A novel way to massively improve the SQ of computer audio streaming

[motberg]

Thanks Roy, wish you the best in your next endeavor..

[motberg]

8 hours ago, ElviaCaprice said:

Larry, I am using the pico-itx in replacement.  Obviously minus the three other clocks on the sclk ex.

 

 

I must say, the s-clk ex (2nd photo) is the key to the magic of the txbexp pcie card (1st photo)

To me this is very interesting, it seems like the ( s-clk ex clocked) txbexp card is an improvement, even though it is earlier in the signal path than the iso regen ... ?

[motberg]

4 hours ago, oilpaint said:

 

 

I thought this post would be helpful to those people who lurk on CS but don’t have the full grasp of all the issues and terms discussed here (that would be me). My system had evolved over the years to include the following:  MacBook Air - SOtM 200Ultra Neo - SOtM tX USBultra - Mutec MC3+USB - Devialet 1000 - Magico S3s with a Mutec REF-10 clocking the 200, tX, and MC3. Sounded great - but what a lot of boxes and cables!

 

Always looking for better sound, I had been following discussions about the dCS NETWORK BRIDGE and arraigned to demo one in my system. I also starting following the NUC thread here on CS. I am not a computer person so much of the discussion was over my head and, quite frankly, confusing - Linux, BIOS, Commands, etc. Much of it seemed to be for the CS DIY crowd - which I am definitely not a member of. But, I was intrigued because the sound quality was supposed to be great (hold on, here I go again..). So, I kept an eye on the discussion while I awaited the NETWORK BRIDGE demo.

 

In the meantime, I read of lmitche’s service (NUCkleadaudio.com) to build NUCs for computer-challenged folks. Still not fully understanding what a NUC is and what it does I contacted NUCklehead, explained my system, indicated I was about to demo a NB, and asked what NUCklehead could offer instead. Larry got back to me right away. After multiple emails - mostly me asking questions about how a NUC would work for me based on the way I listen to music and Larry responding and saying “keep the questions coming” - I decided to go for it. Basically, in my system, it would replace the SOtM 200Ultra, and if it really sounded great, maybe a few other boxes???

 

Ten days later (and before the NETWORK BRIDGE demo) Larry actually hand delivered a NUC to my house (not sure he does this all over the world...). It requires a power supply so I used the SR4 that was previously powering the SOtM 200. The first time you power up the NUC you insert a USB stick - either one for ROON (if I am only listening to ROON) or one for NAA (if I am listening to HQP through ROON). After a couple of minutes - the NUC shows up as a Zone in ROON - and you are good to go.

 

My word it sounded great. "Clearness', 'Bigness', come to mind (if those are musical terms) - in particular, voices and the bass were outstanding - and this was all with only the NUC in play - an ethernet cable into the NUC and a USB cable out to the Devialet. His work done, Larry got back on his magic carpet and left - and I continued to listen and enjoy the music.

 

The next day I decided to put the other components (tX-USB, MC3, and REF-10) back in to the chain. I found it sounded great (as in the same with just the NUC) which made me think the NUC was really bringing something different to the system. So, one by one I removed the other components. Still the same great sound. So, as near as I can tell I have improved the sound and I have removed the following from my system:

 

SOtM tX-USBUltra (with Master Clock input)

SOtM 500 Power Supply

SOtM 500 Power Cable

SOtM 500 DC Silver Power Cable

1 USB Cable

1 BNC Master Clock Cable

Mutec MC3+USB (with Master Clock input)

Mutec MC3+USB Power Cable

XLR Cable

1 BNC Master Clock Cable

Mutec REF-10

Mutec REF-10 Power Cable

1 BNC Master Clock Cable (had gone to the 200Ultra)

 

I am very happy with the sound quality first, and second, the simplification of the system. So much so that I asked Larry to build me a NUC Server that has now replaced my laptop - once again with a bump up in sound quality. The Server concerned me a bit because it is 'headless' but so far - no issues.

 

This is what I have in place now:

 

NUC End Point (replaced the SOtM 200Ultra)

1.9-4.2Ghz Turbo Intel Core i7-865OU Quad-Core Processor/motherboard

4 Gb low latency ram

Akasa X7D Fanless Case

Audiolinux Headless Ramboot installed with NAA

 

NUC Server (replaced my laptop)

1.9-4.2Ghz Turbo Intel Core i7-865OU Quad-Core Processor/motherboard

8 Gb low latency ram

32 Gb Optane SSD

Akasa X7D Fanless Case

 

To be clear, I have no relationship with Larry - just a very satisfied customer. I can't say enough about his responsiveness and level of service. For example, early on I had 5 HDMI zones showing up as ROON Zones. I mentioned it to him and he Team Viewer-ed into my system and made them go away. Poof! At another point he emailed me he thought he found a setting in the BIOS that should be changed. So he called in and talked me through the change in the BIOS - who knew I would be (or should be) mucking about with the BIOS???

 

I am very happy with the NUC sound quality and simplification to my system. I cannot think of any other tweak that improved the sound as much as this move. It’s interesting - I started years ago simply with a laptop to mRendu to Devialet and I am kind of back there - but with a massive sound improvement.

 

Never did have that dCS NETWORK BRIDGE demo….

 

Dan

Dan, Thanks... this is a very interesting point of reference..

Quick question..... What is the OS on the NUC Server?

[motberg]

Maybe this storage performance problem is related to the software involved.

 

In my recent experience:

 

StarTech 2-Port USB3.1 (10Gbps) Card with 2x USB-A PCIe Interface
Powered by extra back-panel rail of HDPlex 400W ATX PS using iFi DCiPurifier
to
Intona Industrial Isolator
to
StarTech.com USB 3.1 (10Gbps) Enclosure for 3.5” SATA Drives -Supports SATA III
with WD Red WD40EFRX 4TB SATA 6Gbps Buffer 64MB IntelliPower HDD for NAS
Powered by TeraDak 3A 12V PS using w/wo iFi DCiPurifier

 

Using HQPlayer and also JPlay on .wav files only - using a Samsung 1 TB SSD with separate LPS was preferable. The sound quality from the external box solution seemed veiled and strained by comparison.

This was tested on a single PC, Asus B150M-Plus, NOFAN, i7-7700T, 8GB, INTEL SSD X25-E 64GB for OS, HDPlex ATX 400 LPS w/separate LPS's for the SSD's, JCAT USB card powered by Uptone LPS-1 with LT3045 1.5A box, Winserver2012 core w/AO

 

Dedicated listening room using speakers with a measured in-room rise approx. 6db after 10kHz

[motberg]

anyone using the Matrix element H Hi-Fi USB 3.0 ?

It seems maybe this card also uses the PCI-e power for processing, even if there is an external PS used...

 

https://www.shenzhenaudio.com/matrix-element-h-hi-fi-usb-3-0-interface.html

[motberg]

15 hours ago, Advieira said:

IMPRESSIONS WITH A NUC SERVER

 

Mikrotik router SFP Fiber + Nuc7i7BDNE Akasa (LPS Zerozone) > SnH-10G sclk-ex (stock ps) > Direcstream Sr. Bridge II

 

AudioLinux Ram: sound very sharp, bright, lean, very detailed, a little fatigating, very stable (nuc gets very hot)

Windows Server Data Center 2019 (no A.O) (M.2): details, bodied, harmonics richness, very enjoyable, network not very stable occasionally

 

I will keep AL for some auditions and impressing some friends, but for my ears, WS19 sounds better (understanding better as natural and real).

 

Now, I didn't understood why all that AL fuss...

 

Thanks for these comments

 

Anyone using or compare AL or Euphony with Volumio?

 

I had a chance to listen to a friends excellent DIY Player/DAC (using Volumio w/ X10SBA-L) in my stereo system (usually Win2012 core, AO, JPlay) and, even though the hardware was different - I got the impression that Volumio possibly offered software SQ on par with what I am used to, and in some respects (air and highs details) could be preferred by many folks... 

[motberg]

11 hours ago, austinpop said:

 

Yes, exactly. This was not a choice, as the H3 case does not have an ATX input in any case. So the only option is to snake the cable through the PCIe slot opening, and connect it directly to the motherboard.

 

Same here using a Thermaltake case, note the generous length of the HDPlex 400W ATX cable helps arrange this.

[motberg]

7 hours ago, romaz said:

 

Avoidance of a SSD is my chief goal since disk access isn't such a big deal with Linux.  Even a USB stick which is very slow sounds as good as an Optane drive with either Euphony or AL.  I think the performance of Optane is a bigger deal for Windows.

 

Anyone have suggestions on what type or characteristics a USB stick should have for persistent use with Euphony or AL ?

[motberg]

On 9/9/2019 at 8:20 PM, Chopin75 said:

I was told that the HDPlex 400 DC-ATX needs 10 A to run properly 

I tried a 7 A brick with the HDPlex DC-ATX and could not boot a modest mb with 25w CPU with the HDD powered separately.  A10A Teradak LPS booted this computer successfully. Just another data point in case someone encounters problems.

[motberg]

On 10/30/2019 at 9:05 PM, mourip said:

 

Great. I have previously purchased several regulator boards from your website and they made a nice difference. Glad to have input from a member of the trade.

agree, I have at least 6 of the LDOVR boxes, and this adds a nice touch of stability to my DC requirements

In my experience, LPS-1 + SR LDOVR box > LPS-1.2

[motberg]

On 1/9/2020 at 4:53 AM, [email protected] said:

i am apologies for the delays, but i can start shipments by the last week of January only , i can not get enclosures faster, Chrismass and New Year holidays affecting deliveries

Hi Alexy,

 

Are you shipping yet?

[motberg]

On 6/3/2020 at 1:05 AM, lmitche said:

Hi Bodiebill,

 

My hard disks are the big 3.5 inch variety that take 12 and 5 volts. In a USB 3 enclosure the 12 volts comes from the dc input and the 5 volt comes from the USB cable. This separates the drive motor from heads, actuators, and signal electronics.

 

A 2.5 inch hard drive has never been tested here, so your report is helpful.

 

Thanks,

 

Larry

I am using the same (I am pretty sure I copied your HDD and case purchases a couple years back), 3.5 inch 4TB with 12V external case, 12V LT3045 SR x 2A, Original model Intona Industrial between the server and HDD case and Matrix Element H USB pcie card (standard LPS). This sounds much better than SATA SSD (in the control PC - Jplay 2 box system). I get the feeling the Matrix card is key in my system.

[motberg]

On 6/16/2020 at 5:50 AM, blueninjasix said:

I use this cooler on an i5-7600 in this case https://www.techspot.com/review/428-silverstone-fortress-ft03/

Works perfectly with no fans

+1

 

I have an i5 and an i7 running these and one of the 95W NOFAN's running an i5 for a few years.

All low wattage CPU's. No problems, but need a large case and sometimes the first Pcie slot is blocked.