Asynch-1 Connection

[Darren Cotter]

Hi All

With the Asynch-1, is it best to use Coax (MG1000 in my case) or optical. The reason I ask is the MG coax lead is to big to fully insert into the Asynch-1, even with the black shrink wrap on the phono connector removed.

Also, I use a netbook on top of my hi-fi stack just to play Flac files, via an external USB drive. It's very slow, and a pain to use (Updating software etc). I have a decent I7 laptop with the Flac files on the internal hard drive on my coffee table, that I could use instead. The way I see it, I have three options now I have an Asynch:

1. Short USB from the laptop, Asynch-1, 7m coax into Caiman to rest of the system.

2. Short USB from the laptop, Asynch-1, 7m optical into Caiman to rest of the system.

3. Long (7m) USB from the laptop, Asynch, short coax/optical to Caiman to rest of the system.

Which way would produce the best sound?

Regards

Darren

[Andrei]

This looks a pretty close call Darren. I understand that the hierarchy of connectors has Toslink at the bottom, next co-axial, and then USB. So a straight USB connection would be best. I don't know the Beresford products so conceivably there may be some quirk that means a Caiman would prefer co-ax or tos. The other issue is that USB is 'generally' thought to have a max distance of 5 meters. I have seen many exceptions to this though and I would give a straight USB connection a go as my first option.
If you have to go co-ax or tos then my experience (only over distances of 1 meter) is that they sound about the same. If you have hi-resolution Flacs of 192 khz then I think you have to go co-ax as often Toslink cannot handle that bandwidth.

[Darren Cotter]

Hi Andei

Thanks for your input. I thought USB would be the worst, but then again, I don't know. Obviously the positioning of the Asynch-1, either close to the laptop, or close to the Caiman DAC has a bearing on the type of connection that would be best.

Regards

Darren

[struth]

I would use a long coax b4 a long usb I think. Would think a long toslink if you can get one would be the same as a short one.

[Darren Cotter]

I would use a long coax b4 a long usb I think. Would think a long toslink if you can get one would be the same as a short one.

Hi

So you would go: Short USB to Asynch-1, long optical to Caiman DAC? What about the bandwidth issues Andrei mentioned.

Regards

Darren

[brian2957]

Can't you use one of these and plug the Asynch-1 straight into the laptop( no USB cable required ) and use a long coax .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-USB-2-0-Adapter-Type-B-Male-to-Type-A-Male-USB945-/290722016097?pt=US_USB_Cables_Hubs_Adapters&hash=item43b061eb61

[struth]

I've used a 5m coax and it was ok.... Ive heard of people using 5m optical as well, and as far as I'm aware 7m is the limit for it. It would be better if you could get the pc a bit closer tbh, as short cables are best. I am currently using a 1m usb and a 3m coax with the asynch and it is fine. I revamped my setup and had to buy a smaller tv to fit it all in but it was worth it.

[Buggleskelly]

I use a 3m USB and 1m coax - which works fine. I've read that 5m is about max length too, hence why I went for 3m.

However, there is an alternative in keeping the connections short ...

If you use JRiver as the music server you can use the remote DLNA functionality and control the music playing from another wireless device. In my case I either use my Kindle XD Fire with the Gizmo app or the nMedium app on my Lumia phone. Both work a treat.

Anyhoo, just a thought in keeping the connection length down.

Cheers / Stevie

[Darren Cotter]

Hi Stevie

That's an interesting idea. I have an I7 tower PC in the next room that also has all my Flac files on it as a backup. I don't know much about home networks or DNLA. Do you know a good site where I could learn about this?

Also, I have a couple of 4TB USB 3.0 drives that I connect to the laptop to watch TV series and films. I assume if I moved them to the tower I mentioned previously, there may be a way of playing those files via my laptop that is in turn connected to my AV amp via a HDMI lead. I use Daum Potplayer is that is on any consequence?

Also, my laptop is running Windows 8 and the tower windows 7.

Regards

Darren

[Buggleskelly]

Hi Darren,

I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination when it comes to wireless networking and streaming, there's probably people on AoS who are much better qualified than me (probably in a different area of the forum). I've just picked things up as I've gone along - I think the term is muddled through

If you want to know more about DLNA etc. do a YouTube search and there stuff there e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8u1gneOpM

All I have done is is load an app on my two remote devices (Kindle & Lumia Phone), set up the networking bit in JRiver (they have help pages). The apps on the devices look for the server, enter in the server access key and bob's your uncle it worked.

Hope this helps a bit.

Cheers / Stevie

[Darren Cotter]

Hi Stevie

Thanks for the advice. Will have a go!

Regards

Darren

[struth]

I managed to network two PCs together using driver, and if I can do it anyone can as networking is a mystery to me.. Not tried with a android device yet but may now.great idea