I can highly recommend the Monarchy DIP. I have the non upsampling model and the difference it made to the Wadia dock was very significant. Haven't tried with a PC set up however.
Reducing PC Jitter
Hi Everyone.
It is my understanding that (1) one of the issues w/ obtainig good music sound from a computer is jitter and (2) there is more jitter with a USB out than w/ optical or coax out.
In reading this and other Forums and articles in the zines (both hard copy and on-line), it appears to me that to address jitter, especially w/ USB out, one needs a high end USB DAC w/ internal jitter reduction (like starting with the $3000 Bel Canto DAC3 and moving up to the over $8000 range like Wavelenght and Empirical). Or, one could use a "cheap" DAC in the $200 to $500 range (w/o much jitter reduction)in conjunction with a USB to coax and/or optical converter which also has jitter reduction capabiltiy (like a Monarchy DIP ($250 to $300), the new Bel Canto USB Link ($495), an Empirical Off-Ramp 3 w/Superclock4 ($999 to $1425) or an Altmann JISCO ($500 if you can find one).
The most I can spend in 2009 on a solution for USB to analog preamp connection is $500. I see my choices as either:
> a $500 USB DAC, or
> a Monarchy DIP ( I have an inexpensive Behringer USB to optical converter to connect to a DIP) plus a $200 DAC.
Alternatively, I can limp along for a year and save up for either (1) the Off-Ramp3 plus a $500 DAC or (2)a $1500 USB DAC that has decent jitter reduction.
Any advice would be appreciated.
It is my understanding that (1) one of the issues w/ obtainig good music sound from a computer is jitter and (2) there is more jitter with a USB out than w/ optical or coax out.
In reading this and other Forums and articles in the zines (both hard copy and on-line), it appears to me that to address jitter, especially w/ USB out, one needs a high end USB DAC w/ internal jitter reduction (like starting with the $3000 Bel Canto DAC3 and moving up to the over $8000 range like Wavelenght and Empirical). Or, one could use a "cheap" DAC in the $200 to $500 range (w/o much jitter reduction)in conjunction with a USB to coax and/or optical converter which also has jitter reduction capabiltiy (like a Monarchy DIP ($250 to $300), the new Bel Canto USB Link ($495), an Empirical Off-Ramp 3 w/Superclock4 ($999 to $1425) or an Altmann JISCO ($500 if you can find one).
The most I can spend in 2009 on a solution for USB to analog preamp connection is $500. I see my choices as either:
> a $500 USB DAC, or
> a Monarchy DIP ( I have an inexpensive Behringer USB to optical converter to connect to a DIP) plus a $200 DAC.
Alternatively, I can limp along for a year and save up for either (1) the Off-Ramp3 plus a $500 DAC or (2)a $1500 USB DAC that has decent jitter reduction.
Any advice would be appreciated.