Both the Rega Fono A2D and the MDAC are Slave USB devices - they can only be connected to a Master device (USB Host) such as a computer.
The MDAC2 L3 has an internal ADC so will not require an external ADC.
The MDAC2 L3, ADC version = Analogue inputs will require a Phono Pre-amplifier - later I'll release a Phono Gain stage with an EQ bypass option so RIAA EQ can be performed in the Digital domain.
Re. DSD-capability.
Since the MDAC2 is able to handle DSD, I would be interested in knowing how much cpu/ram power is needed for a computer player to replay DSD.
1) Will the Raspberry Pi be enough?
2) An Atom DN2800mt pc with 8gb ram + Win Server 2012?
3) Or do you need an i3 /i5 /i7 processor with 8gb ram or more?
The pc / rpi will be used as a dedicated audio computer.
Edit: I already own option 2.
I'm definitely coming round to this point of view. I recently decided to dip a toe into the world of linux, partly in preparation for the arrival of my cubox-i, and partly in preapration for gettign the mdac 2 to work with its embedded board running squeezelite and maybe even lms.What I always find strange is that someone would use windows as the operating system on a computer purely dedicated to playing music. If it is a dedicated system, use an operating system that can be optimized for dedicated/embedded operation, not one optimized for general desktop computing.
And no, this is not about being pro-windows or anti-windows - I can totally see using windows if you also use your computer for other stuff besides playing music. But taking a windows PC, and shutting down "all but essential activities" renders it useless for general use, so why not go for a dedicated solution in the first place?
I get that, but I still think that ultimately having a machine running lms as a server is much better. It can run 24/7 serving music all over the house and can be hidden away in a cupboard.Well obviously you are not able to use the computer whilst music is playing, that is self evident. And yes if you have the luxury of having a dedicated computer for music . . . But many people don't, hence JPLAY's success.
That too. Or any number of similar machines. Or a NAS. My QNAP can run LMS pretty well too, although it can't do DRC.People that don't have a second computer could get a RPI.
And what's more i reckon that most people could lay their hands on a machine capable of running it for nothing, or next to nothing.
Indeed - for a long time my server was a 10-year-old "past it's useful life" ex-desktop machine stuffed away in the boiler room.
Thanks John. I had seen various claims that a high-spec cpu was needed to play back DSD. Perhaps that was only the case if you wanted everything upsampled to DSD?
Cheers, Peter
Okay, thanks. I presume that by "software issue" you mean "firmware / clock" as the OS sees those two subdevices as independent (with independent sample rates) and has no problems using one with different sample rate than the other (tested with onboard Realtek soundcard, under both linux and windows).Jiri,
There is no technical reason the DAC / ADC section could not be used independently, it would be more of a software issue. I guess it would be best that the ADC / DAC sample rates would be the same or multiples of the FS rate (if not the same) such as 44.1 / 88.2 or 48 / 192 etc.
By the way, DoP is just a packaging format, it contains the original DSD data, so even converting DoP to DSD on-the-fly has little overhead. Converting normal PCM to DSD is something completely different (and theoretically not worth doing).Thanks John. I had seen various claims that a high-spec cpu was needed to play back DSD. Perhaps that was only the case if you wanted everything upsampled to DSD?
Cheers, Peter