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

[bit01]

On 6/9/2020 at 4:31 PM, lwr said:

I placed an order May 8 and haven’t heard anything from them ever since.  I have emailed requests for tracking information but have not gotten any reply whatsoever.  I have made many purchases from them and recommend them to friends, and everything has always gone smoothy before, including special orders for combinations of connectors and cables not shown on their website.

I received this a couple of days ago from Ghent:

 

Thanks your email.

We all are fine in Shanghai now, just have to slow the production since no enough engineers recently.

[bit01]

Only last week I upgraded AL LXQt 3x to 4.5 and I find it to have improved SQ (more body to the sound?)- I run JRiver MC25/LXQt from RAM and many, many thanks to the very considerate @Nenon who kindly helped me secure a 16GB Apacer module D21.23261S.001 that is now installed in the NUC7i7DNHE1!

 

This change was from the two 8GB Kingston Value RAM and was very positive in clarifying the perceived soundscape (quieter backgrounds, good depth, location etc) but greatly affected the perceived frequency balance of the overall system setup. The sound seemed bass heavy and devoid of HF sparkle?! This quickly got me to cable swapping, and glad that I did!

 

The perceived frequency balance was easily restored by changing the interconnects between pre/power amps (all DIY). This cable swapping also gave me a chance to play with some ethernet cable variants in the 'bridged' connection I use and where I normally favor the 2m flat Tera Grand CAT7 (2m, with the braided  jacket) .

 

PC-->usb/ethernet adapter (a TP-Link UE300, thanks to another member here) -->NUC

 

Kudos to many  here that have tried and mentioned CAT8 rated cables as possible alternatives. I got some to try -Cable Matters, Ugreen, Monoprice and some unbranded ones! I was pleasantly surprised (shocked actually) how well this one unbranded cable worked in my setup, right from the go! I therefore thought it worth mentioning here!

 

In the Amazon listing it is advertised as indoor/outdoor UV resistant, 26 AWG single strand (solid) copper  twisted pairs in aluminum mylar-backed foil shields , with a 100% braided aluminum overall shield and gold plated connectors. On the package it says Made in China!

 

I got it from the Amazon.ca  seller 'Canachoice' . However it seems to be in other listings too (e.g. Amazon.com - Smolink, DbillionDA, ...) all  'Fulfilledd by Amazon'.

 

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07WN3P2KB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08296DMTM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z4YHHYP/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A2WC0H630DY40C&psc=1

 

The sound I am getting has great PRaT, low noise, good soundscape good instrument timbre and really differentiates the fine recording/mastering from the bad and the ugly! More importantly the music is very enjoyable with no listening fatigue., and offers great 'insight' into the recording.

 

Many thanks to the excellent members here who have positively shared and those who continuously contribute to this amazing thread!

ATB

B.

 

 

[bit01]

I thought I would mention here how seemingly natural and relaxed the music plays using this setup. When 'tuning' it I usually just listen to familiar recordings for a lenghty period between tweaks rather than the A/B comparisons back and forth. When the music/SQ/PRaT etc hits me  'right' -  that is when I try to document where it is all at! At some point I  will compare some recordings on vinyl of the same mastering for the fun of it. Once again, many thanks to the great contributors in this forum.

 

In the current listening I find that the bass goes really low and has that power reserve! The clarity on voices is excellent. The noise level is surprising low, the quietest sounds and the full note decays being nicely audible. Piano notes are 'solid' and overall instrumental timbre and body of the intruments is better than I have heard previously. Many kudos to the power supplies and all the other components! I found that the AC cord to the SR7T and the DC wiring to the ATX/ and EPS had influence and enabled me to tweak to my preferrences.

 

Of note -

-WiFi on this board kills the SQ by introducing 'hardness' - so not used.

-The LAN controller is turned off too. I am using the TP-Link UE300 USB/RJ45 adapter for the ethernet.

- SATA too is off (according to notes!).

-One USB MOBO port that I find excellent, and which I am using- the USB 3.2/Gen 2, 2nd one below the RJ45 port.

-The PHD SR7T I have has two 19VDC/10A rails. I am using one to power the HDPLEX 800W DC-ATX using Ghent cables .

-The second rail is being used to power the CPU (EPS 8pin Molex) via the Sean Jacobs 12V regulator+dual current booster setup. This is wired with Mundorf Ag/Au 16 AWG. I have wondered how this would compare with a direct SR7T/12V rail (which would be more efficient/shorter length but less the added regulation)? Irrespective, powering the EPS this way lowered the perceived noise floor appreciably, revealing more detail compared to the HDPlex DC-ATX converter.

-The CPU turbo speeds tried ranged from 3.7-5.0 Ghz. 3.7 to 4.5 seemed preferrable. I am at 4.5GHz currently with the memory at 3200 MHz. Core temps are around 40 deg C or less, when playing music.

 

The setup:

 

 

The server build is here:

 

ATB

b.

[bit01]

@Exocer -thank you. re:FOMO Who knows unless one checks the both setups out (unlikely for most I would think)?  The Taiko outfit seems to listen to a lot of stuff out there- those are probably the ones to follow re: SQ rewards!

 

Enjoy your super setup now, and the Dual Xeon project when you get to it- will be watching, as I am currently interested in that DC-DC-ATX converter and may be more later!

 

ATB,

b.

[bit01]

I should clarify that the original parts list quoted above showed two Sean Jacobs voltage regulaotrs - 19/17 plus 17/12 as possible upgrades to the CPU EPS. In the end 19/12 V was sufficient as the heat load in this application is minor.

In a month or so I should have the final configuration and will update the PL for those interested.

 

ATB

b.