Building a DIY Music Server

[hols]

On 8/8/2020 at 10:05 AM, Nenon said:

I will be modifying the clock on one more Buffalo and hopefully will be able to do some interesting tests.

For example, what happens when you connect two Buffalos with upgraded clocks together? How do they compare to the M12 gold switch which I have access to and will be testing soon? And what if you combine two Buffalos with ultraOCXO clocks with the M12 Gold switch? I mean other than getting divorced and filing for bankruptcy...

I am only about half as mad as Nenon in that I only modify the clock but not the other listed mods of the Buffalo but I happen to have modded two switch and I would like to share share my brief observation below. 

 

First the connection is like this

1st 2016---2nd2016--1st S100--2ndS100--SOtM switch with HQplayer PC connected to first switch(1st2016), NAA PC connected to last switch(SOtM), and modem & Ubiquiti-x-sfp connected to second switch in the chain(2nd2016)

My previous configuration is  1stS100---2ndS100---SOtM with HQplayer connected to first switch in the chain, internet access connected to second switch and NAA PC connected to last switch.

The Buffalo BS-GS2016 is modified by a local company( which also modified the SOtM switches) by adding a 25MHz OCXO clock. I have my two Buffalo switches modified and burned in for about 2weeks and I guess its about time to have a brief comparison. Hopefully when the Coronavirus situation got more stabilised we can arrange more audiophiles to listen. And I must thank SeeTeeYou for his posts on the Buffalo switch.

I have reported earlier that using the S100 switch brought a revolutionary change to the sound and it is impossible to take them off. The main improvement is much improved dynamics while the SOtM helps to give a more beautiful high and mids. And it is soon realized that the S100 becomes the more dominating switch in the chain.

 

First impression on swabbing from two S100 to two 2016 is that there is a sweetness in the sound that is not present in s100. The dynamics is maintained or even strengthened because the body of the sound is richer than before. The most notable change is that you can turn up the volume and still can enjoy the sound and experience the attacks and excitement without fear at all. Returning to two S100 the sound is more solid and smooth(probably because they have been burned in for 7 months and also reflects the sound of the more sturdy chassis). I would prefer the 2016 than the S100 because of its richer presentations. Using one 2016 already gives you the same character but using two is definitely a revelation. Everything just seems to be present around you. The presence is much better with two 2016. What happens if the four are put together in series? Yes there is still an additive effect and SQ is also on the positive side. There is an easiness in the sound and everything come up so sure so accurate and fluent. There is no hint of any slowness or muffled sound or harshness that are sometimes associated with over-cleansing. And can I take out the SOtM? Yes I can and still live very happily with the sound. There is only very slight diminished high frequency only noticeable on critical listening.

Overall very impressed with the clock-modded 2016. The only worry is that is it a bit too dominant ? Will need to reassess after further burning.

Will the Telegartner M12 gold modify the picture.? I have auditioned the M12 gold back few months ago. My impression is it gives a beautiful sound but the sound is a bit slow and reduced the dynamics of the S100 and the two are not compatible in my system. YMMV

[hols]

Recently I have ordered a Taiko DC DC-ATX to replace my HDplex 800W DC-ATX to power my i9 9900K and Asus Rog Strix z490 E mobo with 8Tb Samsung 970 EVO nvme on a PCIe card requiring SATA power supply. And I am having problem to power up the 8Tb nvme with the SATA power from the Taiko DC DC ATX.  I can power the system up if I use a separate Teradak linear power supply to provide 12v and 5v SATA power supply to the nvme PCIe card. If I use the SATA from Taiko DC DC ATX then it cannot power up. Is it possible that the SATA power supply from the Taiko DC DC ATX is not powerful enough to power 8Tb nvme? Or is my Taiko DC DCATX having problem?

 

I used 16AWG hook up wires to make the SATA cable for the Taiko DC DCATX and I have checked three times that the pins out are correct.

I used a local deigned and made LPS with 1000VA transformer with 2 x 19V to power the HDplex 800W and now using one 19v to power the Taiko DC DCATX.