Article: Sonore opticalRendu & Signature Rendu SE Optical Review | Part 1

[bobfa]

13 minutes ago, vortecjr said:

What exactly was re-affirmed?  

That we are finding Squeezelite sounds really good on a lot of systems.  I think it is wonderful.

[vortecjr]

1 hour ago, bobflood said:

This may appeal to some but I don't think Roon with its robust functionality need be concerned. Also, this is totally against the whole reason for the Rendu series of products. The Rendus were supposed to be an endpoint quiet zone with all the storage, retrieval and associated processing happening elsewhere. This puts it all back in one place.

 

There is still the problem of back-up and additions/deletions. The material for the SD card will have to be archived somewhere else and new material will have to be obtained on a real computer and then moved to the SD card.

 

I tried this for streaming only with both of my Rendus a long time back (it has always been possible to run both Squeezelite and LMS together on a Rendu) and it worked fine but I thought that it sounded better with LMS running on another machine (a sonicTransporter) elsewhere on the network.

 

In the end, no matter how you dress it up, it is still LMS.

 

For those asking if this will work with Roon, I doubt it. Roon core does not run on the Rendus, only Roon Ready which is strictly a rendering function.

I don't expect everyone will need this feature and I would not force the cost on people that don't. This is why it's an option. This don't change the unit in anyway because it's just a micro SD card swap and playback is from RAM as usual. This is computer audio after all and clearly you will need to manage the files. You don't have to use LMS / SqueezeLite and if you prefer you can use MPD / YMPD for local playback. A lot of people use LMS and really like. I think LMS it's great and hard to argue the price...free.

[vortecjr]

1 hour ago, R1200CL said:

I wonder if MQA support now make more sense for Sonore, as you could also play Tidal through iPeng ?

 

No.

[vortecjr]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I don’t speak for them but I’m unsure why Sonore would want to go through the huge hassle and development work (ask any other mfg on Earth) to implement MQA. 

We implement partial decoding and we have a working prototype. However, from my perspective I want MQA to give us a free use license:) I'm also not encouraged with the way they treated you at RMAF.

[vortecjr]

31 minutes ago, bobfa said:

That we are finding Squeezelite sounds really good on a lot of systems.  I think it is wonderful.

SqueezeLite was the reason we made a renderer in the first place. I bet most people don't know the name of the first renderer we made that featured SqueezeLite. Maybe firedog knows:)     

[bunno77]

Pretty cool new addition and great that new features are being added to older devices. 

Not something I would use though. I was hoping for native app support or Chromecast. 

[Account Closed]

1 hour ago, vortecjr said:

I don't expect everyone will need this feature and I would not force the cost on people that don't. This is why it's an option. This don't change the unit in anyway because it's just a micro SD card swap and playback is from RAM as usual. This is computer audio after all and clear ly you will need to manage the files. You don't have to use LMS / SqueezeLite and if you prefer you can use MPD / YMPD for local playback. A lot of people use LMS and really like. I think LMS it's great and hard to argue the price...free.

Please don't misunderstand me. As I said, this will appeal to some users especially those who don't wish to pay for software. I used LMS for so many years and although it worked, I was really happy when Roon came along. I don't mind paying them for a very good and getting better product. I can stream Tidal and Qobuz, have great metadata, seamless integration with HQPlayer and I can do it with ease using Sonre and SGC products. I no longer have a local library so MPD/YMPD are not something I would use.

 

Thanks for the continued innovation.

[vortecjr]

43 minutes ago, bunno77 said:

Pretty cool new addition and great that new features are being added to older devices. 

Not something I would use though. I was hoping for native app support or Chromecast. 

There is not much happening on that front.

[vortecjr]

34 minutes ago, bobflood said:

Please don't misunderstand me. As I said, this will appeal to some users especially those who don't wish to pay for software. I used LMS for so many years and although it worked, I was really happy when Roon came along. I don't mind paying them for a very good and getting better product. I can stream Tidal and Qobuz, have great metadata, seamless integration with HQPlayer and I can do it with ease using Sonre and SGC products. I no longer have a local library so MPD/YMPD are not something I would use.

 

Thanks for the continued innovation.

No worries. Let me say this...LMS supports those features including streaming to HQ Player along with hundreds of other plug-ins. Anyways by all means use Roon or whatever else you like because we support it. We are all about options.  

[thotdoc]

10 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I should've noted that I'm using the very upgraded PSU with the opticalRendu.

Would you mind telling us what "very upgraded PSU" you are using?

 

Many of us are looking for a PS for our ORs.

 

Thank you

 

G

[firedog]

5 hours ago, vortecjr said:

SqueezeLite was the reason we made a renderer in the first place. I bet most people don't know the name of the first renderer we made that featured SqueezeLite. Maybe firedog knows:)     

That renderer sounded quite good, especially with a good PS. 
But all of the Rendu series is better, both in terms of sound and performance,  and the OS is much better now. 

[vortecjr]

7 hours ago, thotdoc said:

Would you mind telling us what "very upgraded PSU" you are using?

 

Many of us are looking for a PS for our ORs.

 

Thank you

 

G

Chris had a Sonore Signature power supply from the microRendu review. So we updated it for this review. It's more or less the PS in the Signature Rendu SE optical he will be reviewing in part two.  

[vortecjr]

5 hours ago, firedog said:

That renderer sounded quite good, especially with a good PS. 
But all of the Rendu series is better, both in terms of sound and performance,  and the OS is much better now. 

Agree. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

8 hours ago, thotdoc said:

Would you mind telling us what "very upgraded PSU" you are using?

 

Many of us are looking for a PS for our ORs.

 

Thank you

 

G

It’s also visible in the video. 

[bunno77]

10 hours ago, vortecjr said:

There is not much happening on that front.

I personally would be happy to pay for another SD card if the big streaming services Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Google Play and or Chromecast were added.
There is the thread about Chromecast so others are interested in this too but maybe not so happy to pay.

[The Computer Audiophile]

I believe Google’s requirements to turn an endpoint into a Chromecast endpoint are quite steep and impossible for most. Plus, Google owns StreamUnlimited, the company that makes such endpoints. 

[thotdoc]

2 hours ago, vortecjr said:

Chris had a Sonore Signature power supply from the microRendu review. So we updated it for this review. It's more or less the PS in the Signature Rendu SE optical he will be reviewing in part two.  

Thank you.

[bunno77]

25 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I believe Google’s requirements to turn an endpoint into a Chromecast endpoint are quite steep and impossible for most. Plus, Google owns StreamUnlimited, the company that makes such endpoints. 

Yeah I wouldn't doubt it but more and more companies are beginning to incorporate it. I am just being hopeful.

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, bunno77 said:

Yeah I wouldn't doubt it but more and more companies are beginning to incorporate it. I am just being hopeful.

I'm with you. I'd love it in the Rendu series. 

 

Perhaps Sonore can pull off a Wadia move (getting iPod digital output) and get Casting.

[rickca]

3 hours ago, vortecjr said:

Chris had a Sonore Signature power supply from the microRendu review. So we updated it for this review. It's more or less the PS in the Signature Rendu SE optical he will be reviewing in part two.  

But you can't get this power supply without buying a Signature Rendu SE optical, right?  You can only get the cost reduced version (ultraSupply) for $529.  Does Chris's unit include the Turbo option (Tier II upgrade)?

[ArthurOtt]

Talk about going back in time 15 years! Click on the link to Sonore's terrible website. They expect you to buy their $3445 Signature Rendu SE optical based on one low-res picture of the front of the unit. No picture of the rear of the unit and the connectivity. Yes, that website is a real blast from the past as it looks like it was designed by a high school kid in 2004. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

2 minutes ago, ArthurOtt said:

Talk about going back in time 15 years! Click on the link to Sonore's terrible website. They expect you to buy their $3445 Signature Rendu SE optical based on one low-res picture of the front of the unit. No picture of the rear of the unit and the connectivity. Yes, that website is a real blast from the past as it looks like it was designed by a high school kid in 2004. 

Is this comment meant to add to the community or increase our enjoyment of this wonderful hobby? 

[charlesphoto]

Yeah, too bad Sonore doesn't put together some really slick packaging and promises like LH Labs did - then audiofools would have no problem dropping two or three times that for products that DON'T EVEN EXIST YET. But boy those mock up pics sure are nice.... 

 

I think if you know you want/need/can afford the Signature SE a fancier website isn't going to make a difference in one's purchasing decisions. It's out of stock anyway, so obviously many care more about the sound and function than a pretty website. 

[bobfa]

Chris,

I have been waiting a watching for more on the new Rendu devices.  Many of us have spend a lot of time and effort working on other D-D devices. NUC’s etc.  We have had what I consider pretty good luck in improving sound quality.   This is a lot of fun, expense and work.  I for one am very interested in your results. And your new speakers!   

 

To me one of the most interesting parts of the signature Rendu device is close integration of the power supply and other improvements they have provided in that box.  There is also mention of software improvements for Sound Quality.  I would love to hear more about that.  With all the AudioLinux and Euphony OS testing and listening some of us have done this is of great interest to a part of the community at least.  

 

Solving the AirPlay/Chromecast issues is also of great interest but maybe not in the Rendu for now.  I have just dedicated a digital input on my system for this and have used a HDMI audio extractor to “solve” that problem.  It is a bit brute force but it expands the system greatly.  

 

If we can reduce the complexity of our systems with devices like the Signature Rendu is a big win!  Is the Signature Rendu SE Optical Goldilocks?  “Just right?”  I am waiting for part two.

 

Bob

[charlesphoto]

37 minutes ago, ArthurOtt said:

Talk about going back in time 15 years! Click on the link to Sonore's terrible website. They expect you to buy their $3445 Signature Rendu SE optical based on one low-res picture of the front of the unit. No picture of the rear of the unit and the connectivity. Yes, that website is a real blast from the past as it looks like it was designed by a high school kid in 2004. 

 

Paul Hynes barely has a website and people are paying and cueing up years in advance for his power supplies. Last least with Sonore one can see if the product is in stock and order from the site. Website aesthetics is really is a non-issue in this hobby, imo, esp for gear that works and is available now, and isn't just some magic pixie dust in an EE's imagination.