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where next to go?

Loosing track now of how long I've been dabbling with computer audio... something like 12-18 months of constant experimentation and tweaking. Many problems solved but one problem just doesn't seem to resolve; to wit, the human voice on many recordings sounds grainy/raspy, like an old black and white photograph shot with fast film at the compromise of fine detail. My LP's still best digital side by side where singing comes into play.

So my question; given that this is a digital only problem in a system where PC audio betters digital disc, has anyone else experienced/resolved this with upgrading their D-A chain? Trying to decide what should I target next.. the async USB converter or the DAC?

Current D-A chain
Vlink Async USB converter (96khz version)
PS Audio Dlink III

Using JRiver player with JPlay add on (JPlay actually works!!)
PC built from scratch as music server.
All uncompressed wav files for playback.
davide256
jastorg1
26 posts
 

thanks for the info.

of the bunch of USB listed which is more 'analog' & musical sounding?
theb2826
10 posts
 
Are you using the stock Sonos or the Wyred 4 Sound modded Sonos unit?
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
362 posts
 
Ok, so while I don't have "better" components to A-B at home, I do have "different" components. After comparing my old HRT Musicstreamer II and a Sony blue ray player feeding SACD to the DLink III, I'm in agreement that its the Vlink at fault.. these other options aren't as good overall but they have none of the wrongness on human voice. So looks like a JKSPDIF or Audiophilleo 2 purchase is on the horizon. Thanks for everyones input... it was tempting to buy a newer DAC like the Metrum Octave first.
edorr
714 posts
 
Feeding SACD to the DlinkIII is probably DSD converted to 88/14 PCM. This is obviously not apples to apples with your Vlink source. Try playing a redbook CD with the Sony and see of voices are OK.
davide256's avatar
davide256 OP
362 posts
 
I believe the blue ray player downsamples SACD to 48khz/24 bit for coax out. Since I have 96khz/24bit hd recordings, these should sound better, but they don't in that narrow arena of the human voice when comparing Sony blue ray into the Dlink III vs. PC and Vlink into the Dlink III. And since the Vlink I have only does 96khz, its easy to get motivated to buy a better converter that does 192khz... Jplay bombs when I hit the few recordings I have at higher bit rate than the Vlink supports, can't downsample.
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