Article: SOtM Launches sMB-Q370 Motherboard

[Luvdac]

On 6/5/2022 at 10:19 PM, Patatorz said:

I'm testing the sMB-Q370 + SCLK-EX with 10MHz (75 Ohms) input.

Would love to hear your views on it. I'm looking to upgrade to an audiophile type server.

[Luvdac]

On 8/14/2022 at 7:47 AM, The Computer Audiophile said:

Been listening to this all night. Really love what I hear. 
 

I booted from a USB stick running HQPlayer Embedded. I’m upsampling everything to DSD256 using the ASDM7ECv2 modulator. 
 

Im also connecting straight to the DAC via USB connected to the SOtM USB card, rather than send audio to an NAA over the network. 

It would be an interesting comparison between jcat xe usb card and the half as expensive sotm card and see how they perform in the sotm motherboard.

[Luvdac]

I bit the bullet! 

[Luvdac]

The HDplex 500watts lpsu arrived today. Still waiting on the Silverstone fanless case. Sourcing a 65watts tdp cpu was a challenge but I managed to source a core 7 gen 9.

The 95watts tdp cpu's are more readily available but I want to run it fanless.

Also on the way are the usb and ethernet cards from JCAT. The Top tier ones. I hope to have it all assembled and running by the end of the month.

[Luvdac]

Done! With jcat usb and ethernet xe cards and a jcat pico nano before the usb card. Powered by an hdplex 500w atx lpsu. The jcat usb card connects to an external hdd powered by an ifi 12v 4A power elite psu with custom pure silver dc cable, as well as to a gustard u18 with a custom pure silver usb cable. The u18 feeds a gustard x26 pro. The hdplex harness is soon to be replaced with hand drawn 99.99% solid core silver cabling.

Initial impressions are very good with windows 10 and roon. A definite step up from a similar arrangement, ( same usb and ethernet cards from jcat, same silver cabling except for the ifi psu) using a run o the mill aorus gigabyte motherboard and coffee lake cpu. Deeper, and better soundstage, improved dynamics etc...BUT...the magic, to my ears lies in the silver cabling. When I changed the stock cable of the psu feeding the external hdd to pure silver, the change was apparent. More analog is the best way to describe it. As for the sotm motherboard, it's well worth the asking price to my ears.

[Luvdac]

On 4/30/2023 at 6:52 PM, di-fi said:

@Luvdac did you replace the harness to good result? What cable exactly did you end up using?
what do you use to and from the Jcat nano?

thanks!

Yes. The harness is pure silver as are the cables from the nano psu's to the cards. I can hear the difference for the better. More relaxed ( more absence of noise/digital harshness). Recommended.

[Luvdac]

@MayfromSOtM Maybe this has already been answered before but are there plans for an upgraded motherboard that can take the newer gen Intel cpu's? I'm planning on building another server but currently the cpu's compatible with the smb q370 are becoming very rare.