SOtM Trifecta

[ElviaCaprice]

34 minutes ago, nbpf said:

Thanks for the wrap-up! It is well possible that SOtM are building great devices but, to me, their web page is one of the worst examples of product presentation I happened to come across.Thus, I very much appreciate any attempt at bringing some clarity in their range of products. Let me see if I understand you correctly:

 

 - sPs-500: this is simply a power supply with one output and 4 selectable output voltages.

 

- sMS-200ultra: this is a UPnP server and an USB network player. Functionally, it is similar to Sonore's ultraRendu with the added value of 2 USB ports for connecting external storage and the possibility of running a UPnP server (MinimServer). The OS is a dedicated Linux distribution and it is not clear whether the device supports running a generic Linux distribution.

 

-  tX-USBUltra: this is a USB to USB regenerator with one USB input, two USB outputs and one input for a  10MHz master clock. Functionally, it is similar to UpTone Audio's ISO Regen with the added value of a second USB output and of the master clock input.

 

From a user's perspective, the typical use-case for the tX-USBUltra would be between an off-the-shelf device with USB output (like a Mac Mini, fitlet, Raspberry Pi, Allo Sparky USBridge, etc.) and a USB DAC. The typical use-case for the sMS-200ultra would be as a stand-alone UPnP server + renderer, as an MPD USB player or as a Roon USB endpoint. Is this understanding more or less correct? Thanks, nbpf

 

Except you missing the single most important component made by SOtM.

sCLK-EX

Forget everything else and concentrate on where you apply this clocking board to various products (SOtM or others), replacing their clocks, be it a generic mobo, renderer or fixer. 

The sCLK-EX can stand alone.  Has 4 points for clocking.

[thyname]

36 minutes ago, tedwoods said:

No, I mean from the NUC to the SOtM end point directly, bypassing the switch.

Plenty of info on the Roon forum on how to do this.

One less power supply this way...

The NUC may still  benefit from having a good power supply.

Several people have already done that -one way or the other- and have reported positively about it, but that's just something you should consider and experiment with.

I'm not preaching it's the absolute truth or anything...

 

On your second point, I was thinking more along the lines of that: since you already have the sMS-200 Ultra, you could get a SOtM tx USBhub and clock it from your Ultra.

Same thing as a standalone tx and essentially you're in trifecta territory.

If you had the sPS-500, you could power both from it.

Again, that's only something worth considering.

Only you can make the right choice.

 

I have : https://sotm-usa.com/products/sms-200-mod-tx-usbultra (with external clock connector)

             https://sotm-usa.com/products/sps-500-power-supply

             https://sotm-usa.com/products/iso-cat6-lan-single-noise-filter

 

I am: 

 

Any link on how to bridge my NUC directly to my sms-200 Ultra?

 

And the NUC w/ ROCK needs to be connected to Internet somehow, right? Especially since I have other setups in the house that use Roon.

 

what is the tx-USBHub? Did you mean USBUltra? And I am guessing I have to send the sms-200 Ultra to Korea for a mod to activate its clock output?

 

Thanks!

[rickca]

16 hours ago, George Hincapie said:

What is this trifecta I keep reading about? Is it a collection of 3 products, or the name for a single product?

There's a major source of confusion here I'd like to clarify.

 

The trifecta that is discussed at length here on CA by @austinpop consists of

tX-USBultra

modded sMS-200 (using 2 clock points from the tX-USBultra to turn it into an sMS-200Ultra)

modded switch (using 1 clock point from the tX-USBultra)

 

So in this configuration, there is only one sCLK-EX board and it is in the tX-USBultra.  You can optionally add a master clock connector to any product that hosts an sCLK-EX.

 

Then Crux Audio co-opted the trifecta nickname on their website to describe a completely different bundle.

tX-USBultra

sMS-200Ultra

sPS-500

 

In this configuration, there are two sCLK-EX boards, one in the tX-USBultra and one in the sMS-200Ultra, so both of those units could optionally have a master clock connector.

 

Most of the references on CA to the trifecta are not talking about the Crux Audio configuration.  This is important to understand.

[nbpf]

10 minutes ago, ElviaCaprice said:

Except you missing the single most important component made by SOtM.

sCLK-EX

Forget everything else and concentrate on where you apply this clocking board to various products (SOtM or others), replacing their clocks, be it a generic mobo, renderer or fixer. 

The sCLK-EX can stand alone.  Has 4 points for clocking.

Thanks, but I do not see an obvious way of applying the sCLK-EX to my system. This is very straightforward: a headless fitPC3 connected via USB to SPDIF interface to a Naim DAC. I cannot add the sCLK-EX to the fitPC3. I could replace the fitPC3 with a DIY, sCLK-EX-based small server. But I have no DIY expertise and the SOtM page does not offer any pointers to standard sCLK-EX based DIY solutions. Alternatively, I could replace the fitPC3 with an sMS-200ultra that, if I am not mistaken, is based on a sCLK-EX board and that can act as an integrated UPnP server + renderer. The only unknown is whether I can run a generic Linux distribution on the sMS-200ultra: I do not want to depend on the OS that comes with the device. By the way, do you know whether Eunhasu runs a ssh server? 

[ElviaCaprice]

8 minutes ago, nbpf said:

Thanks, but I do not see an obvious way of applying the sCLK-EX to my system. This is very straightforward: a headless fitPC3 connected via USB to SPDIF interface to a Naim DAC. I cannot add the sCLK-EX to the fitPC3. I could replace the fitPC3 with a DIY, sCLK-EX-based small server. But I have no DIY expertise and the SOtM page does not offer any pointers to standard sCLK-EX based DIY solutions. Alternatively, I could replace the fitPC3 with an sMS-200ultra that, if I am not mistaken, is based on a sCLK-EX board and that can act as an integrated UPnP server + renderer. The only unknown is whether I can run a generic Linux distribution on the sMS-200ultra: I do not want to depend on the OS that comes with the device. By the way, do you know whether Eunhasu runs a ssh server? 

Sorry, not a network guy.  It's direct sCLK-EX server via USB to DAC for me. 

Anywhere there is a clock, the sCLK-EX can be used.  SOtM will do the clock mod on their products or any non audiophile companies components.  A fitPC3 has clocks or as you suggest a new small mobo.

[tedwoods]

59 minutes ago, thyname said:

 

Any link on how to bridge my NUC directly to my sms-200 Ultra?

 

And the NUC w/ ROCK needs to be connected to Internet somehow, right? Especially since I have other setups in the house that use Roon.

 

what is the tx-USBHub? Did you mean USBUltra? And I am guessing I have to send the sms-200 Ultra to Korea for a mod to activate its clock output?

 

Thanks!

Some info can be found here: https://community.roonlabs.com/t/rock-dual-ethernet-primary-port-not-exposed-resolved/26222/56

You will need a USB to Ethernet adapter to connect to the internet.

This is the hub I'm referring to, essentially identical to what's inside the tx: https://sotm-usa.com/products/sotm-tx-usbhubex-external

The mod has to be be done by SOtM. Maybe your dealer can handle the to and fro details...

You'll still have one available clock output from the sMS.

[tedwoods]

1 hour ago, rickca said:

There's a major source of confusion here I'd like to clarify.

 

The trifecta that is discussed at length here on CA by @austinpop consists of

tX-USBultra

modded sMS-200 (using 2 clock points from the tX-USBultra to turn it into an sMS-200Ultra)

modded switch (using 1 clock point from the tX-USBultra)

 

So in this configuration, there is only one sCLK-EX board and it is in the tX-USBultra.  You can optionally add a master clock connector to any product that hosts an sCLK-EX.

 

Then Crux Audio co-opted the trifecta nickname on their website to describe a completely different bundle.

tX-USBultra

sMS-200Ultra

sPS-500

 

In this configuration, there are two sCLK-EX boards, one in the tX-USBultra and one in the sMS-200Ultra, so both of those units could optionally have a master clock connector.

 

Most of the references on CA to the trifecta are not talking about the Crux Audio configuration.  This is important to understand.

That's true.

Maybe we could call the trifecta minus the switch: the "tripletta"! (Italian for hat-trick...) 

[nbpf]

52 minutes ago, ElviaCaprice said:

Sorry, not a network guy.  It's direct sCLK-EX server via USB to DAC for me. 

Anywhere there is a clock, the sCLK-EX can be used.  SOtM will do the clock mod on their products or any non audiophile companies components.  A fitPC3 has clocks or as you suggest a new small mobo.

No network here as well. The fitPC3 is directly connected (via the USB to SPDIF interface since the nDAC only has SPDIF inputs) to the DAC. Thus, the clock that matters more is that of the USB to SPDIF interface. This could only be improved with an external master clock. The sCLK-EX also cannot fit in the fitPC3, see http://www.fit-pc.com/wiki/index.php/Fit-PC_Product_Line:_fit-PC3/3i. Thus, I only have two options: improve the server or improve the USB to SPDIF interface. If you have any pointer to a small fanless sCLK-EX-based server (NUC, Fitlet, etc.) please let me know. The SOtM sMS-1000 line of products also is rather poorly documented and I would not know where to demo a device in Germany. Thanks, nbpf 

[One and a half]

5 hours ago, rickca said:

There's a major source of confusion here I'd like to clarify.

 

The trifecta that is discussed at length here on CA by @austinpop consists of

tX-USBultra

modded sMS-200 (using 2 clock points from the tX-USBultra to turn it into an sMS-200Ultra)

modded switch (using 1 clock point from the tX-USBultra)

 

So in this configuration, there is only one sCLK-EX board and it is in the tX-USBultra.  You can optionally add a master clock connector to any product that hosts an sCLK-EX.

 

Then Crux Audio co-opted the trifecta nickname on their website to describe a completely different bundle.

tX-USBultra

sMS-200Ultra

sPS-500

 

In this configuration, there are two sCLK-EX boards, one in the tX-USBultra and one in the sMS-200Ultra, so both of those units could optionally have a master clock connector.

 

Most of the references on CA to the trifecta are not talking about the Crux Audio configuration.  This is important to understand.

A big, thanks @Ricka for pointing out this distinctive difference. In either configuration though, if there's no LPS-1 or something like it, the problems of leakage currents will still apply, and at these small signal levels, that's quite critical. 

[ElviaCaprice]

3 hours ago, nbpf said:

No network here as well. The fitPC3 is directly connected (via the USB to SPDIF interface since the nDAC only has SPDIF inputs) to the DAC. Thus, the clock that matters more is that of the USB to SPDIF interface. This could only be improved with an external master clock. The sCLK-EX also cannot fit in the fitPC3, see http://www.fit-pc.com/wiki/index.php/Fit-PC_Product_Line:_fit-PC3/3i. Thus, I only have two options: improve the server or improve the USB to SPDIF interface. If you have any pointer to a small fanless sCLK-EX-based server (NUC, Fitlet, etc.) please let me know. The SOtM sMS-1000 line of products also is rather poorly documented and I would not know where to demo a device in Germany. Thanks, nbpf 

The sCLK-EX can sit externally, powered externally.  The leads will run to the the modifications made by SOtM. 

You will pay twice as much for one of SOtM's sCLK-EX servers and not gain any additional benefit from a DIY of your own, having SOtM replace the clocks.  The thread I referenced to mentions many different mobos that would work, from a Jetway NUC to a mini-ITX build.  SOtM does have an Ultra product, I believe that does USB to SPDIF.

[austinpop]

8 hours ago, rickca said:

There's a major source of confusion here I'd like to clarify.

 

The trifecta that is discussed at length here on CA by @austinpop consists of

tX-USBultra

modded sMS-200 (using 2 clock points from the tX-USBultra to turn it into an sMS-200Ultra)

modded switch (using 1 clock point from the tX-USBultra)

 

So in this configuration, there is only one sCLK-EX board and it is in the tX-USBultra.  You can optionally add a master clock connector to any product that hosts an sCLK-EX.

 

Then Crux Audio co-opted the trifecta nickname on their website to describe a completely different bundle.

tX-USBultra

sMS-200Ultra

sPS-500

 

In this configuration, there are two sCLK-EX boards, one in the tX-USBultra and one in the sMS-200Ultra, so both of those units could optionally have a master clock connector.

 

Most of the references on CA to the trifecta are not talking about the Crux Audio configuration.  This is important to understand.

 

Sorry for the delayed response to Rick's "bat signal." I got here as soon as I could.

 

I do sympathize with folks who are confused. This trifecta approach is confusing for a variety of reasons:

• it was discovered empirically by @romaz, and later confirmed by me and many others
• SOtM is a small Korean company. They make stellar products, but marketing is not their strong suit. It is exacerbated by the fact that English is not their first language.
• Back to the first point, since the trifecta approach was not one that they designed and marketed from the start, their approach has been reactive, as is only to be expected.
• Most people are learning about it from the monster thread on CA, and based on their ability to comprehend, they are approaching SOtM for mods etc.

I have tried to make sense of the monster thread by curating an index in the first post here: https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/30376-a-novel-way-to-massively-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/ That was no easy task, I don't mind saying. Hopefully it has proved useful.

 

So yes - while it is true that it is truly a monster thread of 189 pages and growing, it is not a daunting task, surely, to go to the index, and search for the word "trifecta"? Here's one of several:

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/30376-a-novel-way-to-massively-improve-the-sq-of-computer-audio-streaming/?do=findComment&comment=659870

 

Hope this helps.

[klaus]

I use a USB-stick with a SMS-200ultra powered by a SPS-500 and want to  switch to a SSD connected via a TX-usbultra to the SMS-200ultra What can I expect regarding SQ?

[nbpf]

22 hours ago, ElviaCaprice said:

The sCLK-EX can sit externally, powered externally.  The leads will run to the the modifications made by SOtM. 

You will pay twice as much for one of SOtM's sCLK-EX servers and not gain any additional benefit from a DIY of your own, having SOtM replace the clocks.  The thread I referenced to mentions many different mobos that would work, from a Jetway NUC to a mini-ITX build.  SOtM does have an Ultra product, I believe that does USB to SPDIF.

Thanks, I would not mind going the DIY route but I really do not want to start sending bits and pieces back and forth and have items stuck at the customs! I am wondering whether SOtM could not offer a small, low power device with their super clocks, options for outstanding USB, SPDIF or i2s outputs, a user replaceable HDD or SSD and Linux certification. This would be a killer component, it could be used as a server or as a network player and could be directly connected to a DAC without having to deploy long chains of regenerators, reclockers, convertors and their respective power supplies. Something like a sMS-1000 but with a smaller footprint, customizable outputs and the option of running a generic OS.       

[thyname]

Anyone compared SOtM SPS-500 with UltraCap LPS-1 in powering the SMS-200Ultra?

 

I have mine powered by LPs-1, but I noticed that it runs pretty hot. Also from May @ SOtM:

 

.....the Upton LPS-1 is slightly short to power to sMS-200ultra, cause the sMS-200ultra requires at least 2A.

[tims]

Here's a question about the Tx-USBhub I've been wondering about for a while.

Since the tx-USBultra is, I believe, a combination of a sCLK-EX card and a version of the Tx-USBhub, is there any reason why enabling a Tx-USBhubEX (external version of the Tx-USBhubIN) with a sCLK-EX clock point will not turn it into a tx-USBultra?  

Or is it not that simple?

[firedog]

 

Comparison of SOtM triple stack vs Sonore Signature Rendu SE

 

https://www.audiostream.com/content/audiophile-conundrum-sonore-vs-sotm

 

 

[FredM]

Thanks for sharing firedog