[Hank]

Just received my LH Labs VI DAC and posted questions on the LH forum:  "what are you using to feed your VI DAC? and what input?" First reply was a guy using a SOTM SMS-1000u.  That is quite expensive.  What in your opinions, is a lower-cost alternative?

[marflao]

ViDac user, too....ususally (currently RMAed since my remote works only within 3feet distance from the Dac).

My sources: Squeezebox Touch or Raspberry Pi2 w/picorePlayer 2.0.

I used the SBT to check the digital SPDIF inputs. Fine up to 24/192.
Pi2 w/picoreplayer is used via USB and plays flawless up to DSD 64.

Sounds good enough for me.

Cheers,
M. 

[Hank]

Thanks marflao.
Anyone else?

[mlundy57]

I have a Pulse X Infinity which, as I understand it, is a VI DAC minus the LPS.

I feed mine with a refurbished Dell Xeon based workstation with 12GB ECC RAM and an SOtM PCIe sound card.

Sounds really good.

[Hank]

thanks mlundy57

Keep 'em coming, guys.

[*Scotty*]

I use an external WD 4T hard drive with a HAL MS-2 PC Music Server. See link to thread below
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=132170.0
This might fit into your budget a little better.
Scotty

[marflao]

@ Hank:
btw...I'm also awaiting a 4 TB Geek Source (pimped with further perks) but would let it go.
In case you should be interested just PM me.

[Hank]

Thanks Scotty, the MS-3 might make it to my short list.

Marflao, I just looked up the Source on the Indiegogo site and if the specs are true, then their "...under $1,500..." price is interesting - exactly what is the price at this stage?  Is the reason you'll let it go that LH is so slow in product development and you've run out of patience?  I nearly did with the VI DAC. 

[ugoderosa]

I think the upcoming Sonore microRendu ($640, without power supply) looks to be very, very promising and I'm betting (hoping) it will knock it out of the park from a value proposition.

When my Vi Tube DAC arrives (should be within the month), I am going to feed it as follows:

MacBook Pro (running Roon) > Router > Sonore microRendu > Intona > Berkeley Alpha USB > Vi Tube DAC

[marflao]

Marflao, I just looked up the Source on the Indiegogo site and if the specs are true, then their "...under $1,500..." price is interesting - exactly what is the price at this stage?  Is the reason you'll let it go that LH is so slow in product development and you've run out of patience?  I nearly did with the VI DAC.

Main reason is that I backed the Source based on its originally advertised hexagonal design.
LHL changed the design to a "simple" box design I'm not so attracted to.

So I talked to the LHL support team a while ago and they were fine if my "perks" would be transferred to the "new" owner. Lhl would charge the new owner just for the shipping.

[marflao]

Regarding the price..guess the $1500 is for the Standard Source, not the one with the Femtos and further upgrades.
And I wouldn't be surprised if the MSRP will be much higher (see Vi Dac and Pulse Dacs).

[Hank]

ugoderosa:  thanks - I'll keep an eye out for the microRendu.  I looked up the Intona USB isolator - interesting.  Why would you need the Berkley USB isolator also?

marflao:  thanks - I'll PM you - curious about price.

[ugoderosa]

The Berkeley Alpha USB is a usb to spdif/AES EBU converter, rather than a USB isolator.

[Hank]

ugoderosa, I'm curious - why do you want spdif/AES EBU?  Isn't USB a good interface scheme?  LH Labs recommends the VI DAC usb input as superior to the others (maybe that's because they have actual USB3).

[marflao]

ugoderosa, I'm curious - why do you want spdif/AES EBU?  Isn't USB a good interface scheme?  LH Labs recommends the VI DAC usb input as superior to the others (maybe that's because they have actual USB3).Same

Hank,
I'm pretty sure that the Vi has "only" a USB 2.0 input.
Maybe you were referring to the Geek Source which will have a USB 3.0 output?

[ugoderosa]

ugoderosa, I'm curious - why do you want spdif/AES EBU?  Isn't USB a good interface scheme?  LH Labs recommends the VI DAC usb input as superior to the others (maybe that's because they have actual USB3).

Most DAC's I've encountered are sonically superior using AES-EBU or spdif as compared to usb input.

I currently have the Pulse Xfi + LPS and compared AES input to direct usb input.  It was no contest-  AES is absolutely superior, at least through my Berkeley (I didn't try any other usb converters).   I highly doubt that will change with the Vi, but I'll give it a comparison when my Vi Tube arrives.

[Hank]

"MacBook Pro (running Roon) > Router > Sonore microRendu > Intona > Berkeley Alpha USB > Vi Tube DAC"

Add a power amp at the end and that's a long 7 piece hardware chain - over twice as long as my OPPO 95>Outlaw 975>Odyssey power amp CD playback chain.
I have a personal, perhaps unfounded thing against multiple hardware and wire chains.  I suppose I'll have to find a player/NAS microRendu type machine with AES output.