KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jul 9, 2021 12:56:38 GMT -5
All true...
USB 3.0 is a lot faster for transferring large amounts of data... but USB audio doesn't involve much data at all. And that extra current may be useful for running a hard drive, or for powering several devices connected to a single hub. But, other than that, unless you need to charge something, or run a coffee warmer, you really don't need that extra current.
(Our Big Ego Plus needs about 200 mA - and that's actually quite a bit for a USB-powered DAC). And the USB inputs on devices that have their own AC power source draw virtually nothing.
As for latency... USB is a packet-based interface, so there is always going to be some latency as the data in each packet is received, extracted, and reassembled. And, yes, you might reduce this a bit by using a faster connection. But, since all the data is sent together, the latency will be the same for both channels... And, since all modern USB DACs use an asynchronous USB connection, the data is reclocked at the receiving end anyway... So any jitter, or other variations in latency, are going to be removed at that point.
The fact is that, unless you're using a mixing console, and hoping to synchronize an audio send with a return, the latency really doesn't matter. You're not going to notice if the song starts five or ten milliseconds later....
I'm a big fan of USB 3.0 for USB sticks and portable hard drives... But, for audio, it really doesn't matter.
To be quite honest, if I'm connecting a USB 3.0 data drive to a USB 3.0 port, I'm going to use a USB 3.0 cable... However, while USB 3.0 has advantages for high-speed data transfers, for audio purposes - at least up to 24/384k in stereo - it really doesn't matter. (It's also worth noting that, while USB 3.0 is supposed to be fully backwards compatible, the USB 3.0 ports on some older computers seem to have issues when connecting to some USB 2.0 devices.)
My point, however, was that some so-called "audiophile USB cables" simply aren't very good USB cables... Some of them just plain don't meet even the basic USB 2.0 spec and for that reason may not work properly with some devices... The USB spec is actually quite particular about how cables are twisted, shielded, and terminated... so hand-braided cables or cables with weird insulation are not really a good idea...
And since there is no benefit in sound quality to using anything beyond a good quality commercial USB cable this is one more good reason to save your money. As far as I know there is no particular issue with using cables that run separate data and power wires to different ports... But, to be quite blunt, if you're using something other than a nice normal commercial USB cable, then don't be too surprised if it doesn't work. (And always try a nice standard commercial cable before blaming the devices at either end for what may quite possibly be a cable-related issue.)
Also, it's my understanding that USB-3 can reduce latency due to its polling differences. And USB-3 can carry 900ma vs 500ma, almost twice as much power.
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Post by wizardofoz on Jul 9, 2021 13:25:16 GMT -5
We did try the same audiophile cables on the raspberry pi’s usb2 and usb3 and both worked fine. Only the ifi gave us issues.
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KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 10,004
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Post by KeithL on Jul 9, 2021 13:54:31 GMT -5
In that case...
It could be that the iFi is just fussier than the other devices... (Different devices vary rather widely in how tolerant they are about off-spec cables...)
Or maybe the iFi itself is just goofy...
We did try the same audiophile cables on the raspberry pi’s usb2 and usb3 and both worked fine. Only the ifi gave us issues.
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Post by DavidR on Jul 9, 2021 17:48:04 GMT -5
with Basmati rice and sauteed vegetable medley
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geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,212
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Post by geebo on Jul 13, 2021 7:00:26 GMT -5
The wife got to shoot a range member's .22 target rifle a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. So I got her this: Ruger Precision Rimfire. Added a Sig scope and bipod and we're ready to try it out.
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Post by mfeust on Jul 13, 2021 10:16:52 GMT -5
The wife got to shoot a range member's .22 target rifle a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. So I got her this: Ruger Precision Rimfire. Added a Sig scope and bipod and we're ready to try it out. Interesting, My wife would shoot me if I ever got her something like this. Yes pun intended. Mark
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Post by garbulky on Jul 13, 2021 10:35:25 GMT -5
The wife got to shoot a range member's .22 target rifle a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. So I got her this: Ruger Precision Rimfire. Added a Sig scope and bipod and we're ready to try it out. I call shennanigans on your altruistic motive . "Tis for the wife, I swear it!"
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geebo
Emo VIPs
"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,212
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Post by geebo on Jul 13, 2021 10:38:49 GMT -5
The wife got to shoot a range member's .22 target rifle a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. So I got her this: Ruger Precision Rimfire. Added a Sig scope and bipod and we're ready to try it out. I call shennanigans on your altruistic motive . "Tis for the wife, I swear it!" It's hers. And don't try to take it from her, either.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,235
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Post by novisnick on Jul 13, 2021 11:14:21 GMT -5
The wife got to shoot a range member's .22 target rifle a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. So I got her this: Ruger Precision Rimfire. Added a Sig scope and bipod and we're ready to try it out. Did you have any problem purchasing additional magazines?
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geebo
Emo VIPs
"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,212
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Post by geebo on Jul 13, 2021 11:25:27 GMT -5
The wife got to shoot a range member's .22 target rifle a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. So I got her this: Ruger Precision Rimfire. Added a Sig scope and bipod and we're ready to try it out. Did you have any problem purchasing additional magazines? We picked up an extra the other day. One of the small 10 round rotary type mags. They had plenty of those but didn't see the longer single stack ones.
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Post by LuisV on Jul 13, 2021 20:43:40 GMT -5
For a budget integrated amp, the reviews of the Cambridge AXA35 are extremely favorable, so I picked one up for my son... should arrive by Thursday. He has SVS Prime, Martin Logan Motion and Wharfedale Diamond bookshelves that will arrive on Friday, so it should be a fun weekend.
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Post by MusicHead on Jul 14, 2021 6:57:19 GMT -5
For a budget integrated amp, the reviews of the Cambridge AXA35 are extremely favorable, so I picked one up for my son... should arrive by Thursday. He has SVS Prime, Martin Logan Motion and Wharfedale Diamond bookshelves that will arrive on Friday, so it should be a fun weekend. Very cool! Auditioning the three speakers at home and deciding which one to keep?
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Post by LuisV on Jul 14, 2021 7:14:27 GMT -5
For a budget integrated amp, the reviews of the Cambridge AXA35 are extremely favorable, so I picked one up for my son... should arrive by Thursday. He has SVS Prime, Martin Logan Motion and Wharfedale Diamond bookshelves that will arrive on Friday, so it should be a fun weekend. Very cool! Auditioning the three speakers at home and deciding which one to keep? Exactly our plan... he's 21 and almost done with college, so this will be his first system.
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Post by MusicHead on Jul 14, 2021 10:36:52 GMT -5
Very cool! Auditioning the three speakers at home and deciding which one to keep? Exactly our plan... he's 21 and almost done with college, so this will be his first system. Aaaaah, the first trip down the rabbit hole 😄. No matter how many systems he will ever have, he won't forget this. Enjoy!
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Post by LuisV on Jul 14, 2021 12:25:55 GMT -5
Exactly our plan... he's 21 and almost done with college, so this will be his first system. Aaaaah, the first trip down the rabbit hole 😄. No matter how many systems he will ever have, he won't forget this. Enjoy! Hahaha... I'm truly looking forward to some quality father / son time... he's putting together a play list, vinyl and streaming from Tidal / Qobuz... Pizza and wings are on the menu... should be a blast.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,235
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Post by novisnick on Jul 15, 2021 0:02:21 GMT -5
TP-Link Deco WiFi 6 Mesh WiFi System(Deco X20) on good advice! Thanks jbrunwa
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Post by vcautokid on Jul 17, 2021 18:02:55 GMT -5
Best Buy was being silly, so I was sillier.
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Post by LuisV on Jul 19, 2021 8:18:51 GMT -5
Bought a couple of these... One of these... And made a bunch of these...
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 20, 2021 22:29:32 GMT -5
What sold me is the integrated high-pass filter. Will sound quality be up to scratch or will I have to return it? Stay tuned...
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,235
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Post by novisnick on Jul 20, 2021 23:38:59 GMT -5
I can’t purchase this locally so it is a big deal! Love it, grew up on it! ❤️
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