earlier Musical Fideltiy V-LInk to new V-Linkll

Hi Dtc,
I haven't opened it up, but I do have photo's saved. The ads clearly say Galvanic isolation all over the place. They don't tell you that it won't play 24/88 or 24/176, I found that on my own and upon emailing they confirmed. They use the Cmedia new CM6610 true USB 2.0 high speed chips. I know that Schiit uses a newer version of this on the Bifrost and there have been lots of post that there are issues playing the same files. My understanding though is that this is the sole difference between the Schiit chip(cm6631?) and this, so my guess is that this chip is the cuprit of why it will not pass these files.
My DAC does have a USB in using the Tenor 7022 which is 24/96 and in this case is not Asynchronous. The Lars Converter, clearly improved over the stock usb in with a touch of focus to instrument placement, It clearly improved just a touch of tightness in the bass and it clearly improved high end extension. I first used this powered by my USB only, it was quiet and smooth, before it was ever completely burned in, I found a 6v 1 amp walwart that I had previously added a cap to and replaced the cord on both ends with heavier guage, surprisingly nice little power supply and I put it on and never really compared or worried about galvanic isolation again.

Thanks Timlub. One of the hotly contested issues, among a small number of people, is that noise from the PC can get into the USB converter through the ground and then into the DAC and potentially influence the electronics and thus the sound. Can you check to see if their is any continuity between the ground on the USB connection (pin 4) and the ground on the S/PDIF output? That would confirm that nothing is getting through to the DAC on the ground. It is great that it allows an external power supply at this price. Any experience with this versus the HiFace? Thanks.

Dtc, I'm at the office, I'll check it out tonight and post. Tim

Thanks. I am not sure I believe that theories about noise on the grounds, but it cannot hurt to try breaking the loop. I know my HiFace is not ground isolated. On the $5,000 Classe CP 800 preamp/DAC with USB input, they tried to galvanically isolate everything put could not because of electrical codes in the US. As a simple converter from Asia, this may not be as much a problem. Some people open up the USB cable and cut the ground to be sure the ground is isolated. Tom

Hi Tom, I opened the box, metered the USB connection to the board, went to the ground on the spdif coax... Nothin... Just to make sure I used pin 4, I went to the opposite side pin on the usb, hit the ground on the spdif... nothin. Put my trusty Fluke on the coax ground trace to the board, and the outside ground... its squeals. Sure seems to be Galvanic isolation to me.