leo
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Post by leo on Dec 19, 2007 0:22:57 GMT
What DAC's is recommended.... anyone tried the dice dacs? Its hard to find a Musical Fidelity X-DAC used on e-bay etc..... Is the Dice dac TDA1543? if its the one I'm thinking of I'd personally go for the X-dac if it was my choice between those two, main reason is I could build a TDA1543 based dac for about £30 UKP's building something based on the X-dac would take a great deal more work and money
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Post by fanboi on Dec 19, 2007 6:19:33 GMT
Kris, a little info here from my recent experiments with PC source. Firstly, with a well ripped (EAC) .wav file on a desktop PC, running XP 32, Foobar and ASIO drivers through a Terratec DMX 6 Fire and K701 direct into the Terratec front panel (no amp) - playing Prodigys "Fat of the Land" - no crackles, no screeches and bass by the bucket, this was serious head banging stuff. Windows system sound scheme set to "no sounds"
I would have suspicions of the XP 64 mixer, ASIO drivers could solve this, do not know if they will be available for XP64.
I also noted that some CDs ripped with other systems/programs could have noise that was not on the CD - itunes was a culprit here - once the file had the noise it would stay there and was apparently a result of error correction problems when ripping the CD - the noise would always play in the same place - only re-ripping the track would solve the problem.
I also noted that not all CD drives are created equal in their ability to rip accurately, dbpoweramp was unable to correctly rip 4 tracks on one album in one particular drive, EAC had no problem with the same disc in a different drive.
If your CPU is multicore you could try setting the sound application affinity to one core and everything else to the other - bit radical but might help.
I also noted the occasional glitch using a USB DAC out from one system, but this was an old P3 single core, single processor running as a file server and the glitches were not source related and repeatable, merely random, of the sort one might expect from brief interuption of the data stream caused by other demands on the processor.
Optical out is not usually rated as highly as coax except for its ground isolation abilities, SQ is generally considered lesser unless expensive glass cables are used and quality transmitters and receivers at either end.
The K701 don't do bass like a Grado or a Senn 650 I think (although I have only brief acquaintance with those 2) but IME they can certainly rock with PC source given the right soundcard/drivers.
Laptop PCMCIA buses and XP64 drivers would be the 2 areas I would be looking at, once any issues pertaining to source files are addressed. I would not expect too much from mp3s of less than 256 kbps - the K701 will just show them up, full .wav files are best, even playing direct from CD in a laptop is likely to give unsatisfactory results - rip to a HDD first and then play the rip.
Miguel has much experience using ALAC so I imagine he uses itunes and may have some tips there - but perhaps he uses a Mac.
Unless you have specialised applications that require XP64 you might be better to ditch it for the 32bit version.
Whatever, Xcans + K701 should equal fine sound. Perhaps there is something helpful for you in my somewhat random observations.
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Post by krisno on Dec 19, 2007 12:42:09 GMT
I just returned the Creative PCMCIA, it had more crackles than the built inn AC 97 audio even!
This brand new HP laptop does not sport either Optical nor Digital COAX! Meaning either 1) buy a soundcard of some sort, pcmcia(i just returned the creative, it had a dent anyways, so wrong by default), or USB. But a external USB with spdif out will get the 'errors' of the usb + the spdif... pcmcia is more 'direct'.
so what dac to get? As I have the x-can v3 i would probably rather get the x-dac 3 to company it. It really is a big pain that the MF didn't include a USB connection just for the 'ease' of it...
The USB to spdif converters out there acts just like a soundcard I presume, so not really something I want to get...
But something is not good here, so I need a DAC. And well the MF X-DAC v3 is probably some of the best I can get... sells used for around £300....
I tried ASIO on the creative, did not make any difference.......
Kristian
BTW: WHAT INTERCONNECT DO YOU GUYS RECOMMEND between the X-dac v3 and the X-can v3? Silver or traditional copper??? Will Silver make it too harsh, i would presume the 'tubes' in the xcan soften it up.. ? Just afraid silver will make it too hard and analytical...
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Post by krisno on Dec 19, 2007 14:48:17 GMT
I reorderd the creative PCMCIA card, after having returned it earlier today. It was damaged anyways....
though, I am running with Foobar + ASIO on the AC 97 built in, and yes, the error is still here.....
It must be the AKG's then... though I changed source and could not hear the problem there! hmm..... but maybe i wasn't listening hard enough. It really is very loud and bad 'crackles'.
Anyways, please answer question above regarding the x-dac v3 and interconnects.....
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2007 23:51:36 GMT
"It must be the AKG's then... though I changed source and could not hear the problem there! hmm..... but maybe i wasn't listening hard enough. It really is very loud and bad 'crackles'."
Krisno Have another listen directly from a non PC source. It is highly unlikely to be the headphones. Unfortunately, I can't help you with the other part, as I grew out of valve equipment. SandyK
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 20, 2007 0:17:51 GMT
I find it very unlikely the AKG's are damaged, I can drive mine really hard with an amp thats got more clout than a X-can without any problems
The X-can dac V3 isn't bad but its hard for me to recommend if keeping it as stock so I'm afraid I'll leave that to others to comment about
Regarding silver IC's, well I've tried solid silver, silver plaited, both stranded and solid cored, to me I find good solid copper based IC's more neutral. Silver plaited tends to sound bright, solid silver tends to sound more soft to my ears, you have to try these things yourself to see what suits your own ears
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2007 0:35:58 GMT
"Regarding silver IC's, well I've tried solid silver, silver plaited, both stranded and solid cored, to me I find good solid copper based IC's more neutral"
Well, you would, wouldn't you ? You won a pair of those lovely Graham Slee "Cusat" interconnects ! ;D
SandyK
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 20, 2007 0:51:19 GMT
"Regarding silver IC's, well I've tried solid silver, silver plaited, both stranded and solid cored, to me I find good solid copper based IC's more neutral" Well, you would, wouldn't you ? You won a pair of those lovely Graham Slee "Cusat" interconnects ! ;D SandyK Well I like to be honest, I've been down the road of messing about with silver etc, it was a waste of time IMO
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 20, 2007 0:52:37 GMT
Probably be still faffing about now if it wasn't for those Cusats
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Sol
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Post by Sol on Dec 20, 2007 11:08:52 GMT
"Regarding silver IC's, well I've tried solid silver, silver plaited, both stranded and solid cored, to me I find good solid copper based IC's more neutral" Well, you would, wouldn't you ? You won a pair of those lovely Graham Slee "Cusat" interconnects ! ;D SandyK Miaooooow! Says the guy who won a voyager ;o) BTW ... I rather like the high quality CT100 + silver ICs I've made up. Placebo or real benefit is immaterial .. they look good, sound good, and there's a certain therapy invoved in building your own ICs
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Post by krisno on Dec 20, 2007 21:57:17 GMT
I made it 'easy'. I just got, and won the bid, of a Musical Fidelity X-DAC v3 on ebay.co.uk, used 3 months... for £301 ... maybe a tad expensive, but used only 3 months. Though the shipping is another damn £40 , and if I get taxed also, this will be expensive..... hehe
If that does not fix my 'screeching'... running optical out from soundcard to the DAC, I am going to kill somebody.
Will layout some pictures once its all rigged.....
I am going to use the NordOst Solarwind analog interconnect between X-CAN and X-DAC ! A very expensive interconnect.
Wonder if it will be any better than my audigy. I should hear a big difference on my AKG K701...
You know, i was really amased, on my AC'97 out with asio drivers, I hear a big difference on my media player 11, playing a HDCD, and playing without. It REALLY is a big difference..... HDCD is great. IT is the first time i ever heard difference, and that on the f**king crappy AC 97 headphone out on my laptop....
amazing.....
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Post by krisno on Dec 21, 2007 8:39:57 GMT
yes, 350 BP with shipping, if I DON't get taxed to death..
the price of the x-dac in norway is about $1320 NEW, in current USD valuations.
so 350 BP is not too shabby, it's about 50% lower than new price. But of course, I don't get a receipt, and it's used, but only for 3 months. well well
Expensive, but like I said, if the screeching isn't fixed, i will kill somebody. I never intended to buy this DAC.
Strange you can't sell it, they fly fast of e-bay.
Tell me, the X-DAC V3 with little pinkie vs walmart, is it a big difference or not? I hear that the extra psu makes alot more difference on the amp than on the dac. But that is people on the forum. The reviewer's say that increased current is a MUST!
Price of 2 little pinkies is the same as x-psu almost....
BUT WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME, AND I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE X-DAC FROM YOU INSTEAD, WITH THE LITTLE PINKIE!!!
I asked 3 times on the forum for it.....
K
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Dec 21, 2007 16:12:37 GMT
We told you to buy the Heed CanAmp instead.
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Post by krisno on Dec 21, 2007 17:14:31 GMT
Well, you were wrong...
This is not a amp error, this is either AKG's or 'source'.
The X-can v3 is very musical, sounds lush, no harsh tones, very 'alive'....
I am never going to buy eastern european crap, ever...
Have a nice weekend.
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Post by krisno on Dec 22, 2007 10:54:53 GMT
mrarroyo ... OK
But little pinkie for the X-dac v3 is not as big difference as little pinkie on the X-Can v3? If you could choose only one, you would put it on the x-can's?
Some reviewer's say dac sucks without extra psu, others say that they hear little difference with extra psu.
A bit sad it doesn't do HDCD. I really hear HDCD difference on even crappy sources.... but maybe CD sounds so good on this dac that it will match hdcd kinda.
Anyways... the Musical Fidelity X-dac v3, it can decode any spdif source in 16-20-24 bit yes? Meaning I can digitally connect a DVD player and it will play 24bit audio.... YES? Or does it decode ONLY 16bit's CD's...
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Post by krisno on Dec 22, 2007 18:41:03 GMT
But my man, why do you want to sell this piece of marvel X-dac? You're 'bored' with it?? Everybody talks about benchmark DAC, but its only analytical, not musical!
I will miss HDCD on the x-dac, but then again, WindowsMediapler player support hdcd, so if i use spdif passthrough with wmp 11, then one should get hdcd decoding? What I will love the most is that spdif digital DON't INCLUDE VOLUME kontroll bits :-) Yippi..
Have you tried using it on a PC, does it 'crack' and turn of every time it has to lock onto new bitstream?
You say it supports 24bit, so you can connect SACD spdif also and it will decode it......
Your thoughts, that X-dac, what kinda similarly priced cdplayer does it compare too? And you also get good computer sound, games etc, just perfect.....
Marayo, what amp and dac you use now?? lots of questions.
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 22, 2007 18:43:21 GMT
Yes, I'd agree with Miguel regarding the little Pinkie.
Just remember the analogue regulation is the thing that lets the Dac V3 down but to sort its few problems requires some diy
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2007 21:43:46 GMT
"You say it supports 24bit, so you can connect SACD spdif also and it will decode it......"
SACD does not output via SPDIF, and most DVD-A does not either. Blame the paranoid music industry for these draconian decisions. Will be offline for a while SandyK
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Post by krisno on Dec 28, 2007 14:45:33 GMT
Hmmmmmm
I have spend some time with this setup now
1) AKG K 701 (almost brand new, 70-80hours use) 2) X-Can V3 + little pinkie v3i 3) Creative Audigy 2 PCMCIA Notebook
cheap cable from audigy 2 to headphone amp, but shouldnt matter much..
The system sounds crap!! And still has 'crackling/screeching' in almost every song. I have bought ten different CD's, original, asio drivers etc..
I just sounds crap..... I thought it would sound like an expensive stereo, but it does not. It's really just crap!
I have orderd the MF X-Dac v3.... will this make my system alot better you think? And lets hope that crackling is gone...
Is the DAC what is missing?
To be honest, I got some of the best headphones, and a £300 headphone amp shouldn't be too bad.... still, it's the worst crap I have almost ever heard.
B&W speakers on NAD equipment sound better than this.. Let's hope its the source?!
The X-Dac will be wired to the amp with Nordost Solarwind (silver) interconnect, so that will also improve somewhat.
K
(If this is what headphone listenening is all about, I will sell the stuff. Useless...) ... You know guys, I read alot of remarks about people getting used to headphones never go back to speakers. Seems to be wrong....
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 28, 2007 15:15:10 GMT
Well I have K701, Solo , diy dacs, will this replace my main Hi-fi speaker based system? No it won't BUT it sounds very good and certainly not crap! I cannot guarantee if the X-dac V3 on its own will cure your problems, the problem for people buying commercially made equipment is that you have to rely on others opinions, because I'm into diy if I buy a piece of equipment and after burn in I'm still not happy I'd simply modify it to my taste or build something
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Dec 28, 2007 15:17:25 GMT
Headphones don't have the advantage of genuinely projecting the sound from infront of a person in a similar fashion to loudspeakers. I was surprised how woolly, slow, congested and gutless they would sound in comparison to loudspeakers though. Until I heard Grado. Nothing worse than someone who's had a road to Damascus conversion lol.
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Post by krisno on Dec 28, 2007 15:22:43 GMT
So the AKG 701's is the problem?
How does Grado match X-can v3 tube amp?
I always thought AKG K701 was top of the line with the latest and greatest technology(in that price range).....
The music just sounds 'boring' really...... nothing like the Martin Logan Odessy's i heard..... or B&W on Krell and Thule..... sounds soo much more alive and better. but wel well... probably the source will help.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Dec 28, 2007 15:22:49 GMT
Have you tried the set up on the end of a CD player? Or even a tuner & it still sounds poor? As you've mentioned the X-Cans is supposed to be decent, I've only heard the v1 & that was a piece of total crap although I didn't know it at the time. The AKG's are supposed to be the best dynamic headphones in the world as well. (Probably excluding Grado of course). So it's very nearly state of the current art.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Dec 28, 2007 15:29:28 GMT
No, I doubt they are the problem. As you say they are the best. It could be headphone listening is the problem, maybe it isn't for you. You could swap & change components forever & still not be happy. I prefer loudspeakers but due to domestic circumstances - small house in relation to occupants, have no real choice at the moment.
If I was you I'd try to hear the X-Cans/AKG with a Cd player. A friends, or buy one from ebay, then sell it on. You owe this to yourself, then you will know whether headphones are for you or not.
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leo
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Post by leo on Dec 28, 2007 15:31:54 GMT
Sounds like the amp or the source is the problem IMO, I've heard a few headphones now, I'm a picky B*****d so if I thought the K701's was poor I wouldn't have brought them, they are lightening quick and revealing, feed them shit and thats exactly what you get.
What does that sound card sound like fed into you speaker system?
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