Let's talk about SOTM SMS-200 ULTRA

[Armando Cruz]

The answer was that the Iso Regen ,can't be far off from sotm tx. 

[Armando Cruz]

Do you have any views on ...andru26?

[andru26]

Just now, Armando Cruz said:

Do you have any views on ...andru26?

 

Hans is a very respected reviewer and his opinion is worth looking into. 
At the same time, from personal experience, I found out that the performance of a component inside a system depends on the synergy with the other system components, so this pretty much means you have to test it in your own system to know for sure.

 

Maybe this article can be helpful as well: https://audiobacon.net/2017/07/11/uptone-audio-iso-regen-review/

 

[Armando Cruz]

"means you have to test it in your own system to know for sure."

Thats what I intend to do.

 

I have seen the article from audiobacon before, but is using the sms 200 ( with the sms 200 ultra, the results should be different )

 

Cheers andru26

[andru26]

1 hour ago, Armando Cruz said:

"means you have to test it in your own system to know for sure."

Thats what I intend to do.

 

I have seen the article from audiobacon before, but is using the sms 200 ( with the sms 200 ultra, the results should be different )

 

Cheers andru26

 

Cheers and good luck!

 

[Confused]

@Armando Cruz - I have tried my tX-USBultra with a number of upstream devices, including the sMS-200ultra Neo.  I would say it reduces harshness and improves dynamics, so all good.  However, to my ears it makes zero difference to “body” or tonality.  So if lack of body is the issue, I am not sure the tX will help.  I think the detail and accuracy that the Neo imparts on bass performance, amongst other things, can give the impression of “thinness” with some recordings.  Annoying, but it is what it is. 

[Armando Cruz]

I started this adventure without any intentions of spending money ... I Bought a Chord mojo and a beyer dynamic 1990 pro and then I thought " what if I buy some speakers? maybe I don't even need amplifier..." After all I needed the amplifier , and the vovox power cables, and the curious usb cables , and wireworld starlight ethernet cables and Lps for everything...This is getting out of hand🙄

I think I'm going to give baby steps - Iso regen first( and I will see how it feels , something tells me that I will have good results, I have an uptone lps 1.2 with Dave Zenwave Dc copper cable  audio ready for it).  Harshness it's not being a problem in my system, especially  now with the new sotm firmware 4.6 and ethernet via 100mb. If there was any harshness it's gone now, that new firmware indeed did wonders!

 

Thank you Confused

[beautiful music]

I didn't find the Qobuz plugin on LMS advanced settings, anyone knows how to run Qobuz on 200Ultra without using Roon

[Peter_T]

56 minutes ago, beautiful music said:

I didn't find the Qobuz plugin on LMS advanced settings, anyone knows how to run Qobuz on 200Ultra without using Roon

 

For DLNA/MPD Look at the discussion here :

 

With LMS, you will have to set Qobuz ON (plus Id and pw) in one of its settings pages. Then you will see it in Squeezelight.

 

[rhale64l7]

Ok I am buying a new dac. Holo Audio Spring 2 dac Kate edition. And my return window on the 200 ultra neo will be up buy the time I get it. I am wondering if keeping the 200 ultra will still make as big a difference as it has through my OPPO 105 USB dac input, and Emotiva RMC1l's USB dac input? What kind of differences will still be noticed over using the laptop hooked directly to the dac? 

 

Thank you,

Ron

[Mikaell]

4 hours ago, rhale64l7 said:

Ok I am buying a new dac. Holo Audio Spring 2 dac Kate edition. And my return window on the 200 ultra neo will be up buy the time I get it. I am wondering if keeping the 200 ultra will still make as big a difference as it has through my OPPO 105 USB dac input, and Emotiva RMC1l's USB dac input? What kind of differences will still be noticed over using the laptop hooked directly to the dac? 

 

Thank you,

Ron

 

Of course that depends on your entire system but I'd say: Definitely KEEP it (if you can afford the expense).

 

I use the SMS-200 Ultra with the Bryston BDA-3, and compared to directly feeding it the USB output from my mac mini - the soundstage is deeper, the sound more natural, it cuts a lot of the harshness and overall I get a more natural sound with the SOTM (fed by a linear power supply - seems quite important). I would have never imagined this before listening, but yes, the source is very important;

 

 

 

[Tommd64]

47 minutes ago, Mikaell said:

 

Of course that depends on your entire system but I'd say: Definitely KEEP it (if you can afford the expense).

 

I use the SMS-200 Ultra with the Bryston BDA-3, and compared to directly feeding it the USB output from my mac mini - the soundstage is deeper, the sound more natural, it cuts a lot of the harshness and overall I get a more natural sound with the SOTM (fed by a linear power supply - seems quite important). I would have never imagined this before listening, but yes, the source is very important;

 

 

 

 

[Tommd64]

for an additional improvement it is worth considering purchasing a SotM TX usb ultra instead of replacing it with another streamer where you will unfortunately get little sound profit ..

[rhale64l7]

1 hour ago, Mikaell said:

 

Of course that depends on your entire system but I'd say: Definitely KEEP it (if you can afford the expense).

 

I use the SMS-200 Ultra with the Bryston BDA-3, and compared to directly feeding it the USB output from my mac mini - the soundstage is deeper, the sound more natural, it cuts a lot of the harshness and overall I get a more natural sound with the SOTM (fed by a linear power supply - seems quite important). I would have never imagined this before listening, but yes, the source is very important;

 

 

 

Well my entire system is pretty incredible sounding now. But of course we are all looking for the best sound possible within our means. My system consists of an Emotiva RMC1L as processor. Two Digital Amp Co. Cherry amps 5 and 4 channel. Sotm Sms200 ultra neo with Sps500 power supply. Will have the Holo Audio Spring 2 dac Kitsune Edition. All Neotech occ cables. Power interconnect, and speaker. Pangea USB cable. Rythmik E15HPSE sub. Panasonic UB820 blue ray player. Aerial Acoustics 6t mains, 7cc center, 5t surrounds Golden Ear HTR7000 in ceiling atmos speakers. Iso Acoustics Gaia 3's aperta's under center and rears. Dedicated well treated room with bass traps and first reflection's 

[rhale64l7]

Also your saying if I had the trifecta even going to a higher quality dac that it would be a noticeable improvement?

[Tommd64]

Absolutely the SotM txusb ultra is an improvement in any DAC situation. Though its worth while to try it first after a 50-100 hours burn in..

[Mikaell]

On 2/2/2020 at 3:49 AM, rhale64l7 said:

Also your saying if I had the trifecta even going to a higher quality dac that it would be a noticeable improvement?

 

I don't have the TX-usb and I could still clearly "see" the improvement with my BDA-3. And the Bryston does pretty nifty internal reclocking...

[Tommd64]

Of course an improvement is possible; but before spendings shiploads of money on an endpoint you better try the tx-usbultra first...guaranteed an improvement in any situation..

[rhale64l7]

So the TX USB ultra without the sms 200 ultra would be better than the the other way around?

[Tommd64]

I,ll better have a Tx-usb ultra with a Sms 200 ultra . But in case you feed youre dac directly from a computer a tx-usb ultra transforms it in highend in stead of stereo.

[rhale64l7]

Ok thanks. I will be using the sms 200 ultra.

[audiophile911]

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question but is it possible to connect the sms200 directly to a computer (mac mini in my case which runs my roon core) via ethernet and eliminate the need for a router altogether?  Is there a downside to this?  Alternatively, I would need to place a wireless router in the room and run ethernet from that to the sotm.

[aggielaw]

Hi there.  You may find some useful information in the "network bridging" section of this thread:  https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/30376-a-novel-way-to-massively-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/?tab=comments#comment-613370

 

Good luck!

[Peter_T]

28 minutes ago, audiophile911 said:

Please forgive me if this is a dumb question but is it possible to connect the sms200 directly to a computer (mac mini in my case which runs my roon core) via ethernet and eliminate the need for a router altogether?  Is there a downside to this?  Alternatively, I would need to place a wireless router in the room and run ethernet from that to the sotm.

 

Yes that should be possible. I have done it with a NUC and windows10. You should give the sms200 a static (fixed) ethernet address via the eunhasu webpage. The MAC should notice so that Roon can find it. If the MAC does not recognize the sms200 you could try to open the eunhasu webpage  and restart the Roon app on the eunhasu page. If you have 2 ethernet ports on your MAC then you could attach the MAC also to your outside network and then you could try bridging as mentioned by Aggielaw. 

[audiophile911]

I could also put an Apple airport express on the audio rack and connect that to my wireless network and the SMS-200 via Ethernet. (Wireless access point).  Is there a sonic downside to connecting wirelessly?