The Missing Link Gets a 192 kHz Boost

Musical Fidelity's V-Link has gained reputation for extraordinary technical performance and incredible value for money. The new V-LINK192 is for ultra-high resolution 24-bit, 192 kHz USB. Up to now, this has been the territory of very expensive asynchronous devices only. The V-Link192 offers true 24/192 asynchronous performance at an outstandingly competitive price.

"I highly recommend starting with the V-Link 192 before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on another USB to S/PDIF converter," notes ComputerAudiophile.com for July 25, 2012.

"A Home Run"

"As a value proposition, the V-Link 192 is a home run," raves Andre Marc in his AudioVideoRevolution post for June 13, 2012. "If you are getting into computer audio and have no desire, or budget, to purchase a new DAC, the V-Link 192 is an amazingly easy and cost effective way to do it. Well done, Musical Fidelity."

Use It to Supercharge Your DAC

Now more than ever, the V-Link is the missing link in the evolution of your audio system. If you've been suffering from the computer music blahs, wrestling with low-fidelity music, try the V-Link192 and hear what you've been missing. No, the V-Link192 isn't a DAC. But it allows your DAC to receive up to a true 24-bit, 192 kHz data stream from your computer so that you can enjoy a truly high-end, better-than-CD audio quality.

Increasing numbers of music lovers are turning to computer-based audio, which means that the connections are almost certain to be USB. Quality outputs like S/PDIF simply are not available on most computers. With the growing popularity of downloaded music at CD-and-better data rates, computers audiophile quest after higher quality. The V-Link192 is an asynchronous 24-bit, 192 kHz USB interface designed to bridge the gap between the PC and a high-quality DAC.

The V-Link192 offers outstanding technical performance. It has both coaxial and fully balanced digital outputs. Both are fully galvanically isolated for best performance. Additionally, the V-Link192 has input frequency LEDs (similar to the M1 DAC) which indicate the following frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz.

"Should Justifiably Sell Like Hotcakes"

In the April 2011 issue of Stereophile, John Atkinson calls the original V-Link "a well-engineered solution to get USB audio from a PC with minimal jitter." John says, "V-Link should justifiably sell like hotcakes to those with legacy DACs who want to use a PC as a server."

"The Musical Fidelity V-Link and M1 DAC certainly changed my opinion of what level of performance can be expected from a budget DAC and converter box," raves Steven Stone in The Absolute Sound magazine for May/June 2011. "While on the subject of USB and the V-Link, I can almost without reservations recommend it to anyone with a high-end DAC that lacks USB capabilities."

"Delivers Great Performance"

"It’s simplicity itself to install and delivers great performance," reports Keith Howard in the February 2011 issue of England's Hi-fi News magazine, which awarded the original V-Link its coveted "Editor's Choice" designation. "The V-Link is quickly recognized by the computer’s operating system once connected and offers compatibility with 16- or 24-bit files of up to 96 kHz. Moreover, it offers completely jitter-free conversion from one interface to the other."

"It was pretty easy to hear how much improved the sound was when the V-Link was in place," observes a ComputerAudiophile.com review for January 22, 2011. "The whole image tightened up immediately with the V-Link."

Asynchronous USB

The theory behind asynchronous USB is that when a computer is transmitting data via USB to another device, the computer determines the data rate parameters. The theoretical consequence of using a standard USB interface is that it is impossible to guarantee accurate data transfer, because the computer will alter the data rate to suit its internal workload. With asynchronous USB, however, the receiving USB controls the computer’s data rate. Jitter and data compression just will not happen. The asynchronous USB interface instructs the computer that it has priority on the computer resource allocation, thus guaranteeing a continuous high resolution data stream.

The Musical Fidelity V-Link192 is a 24-bit, 192 kHz asynchronous USB interface with S/PDIF output via either RCA coaxial or balanced AES-EBU. V-Link192 can be used with virtually any computer USB output. If the data and all the settings on the computer are correct, it will guarantee up to 24-bit, 192 kHz data from your computer, converting it into an extremely low-jitter S/PDIF signal which can be plugged in to any DAC.

No Drivers or Software Needed

The V-Link192 is a true plug-and-play product. Connect it to your PC or Mac and it's ready to go, without headaches. There are absolutely and positively no software or device drivers to install. "This is a big deal," notes ComputerAudiophile.com. "No matter how often manufacturers suggest that software installation isn't an issue, they never seem to provide evidence supporting that claim."

• True asynchronous USB-to-S/PDIF conversion, output is same data stream as input
• Accepts incoming sample rates from 32-192 kHz, bit depths from 16-24 bits
• Input frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz
• Multi-colored LED array: Blue = Power; Green = Lock; Yellow = 44 kHz, 48 kHz and 88.2 kHz; Orange = 96 kHz and 176.4 kHz; Red = 192 kHz
• Will play anything your computer’s music player can
• Single USB input: USB 1.1 or 2.0 compatible
• Powered by USB bus
• Digital outputs: coaxial and fully balanced digital
• Jitter as close to zero as possible
• Compact V-series chassis

• Dimensions: 6-2/3" long, 3-3/4" wide, 1-2/3" high (including feet)

"Readers contemplating the purchase of a USB to S/PDIF converter should start with the V-Link 192… Getting nearly 90% of the performance at a fraction of the price is a no-brainer for most computer audiophiles. I highly recommend walking before running and I highly recommend starting with the V-Link 192 before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on another USB to S/PDIF converter."

- ComputerAudiophile.com, July 25, 2012

"The Musical Fidelity V-Link 192 is a transparent, plug-and-play USB to S/PDIF and AES/EBU converter that did exactly what it was supposed to do. That is, it allows you to use your favorite DAC, which may not have a high fidelity USB input, with your personal computer. All you need, in addition, is a USB cable, playback software, and music files."

"As a value proposition, the V-Link 192 is a home run. It is nicely made and, at $399, passes 24 bit / 192 Khz music files flawlessly. There are a few converters on the market for less, but not with AES/EBU outputs and 192 Khz. If you are getting into computer audio and have no desire, or budget, to purchase a new DAC, the V-Link 192 is an amazingly easy and cost effective way to do it. Well done, Musical Fidelity."

- Andre Marc, AudioVideoRevolution, June 13, 2012

Praise for the Original Model V-Link

"Editor's Choice" - Hi-fi News Magazine

"It’s simplicity itself to install and delivers great performance."

"There’s no driver to be installed: the V-Link is quickly recognized by the computer’s operating system once connected and offers compatibility with 16- or 24-bit files of up to 96 kHz."

"Moreover, it offers completely jitter-free conversion from one interface to the other."

- Keith Howard, Hi-fi News magazine, February 2011

"Overall, and especially considering its price, the Musical Fidelity V-Link seems a well-engineered solution to get USB audio from a PC with minimal jitter."

"With the V-Link's price of just $169, it becomes difficult to justify recommending other USB-S/PDIF converters… Musical Fidelity's V-Link should justifiably sell like hotcakes to those with legacy DACs who want to use a PC as a server."

- John Atkinson, Stereophile, April 2011

"When I finally discovered low little they cost… I was more than pleasantly surprised. Practically anyone who can afford a Mac Mini can probably also spring for an M1 DAC and V-Link, creating a playback system that will enthrall all who give it a listen."

"The Musical Fidelity V-Link and M1 DAC certainly changed my opinion of what level of performance can be expected from a budget DAC and converter box…"

"While on the subject of USB and the V-Link, I can almost without reservations recommend it to anyone with a high-end DAC that lacks USB capabilities. It renders USB almost as well as the [$699-$999] Empirical Audio Labs Off-Ramp 3 converter box."

"Even if you can afford to pay more, maybe even a lot more, I strongly advise you to listen to and live with the Musical Fidelity M1 DAC and V-Link converter for a week in your system. Consider the bar raised."

- Steven Stone, The Absolute Sound, May/June 2011

"It was pretty easy to hear how much improved the sound was when the V-Link was in place. The whole image tightened up immediately with the V-Link."

"The V-Link requires absolutely no manual software or device driver installation. This is a big deal. No matter how often manufacturers suggest that software installation isn't an issue, they never seem to provide evidence supporting that claim."

"It has been nearly six years since I enjoyed a Musical Fidelity system as much as the M1DAC, M1HPA, and V-Link… In an industry with six and seven figure audio systems it's hard to believe three zeros can be removed from the end of the price tag and still allow someone to put together a really good system. I applaud Musical Fidelity for producing such good sound at such good prices."

- ComputerAudiophile.com, January 22, 2011