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Post by daws0n on Jan 19, 2013 21:37:01 GMT
I've been using my PC for computer audio for years now in my hifi system... I am using the toslink output on an old Aurentech 5.1 soundcard connected to my external DAC. The soundcard is a cheap solution, but I chose it due the CMI 8738 chipset - a guy has written custom drivers which apparently enable bitperfect playback (I use foobar>kernel stream to achieve this, on XP). code.google.com/p/cmediadrivers/Sound quality is very good in and out my DAC (an old all discrete design, using a TDA1541A s1 chip). However, I've experimented with more modern designs (an Asus Essence One), and while I prefer the sound of my old multibit on the whole, the USB input on these newer DACs does sound better in some respects... So, I am thinking... Rather than do away with my old DAC altogether, would "upgrading" the computer transport to an Asynchronous USB device improve things for the better? I am thinking a Hiface 2.. would you guys say it is a worthwhile purchase over a basic PCI soundcard output?
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Jan 19, 2013 21:48:42 GMT
Your DAC is still top draw. I have heard a few DACs and none beat the TDA1541 (particularly S1 & S2) and if the output stage is good then all the better.
I have not tried the Hiface 2. I have a John Kenny modified Hiface 1 using batteries. It is very good and certainly better than the ESI Juli@ (ASIO driver) and EMU0404 soundcrads I have tried.
John Kenny posts here and he may be better able to help with the difference between the 1 & 2 units.
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Post by daws0n on Jan 19, 2013 22:16:37 GMT
Agreed, I really rate the TDA1541As... This one is nearly 20 years old now, but I've yet to find a DAC that shows it a clean bare of heels. It's an old AVI DAC, model s2000MD. I used to own one a while back... Sold it, regretted it, so recently bought another! In the meantime I used an Asus Essence One (and upgraded the opamps), but the AVI still sounds better despite it's age. Not as detailed, but a more weighty and realistic presentation. Excellent midrange, and great bass extension - just very musical and enjoyable to listen to They're very rare these days so I can't find much about it online, but an old article had this to say: "The circuit is a multi-bit type (which Grindrod prefers to the single-bit Bitstream types) and is based around a selected Crown SI version of the Philips TDA1541A and four-times oversampling SAA7220P/B chip-set. The rest of the circuit is entirely due to AVI and in particular the use of a special tuned amplifier circuit rather than the conventional phase-locked loop has made the unit universally reliable in locking-on to the clock signal coming out of the CD transport (Grindrod has found a surprisingly wide deviation in the performance of third-party transports and players in this respect). The analogue output is taken direct from a simple L/C filter driven from a variant of the line-level amplifier developed for the preamplifier." Anyways, I digress... Since posting I've read that USB Asynch is rather difficult and troublesome compare to good old PCI, and ultimately more complex. Reckon something like this is worth a go? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Musiland-Digital-Times-Soundcard-PCI-S-PDIF-optical-BNC-/320765536270?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item4aaf1da80eI've never come across a "digital only" sound card before.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2013 23:11:11 GMT
;D
Yes, it does.If you try it, please let us know here (and there) how you find it. Regards Alex
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pagan
Been here a while!
Posts: 512
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Post by pagan on Jan 20, 2013 3:22:57 GMT
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Post by daws0n on Jan 20, 2013 11:04:21 GMT
Will do Alex! It's my first choice at the moment as it's cheap and (hopefully) cheerful!
What's wrong with the processor on the digital march, pagan? It seems that the musiland model is a slightly better "revision", but the ViA tremor chip is the same (VT1723).
I like the look of the serenade too (with it's swappable op-amps it reminds of Asus's ST/STX range). But, it looks a bit OTT for my needs and will be underutilised as a digital-only solution...
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pagan
Been here a while!
Posts: 512
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Post by pagan on Jan 20, 2013 12:04:28 GMT
Will do Alex! It's my first choice at the moment as it's cheap and (hopefully) cheerful! What's wrong with the processor on the digital march, pagan? It seems that the musiland model is a slightly better "revision", but the ViA tremor chip is the same (VT1723). I like the look of the serenade too (with it's swappable op-amps it reminds of Asus's ST/STX range). But, it looks a bit OTT for my needs and will be underutilised as a digital-only solution... The via chip..... there are better these days. I was looking at the Serenade too, has the C-media chipset. Not concerned about analogue out, but then there are only stereo. Asus use C-media chipsets, they just re-badge them. As for under-utilized........ I'm using an Auzentech prelude for just digital out. Was looking at changing it to the Serenade II, but trying to find a stockist is not easy.
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Jan 22, 2013 0:00:15 GMT
With the TDA1541 I would stringly recommend the No Oversampling mod (NOS) which removed the resampling. I had mine done by Colin Yallop of Chevron Audio (Derby) and, if memory serves me right, it was well worth the £90 (or so) it cost.
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Post by daws0n on Jan 22, 2013 10:39:04 GMT
I'm a bit reluctant to mod the DAC as it's a rare (nigh on irreplaceable) unit, and such mods can hurt resale value... On the bright side, it incorporates the premium "/B" version of the SAA7220P - it seems many people attribute this resampler as something of a bottleneck to the TDA1541A's performance.
I've done a fair bit of reading up on the chip, and opinions seem divided as to whether NOS is better... I owned an MHDT Labs Dialogue II DAC briefly a few years (TDA 1543, NOS) and it was bloody awful - totally flattened the sound like dolby on an old cassette player!
Thanks for the details anyway - no doubt it is due for a recap soon, so will keep Chevron Audio in mind when/if the time comes (the caps look fine atm, no leaks or bulges - but at their age they must be rather tired by now).
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Jan 22, 2013 22:20:11 GMT
The TDA1543 NOS DACs are nothing like the 1541 units. I too found a 1543 (Lite-AH) unit dull. I note what you say about resale value but I would keep the AVI given its pedigree.
Chevron also do a USB unit input board. I had one fitted to my BB2. With a dedicated clock and PSU it was quite a bit but it is probably the best input I have.
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Post by daws0n on Jan 23, 2013 13:51:50 GMT
Cheers Fred, will look into it. The DAC isn't go anywhere - I was kicking myself after I sold my old one to a gent in Germany, so snapped this one up as soon as it came up for sale... I won't be making the same mistake again! I can see why these old philips chips are still highly rated/sought after, they still make for great music
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