Anyone else with the JCAT XACT S1??

[celebrat]

Just wondering if anybody out there has the new JCAT Xact S1 server/streamer?? I have had one for a under 1 month and it is quite impressive IMHO. 

 

It combines all the knowledge marcin_jps has learned in the decades of time he has spent working in the digital playback field. JCAT components help optimize DIY or custom servers all over the world now. This is a new place or category in digital playback field. This component is as important as the MOST expensive DACs out there.

 

I am just a client and have no other affiliation to JCAT or Marcin. I am giving my opinion because I feel the Xact S1 is an exceptional game changing product. I would like to hear about others who have or are about to have the JCAT Xact S1 in their system. Thanks for reading.

 

Celebrat

[davide256]

Umm, this reads like an influencer post.

I suggest you talk to what you had before if you want folks to understand where on the scale

of audio equipment quality this falls. If one were replacing a Bluesound node it would likely generate same opinion....

[celebrat]

3 hours ago, davide256 said:

Umm, this reads like an influencer post.

I suggest you talk to what you had before if you want folks to understand where on the scale

of audio equipment quality this falls. If one were replacing a Bluesound node it would likely generate same opinion....

Hello David. You ae absolutely correct and you make a valid point. I guess I am an influencer wanabee. because I do beleive in the Xact S1. The least I can do is let people know where I come from. I just posted my equipment on my profile but I do not know how to put in that cool Audio System button you yhave on your reply. How do you do that? Thanks

 

[davide256]

43 minutes ago, celebrat said:

Hello David. You ae absolutely correct and you make a valid point. I guess I am an influencer wanabee. because I do beleive in the Xact S1. The least I can do is let people know where I come from. I just posted my equipment on my profile but I do not know how to put in that cool Audio System button you yhave on your reply. How do you do that? Thanks

 

 

Nothing complicated.

1) Copy the url for your profile audio system tab

2) In profile/ account settings edit your signature, past in the url 

      then right click the url so that you can edit its properties to make whats displayed a title instead of the actual url

 

nice complex system but still mystified what your y axis origin was for prior equipment comparison. Innuos.. Taiko?

[celebrat]

On 5/7/2023 at 6:20 PM, davide256 said:

nice complex system but still mystified what your y axis origin was for prior equipment comparison. Innuos.. Taiko?

I did evaluate an Aurender and felt that was not even close while similar in cost. I like ROON and used that through MusicVault the most of the time. I enjoyed the sound, but honestly the SQ on both streaming and local files was vastly superior to any of my previous listening. I am enamored with the SQ of The JCAT Xact S1.

 

How do you like that Linear Tube Audio Micro Pre?? I have heard they are great. That may be able to drive my horns 😁 Do you use ROON? I am not familiar with your software.  Thanks

 

 

Audio System

Speakers: Omega Super Alnico High Output Monitors w/ Audiosmile Super Tweeters; GR Research NXotica; Mulcahey Horn System - Altec 288B 16ohm Field Coil Conversion /Azura horns/Jamboree Bass Box; Sub Woofers - GR Research Open Baffle; Amplification: Mastersound Dual 845 Monoblocks; 2 Decware SE84UFO25 set up as monoblocks; Arriving soon Alan March Audio Purifi based 421 monoblocks; Preamp: Denafrips Athena; Digital: Denafrips Terminator+; DDC Gaia; Bricasti M3 w/network card; Musicvault Diamond Ultra; OPPO205 Universal Player; JCAT XACT S1; Power Conditioning: Jena Labs Sequoia Seedling; Denafrips BIC500; Video: LG 85" oled; Cables: various including; Speaker; Echole Passion; Silversmith Audio Fidelium; Dueland Silver Tinned; Interconnects: Echole Passion; Teo Audio Kronon; Room treatments: VariousExtensive: Real Traps; Gik Acoustic Michael Green; 4 Stein Music H2 Harmonizers; Room 15.5'x24' 12' cathedral ceiling, open in back to 25'x30' No treatment-WAF

[davide256]

1 hour ago, celebrat said:

I did evaluate an Aurender and felt that was not even close while similar in cost. I like ROON and used that through MusicVault the most of the time. I enjoyed the sound, but honestly the SQ on both streaming and local files was vastly superior to any of my previous listening. I am enamored with the SQ of The JCAT Xact S1.

 

How do you like that Linear Tube Audio Micro Pre?? I have heard they are great. That may be able to drive my horns 😁 Do you use ROON? I am not familiar with your software.  Thanks

 

 

Audio System

Speakers: Omega Super Alnico High Output Monitors w/ Audiosmile Super Tweeters; GR Research NXotica; Mulcahey Horn System - Altec 288B 16ohm Field Coil Conversion /Azura horns/Jamboree Bass Box; Sub Woofers - GR Research Open Baffle; Amplification: Mastersound Dual 845 Monoblocks; 2 Decware SE84UFO25 set up as monoblocks; Arriving soon Alan March Audio Purifi based 421 monoblocks; Preamp: Denafrips Athena; Digital: Denafrips Terminator+; DDC Gaia; Bricasti M3 w/network card; Musicvault Diamond Ultra; OPPO205 Universal Player; JCAT XACT S1; Power Conditioning: Jena Labs Sequoia Seedling; Denafrips BIC500; Video: LG 85" oled; Cables: various including; Speaker; Echole Passion; Silversmith Audio Fidelium; Dueland Silver Tinned; Interconnects: Echole Passion; Teo Audio Kronon; Room treatments: VariousExtensive: Real Traps; Gik Acoustic Michael Green; 4 Stein Music H2 Harmonizers; Room 15.5'x24' 12' cathedral ceiling, open in back to 25'x30' No treatment-WAF

 

Aurender is pretty respectable so that bodes well for others who are interested /considering. I had Roon for a while, keep re auditioning it but as soon as anyone starts singing I lose interest, it loses resonance/articulation. Euphony Stylus is nice but tends to lose articulation in loud complex orchestral passages with NOS mode, its up-sample modes are recently offered and I think still a work in progress. HQPlayer up-sampling is very popular here and while it loses some imaging detail compared to Stylus it also cleans up the mud and occasional treble glare that I hear with Stylus alone. Roon using HQPlayer  up-sampling was it’s best sound and I suspect that once I get a better DSD section I may go back to Roon using DSD upsampling as PCM is so temperamental and Stylus prone to odd bugs.

Quite like the MZ2, its only flaw is that it isn’t a MZ3 so loses something at the frequency extremes and is a bit wonky for knobs and connectors. Have used it + a higher amperage  LPS as an amp to drive my Magnepans, quite nice sound but no dynamics, really needed a 95db efficiency speaker or better for that to work with the 1w of power it has. Their integrateds are nice too but the sound quality is mainly due to using the same David Berning derived pre section design 

[Marcin_gps]

Hi Guys, 

 

More feedback on WBF forum: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/xact-s1-the-music-server-youve-been-waiting-for.35708/post-876692

 

XACT S1 started shipping in March, so there are not many customer reviews yet. I'm sure you will be able to hear more about XACT S1 soon. I'm proud of this product. 

 

Best regards,
Marcin
 

 

[AudioDoctor]

@Marcin_gps I am really curious about your XACT S1, however there is one problem. I use HQPlayer for a few reasons one of them being the convolution engine. I cant see a way to use the convolution engine in HQPlayer and your XACT S1 at the same time. Am I correct?

[Marcin_gps]

11 hours ago, AudioDoctor said:

@Marcin_gps I am really curious about your XACT S1, however there is one problem. I use HQPlayer for a few reasons one of them being the convolution engine. I cant see a way to use the convolution engine in HQPlayer and your XACT S1 at the same time. Am I correct?

Technically, HQPlayer and Roon can work on XACT S1, but I made a decision not to support these players. XACT S1 is driven by JPLAY all the way and I expect it will stay that way.

 

Best regards,
Marcin
 

[AudioDoctor]

6 hours ago, Marcin_gps said:

Technically, HQPlayer and Roon can work on XACT S1, but I made a decision not to support these players. XACT S1 is driven by JPLAY all the way and I expect it will stay that way.

 

Best regards,
Marcin
 

 

Yes, that is what I expected. Thank you for the reply.