Lynx PCIe AES interfaces: AES16 and E22

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Sep 8, 2016.

  1. MLegend

    MLegend Friend

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    Thank you for your advice, help, and recommendations, everyone. I apologize for any excess of noise I may have caused.
     
  2. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    There was no noise mate, if you're concerned with posting noise you're probably one who doesn't cause it in the first place.
     
  3. GanGreinke

    GanGreinke Friend

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    I absolutely agree. What you've highlighted is that the Lynx solution is more complicated than the Eitr or other USB decrapifier devices (seemingly even more so for Windows users) and might not be the best solution for everyone. That, in my opinion, is extremely valuable to anyone looking at the Lynx cards.
     
  4. Ali-Pacha

    Ali-Pacha Friend

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    I've some kind of glitch with my RME 9632 :
    - when I try graphic cards which need extra juice throug dedicated PCI-e connectors from main PSU (HD5850 and passive HD7770, to be specific), no problem
    - I've tried a passive GT1030, which draws power only from PCI-e port, and there are a lot of glitches when I'm thoroughly use my display (large images, lots of internet tabs, whatever)

    Looks like GT1030 is drawing too much power from global PCI / PCI-e bus, or MoBo regulators are not that efficient

    My PSU is a Seasonic @ 500 W, and my MoBo a good ol' P5E-WS Pro with a 9 years ol' Q9400 ...has anyone already encountered such issues ?
    I didn't have the courage to try the whole thing on my other PC (i7 3770K and P8Z77V mobo)...

    Ali
     
  5. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Shot in the dark, but did you try increasing the PCI latency timer by one step in the BIOS? Sometimes that helps. Could just be power like you suggest though.
     
  6. Abhishek Chowdhary

    Abhishek Chowdhary Friend

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    500w psu should not bottleneck. 1030 TDP is rated at 30w. PCIe can deliver max 75w by itself. Even if 75w were in use (highly unlikely for 1030), there should still be sufficient room for a 500w psu. Mobo could be the culprit, not enough bandwidth maybe.
     
  7. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Should be something more innocuous, like driver issues. Try borrowing a non passive nVidia card and give it a try.
     
  8. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Just received the AES16e from @MLegend. He had it up for such a great price, I couldn't pass it up.

    I'll be comparing it directly with the Schiit Eitr for a week or so before likely selling the Eitr (unless it's clearly better than the AES16e).

    I previously was unable to compare the Eitr to the Lynx E22 I had because the Eitr came out ~2 weeks after I sold it. My audio memory said the the Eitr was a bit fuller with a rounder bottom end.

    So far I'm pretty sure I'll say that those impressions are confirmed, but I'll spend real time with them both before being sure.

    While I do like a full body with a round bottom ends both in music and women, the Lynx might be more natural.

    @Marvey, do you still have an AES16e to directly compare to the Eitr or USB Gen 5? I realize the Eitr is Schiit's gift to USB and is really impressive, but I'm pretty sure the Lynx is still superior (for way more money unless you find someone selling an E22 or AES16e for a very good price).
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2017
  9. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    I found the AES16 (non-e) to have a noticeable graininess in comparison to Gen 5 USB (see here). After a couple of weeks' listening those observations still hold up. The grain actually interferes with the whole frequency spectrum. Not only is the treble smoother with Gen 5, but the bass frequencies are a lot more solid and dynamics seem better. Soundstage is wider, imaging is better, generally technically superior. I did initially find the mids to sound a bit recessed with Gen 5 vs the Lynx card, but by donking around with audio players, drivers, buffer sizes and USB cables I seem to have managed to fix this up.

    I have actually now removed the AES16 completely from my PC because there is no way in which it is superior to the Gen 5. The PC is specially rigged to be electrically cleaner than most, but because the PCI bus is dirtier than the PCIe bus, my observations may not carry over to the AES16e. I'll be interested to hear your impressions versus Gen 5/Eitr.
     
  10. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Thanks for the link to those impressions!

    My setup is grain free, so any additions of graininess should be discernible.
    • DAC: MHDT Labs Orchid: TDA1541A R-2R non-oversampling w/ tube buffer (1x 5670/396a tube) modded
    • Amplifier: Eddie Current Super 7 (7x 6SN7 tubes)
    • Headphones: Sennheiser HD650 (dynamat, half-baked restuff of the rear foam)
    Yes, that's 8 tubes in my audio path. Call me an addict.

    The Eitr definitely does not add grain to the system. It's incredibly smooth and pleasing. The AES16e also doesn't seem to add any grain so far. It's certainly dryer than the Eitr, but not grainy.

    I haven't done any proper critical listening because I'm too tired today to do so. That said, I have them both outputting to the MHDT and it can instantly switch between inputs. I've done this more times than I care to admit tonight.

    My current perception is that the AES16e is technically superior and the Eitr is more pleasant.

    The following sounds like critical listening talk here but it's not, I promise... this is just idle perception while listening:

    Dancing Flute and Drum on the Audiogon sampler is a fun little track to listen to for drums. The Eitr packs more punch than the AES16e, no question. But it also blurs a little of the detail down there. Certain harder hits later in the track make this difference pretty obvious. The AES16e communicates the texture of the skin on the drum to the ears, while the Eitr transferw the energy of the drum to the chest.

    Which is better? It depends on what you're after. I'm a basshead. Maybe I prefer the Eitr. Maybe I prefer to tune in extra slam with tube choices later down the line.

    I won't be selling either for a while at least. I still haven't decided which I prefer after a night of listening.
     
  11. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Day 2

    I'm standing by my initial impressions.

    The Lynx AES16e is technically better than the Schiit Eitr. Not by much, and there are some things about it that are just different rather than necessarily better.

    What I think of as "nuance" is where the Lynx pulls ahead, and it's not a recoverable disadvantage for the Eitr that can be overcome by the rest of the chain. Microdetail, microdynamics, plankton. Where the Eitr pulls ahead is musicality and slam. Based on my setup with bucketloads of tubes, I can tune to recover that loss.
     
  12. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Interesting observations since I am in the process of doing the same comparison - Eitr versus the AES 16e. the Lynx is technically better and is more neutral. Drier, if you will but you can hear everything (or as as much as I am capable of). The Eitr, on the other hand, is more fun with a bit more slam. There is no grain that I hear with either device. I've decided to pair the Lynx with the Yggdrasil (at home) and the Eitr with the Gungnir MB (in the office).
     
  13. Ali-Pacha

    Ali-Pacha Friend

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    Thank you @Luckbad and @Garns for those impressions.
    I'm running an RME 9632 to my Yggdrasil (no Gen5...yet), will soon got my hands on an AES16 (non-e), much fun ahead :)

    Ali
     
  14. cityshlacker

    cityshlacker New

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    I just wanted to quote this response and bring it to people's attention, because after installing the new Nvidia driver, I started hearing pops and clicks when listening to music in Roon via my AES16e (ASIO).
    The previous iterations didn't seem to cause any issues whatsoever, so I never had to remove the Nvidia HDMI sound drivers before today.

    So thanks very much TwoEars!

     
  15. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    If you're using Lynx in a noisy system (high power GPU, shitty PSU, etc), get an Eitr.
     
  16. PTS

    PTS Friend

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    I've been thinking about ditching my USB based DAC and installing a Lynx E22 PCIe card into my PC desktop instead.

    Can anyone tell me the simplest (and best sounding) way of going from the serial style ports on the Lynx card, to stereo RCA in and out? RCA outs to plug into the back of my preamp, and RCA ins to occasionally hook my turntable to the Lynx for post phono stage A/D conversion to archive my vinyl to digital.

    Also, is there any advantage of using the 16 channel AES16e over the E22 if you're only dealing with two-channel music?
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2017
  17. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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  18. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    What @Luckbad said. You would need two XLR male to RCA male for the analog to digital conversion as well.

    I'm selling a E22 with both analog and digital breakout cables, as well as AES XLR to SPDIF RCA adapter. You'd just need the RCA adapters in this case.
     
  19. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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    Hi can anyone help need help setting up spdif on lynx e22
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2018
  20. e.schell

    e.schell Friend

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    What do you need help with?
     

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