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Going Digital!

Just replaced the stock power cord on the music computer with a Wireworld power cord...the Electra 7 OCC Copper with Silver Clad plugs...the difference is like night and day. The most noticeable thing was more presence in the mids. Sounds great! Can't wait till the dual head Nuetral USB cable gets in from Italy! That's going to be great!
 
slippers-on said:
Just replaced the stock power cord on the music computer with a Wireworld power cord...the Electra 7 OCC Copper with Silver Clad plugs...the difference is like night and day. The most noticeable thing was more presence in the mids. Sounds great! Can't wait till the dual head Nuetral USB cable gets in from Italy! That's going to be great!
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Man, isn't it nice to have items lying around that actually come in handy from time to time.........., and as I've told you plenty of times, I'm an avid tweaker and strive to get the best out of any given component that enters our home, if one doesn't go about trying to learn how the voicing of ones system is altered by the use of cartridges - cables - tubes or isolation devices as well as internal part to even the metal plating used on the RCA jacks - binding post and AC/IEC outlets.

Yes.........., it all counts.

Way to go little Brotha, I'm just sorry your USB is taking that long to reach you, obviously he lied about it reaching us here in the states in 7 days, but in the end it's well worth the wait.

Still watching and enjoying the fact that the thread is still alive and well.

 
All figured out!

Well, I've finally figured out the issue. Seems the Wireworld Starlight 7 was the issue. This cable went from iUSBPower into the Micro DAC.

One of two things with it. After removing the Wireworld cable and inserting the original USB cable that came with the DAC, I had no more problems. This is a much longer cable than the Wireworld cable I had been using (1 foot) because I'm thinking shorter is better. And the Wireworld is 2.0 and the stock cable is 3.0, so it's much faster. But whatever the issue, I'm back to the beautiful music of the IFI DSD 128! :D
 
keithpgdrb said:
wow. I can't imagine the space requirements. I have a lot of music.
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Yeah....ripping all to DSD takes a lot of space as well as back up. Bite the built and get the storage needed. Get it out of the way. Then I rip when I'm ready to rip. Initially you'll have to get the music going, but after you get enough tunes ripped to get you to listening and enjoying, like after a long day at the office, then you relax....then you rip as you go....at your lesiure. :smoke::D
 
I use HQplayer which works on-the-fly. I love the results you get with this software and find it very cool to be able to play with filters and settings on a whim to suit my taste at the time or what I feel sounds best with that particular master. I do have favorite settings for 16/44 and DSD rips but it's not etched in stone - I like flexibility.

I rip all my media straight-up - 16/44 CDs go to wav, flac stays flac, DSD goes to whatever rate DSD in comes off the disk in (or was downloaded in). I only want to do this once so stay with an exact copy - if I want to upsample, play bit-perfect, mess with filters, downsample, whatever, I do it to suit the situation - my originals are always there to mess with again when/if needed.

With changing technology like DSD DACs, the sophisticated software available, the computers it all runs on etc. flexibility is a VERY good thing - if I move to a 256 (or 512?) capable DSD DAC or even down-convert everything to 24/44 to feed my PCM AudioNote DAC I'm good - the originals are there for me to use. There is of coarse a bunch of drive space saved with this approach too but I don't consider that worth worrying about with the cheap cost of drives these days.

All just my opinion of coarse and this is entirely based on using the software I feel sounds the best at doing this.
 
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slippers-on said:
Well, I've finally figured out the issue. Seems the Wireworld Starlight 7 was the issue. This cable went from iUSBPower into the Micro DAC.

One of two things with it. After removing the Wireworld cable and inserting the original USB cable that came with the DAC, I had no more problems. This is a much longer cable than the Wireworld cable I had been using (1 foot) because I'm thinking shorter is better. And the Wireworld is 2.0 and the stock cable is 3.0, so it's much faster. But whatever the issue, I'm back to the beautiful music of the IFI DSD 128! :D
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Hey Bro.

I'm glad to see that have sorted matters out on what was causing your iUSB to go on the blink, yet know that there have been several articles of late on several of the forums in regards to the proper length of digital bases cables, including USB and it appears that even a few cable designers feel that 1.5m is optimum as far as relating data at proper speeds, as well as the correct amount of power transferred.

I'd tend to believe that while there are a few options made between say 0.6/0.7m in said cables available to us, I always stay near 0.7m and above, as shorter cabling does seem to cause smearing, ringing, and several different measured distortion type noises, but don't ask me how to explain any of this, as I'm not into studying graphs or measurements, in so much as once again ultilizing the Cable Company loan services for 12 years as a means of testing different lengths of ICs, AC Cords and Speaker Cables, as with many things in life........., not one size shall ever fit all - so it's better to test said theories as opposed to making blank assumptions. After all an extra $10 - $50 for the proper length does not a broken piggy bank make............., and you know my words all to well " spent it ".

_o scar
 
Kt77 said:
Hey Bro.

I'm glad to see that have sorted matters out on what was causing your iUSB to go on the blink, yet know that there have been several articles of late on several of the forums in regards to the proper length of digital bases cables, including USB and it appears that even a few cable designers feel that 1.5m is optimum as far as relating data at proper speeds, as well as the correct amount of power transferred.

I'd tend to believe that while there are a few options made between say 0.6/0.7m in said cables available to us, I always stay near 0.7m and above, as shorter cabling does seem to cause smearing, ringing, and several different measured distortion type noises, but don't ask me how to explain any of this, as I'm not into studying graphs or measurements, in so much as once again ultilizing the Cable Company loan services for 12 years as a means of testing different lengths of ICs, AC Cords and Speaker Cables, as with many things in life........., not one size shall ever fit all - so it's better to test said theories as opposed to making blank assumptions. After all an extra $10 - $50 for the proper length does not a broken piggy bank make............., and you know my words all to well " spent it ".

_o scar
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Hey man...I dont know if the short cable is an issue. Here is what the Technician over at AMR told me.


Hi Byron

Thank you for the diagnostic work.

We do not think the length is an issue in this situation. Any USB length <2m should be fine.

From your results, the Wireworld cable conforms correctly to USB Specifications. However many cables are likely not of the correct characteristic impedance for USB (90 Ohm +/- 5 Ohm).

This may be of small consequence if the cable is short and used by itself between a computer and DAC.

However at the end of what is in effect another cable and an A-to-B adapter (which is what the iUSB Power is as far as the USB Data is concerned) any deviation from the USB Standard can cause major issues/drop outs.

We do not know all your brand of USB cable but from our experience, many "Boutique" USB Cables from small manufacturers deviate from the 90 ohms impedance standard as mandated by www.usb.org (the people behind the USB standard).

Once the deviation strays too far from 90 ohms, then the signal drops. Which is what you experienced.

This tech note sheds some light on the USB standard.

http://ifi-audio.com/tech-notes/

Just for completeness, to measure the impedance, one needs access to a TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer - a 30K USD+ piece of gear), a simple multimeter is of no use for this.

The Gemini Cable, is compliant with the USB Specifications and of good quality.

We hope this has clarified the drop outs you have experienced - just ask if you have any questions.
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Kt77 said:
Great info. Thanks for sharing as always.

Peace.
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Oh...and just so you'd know...I asked Fabio of Neutral Cable if he could send me a tracking number and if his USB cable was 2.0 or 3.0 and I also want to know the ohm of his cable, but he only sent me a tracking number and didnt even bother to answer the remainder of the question. I thought that was rather rude.

But as always with me....the proof is always in the hearing. I've a lot of audio hobbyist friends who will not do DSD because of all the white paper that speaks in the negative abut said format. But the proof is in the hearing and not what is written in the negative. Good cables and a good music player and one is set!

Oh...and for my vinyl friends reading this.....did you know Barnes and Noble is now selling records? :yes:
 
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Byron, I had read that before about the USB standard requiring a 90 ohm impedance for a cable. I totally forgot about that when you were trouble shooting your issue. I hope the Neutral cable works even though Fabio could not answer your question about the impedance of his cable.
 
slippers-on said:
Oh...and just so you'd know...I asked Fabio of Neutral Cable if he could send me a tracking number and if his USB cable was 2.0 or 3.0 and I also want to know the ohm of his cable, but he only sent me a tracking number and didnt even bother to answer the remainder of the question. I thought that was rather rude.

But as always with me....the proof is always in the hearing. I've a lot of audio hobbyist friends who will not do DSD because of all the white paper that speaks in the negative abut said format. But the proof is in the hearing and not what is written in the negative. Good cables and a good music player and one is set!

Oh...and for my vinyl friends reading this.....did you know Barnes and Noble is now selling records? :yes:
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Man, it's sad that Fabio would act that way, as I'm aware that he's watching this thread........, as I turned him onto it awhile back, and to not even remotely offer said information is rather rude as far as I see it as well, which is why as much as I adore his Neutral USB ( standard ) I do intend to explore several others and in fact will have at least 4 - 5 different flavors of said USBs to rotate through depending upon my mood, or the music itself.

As there are in fact times where copper or silver or silver plated copper cabling links do alter our systems and taste as we ourselves evolve, and still seeking out the alternatives between say $130 - $500 is an ideal range to discover some gems............, and in truth, I'd much rather spend said amount then constantly call myself making lateral upgrades of my system components at best which cost thousands more, in said light these prices begin to look like the bargains that they are.

It's like me getting on another friend the other day about owning a $11.000 system, yet thinking that a pair of $500 speaker cables were to much!!!!!!!!!!!, to which I said BS!, stop being cheap.

But as you've stated, the proof is indeed in the listening, either it forms some semblance of synergy, or it doesn't?, in which case we each must trust in what our senses tell us as always sounds/feels right according to how we each hear music?, as I simply don't do the overly laid-back and warmish approach to fidelity, but much prefer then thin balance or place between delicacy and resolution, or better put transparency and neutrality above all else.

But back on point.............., Byron this remains for me one of the most enjoyable journeys I've encountered in the last 20 odd years, and is a reminder........., how something's can still be done cheaply, which for me it what this topic is all about, a means of sharing advice on several computer audio type devices that strike said blend of musicality and beauty that's within the means of mere mortals that don't have to sell off body parts to obtain within their/our homes.

And lastly, thanks again for starting this simply wonderful threadto begin with, for without it I'm inclined to believe olde boy wouldn't gone beyond the likes of HRT or Geek Out and been left behind the 8 ball for months/years to come, so once again..........., thanks for getting me off my big ass and back into the land of living as well as enlightenment.

I owe you one, naw........, make that three.

Salaam Mi Brotha.
:smoke:_o scar
 
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