Paths to digital music joy .
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Paths to digital music joy .
Well I only use digital music so this is all I can talk about . Now there are many paths to get your musical satisfaction from digital simplest being a CD in a player then in to your system . I know Paul has gone down a very different route using HQ player and seems very happy with that . I have found a different path and mine seems to be dominated by the clock . About a year ago I heard a system with a Mutec 3+ usb in and was amazed at how much it improved things . At that time new they were just too expensive and used was the same . By chance found a great condition unit that was affordable . Bought it fitted it and loved what it does . Then was told that an external clock made it even better but the clocks were all thousands rather than hundreds . Then a friend on another forum suggested an LB clock and that this was very nearly as good as the far more expensive ones £175 including postage was at least something I could consider . Bought set up installed (it was not really that simple but that was down to user error not the device) and then a real shock . This sounds amazing not just good ,stereo is an illusion and anything that makes that more real is making the music better . This addition has made my music breathe and come alive real voices , real instruments and more real emotion . I am swept away by this and would just suggest if you have any equipment that can take an external clock then try it out I do not think you will regret it .
- These users thanked the author Bencat57 for the post (total 6):
- CycleCoach (Sat Mar 25, 2023 1:23 pm) • slinger (Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:06 pm) • Nearlymusical (Sat Mar 25, 2023 5:28 pm) • CN211276 (Sat Mar 25, 2023 5:34 pm) • Grumpytim (Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:19 pm) • antonio66 (Sun Mar 26, 2023 7:09 am)
- Nearlymusical
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
I concur.
Audio GD DI-20 - Not specifically a clock but does re-clock - was just a smidge less than 500 Euros new, so could be picked up used for much less.
But also deserving of mention is Chord MScaler and upsampling in general - which I believe is one of the benefits of HQ Player.
As you say different paths, but the advantage of digital now is that you can do a lot of signal clean up ( Galvanic isolation , jitter reduction, timing ) at the front end and what can be wrought from 44.1kHz CD quality is unbelievable for me compared to what I experienced over the years with CD players - e.g Linn Ikemi, Naim CD3.5, Musical Fidility 3D Nuvista
Audio GD DI-20 - Not specifically a clock but does re-clock - was just a smidge less than 500 Euros new, so could be picked up used for much less.
But also deserving of mention is Chord MScaler and upsampling in general - which I believe is one of the benefits of HQ Player.
As you say different paths, but the advantage of digital now is that you can do a lot of signal clean up ( Galvanic isolation , jitter reduction, timing ) at the front end and what can be wrought from 44.1kHz CD quality is unbelievable for me compared to what I experienced over the years with CD players - e.g Linn Ikemi, Naim CD3.5, Musical Fidility 3D Nuvista
- These users thanked the author Nearlymusical for the post (total 2):
- CN211276 (Sat Mar 25, 2023 5:34 pm) • Grumpytim (Sat Mar 25, 2023 6:19 pm)
Aurender N100H > SoTM USB cable > Audio DG DI-20 (I2s out ) > Audioquest Carbon 48 HDMI cable > PS audio Directstream DAC > Cardas Golden Cross XLR > Modwright 36.5 Pre > Cardas Golden Cross XLR > PS Audio M1200 Monoblocks > Cardas Golden Cross Speaker Cable > Meadowlark Kestrel Hotrod speakers
- Fretless
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
For me, digital audio is reliant on jitter reduction - where reclocking can play an important role. Jitter (a loss of absolute synchronicity within the stream of 1's and 0:s) is audible in digital audio playback as a veiling of the clarity and a reduction in detail and definition.
Recently I swapped the Schiit Wyrd in one setup for the Oehlbach XXL Masterclock and was impressed by the improvement. Not all reclockers are equal.
AudioQuest Jitterbug. Put 1 or 2 in anything with a USB socket. This little device removes a lot of unwanted noise from digital circuitry.
Cables are vital. OCC with ultra-long crystal structures helps reduce jitter. AudioQuest uses silver-coatings to reduce Skin-effect and improve jitter reduction.
Upsampling: using a PC to stream means that there is ample CPU capacity to resample / upsample a digital signal. I like to upsample to the maximum sample-rate that a DAC can handle on input. An exception here is the NOS Metrum Musette that works best on native bit-rates.
Price: there are some amazing DAC's around at reasonable prices - think of Topping, SMSL, Denafrips and Sabaj. And the cutting-edge tech is being constantly improved.
Recently I swapped the Schiit Wyrd in one setup for the Oehlbach XXL Masterclock and was impressed by the improvement. Not all reclockers are equal.
AudioQuest Jitterbug. Put 1 or 2 in anything with a USB socket. This little device removes a lot of unwanted noise from digital circuitry.
Cables are vital. OCC with ultra-long crystal structures helps reduce jitter. AudioQuest uses silver-coatings to reduce Skin-effect and improve jitter reduction.
Upsampling: using a PC to stream means that there is ample CPU capacity to resample / upsample a digital signal. I like to upsample to the maximum sample-rate that a DAC can handle on input. An exception here is the NOS Metrum Musette that works best on native bit-rates.
Price: there are some amazing DAC's around at reasonable prices - think of Topping, SMSL, Denafrips and Sabaj. And the cutting-edge tech is being constantly improved.
- These users thanked the author Fretless for the post (total 2):
- Nearlymusical (Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:29 pm) • George Hincapie (Sun Mar 26, 2023 2:33 pm)
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- CN211276
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
- These users thanked the author CN211276 for the post:
- Nearlymusical (Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:29 pm)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
- Lindsayt
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
I'd be happy to attend a digital source bake-off if anyone's inclined to host one?
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- Tony Moore (Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:53 am)
- Fretless
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
Bencat, can you put up a link to this unit? I'm intrigued and would like to find out a little more about it.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
Apologies Fretless I am never sure how each different forum reacts to links to other products so try to err on the side of caution .
https://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.ph ... 4a22783f7a
This is the unit and if you are well versed in these things then have a root around . If you want a little help to set it up (I admit that I did ) there is a thread on Audio Addicts forum called tick tock tick tock tick tock which explains and another showing the set up for a Mutec which is what I use it with .
https://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.ph ... 4a22783f7a
This is the unit and if you are well versed in these things then have a root around . If you want a little help to set it up (I admit that I did ) there is a thread on Audio Addicts forum called tick tock tick tock tick tock which explains and another showing the set up for a Mutec which is what I use it with .
- Fretless
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
Hmmm.
Interesting that it uses GPS network timing as a reference.
More reading required.
Interesting that it uses GPS network timing as a reference.
More reading required.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- CN211276
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
Interesting. It is similar in size and price to the ifi Ipurifier, plugged into Mscaler I use which brought about a worthwhile improvement. A major difference is the Ipurifier is plug in and play.Bencat57 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 10:05 am Apologies Fretless I am never sure how each different forum reacts to links to other products so try to err on the side of caution .
https://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.ph ... 4a22783f7a
This is the unit and if you are well versed in these things then have a root around . If you want a little help to set it up (I admit that I did ) there is a thread on Audio Addicts forum called tick tock tick tock tick tock which explains and another showing the set up for a Mutec which is what I use it with .
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
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Re: Paths to digital music joy .
I'm useless with computers and remain impressed by all I read here by those who are able to program or install updates etc. to any form of digital device. Having said that, I decided that now Apple Music is available as Hi-Res Lossless that I would donate all my CD's to a charity shop and go digital... So my system starts with a MacBook Air, feeding an Audiolab M-DAC+ via a Chord Company interconect. I think that the DAC's clock takes over the one in the Mac but whatever I listen to sounds sublime. The system is simple enough for me to use (although it can take me a few attempts to track down artists due to my poor spelling) and provides me with so much scope for discovering unfamiliar music.
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- Fretless (Sun Mar 26, 2023 12:40 pm)