USB Lead Help Please.

[Gints]

Just received my 7520 from dac chip replacement and I opened it to see how it looks (Tirna did a good job), and I also checked usb chip. Stan, I have PCM2902E chip and when I tried to find data sheet the only one I found referred to PCM2902, not to PCM2902B. Do not care about 1.1 or 2.0 usb standard (there should be no difference for stereo) but the dac sections of usb chips have some differences. Can they to affect a sound quality? Or maybe that section is not involved in your design because it is only usb-spdif convertor?
I have my 7520 from first batch, I think, and, if in current production pcm2902b is used, is there any other parts, who is replaced?

[chebby]

I don't see that USB 1.1 in and of itself is a problem, especially given that even the £1100 Benchmark DAC1 USB uses a USB1.1 input.

I quote from a review....

"As its name suggests, the new DAC1 adds a USB port to take digital audio data directly from a computer at sample rates up to 96kHz and bit depths up to 24. Benchmark chose to use a USB 1.1 port rather than the more modern and much faster USB 2.0 (which is backward-compatible with USB 1.1), because then the D/A could be used without the host computer having to run a custom driver program, and Benchmark could thus control communication to allow the transmission of bit-transparent high-resolution data. (The code to do this was developed for Benchmark by Centrance, Inc..) USB 1.1 has a maximum transmission rate of 12Mbps, which is sufficient for two channels of 24/96 data."

So even a Benchmark DAC running at 24/96 over USB is not going to put any undue stress on a USB2.0 rated cable given that the maximum data rate of USB1.1 is only 12Mbps.

[StanleyB]

Stan, I have PCM2902E chip

You are right. My mistake. I built the prototype with the PCM2902B, but TI has been supplying me with the latest improved version, which is the PCM2902E.

Both Wolfson and TI have given me access to their latest revision chip sets, for which I am most grateful to them. As far as I am aware, other manufacturers are still developing and using the older TI PCM2702. That leaves the TC-7520 and 7520SE as the only affordable hi-fi spec. USB audio DACs on the market.

[Labarum]

That leaves the TC-7520 and 7520SE as the only affordable hi-fi spec. USB audio DACs on the market.

???

EMU 404 USB ~£150

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/produc...-0404-usb.html

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=15185

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...04-mini-review

[StanleyB]

I mentioned hi-fi spec. . Not every audio device is a hi-fi product.

[Labarum]

I mentioned hi-fi spec. . Not every audio device is a hi-fi product.

Did you read the spec of said box?

And see the DAC chip it uses?

Some pretty demanding audiophiles on the other forum believe it to be incredible at the price, and I am tempted to give it punt as I may need another DAC.

They say with has a phone amp that will drive the more demanding phones, which is an issue for me.

The plastic case is pretty tacky though, and a Standac sits more easily with a Cable or Sat TV Box and a Squeezebox.

[Labarum]

That leaves the TC-7520 and 7520SE as the only affordable hi-fi spec. USB audio DACs on the market.

Roland UA-25EX £180

http://www.rolandus.com/products/pro...0&ParentId=114

http://www.soundware.co.uk/sc/products/Edirol%20UA-25EX

Come on Stan, your DAC is excellent, but it's not the only show on the road!

[StanleyB]

As I mentioned Brian HI-FI SPEC..

[Labarum]

As I mentioned Brian HI-FI SPEC..

Ah, you mean HiFi specific, not to HiFi specifications.

We are agreed then. Yours is the only high performance box in the price bracket that sits comfortably in a HiFi stack, because its case is made for the lounge rather than the music studio. That's why I bought it rather than one of the others. And very nice it is too.

[StanleyB]

I meant hi-fi specification. However, you are absolutely correct. There are even cheaper USB equipped DACs on the market than those of mine. Now that the Caiman is sold out and withdrawn from my site anyone after a USB DAC may well be interested in the links and details of suitable alternatives to mine. Especially when savings can be made in the purchase price for a hifi product.

Stan