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

[oilpaint]

@austinpop On the cybershaft clock - do you think Kenji is coming up with something that will retrofit an existing single connection into multiple clock connections? I have a OP-13 but have a need for more than on connection.

[oilpaint]

@confused - I have the same problem - using ROON/HQP to modded switch to 200ultra to tx-usbultra to mutec to Devialet - HQP won’t recognize anything. I ordered a 7-9v tx-usb ultra. I get music if I take the mutec out of the loop or take the usbultra out, but not with everything in. The strange thing is I think (could be confused) it worked initially until I flicked the usb power on/off button on the back of the usbultra - the music instantly stopped and hasn’t worked since.

 

Kamal at Cruz (where I bought the SOtM equip.) suggested I try to shut down and restart in a specific order - but that didn’t work. Maybe I’ll try to up the volts.....if you see a flash that would be my kit up in flames....

[oilpaint]

Is it fair to say that some folks have been powering the SOtM modded switch and tx-usb (both with the master clock cable) with a Up Tone LPS-1? I have a couple of the new LPS-1.2 and am having trouble powering the tx-usb. I have asked for some clarification of the power requirements of the tx-usb - the literature says the power input is 2 amps max. The LPS-1.2 has a max power of 1.1 amps. Has anyone run into this as a problem?

[oilpaint]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have the 9volt and I don’t have a meter to test it - although I guess I could get one. I’ll try a few more things in the coming days. I use ROON/HQP and it wouldn’t recognize the chain unless I take out the tx-usb. For the moment I’m just listening with the stock cord. At one point it worked with the voltage set at 12 volts but then cut out.

[oilpaint]

Thanks @austinpop At this point I am using one LPS-1.2 to power the modded switch (7 volts) at the moment. I am waiting for a couple more LPs-1.2 to arrive - when they do I will try a few more configurations. All of this is feeding a mutec mc3+usb then to a Devialet 1000.

 

In the mean time, I may try moving the LPS-1.2 to power my 200ultra and take the sotm 500 power supply (currently powering the 200ultra) and try it on the tx-usbultra..

 

[oilpaint]

Does anyone have an opinion on whether it is a problem for sound quality if I use a master clock and 2 devices that are 50 ohm (SOtM) and one that is 75 Ohms (mutec)?

[oilpaint]

@limniscate @austinpop @auricgoldfinger - don’t want to jump the gun on your OCX-10 and REF10 comparison, but I am curious what you mean by modded OCX-10 and what other components will be part of the comparison. Really looking forward to the ‘match’ and appreciate your doing this.

[oilpaint]

Nice

[oilpaint]

Thank you @limniscate - looking forward to the results

[oilpaint]

 

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

[oilpaint]

I have a simple switch that is connected to a router. Then I have an Ethernet cable from each NUC to this switch - no wireless anywhere. The OS is Audiolinux.

 

Dan

[oilpaint]

Hey Larry,

 

Would the same need to be done with HQPE USB stick?

 

Thanks

 

Dan

[oilpaint]

I wanted to do a quick follow up on my post #12,729 from January. I have continued to enjoy the music through the Nucklehead Server and Endpoint. The one change I made was to eliminate the ethernet connection to the Endpoint and go with WIFI. This combined with server updates/tweaks that Larry has done has me hearing the best sound quality ever from my system.

 

But, here's the kicker. I have been powering the Endpoint with a Paul Hynes SR4. Since the Endpoint has a 2.5mm connection and my PH silver cable has a 2.1mm plug I have had an adapter in place. I knew there was the possibility this could degrade sound quality but I thought I would live with it till I got my soon to arrive (or so I thought) new PH SR7. The problem is, anytime I would go near the back of my music cabinet to do something the power would disconnect to the Endpoint. So, accepting its hard to predict when the SR7 will arrive, I bought a Ghent cable to go from the SR4 to the Endpoint with a 2.5mm connector - no more adapter.

 

Oh my, the sound just went to another level. In hindsight, it makes sense that if the power cable was so loose it would disconnect it would impact the quality of the sound. I now believe the full potential of these NUCs has been unleashed! 

 

I also can't say enough about Larry's (lmitche) support - I had no such expectations when I bought the NUCs. In addition to the multiple updates/tweaks (every now and then he calls up and is giddy about a new tweak he has found) he has performed he has also helped me with other non-NUC problems, in particular,  issues related to my network. So, a big thanks to Larry!

[oilpaint]

@Blackmorec  I ordered:

DC-7n16 neotech upocc 7n copper 16awg dc(jssg360) cable

Xlr (male to 4 pin)

 

Because they will build almost any type of cable, I found their site a bit overwhelming - however, Ghent was over-the-top helpful - I sent him a picture and described what I was after and he pointed me directly to what I needed, and he responded very quickly.

 

I have cables coming with my SR7 so did not spend a lot of time looking/researching cables. lmitche recommended Ghent.

Dan