spdif card for pc?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

just built me a new pc based on the p7p55m mobo
http://uk.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=i56uWC7ZnooNIQW0&templete=2

i noticed it has a spdif conection on the board so have decided to dich the usb option - i cant get aiso to work with windows 7 and fancy seeing what sound upgrade i might get

does anyone have any recomendations .. i dont have a sound card, and dont particuly want one if i can just get a basic spdif card...

any thoughs anyone?

[Stratmangler]

The part you need can be found here http://www.asus.com/999/html/events/mb/mb_accessories.htm , and you can buy it here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPDIF-MODULE-For-ASUS-Motherboard-BRAND-NEW-FREE-SHIP_W0QQitemZ350290973593QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item518ef81399 - funny thing is that on the listing it states free shipping, yet postage charges far greater than the monetary value of the part are also shown.
Maybe they only ship FOC to the USA.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

cheers chris...

thinking a bit more about this, i guess it would be nice to listen to my high rez stuff ... will that card deal with 24/96? or should i be looking for something else?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

is this the same thing?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ASUS-SPDIF-S-PDIF-OUT-Digital-Audio-Optical-Backplate_W0QQitemZ200450467304QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_SoundCards?hash=it em2eabc765e8

[Stratmangler]

I think you'll be hitting the same set of buffers no matter which route you take - 24/192 is usually dealt with by proprietary connections, not the S/PDIF common to most everything else. Which mean 24/96 maximum resolution.

Just re-read your post and the answer should have been a simple "yes".

[Stratmangler]

is this the same thing?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ASUS-SPDIF-S-PDIF-OUT-Digital-Audio-Optical-Backplate_W0QQitemZ200450467304QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_SoundCards?hash=it em2eabc765e8

Certainly looks like it.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

sweet...cheers chris

[Alex_UK]

Six quid! Bargain, go for it! If nothing else, an interesting experiment as to which sounds best. (We know it should be coax, toslink usb in that order, but will it?)

[Themis]

Sometimes toslink sounds better if you have RF problems. Toslink offers RF isolation between the source and dac. ;)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Ordered and paid for last night so I shall have a tinker next week ... Didn't think i would still be able to build a computer ... It's a peice of piss int it?!

[Kris]

Didn't think i would still be able to build a computer ... It's a peice of piss int it?!

Yes, building it is. But specifying the best VFM components that work well together and do what you want is an art form.

OS & Software tweaking is an art form as well.

Kris.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

We followed the advice of your self and others, we ended up going for
intel core i5 750 1156 2.66ghz 8mb
asus p7p55
nvidia9500gt
2 gb ram

we put it all in these cases

http://www.antec.com/images/400/Mini-P180_open.jpg

big 200mm fan and silent running psu have kept it really quiet and the clever design of the case has made things very neat and tidy inside

[Themis]

Nice build hamish, and very nice motherboard. :) Is the 9500gt fanless ?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Yeah we specifically chose the fanless one for quietness.
We did have one problem that was hugely frustrating - because the case holds the psu at the bottom and the 4 pin 12v mobo power conection is in a position more suitable for the psu being at the top the cable on the psu was too short!
We ended up adapting a molex, which was fine, but it seemed a bit daft that there was no indication that this problem might occur in any related documentation... Our fault for trying to be clever and build little Matx based computers I guess ... But it would have been nice to have it suggested by the case manufactures that this sorta thing could happen...

[Primalsea]

Smart Hamish! Some people complain about PC's as they consider that the quality of the SPDIF output wont be as good as a CDP. I cant say either way but I dont consider my PC to be deficient.

If you you need help optimising the the OS so it uses less system resources give us a shout.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Il get back to you on that one Paul, cheers
can I still use the asio drivers? If so does anyone know of any reason they wouldn't work with foobar and windows 7?

[Themis]

I think you don't need ASIO with Win7. ;)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Is that a right? Coolio... So I should just be able to plug the spdif card in and press play then?

[Themis]

Yes. Just tick the "Disable all enhancements" box in the properties box (right click the speaker icon on the bottom right, and choose playback device).
Then let Foobar do the rest. :)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Sweet! I like a bit of simples

[Primalsea]

Off the top of my head I cant remember if Windows 7 has Exclusive mode in the Advanced tab of the Sound Card properties, Vista has it. I think this is reduces some latency as it allows other software to take control of the sound card.

Themis is probably right but you could have a look here http://www.asio4all.com/

Also if you find it all unsatisfactory you may want to look at a M-audio 24/96 sound card £55. I bought one a while ago and its very good. I only partly bought it for SPDIF output, I also wanted SPDIF input as I have a profession A/D converter that I want to use to record vinyl. M-Audio also do a 24/192 sound card as well but it over £100.

[alfie2902]

I would look into one of these http://www.m2tech.biz/products.html £100 from Keith at Purite!

Here's a few reviews etc

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/m2tech/hiface.html

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/view_topic.php?id=50335&forum_id=7

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/usb-spdif-converters-shoot-out-emu-0404-usb-vs-musiland-monitor-01-usd-vs-teralink-x-vs-m2tech-hiface-449885/

[The Vinyl Adventure]

That was my fist thought alfie... But the conclusion I came to was why go USB-spdif when I can go spdif direct? Dunno if that makes much sence ... But it seemed logical to me.....

[alfie2902]

The 'Hi-Face' a little USB to spdif convertor, with a difference. It uses Asynchronous USB to drive the spdif out, so everything is effectively very accurately re-clocked before being output to your DAC. :)

Alot of reading with the links above but they explain some things a little further!

[Themis]

That was my fist thought alfie... But the conclusion I came to was why go USB-spdif when I can go spdif direct? Dunno if that makes much sence ... But it seemed logical to me.....
It does makes sense to me: USB to S/PDIF converters are used for computers which lack S/PDIF.
Personally, I consider that any interface is potentially not perfect, so I avoid piling them up.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

for the geeks

Check how tidy izit

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/b6233e19.jpg

the rams in the blue sockets... Should it be in the balck ones... If 3gb is the max suported by 32 bit windos can (if I want to) just shuv another 1gb stick in one of the black sockets?

first computer I don't need a USB hub

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/0d2e8b9e.jpg

compared to the last pc I built ... Slightly messier!!

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/4176c5f2.jpg

[The Vinyl Adventure]

The 'Hi-Face' a little USB to spdif convertor, with a difference. It uses Asynchronous USB to drive the spdif out, so everything is effectively very accurately re-clocked before being output to your DAC. :)

Alot of reading with the links above but they explain some things a little further!

I shall have a more indepth read... The other more over riding reason for going for the spdif card was the near £100 difference in price ...

[Themis]

Very neat inside hamish, indeed ! *Much* better that the older one ! ;)

[alfie2902]

It does makes sense to me: USB to S/PDIF converters are used for computers which lack S/PDIF.
Personally, I consider that any interface is potentially not perfect, so I avoid piling them up.

I agree that USB to S/PDIF converters are used for computers which lack S/PDIF but with the 'Hi-Face' being Asynchronous USB there's advantages to be gained in reduced jitter! It may-be worth Hamish trying the direct S/PDIF & seeing how he gets on & in the future trying to get a loan of an 'Hi-Face' to see if he thinks it's an upgrade!

[alfie2902]

Hamish,

Your new PC is looking very nice & very tidy! :) I would think the air flow through the case is good? I like caddy drive bays too! very nice mate. :)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Off the top of my head I cant remember if Windows 7 has Exclusive mode in the Advanced tab of the Sound Card properties, Vista has it. I think this is reduces some latency as it allows other software to take control of the sound card.

Themis is probably right but you could have a look here http://www.asio4all.com/

Also if you find it all unsatisfactory you may want to look at a M-audio 24/96 sound card £55. I bought one a while ago and its very good. I only partly bought it for SPDIF output, I also wanted SPDIF input as I have a profession A/D converter that I want to use to record vinyl. M-Audio also do a 24/192 sound card as well but it over £100.

can you give me some links please buddy...

[Themis]

I agree that USB to S/PDIF converters are used for computers which lack S/PDIF but with the 'Hi-Face' being Asynchronous USB there's advantages to be gained in reduced jitter! It may-be worth Hamish trying the direct S/PDIF & seeing how he gets on & in the future trying to get a loan of an 'Hi-Face' to see if he thinks it's an upgrade!
Well, it is Isochronous USB with Asynchronous synchronization type, to be exact. ;)
It still lacks error recovery, just like the Adaptive synchronization type. The only difference is that the producing rate is locked to an external clock. But, as modern dacs re-clock anyway, the (potentially better) clock of the interface has great chances of being lost. Isn't it ? :scratch:

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Hamish,

Your new PC is looking very nice & very tidy! :) I would think the air flow through the case is good? I like caddy drive bays too! very nice mate. :)

Ta, yeah the caddys are a great feature - they also have rubber vibration damping feet for the hdd drives to reduce noise from the drives - v cool
it's an antec p180 if your interested .. It's matx but its not tiny so has plenty of room for breathing ... Like I said before the only issue with it is with the psu at the bottom some of the cables are a bit of a stretch!

[alfie2902]

Well, it is Isochronous USB with Asynchronous synchronization type, to be exact. ;)
It still lacks error recovery, just like the Adaptive synchronization type. The only difference is that the producing rate is locked to an external clock. But, as modern dacs re-clock anyway, the (potentially better) clock of the interface has great chances of being lost. Isn't it ? :scratch:

Your knowledge of this is better than mine Themis :) I'll have to look up Isochronous USB with Asynchronous synchronization :scratch: But in the 2 systems I've now heard the 'Hi-Face' in it has brought about worthwhile improvements to my ears & at £100 not really an expensive upgrade ;)

[Themis]

I've now heard the 'Hi-Face' in it has brought about worthwhile improvements to my ears & at £100 not really an expensive upgrade ;)
In that I have no doubt, Alfie. The HiFace is a very well made piece of kit. :)

Nevertheless, theoretically it should be of not much help (bit-perfect-wise) versus a (normally made) S/PDIF interface. It has a great interest, though compared to normal USB interfaces.
The best is to test, as you say.

[marscay]

The HiFace sounds alot better than any spdif (optical + coax) i've ever tried be it internal on the motherboard or on a soundcard with which i've tried a few, expensive ones also.

Their magic sauce really does work quite well, not cheap but i think most would be surprised with the results ....i was.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

haveing a few teething issues

wired the card in
its using "hd vdeck" something i installed off the asus mobo disk... seemed like the right thing to do ... but once in a while the sound just turns into hissing noise ... any ideas?
when its not doing the hissing it does sound pretty good though! slightly better than usb it would seem... there seems to be more atmospheric detail - if that makes sence?

[Themis]

haveing a few teething issues

wired the card in
its using "hd vdeck" something i installed off the asus mobo disk... seemed like the right thing to do ... but once in a while the sound just turns into hissing noise ... any ideas?
Not good at all... Can you please detail your setup (and the software used) up to the amp when you experience hissing noise ?

when its not doing the hissing it does sound pretty good though! slightly better than usb it would seem... there seems to be more atmospheric detail - if that makes sence?
It makes sense. ;)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I think I solved it, need to spend I little bit more time listening to make sure... But it hasn't done it ode a while now
do you think useing asus's add in HD audio "hd vdeck" thing is a good or bad idea

[Themis]

Any addon (except room correction) is a *bad* idea, imho. ;)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Yeah, that was my first thought, but I can't work out if the softwear is needed in conjunction with drivers that might be needed for the card thing... I guess that's pretty unlikely?!
Can you send me some links to that room corection stuff you posted before please mate ... It was free I think... I can't remember the thread it came up I'm before...

[Themis]

It wasn't me who posted links, hamish. I use a squeezebox plugin.

You probably need this : http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Wasn't it... Oh, hmm, are you sure, well that looks like the sort of thing though so cheers!