Halide Design Bridge Review

Chris,
Thanks for another great review. I am a little let down, though. With my current G5/lynx system, I thought an asynchronous USB solution from Gordon Rankin or one of his licensees would sound BETTER than the lynx output to the BADA. Any idea why the Lynx driven BADA would sound better? Any idea if Gordon's Wavelink (at twice the price) would sound better than the Bridge at the same sample rate? I was, in fact, hoping to be able to get rid of the G5 altogether with such a product, and go to a mini or iMac. Could it possibly be the difference between the BADA's BNC and AES inputs? Interestingly, if I read them right, the Berkeley people seem to think the 110ohm AES digital input is better, whereas Gordon seems to believe that the 75ohm bnc or rca standard is the best input for digital audio, and that AES is only the professional standard because it is more rugged over long runs?

Tired Yet? I am...

:^)

I wonder how this simple implementation would be against the highend non-asyn bridge like the bel canto USB link. Would love to see a comparison.

Hi Bryan - The Bridge sounded much better than the USB Link in my system.

Agreed that these asynch solutions should in theory sound BETTER than the (non-asynch) Lynx- wonder what is going on.
A more comprehensive comparison of how this and the Lynx SOUND different might help.

Thank you Chris.

Of course you have a bel canto lying around in your tool box under the sink for testing...(^_^) . Still, if Halide is perform on par with Lynx, what about the Asus Xonar with the latest driver in win7 doing bit-perfect? We never have a onboard cards....no...pure digital transports battle royale (no Dac function). That'd be awesome.

Thank you Chris for the revue of the Halide Bridge. Frustratingly I have no doubt it will difficult to 'trial' here in Coalition UK.

Surely the acid test will be how it performs against it's European rival the M2Tech Hiface and it's soon to be released (I hope) brother the EVO version - which I would guess would be at a very similar price point.

This USB to SPIDF conversion is an ever burgeoning market which is good news for us stubborn legacy DAC owners and importantly reduces the price entry point to decent computer audiophilia.

Is the M2Tech review coming soon?

I have to wonder why it's getting an endorsement? Not to snipe or question your methods or metrics, or even the value or performance of the product, but as a strict question of methodology, if you're looking at a product in a given price point then wouldn't it make sense to set the bar at your standard? That is, when judging whether or not to classify a given product as a "superior/recommend product", shouldn't it have to actually provide performance equal to or better than the standard at that price point (in this case, the Lynx)? Better products that also happened to be more expensive could then be used to establish a new standard for that higher price point. Likewise for less expensive (and lower performing) products. Products that compete above their price category can be listed as such, or labeled as a "best buy" or something -- or simply set a new standard.

Just a thought.

But at the risk of being labeled a fanboi, I have to say that my experience with the ART Legato has proved to provide superior sound to a Lynx -- and the Legato competes in the $500 price point also.

Just sayin'.

;-)

Thank you for the review. This is fairly interesting.
I have tried their Devil Dac and I felt the dac-cable sounded very decent for the size. I think their products looks simple but sounds serious.

Seems kind of late in the game for new products which are limted to 2x sampling rates.

On another note. Would love to see a comparison of top asyn-USB converters vs squeezebox touch/transporter. Those squeezeboxes are rather short in it signal path: basically a custom OS, extract out the FLAC digits straight into digital-out (down-sample into 24/96 if 24/192, which is comparable...), pretty decent clock crystal. Wonder which setup win.

Chris,
Hiface has 24/192 and the Bridge hasn't but is twice the price... but may be it makes up in sound quality. So when you compare the two, it would be interesting to know if the Hiface at 24/192 (or 24/176 for that matter) sounds better or worse than the bridge at 24/96 on the same recording.

WoW. What would it take for you to do this full time Chris?
Thanks a bunch.

will NOT magically make your DAC async - the DAC clock still has to slave to the SPDIF. Now, the SPDIF coming out of an async device will have less jitter than an adaptive one, but the fundamental issues of SPDIF are not resolved by just coming out of a different box. In this case, I expect the SPDIF coming out the Lynx is already pretty good, but you obviously can't fit a Lynx to e.g. a Mac Mini, iMac, laptop, netbook, iPad etc.

There are solutions where the PC interface can be in a different box, and avoid the SPDIF issues - on another thread is a scenario with a Weiss DAC acting as a master to an AF11, and I think dCS and Wadia offer similar options, but in all these cases the DAC has to have been designed to operate in this way.

your friendly neighbourhood idiot

"Would love to see a comparison of top asyn-USB converters vs squeezebox touch/transporter."

I've compared the HiFace(rca) to the TP, Touch and a modded SB3 (pulse transformer mod)all feeding an Ergo (which is very jitter and noise sensitive).
HiFace was much a tad better than the Touch and modded SB3, TP was better again.
The Ergo is a fairly average dac but comes into its own with the dsp.
I'm interested in the Bridge as a product because no driver is needed - so can use with linux and mpd...

Good review, includes the kind of comparisons that should make it easy to frame where this fits in the overall scheme of things for relative performance.

Obviously, excellent performance considering the price.

Those wondering why the Lynx might be a skosh better in sonics should remember that the Lynx has a lot of board space for oscillators, regulators, and the like, and is inherently asynchronous, too- both are generating local oscillators and creating the data + clock signal. S/PDIF certainly has an advantage in a well implemented example for characteristic impedance quality, but it is with much lower signal levels- the pro level AES EBU has much higher drive levels, and for the balanced signal timing is derived from the zero crossings.

The ultimate asynchronous implementation is right to a DAC local oscillator, not to an S/PDIF transmitter- Charles Hansen would probably look at the latter as something of heresy, for example! (I've known him since the late 70's, so it's probably safe for me to make that qualified statement).

Thanks for the review- it's good to have another interface product to recommend that has some high res capabilities. Unfortunate, perhaps, that I have so much 176 kHz material. Most folks don't, though. For them, with an existing DAC like the Bryston, this could be a slam dunk.

idiot_savant wroteThere are solutions where the PC interface can be in a different box, and avoid the SPDIF issues - on another thread is a scenario with a Weiss DAC acting as a master to an AF11, and I think dCS and Wadia offer similar options, but in all these cases the DAC has to have been designed to operate in this way.

I use a Prism Orpheus. It sounds very good via its firewire connection to the PC. It sounds less good when a Lynx card is supplying the stream via SPDIF and the Orpheus is clocking from the SPDIF stream. However, it also sounds very good when the Orpheus is set as the master, and the Lynx is slaved to the Orpheus via a word clock, although it is less convenient because one has to manually change sampling rates when the file rate changes. Is this latter configuration similar to what you are referring to quoted above? Does the clock signal in the SPDIF stream just get ignored in this case?

Thanks,
Alan

If it's in master mode - there's nothing wrong with SPDIF as a mechanism for transferring data from A to B, it's the embedded clock that can be problematic, and the DAC having to recover it's clock from an external source that is non-perfect.

This arrangement should be pretty close to ideal ( assuming the internal clocks of the prism are done properly ), although as you have pointed out the drawback is in changing the clock out from the DAC to suit the sample rate...

your friendly neighbourhood idiot

Thanks Chris. Nice review. Interesting for sure.

I'm definitely looking forward to hearing about how the over all run off between the M2Tech hiface & the well more than double the price 'Bridge' comes out.

If other likewise entrants to the USB > SPDIF race are on hand, those better or lesser assessments by comparison, would make for fun reading too!

That is all it is too… fun reading. Until of course it’s in our own hot little hands and plugged into our supposed best outfits, it remains simple speculation… and fun to read about… and wonder about … etc. this pertinent and ongoing caveat needs more illumination to be sure. Ears, systems, tastes, rooms, and budgets vary a great deal. RWV

I doubt however that contest will be fair, but it'll sure be interesting. I find all too often and especially as of late, 'price' seems the dictator of performance.... even if the performance or versatility of it is either marginalized, or reduced. The 'Bridge = 24/96' v the 'Hiface 24/192'. One for $450, another at $180.

I'd submit as well, perhaps, the Fubar app be used for playback during listening comparisons. it would sure be as fair a path again. JR MC 14/15 = $49.95, & Fubar = free.

I throw that in as I've found the KS aspect of the Hiface (in the context of my system) sounded better using Fubar 1.0.2.1, than it did using JR MC 15 using the same file types & modality as the KS in Fubar.... with only focus on the sound in mind of course. Media Center affords one an easier and more flexible player.

I mean after all, if we seek an optimized purity in the sound we listen to or perhaps better still a higher degree of reality from those recordings which allow for such things, then the chain itself front to back are all on the stand for their integrity and contributions to the end product. The converter (in this case, sans additional clocks), the cable interface, the DAC, and naturally the associated system which reveals those changes.

Value too is an integral factor for many and can’t be overlooked. It’s all too often associated with just the modestly to mid priced contestants though.

Much of the chain itself see’s little light in many such articles. Any number of those chains are also, not the norm or even median of many of the systems out there.

Consequently, a notation as to how a device may yield better or lesser results in “unlike listening arrangements vary quite often’’, gets sidestepped frequently, and the promoted or described item is given the spotlight for it’s particular prowess in a unique systems parameters. This always leaves speculation foremost in the minds of the more stayed yet immensely curious, and severely whets the appetite for the ‘current fad, fav, or flavor of the month’ crowd.

Ala your assessment on the querry of better, between the Bridge and the BC converter, choosing the Bridge over it by saying, “I liked it better” without any further insight as to why.

Beats me which is better, and I don’t know why one was picked over the other at this point.

Personally, I’d prefer to hear how a ‘thing’ positively or negatively affects the sound, it’s advantages and it’s shortcomings, when it receives no aid downstream from appliances that access the digital clock by further amending it.

Simple is best and I do feel plug and play devices are geared for and will be used by just such devotees, in more minimally configured outfits on a stand alone basis. I believe it would also gain for anyone of that ilk, a more transparent window to the items actual promise and reduce the inherent mind numbing debate that goes on within as to it’s possible or then, may be, probable purchase from a greater range of buyers enthusiastic about computer audio.

Definitely so if they remain in the under $500 camp.

As In the case of al these USB converters or sound cards:
EX. PC or Mac + new whiz bang gizmo + DAC (on at least a couple levels, <$3K, > $3K) + system, and be done with it.

If a downstream device is added to or removed from, those notes should be included as to effects on performance, cost, and implementation, of those added components.

“Computer audio is here…” and many more people are indeed eyeing this adventure as more and more an appetizing avenue for musical enjoyment. Lessening or setting aside as many obstacles as can be done readily in the process of reciting a new gizmo’s attributes, is a very attractive and inspiring province. Expounding on those obvious and noteable or distinct differences from the one gizmo to it’s likewise competitor should always be included.

Keep up the good work, can’t wait for the Hiface account & hopeful comparisons to the ‘Bridge’. Thanks!

Hi blindjim - Thank you very much for the well thought out comments. Much of what you say certainly rings true.

Foobar sounds just as good as J River Media Center even though one is free and the other is $50. I prefer J River but many other readers prefer Foobar. No biggie. Price has nothing to do with my preference. Foobar is like a spreadsheet to me. I don't like looking at spreadsheets. I also haven't been impressed with the different skins for Foobar. Others love the skins. Also, J River support has been awesome. Fixes are applied very quick and new releases are published.

I have no doubt I'll get the hiFace working much better than it's currently performing. I just need to put some time into it. At $180 it very well could be the bargain of the year. I hope so, but we'll see.

How is a more expensive and better sounding piece of equipment better rated then a cheaper one and goes to CASH list? I totally agree: either it sounds better for the same price, and therefore is a better value; or it is cheaper for the same performance, having a better value again.
HiFace has an enourmous value, because it is cheap and sounds great. At least here with JRiver 15, exclusive WASAPI memory play and max pre-buffering.

Thanks Chris.

I sure do get the esthetic of Fubar being lackluster and most pedestrian and no better. usually I don't view the player when I'm listening to music per se... just for navigating about.

Actually the good looks department of any soft player seems arbitrary to me given the intended purpose of them... colating, filing, categorizing, and selection. Once playlists are formulated in any player and one overcomes the ADHD syndrome predisposed onto the end user as the result of 'selection freedoms', ‘clickitis, and they’re ease of access and egress, it's a simple matter to click once and kick back twice.

Softwars

I get in fact two varied presentations between each player, Fu & JR MC14. Briefly I opted for MC 15beta for it's KS abilities in conjunction w/hiface. Now that disparity looms larger as I've opted not to migrate again to the full release of MC15. So it's Any of a few ASIO + M2Tech w/MC14, and KS w/Fubar 1021 for me... for a while I suspect.

I'm adding a Oyaide T510 BNC cable to a BNC version of the Hiface tomorrow. Hope that will show as a step up from the XV2 presently in house, and formerly used on the RCA Hiface I had on loan.

The greatest area for my curiosity lays between the sonics of the Lynx AES16PCI eXpress card as an interface and these other converters like the Bridge, Hiface, BC link, etc. Although without that input, as it may be, the loaned RCA Hiface was astonishing, given it's price to performance rating in my estimation! Truth be told, despite the no brainer cost, and thinking only of the improved sonic pallet,I find it an exceptional vivid and clear window to the performance, while remaining well heeled and engaging..

“The King is dead, long live the King.”

I continue to feel that is the key with any of these 'reachable' (< $1K; with less costly ones being substantially more attractive of course) interfaces... the value represented by such a ratio lives solely in the context and subjective constraints of the be-owner.

Ascertaining that product, whatever it may wind up being, which places the enthusiast squarely on the threshold of diminishing returns, or well into it’s cavernous domain n ought to be the keynote item to which other hardware ought be marked against….. until itself is supplanted by some other whiz bang outta sight comparably priced digital streaming or converting ‘young gun’.

All the while with musical purity the aim, and value, as sure considerations.

", if you're looking at a product in a given price point then wouldn't it make sense to set the bar at your standard? That is, when judging whether or not to classify a given product as a "superior/recommend product", shouldn't it have to actually provide performance equal to or better than the standard at that price point (in this case, the Lynx)?"

Hi Scot - I think a little explanation of the C.A.S.H. List may help here. The List is for recommended components. Not the single best component at a price point or anything similar to that. The Lynx and Bridge both fit great on the List. Most people won't put a PCI card in their music server or can't in their laptop. In these situations I highly recommend the Bridge.

Also, I see no problem with putting, for example, two competing products at the same price point on the List. If I think both should be recommended I will recommend them. Some people have no chance of hearing certain components so the choice of two may help.

My guess is we are not connecting on the requirements to make the C.A.S.H. List. Hopefully we are now? It's simply products I recommend.

Hi Matias - I'm not sure I follow your logic here, but hopefully my explanation above will help?

"How is a more expensive and better sounding piece of equipment better rated then a cheaper one and goes to CASH list?"

If I understand this it means a. more expensive and b. better sounding should not be on the List because there is a cheaper product that sounds worse? I doubt you really mean that or maybe I'm just not understanding your words correctly. No worries.

"...either it sounds better for the same price, and therefore is a better value; or it is cheaper for the same performance, having a better value again. HiFace has an enourmous value, because it is cheap and sounds great."

As I said in the review above, I do have the hiFace and will be publishing a full review. Until I have more time with it I can't agree or disagree with your comments about its value or performance.

"At least here with JRiver 15, exclusive WASAPI memory play and max pre-buffering."

I've yet to get stable WASAPI playback with JRMC 15 and the hiFace. What version of JRMC 15 re you using. I'm on 15.0.44 I believe.

Thanks for posting your comments guys :~)

NOTE
Lest I forget again… I hesitate to mention this as it’s so simply obvious, but if overlooked this can be an issue with the Hiface… - disable any & all OS sounds when in KS mode,

Chris C. wrote:
“when judging whether or
not to classify a given product as a "superior/recommend product", shouldn't
it have to actually provide performance equal to or better than the standard
at that price point (in this case, the Lynx)?"/”

Maybe you and I just make our selections of items quite differently.

To begin with, I was unaware the AES Lynx 16 e was indeed THE ‘bar’ for comparison purposes of other unlike interfaces. I seldom if ever read in the previewed items’ eval a representation in contrast from the attributes the Lynx device exudes.

Especially when I see it again aided by additional downstream clocks in a fair number of configurations posted or mentioned on these pages, it detracts me from having great faith in it as a stand alone item, as hidden or extraneous costs may be required thereafter.

Further, as per your own words which have so far enabled the Lynx interface as THE high water mark, I submit it can only be one standard. One reflective component. In just one category only. The onboard card solution class. It isn’t even nearing a widespread answer for not every personal confuser accepts this ‘go between’ resolution.

I’ve not found yet on this site, the review associated with the Lynx card which gained for it a slot in the current CACHE listing…. Or for that matter, what other card, (RME?) was in the running, and compared to the Lynx, which enabled the Lynx, its apparent coronation.

For me to drop a ‘ten hundred’ dollar bill on any audio appliance, I require comsiderable confidence and inspiration in said hardware. I find my self lacking there with regard to the Lynx AES 16e product from what I’ve gleaned here and elsewhere on the web, as current info or as to actual incidents in performance characteristics that promote such a purchase.

Should not the top knot in the interface game be one of more universal implementation & functionality? The matter will get convoluted if this is not so.

I understand it to be YOUR keystone, therefore I feel it deserves more illumination and presence via contrast in subsequent articles. That is of course, until it is dethroned.

When I perceive a need or desire for a thing, I start by looking at all those similarly suitable or applicable ‘things’. A eventual if not primary factor in this buying/adopting formulae, is price. Value is purely a derivative of my final subjective analysis. Experiences therein temper those end product ruminations. That and how dear the dollar is to me at that time. lol

Price can be a bar to the process now and then, for that contest is based upon the ‘tug o war’ winner between my own financial where with all and that of my ego.

Perhaps more sub categories for viable, premium, budget, or alternative interfaces should then be set into place. Indeed if we are to compare Mushrooms to Mushrooms, they should. As well as their own How’s and Why’s of them coming to their then decreed stations of presentation performance.

Such divisions might be:

On board sound cards:
.Universal cross platform FULLY providing all known word lengths and bit rate processing and /or conversion,

Universal cross platform ‘but only PARTIALLY providing all known word lengths and bit rate processing and /or conversion,

Notebook/laptop cards, as above. FULLY/PARTIALLY

Proprietary OS cards …. as above. FULLY/PARTIALLY

USB sound cards… as above FULLY/PARTIALLY

USB converters… as above, in both instances AND as Germaine to this topic. FULLY/PARTIALLY

Firewire IEEE, both 400 & 800 versions, as applicable in the aforementioned criteria. FULLY/PARTIALLY

OTHERWISE… it’s toadstools to mushrooms, right?

I also see how daunting and time consuming a task is at hand on this pursit alone. Were it me, I’d begin thinking about subbing out some of these duties going forward and corroborating on the process and the resultant findings.

Yet to gain respect for these listed components, surely more formal methods and not mere lengthy subjective or casual assignments must preceed their endowment, if they are to garner true unadulterated admiration.

For instance… Each CACHE item was chosen how exactly? Simple preference? Following comparisons of alike products whose configurations at least were similar if not identical?

I do not always see such info in the reviews posted here on those items as routine bills of fare. Personally, I can dismiss this lack with regard to the products cost at times, or if the item’s maker enables in home trial periods for free or at minimal cost… now and then. Though it remains a little unnerving still.

For me, I’ve little doubt as to any of the assignments made here by yourself on your preposed recommended items. We’ve casually communicated previously, and I know some of the members here and feel good about the thrust of your website. It’s a fine database, and its been instrumental in my gaining ground on retrieving better audio from my machines. It would aid everyone viewing, contributing or authoring articles herein, if more texture from comparisons and measurements were enlisted in the declaration of the components attributes… IMHO.

Being as objective as I can maintain, I would submit ANY openly & publicly recommended product that came to be purely from subjective appraisal or mere preferential choice without the trials of at least likewise subjective evaluations and/or without actual measured results, will possibly be seen as impeachable promotions. Such selections then undermine the list’s objectivity at best, & it’s integrity behind it at it’s worst. It reflects just those properties upon the author too as a coincidental distraction.

Such are my thoughts for adding and maintaining veracity and precision to the ongoing adventure of achieving quality audio reproduction from our binary boxes, I’d like to continue seeing and referring to this site as the ‘go to’, or ‘default’ authority in this ilk, globally and without concerns or caveats… as I do now.

Acquiring and maintaining less controversial standards IN the critiquing process are as integral as are the final judgments. The caliber of each subsequent item thereafter on trial, is immensely elevated thru these means.

Thanks & be well.

I see the review has caused some controversy as all reviews in this hobby do. I do own a HiFace with bnc connections. That was the 180 dollars that has been quoted. I am using a Stereolab XV ultra. This brings the total cost of the two to 530 dollars list. This is more than the Bridge as the Bridge needs no connecting cable it is built into the unit. You can use different cables with the HiFace as audiophiles love to do so the cost of the HiFace duo is a moving target. The value is a moving one also. I do think the device is very nice but I do not yet have a Bridge to compare. (I am considering this and I can make up my own mind)

I have no idea which will sound better in my system. That will decide what is the best value. I do agree that cost enters into the equation as it always does but these two total cost is close enough that I doubt that should be the sticking point in 99 per cent of the decisions.

I use reviews to point out things I should listen to. Chris does a good job in pointing out that the Bridge is worth a listen for sure. I would take the Cash list as components that he deems worthy of consideration that he has spent time with. The HiFace may well make the Cash list someday. I do know if I do listen to both in my system the inclusion of one or both on the Cash list does not influence my decision in the least. The 30 plus years in the hobby have taught me that for sure.

I am very concerned that the adaptive nature of the Usb quantitive matrix may be compromised by the noise created by the use of black cabling in Halide's converter and that as a result my jitter will be high, my S/PDIF polarization will be low and my laughter will be uncontrollable.

Great review, nice product and clearly serious audiophiles at work.

Ignore the carping Chris - now where did I put my credit card...

Yours, buying one now, tog

I love the humor Tog :~)

Hi Gulinias - You are using the C.A.S.H. List exactly how it was meant to be used. As one of many data points. Recommending products can only help people seeking more musical satisfaction. If they listen to a C.A.S.H List product and decide it doesn't increase musical enjoyment then they can check another one off the list of possible component changes. If the List directs people to a local dealer to hear a product and they end up purchasing something else, wonderful :~)

try one of the recommended items on the list, then try another. if you preview it at a dealership, but get something else, Wonderful.

Playing devil’s Advocate here ...it's not about fact finding, but market stimulation instead.

trying out an entirely subjectively appointed & self approved list of hardware componentry until one of them or more, fits, is an enterprising idea. IF you're in sales, that is. Sounds exactly what I would have said back when I was selling electronics, and couldn't convince a buyer with my choice based upon their needs and purely on my say so.

Despite my experience, product knowledge, and integrity, folks some how required more!. It always astonished me.

People by and large are trusting sorts. Good. I am too.

Some times however they need critical data to justify or fuel their purchase… not just my say so…. Or such was my exp in decades of sales. All the time people needed well, uh, assurances. They got ‘em with data and in kind associations.

All I'm saying or have been saying here, is I'm now in the buyer's shoes..

We all are.

I’m simply unconvinced of the degree of benefit any or all of the CASH listed products deliver….…WITHOUT AT LEAST SOME PARALLEL COMPARATIVE METHODS AND/OR QUANTIZATION… or without firsthand trials.

Which ever way, or for whatever reason (s), the CASH list is promulgated going forward suits me.

The notes I submitted were proposed to help further truncate, diminish, or eleminate the routine specters, doubts, and outright skepticism that are attached to so many off the cuff or unsupported articles attempting to (overtly) be a clear and clean objective take on some device…. irrespective of the experience level, honesty, or judgment of its author, were they going forward, included or revisited.

This is difficult to see plainly unless you look at it all from a perspective outside that of your own. Try to step into some one else’s shoes and squint at it a while… you ll see soon enough adding merely those two precepts, comparative assessments of likewise and or former, better or lesser items, and measured info compared to the makers specs, if added into each article, will definitely inject, solidify and increase a person’s very own confidence factor needed to purchase a fair number of CA recommended items, or even, just one.

It’s no small task for either party, but especially tuff on Chris.

Chris’ altruistic endeavor here is unimpeachable. Tons of folks have enlisted and received his aid, and that of other members here. Super. I’m one of them and glad to have received such positive input from time to time.

It’s your ball Chris and you can run it as you wish. I simply know from just being older now, there’s room for improvement in every aspect of my system, home, and my life itself. My thoughts were pointed towards that sole end…. Improvement based on the fact another person will see in me things I do not see readily.

Please forgive my observations. I only meant to see your judgement calls on recommended components not fall prey to suspicion or negative controversy..

AS for the HD Bridge & M2Tech converter race, i could care less if the cable in use for the USB converter is fishin’ line with a thimble on each end…. In fact I think that’s just what I’m using now.

I just want to attain some better grasp of the likes and/or differences from the two. My sieve like brain will then attempt to sort it all out and like everyone else, make a virtual judgement on the presented material…. And it’ll be fun to do I’m sure. My next fistful of hundreds isn’t slated for “Digi-city” anyhow, it’s on the road to “Tubes-ville” instead.

Addressing the cable for the M2T should make for an easy enough task to formulate an opinion of the cheapo USB thingy.

Every component has a wire sticking out of it somewhere.

My M2T + cable pair is $130 less than your’s Chris… or Fiddy bucks less than the HD Bridge, overall

FYI… With its double barrled array of oscillators/chip sets, one handling 44.1K and it’s multiples’ the other raking in the multiples of 48K … the run in time gets doubled too. or so I’m thinking…

Following 24hrs of 16/44 playback, switching to 24/96 for playing back those file types, the Hiface sounded like it had almost no run in time on it at all, yielding nearly ‘out of the box’ attributes. Interesting, huh?

Be well.

BlindJim, how is the way Chris does reviews and produces the CASH list any different from the countless magazines there are out there?

They, generally, try to give you an honest review of the products lent to them. Then give some advise if the product is up there with the best, good for it's cost, or generally just okay (a few are abysmal but they seam to be few and far between). It's then up to you to see how they fit in with your own system - the reviewers don't know how it sounds with every piece of kit.

To Chris - can I suggest that might be worth having an "index" of all your reviews, listed by device type? Obviously some you give CASH list status to, but it's difficult to find older reviews where they are no longer (or never were) on the list. Even if the product is no longer available, or no longer available in the form you reviewed. Another thought to do with the CASH list - under the Minerva you say no longer available - replaced by DAC202, it might be useful if you note the DAC2 is still available.

Eloise

I honestly am surprised that anyone takes any of the mags web based or print as a bible to use to buy stuff. The last time I checked Chris or Harry Pearson or countless others are not coming to my house to listen. The fact is unless they were buying the gear and moving in I still would never use them more than a someone who may make me aware of interesting product. Jim, I think you should use you extra money where you chose and if tube based amplification is in your plans go for it. I would make sure to LISTEN and not measure the units but tubes can be very nice. The thing is there are hundreds of units out there and many that are very nice. There is no absolute (sorry HP) that is right for every system and use. I do not think the Cash list is worth the angst that you have. I do not think the Blue Moon awards or the Editors choice awards are either. I may well also buy tubes but my situation is different than yours and I may well end up with different product. That makes neither of us wrong. I am considering the Butler amplifier cause it fits my situation. There are others that I would have to compromise in some way to use but may decide the compromise is worth it.

Chris I do think an archive of your reviews would be helpful. I have to agree with Eloise on that. I could care less what you do with the list but rest assured it will never be a bible that I buy from with sounds unheard. I learned that lesson long ago listening to other reviewers and being new in the hobby. In closing so I throw another reviewer some flack in a way. We all could listen to Peter and we all would own Arcam 600 avr receivers no matter what we used them for cause they walk on water according to Peter. Jim in closing whatever measurements you use are still really only meaningful to you and no one else. I think maybe we all should go listen to some music now!

Thanks for the honest opinions.

And thanks for including pricing and contact information. I plan to order one of these next quarter.

(I would order it now, but I need to resod the yard and darn if the roof didn't need a few repairs. Darn golfballs! :)

Eloise
...I thought by adding in a couple factors to help Chris' circumvent the pale so many of them exhibit by becoming more factual and less casual in the recitation.

But you are spot on and I agree totally with your entire post.

Gulinias

‘… the list is not worth the angst that you have for it’

Agreed.

I’m the sort that when I’ve gotten good from a place I support that place in kind, as much as is possible. I became enamored with the straight forward, no nonsense, and well meaning atmosphere I’ve seen and felt here, and thought earlier on this effort was a little cut above the balance of the litany of ‘faceless online’ advisory committees’ that shout to us spend your duckets here.. there and on this or that.

I simply felt the CA was more genuine with it’s offerings… but noted some items which could, or might keep its aim more on target. Guess I was to enthusiastic about it..

Neither do I get the vibe that articles here are directly pointed purely towards generating sales for the items in the list, though it is an aside of noteworthyness.

Indeed I have bought items ‘unpreviewed’ and likely will again. I’ve also found kernals of great truth in some reviews, though of course that was after the fact… and have found some reviewers tend to coincide with my tastes and ears. Very few actually, but 3 or 4 sure seem to.

I’m all about tubes as my preamp, mono blocks, and even my Butler TDB 5150 although a hybrid, possess glass in the signal path.

The event I mentioned is to have the maker of my monos modify/upgrade them to function/operate as do his current models which auto bias. Thus helping me overcome an ongoing physical degeneration which has severely diminished my province for using them, and the pleasure that comes from it.

BK Butler’s outfit is a good one given my exp with them. Email me and I’ll tell you more if you wish. As the Butler’s are auto biasing, I’ve been using it for my go to amp in combo with several preamp’s… DAC, Receiver, and the Thor MK II, naturally.

Thanks & Good luck.

Chris

You’re welcome. Keep up the so far so good efforts, they are genuinely appreciated.

Wow! Lots of interesting posts here.

I wanted to give the thread some time to mature before jumping in and offering my own two cents. I think I'm coming in at like post 33, but the discussion still seems to be going strong ...

There are lots of different ideas bouncing around here, but I want to focus on one thing that I'm a bit surprised hasn't been mentioned here yet - we have a 60 day money back guarantee on everything we sell, and always have. (It's right there on our store.) We started doing this way back with the devilsound DAC, and I think it has worked out well.

It's silly to think that you can really understand how something sounds from reading about it. Of course, reviews are important, as are forums, and technical specs, and all of that. And Chris and other writers do a pretty good job with the really awkward task of trying to put into words how something sounds ... it's like describing a wine or something, you can try to get the idea across, but can only communicate so much with words.

Ultimately, how the sound hits you, and even what it is that you are looking for in the sound, can be as personal as the kind of music you listen to. Some people like tubes, in the same way that some people like, I dunno, opera (or hair metal, for that matter).

Well, maybe with something like S/PDIF this will be a little less subjective, since the goal is just to get the jitter as close to zero as possible. (Although there was a device out a while ago that worked by adding massive jitter to your signal. Not my cup of tea, really, but it just goes to show ...) And certainly, you can have a device that interacts in a particular way with your system - even with something as "bits only" as S/PDIF.

The return policy also a way of sending a message. We think our stuff is done right, and this comes through in the sound. Correspondingly, it's not a secret that there are cheaper devices out there, just as there are more expensive devices out there. And we were keenly aware of the existing market, and where the bar had been set, when we were working on our device.

This is just something to think about, and I wanted to bring it up because that hadn't been mentioned. We have a lot of really pleased customers from the DAC, and we did that the old-fashioned way. We built something that was an unexpected change from the norm (I think it would be fair to say that we brought non-oversampled DACs to a lot of people who had never experienced the sound before - it has a very distinctive tonality ... not to mention the form factor), and gave people the freedom to make up their own minds about it.

So ... same with the Bridge. We think it's pretty awesome. Chris liked it enough to C.A.S.H. it, which I think says a lot. And correspondingly, as it gets into more people's hands, I think the 'net will tend to agree as well.

Hope this helps - thanks for the interest, and the awesome discussion!

Jonathan
Halide Design

I've been a fan of Devilsound since I reviewed their DAC cable last year (& the second version was even better) for Positive Feedback Online - and when I heard the bridge last weekend I too was VERY impressed, and a bit floored, at its performance!

When u think SPDIF u typically think of jitter, and why deal with a unt that doesn't fully address it (as great, reasonable USB DACs like the HRT Streamers are asynchronous) - but with the asynchronous USB code from Wavelength Audio (which I'm VERY interested in) - this little gem is a BANGER!

Lookin forward to seeing what they do next!

Yours in Sound,

Michael Mercer
Positive Feedback Online
The Daily Swarm

I for one ALWAYS insist that my readers hear things for themselves - as does Harry (Pearson). He's always just tried to offer his observations, like any good journalist - and he's just as surprised when people take anybody's word over their own ears (and I know him, so believe me its true)..

I even my readers when they email - luckily some agree with ya, and others don't. We're all human, and interpret things differently, but experience can aid in evaluating a components ability to be truly musical.

I also there is no Absolute (and this from a former TAS crew member) but I don't think anybody needs to direct this feeling at Hp or anybody for that matter.

As a music addict, I think its great when we just share our own thougths, and turn each other on to great stuff.

Michael Mercer
Positive Feedback Online
The Daily Swarm

Mike

I doubt I ever implied that Harry or yourself or any of the other countless audio journalists thought that people should take what they wrote as gospel. I just was using the few examples as why reviews need to call attention to worthy products but maybe not so much crown kings and become a buying guild like consumer reports. I have read positive feedback and every journal I mentioned and they all are fine and serve a purpose. We both agree and apparently so does Pearson that the purpose is not to be an oracle that people use from on high to make buying decisions. I most likely read HP long before you were on the staff and I knew audiophiles who used it like the wisdom from above. That is no ones fault and I was just trying to point out to everyone that we should not use the mags for that but to call attention to worthy components. We are in total agreement and your post makes me more likely to try the bridge and compare it to the Hi Face in my system. Thanks and have a great day. In closing I think everyone should remember that just because a product is not reviewed that does not lessen its quality and once again the choice is you the final user.

Hi Mike,

I don't know if I'd admit to being a former TAS writer :)

Seriously, I would think at this stage that some kind of asynchronous interface would be in every product. Then the debate about async vs adaptive could end. Maybe some companies have too much invested in marketing the non async stuff to now come out with asynch and claim it's better. I don't know.

Regards,

Larry

Mike M.
I’m sorry but I’m having significant trouble getting the gist of your post (s) here as it seems vague & disconnected.

The only obvious object I gleaned was the enthusiastic support for the HD outfit and their efforts, past and present.

Such as:

“I even my readers when they email - luckily some agree with ya, and others don't. We're all human, and interpret things differently, but experience can aid in evaluating a components ability to be truly musical.”

It takes little experience to determine one’s likes and dislikes…. On a purely Musical theme or not,

With the premise you enjoy regularly the system you have, adding or replacing a new item into it, the ‘then’ addition either reveals another level of performance increase or not. It either becomes more engaging and exciting, stays the same just on a different tact, or the system suffers some loss.

I’ve found no other results from the replacement, addition or subtraction of devices in an audio system.

This is despite or in lieu of personal tastes, system levels or expense of the overall component arrangement. Either it is improved upon, takes a side ways step or so, or is lessend via the latest change (s). Period.

Experience then is of no major matter.

It’s like getting an eye exam when the Dr. says following a change of lenses, “Is this the same, better, or worse?”

We need no past experience or outside authority to add their insight then.

This thought especially…

“I also there is no Absolute (and this from a former TAS crew member) but I don't think anybody needs to direct this feeling at Hp or anybody for that matter.”

?? You must have been in a hurry here. Maybe some refresher courses in journalism or creative writing are in order… or just less haste.

Could be too, I had too much sunshine in my youth or was oxygen deprived during birth, but I read and reread this sentence ten times or more and have no clue what is meant by it.

Journalist or not, I think if one is capable of pecking out a few cogent thoughts on a word processor, or texting truncated short hand thoughts from their cellular, no one will take another’s words over what they themselves are able to find out with their own eyes and ears.

But then there’s the rub isn’t it? Finding out for one’s self. Thankfully halide Design inputted here their standing offer for a two month in home trial and full refund if the device is not satisfactory. I congratulate them for that quite fair and consumer friendly stance.

There are however products which their makers will not allow for such events. Then and there for market awareness and exploitation purposes, pulp and online articles fuel or follow any or all of their products releases. Additionally the manufacturers heritage and reputation buy them some market share as well.

I’ve said and reiterated here, I’m most grateful for the pertinent insights and knowledge base I’ve acquired on these very pages and as well enjoy Chris’ articles and efforts immensely and ongoing.

Few people as a rule, thoroughly read and then attentively input thoughts to posts such as these threads, most are decidedly polarized opinions and off target as to their replies. They read about the first two or three sentences or so of another’s post and then proceed ill equipped but enthusiastically to depose one individual or camp, and/or support some other.

It’s all good I suspect. As B. Behan was credited as saying once upon a time,

“There’s no such thing as bad publicity, except one’s own obituary.”

So I’d take issue with DeVille/Halide Design and the comment made pertaining to the silliness of any effort to convey adequately what a thing sounds like in mere words, eg., reviews…. to some extent.

Good bad or indifferent, reviews, and online discussions, generate awareness. Awareness promulgates interest. Debates thereafter support and feed that singularly purposed swell of attention… as it has here.

I’ve only supported adding to the published online articles here with contrasting like or closely similar products be at least mentioned during those accounts, and perhaps too, adding in some verifiable measurements which also could uphold or interest some in the know. Without such textures being routinely imbedded into the context they amount to simple raves or indictments, regardless where one stands on the culpability or authenticity or their worth at all.

Personally I find them all fun in part or in whole and am appreciative of both the awareness they provide me and the incite I gain from them, be it unbiased or not. Naturally the former will hold more water for the more cynical or objective reader such as myself. I’m a recovering idealist yet cynicism seems a prudent path when viewing commercial advertising, and reviews unless purely altruistic are indeed commercial advertising.

It’s in overcoming the darkness and suspicion which shadows all advertising that is key if influenced people are to be the aim of it.

I bare none ill will and wish great prosperity for HD and anyone else’ efforts that yield positive results for the consumer and in this case, the computer audiophiles adventure into high end audio.

But I see a shortfall of sorts with any device which curtails the accumulation of and playback of, music. Until or IF, the onset of various formats is decided/determined, any appliance limiting the such acquisitions are IMHO lessening the catalog any music addict can subscribe to. IOW… oh.. I’d like to have that high res download, but it’s in 176.4, or 192 only.

It may be a minor point or none at all for some, but it is noteable. And no, I’d not wish to sacrifice quality for a greater range of format choices either.

Lastly Chris, or HD,

As WASAPI was used with the HD Bridge, but not any ASIO support, must it be so used? Were the diffs without WASAP great? How so? Was it used on the XP platform? Should or must Win 7 be used for optimum results with the HD Bridge?

Hi guys - There was a spam post claiming to prefer one product over the Bridge. I removed the post because the spammer was really attempting to promote a Chinese shopping site. This may be the source of some of the recent confusion with Mike's post.

I thought it was a good write up with good information introducing a new product you found to your liking.

I'm sure when you're done assessing the HiFace we'll get more info and a better idea in comparison. I applaud you holding back opinion between the two (HiFace & HDB) rather than shooting from the hip like most of us do on the internet. I eagerly look forward to reading your review of the HiFace once your done with it.

To the comments above about price difference. Are you guys using audiophile $2 digital cables to go with your HiFace? The Halide bridge is also the cable and included in the price so when you start comparing cost, please consider the cost of the cable you purchased to be used with the HiFace so it will more of an apples to apples price comparison. Lets say an avg. budget digital cables cost $150ish like the Anticable. Then it creeps to over $300, if your using a more expensive but highly recommeded cable like the Ridge Street ($350/1m) then your at $500 total cost using the HiFace compared to the $450 Halide. Of course if you use a cheap digital cable then your cost's is lower.

As you have read in the past, I have been very impressed with the Devilsound usb DAC. I would read comments about it being over priced compared to the HRT and others but they don't add up the cost of descent (worthy) interconnects and a USB cable. All of a sudden the Devilsound is looking like a much better deal.

Have a good weekend.

@Chris
Matias: "How is a more expensive and better sounding piece of equipment better rated then a cheaper one and goes to CASH list?"

Chris:"If I understand this it means a. more expensive and b. better sounding should not be on the List because there is a cheaper product that sounds worse? I doubt you really mean that or maybe I'm just not understanding your words correctly. No worries."

Matias: Sorry, I meant that better sounding and more expensive equipment should not always be on the list because it really comes down to the value=benefits/cost ratio. If we could put into numbers, let's say an equipment is "10% better sounding and 50% more expensive". Then it has a worse value rating then the cheaper one.
Of course it is difficult alone to review and write the sound of an equipment, let alone quantify it! But anyway I think that the CASH list should focus into this magic marketing ratio called value.

Thanks for your reply and review anyway! :-)

@mr macgee:
Interesting, you have a good point. It never occured to me that the Halide includes the price of the cable itself in it.
I suppose it must be a very good USB cable, because it can't be detached and upgraded later, right?
Or maybe it is just a cheap USB cable, but because of the very interesting design, maybe the device treats the jitter of the cheap cable and it does not need a very good digital SPDIF cable since it attaches directly into the DAC, right?

I know I should not get into this again but value is once again up to the person. I may think something is outstanding value and you may not agree. This could go both ways/ You may love a piece of gear and I may not think it is worth close to the money. I may adore a piece of gear and you may think it is awful. Then money enters into value. One may have much more money to spend and may see value in a more expensive piece of gear than one who is on a tight budget. This hobby is a lot about the last 10 per cent and that is of varying importance to people and there wallets. I listened to a Shindo based system and honestly it was wonderful. I could never afford it so it has no value to me, If I had the 100k to spend on this system and could afford to I may feel differently. Chris told you that he felt the Bridge was better and by a good but if you read between the lines and he felt the value was there to be his go to interface for the ones he has heard. There is a value judgment there in my opinion,

Great that we have so many new products offering so many choices of signal routes to DAC. In fact, overwhelming! I agree that a monster comparative shoot-out of multiple options would be helpful. Something like:

SonicWeld Diverter vs Halide Bridge vs Bel Canto USB link vs Audiophileo vs ART Legato vs MTech HiFace vs Asus Xonar vs Lynx AES16 vs Stello & Lindeman DDC vs Empirical OffRamp vs high quality USB cable direct to an asynch implementation.

If anyone in the UK wants to meet up somewhere for a 'bake-off', I can bring all of the above, minus the OffRamp, Legato, HiFace and Bel Canto (which Chris made have excluded from the mix?) Doubtless I missed some exciting contenders from this list...?

You would need to add the Stello U2, the Musiland 02 US. For most of us the Weiss INT202,although firewire, is highly relevant in this category.

Of course as soon as the test is done the Hiface Evo arrives followed by the Wavelength and no doubt a few more!

A test like this would be fun. Long, but fun. ;-)

Hubsand whereabouts are you in the UK, I could bring both M2Tech's and the Weiss, it might be interesting, I have been asking Pat for a Legato for ages,Pat?
Keith.

Not so sure what a "shoot-out" would mean as that is an event at that time with that set-up. I tend to find that such "comparisons" have little meaning to the wide-range of listeners and their systems. In the end, all one can do is report on what they heard "in that system/configuration" ad then let the reader go from there.
I have now the Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 3 (with Ultraclock) powered by the Hynes DC PSU, a Sonicweld Diverter, the Stello U2, the Blue Circle Thingee, the M2Tech, the Halide Bridge, and coming soon the Audiophelio, Art Legato, and Lindemann units and a few others still in the works/under development.
They are all quite good at their respective price points, differences do exist that depending on the individual could be important or not, some are rather amazing considering what they cost and/or look like, and yes, I have some favorites or preferences. But that is here in my system with my music and whatnot.
Am not so sure that any of them have a distinct advantage over another clearly based on any specific thing (hint USB approach), but more about the whole (the sum of its parts) than whatever.

I was going to say that all data is good data, but that's clearly not true. But a shootout should be interesting. If nothing else, it's an impressive collection of technology, no? That's got to be worth something.

I suspect that the differences between many of these will be non-obvious, but ... well, what if they aren't? What would be particularly interesting is if a consensus emerges. Or if, even more interestingly, it fails to. And why!

As for your own burgeoning collection, Dave, I'd love to see your own personal stack ranking! Caveat it however you like, and feel free to stagger the "competitors" at their respective price points. But if any true champs emerge from your listening tests (or of anyone's shootout tests), I for one would love to hear of them!

As for the issue of system synergy/system dependency, I have no ready answer -- and that is, I think, the crux of your caution. Worthy. But perhaps your results could be simply put out there on PFO for what they are -- your experiences -- and others can compare and contrast and the debate can continue as we collect, collaborate and corroborate these experiences on a great site ... like this one, say. ;-)

"But perhaps your results could be simply put out there on PFO for what they are -- your experiences -- and others can compare and contrast and the debate can continue as we collect, collaborate and corroborate these experiences on a great site ... like this one, say. ;-)"

Exactly what I am out to do... fun times are these.
Plue USB cables from Furutech, Cardas, Locus... and digital cables from Black Cat, PAD, Blue Jeans, Locus, etc... yikers!

Don't forget the Firestone Audio Bravo...

Well another device to add to the melting pot for 24/96 devices.

Eloise

New to the computer-audio family, I started with the hiFace, went to jkeny's hiFace mod, and finally landed on the Halide Bridge... all based upon reviews and suggestions on sites like this (thanks Chris!).

hiFace = great value, great detail, huge (almost artificial) sound stage... but a bit brittle, or digital?

hiFace mod from jkeny = wow! Smooth, analog sounding, maybe a tiny-tiny bit less detail in the upper mid frequencies, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Halide Bridge = Initial impression was not favorable... way too much information and detail, but somehow lacked real definition. But after two weeks of daily listening; bliss! All that detail and information has completely fleshed out and I did not know that my system was capable of what I'm hearing. Bass is not only extremely well defined; it's got real power and presence. Vocals are rich and real. Piano sounds in-the-room accurate. My system has never sounded better.

One qualifier; I also updated my Amarra Mini from 1.2 to 2.0 at about the same time.

I think I've landed my system... no, really!

Hi MichiGoon - Great to hear you listened to these components yourself and came to a decision. It's wonderful that your system is performing great now :~)

Sorry Chris that my comment seemed to cause such a ruckus! I was in a hurry, and only meant to defend my mentor and dear friend Hp - which, when just getting home from the club (which I was when I posted last) can lead me to seem like a complete A-hole!

I think what you're doing here at Computer Audiophile is the future of the Hifi bizness, and I'm psyched to keep reading.

As for the confusion in the sentence in my last post: I meant to say that despite having worked for TAS, I don't think there is an absolute either - just the journey. As a music addict, my audio comes second, and its just the vehicle - but I love it all!!!

Hi MichiGoon

Congratulations on your acquisition of a product which lands your system onto a higher sonic plane... and satisfies you in the process.

But why no mention of the digital cable or Hiface type you used?

I have found myself in the same boat as you with regard to system performance and the consequent increased satisfaction level I achieved although the path is was a little different for me. Mine came by the Hiface too, but with an Oyaide DB 510 1.3M BNC digital cable

Previous to that cable I used Stereovox cables, both the XV2 & XV2 Ultra on it.

I agree with some of your assessments of the Hiface’ sound when coupled with the XV2, and a bit less so with the Ultra as the digital conduit to my DAC.

However I used entirely different media players for playback than the ones you used.

With the Oyaide DB510 cable in place however I disagree completely with your findings on the Hiface’s performance. Using the Hiface is a two stage affair. The Hiface PLUS a cable…

I’ve found through the years, system synergy is quite the thing in any audio outfit, PC, CD, or analog, for that matter.

AS you stated you don’t have an enormity of experience in this area, neither do I. But wouldn’t you say it unfair to place your thoughts good or bad, solely on the Hiface’s back, as a separate cable also needs be a part of the picture and definitely provides it’s influence as well to the resultant sound quality?

So, If I may ask, Which cable (s) brands & types did you attach to the Hiface that played a part in prompting you to press on to the halide Design unit, which uses it’s own proprietary cabling.

If you please?

I’m simply quite curious to know for the above reasons of course, and the fact I’ve found as much contentment with my own affair using the Hiface BNC & Oyaide DB510, in my system. And nearly as you have mentioned here with a few disparities between our separate experiences. I feel absolutely no compunction whatsoever to even investigate some other USB converter or some other digital cable.

In fact I am so enamored by this latest Hiface/Oyaide combo I posted my own thoughts on each and their affects to my system’s sound quality from their acquisition (s) to now, noting also a few other digital links/cables here:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rcabl&1277820660&openmine&zzBlin...

Knowing the cable (s) used would shed a better light on your comments and perhaps help others in the doing.

I do appreciate your comparative assignments between them at any length but would love to know this missing information.

Again, congrats and thanks much.

I switched digital cables to the new Black Cat Veloce and wow, what a difference. HiFace is nothing by itself without a proper digital cable.

"...the Hiface is nothing without a good digital cable."

Very funny, and very, very true.

i had to pick between either the new Black Cat OR the Oyaide. Based on the Ultra's audition in house, I went with the Oyaide. Thankfully, the choice worked extremely well for me and my audio arrangement.

so well in fact I still am not completely over it. Simply stunning IMHO. yeah... I'm amazed too.

Glad your's did likewise for you.... AND cost less too!

Cables do matter when you don't think they ought to actually. they can add to, or subtract from, a device's optimization within a system.

""I’ve found through the years, system synergy is quite the thing in any audio outfit, PC, CD, or analog, for that matter.""

This is the TRUTH! It's all about the sound of the system; how everything interacts. When you get things that sing together - that's where the magic comes from.

I dig the HRT Streamer II+ USB DAC, especially for the $$, with the Nucleus USB cable from Locus Design + Nordost Heimdall interconnects.

I also like the StyleAudio TOPAZ USB DAC/headphone amp, plus the same cables above.

It's a brave new world!!!

Listening to the new Wolf Parade record (Expo86) on Sub Pop

Couldn't agree with you more, blindjim and Mike. Every modification makes a difference to some degree. And system synergy is everything.

blindjim, sorry if my evaluations seemed unfair. But I'll admit, you're right. Unless one can test every component with every cable in ones' listening room, any observation will be unfair to some degree. My experience is only my experience - and I'm sure the majority of members here have listened to more gear and been at this longer than I have.

I wish I had had the opportunity to try the hiFace with the Oyaide DB510 your mating it with! I was using a stereovox XV2, as you suspected. Good call!

Have you had the chance to hear jkeny's modded hiFace or the Halide Bridge?

I'm interested in your comments on the modified Hiface Vs Halide.

As others have pointed out - it's difficult to do a comparison of the transport alone when the Halide is a transport + cable combined. Actually, it's no SPDIF cable - just a connector directly to the DAC. This can be beneficial if the impedance termination is correct.

Why the long break-in period for the Halide?

Here's one idea which may be of interest to all those Hiface owner cable swappers - try an RF attenuator plug on the cable. (Note: This will only work for Hiface users).

The attenuator is a simple BNC plug that looks like a adaptor plug & cost $12 from minicircuits. What it does is reduces the signal level. So how is this beneficial - well it's beneficial because it will doubly reduce any reflections on the cable. Reflections are the result of impedance mismatches & can be a cause of jitter. It comes in different attenuations 3, 6, 10, 15, 20dB - the higher the number the more reduction in signal - I would suggest a 10dB one from the list at the bottom of this page but experiment by all means http://www.minicircuits.com/products/attenuators_coax_fixed.html

It works on the Hiface because the SPDIF signal output is high at about 2Vpp & this can be reduced to 0.5Vpp and still be in the SPDIF range. There are a lot of measurements showing the reduction of these reflections using a Hiface on Diyhifi.org

It's a cheap & worthwhile experiment & may be the best thing you ever tried - the equivalent of a near perfect cable. I & others have found it improved the sound of the Hiface, both stock & modified!

It could even be used like the Halide as a way of directly plugging in the Hiface into your DAC without SPDIF cable!

Sorry…. I’ve not heard the tweaked Hiface, nor the Bridge thingy.

I tried both the RCA & BNC Hiface though. And several digital ICs.

I’m normally a “fix it till it breaks” sort, but as things are now I’m being as honest as the new driven snow when I say I’ve no desires at all to make another change.

I’m getting that analog like reproduction with as much resolution and detailed info from the files as I think is possible…. And then hearing myself say that I begin to wonder, “really?”

Maybe, Maybe not… no rig is perfect, and I suppose there is always going to be a faster gun for hire out there somewhere. For attending to the sound I still have some good degree of flexibility on hand. I can roll tubes, swap power cords, and downstream interconnects.

I just have no desires to do such things given what I’m hearing lately from my stereo.

All of these moves alter the sounds visage, though none will improve upon it’s focus quite so much as that which is being gleaned from the files by the current scalpels & microscopes in use, Hiface, Oyaide, and BC D3. to some degrees too, the file type, media player (s) and output mode. Considering the aim is bit perfect/true replay, output mode choices are as well reduced to ASIO, WASAPI & Kernel Streaming, for PCs.

My curiosity factor has been shelved for a time. I feel as I alluded to in my description of the H&O combo, that they are now “allowing” my components to be better realized, and I am fortunate to own one of the top tier line stage preamps ever built, IMHO. At $10K it’s the only thing I’ve ever heard I can say straight faced, “is a bargain and that was with 2005 dollars.

If in the next iteration halide Design decides to offer solely it’s converter sans the affixed analog interconnects, well maybe I’d be obliged to check it out, I’m more interested in the upcoming M2T Evo release … but I’ll likely stand pat even then.

Sometimes…. When it’s apparently fixed, finally, it seems prudent to just leave things alone and enjoy it.

Will rogers said, “If you set out to dig a hole, and you find yourself in it. Stop. You’re done.”

Sonic bliss or a reasonable facsimile of it, was my goal going into this PC based audio endeavor. It sure looks like I’m there. For me it’s all about the destination, with regard to audio, not the journey. I’ll force myself to live with being ecstatic about the sound I’ve gotten to now, if it kills me and concentrate on acquiring new music, instead of new devices.

Getting new music is far more fun than deciding on and buying new appliances…. And lots easier.

I've been using the Bridge (BNC) for almost a week and can definitely say that I am happy with the results. For background, the Bridge has coincided with a change in my system. My previous setup was a PPC G5->Focusrite Saffire LE->Timbre TT1-2000. I now have a new Mac Mini->Halide Bridge->Timbre TT1-2000. I could try and go into detail on what the improvements are but to leave it simple, I'll just say it's better. Overall, I find it's just more enjoyable to listen to my system the way it is now. If there is a break in period required then it should sound even better. Installing the Bridge was as easy and it gets. One possibility is that the improvements I am hearing may not necessarily be entirely the Bridge. What I mean is if it's doing what it is supposed to, it might also allow me to hear the full capabilities of the DAC which could have been masked by the previous setup.

I have since purchased Amarra Junior. Other than some clicking, which is a know issue on some MP3 files (I use AIFF but have podcasts for background music), it has also made a nice improvement. While this is a hobby and we can are constantly looking for improvements, I can certainly say that I can finally take a break and simply enjoy the music. Just my two cents...

Jkenny

I've a couple questions here.

1. how is impedance an issue, given the BNC cable being used is in compliance with the 75 ohm standard design practice for digital cables?

I can see a bit better where this argument could make more sense if we were speaking of say, analog cables….. and I know lots of digital 75 ohm cables aren’t even close to the design spec of 75 ohm…. But if one is…. Then shouldn’t the resultant audio be seen as much improved?

I mean as wel, there are several arguments, some initiated by cable makers which offer a longer length cable as the fix for a better digital cable interface integration… usually they say of late… 1.5M is required to quell those timing issues best.

Now you say it’s an impedance mismatch here with some digital cables.

Maybe. Maybe not. Darn few of us have the resources abilities, or inclinations to measure such things, so we measure with our ears, for right or wrong.

As you said use of those ‘adapters’ listed in your post could exclude the need for a digital cable at all, it’s supposed then too a USB cable with a coupler is then required…. A male to A female, not an A to B as is the usual case.

Shouldn’t then the USB cable being used also provide some instance for mismatching impedances?

2. Shouldn’t also you indicate that some of the links included in your post are indeed self serving, and that you are a dealer/modder and have an aim of making money via your efforts with alterations to the Hiface, going in?

I’ve no issue with someone trying to help someone else altruistically, and I suspect some of your post was intended as such, but adding a link to your own website which is set up for profit without any disclaimer making mention of that seems well, less than, and just self serving, detracting from the veracity of your former comments.

Your last link appears to be nothing more than free advertisement, nestled into a commentary on a competing product without such a disclosing statement. Don’t you think?

Please forgive me If I missed that disclosure in your post somehow.

Does every poster here who has a commercial interest always put a disclaimer on every post? I don't know the rules here & seem to be getting pulled up every time I post? Please clarify this.

I thought that you might have seen the reference to the jkeny modified Hiface, a couple of posts below & could work out that I sell modified Hifaces. If this needs to be spelled out then I have now just done it.

You need to take into account the any impedance mismatches in the transport or receiver units themselves, not just the cables. I'm not going to get into an argument over about this - there are measurements taken on Diyhifi.org which clearly show these reflections. But if you have a perfectly impedance matched digital line from transmitter to receiver then you don't need this.

Remember this applies ONLY to the Hiface!

Here's a link to a piece of music I used to test the attenuators effectiveness - it's Nat King Cole & he sounds a bit spitty on the "S" sounds plus violins sound a little edgy. These issues were ameliorated when one of these attenuators was put in-line. http://www.4shared.com/dir/_nTfhC5b/Music.html

If you can hear this spittyness the you might benefit from an attenuator.

I'm not sure what your second point is - I gave a link to minicircuits attenuator page so as people could purchase them - how is this self serving? These attenuators do NOT require a modified Hiface, they can be used on a stock Hiface.

The link in my sig is to my homepage - exactly the same as is used by any number of posters here who do the same - why not chide them in the same way? If it's a rule, I don't know about it. I'll remove it if it offends but I only do what I see others do & consistency & fair treatment is needed, I believe. There it's done :)

If you find that the information about attenuators unhelpful or in the wrong place then by all means then I'll remove it. I was just posting something which i thought might be useful. Apologies if I offended you

As you probably remember, I was critical of you in the past with your posting, but (IMO) you've not done anything wrong in this thread - though discussing/promoting the competitor product in a review thread is bad etiquette in my mind (not that you began the discussion jkeny). The only exception to this rule would be a simple mention of "you may also like to try x, y or z" where the member has experience of both the mentioned product AND the one under review (and only from non-commercially interested members). Any other discussion of for example the HiFace should take place in another thread!

On the other hand, if you add a link in your .sig, then I think it's pretty obvious that you have a vested interest in the site listed - please do bring your link back as now you are talking about the HiFace and modding it without disclosing at all your commercial interest. At the end of the day though jkeny - you maybe need to grow some thicker skin, or stop posting anything referring to the HiFace. Where you have any commercial interest there is a very fine line between being altruistic and helpful and being self promoting and people will always want to question you on which side of the line you are on.

Eloise

Jeez, you guys are impossible to please :) - Get rid of the URL/bring it back, I'm twisting in ever decreasing circles here to try not offend.

I don't know how you can discuss the Halide without reference to other products?

I was just trying to show how the Halide had used a long USB cable & no SPDIF cable - that this could also be done with a Hiface plus add some extra useful info?

I'm not talking about a modification here - it's just a plug that you attach to your existing cable (or directly at the SPDIF out of the hiface). I don't sell it & have no interest in doing so.

Why can't you just accept this as useful info & not self promotion on my part?

I'm leaving my URL off my sig as it seems to cause more trouble when left on but I would suggest that you could make similar complaints to others that have posted about cables & directed people to their web-site for more information. I saw no such complaints about self-serving to this poster.

Maybe I should just change my username to "The modded Hiface guy" & there would be no problem about disclosure/posting or whatever?

I have been using the Bridge for 3 weeks now, and I can't be happier.
It was a huge step over the optical connection of my PC.
I thought of buying the Hiface, but I don't like the idea of spending money on an interface that can't be used on Linux.
I've tried the Bridge with Ubuntu and mpd 0.16...amazing combination.
You can build an efficient server with a sheevaplug, with Ubuntu, MPD and the halide, and you'get a stunning result....by the way this is my next step.
I'm sure the modified Hiface could sound better than the standard one, but really I'm not interested in use a battery-powered interface, and spending time and money swapping digital cables.
When you buy the Hiface, please consider the cost of the modification (you will end up doing that...because we all love playing with our toys) and the cost of few digital cables...Are you still sure the Halide Bridge is expensive?

Sorry I was trying to be helpful here...

A question for you - have you PERSONALLY compared the HiFace (unmodified) to the Halide Bridge? If not then you have no reference to compare the two and therefore any comments are pure speculation on your part and therefore irrelevant on a thread which is a review of the Halide Bridge (this is only MY opinion).

"Why can't you just accept this as useful info & not self promotion on my part?"
I actually commented that your information was not self promotion (or at least that was my intention). People are not responding because we are getting at you or anything, that was why I said you need to grow some thicker skin. Every time anyone questions IF you are self promoting we get you flying off in a mardi about how everyone on this site is picking on you (or words to that effect). I've also commented on other people making self-serving comments on other threads!

As for your URL (or lack of) I thought Chris has asked for you to display your URL so it's pretty irrelevant what other people think. If your URL is there then at least people could take comments like "a modded HiFace beats any other USB to SPDIF converter" (though you've never AFAIK made such a statement) in the context of you as someone who has commercial service making such mods - and decide for themselves what that context means!

Eloise

DID I ever make any comparison between the hiface & Halide?

I hope you do apply the same critical rules to others but I haven't seen it.

Chris, AFAICR, never asked me to put the site on my sig! I think it will cause more trouble than it's worth - just look at blindjim's post - I reckon if I hadn't got the URL an it he may have not have a negative connotation to the whole post but I may be wrong?

I really don't want to hijack this thread so if you have any more comments/suggestions can we do this off-line

I've added the appropriate identifying information to John's signature.

Please Remember -> When in doubt about a possible conflict of interest don't comment.

Personally, I followed your links and only took exception to the one placing me at your site without any previous mention it would unfold into one wherein you were selling something.

Arriving there uninitiated about it beforehand it did cast a veil over things IMO.

posting online, and emails don't exactly translate the tone with which they are often intended. one can take them in a few ways I suppose, I guess it depends on how secure one is about what they are doing when they post them.

Like your website link in your posted commentary, and my question about it.

Personally I saw nothing malicious or even untoward in my comments or intent to you.

Neither do I re-read lengthy commentary or every other thread on any wwebsite so as to spot some previous possible disclaimer, from the posters therein.

I guess I'm just so used to seeing those people in the industry make known to other's that they are indeed designers, modders, dealers, etc. I've begun to take it for granted all the pros act in a very open book fashion when helping others so as not to appear with some other motivations than merely the aid each had submitted.

I proposed my thoughts, asked my questions and then asked if perhaps after some reconsideration you might see lending a link to a commercial endeavor you sponsor as being somewhat devaluating of your posted content, if no such assignment had been yet made.

Obviously this struck a tender spot on you and I regret that. however IMO it seems to me being square and up front on a matter such as this can only aid one's cause (s), whatever they may be.

Credibility on the web is often in a vacuum. Nondescript, nameless, faceless and usually without any identifying labels short of pseudonyms and unverified websites. It’s very nature is ominus, predisposing many to casual suspicions quite often.

Being open & up front online seems the more positive way to go to me…. Especially were I back in business for myself, despite the technical aid I could provide I’d want to attempt at least to allay some of those doubts as often and as readily as possible. But of course, that’s just me.

With regard to what some other individuals do or do not, can’t be the bar to which I or some other is held accountable. Such a position is simply juvenile and short sighted. Jusgement is finite and uniquely pointed towards the person…. Not the group, barring conspiratorial actions, naturally. Being forthright and open are quality personality traits which speak for themselves. When they are proffered and or, when they are withheld.

As to posting a disclaimer every time you submit a post to a thread here, in the signature section of your account page, you could make that statement and it would appear without you having to reiterate it each and every time. I mean how simple is that to do? Or not to do…. I suppose. Though I can’t at all see the latter argument holding any water.

But I’m cool with what you do, or do not, going forward…. As I now know more of your position…. New folks come online each day though and they may not be quite so enlightened as to your past, so you might want to preempt such queries in the future somehow or just keep them in the dark. Either way suits me and I as before, bare you no ill will.

Chris, that's fine! I wasn't in any doubt about the post as it had nothing to do with my commercial site.

Just as a matter of explanation - I don't make my living from the Hiface modifications - I have a "real" job so I'm very much a hobbyist too & just got asked to do these mods for a number of people after I had posted the modification instructions on-line.I'm just letting people know where I'm coming from on this!

I'm also in search of the best sound & not pushing the Hiface or it's modifications! If the Halide sounds better, I'm interested in this fact, not because I want to denigrate it in some way but because I want to know how it achieves it.

@blindjim, I posted in reply to your statement about the different cables you had tried with the Hiface & thought it might be useful info! Sorry, if it caused you to baulk.

Halide owners: does it look like it would be easy to Mod the Halide Bridge to accept an aftermarket USB cable? I am wondering about putting a USB jack in it to replace the hard wired cable.

I would contact Halide about this barrows. The guys are really cool and I'm sure they'll let you know either way. If I remember correctly it's not that simple to replace the cable as it's part of the design, not just an add-on type of thing.

Nice review Chris.
I read the review, and then read a few of the subsequent posts form both the irate and the more relaxed.
I had come across what was an earlier incarnation of this Dac which had a pretty solid reputation as a competent product and thought I would head over to the Halide Design web site and see what they had to say about their new product.

“Choice of BNC or RCA connector. Clean, ultra-low jitter output.”
Good idea, not quite sure what the plug type has to do with the amount of jitter but never mind…

“Plug and play, 24-bit audio, up to 96 kHz resolution.”
Great, looks like a lot of manufacturers are at least looking at extending the bit rate and resolution of reasonably priced products.

You just know what’s coming now don’t you?

“Cryogenic treatment. A long kept secret in the audiophile world, cryogenic treatment results in a dramatic improvement in sonic clarity and detail.”

Now that I’ve finished rolling around the floor laughing perhaps someone could point to a place where I can find any (even a very little bit) of scientific evidence that freezing an audio component at 77 degrees Kelvin in liquid Nitrogen (apparently) makes any measurable difference to how it sounds?
Still, no worries, at least we know its going to be strong enough to stand on.

This is still a thread on the "Halide Bridge Review", is it not? I would love to hear what folks have to say about the Bridge, BUT ONLY those folks that have actually heard it.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about subjective opinions on how a manufacturer does or does not market their equipment.

Have you heard it? What are your thoughts? PERIOD

Thanks!

Now not that I have any experience in cryoed components, nor do I truly believe cryo processing in audio hardware having a definitely positive effect. But from the dodson website, they explained abit about this topic. Their DAC is fully treated in that way.

Experiments in super-conduction at very cold temperatures (-300 deg. F), which changes a wire's normal resistance into zero resistance and transforms the molecular characteristics of the wire into a super-conductor were achieved years ago. Today it has been found that cryogenically treated audio cables, exhibit improved sonic characteristics. Why does this cryogenic treatment make them sound so much better?

The manufacturing process of copper wire and copper sheets causes molecular changes in the copper. When hot copper is pulled through a small hole to form a wire or rolled into thin sheets to make PC boards the stress of being heated and reshaped inadvertently causes crystal lattices and boundaries to be formed, at about 1,000 crystals per foot. Unfortunately, the boundaries formed by this crystal lattice structure impede the natural flow of electrons, causing excessive brightness and a lack of focus in the musical soundstage.

When dissimilar metals are joined, crystal boundaries are also formed, similar to those from at copper wire and copper sheet manufacturing. Soldering a resistor lead to a PC board causes stress and more crystals are formed. There are thousands of solder connections and copper crystal boundaries formed in the signal carrying copper layers in each standard assembled PC board.

The DA-218 processor is cryogenically treated! Cryogenically treating the DA-218 at -300 deg. F., using a special computer controlled process, markedly reduces the crystals that had formed in the copper when the PC board was made or when all the electronic parts were soldered to the PC board

Halide owners: does it look like it would be easy to Mod the Halide Bridge to accept an aftermarket USB cable? I am wondering about putting a USB jack in it to replace the hard wired cable.

Why would anyone want to do that. I would think the cable they provide is adequate. Didn't they audition cable when they designed the thing?

"Mod the Halide Bridge to accept an aftermarket USB cable?"

"Why would anyone want to do that? I would think the cable they provide is adequate. Didn't they audition cable when they designed the thing?"

This was my thought, exactly. I'm listening to mine right now. Interesting. If I had upgraded and replaced my speakers, let alone a USB/spdif converter, I would have been thrilled with the results I'm hearing. In fact, it sounds more like a speaker upgrade.

This Bridge surprises me every time I listen to it.

"Why would anyone want to...?"

To get the best possible performance out of it of course. I accept that the OE cable is "adequate", but that does not mean that its performance cannot be improved upon. It has been widely reported here that some USB cables are better than others, even with ASYNC USB interfaces.
A cable that isolates the ground and DC voltage conductors from the signal conductors may provide a performance improvement over the OE cable.

MichiGoon, what DAC you had before upgrade? It'd be good to see a baseline comparison.

My setup is PS Audio Power Plant Premier > Mac Mini 2.53GHz/4GB > Amarra Mini 2.0 > Halide Bridge> Cambridge Audio 840C > Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II > Arcam AVR350 > Acoustic Zen Shotgun Double Barrel > Vandersteen 2Ce speakers. (combination of LessLoss and VH Audio power cables w/dedicated circuits)

Hi barrows - You're exactly right and you aren't the first person to ask abut changing USB cables. A couple months ago a Stereophile writer and I were discussing this via email with the guys from Halide. They are now aware that audiophiles will want the ability to change cables. If they can do anything about it is something I don't know right now.

"To get the best possible performance out of it of course. I accept that the OE cable is "adequate", but that does not mean that its performance cannot be improved upon."

Well hack the end off of yours first.

I'm not sure but I wonder if USB cables with Async DACs/converters don't sound either great or terrible. I mean is there different levels of good and bad? It just seems crazy if you now need to try 25 different $1,000 USB cables to see which one sounds better to your ear. More audiophile anxiety.

Didn't I read somewhere that firewire isn't this fussy?

"It just seems crazy if you now need to try 25 different $1,000 USB cables to see which one sounds better to your ear. More audiophile anxiety."

I don't see it this way at all. There is no need to try 25 cables and no audiophile anxiety. Many audiophiles love music and want to reproduce this music as faithfully as possible. Seeking the best is a good thing and drives manufacturers to create better products for us to increase our enjoyment of this music.

So MichiGoon,
For the DAC portion, if you compare a CD in Cambridge Audio 840C, vs the same song ripped FLAC into Halide Bridge. That's a big upgrade?? Or is it another DAC that you used before? Just trying to see a comparison.

Bryan,

If you're asking if I prefer the sound of the Mac Mini / Halide Bridge over the 840C spinning the same track(s), the answer is yes. Is it a huge upgrade? Well, yes and no.

The 840C is a pretty competent player, but the difference I hear with the MacMini/Bridge combo sounds (simply put) closer to "live". Instruments and vocals have a nuance that makes listening more engaging. I've heard a fair share of live music, and the Mac/Bridge takes me closer to that place. I've never listened to my system and felt as though I could hear or sense the actual space, or venue, the artist was playing in... Until switching to the Bridge. It's delightful. My library is all ripped to Aiff files with FLAC backup. I followed Chris's ripping strategy to the letter. (Thanks again, Chris!)

Again, I also upgraded to Amarra Mini 2.0 about the same time I added the Halide Bridge, and it’s likely that the Amarra software deserves some of the credit.

Recent posts on this thread allude to the audiophile’s compunction to switch USB cables, etc., in pursuit of something better. How true. I've done more than my share of cable swapping (lots of them still in my closet), but right now... I’m happy to just listen. I’ve no desire to change a thing.

Why won't my wife believe me?

So I have had the Bridge for about a month now. Listened probably 2 hours average daily, probably more, I just hate to admit it.

The Bridge is replacing the Musiland 02US in my system, and before that the AMB Gamma 2(diy converter/dac), and before that the EMU0404usb.

My system consists of a Lenovo thinkpad T500 laptop, Halide Bridge, Genesis Digital Lens(in and out of the chain), EAD DSP 7000mkIII, Kevin Gilmore Dynamite(Balanced version of the Dynahi and also DIY built by myself), Grado SR225 recabled by me in Mogami, and my own personally modded and balanced Denon 2000s. I have briefly used Event TR-8 direct field active monitors with my amp, but not really enough to get a feel for the sound. Due to circumstances I use headphones most of the time. My player is Foobar 2000 v1.0.

My main music used for listening is by Fourplay. Album is also Fourplay, and my fav track for evaluation is also titled Fourplay, but I really dig every song on this album. I'm a Bob James fan yes.

My impressions pretty much mimic Michigoon's own. I chuckled a little when I read his first post. I was also pretty disappointed at first. My most familiar tracks were suddenly all foreign to me, and sounded very strange. Immediately noticable was the improved bass definition and presence. It took all of 2 weeks for my ears and brain to fully acclimate to the new signature. I sort of assumed that someone like Chris would not find a device like this to impart a foreign sound in his setup because he is accustomed to listening to a better system where everything is in place and in time correctly. So I listened every day, and slowly things came into place as I adjusted to the new sound. I put the Musiland 02 back into the chain yesterday(it's been about a month since I last listened to it) and was pretty floored at the difference. The Bridge does everything better. Soundstaging, both width and depth. Very even across the board, and subterranean bass definition, grunt and growl to make me grin like a possum. Not too much or too little of anything in any area, as compared to my previous converters. I still own and listened to them all except the Gamma 2(sold) for this listening comparison.

Also notable is how much I have turned the volume down while using the Bridge. I'm not sure the dac is putting out any more volume but my listening levels are almost half of what they were before, and at increased detail and clarity.

I also listened to a modded Valab (one of the lastest Valabs with output caps replaced with Vcap+Sonicap per Steve Nugent's suggestion) that I've owned for some time now. While it lacks the last bit of top and bottom extension it is indeed a good listen as used with the Bridge.

The Bridge is, for me, definitely a keeper. It has taken my level of listening enjoyment to a very comfortable and satisfactory place where I am immersed in all of the detail and realism that I thought would never happen without a much bigger pocketbook.

I would like to echo Chris' comment about the guys at Halide/Devilsound. I have corresponded quite a bit by email and even by phone, and "good guys" is an understatement for me. Hope to meet them at an event soon. Thanks a ton Jonathan.

I currently have a Bridge breaking in along with some other gear so I am reserving my comments on sound until I give it a good long listen (which I'm looking forward to) but I will say like others have posted above is that the communication and attitude of Halide/devilsound is excellent.

Every time I contacted them with some question I would get a response in a timely manner that is well written and fully detailed. I have to say it's been refreshing and a huge plus.

Cheers

I can't agree more

To quote Chris from the initial review,
"After every conversation I always said to myself, "These guys are really cool, really smart, and have great potential in high end audio." There's a lot to like about the unjaded enthusiasm and ideals of Jonathan and Aaron. Never once have they talked about high margins and snake oil. It's really refreshing to hear their ideas about new high quality products at relatively reasonable prices. These guys are not in the business to separate people form their money. Jonathan and Aaron really have a passion for creating great sounding and innovative audio products."

I thought the same after a long telephone conversation with Jonathan.