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KevinDoyle

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  1. I cancelled my Metrum order before receiving it, but I had asked a similar question on this and a number of other forums and the consensus seemed to be that you will need an excellent USB to SPDIF converter to make the most of it with a computer source. Audiophilleo AP2 at $579 seemed highly recommended, as well as John Kenny's JKSPDIF Mk III, which is a bit less money and battery powered. The Wavelenght Audio Wavelink was also highly recommended, but is a bit more money at $900. I have no experience with the Bolder mods to the Touch or the TCKonnect, but since you've already got the Metrum and the Macmini is coming, there's no reason to look into a converter to make the most of it. I believe both companies offer 30 day trials, and both would enable you to continue using your USB cable. Good luck!
  2. Or the Kingrex UC192. It's another under $200 converter that has gotten good press. BTW, I think it's inaccurate for the salesperson to say "most guys" using the Rega DAC use converters. I'm sure "most" just use the USB as is and don't worry about converters. Yes, it;s limited, but it sounds fine. I own the Rega DAC, but mostly use it with the Apollo R and Squeezebox via SPDIF.
  3. Actually, Seth, that's the plan. Try the AP first and see how it goes from there. Given that the Metrum will be feeding into a tube integrated and then into Harbeth mini-monitors, I don't think the increased resolution will create any problems in my particular system. Of course, I could be wrong, but there's only one way to find out. The 30 day trial will give me enough time to determine if it's a fit. And if it isn't, I'm just looking at return shipping costs. One thing that occurred to me, in relation to the Wavelink. With like cables included, the AP2 is $616. The Wavelink is $900. Viewed in one way, it's only $286. But, viewed another way, it's still a 33% difference in price. Not a huge difference but I prefer to start as low as possible. Anyway, the proof will be in the listening. It's beginning to look like I won't have the Metrum until next week, so I won't order until it's in house, to get the most out of the trial period on the AP.
  4. Seth, I think you got lucky. If I found a Wavelength for that price I would go for it. As far as the minor issue, that doesn't strike me as too unusual after a week of reading about different people's experiences with varied converters. With so many disparate elements there are bound to be issues. I would add the Sonore unit to the list for the same reason. From my limited time of reading through the forum, Barrow does strike me as a straight shooter. But, I've pretty much decided that the most I want to spend on additional hardware to make the Metrum work in my system is around $600. So, I will start with the AP2 audition, which carries with it a minimal return postage cost if I don't like it. If I love it, I'm done. If I don't like it, I will probably then explore the JKSPDIF Mk III before considering spending more on a converter or selling the Metrum. I've been back and forth all week between the AP2 and JKSPDIF, as far as which to audition first. In the end, the ease with which I could use the present hardware around the house was an important consideration for me. And with 2 laptops running Linux, I would prefer not to have them excluded from use because of driver issues. I just hope the AP2 sounds right to me in my system. It'd make my life easier. We'll see! As an aside, I heard the Thiel 3.7s driven by PrimaLuna at Newport and it sounded very good.
  5. Thanks, all! This has been very helpful. I think I will write off the Pure Power option, as well as any idea of the AP1. Thanks, Bill and CrimsonDonkey! So, it just remains to decide between the AP2 and the JKSPDIF Mk. III. I tend to agree with Michael's sentiment. The system I will be using is sufficiently different from the one John Darko was using that most of the concerns he raised would likely be a non-issue in this case. And I would have 30 days to decide. I will likely be using various laptops while I await the next MacMini release. One of them runs Linux and it'd be nice to be able to use it in the interim. And the AP2 has iOS support, which is nice. I'm leaning toward the AP2 right now, but won't order anything until the Metrum arrives next week.
  6. I have an extra PC not getting much use. It has an i3 processor and 6GB RAM. I am thinking I will intall a copy of JPLAY on it, and go from there for now. Given that I would be using a desktop, not built to any special spec and likely with a noisy power supply even plugged into a PS Audio Quintet, does any see any potential problem with that? Or see any reason to use one converter over another, given that fact? I don't think I'll hold off. I imagine the Hex will be more expensive than the Octave, of a greater order than adding a sub-$1000 converter, and there is a limit in how much I am willing to invest in this digital front end at this time. This just needs to get me through the next 2 years. Then I'll be looking for something higher up the food chain.
  7. Thank you! I'll definitely add it to the list of potential candidates. It sounds very very promising, from a technical standpoint. How does it sound? Have you tried it yet? Given that I haven't even received the DAC yet, and have some standby options to hold me over, I'm not in a terrific rush to decide, so I will look into it.
  8. Bill, thanks for the reply. I've seen a number of your posts and know you have handled a lot of this gear. And I know you and others have expressed a preference for the Off Ramp, but was never sure if it was stock or with the Dual Turboclock, Hynes regulator, and/or Monolith Power Supply. I have a question for you. How is your outfitted? And assuming one were willing to spend $1400, and was considering the AP1 w. PP, how would you rate that in comparison to a standard Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 5 at $1300.
  9. You've actually been immensely helpful. Thank you. I agree about the possibility of the accompanying equipment variable, beyond the converter and dac themselves. Because I'll be using various laptops and desktops with the converter, I think the PP option will be necessity for me, much as I'd prefer to pocket the cash. I'll probably just go ahead and audition the AP2, given the 30 day trial period. And I do have a Wavelength dealer nearby I can check with regarding a WaveLink audition. I am still hoping to hear from JKSPDIF owners because it is less than half the price for a battery operated unit, but I do like the 3 year warranty, openness with regard to drivers, and ability to get service within the US for the AP2, even if the price is not as appealing as the JKSPDIF.
  10. I am looking for a USB to SPDIF converter to use with a Metrum Octave DAC. The primary ones under consideration are: 1. JKSPDIF Mk III ($460) 2. Audiophilleo 2 with Pure Power ($999) 5. Wavelength Audio WaveLink ($900) These configuration would be computer->USB to SPDIF->Metrum Octave->Rogue Cronus->Harbeth P3ESR Aside from the obvious cost consideration favoring the JKSPDIF Mk III and Linux support favoring the Audiophilleo, can anyone comment on how the sound compares for any of the units? I would prefer to hear from Metrum owners and owners of the aforementioned converters, but any other recommendations from owners of similar USB to SPDIF converters using them with the Metrum Octave would be appreciated. The reason for asking before looking further is that I came across these comments from John Darko on the DAR website. "How does the Audiophilleo compare to the JKSPDIF? I get asked this question a lot. I've tried them both with a wide array of budget DACs over many, many months. There really isn't that much to separate them sonically. I could happily live with either (in the long-term) but I distinctly preferred the JKSPDIF with the Metrum Octave - it seemed to bring out more elasticity and tame some of the glassiness." "Last week a buddy and I sat down to compare four different DACs. Whilst I won't divulge the conclusions here (this piece is about transports, remember?), we both agreed that the Audiophilleo seemed to overcook the upper-mids on a couple of decoding boxes. This wrinkle was ironed flat with a digital attenuator. The JKSPDIF MK3 seems to be kinder/gentler overall. Perhaps it's the battery technology?" Can anyway comment as to whether or not they have shared his experience of the Audiophilleo? I believe his experience was without the Pure Power unit, and I was wondering how much of a change that had brought to the table for Audiophilleo owners, understanding that all of this is system dependent.
  11. David, Thanks for the great review. Between your positive comments and those in this Head-Fi review, it seemed like a no-brainer: http://www.head-fi.org/t/581815/review-audioengine-d1-24-96-usb-and-optical-dac-amp-for-laptops-and-computers-in-progress I've had my A2's for over a year without a problem, and expect to enjoy this for quite a while. Thanks again for the great review. I'll be running it primarily off an older Gateway SX model, so we'll see how it does with the noisier power supply. No matter what, it'll be a pleasant ergonomic change from my current VALAB DAC. And it'll be nice to break out my Senn HD650s on this and see how it goes. Cheers! Kevin
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