Any Notebook Soundcard w output 24-192khz? and more Qs.
Any Notebook Soundcard w output 24-192khz? and more Qs.
Submitted by narutium on Wed, 2011-05-18 00:35Hello there.
As a Benchmark Dac 1 pre user, I can only have access to half Dac-1 Pre's full capability through its USB connection.
I hooked up my Levinson amp directly with Dac 1 bypassing pre-amp. Another layer of electronic is removed.
Better clarity is immediately noticed.
I want to try Dac 1 pre full capability with 2L file 24 bits-192 khz. but i couldn't SPDIF / Digital coax. is not an option for Notemook-laptop soundcard. there is no optical output for notebook at all. As far as I know.
My questions
1-) Is there any sound card available in the market designed for notebook that can give out 24 bits / 192 khz?
I want a test of 24 bits - 192 khz.. I want to try Benchmark Full potential.
2-) Some monster files from 2L are released into the wild. ; 24 bits 384 khz are available for test
I believe there is no way Dac 1 pre can process such file. (its beyond design spec, maybe have to wait for another generation of Dac 1)
3-) Bit-transparent.
I had used VLC for all musics/ song. until last few weeks, somebody mentioned about Foobar2000 and ASIO.
will these two programs make Dac 1 pre sound better? any ida
4-) Super-expensive system with Benchmark = Constricted dynamic?
last week I brought with me a laptop, portable HD and Dac 1 Pre to Levinson's boutique shop.
Storekeeper hooked up the following.
-----------------------
Revel Salon 2 (bi-wired)
Mark Levinson No.532 Amp (balanced-hoop up)
Mark Levinson No.326 Pre-amp (we bypassed Preamp in the begining)
XRCD Kenny G and XRCD24 JVC sample I
and my tiny Benchmark Dac 1 Pre
-----------------------
It surpised me as the store keeper had noticed constricted dynamic when these components work together.
Music as he explained sounded flat.
I have so far never experienced or noticed "flat/constriced" dynamic from DAC 1 Pre before.
The storekeeper admitted he has rarely used Stand-alone Dac with expensive system (the one i mentioned)
He suspected it would sound better if Pre-amp is brought back in the audio chain.
Levinson Amp 334, with B&W 804 speakers are my home system. it's considered tidy compared to the set I put Benchmark through. I personally couldn't say if music/song dynamic is constricted. it sounds perfect.
Is it possible that only in a rare circumstance like in an ultra expensive system that DAC 1 pre shows its limitation.
Thank you.
Any Notebook soundcard w/24/192 output?
Hello,
I'm glad you noticed the improvement that the Benchmark DACs can make in a system. As concerns a laptop sound card for 24/192 output, I don't know of any. However, I would suggest you check out the M2Tech USB to SPDIF adaptor. It will let you play up to 24/192 files via USB to the Benchmark's coax input. We have tested it and found it to be bit perfect. There are others available, but at much higher prices. As far as software, both VLC and Foobar are bit-perfect and should work well for you.
The comments by the store keeper are obviously his opinion. If anything, it should have sounded very dynamic. Does it sound constricted to you? I've not heard that comment from anyone, that I recall. I would go with your original statement that "when another layer of electronics is removed", "better clarity is immediately noticed". This concurs with what many of our customers have reported to us. The Benchmark is a great dac and preamp. They are very neutral and reveal what is on the recording. The limitation in high end system will not be the Benchmark.
Best regards,
Rory Rall
Hello, I am having troubles
Hello,
I am having troubles to play the 24/192 format files through my Benchmark DAC1 HDR using the Toslik cable. I have a laptop Acer with Toslink/SPDIF output combined with 3.5mm phone jack. In order to use a Toslink cable I have an adaptor wich allowed to use optical connection between laptop to DAC.
Laptop (Windows Vist Ultimate) soundcard properties showing 24/192 sound out Okay, but the Bechmark does not play...
Though, through the same connection it plays 24/96 just fine.
Any ideas?
Thank-you
Andrew
Two Routes to DAC1’s 24/196 S/PDIF & More...
Hello,
Two routes to the DAC1’s 24/196 S/PDIF coaxial connection are 1) Sound card with S/PDIF out installed in a desktop (too big for laptop); 2) USB to S/PDIF converter. I see that Rory Rall mentioned the M2Tech as a choice. I’ll mention the Halide Bridge and Berkeley Audio Design converters as contenders at different prices points. John Atkinson of Stereophile has a positive review of the Halide and Robert Harley of Absolute Sound magazine reviewed the Berkeley very highly. I don’t own either, I was just impressed with the reviews.
Something came to mind about your listen to your DAC1 in the stereo store’s system. How about the computer and music player program you used; they are significant variables in the audio chain. Possibly the dealer’s high end system pointed out issues here, not with the DAC1, that just don't surface in your home system. I say this without any intent of negativity or criticism, just to raise some ideas that might help.
You used VLC so I guess your laptop is a PC. Was it running XP, Vista, or Win7? From what I’ve read at several sources, Win7 with J River Media Center music player set to use WASAPI is a top performance combo right now and XP and Vista are getting left behind. Also, did you play music ripped from CD to PC hard drive? I have read at several sources that dbPoweramp or Exact Audio Copy rippers are best for PC with their “accurate rip” feature that helps guarantee bit perfect.
Some experts opine it’s best to say goodbye to the PC and say hello to Steven Jobs. A building consensus is Mac with iTunes enhanced by Amarra or Pure Music software gets the best, easy-to-use overall sound system. I am wrestling with this issue myself about changing platforms. I bring all this up not just because it is provocative, rather to point out variations in the frontend that can affect music and to question if the variable was the DAC1.
DAC1Pre
Hello,
You certainly can experience 24/192 playback with the DAC1Pre, but not on the USB input which is limited to 24/96, so that 3rd party drivers are not required. As far as sound cards are concerned, some that we have tested were not "bit transparent", and therefore we cannot recommend them for accurate playback. If you don't want to let the player/pc downsample to 96kHz (which will sound excellent), you might want to consider one of the USB converters on the market that accept up to 24/192 via USB and output digitally to 75ohm coax. One that we have tested and can recommend is a unit made by M2Tech which sells for around $150. The output of this is then fed to the Benchmark for playback of up to 24/192 files.
Many of the players are good. Foobar, VLC, JRiver, etc. will all playback properly. To sound their best requires proper setting up of the computer. Please review our Computer Setup Guide at http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/wiki/index.php/Computer_Audio_Playback_-_Setup_Guide
It's interesting about the storekeeper's comments about constricted dynamics when using the DAC1Pre as the preamp. You've not found that to be the case, right? Nor have other users of the Benchmark DAC series, or reviewers. Possibly the storekeeper had to believe that the preamp ($$$) he sells has to sound better than a small DAC that includes a preamp
I don't think the Benchmark is a limitation in any system, no matter the cost. Many, many Benchmark customers have tried our converters as the preamp in their system, and ended up replacing their expensive preamps with the Benchmark.
I hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Rory Rall