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smccull

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  1. Hi All, I just received a M2Tech HiFace USB to SPDIF interface and am having problems getting it to work with my Altmann DAC. I'm running J River Music MC14 -> M2Tech HiFace -> Altmann Attraction DAC -> 300B amps. I plan to add either a preamp or an integrated amp later so I don't have to do volume control on the PC. I've tried Direct and WASAPI and Direct modes in Media Center but seem to be getting no sound out whatsoever. I've tried all the tests on teh HiFace driver and have tried every setting on the Altmann toggle switches. Can anyone make a suggestion? Thanks! Steve
  2. Here's the latest from my dialogue with Charles. He's quite confident! > Thanks so much for the fast response. I guess what I'm not clear on is what > happens if I play 24 bit music on the Attraction. Will it throw away bits? yes, it will play the upper 16 bits and just throw away the lower 8 bits. > Will that impact fidelity? The lower 8 bit of a so-called '24-bit' signal just contains garbage anyway. > In other words, will it sound better or worse > than 24 bit (or 1 bit) DACs. I'm not much of a digital expert, so just want > to understand this from a layman's perspective. From a layman's perspective and for the real experience, the Attraction DAC will supply superior sound quality compared to any other dac, whether you feed it 16 or 24 bit. Charles
  3. Here's what Charles Altmann replied with. Not sure what he means by 24 bit vs. 1 bit DACs. "It is a true 16-bit DAC which also accepts 24 bit signals. By true 16 bit I mean, that it is not one of those '24-bit' DACs which in reality are only 1-bit."
  4. I haven't heard from Charles Altmann yet, but I did find this from the Enjoy the Music review several years ago... "In my experience, designs based on the sigma-delta chip tend to sound bright and/or lack convincing timbre accuracy. Altmann Micro Machines’ progenitor, Charles Altmann, is much more empathic about this issue. In his opinion, there is no music possible with sigma-delta DACs. In his experience R2R chips are the only way to achieve a listenable sound quality. However, the type of R2R chip used, he feels, is of far less importance than the skill of the designer. While from a technical standpoint he appreciates R2R type DACs such as the Burr-Brown PCM1704 (true 24-bit noise-free resolution), they are not necessarily well suited to zero oversampling applications. He believes that he has been able to push the Philips TDA1543 dual 16-bit DAC to incredible results. Incidentally, by virtue of its single +5V voltage rail, it is compatible with battery power supplies. Some might consider the TDA1543 as a relic from a bygone era, but its low-cost, potential for good sound and compatibility with battery power have made it a favorite with many designers. In fact, three of the four DACs reviewed herein use this particular chip." Which leaves me with my original question, what happens when 24 bit files are played through a 16 bit DAC? Thanks! Steve
  5. Chris, Thanks for the reply. To be honest with you, I'm not completely sure. I know the version I have supports 192kHz but all the research I've done says it's a 16 bit DAC. I'll write to Mr. Altmann himself and report back. If it is 16 bit, what does that mean for 24 bit recordings? Steve
  6. I have an Altmann Attraction DAC which I run with a RWA modified Squeezebox as the digital source. I am considering bypassing the SB and going direct from my PC with a USB to SPDIF interface so that I can take advantage of some of higher rez formats such as 96/24 and 192/24. My understanding is that the Attraction is a 16 bit DAC, so here's my question. What will happen when I play these files through the Altmann? Will they play? Will I lose some of that resolution? Please use laymans terms, as I'm not too technical, especially when it comes to digital. I understand the basics of sample rate, but word length is a bit lost on me. Many thanks! Steve
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