Ultrarunner

Great news! I subscribe for music discovery, because I prefer Spotify to Tidal, and Quobuz isn’t available in Canada.

I had previously updated my STi9 to 2.8. I guess that’s why all I had to do was hit Update and I got HQPlayer Embedded 4.21.1.

You should be able to just press Update on the SonicTransporter and you’ll get 4.21.1.

I noticed the LPS improvement both with the server and endpoint connected to the same switch, and also when I had the ST connected to the router instead. The router, STi9, and switch (EtherRegen) are all in another room from the main system, on a dedicated line. The audio gear is also on its own dedicated line. What I don’t know is if the improvement is due to giving the STi9 cleaner power, or the effect of removing a SMPS and preventing it from polluting the AC lines. I suspect the latter based on a lot of experimenting.

I had an STi5 and now have an STi9. Both benefitted significantly from linear power supplies. I used a JS-2 for the i5 and an HDPlex 300 for the i9 (the i9 Optical needs too much power to work with the JS-2).

The SonicTransporter is connected to the router by a single Ethernet cable. I might try optical Ethernet instead, but Andrew hasn’t verified if this will work. My STi9 has 4TB SSD, so I don’t need to worry about external storage. I have tried a few SFPs, based on the reports of others. It turns out single mode SFPs sound better than multimode. As long as both ends have the same SFP this is an easy one to try.

The first JS-2 powers the EtherRegen. The second JS-2 (in another room), the opticalRendu. I actually have a spare, third JS-2 (previously powering my STi5), which I’d planned to use for the STi9. Andrew had said it should work when I ordered the i9, but it doesn’t have enough juice. I’m toying with buying an HDPlex 300W. Overkill perhaps. But the JS-2’s were certainly a notable improvement for the ER and OR.

It’s my third server from Small Green Computer. I started before the NUC was an option. It seemed easier to stick with a system I’m used to and had such good experience with. I did have an opticalModule. I replaced that with the EtherRegen with excellent results.

I used to have my Room Core on an iMac and then iMac Pro. Moving to a SonicTransporter i5 improved sound quality significantly. Well worth it. I’ve recently swapped it for an i9. Useful for playing my ripped BluRays with Plex too.

I have had issues with 2.8. I had no problems with 2.7. One issue was solved simply by pressing Update (even though it’s already theoretically updated). Mine seems stable now but every time I make any network changes, I can’t communicate with the Rendu. If your issue is solved please report back.

View Classified SonicTransporter i5 with 2 TB SSD Great music server, but I'm upgrading to a SonicTransporter i9. One and a half years old. Excellent condition. A couple of tiny imperfections in the paint (left rear top cover), otherwise like new. Current retail price: $1,245. https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/collections/audio-server/products/sonictransporter-i5?variant=20893269828 Price includes original power supply and free shipping in Canada and USA. Some of my feedback as seller: https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/userfeedb

I originally powered my SonicTransporter i5 with an HDPlex unit, although not a current model. The JS-2 definitely improved the sound over the HDPlex. I just ordered an ST i9 and plan to continue to use JS-2, although I won’t power anything else with it, given the current demands of the i9.

Andrew said he has never seen any problems with Roon + HQPlayer on an SonicTransporter. He has no fix. So I guess if I want HQPlayer on a SonicTransporter, I would have to upgrade from i5 to the i9. Which is disappointing since I bought the i5 specifically to run these programs.

I was planning to use Roon playing to HQPlayer Embedded on a SonicTransporter, to get the best of both worlds. Are you saying HQPlayer without Roon sounds better?