Summit

Cheap wall warts can have a negative effect on SQ, and so can many of the components that is used in a computer, NAS and routers IMO. I think it’s good that you have separated the laptop, router and NAS from your NAA, DAC and integrated amplifier. A power conditioner or power regenerator can be used as you describe it, but I would rather use a power conditioner on the audio gear instead. By doing that you will reduce both the mains noise made by your computer, NAS and routers + their SMPS and on top of that external mains noise. A good quality power conditioner can be expansive thou and if the purpose is to separate one noisy part of the system from the other an isolation transformer can be a good cheap alternative.

If I may ask, what was it that made you pick the 2-rail SR7 instead of one of the other top LPS that have been discussed here?

The battery can be disconnected from the mains and by being disconnected it will be isolated from the mains noise, ground loops and less prone to transmit leaking currants. Battery has their cons as well, naturally, and I would not say it’s better than a well-made LPS or anything.

I think you with the mosquito net have made a very good and “clear” analogy, bravo.

I like the font changes it make it much easier to read AS on the phone. If you also would get those so called objectivists to stop messing up all threads with the same old dogma over and over again, I promise you I will sign up on the one year premium.

I’m no expert, but to me the layout seems very nice and clean, the fact that they have focus on an anti-vibration and isolating of Melco’s N10 is one thing I like. I don’t know how it is going to be powered and it would make a rather big difference to me if it come with a Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) or something “better”, especially at this price.

Ralf, I really think we can handle all types of members. The issue, if it even an issue, is to stay on topic and doing it without making others feel uncomfortable to share their POW.

Melco has together with Buffalo Technology made a switch for “audiophiles”. It will cost quite a bit more than the switch that Up tone is about to realize and the one from SOtM. Would I like to discuss the pros and cons of the designs as well as the SQ impact of those switches with others that are interested in audio grade switches. Some info/marketing stuff about the S100 can be read here: https://audiobacon.net/2019/10/23/melcos-new-audio-specific-s100-data-switch/

There is no wrong side of the equator. I have spent a lot of time on both sides and the “problem” is not geographically related in my experience.

I still think that it worth to come back here and read about exciting developments and discoveries like @austinpop last review for example. Sure some people seems to have a rather low s/n rate, or appears like they have wake up on the wrong side of the bed, every day, but please don’t forget about all the good stuff and good people that are here as well.

No not all gear will benefit from been turn on for a while before the listening session begins. I said that gear that gets considerably warmer after a couple of hours can benefit from warming-up.

Okay as fun as it is to read about Frank and his wisdom about audio gear I think we may can move on now 😊. Warming-up is an expression used for gear that sound better when their circuits has reached their optimal temperature. It can also refer to gear or components that sounds better after some sensitive circuits has stabilized. All components and circuits has an electrical and temperature span in with they will work optimal. Some components has a rather wide span while some has a much narrower span. This is true both in spec and in practice. In all audio gear we have some components that are “known” to sound quite different depending on if they have reach their optimal temperature and/or if they have stabilized electrically. Crystal oscillator is one component that normally has a rather slim temperature span and that also need some time to stabilize (voltage) before it will perform at its best. Another component that can be rather picky about the right temp is transistors. The first category of circuits that will benefit from been on for a while is the one that will get considerably warmer after a couple of hours. The difference between a Class A circuits temp cold and after it been left on for 2-3 hours is obvious and easy to understand, for most people. The second category of circuits is much harder to understand just how it can take so much time for them to stabilize. I can’t explain it, but still I know it can change the sound profoundly. If you are in doubt of this, just listen to a Schiit Yggdrasil cold for example and then after a few days. The temp is reached after a couple of hours.

My experience is the opposite, that the SQ difference between cables as well as other gear is more noticeable in a better audio system. The smaller the system noise is and the more revealing the system is the easier it is to hear difference between equipment. To hear the difference between USB cables in a good audio system is not very hard, to determine which cable that sound most “accurate” is much harder.

If by Absolute Sound we would mean the sound of real musicians playing real instrument on a stage I can totally understand the "obsession" with the Absolute Sound. I mean why would we spend a lot of time and hard earned money, furnish the listening room and read all reviews and forum posts if not for that? It’s no coincidence that people in general like and prefer the sound of real instrument played live, because otherwise we would have developed instrument that sounded different. If people would have liked to have trumpets that sounded warmer/cooler/dryer/fuller or softer we would have made and use trumpets that sound so. Likewise have we, over many century ,made churches and other buildings there live music played by real musicians sound particularly good. And it doesn’t end there, we have and are still composes music with a verity of many different instrument and voices with their unique sound to create a soundscape made of different tones, harmonics and rhythmic. To me Absolute Sound is real and the very reference of which I try to mimic/reproduce my audio system to sound like at home. I know that I will never get it to 100 % with recorded music, but the closer the better.