barrows Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 That sounds like it is a huge upgrade! I suspect you will be very happy. Just the change to the JFET first stage is huge, as this probably features Ayre's stock of NOS Toshiba JFETS which are unobtainable now. I had my Ayre K5 preamp upgraded with the JFETs and the difference was not subtle at all, it went from being a very good preamp, to within spitting distance of the best. beetlemania 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
barrows Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 3 hours ago, jma2 said: A huge advantage of other DACs in general is that you can hook up multiple sources while the QB-9 is single USB only I believe this is actually an advantage for sonics: all those other inputs add cost, complexity, and require a switching mechanism on digital signal lines. It is impossible to have a "perfect" switch for digital signals, so having only a single digital input can result in increased performance. I build all of my DIY DACs dedicated for a single input for specifically this reason. matthias 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
barrows Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I would suggest, why about it requiring USB power? All reports are that the upgrade sounds significantly better, I would suggest that one just be happy that Ayre has gone and provided a significant upgrade to a product which is not even offered any more. It is a rare company which does this. Using USB power, from a technical standpoint, is a good way to allow for a totally isolated USB input (as I am sure the QB-9/20 is), as it provides a power supply for the USB interface which is entirely isolated from eh rest of the DAC circuitry, without having to add an additional transformer in an already small case. Don't worry, be happy! 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 barrows Posted December 11, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 11, 2019 @beetlemania, I would suggest trying converting (everything) to DSD 128 using ROON and seeing if you like it. IMO, the ESS chips sound a bit better with DSD input, but this may not be the case (specifically with the QB-9) considering the custom filters which Ayre uses. The only way to know for sure is to try it. Certainly, with any DSD files I would definitely use ROON to convert them to DSD 128 for input to the QB-9. ESS chips do sound very good with DSD input! desbiss and beetlemania 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
Popular Post barrows Posted January 21, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 21, 2020 5 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Let the fun begin. QB-9 DSD vs. QB-9 DSD Twenty Cool! i am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the comparison. Also a little bit on how the Ayres compare (just generally) to typically, more expensive DACs. beetlemania and spin33 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
Popular Post barrows Posted May 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 13, 2020 Yup, the Ayre guys, Ryan and Gary, rock! desbiss, beetlemania and Ryan Berry 1 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
barrows Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 3 hours ago, Dr Tone said: No, it’s limited by what the PCM rate of the DAC is capable of carrying. Yes, Roon can play DSD 256 via DoP, but the attached DAC's USB interface needs to accept 705.6 PCM to allow this. I am doing such right now... 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 barrows Posted December 16, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 16, 2020 2 hours ago, PrTv said: I have a modest setup consisting a MBP > Audirvana > Ayre > V281 > Utopia/LCDX In relation to source no change has been made to my MBP or any programs... even Audirvana version remains the same. Based on you guys’ comments, I should re-evaluate to see where the issue lies. Going direct from a commercial computer to a USB dAC is generally a compromise. You might want to try something like a an UpTone Audio IsoRegen between the computer and the DAC to clean up the noise. Tone Deaf and beetlemania 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
barrows Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 33 minutes ago, EicoMan said: My name is Gordon and evidently I'm a Ayre QB-9 addict. I've owned the original, the DSD version and now the Twenty. The Twenty is simply stunning. As others have commented, it maintains Ayre's signature "natural and right" sound signature while further opening up the soundstage and revealing even more detail, texture and overall musical depth. On a less fun note, I'm having a few technical challenges with the QB9 Twenty and Audirvana 3.5 on my MacBook Pro. First and foremost, I can't get the QB9 Twenty to recognize DSD. The DAC was updated in August of 2020, so I think it has the latest firmware. If anyone has a QB9 Twenty playing DSD from Audirvana 3.5, please let me know the Audio Settings you're using. Thanks for the help! I love the Twenty. It's incredible. Make sure you are sending DSD as DoP, otherwise it will not work with a direct USB connection from a Mac. 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
barrows Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Indeed, semi conductor IC availability is still a big problem, and will likely be so going forward. At Sonore we have had to re-design some products using different parts, as some ICs are just not available at all anymore (rest assured, when we re-desing we make improvements, and never allow our products to have reduced performance). Re-design like this takes a long time and is costly as well. It has been really challenging for small companies, (all companies in high end audio are very small) to keep producing products as the IC availability problem is unprecedented. Previously, if a part was going to be unavailable, there was always a long period where all users of that part were warned a couple of years, or more, in advance of that happening, and so companies could plan for the change with plenty of warning. Now part availability can be a month to month thing. One can even have the problem of a part disappearing, without much warning, while a product is in development (consider a development cycle for new electronic products can be a year, or more), so your "new" product, might have to be re-designed to suit available parts, even before it is released! Unfortunately, to some extent, this appears to be the "new normal" of doing business in electronics, and it is very challenging. Jake Forsyth 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
barrows Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 24 minutes ago, nrenter said: Since I have y’all here… Any thoughts on why I’m not getting any output from my replacement QB-9 (other than I’ve received a bum unit)? I’ve tried with 3 different Macs (from an M1 Mac, Intel MacBook Pro, last 2000s iMac) and an Alienware Windows 10 laptop). I can see the sample rates change on the display, but nothing from either the balanced or single ended outputs. I’d like to think there’s a simple solution, but I fear I got sold a lemon. Have you contacted Ayre? Ayre customer service is generally excellent... 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 barrows Posted February 25, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2023 48 minutes ago, nrenter said: As is the norm with Ayre, a beautifully laid out PCB! Jake Forsyth and Mercman 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
Popular Post barrows Posted May 26, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 26, 2023 5 minutes ago, nrenter said: For those using Roon w/ your Ayre QB-9/20, what’s your take on upsampling options? Do you use them? If so, what is your preferred configuration? I’m using a Mac Mini M1, so I have plenty of processing power. Just looking for proven configuration options to start my journey to see which, if any, I prefer. Two points to make here: 1. The Ayre uses an ESS DAC chip. Typically the ESS DACs sound better with DSD, so I would try DSD 256 and see what you think. 2. But, the Ayre has its own oversampling internally, bypassing the first stage of oversampling in the ESS chip. One of the things one pays for with are QB-9 is their proprietary oversampling filter. So, if one is wanting to compare Ayre's oversampling, I would compare no external oversampling, to DSD 256 using Roon, and see what you think. You may find that Ayre's custom oversampling filter is really good. nrenter, #Yoda# and Mercman 3 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 barrows Posted May 27, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 27, 2023 14 hours ago, #Yoda# said: You can't compare that so easily. Ayre DACs use only the rudimentary DAC functions of the ESS chip and bypass all of its filters and upsampling functions with custom FPGA-based programming and single-pass 16x oversampling. In my listening experience with Ayre DACs, even DSD 128 recordings do not necessarily sound better than their PCM 24/192 counterparts. Even Charley Hansen, Ayre's founder was not really convinced of the sonic advantages of DSD. The above is not entirely true. While the Ayre DACs do implement their proprietary first stage of oversampling to 16x rate, and feed that to the ESS chip, the ESS chip still oversamples that again to a much higher rate (MHz levels) and around 6 bits before conversion, this is not just "rudimentary function", this second oversampling step includes both high rate oversampling and passing through the Sigma Delta Modulator (and being re-modulated) of the chip. I am well aware of the Late Charles Hansen's disdain for DSD, Charley was a brilliant, and highly opinionated man! His disdain for DSD was also based mainly on the high frequency noise associated with DSD 64. Note he still chose a Delta Sigma DAC chip (ESS) which also includes a low bit conversion stage and a lot of high frequency noise (although at a higher frequency than that associated with DSD at only single rate). I suppose (although this is speculation on my part), if Charley was here today, he would be willing to re-consider the value of DSD in light of 4x, or higher rates of DSD, due to the fact that the noise he found objectionable is now pushed so high in frequency as to not be so much of an issue (easier to filter out without damaging the audible range). As to Roon oversampling to DSD, indeed, HQPlayer is better, but Roon's oversampling is no joke or afterthought or anything, it is actually pretty damn good, especially in comparison with the onboard oversampling of most DACs. If one does not have HQPlayer, I would still advise comparing for themselves DSD 256 oversampling in Roon, for any DAC which has an ESS chip. I have worked a lot with DACs with the ESS 9018 and 9038 pro, and both of these DACs respond really well to high rate DSD input. Especially in a DAC like the Ayre where the ESS chip is synchronously clocked. Ultrarunner and Jake Forsyth 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
barrows Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 On 5/27/2023 at 2:07 PM, krass said: correct…. many do not understand the difference but it’s part and parcel of internet discussion forums. In some ways it is unsurprising as the majority will not have a requisite technical background, and digital signal processing is rather niche. Same can be said for digital filters.. how many will have even a basic understanding of that interlinked relationship between frequency- and time- domain ? There is really no difference, being said that this is all just semantics. Indeed some people have made a distinction that one of those two words applies to asynchronous non-integer conversion, and the other applies to integer conversion, but there is no real world actual definition of such anywhere. It is just semantics. We should distinguish between these two forms of up conversion, but it is much more complex a topic than that. There was a time, where synchronous integer conversion could be considered "superior" to asynchronous, non-inter conversion-but when we are talking about conversions done by powerful enough algorithms, running on powerful enough hardware, that time has passed. Early examples of asynchronous conversions in hardware were the awful TI chip (was it the 1492?, I cannot remember), this chip made jitter go way down, but introduced all kinds of bad sound artifacts due to its imprecise math. Nowadays, due to a huge increase in the processing power of many types of processors, we can have asynchronous oversampling which sounds fantastic, given we write the algorithms with precise enough math. For example, the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC uses custom async conversion of all incoming rates, and it sounds fantastic, natural, dynamic, organic, detailed, just wonderful. It also uses 3 high power AD SHARC chips to do so, and Bruno Putzeys is one of the genius designers who knows how to design both digital filters and SD modulators. It can also be stated that HQPlayer, running on a powerful server, can do wonderful async, non-integer, resampling. I used to avoid non-integer conversions at all costs, but I am now happy as pie to use HQPlayer to convert 48 kHz base rate files to DSD 512 to serve to the DAC with no worries at all, as the level of precision in Jussi's algos is up to the task, as long as the server processor is. 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
barrows Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 2 hours ago, ssh said: Hi Barrows, How does the Bricasti process DSD 512? I thought that it was limited to DSD 256. Joe We are straying way off topic, sorry Ayre! I will answer this one question and then we should go back to discussing the QB-9. Currently my Bricasti DAC does not accept DSD 512 because of the limitation of its USB interface (I wish they would update this to allow for 512, as I suspect the discrete converter would have no problem with such, and the XMOS USB processor is certainly capable of 512 with the right programming). In addition to the Bricasti I also have a very capable DIY DSC-2 DAC, which is DSD only input, with a discrete DSD converter, isolated USB interface, Lundahl transformers, and a stout active analog output stage for driving amplifiers directly. So now that HQPlayer can get to DSD 512 with the EC modulators on my server, I play DSD 512 with this DAC. Jake Forsyth 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
barrows Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Sterling silver is an alloy, usually of copper and silver-why one would want to use such an alloy for a USB signal makes little to no sense. Sterling makes silver stronger, and is used for jewelry and silverware. For USB signal carrying wires, the best conductor is a solid core copper wire, with a heavy plating of the purest silver possible. The reason for this is that the signal is carried on the very surface of the conductor due to its high speed (google skin depth in high speed signals for more info). With a heavy silver plate on a copper wire the signal will be carried entirely via the silver layer, without the additional expense of a full solid core wire of silver. 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
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