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[HiFiTubes]

Finally got my DAC capable of 192kHz and something really strange is going on.

The Lynx is set to auto-change sample rate.

I can play any sample rate except 192kHz connected via AES:

• Playback starts in MC, and runs smooth with EQs.
• Lynx Card mixer strips light up as active, but do not have vu meters "filled".
• DAC locks to 192kHz sample rate, just as it does for any other sample rate

What should I try next besides the USB w/ WASAPI.

Just seems like MC isn't passing anything to the Lynx. I did try setting DSP to re-sample to 192 as well. Lynx issue?

thanks
Jon

[gappie]

not sure if this helps, but i just changed the dsp to 192 and the signal comes through nicely to my rme card in 192 kHz. im using asio though (no wasapi on my xp)

 
gab

btw: did you come from a different sample rate before. i sometimes had problems switching sample rates without stopping playback. mc has a new setting that could help (did not test it) . its under options>audio>settings>play silence at startup for hardware synchronization.

[Alex B]

I guess very few of us have Lynx products, but you did not make helping easy. You could have provided the exact model names and description of the configuration. What is the actual audio device in the Windows system? Is that driver generally capable of handling 192 KHz? Does it work at 192 KHz in any circumstances? (Like with some other player or perhaps when audio is outputted from an audio editing program.)

AES? (do you mean LYNX AES16?)
USB w/ WASAPI ?  (Lynx USB?)

In general, the recent use of the word DAC is confusing. It used to literally mean "Digital to Analog Converter" - a dedicated chip that was usually a part of system that consist of several other components as well. If that kind of system was designed to output audio from a computer it was called a sound card or perhaps a sound device (especially if it was external and thus not a "card").

[JimH]

Maybe USB DAC would be better?

[Alex B]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital-to-analog_converter

[JimH]

Alex,
I know more or less what a DAC does.  Bits to waves.  But the devices that people are buying are called USB DAC's. 

http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/USBDACS/USBDACS.html
http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/ayre_acoustics_qb-9_usb_dac/

I agree there is some confusion.  Can you propose a solution?

Jim

[Alex B]

IMHO,

Stand-alone DACs:

- a stand-alone DAC   takes digital input from S/PDIF and/or AES/EBU and outputs analog.

- a stand-alone DAC with a USB interface   is the same as above, but with added circuitry for taking input through USB. Doesn't include other traditional "sound card" features like ADC. This is probably what is mostly meant by "USB DAC".


Sound devices, sound cards, audio interfaces, etc:

- designed specifically for computer use. In addition to DAC conversion can include features like ADC for inputting analog audio, digital audio outputs, digital audio inputs, adjustable headphone outputs, mic preamps, etc. Some typical variants:

- Internal: PCI, PCie
- External: USB, FireWire (aka IEEE 1394)
- Built-in on motherboard

[HiFiTubes]

The Lynx AES16 is the transport in this case feeding a "DAC" (a standalone DAC).

The DAC, like many nowadays, has multiple digital inputs, one of which is USB capable of 192kHz.

I'm going to try Foobar, Wavelab, Samplitude, and the USB input tonight.

Like I said, using Lynx ASIO, I have no problems until MC plays 192kHz files.

[Alex B]

http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/USBDACS/USBDACS.html
http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/ayre_acoustics_qb-9_usb_dac/

Apparently many "high end" manufacturers offer USB DACs without an S/PDIF (or AES/EBU) input. Probably they would like to sell a separate stand-alone DAC for the customer's CD player.

I'd rather buy more versatile pro audio products like Lynx.

[HiFiTubes]

Apparently many "high end" manufacturers offer USB DACs without an S/PDIF (or AES/EBU) input. Probably they would like to sell a separate stand-alone DAC for the customer's CD player.

I'd rather buy more versatile pro audio products like Lynx.

Gordon Rankin of Wavelength has been a long proponent of async USB. I think he only feels that only BNC can be a viable alternative, but even then his stance is that embedded clock in the serial data is a problem. It is nice to have a DAC with multiple protocols, I agree.

Regarding the semantics, I hear people using "DAC chip" now vs. "DAC", to distinguish the conversion processor vs the box (circuitry, output stage, etc.) it is housed in.

[Alex B]

The Lynx AES16 is the transport in this case feeding a "DAC" (a standalone DAC).

The DAC, like many nowadays, has multiple digital inputs, one of which is USB capable of 192kHz.

I see. Then:

ASIO > Lynx AES16

Lynx is the sound device. Windows and MC connect its device driver. The separate DAC is not anyhow visible to MC.

USB > USB DAC

The sound device is the USB DAC. Inside Windows it may be the standard Windows USB audio device or a device that was created by the manufacturer's driver.

I'm going to try Foobar, Wavelab, Samplitude, and the USB input tonight.

Wavelab would be a good program for testing ASIO. ASIO was invented by Steinberg.

Like I said, using Lynx ASIO, I have no problems until MC plays 192kHz files.

Could you try: MC 192 KHz output > ASIO > Lynx digital output > Lynx digital input > ASIO > Wavelab 192 KHz recording? If it works then the DAC may have a problem with Lynx's 192 KHz output.

[HiFiTubes]

I have another DAC that has an AES input and can do 192kHz.

I'll try that first and then try a 192kHz loopback recording.

[HiFiTubes]

Problem solved. Weird Lynx mixer bug; hopefully they do a firmware update soon.

WASAPI plays back great in MC with no clicks or pops during view changes.