Edited by jmmbarco, 17 March 2014 - 02:35 PM.

DAC recommendations for Jplay
#121
Posted 17 March 2014 - 12:59 PM
Almost finishing!!!!
#122
Posted 17 March 2014 - 01:15 PM
#123
Posted 17 March 2014 - 01:42 PM
Almost finishing!!!!
#124
Posted 17 March 2014 - 01:49 PM
#125
Posted 17 March 2014 - 01:56 PM
Thank you very much anyway! /wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif
Almost finishing!!!!
#126
Posted 25 March 2014 - 10:00 PM
As crazy as it may sound, I prefer Metrum in my setup for immediacy not found in any other DAC. My wife says it sounds 'fresh' and I agree. I run it with Audiophilleo 1+Pure Power, two JCAT USB cables (one from JCAT USB card to PP, the other from PP to AP1). Some people say that USB cable between PurePower and Audiophilleo is not important, but I disagree. I think that with proper USB cables and s/pdif cable, AP1+PP is hard to beat. Maybe Totaldac Reclocker is a bit better, but it's very expensive, takes a lot of space and requires additional power cord. I like Audiophilleo for absolute transparency and authentic timbre. I must yet check vega with ap1+pp combo.
Metrum is also very transparent and can sound grey & harsh too. But keep it on for at least 2 days, put it on anti-vibration platforms, use best usb-s/pdif converter and digital cables you can get and it may become your ultimate digital front-end. I will report on my ap1+pp & vega experiment in few days…
Hi Marcin,
I had the Metrum MkI for long time into my primary chain and actually I still have it as back-up.
I agree with you on its performance. I liked it so much for its speed, rythm and fluidity. Also a very large soundstage, with a lot of air.
But… there is always a "but". I can't ignore that the Metrum lacks the bass articulation. The resulting dynamic is really involving, but a bit booming and unnatural. Really. Sometimes the bass tone is too raw and the bass dynamic is not the most accurated. In my opinion its lack is due primally to its rythm, fast and involving, but with low freq. too much forwarded. Most of times the bass line on the next track sounds the same that you heard on the previous one, not flat but a bit "homologated". And two specific lines are difficult to distinguish, expecially on tone.
Metrum was feeded by the Genesis Digital Lens (famous FIFO RAM Re-clocking & De-jitter device, with the same architecture you found inside the Total DAC/Reclocker… but I can bet the Genesis has a better clock for 16/44khz;), and also Metrum had a special version of Klimo Beag (2 E88CC NOS Telefunken, TOTEM conf.) as "outboard" analoge tube stage. Also Nordost Sort Kones as anti-vibration. So the Metrum was in condition to have a good performance. By the way, in my opinion it remains a good and involving DAC.
Massimiliano
….your JCAT SATA cable is very very good, expecially on the bass accuracy and recovering of micro dynamics, i.e. sound details. Really satisfied!
Edited by emaspac, 26 March 2014 - 10:47 AM.
DDC: Berkeley Audio Alpha USB ---> Genesis Digital Lens (AT&T Fiber Out)
DAC: Wadia 2000 Digimaster (Sledgehammer Buffer, AT&T Fiber In)
Tube Amplifier: Leben CS-600
Loudspeakers: Sony SS-A5 "La Voce"
Power Conditioners: Accuphase PS-510, UberBUSS (euro version), Einstein NF6020, Kemp Power Source+, Kemp Power Station 75, Clearaudio APG
#127
Posted 26 March 2014 - 09:47 AM
I can say it's the most analogue DAC I have listened. But not in sense of rolloff of high freq. No. Instead all instruments sounds togheter with a great detail and tone. Bold sound, very visceral and analogue. I love that sound. The final result is a win for analogue lovers.
In my experience NOS + multibit DAC chips are the most enjoyable on a long run. With a proper implementation they can reveals all sound details in a very natural way. The DC1 VLE is based on an asynchronous free running clock, which in theory adds jitter. After the digital receiver, it just "resamples" all the lines from the receiver to the DAC with a high frequency, very stable and low jitter clock, at 50 or 100MHz. Jitter or not, I can say the result is stunning.
But DC1 VLE it's not in production anymore. The standard version is not at the same quality level.
Edited by emaspac, 26 March 2014 - 02:52 PM.
DDC: Berkeley Audio Alpha USB ---> Genesis Digital Lens (AT&T Fiber Out)
DAC: Wadia 2000 Digimaster (Sledgehammer Buffer, AT&T Fiber In)
Tube Amplifier: Leben CS-600
Loudspeakers: Sony SS-A5 "La Voce"
Power Conditioners: Accuphase PS-510, UberBUSS (euro version), Einstein NF6020, Kemp Power Source+, Kemp Power Station 75, Clearaudio APG
#128
Posted 26 March 2014 - 03:40 PM


#129
Posted 26 March 2014 - 03:57 PM
Hi Massimiliano,
I'm glad you like our cable
Regarding DACs, I read reviews by a friend of mine Wojciech Pacula. Your description sounds similar to my impressions of the totaldacInteresting that you mention it as I'm waiting for 47laboratory 4732 Shigaraki USB DAC which is a similar design. Will let you know how it performs. So are you using s/pdif input on audionemesis and feed it with berkeley-genesis signal?
Cheers,
Marcin
Your SATA cable is a "must have". Full stop. Simply exceptional.
And yes, in my opinion the design of these NOS DAC produces the best sound.
Wojciech Pacula has reviewed also the Audionemesys DC1 Upgrade Version, still in production, (not the VLE version, which is the one I have and it's the best one – only 40 pcs), and he liked it so much (http://www.highfidel........mesis.html)
I have trust in his opinion, because in my home I have the same impression most of the times. One of the best reviewer. For example he suggested to use Accuphase Line Regenerator not for the source, but for the tube low power amplifier. And he was right. Absolutely.
Come back to the DACs, TotalDAC is better of Audionemesis looking its specs., but I suspect that "Kusunoki design" is the real cause of the stunning final result.
My digital chain:
SOtM tX-USBexp —> Tellurium USB Diamond Cable —> Berkley Audio —-> Kimber Illuminati D60 XLR cable —> Genesis —> Kimber Illuminati S/PDIF cable —> Audionemesis
Tellurium is another "must have", even if is really expensive.
Please note Genesis digital input is limited to 16/44khz (48khz is available as well, but its implementation inside the Genesis is not so good), but I can say I don't miss high res files.
Edited by emaspac, 26 March 2014 - 05:50 PM.
DDC: Berkeley Audio Alpha USB ---> Genesis Digital Lens (AT&T Fiber Out)
DAC: Wadia 2000 Digimaster (Sledgehammer Buffer, AT&T Fiber In)
Tube Amplifier: Leben CS-600
Loudspeakers: Sony SS-A5 "La Voce"
Power Conditioners: Accuphase PS-510, UberBUSS (euro version), Einstein NF6020, Kemp Power Source+, Kemp Power Station 75, Clearaudio APG
#130
Posted 26 March 2014 - 05:21 PM


Edited by emaspac, 27 March 2014 - 09:08 AM.
DDC: Berkeley Audio Alpha USB ---> Genesis Digital Lens (AT&T Fiber Out)
DAC: Wadia 2000 Digimaster (Sledgehammer Buffer, AT&T Fiber In)
Tube Amplifier: Leben CS-600
Loudspeakers: Sony SS-A5 "La Voce"
Power Conditioners: Accuphase PS-510, UberBUSS (euro version), Einstein NF6020, Kemp Power Source+, Kemp Power Station 75, Clearaudio APG
#131
Posted 28 March 2014 - 11:38 AM
#132
Posted 28 March 2014 - 01:24 PM
DDC: Berkeley Audio Alpha USB ---> Genesis Digital Lens (AT&T Fiber Out)
DAC: Wadia 2000 Digimaster (Sledgehammer Buffer, AT&T Fiber In)
Tube Amplifier: Leben CS-600
Loudspeakers: Sony SS-A5 "La Voce"
Power Conditioners: Accuphase PS-510, UberBUSS (euro version), Einstein NF6020, Kemp Power Source+, Kemp Power Station 75, Clearaudio APG
#133
Posted 28 March 2014 - 01:38 PM
If (?) a high end USB/SPDIF is stopping some noise, it will also do it with the best 'noise free' PC as there is always noise.
I suppose a direct USB in at the DAC side bypasses SPDIF/I2S conversion and that means less noise even jitter which by definition the best USB/SPDIF converter cannot accomplish
In the end the best USB/I2S implementation must win from the best USB/SPDIF implementation, but this is theory and is as always praxis does differ
Edited by kyrill, 28 March 2014 - 02:39 PM.
#134
Posted 28 March 2014 - 01:42 PM
#135
Posted 28 March 2014 - 02:01 PM
#136
Posted 13 May 2014 - 06:10 PM
- Case: Streacom FC8 Evo - Harddisk: Intel 520 120GB SSD - Processor: Intel Core i5 3570T Tray - Powersupply: PPA dual rail LPSU + batteries - Motherboard: ASRock Z77E-ITX - USB/SATA/AES cable: PPAstudio RED - Memory: Crucial BLT4G3D1337DT1TX0CEU 2X 4GB - PPAstudio CFreader + DDC - USB card: PPAstudio pci-express usb3.0 card - DAC: dCS Paganini - Speakers: Linkwitz LX521 + Thor subwoofers
#137
Posted 13 May 2014 - 09:59 PM
Audio PC - Gigabyte H97M-D3H & PPA OCXO Mobo, Teradak ATX Linear for 20 pin ATX on Mobo, Paul Hynes SR7EHD 12v for Mobo, 5v for clocks & 5v supply to Audiowind Regulator for 1.3v to RAM direct, JCat Femto USB Card 5v from Paul Hynes, Startech Lex – Amber Regen to JCat USB & Startech Rex to Lex by 2x Meicord LAN through GISO GB Isolator powered by Teddy Pardo 18v Linear, Wtfplay off USB on REX – remote control by Mele F10, D to D - PPA Red USB Cable - Intona - LFP 3.3v battery powered USB Regen – Isolated Xmos 768kHz USB DDC powered by 2 x 3.3v 0.8uV Linear Regs – i2s - D to A - Lampizator Big7, Conrad Johnson Premier 17LS, Classe CA 2200, Raidho C1s. Recent changes in red.
#138
Posted 15 May 2014 - 11:26 AM
Almost finishing!!!!
#139
Posted 17 May 2014 - 01:53 PM
JPlay Drivebuffer 0, Clockfix 0, Ultrasize 20. Using the VEGA exact clock and filter 4.
A question for you Vega users please... do the Vega USB control panel settings have effect when using JPlay? I have set minimum latency and and ASIO buffer 128 in case they do.
A few things to try when I have time: some DST and DSD tracks against PCM 24 bit; 2 usb cards to try, the Paul Pang version 1 and a Sotm one, currently using a USB3 port on the motherboard (ASRock B75M R2.0)
Really liking the sound so far, thanks to Jplay /wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-smile.gif
[ControlPC XM21M(@16v) Shuttle xh61v i7-3770t PX-128M5M Lan x2][WinServer 2012R2 foobar 1.4.1 ASIO 64bit][JPlay 7Dalt KS Direct DACLink 1000HZ Clock 0.5ms AO 1.40][cat7@100Mbps 3m][AudioPC XM21M(@12.3v) picoPSU-160-XT Streacom FC5 B75MR2.0 Intel i7-3770t@1.6GHz JCat Usb][WinServer2012 R2 AO 1.40][CustomUSBcable no+5v][Auralic Vega filter 1, exact clock][Balanced vdh 2nd][Meridian 557][LAT SS1000 biwire][Monitor Audio Studio Monitor 50SE][vdh 1st ultimate][Stax SRM313 SR303][LAT power cables][separate ring mains filtered]
#140
Posted 17 May 2014 - 07:04 PM
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