Digital front end for someone who must use a work PC at a source?

[eskamobob1]

Hey Guys,

Looking for some recommendations on the general direction to go here. My main listening setup is at work and since I cant hook anything up to the network I must use my work PC as the main source. I realize this gimps me a fair bit compared to a streamer, so I am trying to figure out what all I can do to clean up the digital into my dac. Lets say ~ a 5k budget for not but I can push that/upgrade in parts if chaining different DDCs seems to be the best option. My current chain is as follows:

• PC -> FTA Calisto USB
• totaldac d1-digital--mk1 -> totaldac AES
• totaldac d1-dual -> still undecided on final XLRs
• Riviera AIC-10 -> Double Helix Cables Chimera (speaker tap to dual 3.5mm)
• Susvara
• Furman 15PF w/ JPS AC cables all around for power

FWIW upgrading the digital to mk2 and a better conditioner (probably gunna get a power plant 12) are already in the plans.

Are there any just significantly better DDCs than the totaldac I can use? Should I reclock the USB before the digital? TBH I am just a bit lost here, so looking for some recommendations.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Hey Guys,

Looking for some recommendations on the general direction to go here. My main listening setup is at work and since I cant hook anything up to the network I must use my work PC as the main source. I realize this gimps me a fair bit compared to a streamer, so I am trying to figure out what all I can do to clean up the digital into my dac. Lets say ~ a 5k budget for not but I can push that/upgrade in parts if chaining different DDCs seems to be the best option. My current chain is as follows:

• PC -> FTA Calisto USB
• totaldac d1-digital--mk1 -> totaldac AES
• totaldac d1-dual -> still undecided on final XLRs
• Riviera AIC-10 -> Double Helix Cables Chimera (speaker tap to dual 3.5mm)
• Susvara
• Furman 15PF w/ JPS AC cables all around for power

FWIW upgrading the digital to mk2 and a better conditioner (probably gunna get a power plant 12) are already in the plans.

Are there any just significantly better DDCs than the totaldac I can use? Should I reclock the USB before the digital? TBH I am just a bit lost here, so looking for some recommendations.

You might want to try the USB iPurifier 3 that we have. It reclocks the incoming signal and reduces interference from the computer. I use it in my office system and it improved the sound a lot. I'm rocking the PRO stack (including the iCAN)with the HiFiMan HE6SE.