2. digital
  3. 188496-170624

for streaming why not computer/galvanic isolation/DAC clock?

Hello and thanks for your help. I have been trying to figure out how to best stream to my set up and looked at many alternatives, all the conflicting posts  etc etc. I just wonder why one cannot use a computer with a device for good  galvanic isolation, and rely on the clock within the DAC to eliminate issues of jitter. If one is worried about SQ only (not the features of the software) what is wrong with this simple set up?  I bought a mac mini with extra memory (had dropouts until I upped the memory) and use an Innuos device for galvanic isolation. The Innuos has no external power supply and is built to use the power from the input USB, so no power in at that point (suppose a different device with linear power supply might make an improvement). I run a 3 foot long USB to the Innuous to keep noise away from my stuff. All power cords and interconnects are shielded and show nothing when I use a sniffer, even the one for the computer (you can get one of those from a company focused on people worried about EMI and health). I have Roon on the mini, and use the mini as the Roon server. When I use WiFi rather than an ethernet connection there are no dropouts;  I assume that is better than bringing in noise from ethernte. Thanks for your help - a mac mini is not cheap, but costs far less than high end streamers. Do people pay for the file management etc, or is the SQ better with a dedicated streamer? (My setup: RME ADI2 or Qutest DAC, ARC LS25 II pre, McIntosh 462 power amp).

arhgef

Showing 1 response by itsjustme

itsjustme
681 posts
 

I have been trying to figure out how to best stream to my set up and looked at many alternatives, all the conflicting posts etc etc. I just wonder why one cannot use a computer with a device for good galvanic isolation, and rely on the clock within the DAC to eliminate issues of jitter.

 

You can. I do, I use an Intel NUC, home made Linear power supply, isolation on the digital link, Since its USB the DAC will read to buffer and re-clock anything - need it or not (well, in that case it needs it). The jitter will be exactly as good as the DAC - almost guaranteed better than any streamer, once recovered from a signal (which is imprecise and is a known challenge in super high frequency digital signals (like 100s of times faster that these silly ~ 1.5 Mbps links)

 

IO have an extraordinarily resolving system in the bog picture and get fantastic sound - subject ot the recording of course.

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