Experience/Opinion on USB conversion???

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Mr Peabody

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I'm getting an exchange of my preamp from Levinson, even when tested with a computer using Windows there was a connecting issue. It could be this new preamp works with my ACS10 and I have no issue.

However, the 526 was not programmed for Linux and I still may have some issue.

This would leave me with two options, well, three, but I'd like to keep the preamp, I think #3 would be most expensive option.

Next expensive would be to buy another DAC.

Simplest, would be to use a USB converter. Aurender has one and probably the one I'd get since I feel would most likely work best with their gear.

I just have no idea if converting the USB would degrade sound in any way. So any experience using such a device would be greatly appreciated. I realize advice may be general or vary some as DAC's inputs tend to vary in quality on same DAC.
 
Lost in translation here. I read this post twice and still cannot figure out what the issue is or what it is that you are trying to do.
 
Mr Peabody said:
I'm getting an exchange of my preamp from Levinson, even when tested with a computer using Windows there was a connecting issue. It could be this new preamp works with my ACS10 and I have no issue.

However, the 526 was not programmed for Linux and I still may have some issue.

This would leave me with two options, well, three, but I'd like to keep the preamp, I think #3 would be most expensive option.

Next expensive would be to buy another DAC.

Simplest, would be to use a USB converter. Aurender has one and probably the one I'd get since I feel would most likely work best with their gear.

I just have no idea if converting the USB would degrade sound in any way. So any experience using such a device would be greatly appreciated. I realize advice may be general or vary some as DAC's inputs tend to vary in quality on same DAC.
Click to expand...

I'm with Nicoff on this one...I have no idea what you're trying to do or what the problem is (exactly). Also, how does Linux figure in to this?
 
I believe Mr Peabody is saying his current Mark Levinson 526 is getting exchanged for an issue preventing use with the USB audio connection to Windows, when this is a supported configuration (Windows and Mac USB audio drivers are downloadable from Mark Levinson).

However the Aurender ACS10, which only has USB audio output and (I believe) uses Linux USB audio drivers, is not a supported configuration with the 526. (After trying with the ACS10, Mr Peabody tested with Windows just to confirm there wasn't a problem with the USB input of the 526, but not as his intended final configuration.)

To answer the question, USB conversion to a AES-EBU or coaxial or optical S/PDIF, which are supported digital inputs on the 526, does not automatically lead to any loss of signal fidelity. However it will depend upon the quality of the USB receiver and conversion.

I've personally had very good experiences with the Mutec line of professional re-clocking and converter products. But they might be more pricey than you were hoping for. (There are still more expensive alternatives in the pro audio space.) The Mutec MC-3+ USB would be perfect for your use case. The infosheet specifically indicates it is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, and I have seen online posts indicating success when used with Linux.
 
Sorry, I wrote as if everyone was aware of my saga.

ACS10 is USB only output and is a Linux device.

My 526 has built-in DAC and programmed for Windows/IOS, and Levinson was surprised the 526 and ACS10 worked together. They do work but take forever, sometimes days to connect and when that connection is broke, it's back to waiting again. Before learning of the companies using different OS my dealer checked out the preamp and had some issues connecting when we should have had a definite connection. Then we used his Windows server and still no connection. So Levinson agreed to an exchange.

So...... when I get the new unit there's no guarantee it will work with my ACS10, so, if not, I am weighing my options. As stated in original post, my best and least expensive 2 options would be to either buy an external DAC or an USB converter.

Aurender's UC100 is $700.00. I know to better my 526 DAC it will cost several times that but would still be a consideration if the conversion takes my sound backward. Or, if there are better converters that get the cost up, I figure just get another DAC.

Aurender and Levinson have been talking, so maybe there could be a fix, not hopeful as both are two different OS and would probably be a hardware issue. The 526 uses the CMedia chip for USB.

Who knows, maybe the two will work together and this will just be a fun exercise of learning. ;)
 
Mr Peabody said:
Sorry, I wrote as if everyone was aware of my saga.

ACS10 is USB only output and is a Linux device.

My 526 has built-in DAC and programmed for Windows/IOS, and Levinson was surprised the 526 and ACS10 worked together. They do work but take forever, sometimes days to connect and when that connection is broke, it's back to waiting again. Before learning of the companies using different OS my dealer checked out the preamp and had some issues connecting when we should have had a definite connection. Then we used his Windows server and still no connection. So Levinson agreed to an exchange.

So...... when I get the new unit there's no guarantee it will work with my ACS10, so, if not, I am weighing my options. As stated in original post, my best and least expensive 2 options would be to either buy an external DAC or an USB converter.

Aurender's UC100 is $700.00. I know to better my 526 DAC it will cost several times that but would still be a consideration if the conversion takes my sound backward. Or, if there are better converters that get the cost up, I figure just get another DAC.

Aurender and Levinson have been talking, so maybe there could be a fix, not hopeful as both are two different OS and would probably be a hardware issue. The 526 uses the CMedia chip for USB.

Who knows, maybe the two will work together and this will just be a fun exercise of learning. ;)
Click to expand...

This sounds like a USB interface conflict between two different OS's. Something you might try is the Uptone Audio IsoREGEN. It might function as an interface that will consisently connect to two different OS's and their USB interfaces. Its only $325 and there is a 30-day, no-questions-asked return policy, so you could try it and see if it would work for you.

ISO REGEN – UpTone Audio

And, don't let the low price fool you; Uptone sells direct to customers, and its products were designed by networking guru and audiophile engineer John Swenson.
 
A couple steps I left out, we did try a regen and other cables with no results. However, it could be worth a try again on the new unit.

As a side note I am waiting on the Ethernet device. I bought on Uptone's recommendation, this is before my issue became critical.

Puma Cat said:
This sounds like a USB interface conflict between two different OS's. Something you might try is the Uptone Audio IsoREGEN. It might function as an interface that will consisently connect to two different OS's and their USB interfaces. Its only $325 and there is a 30-day, no-questions-asked return policy, so you could try it and see if it would work for you.

ISO REGEN – UpTone Audio

And, don't let the low price fool you; Uptone sells direct to customers, and its products were designed by networking guru and audiophile engineer John Swenson.
Click to expand...
 
The wording of the ISO REGEN and USB REGEN products indicate they are not USB audio receiver/transmitter units, which is why they didn't work for you. You will need a product where the USB audio receiver seen by the ACS10 is the product itself—so it will not see the Mark Levinson 526 as the USB audio device.
 
Honestly, I have never met a device that would work with Windows AND Apple iOS, but not with Linux. IMO sth is not right with the 526.
 
For people using integrated DAC inside any kind of (pre)amp, I always recommend using an external DAC (or better yet, our product line with analog outputs). I'd guess a $700 DAC will give better results than a $700 USB to SPDIF converter. (A $699 DAC with a flagship DAC chip comes to my mind.)

The use of USB to SPDIF converter (even if it supports DSD64 DoP), usually means losing DSD functionality when used with old DAC designs, since they rarely support DoP over SPDIF.
 
Puma Cat said:
This sounds like a USB interface conflict between two different OS's. Something you might try is the Uptone Audio IsoREGEN.
Click to expand...

However good ISO Regen may be, it is not designed to solve the type of problems in post #1.
 
Elberoth said:
Honestly, I have never met a device that would work with Windows AND Apple iOS, but not with Linux. IMO sth is not right with the 526.
Click to expand...
While I have no experience trying USB with a Mark Levinson 526, the product page has USB drivers for both Windows 10 and Mac OS. Since Windows 10 added native support for USB Audio 2.0, and Mac OS has had it for a very long time, I would hazard a guess that Mark Levinson is not using the standard USB audio protocol.
 
It would never connect, not even after days/hours OP mentioned earlier, if it need a driver for Linux.
 
New 526 in my rack tonight, connected right up with the ACS10. I need to restart the ACS10 a time or two to make sure no connect issue.

Not sure if this is due to the OS mix match, the DAC will not play a DSD file.

When playing MQA from Tidal it seems the max file is 96. I believe this is due to not having a DAC that decodes MQA and only getting a partial unfold.

I only have one DSD album, so as long as the two continue to connect I think I will survive :)
 
Mr Peabody said:
the DAC will not play a DSD file.

When playing MQA from Tidal it seems the max file is 96. I believe this is due to not having a DAC that decodes MQA and only getting a partial unfold.
Click to expand...

1. The C-Media DAC you use does not support DSD under Linux.

2. With USB output from a MQA transport to a non-MQA DAC, you'll only get the first unfold / MQA Core decoding up to 96kHz. This is normal.
 
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