Empirical to offer Audiophile USB to S/PDIF converters

audioengr · « **on:** 27 Sep 2004, 08:23 pm »

After installing some USB to S/PDIF converters into DAC's and reclockers, I have had a number of customers request a good external converter, so I have several prototypes in the works. I want to test the waters now, so here are the descriptions:

USBsport - $300
- uses PC power
- standard clock
- 6" S/PDIF Belden cable and copper Eichmann Bullet connector attached
- Essentially a modified M-Audio Transit - same case
- Eliminates both Toslink interfaces on the Transit - in and out
- just place in back of your DAC and plug it in - no additional cables required

USBphile - $750
- uses wall-wart supply
- SuperTurboclock2 installed
- 6" S/PDIF Belden cable and copper/silver Eichmann Bullet connector attached
- Cast aluminum box
- Superior mods for low clock jitter
- Possibility for rechargable battery operation
- just place in back of your DAC and plug it in - no additional cables required

Are these price-ranges reasonable?

Do I need to offer a mid-priced version?

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

viggen · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Sep 2004, 10:31 pm »

Hi Steve,

After upgrading my speakers and just got a turntable, now I am turning my attention to whatever device that can connect my laptop to my stereo with the intention of listening to radio broadcasted on internet and to play my CDs from my HD (after ripping them).

I have been eyeing the Apogee Mini-Dac for awhile now. Are you familiar with this piace? I guess tihs is a good piece for you to use as a benchmark for price vs. performance purposes. With the USB input option, it retails at $1200 but street prices are around $1000. It has a bunch of options and supposedly has a pretty good sound to it.

For me, the Apogee is good because of it's size, it's plethora of inputs, and, since my thinkpad doesn't supply enough voltage to power passive USB devices, it helps that the Apogee uses another power source such as your $750 model.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Sep 2004, 10:37 pm »

Interesting ideas Steve...very.

I think many of us would like to downsize on the box count in our systems...why not make your own DAC with USB inputs and rca outputs? One less box, less external wire, one less power outlet used, one less power cable, etc., and one great product from Empirical Audio.

Additionally or instead of, why can't you build in a small, high quality headphone amp (can't be much these days with digital amplification available to us) into the DAC (powered by 8 AA batteries) so laptop users (ME, that is...teehee) can travel with it on the road, and they and everyone else have a good DAC & headphone amp & single source preamp to use with their main system at home. Oversampling may take up too much power, but perhaps a non-oversampling DAC with these features...and a headphone amp.

Somewhere in here is a good idea - I know it

audioengr · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Sep 2004, 12:55 am »

Quote from: viggen

Hi Steve,

I have been eyeing the Apogee Mini-Dac for awhile now. Are you familiar with this piace? I guess tihs is a good piece for you to use as a benchmark for price vs. performance purposes. With the USB input option, it retails at $1200 ...

I actually looked at it today. Interesting product for sure. The difficulty is not knowing whether the DAC is any good. It's a lot of money and probably needs mods to sound good anyway. I think if it were me, I would buy an Ack! or a Benchmark DAC-1, mod it and then put the USB interface inside. I have an Ack! on order just for this reason, and I'm considering the Benchmark as well.

Steve N.

audioengr · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Sep 2004, 01:01 am »

Quote from: TheChairGuy

Interesting ideas Steve...very.

I think many of us would like to downsize on the box count in our systems...why not make your own DAC with USB inputs and rca outputs? One less box, less external wire, one less power outlet used, one less power cable, etc., and one great product from Empirical Audio.

Additionally or instead of, why can't you build in a small, high quality headphone amp (can't be much these days with digital amplification available to us) into the DAC (powered by 8 AA batteries) so l ...

Designing my own DAC is not the issue, it's getting it manufactured cheaply overseas. This is what is costly and requires contacts etc..

Actually, the M-Audio Transit already does the headphone amp thing. Powered completely off the computer. The only issues are that they capacitively couple it with cheap capacitors and use a cheap, low-voltage op-amp. If there were a DC-DC converter in the Transit that generated +/- supplies, then a good op-amp could be used and it could be direct-coupled. Then you would have decent sound.

sunshinedawg · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Sep 2004, 03:45 am »

Wow! I'm so glad you decided to offer these converters. This is what I have been looking for, for months. I know what I'm getting for Christmas now!

I think these are reasonable prices, the Monarchy mod is tempting but a little too expensive. I'm not sure about a mid-priced version, I guess I would have to wait and here some reviews about the USBsport and USBphile first.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Sep 2004, 04:06 pm »

Steve,

I realized after my post, in thinking further about these products, the USBphile (at least) does have the potential to eliminate box clutter for many of us.

If I understand correctly, this interface can be plugged either into your DAC OR into a Aud/Vid receiver directly thru the (coax) S/PDIF connector. Correct?

So, it would be....

PC to (via USB Cable) USBphile to (via included 6" S/PDIF Belden cable) to Receiver or DAC? Very simple, and cost effective if what has been said of PC transports (that they are excellent and on par or better than the much vaunted Sony DVP-S7700) is true.

audioengr · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Sep 2004, 07:20 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy

Steve,

I realized after my post, in thinking further about these products, the USBphile (at least) does have the potential to eliminate box clutter for many of us.

If I understand correctly, this interface can be plugged either into your DAC OR into a Aud/Vid receiver directly thru the (coax) S/PDIF connector. Correct?

So, it would be....

PC to (via USB Cable) USBphile to (via included 6" S/PDIF Belden cable) to Receiver or DAC? Very simple, and cost effective if what has been said of PC tran ...

Yes, you have it. PC-(USB cable)-USBphile-DAC
or: PC-(USB cable)-USBphile-SS Receiver

Steve N.

firepile · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Sep 2004, 08:24 pm »

heya steve!

i don't know if this is an undocumented interface, but is it feasible to have the output go directly over Muse's MAP-link interface into their DACs?

thanks!
nick

audioengr · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Sep 2004, 01:42 am »

Quote from: firepile

heya steve!

i don't know if this is an undocumented interface, but is it feasible to have the output go directly over Muse's MAP-link interface into their DACs?

thanks!
nick

I cannot find any technical references of MAP-link other than Muse mentioning it in their product description.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Sep 2004, 01:57 am »

Need any Beta testers? I can think of a nice, nerdy ChairGuy in San Fran that has a really good front end to compare it to.......

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Oct 2004, 02:32 am »

I think its an excellent idea and well needed in the marketplace. I have been toying with idea of sending my dac to steve for usb mod but this is obviously a much easier solution. It may also helpresale in that potenetial dac purchasers may not want a chassis modded with a usb interface.

that said-steve i think for those who are not hesitent to have thier dacs worked on a 300 dollar installed mod by you would be more elgant and help on the clutter end.

In any event im glad someone is examining this issue as ive been looking for an audiophile usb dac for a while that is less then the waveleght model.