Question about dac's

vpolineni · « **on:** 28 Dec 2003, 01:32 am »

I have a question about dac's... I plan on buying a pro-studio sound card for my computer... the lynx aes16. This is very similar to the sound card used in the vrs computer server.. (same company but the aes16 only operates in the digital domain). I will feed the digital signal to an outboard dac. The aes16 upsamples and sends a 24/192 signal (that's what I interpreted from its website: http://www.lynxstudio.com/aes16specifications.html)
Since the outgoing signal is 24/192, can I use a dac that uses 16/44.1 like the scott nixon dac or the upcoming daksa? Or am I limited ot a dac that uses the 24/192 signal in which case I would use a bel canto dac 2... I would appreciate any comments. thanks.

BikeWNC · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Dec 2003, 01:50 am »

Dacs like the SN tube dac, Art Dio and Ack dAck will only accept a 16/44 signal. If you intend to transmit 24/192 from your pc audio card then you will need something along the line of the BC Dac2 or MF A3.24. I'm sure that there are others that will also accept a 24/192 input.

Andy

cjr888 · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Dec 2003, 01:56 am »

I could be wrong, but reading the link provided states "All standard rates and variables rates up to 192 kHz..."

I am assuming you you would be fine with any DAC. I would probably inquire with the manufacturer to confirm though. If you find any places that have excellent pricing on the units, please submit to the board for others.

vpolineni · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Dec 2003, 02:00 am »

cjr888, I was just thinking that as I reread the specs on this soundcard. thanks for the tip though. Another really cool thing about this soundcard is that it has been redesigned to provide very low jitter... the stage III version of the daksa will also have a reclocker to help eliminate jitter so I'm hoping that the two combined will hopefully eliminate it

As for the price, the cheapest I've seen for this card plus the xlr cables is 700 dollars but there is one website who I emailed for special pricing but they have yet to replied.

Hantra · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Dec 2003, 02:35 am »

Quote

the cheapest I've seen for this card plus the xlr cables is 700 dollars but there is one website who I emailed for special pricing but they have yet to replied

If you're spending that, get the L22. Then you can have your cake and eat it too. I found the L22 for $649. And I will say that in the PC I just built for the audio rig, it's by far the best I have ever heard in my system. I haven't hooked it to the DAC yet, but I will try it this weekend. I've been too mezmerized by the sound with the analog out.

Anyway, can you use the AES16 without an L22/Lynx TWO? I thought it was like an add-on. . .

B

vpolineni · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Dec 2003, 02:47 am »

Hantra,
the advantage the aes16 has over the lynx L22 or the lynx two is that it is only digital.. there is no analog conversion.. check out this for more information:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/77015.html

the aes16 can be used independently of those two soundcards... it was designed for extremely low jitter for transfer of digital signals.. seems perfect for this application with the use of an outboard dac... now the question is, WHAT DAC???

Out of curiousity, how does your pc music server with the lynx l22 card compare against your traditional transport? (and what is it?)

Hantra · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Dec 2003, 03:05 am »

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now the question is, WHAT DAC???

It's going to have to be a hell of a DAC. This thing kills the Audio Note 3.1x Balanced. We never tried running it INTO the Audio Note b/c it was too damned good on its own. I am going to try mine with my DAC this weekend. It may be the way to go, but I don't know yet.

Quote

Out of curiousity, how does your pc music server with the lynx l22 card compare against your traditional transport? (and what is it?)[/

To answer your question, my transport is for sale. It's a Sony DVP-S7700 which has been highly modded. . .

I still vote for the L22 at $649.

L8r,

B

vpolineni · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Dec 2003, 04:37 am »

Hantra,
did you get a chance to use your lynx l22 card with your scott nixon tube dac? if so, how does it compare to the l22 card by itself? thanks.

Hantra · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Dec 2003, 05:09 am »

VP:

I haven't done it yet. I tried hooking it up tonight the easy way, but it's not working. Apparently, I am going to have to either build an adapter, or get something with a balanced connector. I'll keep you posted.

I'm upsampling to 88.2 on the fly right now. Pretty interesting. . Foobar2k says there is "no difference in sound quality when upsampling". That's BS.

vpolineni · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Dec 2003, 03:20 pm »

hantra,
i was wondering how you would do that with your sn dac having single ended inputs.... how does the upsampling sound compared to 44.1?

Hantra · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Dec 2003, 04:38 pm »

I think I have pinned down some correlation between upsampled, and non-upsampled now that I have spent lots of time with both. It seems that upsampled material has an airy quality that sounds a bit more open, airy, and slightly smoother. I spent lots of time with the NorthStar 24/192 combo, and when I upsampled last night, it brought lots of that back.

nickspicks · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Jan 2004, 03:05 pm »

fwiw...
the ART/DIO is 24/96 capable.

maybe what you should be looking at is the Benchmark DAC-1 ? it is cheap, does 24/192 and sounds freakin' incredible.