Adnaco S3b USB vs the best PCIe cards?

Thetiminator · Dec 17, 2017

For a good few years I’ve been using the Adnaco S3b fibre optic extension system to output USB from my custom server. At the time the only PCIe card I compared it to was the SOTM tx card, the Adnaco beat it hands down.

Anyway, the other day my HDPlex power supply decided it didn’t want to send 5v to my Adnaco anymore and that 22v was a much better idea

So it’s off to Adnaco for repair. I’m thinking it’s maybe time to see what the best PCIe cards are like these days, specifically the Paul Pang and JCAT cards.....

Is there anyone who has tried these cards in the same system or even better compared one or other to the Adnaco (probably a long shot)?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks guys...

Marcin_gps · Dec 27, 2017

Hi Thetiminator,

I'm the founder of JCAT. Before I decided to develop JCAT USB Card and then FEMTO edition together with Adnaco, I'd been using Sotm cards, Adnaco S3A, Adnaco S3B, PPA card which Paul developed based on my input. I tried using Sotm / PPA cards in Adnaco S1B PCIe over fiber optics extension. The FEMTO edition of JCAT USB Card is by far the best solution especially when used together with an external LPS.

Best regards,
Marcin

Thetiminator · Dec 28, 2017

Hi Marcin
Thanks very much for taking the time to advise me. I’ve ordered the femto card from the EU website and I’ll drop you a PM to let you know how I get on after it’s run in.
Happy new year
Tim

Marcin_gps · Dec 28, 2017

Thetiminator said:
Hi Marcin
Thanks very much for taking the time to advise me. I’ve ordered the femto card from the EU website and I’ll drop you a PM to let you know how I get on after it’s run in.
Happy new year
Tim

Hi Tim,

Thank you - got it

Happy New Year!

BR
Marcin

limniscate · Dec 30, 2017

Romaz over at computeraudiophile.com tried the Adnaco but eventually switched off it. He's now using an Innuos ZENith Mk. II SE.

analogsa · Dec 30, 2017

Very interesting. The Innuos is based on a SuperMicro $150 MB with an integrated USB port. A linear regulated PS indeed, but generally the hardware is as modest as it can reasonably get.

Thetiminator · Dec 30, 2017

limniscate said:
Romaz over at computeraudiophile.com tried the Adnaco but eventually switched off it. He's now using an Innuos ZENith Mk. II SE.

Thanks limniscate
Could you expand a little or direct me to the thread if you can spare a minute?
Thanks in advance

limniscate · Dec 30, 2017

analogsa said:
Very interesting. The Innuos is based on a SuperMicro $150 MB with an integrated USB port. A linear regulated PS indeed, but generally the hardware is as modest as it can reasonably get.

He claims it sounds as good or better than his custom server powered by a Paul Hynes SR7. Romaz doesn't spare any expense; he even sent Paul Hynes Furutech IECs for the SR7 and other components that Paul wouldn't source.

I have the bill of materials for his custom server if you'd like to see it.

limniscate · Dec 30, 2017

Thetiminator said:
Thanks limniscate
Could you expand a little or direct me to the thread if you can spare a minute?
Thanks in advance

Sure

It's a huge thread though. My friend, Rajiv, took it over and made a table of contents, but Roy was the original poster:

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...y-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/

Here's a thread over at head-fi about his server testings:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/rev...r-auralic-aries-audiophile-vortex-box.787020/

Thetiminator · Dec 30, 2017

Brilliant I’ll have a read through many thanks

analogsa · Dec 30, 2017

limniscate said:
He claims it sounds as good or better than his custom server powered by a Paul Hynes SR7.

This is a potentially great news for anyone wanting to build a server on a tight budget. Replicating the Innuos hardware appears trivial.

Marcin_gps · Jan 2, 2018

analogsa said:
Very interesting. The Innuos is based on a SuperMicro $150 MB with an integrated USB port. A linear regulated PS indeed, but generally the hardware is as modest as it can reasonably get.

It's because server boards such as supermicro sound quite a bit better than commercial motherboards. That said, adding a proper USB output and network controller improves things a lot.

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Adnaco S3b USB vs the best PCIe cards?

Thetiminator

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