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Post by brand on Dec 2, 2014 8:13:15 GMT -5
I'm still having the same USB issues I described in another thread even with Antivirus Software deinstalled. Don't know what do about it but I did realize I have an optical out on my PC. As far as I know what would let me connect the DC-1 to my PC without having to run a USB driver for it correct? Are there any pro/cons to using one or the other? Sound quality?
Any help is appreciated.
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Post by mshump on Dec 2, 2014 9:21:06 GMT -5
According to the Overview of the DC-1, it will handle all sample rates on the Optical input also. I have the xda-2 and have run optical from my pc since day 1 and have never had any of the issues (dropouts, synch, etc) that people using USb have had.
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Dec 2, 2014 9:36:53 GMT -5
Asynch USB has two benefits over optical. First, the optical outputs on many devices only go up to 24/96 (this isn't a limit of Toslink, or of the optical inputs on the DC-1; it's a limitation on the optical OUTPUTS on many devices). Second, asynch USB - the input itself - eliminates jitter (because with asynch USB the DAC controls the data clock). This isn't a big deal with the DC-1, since its ASRC removes jitter anyway. (But, if you had the ASRC turned OFF on the DC-1, then the asynch USB input would theoretically have lower jitter - and so sound better.) To answer someone's question, however, there ARE drivers used by the optical output of any device. On a PC, those drivers would be part of whatever card the optical port is run by - probably the sound card (which may well be on the motherboard). While they usually work fine, it is possible for the optical drivers on a particular machine to have conflicts with other drivers, or to fail to support certain sample rates (like 88k). Unfortunately, some manufacturers don't say much about what their optical outputs do at all... in terms of specs. According to the Overview of the DC-1, it will handle all sample rates on the Optical input also. I have the xda-2 and have run optical from my pc since day 1 and have never had any of the issues (dropouts, synch, etc) that people using USb have had. |
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Post by brand on Dec 2, 2014 14:48:34 GMT -5
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Post by garbulky on Dec 2, 2014 15:17:07 GMT -5
Looks like you are set brand. It appears to support every sample rate on both output devices. Plus a cool thing is that optical ELECTRICALLY isolates the PC from the DAC. So you may encounter less electronic problems. P.S.: Did you see the snr specs on your internal motherboard soundcard? 115db snr! Oh lordy!  Some motherboard manufacturer is very optimistic!  |
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Post by swissie on Dec 3, 2014 11:52:22 GMT -5
I've fed my XDA-2 from day 1 with an optical output from an ASUS notebook and never had an issue. I didn't have to install a driver either!
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Post by brand on Dec 5, 2014 21:40:58 GMT -5
Looks like you are set brand. It appears to support every sample rate on both output devices. Plus a cool thing is that optical ELECTRICALLY isolates the PC from the DAC. So you may encounter less electronic problems. P.S.: Did you see the snr specs on your internal motherboard soundcard? 115db snr! Oh lordy! Some motherboard manufacturer is very optimistic! Hehe, didn't even notice that |
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Post by brand on Dec 6, 2014 19:57:41 GMT -5
Optical cable arrived, everything is working. Now my question is about my Windows 8 sound settings (Control Panel/Sound). I can choose different sample rates and bit depths under "Supported Formats" and "Advanced". I've noticed that the display on the DC-1 only changes when I change something in the "Advanced" setting. What should I set it to, are there any cons against setting it at max? Why isn't there a setting that just chooses the sample rate and bit depth that the source has? For example if I listen to the Spotify client on my PC.   |
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Post by garbulky on Dec 6, 2014 21:52:05 GMT -5
Optical cable arrived, everything is working. Now my question is about my Windows 8 sound settings (Control Panel/Sound). I can choose different sample rates and bit depths under "Supported Formats" and "Advanced". I've noticed that the display on the DC-1 only changes when I change something in the "Advanced" setting. What should I set it to, are there any cons against setting it at max? Why isn't there a setting that just chooses the sample rate and bit depth that the source has? For example if I listen to the Spotify client on my PC. View AttachmentView AttachmentSpotify is at 16 bit 44,100 or 44.1 Khz and so are all CD's. Setting the sample rate only matters if you have hi resolution downloads. To play hi resolution downloads you want a music player like media monkey, foobar (both free) or J-river (costs $) that supports WASAPI mode. Then set the player to output in WASAPI mode and it will change the sampling rate to match the song and output a bit perfect stream. |
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MikeWI
Emo VIPs 
DC-1, ERC-1, USP-1, UPA-2, Sub 10, Emotiva 4S
Posts: 346
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Post by MikeWI on Dec 7, 2014 11:43:36 GMT -5
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Post by audiobill on Dec 7, 2014 13:34:28 GMT -5
Optical cable arrived, everything is working. Now my question is about my Windows 8 sound settings (Control Panel/Sound). I can choose different sample rates and bit depths under "Supported Formats" and "Advanced". I've noticed that the display on the DC-1 only changes when I change something in the "Advanced" setting. What should I set it to, are there any cons against setting it at max? Why isn't there a setting that just chooses the sample rate and bit depth that the source has? For example if I listen to the Spotify client on my PC. Spotify is at 16 bit 44,100 or 44.1 Khz and so are all CD's. Setting the sample rate only matters if you have hi resolution downloads. To play hi resolution downloads you want a music player like media monkey, foobar (both free) or J-river (costs $) that supports WASAPI mode. Then set the player to output in WASAPI mode and it will change the sampling rate to match the song and output a bit perfect stream. Spotify premium is 320kbps, not 1,411 (or 16/44) IIRc. That's what distinguishes Tidal. |
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Post by garbulky on Dec 7, 2014 13:59:12 GMT -5
Spotify is at 16 bit 44,100 or 44.1 Khz and so are all CD's. Setting the sample rate only matters if you have hi resolution downloads. To play hi resolution downloads you want a music player like media monkey, foobar (both free) or J-river (costs $) that supports WASAPI mode. Then set the player to output in WASAPI mode and it will change the sampling rate to match the song and output a bit perfect stream. Spotify premium is 320kbps, not 1,411 (or 16/44) IIRc. That's what distinguishes Tidal. Indeed the higher bit rate does distinguish tidal. However for settings - The kbps is different from the sample rate. For settings both tidal and spotify is set at 16 bit 44,1000 hz. The difference is Tidal will have more data. For instance even if spotify did 128 kbps, you would still set windows to 16 bit 44,100 the same rate that you would set a CD to that does 16 bit 44,100 hz at 1400 kbps. Sort of like blu ray 1080 p vs streaming 1080p. The blu ray has a more definition usually because it has a higher data stream but they are both 1080p. |
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Post by audiobill on Dec 7, 2014 14:11:12 GMT -5
Right, of course!
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Post by brand on Dec 12, 2014 3:14:04 GMT -5
But WASAPI is only available in certain players correct? So for everyday use with Spotify Youtube etc, what should I configure the two Windows Sound windows I posted above?
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Post by garbulky on Dec 15, 2014 14:48:13 GMT -5
brand: Unfortunately...you can't  WASAPI only works with software players like foobar, j-river, media monkey. I don't know of any browser plugin that would enable wasapi mode. If anybody knows of one, I am looking for it too!
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Post by sonicextreme on Dec 24, 2014 15:08:56 GMT -5
Leave the setting on pic two too studio 192khz. On pic one leave them as is only if you need to change Dolby properties in the sound card program. If yes, never activate Dolby/dts in your sound card program. If it switches to Dolby by itself, then uncheck Dolby and dts as your dac is not a dts/Dolby decoder.
Jriver 20 will now allow you to set the standard windows sound to be rerouted to Jriver to use its advance sound capabilities. But since it reroutes to Jriver then it sends the signal out. There is latency and is noticeable on standard windows programs when playing video. (Web videos) you can add a delay and fix the issue or you may not if your very picky. I myself leave standard audio in Windows as is. And Jriver for all music and movies for real quality playback.
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Post by brand on Dec 28, 2014 14:07:27 GMT -5
Didn't notice your answers til now. Thanks sonic and garbulky  |
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Some motherboard manufacturer is very optimistic! 
WASAPI only works with software players like foobar, j-river, media monkey. I don't know of any browser plugin that would enable wasapi mode. If anybody knows of one, I am looking for it too! 