Pink Faun 2.16

[lpost]

I too use the DS for about 6 months now.  I bought the Bridge II along with it but have since sold it (for what I paid).  I use Roon exclusively and the connivence of the Bridge is great but for me, in my system, USB direct from my regular PC sounded better, much better.  I listened to USB direct for about a week, switched back to Ethernet/Bridge for a few hours and sold the Bridge.  I have optical isolation in my Ethernet network and found this helped improve the sound but not as much as USB direct.

 

I then added a DDC Matrix X Spidf 2 - USB to I2S converter.  This took the sound to an entirely different level still using the same standard PC and Roon.

 

I expect to receive my 2.16 in a few days and the Matrix will be sold but it served to open my ears to the potential of isolation and better clocking.  

 

For my 2.16 I chose to go direct I2S as I believe this should ultimately be the best despite the potential for noise via metal conductors (HDMI).

 

I would avoid as many conversions as possible.  Hope this helps.  

 

P.S.  I use toslink from Apple TV 3 to DS for some video, mostly music on Youtube.  It sounds as good as the source on YT.  

[lpost]

I forgot to add, I don't believe the 2.16 will accept any inputs.  I know that Roon currently does not so you'd have to run something else and probably Windows to enable the on-motherboard ports.  

[RP993]

David, 

 

Sorry if I did not understood your question well, but using a device like ultrarendu is completely useless if you own a PF 2.16:

 

It has a LAN port, so music streaming through lan and i2s output is a standard feature (if you have ordered the i2s Bridge). You don't need any other hardware. 

 

I would suggest to order / upgrade the streamer with a data ssd for music files. In this case you serve music locally and direct to your Dac, therefore you can save AudioPhile network goodies like oxco switch, LPSU, fiber net, etc. Not to mention better SQ

[lpost]

How much does the 2.16 weigh?  I just received tracking info, shipped it is 42 kilos!

[RP993]

4 minutes ago, lpost said:

How much does the 2.16 weigh?  I just received tracking info, shipped it is 42 kilos!

I think the net weight is about 30 kgs. The wood cradle is another 10-12 for sure. So, if you had missed the gym for a while, ask your buddy to help you with unpacking and positioning ?

[DavidL]

15 hours ago, RP993 said:

David, 

 

Sorry if I did not understood your question well, but using a device like ultrarendu is completely useless if you own a PF 2.16:

 

It has a LAN port, so music streaming through lan and i2s output is a standard feature (if you have ordered the i2s Bridge). You don't need any other hardware. 

 

I would suggest to order / upgrade the streamer with a data ssd for music files. In this case you serve music locally and direct to your Dac, therefore you can save AudioPhile network goodies like oxco switch, LPSU, fiber net, etc. Not to mention better SQ

 

Hi RP993

 

My ignorance shows!

To explain in more detail.

My music library is on a NAS remote from the HiFi (DAC etc), on another floor and linked via a wireless bridge (2 x Airport Extreme). I run MinimServer on the NAS and curate the music library using an iMac adjacent to the NAS. At the HiFi end I have a 6ft wire ethernet run to a pair of back to back wire-to-optical fibre ethernet converters connected with 3ft of fibre (and powered by linear PSUs), and then 3ft of wire ethernet to the Bridge II in the PS Audio DS DAC.

 

So I have no need for any additional server hardware. Hence to rephrase my question:

 

Is it likely I could get improved SQ relative to the Bridge connection by using a Sonore ultarendu for ethernet-to-USB conversion followed by a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 to go from USB to I2S?

 

Apologies for going completely off the Pink Faun topic thread.

 

[jjkale]

Dude,

Apologies, back at ya.

Get yourself a PinkFaun 2.16, run the ethernet straight in to it, run I2S out to a Denafrips Terminator, a Holo Level 3,, a Matrix X Sabre or even a Directstream.

All problems solved.

I am MCH, employ a PF I2S MCH bridge and employ an external NAS linked by ethernet as well.

It's not complicated.  Be safe.

Out.

[lpost]

I received my 2.16 today.  The shock sensor indicated over G threshold but the unit is not damaged in any way and works fine.  Fine packing job.

 

I have HQPlayer enabled in Roon but I don't seem to be able to get to the management web page on port 8088.  Did it change to something else recently?

[gdpr]

My streamer has been updated about 1 month ago, and the the management webpage is still on port 8088.

e.g. for me it is http://192.168.0.127:8088/config

Are you sure you have  the right IP-address and eventually username -password ?

 

Dirk

[flkin]

You have to find your own IP address of the 2.16 first. If you don't know it, a quick way would be inside Roon settings where it's shown. Then use that address with the :8088/config to get to the HQPlayer settings. You will also need a user and password which should be audiolinux and audiolinux to get in.

 

And congrats BTW!

[lpost]

Thanks.  A port scan shows 8088 isn't running.  I know Jord is off Mondays, I've not heard from him since I received it and I suspect there is more to setup.  I don't see HQPlayer in the process list either but Roon connected to it on localhost without issue...

 

I'll wait to hear from Jord, thanks guys.  It already sounds fantastic.

[lpost]

Jord replied re: HQPlayer, mine wasn't licensed. 

 

On another note, I also told him from the start I had a 1TB SSD with my music that I wanted to install, he said it would be no problem.  It was no problem to connect and install the drive, but I found the power supply board for the 2nd disk wasn't soldered to the bus..and thus the drive doesn't get power.  A bit of an oversight on their part but disappointing nonetheless.  I await Jord's reply, I bet he'll just have me solder it, which I can easily do, but perhaps they are trying to produce more machines than proper QC will allow.

 

Besides this flub, it sounds great and continues to get better the more I listen.  So far only listening to Tidal as my music isn't yet seen.

[lpost]

23 hours ago, lpost said:

 

 

The 2nd drive power filter board wasn't soldered to allow mounting of the drive on the backside.  My only issue is that I didn't know this until I discovered the drive wasn't getting power.  I mounted the drive and soldered the connections without issue.  Music imported fine.  A heads up from Jord would have been nice, that's all.  Spending this much money to have to solder is a bit much but whatever.

 

Now to play with HQPlayer and see if it's worth fussing with for 192k PCM or just stick with Roon.  Initial listen I didn't hear much difference.  

 

Seems a bit difficult to switch back and forth from HQP and IS2 direct within Roon.  Any tips to allow switching without having to completely disable HQP?

[flkin]

I found it difficult to test HQPlayer during the burning in of my PF. Moving target and my preferences kept changing.

 

My latest preference now is to run under HQP but without upsampling, just play at original resolution.

[lpost]

What settings do you use to not upsample?  I've yet to find a current manual for HPQ.  Documentation doesn't appear to be the authors strong suit.

[flkin]

On 6/30/2018 at 7:33 PM, m3lraaHnevetS said:

Try 44.1 (or anything else) coming from Roon through HQP with PCM filter settings at none, none, none, 44.1, 192

this only works when the first file you play is indeed a 44.1 file, after that you can also play hires files natively using these settings.

To me this sounds better than any upsampling and also much better than just Roon.

 

The settings for HQPlayer without upsampling is in this thread in the post above and a few after that. It allows 44.1 and highres PCM files to play as is  without upsampling. And DSD files play also with HQP's filters. Basically takes over Roon's job to render the music. Some say it's the best way and from what I'm hearing recently on my PF looks that way. I will do more comparisons when I find time. 

[lpost]

I'm finding no HQP, and no upsampling in Roon, is sounding really, really good with just 5 days of play on the 2.16.  HQP 'transport failed' on my 3 times in 2 hours.  Meh.  It's fussy to change settings, load/unload via ssh.  I don't expect I'll bother with it except when I need a tweakers fix.  All the filters I've tried sound fantastic, just slightly different, not better or worse.

 

I expect the 2.16 will inhabit the guest room closet for the foreseeable future.  

 

 

[flkin]

If you like it now, you're in for a treat in a few weeks time. ?

 

It got substantially better in a month or so for me. Left it always on and on many of those days, playing in a loop.

 

The clocks on the board/processor is on so long as the power cable is plugged in. The clock on the cards are only on when the unit is powered on.

[lpost]

It's gone through a number of changes both ups and downs.  I've had a few sessions that were wildly up, a glimmer of the final state I strongly suspect.  

 

Today is 14 days powered up and playing continuously.

[flkin]

Earlier in the burn process I mentioned that passing the USB data through a re-clocked tx-USBultra (by a Mutec Ref10 clock) made the sound better along with playing without upsampling.

 

Now at around the 1000 hour stage, I find that I am preferring using HQPlayer at DSD rate

512/48 (24576000 bit rate), poly-sinc-xrt-lp-2s, AMSDM7 512+fs direct to my DAC. I'm using a Habst USB Ultra III cable for the connection to the DAC which I picked up during the Habst bulk purchase earlier in another thread.

 

I must say that the Habst Ultra III cable is a pretty special cable. It's a high resolution cable displaying a lot of details but without the usual silver harshness or thinning of sound. Usually I find that when you get appropriate thickness and body to the sound like with copper wires you loose details but the Habst seems to be able to keep both attributes. The edges of the sound seem clearer so positioning has improved and feels more 3D. At no time there is compression of sound and the treble is so smooth. Lovely!

 

I found this a great test "The Opera Gala - Live from Baden-Baden", track 1: Lakme, Flower Duet. Garanca and Netrebko's voices are very powerful which my earlier setup had difficulties with especially with the treble. Oh so nice with the Pink Faun and the Habst. Controlled and effortless ?

 

 

[FredM]

Excellent to see that the server now also makes the tX and REF10 unnecessary, great!!

[flkin]

Ah, I need to make a correction. I see that I inferred that the Mutec Ref10 and tx wasn't improving the sound from the Pink Faun. It's actually the Cybershaft OP-14 plus tx that isn't. I had access to the Ref10 from @Kritpoon sometime back and was doing the tests with during the breaking in process of the PF. At that time the Ref10 brought something to the table. I've had to return the unit since.

 

My own OP-14 is an excellent clock like the Ref10 but I have found that I prefer a direct connection to the DAC rather than through this clock/tx-USBultra combination currently. When I have a chance, I will get the Ref10 back and try again. 

[FredM]

Thanks, still very good news! 

[lpost]

The Opera Gala - Live from Baden-Baden - Fantastic!  I need to explore more opera.

 

2.16 is forming very nicely 3 weeks in.  

 

I2S > DirectStream DAC > BHK Sig preamp > M700 monos > Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2, dual Rythmik L12 servo subs  -  18'x14'x8' smaller space, moderately treated plus convolution filters

[flkin]

Ah convolution filters, that's something interesting to explore. Haven't done so yet but at this level I think it will make the most difference. 

 

Both Roon and HQPlayer offers this adjustment, I wonder which one makes more difference?

 

I understand that we need to get a microphone and some software to build the filters in the first place. Does anyone have any suggestions to get started on this?