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
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.
Check out John Darkos review. He prefers the JKMk3 to the AP2 with the Octave, It's smoother and less digital.

I have the JKmk3 with my Octave fed by a 2011 Mac mini using Bitperfect or Audirvana plus up sampled to 176khz and it sounds great.

Elberoth2: I had the latest HiFace2 and was getting very annoying clicks and pops. Sometimes I would get 1-2 second pauses in playback also. I' running PureMusic. Have you heard of anyone having these issues? So at the end of the day, which one do you prefer?
Devilboy - I had the same issue with HiFace 2 in my system (PC server running Win 7/64 + Jriver 17 + Jplay), but changing the buffer size from 1 to 2 samples, solved the problem.

dCS U-Clock and Stello U3 - which are also XMOS chip based designs, just like like the HiFace 2 - also displayed the very same issue, so I concluded that this problem was Xmos chip specific. At least in my system.