Xitel Pro HiFi Link

[rajacat]

Has anybody here had experience with this device? It digitally connects your computer to your AV receiver via USB and optical digital cable while bypassing the sound card. It would be very convenient to keep your CD collection on the computer in either compressed or non compressed format and be able to program hours of custom programs. It supposed to have much better sound quality than wireless systems.

[rajacat]

http://www.xitel.com/product_phfl.htm

[jparr]

You should probably check these out as well...

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=mobileinterfaces

Tascam, Roland, and others have simmilar units.

[bikeman]

Has anybody here had experience with this device?
I've been using this for quite awhile now. I run the analog cables to my two channel set-up in my study. I run the optical to my home theatre and I run the coax to my exercise room.
The one biggest drawback is it upsamples everything to 48k. If you're looking for the highest quality sound, this is not the way to go. For my purposes, it's excellent. Any specific questions?

David

[rajacat]

I was hoping that it would be a lossless device but I may get one anyway for casual listening. I'll check out the audio.com site that jparr recommended to see if any of those gizmo's will meet my needs. One good thing about the Xitel is the price.

Royal

[rajacat]

Thanks for the link.

Royal

[sensibull]

I was hoping that it would be a lossless device

You don't necessarily need to bypass the soundcard. Many soundcards can deliver bitperfect digital out now, including the extremely popular Chaintech AV-710 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103), which can be had for $25. I use it to pass Digital Dolby, DTS, and unmolested, lossless 44.1khz audio files from my HTPC to my receiver.

[rajacat]

Can you hear any difference between CD's from your regular CD player and CD's from your computer via the Chaintech?

Royal

[rajacat]

I just Googled av710 and found a bunch of reviews that will answer my questions. Thanks for the advice.

Royal

[sensibull]

Due to its popularity, there is a ton of info about this card on various audio forums. Here are some of the better links:

Head-Fi Review (http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71477)
Setup Guide (http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75655)
Envy24HT-S - The Definitive Source (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=364771)

Let me know if you end up buying it -- I can offer very specific configuration info depending on what you want to be able to do with it.

[rajacat]

Thanks, I appreciate that very much. I will probably buy it but I first want to read the reviews and articles to get up to speed on the technical issues. Can't beat the price and I have had nothing but good service and prices from newegg.com. It will be outstanding to have a digital jukebox.

[S_rangeBrew]

I was thinking of getting a card like this, as my current motherboard (ASUS) built in sound does the upsampling thing.

However, I think I may have a bigger problem. I ripped my entire CD collection to lossless WMA with Windows media player, and I'm not happy, as there are static popping sounds when played back. Any ideas? :confused:

[sensibull]

My current motherboard (ASUS) built in sound does the upsampling thing.... there are static popping sounds when played back. Any ideas? :confused:

This is more likely related to your motherboard audio, than your choice of format. Try to turn the master volume down a wee bit in your volume control panel and see if that helps with the pops.

[Edit: it's also possible WMP introduced the pops with its inaccurate ripping process. Read up on using the free EAC (Exact Audio Copy) program for achieving perfect 1:1 digital copies]

[jparr]

This is more likely related to your motherboard audio, than your choice of format. Try to turn the master volume down a wee bit in your volume control panel and see if that helps with the pops.

[Edit: it's also possible WMP introduced the pops with its inaccurate ripping process. Read up on using the free EAC (Exact Audio Copy) program for achieving perfect 1:1 digital copies]

Also check out CDex, free ripping software, can use EAC for ripping, and Lame@256kbps or Monkey/Flac (lossless compression)

[rajacat]

sensibull...Chaintech AV710 is no longer available at NewEgg. I checked out some other sources to no avail. It is good for 2 channel only @ 192 KHz which is good enough for me. If I want to run 6.1, I will just use my DVD player. Any other suggestions? Maybe I should just spring for a more expensive sound card or the Slim Device Squeezebox.

[sensibull]

sensibull...Chaintech AV710 is no longer available at NewEgg. I checked out some other sources to no avail.

There are 5 available (http://cgi.ebay.com/Chaintech-AV710-7-1-Channel-Sound-Card-Retail-Box_W0QQitemZ6800050559QQcategoryZ3701QQssPageName ZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) on FleaBay for $31.95.


It is good for 2 channel only @ 192 KHz which is good enough for me.

That's only if you're running analog. If you run optical, it doesn't matter what DACs are in the Chaintech. You'd be using the DACs in your receiver/pre-pro. [EDIT: Though you are correct that it can't send more than 2 channels above 48 kHz. In other words it won't pass DVD-A]


Any other suggestions? Maybe I should just spring for a more expensive sound card or the Slim Device Squeezebox.

Not in that price range. There are tons of great cards out there for less than the price of a Squeezebox though...

[curtis]

Yeah.....do your homework.

The SqueezeBox has some nice capabilities and cool bells and whistles....I like it a lot!

But, if it was convenient for me to hardwire my PC to my audio system, I would have gone that route instead. With a little work, it has a lot of capabilities.