Javier
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Post by Javier on Nov 24, 2013 10:06:27 GMT
IIRC HDMI standard does actually support DSD (not I2S though), most Oppo DVD and BD players are capable of it and also IIRC some Denons and Pioneers too.
IMO the problem with this type of adapter is that while they can be very good for SPDIF, which supports longish cables, they are not that great for I2S/DSD which needs cable lengths of 10cm max (the shorter the better) as those protocols were designed to be used inside players and not to connect deivces externally. This limitation can be overcome by using some sort of differential amplifier like the Twistedpear's Teleporter uses but then you need one receiver inside your DAC. In short, if it is going to be used only for SPDIF great if I2S/DSD is on the agenda I'd go for a solution that can be placed inside the DAC case using the shortest possible wires.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2013 19:35:00 GMT
have decided against the audiophonics/chinese unit as i have a suspicion i will end up with a new usb dac sometime next year. if i go for anything now it will be the waveio board. i say "if" because my hiface2 has worked faultlessly for the last week and a half. it is probably coincidence (i dont know much about pc's), but i upgraded my mouse a week and a half ago as it also appeared faulty. ever since then my hiface2 has worked perfectly. very odd i think.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2013 19:04:05 GMT
Javier its been 3 weeks now since i replaced my dodgy mouse. the hiface has behaved ever since. is this just coincidence? in your opinion, is there likely to be any sonic improvements with the waveio as a replacement for my hiface2, considering i will only be using spdif and not 12s? thanks Simon
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Javier
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Post by Javier on Dec 7, 2013 9:08:16 GMT
Simon,
I don't think there will be any listenable big differences if any at all. Measurable differences? most probably yes, the WaveIO will likely measure better as it has better XOs and also galvanic isolation but will this be hearable? most probably not. If I was in your shoes I would stay with the hiface2 until the whole DAC gets upgraded, should you decide not to invest in one, as long as the hiface behaves I see no point in replacing it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2013 16:59:15 GMT
nice one , that is what i will do thanks Javier
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2014 18:34:27 GMT
well after many months without an issue, the problem is now back. tried the latest luckit driver and it would not work at all. reinstalled the driver i had been using (for months with no issue) and that would not work at all either. downloaded the latest driver from m2tech which got my hiface2 working again, but the fault where it is not recognised on start-up is back. am i right in assuming that should i replace the hiface2 with the Waveio board, i may still have the same issue?
i have posted the same question over on head-fi to get their opinions too. from reading the threads over there some say the problem is with "motherboards not recognizing xmos devices". if this is the case then there is no point in me buying another device (ie waveio, ifi link etc)that uses xmos. am i correct here? also if i trade my gear in for a new dac then i must surely ensure it does not have the xmos chip built in? i really thought this problem had been "put to bed". :-(
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Javier
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Post by Javier on May 2, 2014 18:49:33 GMT
Have you checked if there is a new BIOS firmware for your MoBo? Unless you have a very old board I don't see why there should be any problem with it detecting XMOS devices. Another option would be a fresh OS install though it can be quite a PIA.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2014 19:02:45 GMT
Have you checked if there is a new BIOS firmware for your MoBo? Unless you have a very old board I don't see why there should be any problem with it detecting XMOS devices. Another option would be a fresh OS install though it can be quite a PIA. Hi Javier have done OS re-installs in the past and problem is still there. there are bios upgrades available for my mobo. trouble is i am not brave enough to do it. i understand that if it goes wrong, then mobo may be goosed? although this issue irritates me, i have to think of my sanity when it goes belly up. my pc is under 2 years old . so you dont think it is an xmos recognition issue then?
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Javier
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Post by Javier on May 3, 2014 8:06:12 GMT
What MoBo do you have? I've done hundreds of BIOS and device firmware updates and never had a problem but it is true there is always Murphy's law to consider. If you read and understand well the instructions of the flashing procedure and follow them there should be nothing to worry about with maybe the only exception of power outage or the house main's fuse blowing when in the middle of the updating process but if that doesn't happen often at your place you can proceed quite confident it'll work just fine. I've had no experience with XMOS USB adapters but from what I've read in many forums people having problems with them are a tiny minority, most work fine with all kind of devices including smartphones.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2014 9:10:17 GMT
my mobo is an asus p8z77-v.
it does have a so called "easy flash(usb)" program but i am not sure i am confident enough. it also has built in auto fan controller, which has been nothing but trouble, hence my lack of confidence in the bios flash.
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Javier
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Post by Javier on May 3, 2014 16:00:15 GMT
Modern Asus boards are indeed extremely easy to update. Don't be afraid to do it, copy the latest BIOS file for you board fron their site to the root folder of a USB stick, reboot the PC and when it starts showing the boot screen hit the DEL key, go to the BIOS update entry in the menu and open the file from it. It should take less than a minute to complete the update and there is always the 'safety net' of reverting to the orevious one.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2014 19:22:41 GMT
you make it sound so easy. i will look into it in the morning. just had a couple of beers so dont think it would be wise to attempt it now.
just to show my lack of knowledge...... when you say root folder does this mean i would be best using a memory stick with nothing at all on it but the bios file?
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Javier
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Post by Javier on May 3, 2014 20:02:45 GMT
Nope, it doesn't have to be empty. When I say at the root I mean on the first level and not inside a folder or any deeper level. The BIOS update program will only read the files with the correct extension, usually .ROM or .BIN and will ignore any other file. BTW, it is really that easy but just in case leave it for tomorrow, depending on the size of the container two beers can be nothing (half pint?) or an awful lot (imperial gallon?).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2014 22:35:07 GMT
looking at the bios updates, my current version is 3 of 13. both my current version and the next most recent 2 updates address usb issues! funnily enough windows does not always see my 2 usb sticks. i hope this does not cause an issue during the flash process, although i guess windows will not be running anyway!
downloaded the latest bios file and also the asus renaming utility. followed the instructions carefully and now have the renamed file on memory stick and ready for the bios flash. thats it for tonight. watch this space for tomorrow ;-)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2014 15:37:52 GMT
will a pc boot up and appear to run ok with a corrupted bios install?
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