PS Audio Announces Fully Balanced USB DAC

richs · « **Reply #20 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 04:37 pm »

This could be show-stopper for me. I posted on the PS Audio forum looking for thoughts, and haven't received any replies. I'm wondering what owners of Scott Nixon USB dacs are doing. According to recent thead on AA, ASIO-4-ALL doesn't bypass KMIXER if the device is using native Windows drivers (ASIO-4-ALL crashes my computer anyway).

Anyone have any thoughts?

woodsyi · « **Reply #21 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 04:43 pm »

Are we talking about running Foobar with Asio plug in to bypass the k-mixer? And PS Audio USB DAC does not support this?

kfr01 · « **Reply #22 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 06:12 pm »

All of the above.

Apparently it neither supports straight ASIO (the foobar plug) nor ASIO4ALL derivatives (because it does not support kernal streaming).

kfr01 · « **Reply #23 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 06:18 pm »

Quote from: richs on 2 Aug 2006, 04:37 pm

According to recent thead on AA, ASIO-4-ALL doesn't bypass KMIXER if the device is using native Windows drivers (ASIO-4-ALL crashes my computer anyway).

Yeah, ASIO4ALL apparently uses kernal streaming. If the device and its attending drivers don't support kernal streaming, ASIO4ALL won't work. The PS Audio device apparently has a very generic and stripped down driver.

Maybe the USB audio world isn't ready to move beyond modded M-Audio products yet.

Then again, maybe the latest versions of MS kmixer aren't all that bad. The PS Audio engineer on that forum suggested that while kmixer was once a bit-truncating monster, that later revisions are not bad. Anyone know anything about the audio accuracy of kmixer?

woodsyi · « **Reply #24 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 06:52 pm »

This isn't for me. They would have to pay me to use it. A lot.

I would wait for Steve Nugents I2S mod on the USB Light DAC.

boead · « **Reply #25 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 07:05 pm »

Here is what Scott Noixion has to say about his USBTD with I2C.

Additional information and links on XP audio tweaking below.
Number One for XP is un-mapping the USBTD from XP and the dreaded Kmixer. Example below:
Go Control Panel => Sound and Audio Device => Select Hardware Tab => Select USB Audio
Device => Click Properties Button => Select Properties Tab => Select the audio device =>
select "Use audio features of this device" and "Do not map through this device".

Foobar is a fine playback manager, but you need to select the output device “USB Audio
Dac/Device” and work through the myriad of choices. When in doubt, just reset to default
and go from there.

Scott Nixon

I use MultiPlugin with iTunes and Foobar as my playback engine after doing as Scott describes here.

It sounds great! NOS has a natural sound, very musical, very large sound stage.

Upsampling tends to be overly detailed, somewhat harsh on the high end and more digital sounding. I was not thrilled with the 1.5v output either but I found it to be the same as my Denon 2900 SACD Player which in on par with most other players. It much louder then any of the M-Audio sound cards I’ve owned (I’ve had a half dozen) but not as loud as my Arcam FMJ which is about 2.3v. The 1.5v is just fine and I’m using it with an 2wpc SET.

kfr01 · « **Reply #26 on:** 2 Aug 2006, 08:29 pm »

boead:

So, what you're saying is that the SN USBTD does not support ASIO either, but it is still possible to route audio away from kmixer and to the usb audio device?

boead · « **Reply #27 on:** 3 Aug 2006, 12:15 am »

Quote from: kfr01 on 2 Aug 2006, 08:29 pm

boead:

So, what you're saying is that the SN USBTD does not support ASIO either, but it is still possible to route audio away from kmixer and to the usb audio device?

Yes, that’s how I understand it.

In iTunes you can turn the foobar2000 plug-in off and on, on the fly and you can clearly hear a difference regardless of why. Foobar sounds better to me.

Jon L · « **Reply #28 on:** 3 Aug 2006, 12:52 am »

Quote from: boead on 2 Aug 2006, 07:05 pm

Here is what Scott Noixion has to say about his USBTD with I2C.

Additional information and links on XP audio tweaking below.
Number One for XP is un-mapping the USBTD from XP and the dreaded Kmixer. Example below:
Go Control Panel => Sound and Audio Device => Select Hardware Tab => Select USB Audio
Device => Click Properties Button => Select Properties Tab => Select the audio device =>
select "Use audio features of this device" and "Do not map through this device".

Foobar is a fine playback manager, but you need to select the output device “USB Audio
Dac/Device” and work through the myriad of choices. When in doubt, just reset to default
and go from there.

Scott Nixon

Yes, you can unmap devices with this method. I haven't had a chance to actually confirm this bypasses K-mixer, though.

Another possible method is with this USB-ASIO driver, which replaces Windows generic USB driver. You can try it out for 30 days free.
http://www.usb-audio.com/download.html

Has anyone actually tried ASIO4ALL with Scott Nixon USB DAC and know for sure it won't work?

Has PS Audio actually confirmed their DAC won't work with ASIO4ALL?

I ask b/c even the HagUSB supports ASIO4ALL..

Scrith · « **Reply #29 on:** 3 Aug 2006, 03:19 am »

I tried the usb-audio.com driver and couldn't get it to work with Foobar2000 0.9.2. Foobar apparently does not give access to their ASIO control panel (so maybe you have to run some other ASIO-aware application to change the settings for the driver?).

kfr01 · « **Reply #30 on:** 3 Aug 2006, 05:34 am »

Quote from: Jon L on 3 Aug 2006, 12:52 am

Has PS Audio actually confirmed their DAC won't work with ASIO4ALL?

This is great info. No, they haven't officially confirmed this. Frankly, and disappointingly, they seem rather uninformed regarding what we nuts are looking for in a USB audio device.

ZooDog · « **Reply #31 on:** 3 Aug 2006, 08:10 pm »

Quote from: kfr01 on 3 Aug 2006, 05:34 am

Quote from: Jon L on 3 Aug 2006, 12:52 am
Has PS Audio actually confirmed their DAC won't work with ASIO4ALL?

This is great info. No, they haven't officially confirmed this. Frankly, and disappointingly, they seem rather uninformed regarding what we nuts are looking for in a USB audio device.

Yes, I think they've have been caught off guard by all the technical questions they have been receiving regarding how the USB input is used. I'm using a mac so I'm not worried about all the Kmixer and ASIO stuff, but I'm still wondering if I shouldn't hold off for a bit and see what comes along in the next 6 months or so. This computer audio stuff is getting more confusing by the day.

boead · « **Reply #32 on:** 4 Aug 2006, 12:31 pm »

Quote from: Jon L on 3 Aug 2006, 12:52 am

Has anyone actually tried ASIO4ALL with Scott Nixon USB DAC and know for sure it won't work?

It didn't work for me.

BTW: http://www.audioreview.com/USBTDcrx.aspx
Good review for Scott.

kfr01 · « **Reply #33 on:** 13 Sep 2006, 03:53 am »

Not to dig up an old thread, but I finally received my PS Audio Digital Link III USB DAC (whew).

I was in the first batch of 25 shipped, apparently.

I'll report my listening impressions later. Away on business until next monday.

ZooDog · « **Reply #34 on:** 14 Sep 2006, 01:01 am »

I'm anxious to hear your impressions. I'm still DAC shopping myself.

ZooDog · « **Reply #35 on:** 16 Sep 2006, 12:22 am »

I went ahead and placed an order for one today. I know the USB implementation is not ideal but the unit seems to be otherwise well designed and quite promising for $995 shipped. I think I am going to have to wait a couple of weeks for mine, though.

kfr01 · « **Reply #36 on:** 16 Sep 2006, 12:22 pm »

Posting from hotel. (yay)

Anyway, I think you probably made a good decision.

Installation was as easy as anything computer could possibly be; literal plug-in-play.

And, from what I could tell during the 5 minutes I was able to listen to it before leaving, it sounded pretty damn good. Definitely a more elegant solution (at least in form) over multiple box (USB-->something converters --> separate dac).

The fit and finish of the unit is excellent. PS Audio does not do itself justice with the pictures on the website. Also, be prepared for the size. It is not a small or light unit, which was fine with me, but the pictures on the website, again, leave much to be desired. It is just as deep and high as a large preamp, only having less width.

My feelings on the whole thing could change when I get to spend some real time with it. Also, I need to upgrade my DAC to Preamp interconnects from single-ended to balanced. I didn't plan ahead.

Anyway, more Monday or Tues from me...

kfr01 · « **Reply #37 on:** 21 Sep 2006, 12:49 am »

Sorry - time not spent at work or with the wife has been spent listening.

ZooDog:

You won't be disappointed. I don't want to give a full review yet, but right now if I wrote it I would have nothing negative to say when comparing it to my old digital front end (Perpetual Tech P3A + CI Audio PSU + M-Audio Sonica USB-->SPDIF converter).

The PS Audio device is warmer and smoother but remains just as detailed. The PSA device is far less fatiguing. Now, I'm still finishing my listening room in my new house and don't have first reflection treatment up, so perhaps the PSA DAC will be too laid back for your room... but, for now, mine has almost made me forget about treatment -- it is that smooth.

I have noticed no audible signal degradation moving away from ASIO. Don't quote me yet, but I think ASIO is overhyped for non-professional use.

Anyway, nothing but smiles here. Added bonus, I think you'll be surprised by how gorgeous the DAC is... I was.

ZooDog · « **Reply #38 on:** 28 Sep 2006, 03:27 pm »

Mine arrived on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I've not had much time to listen to it, so I will hold off on commenting on it's sound until the weekend. Like you, I was completely taken by surprise by the size, heft, and apparent build quality of the DL III. The Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3 that I also purchased (which also retails for $1k) feels like a toy in comparison. Percieved value is very high for the DL III. I'll comment more this weekend after I have some time to listen.

BarrelChief · « **Reply #39 on:** 2 Oct 2006, 08:01 pm »

ZooDog:

Were you able to get in some good listening time over the weekend?

I am very curious to hear your impressions of this DAC.

Thanks.