Duke Spinner Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I was looking at a Stereo-Link unit for my hard wired system .... before i spend $400, i'd like to check things out, ya know ....[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Just make sure it's USB 2.0 otherwise forget it. I assume you are refferring to a Digital Audio Cassette recorder. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I know they're not strictly 2-channel, but I really dig the Motu stuff: http://www.motu.com/products Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I know they're not strictly 2-channel, but I really dig the Motu stuff: http://www.motu.com/products Great stuff if you aren't using Windows. Otherwise, expect no support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 ??? It works fine in windows...in fact it works great with windows. I had way more issues with the Mac because of its stupid need for an "aggregate device manager". You must have OS9 or Tiger and later (no panther) to get it working with more than one unit without using the digital output routed to the digital input of the other - it can only see one device at a time on a Mac. Well...sorta. It's a complicated issue that can be fixed with an expensive OS upgrade [:@] and yes, I hate apple. Just gotta get that bias out in the open [] Someone seriously needs to come out with a strong multimedia package for unix. It's so much more stable and saves a lot more resources for the huge demand that this kind of processing puts on the CPU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwh Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 $400?! I assume you're looking at the new Model 1400? I've had a Model 1200 for about 4 years and really like it. Initially, I used it as a source for a SET headphone amp, but more and more I find myself plugging the phones directly into the Stereo-link. The 1400 claims to have an enhanced headphone amp, but the 1200 has no problem driving my 24 ohm phones. The stereo-link's noise floor is significantly below that of my headphone amp, and even at the phones' low impedance is practically inaudible (and far cleaner than the computer's line out). Also, the Stereo-link adjusts its sample rate, unlike most computer's internal DACs now that resample everything to 48kHz (usually poorly, depending on algorithm). It uses the common Philips UDA1321 single-chip USB DAC, and should be compatible with any software that handles standard USB audio devices (I use Linux, so I needed to avoid any goofy proprietary drivers). I originally selected a stereo-link vs. one of the cheaper USB DACs because of the separate power supply. I have never compared it to one of the $40-$60 USB-powered DACs, but the design rationale seems sound (don't source the power from the potentially noisy 5V USB line). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted August 4, 2006 Author Share Posted August 4, 2006 $400?! I assume you're looking at the new Model 1400? Stereo-link adjusts its sample rate, unlike most computer's internal DACs now that resample everything to 48kHz (usually poorly, depending on algorithm). you have hit on exactly What interested me .......[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBryan Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 How about this one... http://www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted August 4, 2006 Author Share Posted August 4, 2006 do you have one ..?? the fact it has a tube means little to me tubes in this kinda stuff, they run at low voltages, anyways more for color, than application as a voltage amplifier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBryan Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 No, I haven't heard it but its received some good reviews and Scott Nixon has a good rep with cost-friendly DACs as well he puts out most of his products as kits for those so inclined to tincker. For whatever reasons, I've always preferred the sound of DACs with a tube output stage (not a buffer) in my system(s). Have fun, Bryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heideana Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I ended-up buying a Fast Track Pro ( http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro-main.html) after getting a lot of help from folks in another thread. I don't know which chip the unit actually uses, but I'm pretty happy with it for the time being. I thought it would be quieter using a 9-volt supply, but it wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tillmbil Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 OK I have never seen this idea before. Does this allow me to go from computer to this to my computer speaker system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heideana Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 No...you attach these devices to your computer with USB or Firewire and then you can input analog or digital audio into or thru your computer and/or output audio from your computer to your home theater, hifi or studio monitors...depending on your need. Also, the outboard box bypass alot of internal computer noise...At least that's my understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivendell61 Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I've also been looking at the various methods for getting a signal out to my computer 2.1 speakers--many options. So why USB? Is it a laptop? I was looking at USB options but am now looking more toward a PCI card with digital out to a DAC. Re USB options here is one (c. $240): http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-25/index.html Some prefer the previous version because it has an independant AC power source: http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-5/specs.html Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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