MQN

Anything to do with computer audio, hardware, software etc.
TioFrancotirdor
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:29 am

Re: MQN

Post by TioFrancotirdor »

2channelaudio wrote:
TioFrancotirdor wrote:This is interesting build:
https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2015/03 ... elopments/

legato output stage + ess9018 Sabre + reclocker + isolator + BBB. To BBB external clock can be provided.
Unfortunately I have never heard a decent sounding Sabre DAC implementation.
I personally find them horrible sounding things.

IMO.... If you like your music sounding analytical, digital, completely false in the high registers, with digital glare everywhere then Sabre is an awesome choice. lol ;)
I definitely agree. At first I was amazed with sabre. However I switched to ak4495 recently (much much better than its predecessor ak4399) and I fallen in love with it. I use tubes as outputs stage ( I previously have tried, opamps, discrete transistors, lundhal transformers, but tubes wins!). Recently among many others tubes (psvanes, genlaxe) I found Full music gold to be most musial (really substantial difference from others). Currently I build salas for powering dac (to replace placid hd 2.1 from twisted pair audio). My next build would be to use DHT triodes instead of IHT ones (I know from experience that even DHT rectifier tube is far better than IHT one). I am also thinking about trying soekris r2r dac (very interesting). One of the very interesting thing is to convert pcm to dsd in realtime during playback in PC and then send it to dac, because native dsd conversion bypass delta-sigma converter, at least in ak4495 (not available in sabre) that supposed to be more natural.
My experience tells me that everything in audio can make difference.
ASUS-H81i Plus, i3 4360, 8GB RAM, Linear PSU. USB/PCI PPA Studio V2.
Ubuntu Live USB in RAM
Soekris R2R Salas Ref D powered -> Modulus 86 -> MA Silver 8
TioFrancotirdor
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:29 am

Re: MQN

Post by TioFrancotirdor »

BTW yggdrasil from schitt audio is interesting build.
ASUS-H81i Plus, i3 4360, 8GB RAM, Linear PSU. USB/PCI PPA Studio V2.
Ubuntu Live USB in RAM
Soekris R2R Salas Ref D powered -> Modulus 86 -> MA Silver 8
sbgk
Posts: 1950
Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: MQN

Post by sbgk »

uploaded v13, sounds good so far, musical.

anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
2channelaudio
Posts: 155
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:07 am

Re: MQN

Post by 2channelaudio »

sbgk wrote:
2channelaudio wrote:
TioFrancotirdor wrote:This is interesting build:
https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2015/03 ... elopments/

legato output stage + ess9018 Sabre + reclocker + isolator + BBB. To BBB external clock can be provided.
Unfortunately I have never heard a decent sounding Sabre DAC implementation.
I personally find them horrible sounding things.

IMO.... If you like your music sounding analytical, digital, completely false in the high registers, with digital glare everywhere then Sabre is an awesome choice. lol ;)
I was concerned about that when I order my Gustard X12, but it sounds lovely, no glare at all. There's an X20 model out sometime and they have a very well received headphone amp H10, which I'm tempted by.
Hi Gordon,
I haven't had the pleasure of hearing the Gustard x12...thanks for the heads up on the headphone gear I will take a look.

... check out the Version 2 Geek Outs on the LJ Labs... these units also use Sabre implementations if you are a fan. The Geek out 2 plays just about every format and is super convenient for people on the move. http://marketplace.lhlabs.com/collections/all There's a pre-order happening, which saves you a few pennies.

My experience has shown the Sabre DAC just cant do HF's naturally.
Sabre implementations also don't seem to sound organic and natural like I prefer my DACS to sound.
Examples would include Resonessence labs Concero, W4S DAC2, etc....

Maybe the $4000+ Sabre DAC category would overcome these shortcomings?!

As with all things audio these things are subjective...
I'm sure many love the Sabre's presentation.
taggart
Posts: 117
Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:44 pm
Location: Cologne

Re: MQN

Post by taggart »

sbgk wrote:anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
Yes, very interesting! Have ordered one but have to wait - estimated delivery date is late june.
I wonder if that tiny box can replace external USB cards at all or if one still need an external JCAT/PP USB card and the REGEN adds its positive influence up to them!?
Will report when I have it.
Christoph
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: MQN

Post by nige2000 »

taggart wrote:
sbgk wrote:anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
Yes, very interesting! Have ordered one but have to wait - estimated delivery date is late june.
I wonder if that tiny box can replace external USB cards at all or if one still need an external JCAT/PP USB card and the REGEN adds its positive influence up to them!?
Will report when I have it.
Christoph
Not overly excited
I'm sure it works but
Doubt it will match performance of USB cards and with a few losses in cabling
but on the sales end its got a much larger market cause it will be compatible with all devices with USB phones nucs laptops PC
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
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minionas
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:45 am
Location: Lithuania

Re: MQN

Post by minionas »

sbgk wrote:uploaded v13, sounds good so far, musical.

anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
Plays with no problems on waveio (2.24)
Cant comment on sound qlty as just assembled my new dac.
Though sound is fantastic...
DJ le Roi
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:34 pm

Re: MQN

Post by DJ le Roi »

minionas wrote:
sbgk wrote:uploaded v13, sounds good so far, musical.

anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
Plays with no problems on waveio (2.24)
Cant comment on sound qlty as just assembled my new dac.
Though sound is fantastic...
Is it a Haswell-only version?
nige2000
Posts: 4253
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:47 am
Location: meath

Re: MQN

Post by nige2000 »

minionas wrote:
sbgk wrote:uploaded v13, sounds good so far, musical.

anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
Plays with no problems on waveio (2.24)
Cant comment on sound qlty as just assembled my new dac.
Though sound is fantastic...
whats the new dac :) ?
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
User avatar
minionas
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:45 am
Location: Lithuania

Re: MQN

Post by minionas »

nige2000 wrote:
minionas wrote:
sbgk wrote:uploaded v13, sounds good so far, musical.

anyone interested in the uptone usb regen, looks interesting.
Plays with no problems on waveio (2.24)
Cant comment on sound qlty as just assembled my new dac.
Though sound is fantastic...
whats the new dac :) ?
TPA Buffalo IIISE regulated with Paul Hynes local regulators and powered also by PH power supply, output stage Lampizator 6N16 full balanced with each channel powered by fully separate electrolyteless/resistorless two tube rectified power supplies, Waveio powered by PH power supply.
Assembled Salas Reflectors are waiting to power for Ian's FIFO2 with DUALXO2:) Hope to fit in OCXO in there someday..
All those ps'es have their own transformers. Plan to do mu metal isolation for those.
For now dac has few issues, but hope to sort those out soon.
Hope something good will come out someday out of all this:)
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