{"id":36277,"date":"2023-10-01T10:29:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T08:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/?p=36277"},"modified":"2024-05-04T18:22:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-04T16:22:14","slug":"manunta-audio-evo-ddc-3-usb-to-digital-converter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/review\/digital-reviews\/digital-interface-reviews\/manunta-audio-evo-ddc-3-usb-to-digital-converter\/","title":{"rendered":"Manunta Evo DDC 3 USB to Digital Converter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Review sample supplied by manunta-audio<\/a>
\nRetail price: \u20ac780<\/h4>\n

First, there was the thumb drive-shaped original HiFace<\/a>, which offered an affordable and simple solution for converting USB to S\/PDIF audio. In 2010, it was something of a revolution in the audio scene for casual users and more experienced audiophiles since there were few digital-to-analog converters with USB inputs. Of course, there are limits to what can be done in a bus-powered thumbdrive-sized unit so M2Tech also offered the no-holds-barred HiFace Evo<\/a>. This device could do it all, its plethora of connections catering to every possible need. I raved about the Evo almost 14 years ago, and even though it was succeeded by the Evo 2 at some point, my original Evo still works beautifully today. I used it back then to convert audio from my main PC which also functioned as a music vault, not even a server. And I also used it when reviewing DACs that did not have USB inputs. Since then, a lot has changed, and today, practically everyone streams music, either from a local NAS or directly from the Cloud, and DACs without USB have become scarce. Meanwhile, M2Tech has not been sitting idle, but they have introduced the Rockstars series, a more high-end range of components that include models such as the Young and Vaughan DACs, the Marley Headphone Amp, Nash Phono Stage, and others.<\/p>\n

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Original HiFace “Thumb drive” style USB to S\/PDIF interface<\/em><\/p>\n

Recently, I started using the HiFace Evo again as a converter for the active Genelec 8341A speakers with AES\/EBU inputs. The music source is the work computer with access to Roon which runs on a server in the main listening room. The speakers also accept analog inputs, but in that case, the signal is converted to analog in the computer, back to digital in the speakers for the crossovers and processing, and then back to analog. Even with the extra conversion, it still sounds surprisingly good, but this is hardly ideal. In this scenario, the Evo provides a very noticeably tighter, faster, more precise, cleaner, and more articulate sound than the detour via the partly analog path.<\/p>\n

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HiFace Evo “Swiss-Knife” USB to Digital interface<\/em><\/p>\n

Many years ago, there was an issue with the driver which was later fixed, even though the Evo had become a classic by then. Great service! But of course, operating systems and interface standards change and evolve, and it is impossible to keep fully supporting 10+ years old hardware. While my Evo still functions perfectly, the Windows driver can sometimes respond erratically to certain sample rate changes, producing loud white noise upon track change. The issue was easily circumvented by having Roon resample everything to a single sample rate, but this finally prompted me to look for a replacement interface.<\/p>\n

Initially, I was saddened to find that the M2Tech Evo 2 had been discontinued and there seemed to be no successor. But then, I found that M2Tech now had a daughter company named Manunta. And to my relief, they offer a very slick-looking successor to the Evo 2 named Evo DDC 3. Manunta also offers a DAC, a Phono Stage, and a Power Supply in the same form factor.<\/p>\n

I found that AES\/EBU converters are non-existent in the audiophile world and only exist in pro audio circles. As is common, these pro audio devices don’t look particularly handsome, but that’s perhaps not a deal breaker for most. However, what can most definitely be a dealbreaker for many is that these professional products often carry very serious price tags. This is where the Manunta Evo DDC 3 comes in perfectly. It looks handsome, is not too large yet well-built, and is sanely priced.<\/p>\n

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The box is made entirely from carton<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Evo DDC 3 comes complete with a wall-wart power supply and an infrared remote control<\/em><\/p>\n

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Manunta By M2Tech<\/h3>\n

Manunta by M2Tech was founded after carefully analyzing the consumer audio market. The idea behind the new brand is to offer audiophiles and music lovers a large portion of the M2Tech product quality at a lower price. This goal was obtained by simplifying the distribution chain. Manunta products are either sold directly to end-users or by appointed dealers worldwide. The cost saving is entirely redirected to the customer through increased value-for-money.<\/p>\n

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Evo DDC 3<\/h3>\n

The Evo DDC 3 Digital to Digital Converter implements an asynchronous USB interface, fully DSD-capable with selectable DSD\/DoP support, full iPhone and Android smartphone app control via Bluetooth with S\/PDIF, AES\/EBU, optical Toslink, and I2S digital outputs. The I2S output in PS Audio standard makes high-resolution music transfer in either PCM and DSD from a smartphone, tablet or computer to an audio system. The coax output\u2019s voltage is selectable between the standard 500mVpp and double 1Vpp, allowing long cable runs even in coaxial mode. The fully loaded remote control provides for complete control of both Evo DDC 3 and most audio players running on the computer attached to its USB input, as well as other Manunta products.<\/p>\n

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Slimmer, wider, and deeper than the HiFace Evo, fitted with a beautifully sculpted fascia, and with all the connections only on the rear end, the Evo DDC 3 is perfect to set atop a DAC or desk. Like people on TV often do, the DDC 3 looks larger in photos; the unit measures a mere 150x160x35mm (wxdxh).<\/p>\n

Its front panel is hugely informative while the included IR remote control covers all of the unit’s audio functions, dimming the LEDs in 4 steps, with a 5th step that completely switches off the LEDs. A rear-panel switch provides two modes for the front panel power button: standby or full-off.<\/p>\n

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In further comparison with the HiFace Evo, even though the Evo DDC 3 connections are now only on one side of the unit, the unit still offers a comprehensive set of outputs that should fit very nearly every possible purpose. The only missing connections compared to the HiFace Evo are ST Glass, BNC, and external clock. At this price point, I think this is a very sane compromise. Besides, ST Glass is only still seen on classic audio equipment, and I think the second S\/PDIF output will probably also not be missed by many. The I2S connection has remained but was changed from an RJ45 to the more common HDMI connector, and Manunta has opted to adhere to the PS Audio “standard” for the connector pinout.<\/p>\n

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Incidentally, the Evo DDC 3 requires 15V DC (5.5\/2.1mm jack, tip positive) and comes complete with a standard wall-wart switching power supply, but it can also be powered with a Battery Power Supply or a more upscale switched or linear power supply. For this purpose, the Manunta Evo Supply 3 or M2Tech\u2019s Van Der Graaf MkII are prime candidates, but other supplies can also be used. Earlier experience unveiled that the power supply can greatly influence the interface’s sound quality, usually providing a fuller, more tonally saturated, and often sweeter and calmer sound.<\/p>\n

The converter accepts and outputs 44.1kHz to 192kHz PCM in 16-24 bits on all outputs and up to 768kHz in 24 bits via I2S. DSD is accepted and output in 64x to 512x Native via I2S and 64x to 256x DoP via the other outputs.<\/p>\n

The Evo DDC 3 is natively supported by Linux, OSX, and Windows 10 or 11. A driver can be downloaded from the Manunta website but is only required with Windows 7 or 8.1 and certain Windows 10 releases, as well as with Windows 11 to use ASIO mode to override the 192kHz limitation on WASAPI and enable DSD support. I can confirm that Windows 11 immediately recognized the converter and played instantly via WASAPI without hiccups. Switching sample rates is seamless and quiet, and importantly, the produced sound quality is superb!<\/p>\n

Use Case<\/h3>\n

The Evo DDC 3 can be employed anywhere the user requires conversion from USB to electrical or optical S\/PDIF, AES\/EBU, or I2S. Naturally, the DDC 3 will also come into play as a benchmark when assessing other digital interfaces. An obvious use case will be in combination with Music Servers or streamers that only have USB outputs and that need to be combined with DACs that do not have a USB input. Another obvious use case, and the one that applies to me and for this review, is computer audio systems, where a regular computer needs to output sound to active speakers. If these speakers have digital inputs, then the Evo DDC 3 is all you need. Otherwise, you would need to add a DAC, which Manunta also has in its portfolio.<\/p>\n

Next: Roon Setup, Earlier Experiences, System Context, and Listening<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Roon Setup<\/h3>\n

The Evo DDC 3 is recognized by Windows 11 as soon as you connect it and it is automatically selected as the default output device. Naturally, this can be changed any way you like, and as many will know, using the Windows mixer does not yield the very best sound quality possible. For that, one should directly select the Evo DDC 3 output in the audio player software settings (rather than in the Operating System) and use either WASAPI or ASIO. The latter has certain benefits, but for my use, WASAPI is simpler and already sounds superb.<\/p>\n

To obtain the maximum sound quality from WASAPI, I recommend making two changes in Roon. In the Audio Device Setup, enable “Exclusive Mode” and “Event Mode”.<\/p>\n

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You will find that both settings very noticeably tighten the bass and provide cleaner, more precise, and more detailed sound overall. It should be noted that Exclusive mode, as its name implies, does not allow sharing of the output. This means that when Roon plays music, other video or audio apps will not be able to play, and you may get an error message, for instance when trying to use YouTube simultaneously.<\/p>\n

For this reason, I have set up two outputs in Roon. One via Windows Mixer and a direct output via WASAPI with the above-mentioned settings. This way, I can choose to have the comfort of hearing all sound sources on the computer (including other audio apps, YouTube, notifications, etc.) mixed simultaneously in high quality via the Evo DDC 3 or select only Roon and obtain the most accurate playback possible.<\/p>\n

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Earlier Experiences<\/h3>\n

In my 2014 Computer Audio setup<\/a>, when I first added the fully analog Genelec 8050s to my system, I was already impressed when driving these speakers via a Wadia 121 DAC. This experience later led to an expansion of that setup in 2015<\/a> with better acoustic treatment and a third incarnation still later in 2016<\/a> using the Exogal Comet DAC. The Computer Audio Room was eventually sacrificed to create a dedicated TV room and a secondary audio system while I was at it. Since I started working 100% from home almost two years ago, my preferences have shifted, and I began to desire a dedicated work area again.<\/p>\n

I’ve always had a weak spot for Genelec speakers, but it wasn’t until I heard the “digital” 8341A Genelecs in the acoustically relatively troublesome kitchen environment, calibrated via SAM and its AES\/EBU inputs driven by the HiFace Evo late last year (2022), that my chin truly fell to the floor. This experience has recently led to the takedown of my secondary audio system to make room for the fourth incarnation of the Computer Audio room annex Work Space.<\/p>\n

In this dedicated room, I spend 75% of my time working remotely and writing reviews for HFA. As a result of basically “living” in this room full-time, I find myself listening to music much more there than in my main system, and as such, the system deserves to sound as good as it can!<\/p>\n

System Context<\/h3>\n

The Windows 11 PC is nothing special in audiophile terms, but it is built from good quality components such as an ASUS motherboard with Intel i5 processor, 32GB Kingston DDR4 DIMM memory, 2TB Samsung NVMe M.2 Pro SSD, and a Cooler Master MWE 550 Gold-v2 Power Supply. I prefer not to use mains filtering but pay special attention to the power cables themselves. I use the same low-capacitance solid-core installation wire from the main breaker box to a full aluminum power distributor mounted under the desk. The best AES\/EBU cables I have heard are made by Jorma Audio<\/a>, which I use in the main system<\/a>. However, I feel they are a little too costly for the Genelec setup. So, for this system, I resort to the second-best AES\/EBU cables I have heard, the Mogami Neglex 3080<\/a>. The Mogami is very affordable yet\u00a0still very accurate.<\/p>\n

At the moment of writing, the Bass Traps, diffusers, and ceiling vanes are still to be delivered so the room’s acoustics are not yet finalized. But thanks to the Genelecs’ room correction, the sound can still be optimized, time-aligned, and made to sound remarkably linear. But of course, this digital system can only compensate for peaks, not nulls, meaning I’ll have something remaining to look forward to. I will write a separate article when the acoustics products are installed.<\/p>\n

Listening<\/h3>\n

Exclusive Mode (see Roon Setup above) sounds best, and although I have not yet tried it, experience tells me the same is true for ASIO. But thanks to the Manunta Evo DDC 3’s high inherent quality, the sound is still great, even when using the Windows Mixer and with everything resampled to 48kHz.<\/p>\n

The Genelec 8341A’s are refined and non-aggressive speakers, but they are also very highly revealing, and when comparing the Evo DDC 3’s AES\/EBU feed to the Motherboard’s analog outputs, it truly puts the latter to shame. It is certainly still listenable but comparatively blurry, soft, and woolly. In addition, the imaging focus and spaciousness also suffer. The Genelecs may still sound “pleasant” and arguably still musical when driven straight from the motherboard, but it is clear that they only reach an audiophile level when used with a proper digital interface.<\/p>\n

With the Manunta Evo DDC 3 in place, even though the acoustics are not yet 100% perfected, the Genelecs are now challenging my Magico S1 MkII speakers in the main listening room in certain aspects, such as bass precision, linearity, and transient behavior. Of course, the 8341A’s SAM calibration system has a big hand in this as it compensates for the room issues. But even when using SAM, the Genelecs did not fully impress until they were driven by the Evo DDC 3. As always, it is important to address all the links in the chain to avoid the weakest link spoiling it for the rest. These links include a clean music path, correct physical speaker placement and listening position, and appropriate acoustical treatment. Then, we can start tweaking using bespoke power supplies, audiophile USB cables, and audiophile AES\/EBU cables. And that’s forgetting about network cables, audiophile switches, and a better server than my regular Windows 11 PC, but all that is for another occasion!<\/p>\n

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Surprisingly, the Evo DDC 3 sounds different from the HiFace Evo. I’m not sure if it is a fair comparison given that the HiFace has been run in for over a decade while the Evo DDC 3 has only been used for a few weeks, but the difference is very clear and very clearly in favor of the new unit.<\/p>\n

In contrast to the Evo DDC 3’s beautifully tight, crisp, and highly articulate presentation, the HiFace Evo sounds comparatively duller, slower, “fatter”, and more washed out. One could argue the old unit sounds fuller or “warmer,” but I would counter that it is merely less precise. I will admit to having expected a difference but rather in the scale of nuances. I was definitely not expecting such a clear-cut case as it turned out to be. In any case, my preference is clearly for the newcomer, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it!<\/p>\n

Optional TCXO board<\/h3>\n

It might be desired to improve the Evo DDC 3 internal clocks performance to reduce jitter and increase the quality of higher sampling frequency transfers on the I2S output. This can be accomplished by installing an optional board inside the Evo DDC 3, also provided by Manunta, which hosts two very low jitter TCXOs (TemperatureCompensated Xtal Oscillators) which Manunta claims have the same performance as the famous Femtoclock oscillators. While the user can easily install this board after purchase, this will require opening the unit, invalidating the warranty. For this reason, it is recommended to have the upgrade done by a technician previously authorized by Manunta or factory-installed at purchase.<\/p>\n

An Interview with Marco Manunta<\/h3>\n

Marco Manunta was kindly available for a small interview to talk about the spin-off brand Manunta<\/span> by M2Tech, as well as about the main company M2Tech.<\/p>\n

HFA: Dear Mr. Manunta, I read in another review how you first got involved with the audio industry when Audio Analogue started twenty years ago and you created digital circuits for their DACs and CD players, then started your first company, North Star Design, meanwhile,\u00a0 provided consultancy services for other Italian audio companies, and started M2Tech in 2007. That’s quite a track record already, but all in a nutshell. Would you like to elaborate on this?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: Well, the actual timeframe sees North Star Design as a debut in 1998. Two years later, my partner and I parted ways due to the usual disagreement on how to (further) develop the company. Then, I worked as a consultant for Audio Analogue for five years. I developed a lot of products for them, not only digital gear but also amplifiers and even a multichannel audio\/video controller. Then, I left the audio industry for a few years to work in other fields such as surveillance, data collection, and solar power harvesting. Anyway, my passion for hi-fi was too strong, therefore, in 2007, I founded M2Tech with my wife Nadia (who is an electronics engineer, as well). We developed the hiFace, which we released in September 2009. The rest is quite well known. I must add that the consultancy work didn’t stop when I founded M2Tech: we still provide consultancy to many companies, both in Italy and abroad.<\/p>\n

HFA: The About Us section on the Manunta website explains that the new brand was devised as a cost-effective alternative for M2Tech products. Does this mean we may see a high-end M2Tech USB to AES\/EBU converter at some point?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: Well, actually, no. We see no reason to make a more expensive Evo DDC 3, which will basically do the same things as the one you tested.<\/p>\n

HFA: It is mentioned on the Manunta website that the Evo Supply 3 is “sold out”, and there are only 5 pc Evo DDC 3 left. Will stock be replenished?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: Yes, of course. Actually, the Evo Supply 3 is “sold out” because we haven’t received the first batch of boards yet due to certain components overlong lead times.<\/p>\n

HFA: When searching online for “M2Tech”, I can only find the M2TechUSA website. The main website seems excluded from the search results. Is the site still online?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: The main website is alive and kicking. Now, it’s based on secure protocol. Therefore, you must type https:\/\/www.m2tech.biz\/<\/p>\n

HFA: Will M2Tech continue business as usual, or may we expect a different course?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: Who knows? The market is now undergoing big changes and, as you know by other manufacturers who collaborated to be stronger, it might happen that M2Tech will eventually make a joint venture with some other company. What is overly important, for me, is to remain faithful to the spirit M2Tech philosophy is based upon.<\/p>\n

HFA: May we expect new M2Tech products in the near future?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: Of course!<\/p>\n

HFA: Are there exciting new developments on the horizon for Manunta?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marco Manunta: This is classified!<\/p>\n

HFA: If you have any other information you would like to share, please feel free to do so!<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I surely feel the urge to say that all the people involved in M2Tech and Manunta by M2Tech are, first of all, music lovers and musicians (well, I’m not a musician even if I tried to learn to play trumpet when I was at the University…). Therefore, we all know real-world music very well and have a very challenging reference!<\/p>\n

That said, I personally love electronic design, both in terms of technical challenges and the nicety of layout. I love seeing the board design, which grows up while designing the PCB. I think that a nice layout usually leads to a better sound. You know, clustering components within a certain part of the circuit, things like that. I don’t like to add parts only for aesthetic reasons. Using many capacitors in parallel to “reduce the capacitor impedance” is very often just an excuse to fill a PCB that otherwise would be almost empty. What about the impedance of the tracks and pads to mount the capacitors? Also, sometimes, I see very large tracks ending up in a resistor: no use! The impedance of a track is usually many times lower than the resistor value… Well, this is a little bit technical, but the core of my message is that well-laid PCB design relates to a good sound.<\/p>\n

HFA: Thank you very much!<\/em><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The Evo DDC 3 is a beautifully sleek yet highly versatile, fully DSD-capable USB interface. As one of very few, it offers multiple simultaneously active digital outputs, including S\/PDIF, TOSlink, I2S, and AES\/EBU, along with Infrared and Bluetooth remote control via Android and iOS app, whilst offering all of this at a sane price point. The cherry on the pie is that the Evo DDC 3 works seamlessly and provides pure, crisp, clear, and highly detailed sound.<\/p>\n

I like the Evo DDC 3 so much that it is not only Highly Recommended but also an immediate HFA Favorite.<\/p>\n

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Associated Equipment<\/a><\/p>\n

External Links<\/h3>\n

Manufacturer: manunta-audio<\/a><\/p>\n

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