jaydub

So I've been looking a USB alternative to the Asus Essence STX II PCI-e card that is an all-in-one solution (output and input). And the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 seems like a viable alternative. Has both analog and digital (SPDIF) inputs and outputs, so I could use as a DAC for computer output (via USB or SPDIF), as well as recording. I have a headphone amp that I like so I don't need a high-end one inside the DAC, and will use a Rolls A/B box to toggle between speakers and headphones. Are there any limitations to this setup, compared to the Asus? Any thoughts on sound quality compared to the Asus?

This helps a lot. I guess there's really no way to tell if a particular file was sampled at 192 from original source material vs. upsampled from CD, is there? So the music labels make source material available to certain vendors for them to upsample to hi-rez, I presume?

What is the difference between native and upsampling. Can you unpack your statement, it would be very helpful because I've seen this statement before about my DAC and I don't know what it means. It important that I know what you are talking about.

I've done A/B tests comparing my Auzentech Meridian digital out > Digital Link III > Heed Canamp > K701's with redbook CD as the source vs. the same but using the Meridian analog out and bypassing the outboard DAC. It's very difficult for me to tell the difference. I'm not sure that it matters, but I just took a hearing test on the internet and I cannot hear anything above 13kHz (not a complete surprise...I'm 59 and have listened to my share of loud music). So for me perhaps this is all academic!! The Digital Link III has USB/coaxial and upsamples everything to 24-bit 96 or 192 (except USB is limited to 96). What are the features / technologies / advancements that have been made since 2008 that would be absent on my III?

That card may make a lot of sense. With the Heed Canamp headphone amp ($500), I really don't need a top flight headphone section. Also, it has S/PDIF in and Midi in/out, which the Asus doesn't have. Interesting connectivity, being able to change from phono to rca by reversing the card. - What I'm not quite sure about is whether or not this card is set up to accommodate L/R stereo or single channel inputs (mic's, instruments, etc). - You say line level only....wouldn't that apply to the Asus as well? - What makes you come to the conclusion that sound quality is better than the Asus, given that the Asus also has 24-bit/192kHz? Specs for Asus are: Analog Playback Sample Rate and Resolution : 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit Analog Recording Sample Rate and Resolution : 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit S/PDIF Digital Output : 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit ASIO Driver Support : 44.1K/48K/88.2K/96K/176.4K/192KHz @ 16bit/24bit

I really appreciate all the insight you've provided on this website. I'd like to have a simple solution, which would be the Xonar...line in, line out, digital out, headphone amp, and all internal. So, I'll probably get that for starters, then build out separates as need and knowledge dictate.

Thanks for the info. I haven't been in the audio world for some time. When you are referring to hi-rez files, do you mean SACD and DVD-Audio. I thought that those formats were practically defunct, esp. DVD-Audio. How are they a meaningful factor in decision making? Or is there some successor to those that is the latest and greatest, and if so, what medium is it produced on?

Thanks for all the input. Very helpful. - Is the Asus Essence STX II a worthwhile upgrade to the ALC1150 found on the Asus Z170 Premium M/B ($400 M/B)? - Any examples of third party software to be used with an outboard DAC? - I have a Parasound Digital Link III, which at this point is pretty long in the tooth. What would I have to spend on a new DAC to make a meaningful upgrade in audio quality? Any recommendations in the $300-500 range?

I'm building a new PC based on a Skylake 6700K CPU using an Asus Z170 Motherboard. My current PC has the following equipment that I was going to transfer to the new setup: BlueSky 2.1 Powered Speakers AKG K701 Headphones w/Heed CanAmp Headphone Amp I haven't finalized a decision on what to do about sound. I only need two channel. I'm considering an ASUS Essence STX II 2- channel internal PCI-e card: https://www.asus.com/us/Essence-Hi-Fi-Audio/Essence_STX_II/ I'm also looking into external DAC's because I'm a concerned about electrical interference potentially degrading the sound of an internal card. But I'm unclear on two issues. A lot of DAC's simply have a USB connection, analog out, and maybe digital in. If I go with that solution: how do I get analogue sound into the computer without using the crappy on-board audio? internal cards come with software that enable you to manipulate the sound, define sampling rate, equalize, help with speaker placement, sound profiles, define DSP mode, etc. I may be wrong, but it seems that most simple DAC's don't come with any software at all, which seems quite limiting. What am I missing...do people use third party software...do people care? Any insight would be most helpful. Many thanks.