barrows Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Optical Network connection works great, and makes everything upstream of the optical connection irrelevant in terms of noise etc. No limits on sample rates either. One can do whatever they want upstream (powerful computer oversampling to DSD 512 running HQPlayer, for example), and then what goes on in the actual audio system can be simple, and not compromised by any computer based "problems" (RFI, etc). No need for expensive audiophile "servers" or endless server and Network tweaks. opticalRendu to USB DAC, or optical Network input DAC, simple, and no tweaks needed for amazing sound quality. I have listened to the Mirus Pro DACs via SD card, and it the SD card was no revelation in comparison to the USB input using an excellent USB source. And navigating the card was tedious and tiresome at best. Ralf11 and Doak 1 1 SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 512-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical with Well Tempered Clock--DIY DSC-2 DAC with SC Pure Clock--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112 sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. SONORE computer audio | opticalRendu | ultraRendu | microRendu | Signature Rendu SE | Accessories | Software | Link to comment
seeteeyou Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 It's been a recurring theme on this site, we're just doing our own things and then all of a sudden sponsors would chime in with a healthy dose of conflict of interests. Hey @The Computer Audiophile, what's up with that? Doak 1 Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 4 minutes ago, seeteeyou said: It's been a recurring theme on this site, we're just doing our own things and then all of a sudden sponsors would chime in with a healthy dose of conflict of interests. Hey @The Computer Audiophile, what's up with that? It isn't allowed. Please use the report post function and I'll take care of it. Doak 1 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
barrows Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 @The Computer Audiophile I was attempting to speak generally here, is that a problem? Please contact me privately if so. For example, Luminary's has a DAC with optical Network input... SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 512-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical with Well Tempered Clock--DIY DSC-2 DAC with SC Pure Clock--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112 sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. SONORE computer audio | opticalRendu | ultraRendu | microRendu | Signature Rendu SE | Accessories | Software | Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Hi Guys - It isn't always black & white when a site supporter chimes in a conversation. Barrows has been a member here since July 15, 2008. In that time he has worked for a few different audio companies but more than anything he has helped people and contributed quite a bit of knowledge to the site. When he offers information in a thread it's far different from the manufacturers who are here solely to promote products and who have recently jumped on our bandwagon. That said, blatant marketing is only allowed in a sponsored forum. I don't see Barrows' recent post as blatant marketing. If you disagree please PM me and we can chat. firedog 1 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
firedog Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Hi Guys - It isn't always black & white when a site supporter chimes in a conversation. Barrows has been a member here since July 15, 2008. In that time he has worked for a few different audio companies but more than anything he has helped people and contributed quite a bit of knowledge to the site. When he offers information in a thread it's far different from the manufacturers who are here solely to promote products and who have recently jumped on our bandwagon. That said, blatant marketing is only allowed in a sponsored forum. I don't see Barrows' recent post as blatant marketing. If you disagree please PM me and we can chat. Agree. Barrows spoke in generalities about transport types. Didn't push products he is involved with. I guess if we wanted to be very strict, we could ask that he not specifically mention the opticalRendu or write about a specific Sonore product in this type of thread. But it still seems to me the point he was trying to make is about optical in general and not pushing a product. Ralf11 1 Main listening (small home office): Main setup: Surge protector +>Isol-8 Mini sub Axis Power Strip/Isolation>QuietPC Low Noise Server>Roon (Audiolense DRC)>Stack Audio Link II>Kii Control>Kii Three (on their own electric circuit) >GIK Room Treatments. Secondary Path: Server with Audiolense RC>RPi4 or analog>Cayin iDAC6 MKII (tube mode) (XLR)>Kii Three . Bedroom: SBTouch to Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Setup. Living Room/Kitchen: Ropieee (RPi3b+ with touchscreen) + Schiit Modi3E to a pair of Morel Hogtalare. All absolute statements about audio are false Link to comment
Qhwoeprktiyns Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Barrows, i do not know how the Mirrus performs with SD cards but i suggest you test the new ECDesigns UPL + MOS DAC and it may "rock your world" (in a positive sense that is). I am sure you have heard of the Brown Brothers, and know their level of expertise. gstew 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Doak Posted February 5, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 5, 2019 OK... Now, hopefully, back to the subject of the thread: "Audiophile" SD Card Transports asdf1000, gstew and tapatrick 2 1 Doak's Audio System Link to comment
barrows Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 On 1/29/2019 at 11:37 AM, Doak said: Honestly, I have gotten blaze' regarding streamers/servers/transports and am thinking more seriously now about the beauty of "simple." The closest thing to a "truism" I have encountered in 40+ years of "messing with" music reproduction systems is (to paraphrase Einstein): Simple sounds better - as long as it works. The above is a quote from the first post. Looks to me like this thread is about whether (or not) an SD card transport could provide a simpler data path and better sound. I was responding to that, from the basis of having some experience with an SD card transport, and various other transport methods. Without comparing and contrasting there is no discussion at all, or learning. SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 512-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical with Well Tempered Clock--DIY DSC-2 DAC with SC Pure Clock--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112 sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. SONORE computer audio | opticalRendu | ultraRendu | microRendu | Signature Rendu SE | Accessories | Software | Link to comment
Popular Post Norton Posted February 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 5, 2019 4 hours ago, barrows said: I have listened to the Mirus Pro DACs via SD card, and it the SD card was no revelation in comparison to the USB input using an excellent USB source. And navigating the card was tedious and tiresome at best. To compare and contrast, a Mirus Signature Pro has been my main DAC for the last year and I disagree in spirit if not the letter with all of the above. No, SD card is not a “revelation” vs. USB but it is certainly better SQ wise. I also found it easy, enjoyable and reliable to use. As I understand it, neither the UPL16 nor MOS16 applies any form of over/upsampling. Having been through the gamut of software players and DACs that do, plus a decent hires and DSD library, what I would describe as a revelation is how much better the ECD Kit sounds with plain old 16/44, sans upsampling, transcoding, LPS, networks, servers, renderers, NAAs, audiophile cables, power conditioners, USB toys etc etc etc etc. gstew and Doak 2 Link to comment
Doak Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 First SD card transport is on its way here. Very basic, fairly inexpensive model which has a DAC but also transformer buffered coax and optical outs. My expectations are not terribly high owing mostly to its price and the built in DAC, but who knows. I may be pleasantly surprised. gstew 1 Doak's Audio System Link to comment
pas Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 14 minutes ago, Doak said: First SD card transport is on its way here. Very basic, fairly inexpensive model which has a DAC but also transformer buffered coax and optical outs. My expectations are not terribly high owing mostly to its price and the built in DAC, but who knows. I may be pleasantly surprised. What did you purchase, if you don't mind my asking. Link to comment
Doak Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 33 minutes ago, pas said: What did you purchase, if you don't mind my asking. Don't mind asking, though I will share that and other info when it is inhouse and working - later this week. Doak's Audio System Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 what is the benefit of using a SD Card to store music files? barrows 1 Link to comment
Popular Post barrows Posted February 6, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2019 12 minutes ago, Ralf11 said: what is the benefit of using a SD Card to store music files? Considering that the file has to be removed from the SD cards and then cached in some kind of memory before playback, it is hard to imagine there being any benefit (and vs. what?) Those over on the "massive" thread using NUCs as Renderers insist on removing the SD card after loading the OS from it, insisting that it is a cause of unwanted noise... although I would prefer to see some objective proof of that before believing it! This stuff is much more complex than armchair engineers (including this analog power supply designer) understand. Software playback writers have tried many different approaches, and all have their own takes on which approach achieves "best" sound quality. Is it better to pull large chunks of data at once, or to more slowly pull smaller chunks more often... at what rate? Or does it matter? How many layers of noise isolation are necessary, what is the largest source of noise and is one addressing that first... It is indeed a rabbit hole. And, on the hardware side, howe to best isolate the audio system from that noise... Paul R and Ralf11 2 SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 512-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical with Well Tempered Clock--DIY DSC-2 DAC with SC Pure Clock--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112 sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. SONORE computer audio | opticalRendu | ultraRendu | microRendu | Signature Rendu SE | Accessories | Software | Link to comment
Doak Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Ralf11 said: what is the benefit of using a SD Card to store music files? While SD cards have been noted to be an excellent performing form of music file storage this previous post of mine in this thread should explain the rest: gstew 1 Doak's Audio System Link to comment
barrows Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 6 minutes ago, Doak said: While SD cards have been noted to be an excellent performing form of music file storage this previous post of mine in this thread should explain the rest: But playing files from an SD card still requires a "computer" and a playback software system. An SD card cannot directly output an I2S, real time, data stream to a DAC. What this does is put a computer running playback software inside the DAC, exactly where you want the least noise... SO/ROON/HQPe: DSD 512-Sonore opticalModuleDeluxe-Signature Rendu optical with Well Tempered Clock--DIY DSC-2 DAC with SC Pure Clock--DIY Purifi Amplifier-Focus Audio FS888 speakers-JL E 112 sub-Nordost Tyr USB, DIY EventHorizon AC cables, Iconoclast XLR & speaker cables, Synergistic Purple Fuses, Spacetime system clarifiers. ISOAcoustics Oreas footers. SONORE computer audio | opticalRendu | ultraRendu | microRendu | Signature Rendu SE | Accessories | Software | Link to comment
Doak Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 31 minutes ago, barrows said: But playing files from an SD card still requires a "computer" and a playback software system. An SD card cannot directly output an I2S, real time, data stream to a DAC. What this does is put a computer running playback software inside the DAC, exactly where you want the least noise... You may want to read SuperDad's post earlier in this thread. He appears to grok what this is about. gstew 1 Doak's Audio System Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 are you saying that the bits get infected from other processes running in the computer related to handling USB I/O, but that does not happen with an SD Card?? Link to comment
Doak Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 4 minutes ago, Ralf11 said: are you saying that the bits get infected from other processes running in the computer related to handling USB I/O, but that does not happen with an SD Card?? Not necessarily... Doak's Audio System Link to comment
Popular Post Doak Posted February 6, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Ralf11 said: ok, then what? I am seeking to simplify the process of playing back digital music files with a possibly simultaneous result of simplicity and enhanced sound quality. Not here to prove anything. Not here to argue. “Why’s” are nice to know, but it’s the “What’s” that really matter. Besides, I’d rather be listening to music. motberg, Monge, The Computer Audiophile and 3 others 6 Doak's Audio System Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 wise decision as you have no argument but no reason you shouldn't have fun Link to comment
Popular Post The Computer Audiophile Posted February 6, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2019 16 minutes ago, Ralf11 said: wise decision as you have no argument but no reason you shouldn't have fun You’re trying pretty hard to not let people just have fun 😁 asdf1000, Doak, gstew and 2 others 5 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Popular Post Doak Posted February 6, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2019 11 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said: You’re trying pretty hard to not let people just have fun 😁 Thanks Chris. 👍 It IS fairly serious fun though. 😋 Superdad and gstew 2 Doak's Audio System Link to comment
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