Sonicorbiter - The Operating System

[Matias]

I don't use DSD and also don't need the extra features, so if no sound quality gains are achieved through the new version, I think I will just skip it.

[Matias]

14 hours ago, vortecjr said:

3. For those people who have opted out of the purchase you are within your right to do so. Should you change your mind at some point do not hesitate to ask for the update via email if the link is no longer working.

 

Maybe after some users report back their findings in sound quality I can change my mind indeed. Hopefully it does increase SQ!

[Matias]

@vortecjr could you please tell us what are the new features of 2.8, at least the confirmed ones? Even if release date and pricing is unconfirmed. Thanks.

[Matias]

I somehow missed that 2.8 was released already. Just ordered mine now.

[Matias]

On 2/10/2020 at 5:02 AM, vortecjr said:

We have several hundred 2.8 cards in the field and we are watching them in service via sonicorbiter.com.

 

Jesus, I always wondered why we need the physical microSD card at all. Would it be possible and much easier for us customers to buy the update, you unlock it to our serial number, it shows up as an update on Sonic Orbiter, and we just download it as with the other regular updates?

 

No card and shipping costs, no customs, no delays...

[Matias]

8 hours ago, vortecjr said:

For us having the customer burn the images is a no go for many reasons and we prefer to control the process. This a huge update and you can’t just update to it as usual. 

Not burning images, but the software directly updating itself. Not possible?

[Matias]

FYI there are these transparent cases for microSD to protect during shipping.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32989386588.html

[Matias]

5 minutes ago, reruam said:

As a long term user of “Rendus”, I find being forced to buy firmware distasteful.

i can purchase a 16gb micro SD card. I can put the files on the card. I can load the card in the Rendu.  It’s at most a $5 card.

 

Reraum

The cost is not about the card, is about the work involved to prepare the new version.

It is like paying for a new version update of a software. And the former version still works so we are not forced to upgrade.

[Matias]

I am still on 2.7 and every now and then my DAC vanishes from DAC Diagnostics. Rebooting usually works. Then JRiver cannot send audio to the ultraRendu. This interface is quite unstable for me. I was hoping 2.8 fixed this, well... I am not so sure now. Let's see when my card arrives.

[Matias]

1 hour ago, barrows said:

Do you mean the Rendu loses connection with the DAC and will not play music, or???  What happens when you remove the ISO Regen?

Yes, does not play music. And hitting play on the JRemote the song shows playing a few seconds and then stops.

With or without ISO Regen no difference. And happens with 3 different DACs and 3 different USB cables I have tried.

[Matias]

31 minutes ago, barrows said:

Yeah, that is very odd behavior indeed.  I work from home, and my system is playing most of the day and evening, and I never seem to have problems of with Rendu device (microRendu, ultraRendu, or Signature Rendu SEoptical) loosing connection with the DAC.  Maybe it happens a couple of times a year...  Do you have any weird sources of static discharge?  Or it is possible you have some odd AC power issues?  As this happens with different DACs I am looking for problems which are outside the system, and common to all set ups.  Anything weird in your Network, or Ethernet cabling?  I would recommend occasional re-booting of the Network gear, maybe once a month or something like that.

Nothing on my network seems wrong. HTPC works fine, no disconnects. Sonic Orbiter is accessible, never goes offline. I never reboot my network gear (Asus router and switch), although I tried bypassing the switch and connecting the ultraRendu directly to the router and dropouts still occur. I tried another software (Roon trial), same. Lately tried shunting the DC output of the Sonore LPS (connecting the outer side of the plug to my SR Grounding Block), same.

I really wished that it was a "set and forget" unit, but unfortunately it has not been the case. Let's see if 2.8 solves this.

[Matias]

3 minutes ago, jcn3 said:

 

Which LPS are you using for your rendu? Did you try another one? If you're using an LPS-1, then you're potentially not getting enough power to the rendu. 

Tried Uptone LPS-1 and LPS-1.2, MeanWell SMPS and currently Sonore's own LPS (by barrows).

[Matias]

7 minutes ago, Mike Rubin said:

Matias, I periodically have disconnects like this, with music appearing to be playing but with no sound. (I don't know which app you use for your music, but I have this issue with LMS and UPnP.)  I find that it helps for me to close all controller apps on the phone or tablet and then go into the software settings in Sonic Orbiter. There, I hit "save."  When the settings indicate that the app has saved, I restart the controller app.  Then, if the Rendu is available as a player in the control software on the phone or tablet, I re-select it and try to play.  Usually, that is enough to get things going. 

 

Worst case, I remove power from both Rendu and DAC.  Then, I almost always can get things back to normal, until they aren't.

Yes, these tips help here too, but it is a pain...

[Matias]

2 hours ago, jma2 said:

 

Dear Matias,

I recognize this behavior with 2.7 very well. I also struggled a long time with random unexplainable connection-loss with my DAC (Ayre QB9) and sometimes hickups during playback. I use Squeezelite client with LMS on my NAS and in the beginning I had also random connectivity problems where Squeezelite on my oR would not connect to my LMS server on the NAS. I ran for a while the LMS server on the oR, but connectivity issues with my DAC remained and I became very fluent with rebooting the oR.

 

Then I did something after which my 2.7 system became very stable (no more playback hickups, no more loss of DAC connectivity, no more need to reboot). What I did is in the Software management I removed all playback applications which I didn't use (e.g. Roon, Spotify, etc), I also removed the LMS server from the oR and only left the Squeezelite and MPD client (which I don't use, but know quite well from other playback systems and sort of trust). Since then not a single glitch. Maybe uninstalling all irrelevant/unused clients also works for you, I sincerely hope so.

I tried this, let's see if it improves. So far nothing. Very strange and frustrating.

[Matias]

38 minutes ago, quark said:

The original Mytek Brooklyn DAC.

like I said in version 2.7 often in DAC diagnostics the readings would be not quite correct and randomly different each Time I checked, and I’d have to restart two times at least to get it to connect properly.

But since version 2.8 the readings in DAC diagnostic have been perfect every single time, couldn’t be happier 🙂 

There is hope then. Now if only my card would arrive...

[Matias]

I also almost missed the hole and inserted the card above the slot. Tip for other users: don't be lazy as we were, take the ultraRendu out of the rack and change cards properly.

[Matias]

On 2/15/2020 at 11:33 AM, Matias said:

There is hope then. Now if only my card would arrive...

Posting here too.

 

After 2.8 (and uninstalling unused apps) my ultraRendu is magically working flawlessly. I am afraid to touch anything and break again so I am happy as it is!

[Matias]

I also think 2.8 takes longer to boot here but as long as it works I don't care if it wastes some seconds more.

[Matias]

One thing that never works for me is using software reboot. It locks and does not return to life. Power cycling always works though.

Now using MPD version 0.21.20 here too!

[Matias]

Just a short feedback: I have been running 2.8 and updated apps over the last few weeks and never had a dropout again. It is running DLNA rock solid on all PCM/DSD sample rates, start/seek/stop, everything! I am so very glad.

[Matias]

Is there a screen, newsletter or something that announces updates available for OS (within 2.8 I mean) and apps? Or should I just got update from time to time?

[Matias]

7 hours ago, EduZ said:

I know that!    My question was another. 

If your question is "Why is there an option to update 2.7 to 2.8 and it does not work?" then you answer is "Because it is an user interface bug. It should not give the option to update if it is not available."

Does that answer?

[Matias]

@agillis @vortecjr whenever possible could you please update MPD to the latest 0.21.24 version? It has been a while.

[Matias]

Also my JRiver is not finding my ultraRendu anymore. Was working fine 2 days ago. Running the latest versions of both. I can enter the Sonicorbiter page normally, DAC diagnostics is listed OK. Tried restarting MPD, clearing cache, running update, rebooting. JRiver sees my AVR on but not the ultraRendu. I tried shutting off both, reverting JRiver version, nothing.

Any ideas?

[Matias]

Got it. When I disabled "Direct DSD support on my DAC" it showed up on JRiver MC. Go figure. Thanks anyway.