I prefer -9dB but if you can't hear any difference no need to worry.
Nick,
The MDAC is a better DAC then the CDQ - do we have a salvaged unit for you? I could add AV bypass to your MDAC to tie you over until MDAC2 is ready (as I'm so late on the project).
Sorry for putting you in this situation - its 1.20am here in Czech and I'm still working on the PCB layout of the Analogue PCB.
He thinks, and he has data to back it up, that "packet noise' is a major problem for most ways of getting data to the DAC receiver chips, including USB, and that design of the power distribution networks in the DAC is going to be crucial in minimising the effects of this noise. I hope I've summarised him correctly; the full spiel is #211 at
Hi John, I don't have a salvaged unit, just my one here. If it's not too much trouble I would gladly ship it to you, this really would be a great help. If it's ok I'll email you. Thanks
"Cheaper" consumer devices tend to use Optical Toslink - Toslink is generally frowned upon by the HiFi industry.
The Digital output can also be used a Clock output for Clock-locked external CD transport etc. Normally the digital output is used for Digital sub-woofers, processor & recorders etc.
The MDAC2 has 3 optical inputs.
Its not possible to replace the MDAC's Coax Sockets with optical receivers as they have a very different PCB footprint and circuit requirements.
Is there a reason your using the SPDIF output from your sound card instead of the USB port which will give you higher performance?
Thanks, great DAC by the way.
I am using USB at the moment but the cable is 5 metres, my PC is across the other side of the bedroom. Tends to cut out every now and then and I get the flush the buffer message. I assumed Coax would get me 192 kHz quality - at the moment I am listening to a 192kHz test track and the MDAC display still says 24bit/96.0kHz.
http://www.linnrecords.com/linn-downloads-testfiles.aspx
Downloaded them from here.
ultraviolet,
Over SPDIF the MDAC will replay what is sent to it upto 192KHz - so for some reason your PC is down-sampling before sending to the MDAC (which is never a good thing) - good luck trying to find out where and why!
Are you sure you sound card can support 192KHz?
Most x-fi soundcards haveGood point, I assumed it could. Audigy X-Fi. Best check that!
http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=56197Supports Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) format of up to 24-bit/96 kHz quality
Seems your sound card can only support 96KHz via SPDIF
"Supports Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) format of up to 24-bit/96 kHz quality
S/PDIF output at selectable sampling rate of 44.1, 48 or 96 kHz"