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Author Topic: Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 5 USB to SPDIF Converter Review OR5  (Read 18116 times)

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Marvey

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #50 on: April 06, 2013, 09:30:36 PM »

Does anyone have any experience with the Overdrive SE? I know it's a different comparison but would be interesting to see how this stacks against an Offramp + PWDII combination.

The OR + PWD2 combo is synergistic because it can bypass SPDIF using I2S. The I2S from the OR directly feeds the Wolfson chips on the PWD2 with both data and clock. No more coax, optical, AES, etc. SPDIF transmission mediums to worrk about. Essentially, the OR completely takes over the digital receiver duties from the PWD2 leaving only the DAC chip and analog out. The PWD2's strength has always been it's discrete analog section running on relatively high voltage rails.
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omegakitty

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #51 on: April 06, 2013, 09:40:54 PM »

Pretty interesting development...

I head the OR Wifi way back in the day and the thing was incredibly unstable and no sonic wonder over a $40 M-Audio Transit. I've also heard his Tube DAC when he used to attend Headfi meets and it was very underwhelming. He's also one of those proponents that insists WAV sounds better than compressed lossless formats. I'm open to giving these another try, but OR, femto (the fuck?) second clocks, the WAV thing, etc all make my inner skeptic go  :-Z

Edit: as for these USB boxes getting out dated, I suppose that would depend if the device manufacturer releases updated drivers for an older box when a newer OS comes out. There's nothing wrong with sticking to an older OS if they don't. But if you're using Macs and your computer dies, you're screwed unless you buy a refurb/older model since you can't roll back OS's if the changes are significant. While I am using W7 currently, I have considered moving to Mac OS down the road for computer audio.

Edit 2: I see he offers 30 day money back guarantee, so I'll give him  :)p1 for that.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2013, 10:11:40 PM by omegakitty »
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DaveBSC

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #52 on: April 06, 2013, 10:29:22 PM »

There was a HUGE jump in performance even between the OR3 and OR4. Steve started out running an operation not that different from Dan Wright. He modded Electrocompaniet DACs and a few other things before he gave that up to focus solely on his own stuff. Modwright currently does a lot more than Empirical, but their old stuff wasn't that spectacular either, and now Modwright's line stages and power amps are among the best at their price points. MW is also working on their own DAC btw, should be one to watch out for.
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Marvey

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #53 on: April 06, 2013, 10:35:44 PM »

I otherwise would have dismissed this as BS, but after hearing the results (and being an evaluator) of some of MisterRoger's incremental BUF3 mods and tweaks (FIFO boards, dual super-clocks, boutique regulators, receivers, power supplies, etc.), I'm much less skeptical. That being said, there's still voodoo crap out there that doesn't work and stuff that's priced in a way because the MOT's know they can get away with it.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2013, 10:46:02 PM by purrin »
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omegakitty

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #54 on: April 06, 2013, 10:55:20 PM »

I otherwise would have dismissed this as BS, but after hearing the results (and being an evaluator) of some of MisterRoger's incremental BUF3 mods and tweaks (FIFO boards, dual super-clocks, boutique regulators, receivers, power supplies, etc.), I'm much less skeptical. That being said, there's still voodoo crap out there that doesn't work and stuff that's priced in a way because the MOT's know they can get away with it.

I certainly agree. My stance on USB is fairly in line with anax's (hearing a Lynx AES16 brought about that view compared to various USB). My skepticism arises from Steve's previous products and some of the claims he has made. If that old OR was shit, it still cost a lot more than a Benchmark DAC1 back then.
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Marvey

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #55 on: April 06, 2013, 10:59:15 PM »

Yeah, I'm skeptical too and want to know what's inside the box. I'd rather buy the base version and play with the "upgrades" myself.
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DaveBSC

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #56 on: April 06, 2013, 11:21:50 PM »

OR5:



Overdrive:





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omegakitty

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #57 on: April 06, 2013, 11:42:53 PM »

AC images don't work.

What does the Overdrive use as a D/A converter, and what opamp is in the I/V stage?
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DaveBSC

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #58 on: April 07, 2013, 02:23:00 AM »

I asked about the DACs, all I could get is that they aren't R2R. Otherwise, trade secret.
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omegakitty

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Re: Emprical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter Review
« Reply #59 on: April 07, 2013, 02:53:16 PM »

I asked about the DACs, all I could get is that they aren't R2R. Otherwise, trade secret.

Honestly I don't mean to bag on the guy, but that should be public information. No one is going to rip off his design just knowing the D/A chip. There are some really awful D-S D/As out there.
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