? Have you tried media monkey with wasapi mode? Same results? What about when you don't use wasapi?
If all those don't work and it's a "screeching" like sound your xda-2 may not have the latest drivers/firmware for it.
Have you tried it on a different USB port and a shorter USB cable? I think the reccomendation is something like 3 feet.

[chaosrv]

May 30, 2013 1:31:33 GMT -5 el501 said:

I am new to computer audio. My original setup was as follows:
XDA-2
USB
JRiver
WASAPI (not using Event Style)

The above setup did not work. A lot of skipping (= continuous "dat" "dat" "dat" noise).

I have tried to maximize buffering (to 500 ms), maximize prebuffering to 20 seconds and playing file from memory. The situation improved; but still got some skipping.

Question: Anything else I can do to resolve the issue?

Will using V-Link 192 help?

Many thanks for help.

What is your computer like? (how new etc..) You may be overworking it. Are the audio files stored on the computer or a network drive? You may have networking issues. That happens to me every once in a while - I used to get a stuttering sound if the PC (and DAC) cannot get the data fast enough. I mitigated that 100% by using a wired (ethernet) connection rather than wifi.

Also try WASAPI Event as it seems to correct USB issues for some people.

Best of luck!

[snafujg]

May 30, 2013 1:31:33 GMT -5 el501 said:

I am new to computer audio. My original setup was as follows:
XDA-2
USB
JRiver
WASAPI (not using Event Style)

The above setup did not work. A lot of skipping (= continuous "dat" "dat" "dat" noise).

I have tried to maximize buffering (to 500 ms), maximize prebuffering to 20 seconds and playing file from memory. The situation improved; but still got some skipping.

Question: Anything else I can do to resolve the issue?

Will using V-Link 192 help?

Many thanks for help.

What version of JRiver are you running? They had an update that didn't work for me. They made a change to WASAPI and had an issue with the buffering. I was receiving jitter/flutter and pops/ticks. They have supposedly corrected it with 18.0.193 or 194. I'm still running 18.0.175 and have no problems. If you go to their forums, there's some posts:
This one will take you back to .175 which is working fine for me and also explains how to shut down auto updates.

yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=80951.0

Here is the link to the latest build:

yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=81133.0

[Deleted]

Well, I have given up on being able to install FLAC into foobar2000. To make a long story short, I have tried everything. Wasapi on the other hand loaded just fine into foobar. I was able to load Flac into EAC (Exact Audio Copy) without a hitch. I have a number of CD's now ripped to Flac via EAC. I am using foobar to play these flac files created by EAC. My question: Because my foobar does not contact a Flac exe. file is foobar playing in Flac format those songs that I ripped to Flac with EAC? Or, do you still have to have Flac encoded within foobar to truly play Flac files in foobar not matter where they originated from?

[Deleted]

I am considering getting an external DAC, but I am not sure that it is necessary? My laptop can transmit audio thru its HDMI out. The Sherwood cam remaster two channel audio up to 24/192. Because the Sherwood can do this what would I be gaining by having a DAC? I am solely interested in 2 channel audio btw.

[yves]

Jun 8, 2013 12:20:20 GMT -5 @islandman2020 said:

Well, I have given up on being able to install FLAC into foobar2000. To make a long story short, I have tried everything. Wasapi on the other hand loaded just fine into foobar. I was able to load Flac into EAC (Exact Audio Copy) without a hitch. I have a number of CD's now ripped to Flac via EAC. I am using foobar to play these flac files created by EAC. My question: Because my foobar does not contact a Flac exe. file is foobar playing in Flac format those songs that I ripped to Flac with EAC? Or, do you still have to have Flac encoded within foobar to truly play Flac files in foobar not matter where they originated from?

There is no need for Flac.exe to play FLAC files in foobar2000 because foobar2000 supports FLAC playback natively. The only time when Flac.exe will be required by foobar2000 is if you use foobar2000 to convert a file to FLAC. Further, FLAC is a codec (i.e., a coder / decoder) and stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, whereas WASAPI stands for Windows Audio Session Application Programming Interface. The reason why the WASAPI component for foobar2000 is recommended to play music files (any type of music files and not just FLAC files, that is) is because it allows for bit perfect playback (provided that the checkbox on the Advanced tab of your Windows playback device's Properties panel is ticked, so that applications, such as foobar2000 with WASAPI component, can use the device in Exclusive Mode).

[yves]

Jun 8, 2013 12:36:03 GMT -5 @islandman2020 said:

I am considering getting an external DAC, but I am not sure that it is necessary? My laptop can transmit audio thru its HDMI out. The Sherwood cam remaster two channel audio up to 24/192. Because the Sherwood can do this what would I be gaining by having a DAC? I am solely interested in 2 channel audio btw.

The main reason IMO, or perhaps the only reason, is because a very good external DAC will typically sound a whole lot better than the built-in DAC of even an expensive AVR or optical disc player.

[Deleted]

Thanks for your response yves. That all makes sense. Maybe you know the answer to this too: I had already ripped a number of CD's to wav before I knew about Flac. What is the easiest way to convert wav files to flac without having to re-record the CD's. I have never been able to get Flac into foobar so even if that were an option it won't work for me. EAC has flac but I don't think it will convert files to flac. Any suggestions?

[brijenjas]

Jun 8, 2013 18:46:50 GMT -5 @islandman2020 said:

Thanks for your response yves. That all makes sense. Maybe you know the answer to this too: I had already ripped a number of CD's to wav before I knew about Flac. What is the easiest way to convert wav files to flac without having to re-record the CD's. I have never been able to get Flac into foobar so even if that were an option it won't work for me. EAC has flac but I don't think it will convert files to flac. Any suggestions?

EAC will convert your wav files to FLAC.

Select "TOOLS"> "COMPRESS WAVS"

In fact I'm pretty sure that EAC actually converts your CD's to wav then to FLAC when ripping.

[yves]

Jun 8, 2013 18:46:50 GMT -5 @islandman2020 said:

Thanks for your response yves. That all makes sense. Maybe you know the answer to this too: I had already ripped a number of CD's to wav before I knew about Flac. What is the easiest way to convert wav files to flac without having to re-record the CD's. I have never been able to get Flac into foobar so even if that were an option it won't work for me. EAC has flac but I don't think it will convert files to flac. Any suggestions?

After you drag 'n drop music files (or folders containing music files) into an empty playlist in foobar2000, you can select these files the same way you would select files in Windows Explorer (i.e., CTRL + A selects all, CTRL + left-click selects / deselects individual files, and SHIFT + left-click selects a contiguous block of files). Next, if you right-click on any of the files that you have selected, you can choose Convert and then choose the three dots that appear at the bottom of the pop up menu. This will open the Converter Setup dialog. The conversion process will normally start as soon as you click on the Convert button, but you will be needing Flac.exe because foobar2000 will ask, in a separate browse window, that you locate Flac.exe the first time.

The path to Flac.exe will be remembered by foobar2000, and can still be changed afterwards if necessary, under the Advanced section of foobar2000 Preferences (on the main menu bar of foobar2000, choose File | Preferences | Advanced | Tools | Converter | Additional command-line encoder paths).

[drtrey3]

dBpower amp is another good program to look into. And I THINK jRiver Media Player will convert files as well.

Trey

[Deleted]

Jun 8, 2013 19:52:09 GMT -5 brijenjas said:

Jun 8, 2013 18:46:50 GMT -5 @islandman2020 said:

Thanks for your response yves. That all makes sense. Maybe you know the answer to this too: I had already ripped a number of CD's to wav before I knew about Flac. What is the easiest way to convert wav files to flac without having to re-record the CD's. I have never been able to get Flac into foobar so even if that were an option it won't work for me. EAC has flac but I don't think it will convert files to flac. Any suggestions?

EAC will convert your wav files to FLAC.

Select "TOOLS"> "COMPRESS WAVS"

In fact I'm pretty sure that EAC actually converts your CD's to wav then to FLAC when ripping.

Thanks a million brijenjas! You led me on a rabbit trail that got mission accomplished! It was time consuming to figure it out but it works well. EAC is pretty good at getting the metadata too. Just for info on those that have EAC and want to convert wav or mp3 files:

1) go into your music folder in "My Music" and select "Organize"> "select all" of the folder you're wanting to convert.

2) go to EAC. Select "Tools" then "decompress" for MP3's/MP4's ect. This will convert files to wav which then can be converted to flac

3) If you've already recorded to wav, go to "tools" on EAC, and select "compress wav" and this will convert your files to flac

[Deleted]

Jun 8, 2013 19:57:37 GMT -5 yves said:

Jun 8, 2013 18:46:50 GMT -5 @islandman2020 said:

Thanks for your response yves. That all makes sense. Maybe you know the answer to this too: I had already ripped a number of CD's to wav before I knew about Flac. What is the easiest way to convert wav files to flac without having to re-record the CD's. I have never been able to get Flac into foobar so even if that were an option it won't work for me. EAC has flac but I don't think it will convert files to flac. Any suggestions?

After you drag 'n drop music files (or folders containing music files) into an empty playlist in foobar2000, you can select these files the same way you would select files in Windows Explorer (i.e., CTRL + A selects all, CTRL + left-click selects / deselects individual files, and SHIFT + left-click selects a contiguous block of files). Next, if you right-click on any of the files that you have selected, you can choose Convert and then choose the three dots that appear at the bottom of the pop up menu. This will open the Converter Setup dialog. The conversion process will normally start as soon as you click on the Convert button, but you will be needing Flac.exe because foobar2000 will ask, in a separate browse window, that you locate Flac.exe the first time.

The path to Flac.exe will be remembered by foobar2000, and can still be changed afterwards if necessary, under the Advanced section of foobar2000 Preferences (on the main menu bar of foobar2000, choose File | Preferences | Advanced | Tools | Converter | Additional command-line encoder paths). View Attachment

I will try that but I've had no success in getting flac.exe into foobar2000 so far

[Deleted]

Anyway, thanks for your time in responding everyone. I think foobar is pretty cool, but they need to make it more easier to install Flac.