Bricasti M1 > M5 > M12: Network Player - Member REVIEW - w/OEM Response from Brian Zolner President Bricasti

[Bones13]

Kinda waiting on the Uptone unit to make a choice on upgrading my standard switch. There are a couple on the market already, with Uptone, and SoTM on the way.

[audio.bill]

4 hours ago, fsmithjack said:

For you guys that use the Ethernet input into your Bricasti M1/M12, I got a fantastic SQ increase going with an upgraded Ethernet Switch powered by a linear power supply. For the money it cost the return on SQ investment was absolutely fantastic. I only say this for those that are interested in pushing their rigs forward from my very happy first hand experience but not to debate why it helps or in theory if it should or shouldn’t help. I know it helps. I bought and it blew me away! Please if you don’t believe in the idea then please don’t buy it. Same thing with power cables as many don’t believe in them. Great - no prob - enjoy but for those interested I can tell you right now - when I upgraded my Ethernet switch and it’s power supply my Bricasti popped with a Capital P with Gigantic improvement. Way more than I would have guessed but each their own. Those interested I promise you will love it! I sure do! 

Would you care to share exactly which upgraded Ethernet switch you selected? I see the Uptone Audio power supplies listed in your signature but no mention of the switch. TIA 

[TAV]

Does anyone know if the M5 will work with the native Mac OsX Qobuz desktop app using DNLA/UpNp?

 

Neither the Sotm sMS-200 or the Allo Digione work with Qobuz native desktop app.  Audirvana works fine on both streamers and I'm sure would also work with the M5.  I would like to use the native Qobuz app exclusively until Roon incorporates Qobuz.   

[fsmithjack]

Brian Zolner from Bricasti is reviewing your question and I’ll have his response for you soon. I’m pretty sure it will do what you want but I want Brain to confirm it.

 Thanks 

[fsmithjack]

TAV:

 

Brian Zolner is having one of his design engineers perform tests to confirm the results. Here’s Brian’s response below: 

 

I think it should, if its DNLA it will work.  we have Qobuz app for trial from them,  and we don’t have any issues running with the M1/M12/M5 ( all the same streamer) in fact we like it better than tidal, no issue with hi res FLAC up to 192k.  so far we are impressed with the service.  note I am not using I but my guy in LA Damon is, he does all this testing and he had Mac PC etc and he says its really good.  before you reply I will send this to Damon so he can tell me for sure.

[Lobbster]

15 hours ago, TAV said:

Neither the Sotm sMS-200 or the Allo Digione work with Qobuz

With the Allo you should be able to enable GMRenderer and do DNLA. I don't have Qobuz, but JRiver sees Allo & M5 no problem.

[fsmithjack]

Brian Zolner just forwarded me this:

 

What I found here with a PC and Damon has with a Mac, is that currently with their app you cannot play to the M5, it will see it on the network and in the menu for audio playback devices but does not work.  I can play using Bubble on my android phone though as I do with Tidal.   guess this really is not our issue but one for QoBuz to fix, they say they are working on it though.

[TAV]

40 minutes ago, Lobbster said:

With the Allo you should be able to enable GMRenderer and do DNLA. I don't have Qobuz, but JRiver sees Allo & M5 no problem.

 

I do have GMRender enabled on the Allo and Qobuz desktop sees it but does not connect.   Qobuz appears to be aware of these issues but it seems that many DNLA implementations just don't currently work with Qobuz desktop.   Audirvana does work fine with both Allo and SOTM.  

[rickca]

5 minutes ago, fsmithjack said:

it will see it on the network and in the menu for audio playback devices but does not work

Qobuz desktop UPnP support isn't ready for prime time yet.  It doesn't really work on things like ultraRendu either at this time.

[TAV]

7 minutes ago, fsmithjack said:

Brian Zolner just forwarded me this:

 

What I found here with a PC and Damon has with a Mac, is that currently with their app you cannot play to the M5, it will see it on the network and in the menu for audio playback devices but does not work.  I can play using Bubble on my android phone though as I do with Tidal.   guess this really is not our issue but one for QoBuz to fix, they say they are working on it though.

 

Thanks,  I was afraid of that.  Guess I'll have to continue with Audirvana until Roon is integrated with Qobuz or better supported on DNLA devices.  

[fsmithjack]

Welcome, we’re glad to help.

 

Not to change subject but it’s certainly Bricasti related. 

 

My M1SE with the Network Player is sounding so great. I just made a change with my preamp. I was using a Mark Levinson No.326s w/phono and I don’t use my turntable anymore so I thought I’d make a preamp change and sold my Levinson.

 

As I’m looking around for another preamp option I’m running my M1SE direct and I’m now honestly thinking my system actually may sound better without a pre at all.

 

im considering:

 

Pass Labs XP20

Ayre KX-5 Twenty 

EM Labs PRE2 SE 

ARC SP20 

 

Only because all used are under $4,500 - anyone familiar with any of these preamps.

 

Leaning toward the Ayre? Any opinions? 

 

Thanks 

 

[TAV]

6 minutes ago, fsmithjack said:

Welcome, we’re glad to help.

 

Not to change subject but it’s certainly Bricasti related. 

 

My M1SE with the Network Player is sounding so great. I just made a change with my preamp. I was using a Mark Levinson No.326s w/phono and I don’t use my turntable anymore so I thought I’d make a preamp change and sold my Levinson.

 

As I’m looking around for another preamp option I’m running my M1SE direct and I’m now honestly thinking my system actually may sound better without a pre at all.

 

im considering:

 

Pass Labs XP20

Ayre KX-5 Twenty 

EM Labs PRE2 SE 

ARC SP20 

 

Only because all used are under $4,500 - anyone familiar with any of these preamps.

 

Leaning toward the Ayre? Any opinions? 

 

Thanks 

 

 

No experience with the Ayre KX-5 however I do own the QB9-DSD and the AX-7e I've had them for many years and are wonderful pieces of kit.  Made in Colorado, quality craftsmanship,  the support is wonderful and they sound fabulous.  In my opinion you can't do better than buying Ayre. 

[Lobbster]

5 hours ago, fsmithjack said:

I’m looking around for another preamp option

M12?

 

I'd certainly be interested in a M1SE ?

[fsmithjack]

On 9/29/2018 at 7:10 PM, Lobbster said:

M12?

 

I'd certainly be interested in a M1SE ?

 

Hello Lobster - I missed you last post response. Thank you

 

I have a made bunch of changes since last month or so.

 

What I am really looking for now is the best transport to feed Roon via Ethernet to my Bricasti M1SE's built in network media player.

 

What I am using now is honestly is the best solution I've come up with so far but my gut says there is a better sounding option. My desire is purely best sound quality. The solution I am using now is quite inexpensive and wanted to get thoughts from you guys, maybe?  

 

So the details involved are that I love Roon so want a solution that offers that and I don't need USB or even a network player because my Bricasti does all that so I just want the best sounding, quietest sounding solution to send Roon/Tidal via Ethernet to my Bricasti

 

I am now using the  older, lowest power requirement version of the Small Green Computer sonicTransporter. They have since offered a bunch of newer ones with I5 and I7 but these require a lot more power so my thought was they would be noisier?

 

I use Small Green Computer sonicTransporter Gen1 with super quiet Celeron J1900 Baytrail processor that only takes 10 watts., SSD, Lynx OS, 2TB External USB HDD and it sounds great. 

 

I power via Uptone Audio JS-2 LPS with good Ghent DC Cables  

 

I also use The Linear Solution OCXO Ethernet Switch and it's excellent matching LPS and matching RJ/E Cable

 

It sounds great and the OCXO Switch is the star of this transport show but I am wondering if I can find a better solution than the Gen1 Small Green Computer sonicTransporter.

 

Note: Before this I built a custom windows mini pc version using the same processor and SSD and HDD and Audiophil Optimizer and Fedelizer and everything and though it sounded great until I got the  sonicTransporter which dramatically lowered the noise floor and was a huge improvement. Now I am wondering how to take this up to the next stet and wanted to ask for help. Especially from anyone that knows and/or uses a Bricasti with network player. 

 

Also, my other recent upgrade to my system as follows:

 

Preamp

- Mark Levinson No.326s preamp to Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8 (Huge Improvement)

 

- Pass Labs X350.5 amp to Pass Labs X250.8 (I really like this change, X350.8 not as sweet IMO and have not missed power)

 

- Full Cable Loom - Kubala-Sosna Emotion's (I added 4 Kubala-Sosna Emotion Power Cables, already had the XLR IC's and SC's)

 

- PS Audio P10 regenerator to Weizhi Precision PRS-6 Power Distributor - This was a huge deal - I liked plugging my amp, dac, pre into just the wall over the P10 so wanted something that would be just like plugging into wall - do no damage - and maybe a little better but at least as good but I needed more outlets and didn't want to go backwards like with my P10. 

 

The Weizhi Precision PRS-6 Power Distributor is a monster - exactly what I hope for but much more - it has no no active parts, no transformers, no chokes no active anything and it really is just an amazing power strip (what I wanted). I just wanted cleanest sound that is as close to plugging into wall as possible. I got lucky when I found this unit. 

 

It is a Solid Brick of CNC Milled Swiss-made Duralumin, has a Thick Carbon Fiber Faceplate, the excellent Oyaide R1 Receptacles which i already have and prefer over the brighter Furutech outlets I have. A  Furutech FI-09G IEC  inlet, wired entirely with amazing pure silver wire throughout, ACT EHPLC-OCC Uni-Crystal 6N Silver wire and a Carbon Star Ground System and a marketing department hype of some coating that I doubt does anything. It brought a level of transparency that just wasn't there before. Seems to have lowered the noise floor also. No idea how this possible but I love it.

 

To top it all off I made a deal with Scott Walker Audio in Anaheim, CA to trade my Magico S5 MKI toward a brand new pair of Magico S5 MKII that should be in around Christmas which I am so psyched for so my thinking is to try and dial in my server before my new speakers get here. I was hoping to ask everyone's thoughts on etherent server ideas.  Sorry for such long post but with so many changes thought to provide the background to my new server search. Thanks 

  

[Lobbster]

On 12/2/2018 at 8:30 AM, fsmithjack said:

 

Hello Lobster - I missed you last post response. Thank you

 

I have a made bunch of changes since last month or so.

 

What I am really looking for now is the best transport to feed Roon via Ethernet to my Bricasti M1SE's built in network media player.

 

What I am using now is honestly is the best solution I've come up with so far but my gut says there is a better sounding option. My desire is purely best sound quality. The solution I am using now is quite inexpensive and wanted to get thoughts from you guys, maybe?  

 

So the details involved are that I love Roon so want a solution that offers that and I don't need USB or even a network player because my Bricasti does all that so I just want the best sounding, quietest sounding solution to send Roon/Tidal via Ethernet to my Bricasti

 

I am now using the  older, lowest power requirement version of the Small Green Computer sonicTransporter. They have since offered a bunch of newer ones with I5 and I7 but these require a lot more power so my thought was they would be noisier?

 

I use Small Green Computer sonicTransporter Gen1 with super quiet Celeron J1900 Baytrail processor that only takes 10 watts., SSD, Lynx OS, 2TB External USB HDD and it sounds great. 

 

I power via Uptone Audio JS-2 LPS with good Ghent DC Cables  

 

I also use The Linear Solution OCXO Ethernet Switch and it's excellent matching LPS and matching RJ/E Cable

 

It sounds great and the OCXO Switch is the star of this transport show but I am wondering if I can find a better solution than the Gen1 Small Green Computer sonicTransporter.

 

Note: Before this I built a custom windows mini pc version using the same processor and SSD and HDD and Audiophil Optimizer and Fedelizer and everything and though it sounded great until I got the  sonicTransporter which dramatically lowered the noise floor and was a huge improvement. Now I am wondering how to take this up to the next stet and wanted to ask for help. Especially from anyone that knows and/or uses a Bricasti with network player. 

 

Also, my other recent upgrade to my system as follows:

 

Preamp

- Mark Levinson No.326s preamp to Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8 (Huge Improvement)

 

- Pass Labs X350.5 amp to Pass Labs X250.8 (I really like this change, X350.8 not as sweet IMO and have not missed power)

 

- Full Cable Loom - Kubala-Sosna Emotion's (I added 4 Kubala-Sosna Emotion Power Cables, already had the XLR IC's and SC's)

 

- PS Audio P10 regenerator to Weizhi Precision PRS-6 Power Distributor - This was a huge deal - I liked plugging my amp, dac, pre into just the wall over the P10 so wanted something that would be just like plugging into wall - do no damage - and maybe a little better but at least as good but I needed more outlets and didn't want to go backwards like with my P10. 

 

The Weizhi Precision PRS-6 Power Distributor is a monster - exactly what I hope for but much more - it has no no active parts, no transformers, no chokes no active anything and it really is just an amazing power strip (what I wanted). I just wanted cleanest sound that is as close to plugging into wall as possible. I got lucky when I found this unit. 

 

It is a Solid Brick of CNC Milled Swiss-made Duralumin, has a Thick Carbon Fiber Faceplate, the excellent Oyaide R1 Receptacles which i already have and prefer over the brighter Furutech outlets I have. A  Furutech FI-09G IEC  inlet, wired entirely with amazing pure silver wire throughout, ACT EHPLC-OCC Uni-Crystal 6N Silver wire and a Carbon Star Ground System and a marketing department hype of some coating that I doubt does anything. It brought a level of transparency that just wasn't there before. Seems to have lowered the noise floor also. No idea how this possible but I love it.

 

To top it all off I made a deal with Scott Walker Audio in Anaheim, CA to trade my Magico S5 MKI toward a brand new pair of Magico S5 MKII that should be in around Christmas which I am so psyched for so my thinking is to try and dial in my server before my new speakers get here. I was hoping to ask everyone's thoughts on etherent server ideas.  Sorry for such long post but with so many changes thought to provide the background to my new server search. Thanks 

  

 

Can't really comment about server solutions yet, I'm using a NUC ROCK. But it's my next project, gonna put it high performance mode and play around with oversampling in Roon. Right now I'm focusing on interconnects, but my system is fairly modest - been wondering about Analysis Plus new Crystal Ovals. The Kulba Sosna look soooo good - and the odd used set pops up now and again...

 

I just joined the M1SE club yesterday ! Wow - looks like a big learning curve - good thing it has a remote to play around with the settings.

 

Looks like you have many hours of joy in front of you burning in new gear - best of the season !

[firedog]

Asked Bricasti if they would consider adding HQPlayer NAA to their network devices. 
They replied that the expense isn't justified, as they haven't had many requests. 
Just putting this out there so that anyone who'd like to be able to send a signal from HQP or HQP/Roon to a Bricasti should send Bricasti a request. 
I'd guess if they get a number of requests they'd feel they need to add it in. 

[fsmithjack]

Response below from Brian Zolner @ Bricasti. Sorry it took a while been crazy busy: 

 

This is really a question for Qobuz, we are DNLA compatible,  but to my knowledge QoBuz has not implemented DNLA networking in there app. so if its working in other apps like audirvana then there is a bridge to the network to make it work.  so the simple answer is what he already knows, no.  I have asked them to get it working but so far no go, I just tried it again and my app updated from them and still does not work. too bad if it did I would be using it.

[xtraktz]

Hello everyone 

 

Is M12 roon ready device? On the roon page I see that yes.

But I can’t find M12 as networked device in roon (settings->audio)

I use intel NUC with roon rock OS. dCS network Bridge (roon ready also) works fine with it.

Please help, because mconnect app for DLNA is very ugly for me, also RAAT will be better.

M12 has 1.06 firmware 

[fsmithjack]

34 minutes ago, xtraktz said:

Hello everyone 

 

Is M12 roon ready device? On the roon page I see that yes.

But I can’t find M12 as networked device in roon (settings->audio)

I use intel NUC with roon rock OS. dCS network Bridge (roon ready also) works fine with it.

Please help, because mconnect app for DLNA is very ugly for me, also RAAT will be better.

M12 has 1.06 firmware 

 

Yes it is Roon Ready and should be simple as can be. Your problem is somewhere else in the chain. Roon is solid and stable but like all of them can be a little buggy. Go the the Bricasti webpage and confirm settings. Email Brian. 

 

[xtraktz]

1 hour ago, fsmithjack said:

 Email Brian. 

 

 

Already done. 

My dCS network bridge has no problem with my roon setup, works as swisswatches))

[xtraktz]

What latest firmware for M12? How to update M12 without send it to dealer?

[fsmithjack]

I will have Brian Zolner from Bricasti provide the proper answer to this. Hold for a few and I’ll get back to you with his response.

 

 

[xtraktz]

33 minutes ago, fsmithjack said:

I will have Brian Zolner from Bricasti provide the proper answer to this. Hold for a few and I’ll get back to you with his response.

 

 

Thanks!