HXMelody HX500 digital transport

[bodiebill]

I guess many of us here are familiar with the ‘eureka’ sensation — the ‘this is it!’ feeling we get it when we finally achieve ‘perfect’ sound as a reward for our latest tweaks. And then, when the tweaking goes on, eureka is repeated, the ‘it’ becomes ‘was’ and is replaced by a new ‘it!’.

 

In the last decade I have had many such eureka’s. It all got better and better, optimizing my audio PC with AO, FP, Bughead rituals, Process Lasso, moving to dual box solution with HQPlayer embedded and NAA, with EC modulators, using AudioLinux and/or GentooPlayer, using fancy usb cables, usb treatments like the ISO Regen and/or iFi micro, replacing my network with fiber, first with FMC’s, then with fiber NIC’s, buying better routers, adding audiophile network- and usb cards, SATA-less endpoint with Apacer ECC RAM, and not forgetting feeding everything in the chain with expensive linear power supplies.

 

Then, about a month ago, I got intrigued by discussion threads (mostly on other forums, but also here on AS) discussing minimal SD card players and I thought I should try one for my Denafrips Terminator. I looked at two options, the Japanese SDTrans384 and the Chinese HXMelody HX500, and found it hard to choose between them:

 

The SDTrans384 attracted me because of its minimalism. It does not even come with an enclosure and only does S/PDIF and I2S (HDMI and raw). I thank @gstew and @pm325 for pointing me to it.

http://www.tachyon.co.jp/~sichoya/SDTrans/SDTrans6.html

 

The HX500 on the other hand was appealing for its versatility. It does S/PDIF coaxial, BNC, AES/EBU, TosLink and I2S via HDMI (the latter up to DSD1024). It also does network, NAS, DLNA, comes with a remote and there is also a smartphone app to control it.

https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/hxmelody-hx500-digital-turntable-player-lossless-pcm768k-dsd1024-dst-direct-solution-player

 

Very different beasts indeed.

Oh, and neither has usb output.

 

I decided to order them both; and am still waiting for the SDTrans384, customized with dual low-noise power and better oscillators.

 

The HX500 has been burning in for a few days. It is the transport only version, i.e. without DAC.

Yesterday and today I compared how it performs, switching between different sources and between different digital outputs.

My initial impressions are as follows (where A < B means B sounds better than A to my ears, = similar, and << considerably better).

 

sources
external usb drive with LPS
=
NAS
<<
DLNA
<<
SD card with ethernet for app remote control
<
SD card without network

 

digital outputs
S/PDIF coaxial
<
S/PDIF BNC
<<
TosLink
<
I2S/HDMI
(I did not try AES)

 

For me the clear winner is SD card as input and I2S as output, without network, playing wav or DSD256.

 

However, a networked setup with DLNA, using UPPlay and Minimserver from a Windows PC, sounds very good already, actually considerably better than my previous fully tweaked dual box setup. And that without using any LPS or network upgrades. This networked setup even sounds slightly better than my previous favorite: networkless single endpoint with wtfplay. I guess it must be the I2S topology that does that, or — implied — the shortcomings of usb.

 

I am still looking for better words to describe the different sound signature of I2S compared to usb (assuming that is what I hear). To mind come: open, direct, detailed, deep bass, clearer highs without any of the stridency I am so allergic to. Less artefacts.

 

In the past TosLink connections have not worked for me, so I was surprised that with the HX500 fiber sounds stellar, only just behind I2S.

 

Recommended, and a steal at USD 599. Makes you think…

No more network- or usb nervosa. I love this ‘less is more phase’ I am going through.

 

In fact, the HX500 sounds at least as good as my imaginary Taiko Extreme, although that could be just the eureka effect.

 

Looking forward to comparing it with the SDTrans384 before long...
 

[pm325]

Nice review, Dennis!

Please specify the hdmi cable used for the LVDS connection and which mode is on the Terminator DAC (NOS with x2 filter, isn't it?).

[motberg]

Thanks for the review!

Is this your first experience using i2s?

 

 

[motberg]

If you could be so kind as to share photo of the front panel and navigation, that would be appreciated 😊

[bodiebill]

4 hours ago, pm325 said:

Nice review, Dennis!

Please specify the hdmi cable used for the LVDS connection and which mode is on the Terminator DAC (NOS with x2 filter, isn't it?).

 

Thanks German.

I now use a rather cheap (€ 27) 60cm AudioQuest Pearl hdmi cable. I do not want to start a new nervosa immediately. Another not so expensive one is on its way from China. Only when I hear important differences between several cables I might spend more. When I know my 'final' setup I may order an even shorter custom made one from https://aerialpixels.com/ as you recommended.

 

These are the Terminator I2S LVDS pin-out settings:

 

The SDTrans384 has the PS Audio '100' configuration.

 

I asked the seller (Shenzhen Audio) for the HX500 config and the sent me this:

To me this seems like the '111' setting, but when I set the Terminator to that I get strange noises. However, with '100' the HX500 plays well, and that is good news as I do not have to change anything on the Terminator when switching between the SDTrans and the HX500.

In the output settings on the HX500 there is an 'I2S reverse' option (enabled or disabled) and when I translate the big yellow block above with Google Translate camera it says:

 

So -- although I notice no difference in the sound -- I enabled the I2S reverse option.

 

Actually I play with the Terminator in OS (not NOS) mode as this sounds better for PCM. For DSD there is no difference as the Terminator then automatically switches to NOS mode, even when the NOS light is off.

[bodiebill]

1 hour ago, motberg said:

Thanks for the review!

Is this your first experience using i2s?

 

Yes. Love it so far.

[bodiebill]

1 hour ago, motberg said:

If you could be so kind as to share photo of the front panel and navigation, that would be appreciated 😊

 

See pic + PM.

[pm325]

48 minutes ago, bodiebill said:

 

Thanks German.

I now use a rather cheap (€ 27) 60cm AudioQuest Pearl hdmi cable. I do not want to start a new nervosa immediately. Another not so expensive one is on its way from China. Only when I hear important differences between several cables I might spend more. When I know my 'final' setup I may order an even shorter custom made one from https://aerialpixels.com/ as you recommended.

 

These are the Terminator I2S LVDS pin-out settings:

 

The SDTrans384 has the PS Audio '100' configuration.

 

I asked the seller (Shenzhen Audio) for the HX500 config and the sent me this:

To me this seems like the '111' setting, but when I set the Terminator to that I get strange noises. However, with '100' the HX500 plays well, and that is good news as I do not have to change anything on the Terminator when switching between the SDTrans and the HX500.

In the output settings on the HX500 there is an 'I2S reverse' option (enabled or disabled) and when I translate the big yellow block above with Google Translate camera it says:

 

So -- although I notice no difference in the sound -- I enabled the I2S reverse option.

 

Actually I play with the Terminator in OS (not NOS) mode as this sounds better for PCM. For DSD there is no difference as the Terminator then automatically switches to NOS mode, even when the NOS light is off.

There are two options for signal polarity inversion - "I2S reverse" at HX500 and corresponding mode button at Terminator DAC. You can use both, because they have identical functionality.

In case of SDtrans384 LVDS output can be configured as "pcm/dsd mode" or "dsd only mode" (please, see manual). The first one has reversed left/right channels for dsd output.

I suppose, that OS mode preferred for RedBook content.

[bodiebill]

5 minutes ago, pm325 said:

There are two options for signal polarity inversion - "I2S reverse" at HX500 and corresponding mode button at Terminator DAC. You can use both, because they have identical functionality.

 

That is also how I understand it. So using polarity inversion on the HX500 seems the best option as then I do not have to change anything on the Terminator when switching between SDTrans and HX500. 

 

5 minutes ago, pm325 said:

In case of SDtrans384 LVDS output can be configured as "pcm/dsd mode" or "dsd only mode" (please, see manual). The first one has reversed left/right channels for dsd output.

 

Thanks, I hope to receive the SDTrans in a week or so.

 

5 minutes ago, pm325 said:

I suppose, that OS mode preferred for RedBook content.

 

Yes, but I think also for higher resolutions. I believe the Terminator upsamples to 1536 kHz.

[motberg]

1 hour ago, bodiebill said:

 

See pic + PM.

Thanks!  I did not notice a mention of the remote at the SZAudio site.....

[Symphony]

On 7/4/2020 at 4:00 AM, bodiebill said:

However, a networked setup with DLNA, using UPPlay and Minimserver from a Windows PC, sounds very good already, actually considerably better than my previous fully tweaked dual box setup. And that without using any LPS or network upgrades. This networked setup even sounds slightly better than my previous favorite: networkless single endpoint with wtfplay. I guess it must be the I2S topology that does that, or — implied — the shortcomings of usb.

 

 

 

very well documented and triggered the interest to buy one
Which android player needed with HX500 connected via Ethernet to a NAS with minimserver?

 

I just ordered one and I wish to confine to the minimalistic SD card way but I have large music on my NAS.

[Symphony]

On 7/4/2020 at 1:42 PM, bodiebill said:

 

Thanks German.

I now use a rather cheap (€ 27) 60cm AudioQuest Pearl hdmi cable. I do not want to start a new nervosa immediately. Another not so expensive one is on its way from China. Only when I hear important differences between several cables I might spend more. When I know my 'final' setup I may order an even shorter custom made one from https://aerialpixels.com/ as you recommended.

Hi 

could you help in choosing the best options flat/ribbon and connector at either  end Male/female to the HDMI cable in the mentioned site. 
 

sorry I s as m new to this I2S & HDMI ball game. 
thanks

[bodiebill]

1 hour ago, Symphony said:

very well documented and triggered the interest to buy one
Which android player needed with HX500 connected via Ethernet to a NAS with minimserver?

 

I just ordered one and I wish to confine to the minimalistic SD card way but I have large music on my NAS.

 

Any android player will do. When set to DLNA the HX500 should be recognized by it.

There is also a HX500 specific app for remote control. As it is in Chinese out of the box I used the Google Translate camera to find out where to find the language button, and then switched to English.

 

To my ears SD card sounds best, but it is nice that the HX500 offers so many possibilities.

[bodiebill]

1 hour ago, Symphony said:

Hi 

could you help in choosing the best options flat/ribbon and connector at either  end Male/female to the HDMI cable in the mentioned site. 
 

sorry I s as m new to this I2S & HDMI ball game. 
thanks

 

I love this cable:

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/4000730036117.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4b8a4c4dD2MUbe

You can choose your length (the shorter the better for SQ they say although I heard no difference between 20 and 30 cm versions) and terminations (right angle -- mind the orientation! -- or straight).

[Symphony]

Thank you

[Symphony]

Indeed, It’s really a Eureka product. Now, it’s close to hundred hours and sounding excellent .

 

I found SD card & 12S out put is the best and intend to use it as a stand alone SD card player only.

 

it also sounds good with NAS Ethernet input .

 

Users who are interested to use TIDAL can do it through MconnectLite or HD app . 
 

I did it successfully through my IPad but over longer duration it’s hanging and compel us to restart the unit again ( only drawback when used with third party app )

 

its performance is brilliant on SD card I2S combination and it’s performance on this combination is on par with my other streamer Lumin U1

 

 

[thisisvv]

I dont see in pics where to insert sd card. Where you put sd card and also what max capacity you can add too.

[Symphony]

8 minutes ago, thisisvv said:

I dont see in pics where to insert sd card. Where you put sd card and also what max capacity you can add too.

SD card slot on right side . I have used 16GB,64GB & 128 GB.

 

it sounds best using SD card through I2S out put. I am using it as standalone SD card player 

 

[thisisvv]

SO basically only one SD card input. I think max sd card is 2TB.

[Symphony]

On 1/1/2021 at 12:12 PM, thisisvv said:

SO basically only one SD card input. I think max sd card is 2TB.

Yes

I prefer max 64 GB ... treat it as alternative to a CD player as it’s Redbook format performance is on par with best CD players I have used.

 

what I did is to keep exclusive SD cards for Redbook , DSD formats.

 

I have experienced distorted music playing when Redbook played after DSD.  I restart HX500 when I change formats.

 

HXMelody support is non responsive to this issue however I am not expecting any solution as it is a non issue to me.

I am bowled over by its sound for the money spent

 

 

 

 

 

[thisisvv]

alright ordered. Will revert with feedback

[AndreyRus]

Modest question: where can I download the instruction in English, thanks

[bodiebill]

10 hours ago, AndreyRus said:

Modest question: where can I download the instruction in English, thanks

 

Modest answer: the only English version I know is the somewhat awkward one that I translated myself:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_-ZRamF6w2EwGybCgdeIsmz82-1K9Iuk-Q6D3yLufyw/edit?usp=sharing

 

[AndreyRus]

Great, thank you so much for the instruction! I've been the owner of the player for two days and don't know much about computer technology, please tell me how can I listen to Tidal with this device? Thank you for your answer, sincerely Andrey

[Symphony]

On 1/19/2021 at 9:40 AM, AndreyRus said:

Modest question: where can I download the instruction in English, thanks

Here is the Mannual. Happy listening 

 

hxmelody500 manual 1.2 EN.pdf