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Digital wows on a budget

Well it's not like 25k is really budget. Yes- there are guys out there that think 7k for speakers is a bargain- Lets get all that off the table...

My main source these days is my Mac Mini. I don't have every last thing switched of because I do stream Spotify and I listen to my sons radio broadcast at school, but It's not an email running spam machine.

I run usb through a KingRex ud192 to SPDIF into my pre amp and use the dacs in the Parasound c2.

So-- it does sound nice, but I am certain that I hear smearing at higher volume. Not distortion, just some sort of crap that I know I don't like.

What to be done---change mini power supply. Go external usb dac, master clock, better dig music manager...So much info and without spending the money, who's to know.

Amps, speaker and pre are much more straight forward.

Because my family wants to use stereo, I have had to combine HT into music-
I once had a real simple setup with AR LS9, Muse 160, Aerial 5's- so nice.

Now it all dig and I know it can be better without spending next semesters tuition-
famoej

Showing 1 response by audioengr

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Your problem is jitter. The only way to fix this is to use a USB interface with better jitter performance. Most USB DACs will not get you this.

The jitter in the digital source is actually more important than the DAC. Spending on lot on the DAC without addressing the jitter is like buying a cheap stylus for your high-end turntable.

I have a lot of customers that spend more on the USB converter than the DAC. Many buy Chinese DACs. It makes sense. A good USB converter is the Off-Ramp 5. For a value proposition, the Audiophilleo. If you get upgraded high-performance linear power supplies for either, this will be even better.

Until you address the jitter, it will be harsh, fatiguing or soft and smeared.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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