Recommended USB- SPDIF converter for Metrum Octave


I am looking for a USB to SPDIF converter to use with a Metrum Octave DAC. The primary ones under consideration are:

1. JKSPDIF Mk III ($460)
2. Audiophilleo 2 with Pure Power ($999)
5. Wavelength Audio WaveLink ($900)

These configuration would be computer->USB to SPDIF->Metrum Octave->Rogue Cronus->Harbeth P3ESR

Aside from the obvious cost consideration favoring the JKSPDIF Mk III and Linux support favoring the Audiophilleo, can anyone comment on how the sound compares for any of the units?

I would prefer to hear from Metrum owners and owners of the aforementioned converters, but any other recommendations from owners of similar USB to SPDIF converters using them with the Metrum Octave would be appreciated. The reason for asking before looking further is that I came across these comments from John Darko on the DAR website.

"How does the Audiophilleo compare to the JKSPDIF? I get asked this question a lot. I've tried them both with a wide array of budget DACs over many, many months. There really isn't that much to separate them sonically. I could happily live with either (in the long-term) but I distinctly preferred the JKSPDIF with the Metrum Octave - it seemed to bring out more elasticity and tame some of the glassiness."

"Last week a buddy and I sat down to compare four different DACs. Whilst I won't divulge the conclusions here (this piece is about transports, remember?), we both agreed that the Audiophilleo seemed to overcook the upper-mids on a couple of decoding boxes. This wrinkle was ironed flat with a digital attenuator. The JKSPDIF MK3 seems to be kinder/gentler overall. Perhaps it's the battery technology?"

Can anyway comment as to whether or not they have shared his experience of the Audiophilleo? I believe his experience was without the Pure Power unit, and I was wondering how much of a change that had brought to the table for Audiophilleo owners, understanding that these characterizations are often system dependent.
anonymoustao
Clio,

here's my understanding: the clock inside the Mini is not great, and the output has a lot of jitter. This is true both for optical and USB.
If you choose an asynch USB DAC, then the clock that matters is the one inside the DAC and the Mini is slaved to it, eliminating that source of jitter.
The converter would be used if your DAC didn't have a good asynch USB input. Said converter would have asynch USB input and a very good clock, therefore outputting low jitter optical and making the combo Mini + converter a good transport.
Lewinskih01 pretty much got it right. However, I think he may have meant, "outputting low jitter coax", which would then go to the DAC. I actually had two USB/SPDIF converters: one from Mapleshade and one from M2Tech. The Mapleshade needed a driver to download, (which I never got to work), and the M2Tech caused "clicks" and "pops" through the speakers. I returned both. I'm currently using the VERY high jitter optical output until I figure out how to make the converters work.
Eugene81 - maybe the brightness you were experiencing with the AP1 was a system voicing issue ?

The JK SPDIF mk 3 is indeed smoother sounding tha AP1. However, in my system, the JK SPDIF was actually too laidback, lacking in sparkle and ultimate midrange resolution to the best converters I tried.

I have tried in my system 13 different USB converters, including EA ORT 5, JK mk 3, AP1, M2Tech Evo (with and without the battery PSU and external clock), M2Tech HiFace 2, dCS U-Clock, MF V-Link, Halide Bridge etc.

Devilboy - which M2Tech converter have you tried ? I have tried M2Tech evo and HiFace 2 and didn't have the issues you are describing.