Pale-Rider,

I like the way you mention conceptualized. I think with so many sources of information about audio that conceptualizing audio systems in to granular processes is the best way to cut through a lot of the BS we are subjected to in reviews etc.

I'm not privy to the the real world shortcomings of USB vs Ethernet as it relates to providing data to the clock. Conceptually though, it would seem the job of the USB or Ethernet receiver (on the master clocking component) to buffer the incoming data so that it is then presented to the master clock in such a way that it can perform it's job well.

In other words if the receiver is doing its job, then the master clock will behave the same regardless of how the data was received.

Another way to look at it is to consider that all digital clocks that perform according to the SPDIF standard are essentially the same. Some are simply better at timing than others. Some claim that a CD transport is the only way to go, but even here data from the CD drive is received, buffered, clocked, and then transmitted as SPDIF. And knowing that makes the concept of belt driven CD transports seem a kind of silly. After all a CD is not very well balanced and any vibration is a huge deal when we are talking about accurate timing in pico seconds. Thus the necessity of the buffer.

A pico second is one millionth of one millionth of a second.

For reference the OR5 master clock keeps timing accurate to within 390 pico seconds. 250 pico seconds if using the I2S output.

The main reason that jitter is reduced in I2S is due to the data and clock being transmitted on separate channels, where as SPDIF is sent as an infusion of data and clock on a single channel. The added complexity of processing into SPDIF fudges the timing a bit.

Re-clocking and digital lenses are band aids that are often necessary but to be avoided if possible. Assuming you have a happy master clock, the digital stream from that point on should be very carefully preserved all the way to the DAC chip. By carefully preserved I mean minimal alteration or interaction.

Brett,

Great work and achievements, congrats!

I'm curious why you don't take advantage of the latest version WASAPI Event style Plug-in for FB2K, designed precisely for lowest latency, best sound streaming from FB2K in a Win 7/8 based PC environment.  As in Kernel streaming, it bypasses the mixing processes from Windows altogether, allowing for an external DAC's exclusive mode of utilization.

I've tried several approaches (not Kernel, though), and the Event Style is the best I've found. It allows for very low buffering, therefore virtually eliminating latency issues (important, especially for a laptop), and the sound quality is just great (other things being equal).

In case Brett's posts have whetted anyone's appetite for an Off Ramp, there is a pretty good buy on one posted by a member at Computer Audiophile.

@ Brett,

Nothing to be embarrassed about. There's so much going on in this field, the information is overwhelming.

One more thing: I've found converting FLAC into WAV on the fly through Fb2K (or any other fast converter, for that matter), is not the best procedure for sound quality. The ideal is to separate the conversion in a previous stage and have the player pick the WAV files up and put them into RAM memory before processing it.

The difference between Event and Push is subtle, as Event is geared more against latency issues typical of laptops, a problem you may not have given your more powerful desktop configuration, provided at the time of streaming you kill all irrelevant underlying OS processes.

I can recommend using Fidelizer (Extreme Mode) as a big help achieving the described 'freezing.'

PS Audio will soon be releasing a new version of the GCPH phono stage/preamp that will incorporate an ADC so that a digital signal of the converted analog can be sent to a PWT or other DAC.

Well, needle-drops are all the rage with the youngstahs. In this manner people can use their PWD as the preamp for their vinyl playback, I know it sounds not quite right to you and I, but it may sound good enough for many.

The former GCPH is a decent phono preamp. It's no ZP3, but a steady rolling machine for records with good sound. I still use one in my second system.

Interesting. I guess some people want that.  I won't be sending mine back.