Silverstone USB3 - approach confirmation

[brunok]

Hello all:
I'm in the process of redoing my PC in light of the new software and OS's. I have obtained the Silverstone USB3 (checked versions) and I own the NOS1.  I believe I've read through all the threads on how things evolved and where things are today in light of this usb adaptor but I wondered if some out there could help confirm that I understand things correctly.

1. The USB card (under win 7&8 and earlier software) made a slight 
difference in sound quality just plugged into the molex, but
2. Made a huge difference when ground wire moved (as per Bert's       photo) and isolated from the PC chassis with tape or plastic.
3. If I proceed with decoupling the ground I MUST make certain that the card is isolated or loud noises even damage might occur to the DAC.
4. Is this correct?
5. Is this still correct for both NOS1 and NOS1A?
6. Is this still correct for NOS1 in light of the new software? v2 (too early to say with Win10, I understand)
7. Would it be advisable to hold on for a bit (let the dust settle a little more on the recent advancements) before proceeding with the adaptor install?

 Thanks kindly,
 brunok

[PeterSt]

Hi Bruno,

I'll give it a try :

3. If I proceed with decoupling the ground I MUST make certain that the card is isolated or loud noises even damage might occur to the DAC.

5. Is this still correct for both NOS1 and NOS1A?

This is not so easy to guarantee because of the so many other things (in the house) involved, and all I can really say is that isolation at both ends is a consistent situation. Not-isolated at both ends is as consistent.

Damage to the DAC ? nah ... I don't see that happening. But it wouldn't be good for speakers when this starts to happen and is left like that for many hours. And, the only situation I know of that such a thing happened was when only one side was isolated. And then still this will have been incurred for by the "house" situation.

Although I can't guarantee that either, I think that the NOS1a is hardly prone to the "noises" you refer to;
There may be one "plop" when e.g. the USB cable is detached and that is it. So personally I never ran into the situation that the slow oscillation occurs and the plopping keeps on going on without USB cable attached. This, while with the normal NOS1 this could sure happen in my situation.

6. Is this still correct for NOS1 in light of the new software? v2 (too early to say with Win10, I understand)

This is all not related to the software at all. That is, if you mean the noises. What sure *is* related though is the consistency with the sound (so to speak) if it all were to be about my own judgment and how I see and say that SQ improved and such. To this regard it is to be note that :

- I use the NOS1a;
- I use the BNC 75 Ohm impedance Blaxius Interlink (with 75B (75 Ohm BNC Output) NOS1a upgrade);
- I use the Clairixa USB cable;
- I use of what I think are the best speakers for resolution (very high efficiency hence speed).
- I sure use the at both ends isolated USB interface with the Silverstone card (NOS1a has Sw#3 for the job and Up means isolated at the DAC side).
- I use a very lean Audio PC with the music elsewhere (LAN);
- I control that PC by means of RDP.

This all matters (so also the last topic (RDP)) and all can be mimicked although having the same speakers is a bit crazy perhaps (but everyone can since it is a commercial speaker). But the speaker (and amplification in there) also is the least influencing if it were to be about the consistency of sound and for example thinking of the difference between W8 and W10; it only allows me to hear things better - at least that is my view.

Now I hope this wasn't a too long answer ...
Peter

[Robert]

I want to have my Dac on a separate USB circuit to the external music drive. Is the silverstone USB3 a good way to go? Is there a better way now?
I can get one locally but do I need a separate cable USB connection? Do you add a power supply connect to it as well?
I don't have a NOS yet and certainly wouldn't consider lifting the Benchmark earth. It already has a boom on startup from cold.
In fact my PC with XXhighend now beats my Cambridge 751 in sound.

Robert

[PeterSt]

Hi Robert,

Can you tell us ... what do you mean, or why do you refer to "separate USB circuit"; do you have other USB devices connected to the PC ?

Do you add a power supply connect to it as well?

Here too, please elaborate somewhat, if possible. Are you talking about the molex connection on top of the card (that is, these days it could be a "SATA" power connector) or ... do you mean something with a separate enclosure ? (I can't guess how that would be, but alas).

Regards,
Peter

[Robert]

Its not a good thing having DAC and external music DAC on same USB hub I thought?
This is all I have connected to USB inputs.

Why do you add the Silverstone card and how is it connected?

Do you use the Molex?

[PeterSt]

Yeah, but this wasn't obvious to me at first :

I want to have my Dac on a separate USB circuit to the external music drive.

But this is worse :

Its not a good thing having DAC and external music DAC on same USB hub

However, with the both it is perfectly clear !
haha

Look at it like this :
When you use a Playback Drive and it is located in RAMDisk or it is on the local (OS) hdd, then during playback no music HDD connected to USB is addressed. So see ? it is no problem, under those circumstances.
Otherwise using different hubs could be a good thing, but I personally still would not trust it.

Different it is with something like the Silverstone card,  because that really (really) is separate. You can see that by means of being able to shut off all in the BIOS for USB2 and USB3 but the Silverstone will not be affected. So DAC on Silverstone and disk on MoBo USB somewhere should not be *that* harmful (but theory, Robert !).

And yes, the Molex must be connected, or otherwise it does not not work. At least not for me this is so (and NOS1).

Does that answer your questions ?

Peter

[Robert]

Yes it helps.