Comparison of Sonore Optical Rendu and SOtM SMS200ultra.

[Metnoc]

I have compared:

1. Sonore optical rendu with both copper ethernet and optical ethernet (optical module) with CI Audio VDC•7 MKII power supply.

2. SOtM SMS200ultra with Uptone Audio UltraCap LPS-1.2 power supply.

 

Both fed by Sonore dc-cable and used as roon endpoints.

 

Speakers are Verity Parsifal, which are capable of revealing minor differences.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to use the same power supply for both streamers, since lps 1.2 doesn’t work with OR.

 

In summary:
OR/Ci: More analytical.

SMS/Uptone: More organic.

Almost always I prefer the a more organic sound, which I do here as well, so all in all I prefer sms over OR.

 

Some notes from a few test tracks, the comparison is between OR w/ copper ethernet and sms:

 

Elanor McEvoy – The Rain falls. (flac file, 16/44)

OR – Precise, clear voice.

SMS200u – "Flowing sound", warmth, not as precise, piano more natural (the piano was probably of the clearest shortcomings of OR).

 

Allan Taylor – The Beat Hotell (Tidal, 16/44)

OR – Good command of the bottom end, lacks coherence due to a little bit analytical sound.

SMS200u – Coherent, warmth, "flowing sound".

 

Kari Bremnes – Rim sin stemme (flac file, 24/96)

OR – Good imaging, clean, precise voice.

SMS200u – "Flowing", warmth, coherent, not as analytical as OR.

 

Fink – Troubles is what youre in (flac file, 16/44)

OR – PRaT, spacious, lacking in euphoria.

SMS200u – lacking in PRaT, euforic.

 

OR with optical module had sounded cleaner and had a little bit better PRaT, however one lost in depth of tonality.

To what extent the different power supplys have played a role in the outcome I don't know.
 

Since the OR/Ci is too analytical in my ears, going with optical doesn’t improve things, quite the opposite. I prefer copper over optical ethernet, no matter what people say about optical being the technical superior technology.

 

I think that OR is too analytical and lacks some euphoria, I crave the latter for an immersive listening experience. If you prefer a clean and precise sound OR with optical Ethernet might be the right choice.

Some people might say that OR with optical ethernet sounds correct. Firstly I dont agree, it lacks too much of warmth and other aspects to sound natrual, but most importantly I don't really care about whats theortically considred (by some) to be the correct souding technology. 

 

I will return the OR and keep my own sms.

 

[kennyb123]

What you describe may point more the power supplies than the endpoints.  What happens when you use the CI supply with the sMS-200ultra?

[mozes]

4 minutes ago, kennyb123 said:

What you describe may point more the power supplies than the endpoints.  What happens when you use the CI supply with the sMS-200ultra?

+1

[Metnoc]

11 hours ago, kennyb123 said:

What you describe may point more the power supplies than the endpoints.  What happens when you use the CI supply with the sMS-200ultra?

 

I have the 12V version of sms200ultra, not sure its advisable to try to power it by Ci 7V power supply.

[R1200CL]

13 hours ago, Metnoc said:

I have compared:

1. Sonore optical rendu with both copper ethernet and optical ethernet (optical module) with CI Audio VDC•7 MKII power supply.

2. SOtM SMS200ultra with Uptone Audio UltraCap LPS-1.2 power supply.

 

Why use different power supplies ?

 

If the test shall have any meaning use only one of then, and preferably the LPS-1.2 set at 9 V, as that works well with the OpticalRendu. (Unless Vbus is above 100mA).

[R1200CL]

14 hours ago, Metnoc said:

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to use the same power supply for both streamers, since lps 1.2 doesn’t work with OR.

It does. But it depends on how much Vbus power is required, and that can be fixed with either two power in parallel plus an extra box, or even better a separate Vbus power, but only if that Vbus power also is an LPS-1.2.  

What DAC do you use ?

 

Did you ever tried power up the OpticalRendu with the LP-1.2 ?

(and no DAC attached). 

[R1200CL]

59 minutes ago, Metnoc said:

 

I have the 12V version of sms200ultra, not sure its advisable to try to power it by Ci 7V power supply.

What happen if you put 9 V to it from the LPS-1.2 ?

Will it start ?

[R1200CL]

@Metnoc

 

What are you doing here ?

 

[Metnoc]

1 hour ago, R1200CL said:

Why use different power supplies ?

 

If the test shall have any meaning use only one of then, and preferably the LPS-1.2 set at 9 V, as that works well with the OpticalRendu. (Unless Vbus is above 100mA).

Its over 100mA, If it wasnt I would have used uptone.

[matthias]

2 hours ago, Metnoc said:

 

I have the 12V version of sms200ultra, not sure its advisable to try to power it by Ci 7V power supply.

 

Did you consider to get a 12V CI PS as loaner for your Sms200ultra?

 

Matt

[Metnoc]

1 hour ago, matthias said:

 

Did you consider to get a 12V CI PS as loaner for your Sms200ultra?

 

Matt

Yeah I have considered different solutions.
Will report back if I find one.

[matthias]

8 minutes ago, Metnoc said:

Yeah I have considered different solutions.
Will report back if I find one.

 

Thanks,

please repeat the comparison with same manufacturer and type PSs for both.

 

Matt

[R1200CL]

2 hours ago, Metnoc said:

Its over 100mA, If it wasnt I would have used uptone.

Well, you should probably leave the LPS-1.2 out of the comparison then. 
Also if that picture is an OpticalModule, power it with the LPS-1.2. 
Then I think you’re getting a fair test.

Still, you may like to stick with the SoTM, as powering the opticalRendu with the same quality of power, will require two LPS-1.2 and two of these boxes

https://www.ldovr.com/product-p/dxp-1a5dsc.htm

So it’s getting expensive. 

The other option is one of these (still two LPS1-1.2)

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/various-adapters/usb-b-adapter-cable-for-55-21mm-female-power-supply-p-8332.html
And one of these as well, just to be sure

https://www.sbooster.com/sbooster-tweaks/vbus2-isolator/


(If your oM is for sale, pm me 😀). 

[matthias]

1 hour ago, R1200CL said:

Well, you should probably leave the LPS-1.2 out of the comparison then. 
Also if that picture is an OpticalModule, power it with the LPS-1.2. 
Then I think you’re getting a fair test.

Still, you may like to stick with the SoTM, as powering the opticalRendu with the same quality of power, will require two LPS-1.2 and two of these boxes

https://www.ldovr.com/product-p/dxp-1a5dsc.htm

So it’s getting expensive. 

The other option is one of these (still two LPS1-1.2)

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/various-adapters/usb-b-adapter-cable-for-55-21mm-female-power-supply-p-8332.html
And one of these as well, just to be sure

https://www.sbooster.com/sbooster-tweaks/vbus2-isolator/


(If your oM is for sale, pm me 😀). 

 

I would leave the opticalModules out of the comparison and would feed the opticalRendu via an Ethernet SFP.

This is much more fair because then both renderers are in the same price range.

 

Matt

[R1200CL]

53 minutes ago, matthias said:

 

I would leave the opticalModules out of the comparison and would feed the opticalRendu via an Ethernet SFP.

This is much more fair because then both renderers are in the same price range.

 

Matt

That doesn’t make sence at all. Really. 
 

Part of a possible SQ uplift is the optical isolation. 

What make more sense is to include the opticalModule in the Sotm as well. 
That’s a very fair way to compare. Maybe the only way. 

But that requires you to have optical interface available. You have ?

[matthias]

24 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

That doesn’t make sence at all. Really. 
 

Part of a possible SQ uplift is the optical isolation. 

What make more sense is to include the opticalModule in the Sotm as well. 
That’s a very fair way to compare. Maybe the only way. 

But that requires you to have optical interface available. You have ?

 

Sorry, I disagree.

Some  people like me have no interests to go optical.

The oR is in a sensible price range and if one want to spend more money he/she can "upgrade" later to optical.

Even @vortecjr admits that the Ethernet SFP opticalRendu sounds fantastic.

IMO, it is a matter of taste to go optical, please have a look at the post of @romaz from March 24.

 

Matt

 

 

[R1200CL]

1 hour ago, matthias said:

IMO, it is a matter of taste to go optical, please have a look at the post of @romaz from March 24.

Of cause, your choice. Still I find it a bit odd claiming optical makes the SQ worse. But maybe you’re not saying worse, only different, and that’s probably a fact 😀

 

Some equipment color sound. And it may even be that the opticalRendu reveal things in your system the SOtM doesn’t. 

And I need a link. 
 

 

[matthias]

36 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

Of cause, your choice. Still I find it a bit odd claiming optical makes the SQ worse. But maybe you’re not saying worse, only different, and that’s probably a fact 😀

 

Some equipment color sound. And it may even be that the opticalRendu reveal things in your system the SOtM doesn’t. 

And I need a link. 
 

 

 

Thanks for the link.

With optical you have two additional conversions which I do not like.

The sweet spot for me is Ethernet SFP opticalRendu and @Metnoc prefered it over optical.

So comparisons in a more expensive price range do not make sense for me.

 

Matt

[kennyb123]

6 hours ago, matthias said:

 

Sorry, I disagree.

Some  people like me have no interests to go optical.

The oR is in a sensible price range and if one want to spend more money he/she can "upgrade" later to optical.

Even @vortecjr admits that the Ethernet SFP opticalRendu sounds fantastic.

IMO, it is a matter of taste to go optical, please have a look at the post of @romaz from March 24.

 

Matt

 

 

 

I don’t see how what was reported back in March is relevant when assessing a brand new product from Sonore that was designed by John Swenson to address the shortcomings of optical solutions not intended specifically for high end music reproduction.  To purchase the opticalRendu and not take advantage of what the designer considered an important part of getting the best from this product based on a quote not specifically referring to this product’s implementation seems short-sighted.

 

This thread should probably be renamed to “Comparison of crippled Sonore opticalRendu and SOtM sms200Ultra”. LOL

 

(I say that in jest).

[jabbr]

22 hours ago, matthias said:

 

With optical you have two additional conversions which I do not like.

If you are worried about conversions you should go through the full Ethernet encoding/decoding done by the optical vs copper SFP modules (or any copper Ethernet on the wire) - it’s rather impressive. Of course you are free to use whatever makes you feel good. 

[Albrecht]

On 7/14/2019 at 7:34 AM, Metnoc said:

Yeah I have considered different solutions.
Will report back if I find one.

Just curious, - would you mind telling us what your DAC, amplification and speakers are?

[Metnoc]

Just now, Albrecht said:

Just curious, - would you mind telling us what your DAC, amplification and speakers are?

DAC: Aqua la scala mk2 with mullard tubes.
Integrated amp: Karan 180
Speakers: Verity Parsifal

Only copper cables, a mix of audience and some others.

[Albrecht]

5 minutes ago, Metnoc said:

DAC: Aqua la scala mk2 with mullard tubes.
Integrated amp: Karan 180
Speakers: Verity Parsifal

Only copper cables, a mix of audience and some others.

Thanks for info.... nice equipment, FWIW, - I'm a big fan of Verity speakers.....I only heard the La Scala once... would love to hear it with the mullards...   Cheers,