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

[One and a half]

6 hours ago, lateboomer said:

I would like to ask for advice. I am going to setup Supermicro X10SBA-L-B music server and playing from local Samsung SSD EVO 850 500GB drive. The mboard, usb card, CPU and ssd are running external LPS. The usb is output via an old SoTM tx-UsbExp card which I owned from the CAPS 2.0 server kit.

 

The question is should I run the very small Daphile OS which occupies only 16 GB from a USB 3.0 flash drive or should I create small 16 GB sub partition from local drive EVO 850 ssd and run the OS from there? Which one is more ideal and create less noise at the system?

May I ask why that particular motherboard from Supermicro?

[lateboomer]

4 minutes ago, One and a half said:

May I ask why that particular motherboard from Supermicro?

 

I try to follow the Zenith Mk2 SE path to use the same motherboard as pointed out by forum. Am I wrong?

[One and a half]

Just now, lateboomer said:

 

I try to follow the Zenith Mk2 SE path to use the same motherboard as pointed out by forum. Am I wrong?

Oh! OK, I remembered Innuous used a Supermicro mobo, but not that particular model, thanks for the info. Did you see it has a two wire S/PDIF output?

[str-1]

It’s still very early days for the LPS-1.2 but has anyone had chance yet to compare it with the Paul Hynes SR4 powering SOtM gear?  

 

If Paul delivers to schedule, my SR4 is still up to a couple of weeks away.  When it arrives, and after 150-200 hours run-in,  I will compare its performance against the LPS-1 powering my ISO regen and also a tx-USBultra that I have yet to order (still not sure whether to go for the 9V or 12V model - grateful for any advice).  The LPS-1.2 is a little cheaper than the SR4/silver cable in the UK (only just over £30 difference) and I could get one this week with time enough to cancel the SR4 order if people are finding it better than the SR4.  On the otherhand, if it’s not that much better than the SR4, I’ll stick with the latter just for the sake of having the extra amperage headroom. Thanks in advance for any views.

[lateboomer]

2 minutes ago, One and a half said:

Oh! OK, I remembered Innuous used a Supermicro mobo, but not that particular model, thanks for the info. Did you see it has a two wire S/PDIF output?

No problem. Then which exact model are we talking about? I am not sure about S/PDIF output, I have not received the board yet and I just bought it today from Amazon. If I make a mistake, please let me know. Thank you.

[One and a half]

2 minutes ago, lateboomer said:

No problem. Then which exact model are we talking about? I am not sure about S/PDIF output, I have not received the board yet and I just bought it today from Amazon. If I make a mistake, please let me know. Thank you.

Here's the layout: JSPDIF Out, below the VGA connector.

 

[lateboomer]

Ok. I think you are correct so what would you like me to do about spdif out?

[One and a half]

3 minutes ago, lateboomer said:

Ok. I think you are correct so what would you like me to do about spdif out?

if it's not too much trouble to compare a USB to S/PDIF converter (if you have one to hand) to a DAC and the S/PDIF out from the motherboard to the same DAC.

 

The motherboard's S/PDIF outs were 'traditionally' very horrible, just wondered if times have changed?

[lateboomer]

Sure, no trouble and I would be much delighted to try it if I know how to do it. I also own mf v90 converter and Singxer F-1 xmos usb spdif converter which everyone raves about at head-fi.

[One and a half]

7 minutes ago, lateboomer said:

Sure, no trouble and I would be much delighted to try it if I know how to do it. I also own mf v90 converter and Singxer F-1 xmos usb spdif converter which everyone raves about at head-fi.

Reason is this old post from 2012 while searching for something else.

[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)?

[austinpop]

10 hours ago, str-1 said:

It’s still very early days for the LPS-1.2 but has anyone had chance yet to compare it with the Paul Hynes SR4 powering SOtM gear?  

 

If Paul delivers to schedule, my SR4 is still up to a couple of weeks away.  When it arrives, and after 150-200 hours run-in,  I will compare its performance against the LPS-1 powering my ISO regen and also a tx-USBultra that I have yet to order (still not sure whether to go for the 9V or 12V model - grateful for any advice).  The LPS-1.2 is a little cheaper than the SR4/silver cable in the UK (only just over £30 difference) and I could get one this week with time enough to cancel the SR4 order if people are finding it better than the SR4.  On the otherhand, if it’s not that much better than the SR4, I’ll stick with the latter just for the sake of having the extra amperage headroom. Thanks in advance for any views.

 

This is in the cards, coming soon. I am waiting to let the LPS-1.2 achieve at least 200 hours in my system. I also have some travel coming up, so I foresee some long, quality burn-in time in my absence. Hopefully in a week I'll feel comfortable to comment.

 

I'll be comparing the LPS-1, LPS-1.2 (both with Ghent DC cable), and SR-4 with silver cable. Each will be set to 7V, powering my tX-USBultra (6.5-8.5V version).

 

I wish I had a comparable cable for the LPS-1.2 to compare, but I don't. I guess the obvious cable comparable to the Pul Hynes silver would be the Sonore DC-4?

[auricgoldfinger]

3 minutes ago, austinpop said:

I guess the obvious cable comparable to the Paul Hynes silver would be the Sonore DC-4?

 

You'd be comparing silver to copper, which is like comparing apples to oranges (imo). 

[BigAlMc]

2 minutes ago, auricgoldfinger said:

 

You'd be comparing silver to copper, which is like comparing apples to oranges (imo). 

 

Silver, Copper, Apples or Oranges?!

 

Which of these will make my music sound better and where can I buy them!? 

[austinpop]

4 minutes ago, auricgoldfinger said:

 

You'd be comparing silver to copper, which is like comparing apples to oranges (imo). 

 

Oh duh, I assumed wrong about the DC-4. What silver cables have people used with the LPS-1, and does it benefit over a Ghent starquad, for example?

[auricgoldfinger]

1 minute ago, austinpop said:

 

Oh duh, I assumed wrong about the DC-4. What silver cables have people used with the LPS-1, and does it benefit over a Ghent starquad, for example?

 

I've never invested in a silver cable for my LPS-1 or LPS-1.2.  I have a DC-4 and also several of Alex's custom star-quad DC cables.

[austinpop]

I should take Alan's cue.  

 

Is there a cable that people have found to considerably improve the SQ from an LPS-1, compared to the baseline Ghent starquad?

[BigAlMc]

3 minutes ago, austinpop said:

I should take Alan's cue.  

 

Is there a cable that people have found to considerably improve the SQ from an LPS-1, compared to the baseline Ghent starquad?

 

I'm going with oranges under the components and silver connected to the rear! 

 

Sorry - fixated on vibration isolation currently. OT I know. So I'll park it there.... 

[mozes]

2 hours ago, austinpop said:

I should take Alan's cue.  

 

Is there a cable that people have found to considerably improve the SQ from an LPS-1, compared to the baseline Ghent starquad?

A high quality silver cable does make a difference!

For testing purposes I have a UPOCC silver 16AWG 15cm cable with 2.5mm Oyaide that you can try.

[seeteeyou]

FYI - I found this particular experience very interesting regarding silver DC cables

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/audioquest-dc-cables-why-are-there-almost-no-high-end-dc-cables

Quote

You folks may be over-invested in the star-quad construct.  I made several PCs that way from TFT-insulated silver-plated copper wire that were subsequently trounced by thicker, pure silver wire in a simple twisted pair with a foil shield.  It's worth a try.  Thick silver wire is too expensive for commercial marketing, but relatively cheap for DIY.

 

UP-OCC Hook-up Wire (same as the ones available by SOtM by any chance?)
http://www.neotechcable.com/product9.php

 

26AWG silver gold
http://www.zenwaveaudio.com/product/neotech-26-gauge-occ-silvergold-alloy/

 

26AWG silver
http://www.zenwaveaudio.com/product/neotech-26-gauge-upocc-silverteflon-solid-core/

 

Neotech
http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-teflon-solid-ag-c-296_175_183_225

http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-teflon-strand-ag-c-296_175_183_226

http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-pe-strand-aggd-c-296_175_183_448

 

Mundorf

http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/chassis-mundorf-wire-c-296_175_423

 

Jupiter

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/jupiter-solid-silver-cotton-28-awg-p-1614

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/jupiter-solid-silver-silk-28-awg-p-5113

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/jupiter-solid-silver-cotton-23-awg-p-1894

[auricgoldfinger]

9 minutes ago, seeteeyou said:

FYI - I found this particular experience very interesting regarding silver DC cables

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/audioquest-dc-cables-why-are-there-almost-no-high-end-dc-cables

 

UP-OCC Hook-up Wire (same as the ones available by SOtM by any chance?)
http://www.neotechcable.com/product9.php

 

26AWG silver gold
http://www.zenwaveaudio.com/product/neotech-26-gauge-occ-silvergold-alloy/

 

26AWG silver
http://www.zenwaveaudio.com/product/neotech-26-gauge-upocc-silverteflon-solid-core/

 

Neotech
http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-teflon-solid-ag-c-296_175_183_225

http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-teflon-strand-ag-c-296_175_183_226

http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/neotech-wire-pe-strand-aggd-c-296_175_183_448

 

Mundorf

http://www.soniccraft.com/index.php/chassis-mundorf-wire-c-296_175_423

 

Jupiter

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/jupiter-solid-silver-cotton-28-awg-p-1614

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/jupiter-solid-silver-silk-28-awg-p-5113

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/jupiter-solid-silver-cotton-23-awg-p-1894

 

Also here:

 

UniCrystal™ OCC SILVER Hookup Wire with AirLok™ Insulation

 

Our unique AirLok™ insulation is a proprietary form of foamed/cellular Fluoropolymer that achieves a dielectric constant of less than 1.45! By comparison, the dielectric constant of solid fluoropolymers, such as DuPont™PTFE, FEP, and PFA (referred to as Teflon®, when licensed from DuPont) is 2.1. A perfect vacuum is 1.0.

 

https://www.vhaudio.com/wire.html

 

[seeteeyou]

I've been always wondering, what if we're replacing all power cables (i.e. 4-pin Molex, 4-pin / 8-pin CPU, and 20-pin/24-pin ATX etc.) inside our music servers with silver or maybe silver / gold ones?

 

They're already asking an arm and a leg for Furutech Alpha-OCC but that would be OCC copper rather than silver

 

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=530583321067

 

[sandyk]

1 hour ago, seeteeyou said:

I've been always wondering, what if we're replacing all power cables (i.e. 4-pin Molex, 4-pin / 8-pin CPU, and 20-pin/24-pin ATX etc.) inside our music servers with silver or maybe silver / gold ones?

 

 

 It would be nice to have some gold plated 4 pin molex plugs and sockets / connecting leads  as it's not unknown for the normal ones using cheap pressed metal to go high resistance.

[austinpop]

5 hours ago, mozes said:

A high quality silver cable does make a difference!

For testing purposes I have a UPOCC silver 16AWG 15cm cable with 2.5mm Oyaide that you can try.

 

That would be awesome. Thanks Moussa!

 

Most people don't know this, but I have been using a DC cable that Moussa hand-built using Furutech FA 220 AWG14 with Oyaide DC plugs. I find it outperforms the Ghent Canare starquad cable, but I haven't mentioned it here, as it's not something anyone can go buy. So I do know that the LPS-1/LPS-1.2 can benefit from a better cable.

 

I really look forward to trying this cable.

[One and a half]

1 hour ago, sandyk said:

 

 It would be nice to have some gold plated 4 pin molex plugs and sockets / connecting leads  as it's not unknown for the normal ones using cheap pressed metal to go high resistance.

In defense of the Molex plug, they rarely fail, but have had the pins pushed back in the holder a few times not making a connection. Once they stick, the immunity to dirt is quite good. Made in the millions though, quality does suffer, and I bet pirated connectors give the real Molex a bad name. 

Ebay always has something to sell, here's the Molex gold plated variety, the crimping tool though usually costs a bomb, USD500 upwards.