Investigating the digital domain of digital audio playback on Windows PC by re-searching basically the internet I kind of summarized the stuff.
I am personally using setups 2) (not sure about async mode) and 3) via laptop and starting to look into 1)' direction as it looks promising. See more by Jon L:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/pros-cons-usb-dac-against-sound-card-160612/My belief is that 1) is a very convenient way of getting a high quality digital signal out of PC compared to getting out an I2S (I guess there are minority of DACs having I2S input as well). I am also from those who does not DIY things from 0 therefore looking for the best ready-made out of what is available.
Of course I am talking about ability to work in 24/88, 24/96, 24/176 and 24/192 modes as well as support of KS, ASIO and WASAPI.
DIGITAL DOMAIN TILL EXTERNAL DAC:
1)
24/192 external DAC with async USB-I2s-DAC connection (no SPDIF conversion; maybe NOS or OS)
Need additional devices like: nothing
Examples of external DACs:
!!!WANTED!!! Can anyone name one?2)
24/192 external DAC with async USB-SPDIF-I2S-DAC connection (maybe NOS or OS)
Need additional devices like: USB-SPDIF converter (HiFace, Musiland 01/02 US, ......)
Examples of external DACs: many
3)
24/192 external DAC with SPDIF-I2S-DAC connection (maybe NOS or OS)
Need additional devices like: soundcard with SPDIF out
Examples of DACs: many
DIGITAL DOMAIN INSIDE PC:
24/192 internal PCI based soundcard with DAC (maybe NOS or OS)
Need additional devices like: nothing
Examples of soundcards: many
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*I would like to know your thoughts on this and especially for 1)
*Also, how does Peter's NOS1 fits into this picture?
*Has anyone used USB sniffers to determine USB modes your DACs actually operate in?
Ivo
