Lush^2 - Share your configuration experiences

[TheAttorney]

For those that have had the chance to compare (possibily only PeterST at this stage), do the different lengths of cable affect the level of sound characteristics with each config setting?

 

E.g. common sense would suggest that a 1M cable would more clearly show the differences than a 0.4M cable - because there is more of the different screening config being used. But common sense doesn't always apply to high end audio ?

 

Also, for those who have an ISORegen with USPCB, do you notice these screening differences more when the Lush is placed before or after the ISORegen?

[PeterSt]

24 minutes ago, TheAttorney said:

For those that have had the chance to compare (possibily only PeterST at this stage), do the different lengths of cable affect the level of sound characteristics with each config setting?

 

This is a so correct stance and important remark ...

 

I did NOT test anything regarding this, but for fun I said over here that we now should make the Lush^2 variable length. Because ...

Well, I can simply not imagine that the length will not matter - jus like you say. For that matter I (only lately) considered to offer one length only, although that would only be to let people judge over the same - still hoping that we can utilize each others judgments/configs.

 

Anyway, I don't even see how to test different lengths because of the (apparently) required burn-in. I'm already glad that my one and only Lush^2 should have some sufficient burn in at this moment, so ...

 

Might it help : I never noticed any difference in what people perceive on different lengths for the original Lush. People all perceive a rather similar kind of sound of it.

 

[yellowblue]

Had some time to compare A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R  with Peter´s latest configuration A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y. 

Don´t know if I would hear the differences in a blind test with all kind of music, probably not. But I thought the later one A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y has a tighter bass which is hitting harder, beautifully integrated in the midths. Voices seem a tad more real and tonality is even more balanced. 

 

 

[PeterSt]

1 hour ago, yellowblue said:

bass which is hitting harder

 

Yes, that.

(I described that as something like "better punchy")

[manisandher]

On 9/5/2018 at 6:58 AM, PeterSt said:

The 9 cables which ship today will ship with this A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y config.

 

My Lush^2 just arrived. All I can say for now is that it is crazily good. I would say that it's like I have a new system, but I realise some would construe this as hyperbole. More to follow when I can better articulate what I'm hearing.

 

Mani.

[elcorso]

53 minutes ago, manisandher said:

 

My Lush^2 just arrived. All I can say for now is that it is crazily good. I would say that it's like I have a new system, but I realise some would construe this as hyperbole. More to follow when I can better articulate what I'm hearing.

 

Mani.

 

Well, in my case and after last night very long listening session is like:

 

- Switching from Metformin to Berberine...

 

- Switching from 10 R shoe size to 10.5 W (44 W UK?)...

 

- Switching from wife to new fiancé...? ?

 

- Etc , etc...

 

But, after switching listening format from DSD to PCM... (please don't ask me about this, it would derail the thread) !!!

 

Roch

 

PS/ Transparency, immediacy, e al... it reminds me, many moons ago, the 'presence' button in the receivers of those days (but not false presence).

[RickyV]

2 hours ago, elcorso said:

 

Well, in my case and after last night very long listening session is like:

 

- Switching from Metformin to Berberine...

 

- Switching from 10 R shoe size to 10.5 W (44 W UK?)...

 

- Switching from wife to new fiancé...? ?

 

- Etc , etc...

 

But, after switching listening format from DSD to PCM... (please don't ask me about this, it would derail the thread) !!!

 

Roch

 

PS/ Transparency, immediacy, e al... it reminds me, many moons ago, the 'presence' button in the receivers of those days (but not false presence).

 

Aha, from your root Chakra ? to your crown chakra ?  perhaps?

 

 

Rick

[Ralf11]

Just repeat this over & over: Chakra Khan, Chakra Khan, Chakra Khan, ...

[tims]

Another vote for the A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y config.

I had my Lush^2 for a few days (probably 15-20 hours on it) and have tried all the configs recommended up to now but A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y sounds the best for my system so far.

Won't look at changing this (if ever) until the Lush has a 100 or so hours on it.  Some recordings are a bit bright on the top end but overall its very good.

[zettelsm]

Well, I have to express a somewhat contrary opinion about A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y although it is somewhat preliminary, being based on only one evening’s listening so far. I think it is very good and quite energetic, but to my ears a bit brash compared to A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R. I hear a bit more forward presentation and less depth.

 

However, I’m going to give it a few more days and then switch back to A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R again and see if my opinion changes. 

 

Steve Z

[RickyV]

14 hours ago, elcorso said:

- Switching from Metformin to Berberine...

 

- Switching from 10 R shoe size to 10.5 W (44 W UK?)...

 

- Switching from wife to new fiancé...? ?

 

- Etc , etc...

 

 

Just extending your joking.

Its still funny.

 

rick

[RickyV]

Finally back in business sound much improved, still at  A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y. Listening to Fink, Perfect Darkness I find that there is more depth and the sound comes more into the room all nicely balanced.

[BigAlMc]

On 9/6/2018 at 12:05 PM, yellowblue said:

Had some time to compare A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R  with Peter´s latest configuration A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y. 

 

Likewise I finally found some time and whilst I could hear some sort of difference I thought the above two were both so good that it's too hard to call. I'm going to give the A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y config the benefit of the doubt but I'd be stretching it to say for sure which is better.

 

Anyway - an update on my playing around and my unexpected preference for Curious cable into TX-USBUltra and Lush^2 then into my DAC.

 

It occurred to me that with the Curious in situ and the other Lush^2 sitting on the sidelines I risked having one Lush^2 burned in and the other not. And this sort of thought has the potential to keep obsessed audiophiles awake at night! ?

 

So I took the Curious out and put the other Lush^2 back in place and left them playing. I'd a really busy week so other than taking ten mins to try the new A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y that was getting on the hype I didn't have time until today to really listen or post anything. That said I noticed several times how amazing my system was sounding.

 

I started this morning by comparing these two configs. I put the Curious and then the Lush original from Server to TX-USBUltra and swapped the two Lush^2 (one on A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y and the other on A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R) but as commented above - too close to call.

 

I revisited my Sablon vs Lush^2 and again preferred the Lush^2 for the musicality over the analytical accuracy of the Sablon. But I reiterate that the Sablon is VERY good and this was my preference. Am not saying either is better.

 

I then decided to leave the Lush^2 with A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y  in place going into the DAC and revisit my preference for having the Curious further upstream between Server and USB Fixer-Upper. Again the Curious added something in terms of the size of the soundstage but this time there was something compelling about the Lush^2 double act. I swapped the Curious and Lush^2 back and forth but the Lush^2 was clearly winning this time. The bass had more slam and the strings had more immediacy. I'm at a loss to explain whether this reversal was due to the added burn-in or the new configs. 

 

I then compared the Lush^2 to the Sablon upstream (Server to TXU) but again I had that crackling sound that I got last week. Something in this pairing into and out of the TX-USBUltra does not like the Sablon going into the TXU. Interestingly the Sablon from TXU to DAC is fine. The crackling is only when it's downstream. Crackling aside the Lush^2 still appealed more.

 

I then pestered my girlfriend and got her to listen to both of the following:

 

A. Curious > TXUSBUltra > Lush^2 > DAC

 

B. Lush^2 > TXUSBUltra > Lush^2 > DAC

 

Her first comment was "woah that's a tough one". She asked me to play both again. She picked B and when I asked she said, "The first one is like voice over guitars. The second one is like guitars and voice. They're separate".

 

Once again my non-audiophile, please-stop-speaking-to-me-about-bloody-cables ? girlfriend nailed it.

 

My conclusions (and that's all they are, my conclusions):

 

1. The cable closest to the DAC matters the most - no surprise there.

 

2. The Sablon is probably more accurate but the bass and immediacy of the Lush^2 really grabs me.

 

3. The Curious paired with the Lush^2 does something great to the soundstage.

 

4. The Lush^2 and Lush^2 paired (is that Lush^4!!) added an extra layer of texture and life (but a diminishing return compared to the Lush^2 added first to the DAC).

 

5. It would appear that I now have too many USB cables (true story, I used the £500 Sablon to hook my printer up to my laptop in order to scan a document the other day! That's just wrong on so many levels!)  but I'm not overly inclined to part with any at this stage as who knows what tomorrow holds in this hobby!

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

PS One final observation. The A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y  has so much slam and swagger in the bass that at times I've found it kinda overwhelming. More than once I've turned the volume down when the next track on a playlist has more bass than the previous track. Not entirely sure if this is a good thing. Anyone else getting this?

 

 

 

[zettelsm]

Thanks BigAlMc — interesting and helpful post.

 

I too am having difficulty deciding which configuration I prefer between A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R and A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y

 

Last night I had a really enjoyable evening of listening to music regardles which configuration was in play, and after a couple of swaps gave up the audiophile pursuits and settled back to enjoy music. I’m letting it ride now in A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y

 

My initial thought that this configuration might be a little brash and forward certainly wasn’t in evidence last night, though I still had the nagging feeling that there might be a little less depth of field compared to A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R. Still, not enough difference to obsess over. My plan is to leave it like this for at least a week (or until someone makes a compelling statement about another “newest best” configuration), then swap back just to hear if longer familiarity with one configuration heightens the contrast with the other configuration.

 

Concerning the observation that sometimes the bass is so strong from track to track that it requires touching up the volume a bit, I’m hearing this too. My thought is, unless volume leveling is on (which I never use) this isn’t necessarily a bad thing — I don’t want my USB cable to make everything sound similar when by the very nature of the music I like — which is all over the place — there is a lot of variability inherent.

 

Steve Z

[PeterSt]

For me day before yesterday something "clicked" and I got the hunch that a burn in process had been completed. It just suddenly sounded better all the way. I think mine was 4 weeks old at that moment.

 

I am still at the A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y and I think I am now sufficiently used to this sound to be up to something new. But I first must apply a BIOS update I have laying around and which I didn't want to interfere with the process; if that changes sound I must first get used to that again.

 

11 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

I risked having one Lush^2 burned in and the other not. And this sort of thought has the potential to keep obsessed audiophiles awake at night! ?

 

Nicely put. But yes, so true ...

 

Peter

[zettelsm]

Question, BigAlMc:

 

Are you using both Lush^2 in the same configuration before and after your tX-USB Ultra?

 

Thanks!

 

Steve Z

 

 

[BigAlMc]

5 hours ago, zettelsm said:

Question, BigAlMc:

 

Are you using both Lush^2 in the same configuration before and after your tX-USB Ultra?

 

Thanks!

 

Steve Z

 

 

 

Hi Steve,

 

No. I considered putting them both on the latest comfig but settled on leaving them in the two configs described.

 

 A: B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y into the DAC and A: B-Y & W-R B: B-Y & W-R nto the TX-USBultra..

 

Am intrigued at Peter's comments that burn in took approx 4 weeks so am just letting them play..

 

Might tinker with putting them both on the same config but undecided on whether theoretically different configs bring different things to the party.

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

[PeterSt]

24 minutes ago, BigAlMc said:

but undecided on whether theoretically different configs bring different things to the party.

 

Alan, try one of the described "bad" ones.

Peter

[BigAlMc]

11 hours ago, PeterSt said:

 

Alan, try one of the described "bad" ones.

Peter

 

Hi Peter,

 

Do you mean combined with a 'good' one or do you mean try two 'bad' ones?

 

I know you want this to be a collaborative scientific endeavour but I struggle with the idea of selecting a worse SQ for giggles!

 

Cheers,

Alan

[RickyV]

22 minutes ago, BigAlMc said:

 

Hi Peter,

 

Do you mean combined with a 'good' one or do you mean try two 'bad' ones?

 

I know you want this to be a collaborative scientific endeavour but I struggle with the idea of selecting a worse SQ for giggles!

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

It’s not for giggles it’s for reference, how much the sq gains from the bad one.

So i think both cables.

 

[BigAlMc]

28 minutes ago, RickyV said:

 

It’s not for giggles it’s for reference, how much the sq gains from the bad one.

So i think both cables.

 

 

Understood but I barely have time to listen to the good configs so the chance of me tackling the bad ones is remote.

[zettelsm]

Thank you, Alan. If and when I add a tX-USB Ultra I'll have to decide if I go with my original Lush from Zenith to device and Lush^2 from device to DAC or if I buy another Lush^2. If the latter, then that opens up the process of deciding what configuration. But there is no hurry there since I haven't decided if I'll add any USB enhancement devices over what I've tried already. (Not to hi-jack the thread but if you care to drop me a PM I'd love to learn what you hear the tX-USB Ultra bringing to the mix).

 

I am beginning to suspect that PeterSt is correct about the long break-in time for the Lush^2. Each time I listen I think it's even better than the last time. At first I thought maybe the cable needed 24 hours to settle back in after being disturbed for a configuration change, but now I think it continues to burn-in -- I haven't touched it in four or five days but I think it continues to improve.

 

Not a bad problem to have at all!

 

Steve Z

[fas42]

Perhaps this has already been answered elsewhere, but are the shields insulated from each other with a high level of robustness, of the cable in the raw state? That is, if one squeezes or bends the cable at some point along its length does this change the measured resistance - not impedance - between shields?

[PeterSt]

43 minutes ago, fas42 said:

are the shields insulated from each other with a high level of robustness

 

Not a bad question at all.

 

I didn't measure such a thing because it would be the same as using a normal USB (printer etc.) cable and measure between the positive and negative data wire to see whether there's a resistance less than infinity, and if not, whether conduction occurs when the cable is bended. We don't do that because we don't expect it to happen "by miles".

 

Still in the end it would be similar to the good old cross over, although I never let me bother any more with that phenomenon. And in this case the bleed could be mighty more easy than with normal voltages because it is about radiation to begin with. So now I am not talking electrical voltage bleed, but "influence through the insulation".

I think that can matter when bended (induction changes ?) and when pressed (squeezed) there could be a change of capacitance. The former though is not much related to changes of the insulation resistance, while the latter is.

 

Only a few days ago I mentioned somewhere about the knot in the interlinks changing the sound. I now recall that in practice (ever way back) this was about a know in the loudspeaker cable(s) - it would be a similar thing.

 

So is the cable robust to that ? Well, all I know is that I gave explicit thought to the screen itself not being a braid because that theoretically for sure would change properties when bended. Thus bend the cable and the outside will show more "shine through" (gets more open) than the inside (gets more closed). But, theory only, because e.g. a Faraday Case also doesn't need to be closed to reach its working. But this is audio ...

 

Peter

[PeterSt]

6 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

Do you mean combined with a 'good' one or do you mean try two 'bad' ones?

 

Alan, all I tried to make clear is that the configurations matter more than you seem to (!) think. At least that is what I derive from your posts, or else I just misunderstood.

Anyway, please, don't tire yourself with something you don't like to do because it is difficult enough already. But the few bad configs I listed (because I ran into them and liked to archive them) just sound like a drag. So if you wondered whether all makes a difference to begin with, my suggestion was to try such a bad configuration. And yes, try that with both Lush^2es would be the best for the greatest effect.

 

Peter