XXHighEnd

Hi Everyone - For anyone still using a keyboard and mouse or trackball....

I wanted to share my experience and the PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo that I ordered to avoid using USB connections for keyboard and mouse/trackball.  Thanks to Mani for suggesting a similar keyboard, the 515, in the XXHighEnd PC thread.  This one is the 505, at US $30.  From Newegg, still available in the US at least:

I also ordered two 15 ft PS/2 extension cables to connect the 505 keyboard/trackball to the music server.  My version of the XXHighEnd PC has two PS/2 ports.  I plan to twist the two extension cables to make one snake.  This might seem kludgy but read below for why this might be worth the effort.

Background
Peter has suggested that USB connections for keyboard/mouse were not the best.  I had previously tried a PS/2 to USB Keyboard adapter to to connect through the PS/2 ports but that didn't work.  After much procrastination, years, only now have I got around to this SQ tweak again. 

Last night it hit me (after suggestions made here) that I could partly test this by disconnecting my USB wireless dongle from my PC after playback started, and then plugging it in again after the album completes.  Clearly this sounded better, but resulted in some skipping after a little listening.  Next I removed the battery on my wireless keyboard/trackpad instead of unplugging and plugging and this worked (then I realized the wireless keyboard had an On/Off switch and started using that).  Unquestionably, this provided a better sound quality.  So today I ordered the above keyboard with trackball.

I'm confident that this will work out for the better.  Please assume so unless I'll post otherwise.  I imagine that it should sound even better than removing power from the wireless keyboard because last night's experiment still had a USB dongle attached during playpack.  When the new keyboard arrives next week, I will unplug the dongle and only the USB DAC will be the sole USB connection in my system.  Further, I will also uninstall the PCI-e USB card to which it was attached (solely).  (I figured that since my wireless keyboard was on its own separate PCI-e to USB adapter card that it might not affect SQ as much as connecting it to the MB.  Sonics say it still matters, at least on an XXHighEnd PC.)

Happy listening

Thanks for the report.

I also wanted to give this a try sooner but most MoBos only have 1 PS2 port now, or do they?
The MoBos all seem to have a 2 tone, green and purple socket. This implies dual support, the IO guard has both symbols side by side too with no ''/''...

PS/2 splitters do exist, the PS/2 connection has 2 N/C pins which could easily carry the extra CLK and DATA signals, but any discussion or info on the single ports supporting split signals is scarce.
Im not using USB now for the DAC so the only thing keeping me from disabling all USB ports is KB+M... I will have to get some PS/2 devices and see if this works

Thank you for that, Charlie.

Indeed, not many MoBo's have two PS2 sockets. If at all, these days.

But question : Why use a keyboard at all when you can use RDC (wired) from the same PC the music resides ? I am pretty sure that by far most do it like that and they disconnect everything from the audio playing PC. I do that too. No keyboard, no mouse, no monitor connected. And indeed that improves SQ a lot ...

Peter

Hi Peter

The answer is that I have no network and don't want to use WiFi.  I have no easy way to run a LAN cable to that room, although I am looking into it.  This happens to be true both before and after I moved to my new house. 

Also, Peter, please give me permission as I need to update the link and description in my first post above for the following reason:

IMPORTANT!! (for those considering buying this keyboard/trackball....)
I posted the wrong link above.  That link is for the USB version, not PS/2.  Indeed I received today the wrong keyboard (USB).  Immediately I came here to check.  Needs to be updated.

Hi Charlie,

Bummer ! - I hope it is going to be all right.


If you really mean that as in "I need to change a post but can't" then I don't know what this is about. You can change that post, can you ? (and permission you have)
So I am not sure what you mean.

Best regards,
Peter

Yes, that is it.  I don't see a link that allows me to update the post.  How do I do it?

There (mouse pointer) :

I don't see that on my original post, above. 
Oddly, I see it in all of the subsequent posts on this thread where I am the author, just not the first.

What now?

Huh ?
Could you make a screenshot of that ?
Did you try an other browser ? (no need to install one if you just don't have an other already)

Btw, if you can post the text you want to be in the Original Post, I can/will easily do that for you.

Peter

[Update: the other browser shows the same.]

I'll also try another browser, because in any case my buttons appear with strikeout text.  They work, just look funny.

Here's the screenshot:

Hi Peter

It would be nice to be able to change this myself, if not now in the future I will need to use the Modify button.  But,  whatever is best for you.  The text that needs to be replaced is this centered text:

Thanks either way

Charlie, I changed it for you.
I still have no idea why this happens to you.

If you'd create an other (dummy) topic, would it happen again ? (test it if you like)

Best regards,
Peter