XXHighEnd

Hi Peter,

hiFace (M2Tech) is a USB/SPDIF interface which can work with Sampling Frequency upto 24/192. I was wondering whether this will work with XXHE? They are installing a new driver on the hiFace which is compatible with WASAPI but there website mentions that for optimum SQ the player should work in Kernel Streaming mode & not in Direct Sound mode. I do believe XXHE works in Kernel Streaming mode?

Arvind

Hi Arvind,

You are fooled by a manufacturer who can't get his things together, and doesn't really know what he is doing (says me). He makes use of an USB interface board which is nice but too cheap to begin with, which may well be caused by not enough attention to the drivers.

WASAPI drivers as such just don't exist, and the fact he tells you (like to everyone) that he is working on that, tells me, well, enough. In the end that by itself doesn't matter, because they will be working on WDM drivers (that's what it really is) anyway.

When they get it together it could be extra-nice, because what's in there is asynchronous USB. However, the base seem to be proprietary drivers, and this is where it goes wrong (and I don't think I heard someone tell about the asynchornous, thus it can well be that they don't use that; the interface board itself is made for it ...).

Anyway, to answer your question (also see http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=457.msg8377#msg8377 and there are some more scattered posts) :
I am not sure yet whether normal Kernel Streaming will bring a solution since only (IIRC) Media Monkey plays through it. But if you wait a few days we will know, and boleary is going to try it. Notice that XXHighEnd supports Kernel Streaming in the next (0.9y-5) version, due for this weekend.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the info. Hi Boleary pls do let me know your views once you have got it working; only then I will take the next step.

Arvind

Hi Arvind. I'll post here with results. In Media Monkey the Hiface sounds incredible compared to my current set up. Sure hope I can get it to work with XX cause I'm past the 30 day window for returning it. Am disappointed to hear what Peter says about the manufacturer's attempt at a WASAPI driver. I was told that such a driver would be released this week.....still waiting. However, if the hiface can work with the new engine#4 I'll return to my "happy place".

To remove some possible confusement : The WDM driver I mentioned just allows for WASAPI. It is just that a "WASAPI driver" does not exist.
Whether they come up with a so called WASAPI driver or a WDM driver, in either case it will work for WASAPI, just as that it will work for DirectSound and should work for normal Kernel Streaming (and not va ASIO4ALL or something).

But-I-doubt-it.
It really looks like an async connection which isn't built upon the legacy (USB) drivers. In that case I just won't believe this will be realized soon. There is too much involved.

Ok, we will see.
Peter

Hi Peter,
I just registered here - you will remember me from Computeraudiophile, I'm sure!
I came here in the hope that I can download 0.9y-5 which supports Kernel Streaming, I believe. I too have a HiFace which I've modified, BTW & would highly recommend anybody with good magnification & some DIY skills to supply a clean 3.3V to the clocks - it lifts the sound another notch (lower jitter, I believe). Anyway, I don't see anywhere to download 0.9y-5 - delays?

John

Hi John - and  :welcome01: to one of the most exiting forums about computer audio.

Peter is delayed as he is fighting some issues before being able to release the new version. You can read more about it in this thread (Peter's post about the delays is the 3rd post from the bottom by now)

http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1032.msg8787;topicseen#msg8787

Per

Thanks Per for the Welcome & the re-direct - I'm off to read it :)

Hi John - to you too : sorry for the delay. I plan to have 0.9y-5 up 10 hours from now.

Peter

Hey John, am wondering what playback software you've used your hiface with and whether the device shows up in control panel for you. Mine works in Media Monkey and shows up in that softwares kernel streaming configuration window, but it doesn't show up as a sound option in windows control panel. Am wondering if this is standard or if there is an issue with the driver or the device itself. Neither Marco at M2tech or the guy at Tweekgeek, where I bought it, has addressed this question when I contacted them. The fact that I got it working in MM, I guess, caused them to not respond to this question.

I'm using Foobar under XP. It shows up in the control panel in Windows. Your issue is an odd one - have you tried it on another PC?

BTW, I highly recommend the clock mod I made to the HiFace - stayed up late last night listening via headphones - sounds like good (expensive) analogue - funny really after all the digital promises, it's realisation ends up full circle back at analogue - (mind you at an analogue sound that I would never have spent the money to realise & without the hassle of changing records or needle cleaning, etc:))

Thanks, Pete, but take your time, I'm not pressurising you (especially as I'm a noob around here :)) Will it work on XP?

Kernel Streaming ? oh yes. The HiFace ? I don't know ...

Hey John, unfortunately my window for DIY closed "a few years back" so I'm afraid that the mod you described is beyond my skill level, or lack thereof. However, if I can get it working with XX and your willing, I'd be happy to have you tweek it for a fair fee? First though, there's the issue of getting it to work with engine 4. No big deal if your not interested, the Hiface sounds so much better than my m-audio spdif conversion.

We can talk after we see how the latest version supports the HiFace - just remind me then!

Marco at M2tech has emailed me that the wasapi driver, which is bit perfect, will be released any day. One way or another, I think the Hiface will work out; its just gonna take a little time.

OK, PM me if you want to discuss a mod to the HiFace :)