Article: Sonore opticalRendu & Signature Rendu SE Optical Review | Part 2

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[bobfa]

Chris,

 

Thank you for the update!  Can you tell us the software configuration you were using for the second part of the review?  Roon, LMS? Etc.  What was behind the scenes here?

[The Computer Audiophile]

10 minutes ago, bobfa said:

Chris,

 

Thank you for the update!  Can you tell us the software configuration you were using for the second part of the review?  Roon, LMS? Etc.  What was behind the scenes here?

 

Mainly Roon to the SE Optical.

[matthias]

Chris,

excellent review!

 

Please, can you specify which equipment you used upstream to the Signature Rendu SE Optical for the review.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

[matthias]

"Note: My comparisons with the Aurender W20SE weren't thorough as I'd just received it for evaluation. But, there were some nuances in tone that I heard via the W20SE and not the "SE optical"

 

With the Aurender you used USB out directly into the DACs?

Thanks

 

Matt

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, matthias said:

Chris,

excellent review!

 

Please, can you specify which equipment you used upstream to the Signature Rendu SE Optical for the review.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

 

 

Here are the network pieces I used. These are connected to my main network via fiber as well.

 

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch 8 (150W) - LINK

Ubiquiti SFP Modules (UF-SM-1G-S) - LINK

Single Mode LC to LC 10 Meter Fiber Cable - LINK

 

 

Roon was running on three different platforms during this review. 

 

1. ROCK / NUC

2. CAPS Cortes / Windows 10 Pro

3. QNAP NAS

[The Computer Audiophile]

21 minutes ago, matthias said:

"Note: My comparisons with the Aurender W20SE weren't thorough as I'd just received it for evaluation. But, there were some nuances in tone that I heard via the W20SE and not the "SE optical"

 

With the Aurender you used USB out directly into the DACs?

Thanks

 

Matt

 

No, Aurender was used via AES and externally clocked via the dCS Rossini, and only via AES for the other DACs. 

[fpalm69]

Any Tier upgrades to your Signature SE Rendu?

[The Computer Audiophile]

17 minutes ago, fpalm69 said:

Any Tier upgrades to your Signature SE Rendu?

@vortecjr?

[barrows]

I just checked my notes, and Chris' Signature Rendu SE is an original unit (pre-optical), then upgraded to the optical version, with the full tier 3 upgrade.

[k-man]

"For example, using Roon to send audio to the dCS Rossini's Ethernet interface versus using Roon to send audio to the "SE optical" that sends it on to the Rossini's USB interface, I'm 100% positive the path through the Sonore component is much better. This source selection is a real-world decision people will make, should they use Roon directly or through an optical Rendu?"

 

My takeaway from Part 1 and 2 of the Review is that the optical element can raise the level of performance significantly. Do you have a Sonore OpticalModule on hand to feed the Rossini's Ethernet input from Ubiquiti?

 

[Ralf11]

Thx.

 

But  "the allusion of reality" is an illusion

[The Computer Audiophile]

35 minutes ago, k-man said:

My takeaway from Part 1 and 2 of the Review is that the optical element can raise the level of performance significantly. Do you have a Sonore OpticalModule on hand to feed the Rossini's Ethernet input from Ubiquiti?

Yes. 
 

No. 

[k-man]

28 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

No.

Thanks for your reply Chris. That is one avenue worth exploring :)

The best engineers in this business tell us that it's just data that arrives at the input, but products such as this and the recently released EtherRegen tell us there's more going on...

[lestes]

It would be great to hear a comparison between OpticalRendu and DCS Bridge.

[Foggie]

/\/\ yes that would be, although very, very different platforms / implementations

 

@The Computer Audiophile  nice review, thanks for the well thought out info.

 

IMHO there are differences, quite noticeably at times, between optical and Ethernet.  Certainly many, many variables at play but it comes down to preference in the context of each system.  Would love to try a Sig SE someday.

[matthias]

18 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Roon was running on three different platforms during this review. 

 

1. ROCK / NUC

2. CAPS Cortes / Windows 10 Pro

3. QNAP NAS

 

Which of the three platforms was the best sounding during the review?

Thanks

 

Matt

[Mercman]

I enjoyed reading your well written review Chris.

 

It's hard to believe that it has already been over 6 months since I had my Signature Rendu SE updated to the optical version.  The SE's performance is very impressive.

 

One area left for audiophile fine-tuning is the choice of one's USB cable to use with the SE. So far, my favorite is the Intona Reference.

[fpalm69]

@vortecjr

Is the input/output board on the Signature Rendu SE the same as the opticalRendu?

 

I checked my units and it shows the Signature to have board V1.01 whereas the opticalRendu has board V1.1 and they look very similar in size and layout.  There must be something more to account for the price difference besides the inclusion of the power supply and cabinet on the Sig?

 

Signature with Tier 2 upgrades is $4,490.  I don't see Tier 3 offered.  Adding an opticalMoudle and FO cable brings it to $4,740.

[JohnDonaldson]

@The Computer Audiophile

After reading your review I gave the Seger Greatest Hits album a listen.  My system is considerably more modest than your's but my experience was absolutely WOW as well.  In my case I was feeding my opticalRendu  with files on one of the Sonore 400GB microSD cards.  In my system the microSD card takes the opticalRendu to the next level.  This is especially true for a good many of my Redbook rips, I sit and listen in amazement at the improvement this upgrade has made to my system.  A highly recommended upgrade.

[vortecjr]

Great review Chris. We get so caught up on the technical details of this hobby that sometimes we just forget to sit back and enjoy the music. Enjoy...

[vortecjr]

6 hours ago, fpalm69 said:

@vortecjr

Is the input/output board on the Signature Rendu SE the same as the opticalRendu?

 

I checked my units and it shows the Signature to have board V1.01 whereas the opticalRendu has board V1.1 and they look very similar in size and layout.  There must be something more to account for the price difference besides the inclusion of the power supply and cabinet on the Sig?

 

Signature with Tier 2 upgrades is $4,490.  I don't see Tier 3 offered.  Adding an opticalMoudle and FO cable brings it to $4,740.

The two are similar, but different production runs. The Signature Rendu SE was an ultraRendu and power supply in one enclosure. The Signature Rendu SE optical is an opticalRendu and power supply in one enclosure. The Tier 1 and Tier 2 upgrade paths are for fuses, shielding, and select power components. Some of these parts are hard to source or long lead items. FYI the parts for the Tier 2 upgrade arrived so that unit is back in stock as of today.   

[Andy Yuen]

Hi Chris, I noticed that you stacked the Emm Labs DV2 on top of the Rossini DAC.  I am sure you are aware that doing that would certainly affect the performance of the DV2. Also, all hi fi components benefit greatly from resonance control footers under it, such as the Ansuz Acoustic Darkz dtc that I used under all my components. They also benefit greatly when stacked on resonance control hi fi racks such as the Critical Mass Systems Maxxum rack and amplifier stand that I used.

[charlesphoto]

8 hours ago, JohnDonaldson said:

@The Computer Audiophile

After reading your review I gave the Seger Greatest Hits album a listen.  My system is considerably more modest than your's but my experience was absolutely WOW as well.  In my case I was feeding my opticalRendu  with files on one of the Sonore 400GB microSD cards.  In my system the microSD card takes the opticalRendu to the next level.  This is especially true for a good many of my Redbook rips, I sit and listen in amazement at the improvement this upgrade has made to my system.  A highly recommended upgrade.

 

I've been curious about that. A bit pricey I was thinking, esp after investing in Roon, opticalModules etc but you say....? I guess it would be for the creme of the crop. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

28 minutes ago, Andy Yuen said:

Hi Chris, I noticed that you stacked the Emm Labs DV2 on top of the Rossini DAC.  I am sure you are aware that doing that would certainly affect the performance of the DV2. Also, all hi fi components benefit greatly from resonance control footers under it, such as the Ansuz Acoustic Darkz dtc that I used under all my components. They also benefit greatly when stacked on resonance control hi fi racks such as the Critical Mass Systems Maxxum rack and amplifier stand that I used.

 

Hi Andy - If your assertions are correct, the performance of the DV2 should be increased by its placement on top of the Rossini because the Rossini has its own feet and limited built-in vibration control. Thus, I'm doubling up.

 

I'm not a big believer in the vibration control components because I've yet to hear it really do much. I know many people who swear by the stuff and I'm not discounting their experiences at all. I can only go by what I've experienced.