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Majestic DAC

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Graham Slee View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2018 at 12:43am
The U in USB says it all. It is universal. Intended to do all kinds of things. However, it does cater for particular transfer types.

The one for audio is called isochronous. It has guaranteed bandwidth and guaranteed quality of service (latency). There are two downsides if they can be called downsides: 1, lost data is skipped (no retry); and 2, audio bit depth and sampling rates are limited by the isochronous chip manufacturers abilities (within USB2 full-speed). There will only be lost data through faults, and if faults are dealt with, data isn't lost. An example being loading up the host device to its capacity with additional tasks.

There are other types of transfers in which clever manipulators can get greater bit depth and/or sampling rates. However, as these are not isochronous there is no guarantee of bandwidth or quality of service (latency) and playback can unexpectedly stop, or glitch, or become very noisy. The type of audio device which uses this manipulation is known as asynchronous, which means on occasion/as required/not synchronous.

The USB spec does not have a transfer called asynchronous, so such devices use control, interrupt or bulk transfers intended for non-audio streaming to stream audio. But some chips have been outed and shown to use isochronous transfers via software, requiring proprietary drivers, which might well be instructing the host to downsample, allegedly. Wink



Edited by Graham Slee - 23 Jan 2018 at 12:58am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stefanm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2018 at 7:12am
I run the Majestic from a real crappy 10 years old Linux box with very low specs.
Playback has excellent quality. I don't understand the different USB modes, but it simply works. The Majestic was plug & play.
I have mostly flac files with varying quality. No problems either.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BackinBlack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2018 at 12:14pm
I should have mentioned that with USB from computer/laptop there is a possibility of noise coming from their Switch Mode Power Supplies, something I noticed with my Laptop, but not the Raspberry pi with it's SMPS. Running the laptop on battery alone removes the problem. Obviously a source problem and not a Majestic problem.

Ian
Just listen, if it sounds good to you, enjoy it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GuiseleyDavid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2018 at 12:55pm
Thank you everyone. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote dillon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2018 at 3:30pm
Hiya

I'm demoing Madge (Majestic DAC) as we speak! I will put up a proper write up once I'm done, but just to comment on your issue for now. Madge will play anything you throw at her without fail. And without installing drivers. I use JRiver MC software for my 2TB silent audio only PC. Using Madge, I downsample everything to 16 bit - including hyper high resolution DSD128. I have -and never will be - a fan of native USB transmission due to intrinsic noise issues. A seperate regeneration and isolation and reclocking device I do own does sort this out however. The sound via direct USB into the Madge is good. But it's nowhere near as spectacular as SPDIF at 16 bit or 24/192. As opposed to USB, the isolated Coax inputs on Madge lose very little when playing converted DSD128 files through Madge. Native 24 bit files sound sublime. That, my friend, is impressive! And so, using the SPDIF output from your source will work best sound quality wise, but USB is fine for most listeners if they don't have SPDIF. I'm just hyper fussy.

Regardless of USB or SPDIF, what you will definitely take away from Madge is her sheer ability to sound totally natural. Unlike most other DACs you will not get that slightly cold, clinical and metallic overtone you may be used to as a matter of course. It does freak you out at first, and takes some time for our ears to adjust to the nature of natural music from digital. But once they do, you won't be able to listen any other way.

Get a demo sorted, with total confidence. You're wasting nobody's time!
Nottingham Analogue Hyperspace w Space Arm & Dynavector 10x5 HOMC/GSP Revelation M/John Sampson upgraded Meridian 508.24 CDP/Sony 777ES SACD/ProAc Response D18/GSP Solo ULDE/GSP cables and ICs
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 2018 at 3:23pm
My "Madge" takes SPDIF co-ax from a Transporter (Squeezebox), SPDIF optical from a Mac Mini, and analogue from a couple of turntables (via a good switch box).

It gets caned daily. Comes up smiling every time. (Or should that be me that's smiling Big smile).

A demo will tell you why we all like it so much. Wink
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dillon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 2018 at 3:35pm
Yes, she is a bit of a tart our Madge...tends to get around a bit.
Nottingham Analogue Hyperspace w Space Arm & Dynavector 10x5 HOMC/GSP Revelation M/John Sampson upgraded Meridian 508.24 CDP/Sony 777ES SACD/ProAc Response D18/GSP Solo ULDE/GSP cables and ICs
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