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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 18:43:52 GMT
Wow, the NOS option on the DAC is rather good (internal streamer too). Music certainly gets my attention and isn’t tiring either. Why didn’t I try this before?
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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 14:06:37 GMT
Perfect, thanks.
EDIT: Actually, I'm going to try Twonky Server as they have a 30 day trial and see if it's the same over DLNA to the WiiM?
I'll give it a go on Windows and Linux using BubbleUPnP as the controller - that'll keep me busy for an hour or so.
If Twonky gives gapless you’ll see they are sort of out out of business but you can still purchase it. I originally tried the DLNA server embedded in Windows but the album info was jumbled up for some reason.
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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 12:38:45 GMT
I’ve played some live album tracks which were gapless. I then went to DSOTM - Speak to Me & Breathe. Gapless. My setup is Windows 10 with Twonky as the DLNA server. Thanks Clive, that's very helpful - is that going direct to the R26 or via the Lindemann? Direct via Ethernet into the LAN input (streamer) of the R26. No Lindemann involved. It’s all working very well with the correct firmware.
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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 9:51:38 GMT
I’ve played some live album tracks which were gapless. I then went to DSOTM - Speak to Me & Breathe. Gapless.
My setup is Windows 10 with Twonky as the DLNA server.
I’m currently enjoying NOS mode too. There’s a bit more pseudo physical presence.
edit: NOS is growing on me, treble is better defined too, overall it’s darned good. As ever I reserve final judgement until I’ve listened a lot more.
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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 9:17:13 GMT
Yes I know Martin, me neither, but I'm not talking about streaming from a streaming service I'm referring to files shared via DLNA across a local network from a server. Seems to be a lot more common than I imagined after a lot of research following my recent experience. Hard to get a consensus of opinion too, as there are so many variables. For some reference I'm looking at simplifying my current system, but will be keeping a music server, so I need a solution with very dependable, gapless playback over a local network. Seems the deeper I delve the more often people report problems. I guess ultimately I'll just have to buy whatever it is I'd like and try it, but I'd like to be as confident as I can be beforehand. I'm put off the idea more than encouraged as what I have now works, but I've got too many wires and boxes for my liking, so a streaming DAC or amplifier seems to be the next step. I guess if I stopped listening to Dark Side of the Moon I'd be okay Tim, let me know a pair of Dark Side of the Moon tracks to test for you. BTW I’ve worked out in more detail why the 1.42 unofficial firmware was so problematic for me. The streamer has 128MB of memory. When Roon and Tidal Connect services are added (which I don’t need) this can result in the SD being used for the swapfile….clearly that’s really bad news and it was!
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Post by Clive on May 10, 2023 21:13:57 GMT
Have you enabled the proxy settings it should help with stability I haven’t though I had the same issue with files from my server as well as Qobuz. It’s worth trying. I suspect that with 1.42 it wasn’t fully tested without Roon or Tidal.
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Post by Clive on May 10, 2023 21:00:12 GMT
Very interesting reading this thread as an R26 has been a consideration because of the streamer integration, your comments about the Bridge besting it have been very helpful Clive Any body using it/used it to stream files from a local music server and if so was it gapless? If no one answers I’ll try it tomorrow, I’ve been using a mix of Qobuz and files from my server. I’ve played individual live tracks but not tracks that flow from one to another. It should be gapless via bubble but it needs testing.
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Post by Clive on May 10, 2023 18:47:42 GMT
Update on the usability issues I was having.
With the unofficial 1.42 firmware I was having trouble playing anything tonight. Some tracks would play for a few seconds and some not at all. This version of the firmware seems to be for Roon and Tidal users, I'm in neither camp. I've reverted to 1.4 and it works far better. There's still sometimes a glitch when changing sample rates but tracks now play almost immediately. At least I now don't feel the need to throw my phone with bubble through a window 👹
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Post by Clive on May 10, 2023 16:26:32 GMT
John, my suggestion is to not get too fussed about the internal streamer. It does usefully improve on my Bridge in some areas but it’s not game-changing. The Bridge at times can be better in some areas too. I think the upsampling of the Bridge helps. Some folks hearing big improvements with the streamer are using HQplayer with various upsampling methods. Roon too..as you are well aware. I’m not reverting to such a complex setup so I’m not upsampling into the streamer.
Also, the streamer can be a bit glitchy, maybe it’s the 1.42 unofficial release, I think 1.4 was better in this respect and finally, music takes a few moments to start playing so I’m rarely sure whether bubble is responding to my touching the screen. The Bridge is much better behaved functionally.
All this said, I do get a very good sound, not the flattened sound you heard…
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Post by Clive on May 9, 2023 19:27:04 GMT
I’ve had some more time with 1.42 on the internal streamer and compared with the Limetree on coax.
1.42 sounds good, a bit more detailed than 1.4, some extra life, really quite vivid. Reverting to the Limetree has the complication of it upsampling. The sound in reality isn’t that different. Both are good. 1.42 still drops out sometimes, the Limetree is more solid in this respect. Maybe there’s a buffer in the Limetree.
Certainly the sound with the internal streamer/renderer is not 2D, it’s a tad better than the Limetree expect with a few tracks, possible due to upsampling. Which I’ll use will depend on how many dropouts 1.42 suffers and which UI I’ll prefer to use. Swapping between the two is simple enough.
John, I can’t fathom why we get such different results, our setups are not so different.
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Post by Clive on May 9, 2023 17:27:53 GMT
It has to be something to do with the system setup Maybe when Clive reports back I get a better idea Give me a couple of hours…. I wonder whether the firmware you have is an early version. That’s all I can think of, I’ve no idea whether the original firmware sounds different to 1.4. The only way I know to check the firmware version is naming of the renderer in bubble.
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Post by Clive on May 9, 2023 12:58:59 GMT
The unofficial 1.42 firmware release does on first listen does seem to have fixed the internal renderer’s stuttering when changing sample rate. I’ll take a listen later to check out the new UPnP media renderer, which is supposed to improve the sounds. 1.42
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Post by Clive on May 9, 2023 9:35:39 GMT
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Post by Clive on May 9, 2023 8:50:25 GMT
I just ordered a Wifi extender (cheap one) after having read up on Head-fi. (I actually need one anyway) The idea is then to physically decouple my noisy sheep router, by sending wifi to the extender, as a first step. In addition I now also have this Converter Rj45 Optic Transceiver and this CISCO SFP-10G-AOC2M in my shopping cart. But I have not yet been brave enough to buy... That will complement my already existing isolating switch. Both IFI Ipower X is also something I have already. The idea is then: Sheep noisy Router->sheep Wifi Extender->CAT8->Netgear gs105e (Ipower X)->Optic converter/trasceiver (Ipower X)->AOC2M->Streamer/Dac. Does that makes sense? For the Cisco AOC you need an LC media converter, the one you’ve linked to is an SC type. This is what I use, I’m not saying it’s the best but it works. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078RGPRH1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
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Post by Clive on May 9, 2023 8:27:30 GMT
That sounds like a comfortable situation, guaranteed income with top ups via drawdown.
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Post by Clive on May 8, 2023 15:08:04 GMT
With the talk of the R26 renderer on the LB thread I took the opportunity gifted by a dank bank holiday to finally give the renderer a go.
I had very early firmware so first off I updated the R26 to 1.21 and then I discovered 1.4 so I imaged that. My set up usually runs with my Lindemann Bridge powered via a SuperCap PS, Ethernet comes via Cisco AOC fibre with the clean side SFP media converter also SuperCap powered. The Lindemann only provides SPDIF output, I use coax…I know some will prefer USB with a DDC. Of course my LB clock is in use too.
I was very pleasantly surprised how easy the renderer was to get working. I used bubbleupnp with Qobuz and local network files (DLNA). I’ve played music with via LAN / renderer for about an hour and then compared a few tracks with the Lindemann. There are differences, they aren’t huge but so far my view is the R26 renderer sounds more “solid” with greater presence. On some high-res material I get the occasion dropout..not sure why yet but it’s not much of a issue. Edit - I’ve read it’s an issue when changing sample rates, maybe 1.42 fixes it.
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Post by Clive on May 6, 2023 10:43:33 GMT
How do you connect what look like 3 shields? Are all connected at both ends or is there a different arrangement?
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Post by Clive on May 5, 2023 9:16:10 GMT
It only takes a couple of naysayers on a forum to cancel such discussions. We could fight back but it’s tiresome to go around these loops time and time again.
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Post by Clive on Apr 28, 2023 15:50:08 GMT
My DAC history….I hope my memory is working! It’s a scary list with the tech having developed muchly…
Cambridge Audio DACMagic 2 Parts Connection Assemblage 2.0 Parts Connection Assemblage 2.5 Metrum Octave mk2 JK Ciunas DAC IFI iDAC + iUSBPower JK Ciunas ISO-DAC Metrum Musette with DAC2 modules Gustard A22 Gustard R26 + LB clock
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Post by Clive on Apr 27, 2023 19:01:27 GMT
I agree ....l own or have owned many SDR over the years,due to one of my old hobbies. Thankfully...the R26 is 50 ohms so it's plane sailing. Sadly LB biggest hurdle is that is aimed at the Radio Hamm World. I occasionally recommend the LB on FB and a lot of Audiophiles have no concept of GPS. l often send them to our TAS link for re-education, as most think it's a joke, but slowly the word is getting out. l think if LB did a slight rebadge, added a manual sleep mode button and aimed it at Audiophiles they would do really well. I myself thought the antenna and GPS was only used for the update we do every 4 weeks. I was surprised to find the antenna had to be attached all the time for gps ,I still don't get it. What I’ve gleaned is that the gps signal gets an accurate clock sync from the mega accurate caesium clocks in the satellites. This is for longer term clock accuracy.
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