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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 26, 2015 7:20:17 GMT
Can I confirm
Does this latest replace, (or add) to the recent couple of months ago
Sounds like I need this too
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Post by stanleyb on Jun 26, 2015 8:19:59 GMT
It is an alternative, with additional means of processing of the incoming data.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 26, 2015 8:39:50 GMT
SFW3 in modes 3/4 sounds the best yet, so I would order it from Stan to replace the earlier V6 series firmware, Mike.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 26, 2015 12:12:57 GMT
I shall do
Stan
Email coming
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Post by tony on Jun 26, 2015 15:07:35 GMT
Ive managed to get a few hours on the cans with the new Caiman 2 chip firmware.
My initial impressions have been borne out. The most noticeable differences for me surround the areas of, detail retrieval/texture /channel separation/sound stage and instrument placement.
The amount of information that is being drawn out was initially quite confusing-one of the most complex tracks I use to seperate the men from the boys is Stevie Wonders -have a talk with god. There is just so much going on that its easy for a lot of the different elements to mush into a sonic fug-a very pleasant one I might add IMHO. The new firmware has unravelled more than I have ever heard in the past.
Rich commented on cymbal noise and texture- this is a very noticeable difference. The subtle granular quality to voices or the lovely soft organic sound of real instruments has taken me aback....Duke Ellington-Blues in blueprint WOW!!!
Channel separation is for me more apparent on cans, there seems to be little or no bleeding across channels it was quite disconcerting initially. I don't have a lot of noise floor on my set up but if anything it has lowered even further-I suspect this is a factor in hearing more detail.
Sound stage and instrument placement-George Duke-the black messiah (part 2) a great live recording...for placing different elements in your soundstage its as good as I have heard.
A special mention has to go to John Martyn-he just sounds majik ( or more majik than usual)
None of my observations have came at a price, the sound is natural and unforced with a marvellous toe tapping quality that just immerses me in the music. A fine upgrade.
Stan kindly sent me a Bushmaster chip, Im off from tommorow for a few days and will hopefully marry it up with the 650s( a great partnership). When I get some mileage on it I will post my impressions.
Usual caveat-my ears/kit/music.
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Post by stanleyb on Jun 26, 2015 21:23:33 GMT
You'll have to do that all over again Tony. The option 3/4 combination seems to be the most often used options.
I don't know if I should eventually remove options 1 and 2 if they aren't of much use. I would love to do a version that would allow the user to program a specific data processing option into a specific digital input. But there is no more memory space left on the chip to add such a massive routine.
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Post by tony on Jun 27, 2015 10:28:10 GMT
Received the next round of chips this morning-plugged in 3 and gave it whirl on the cans. There is an awful lot going on, I will try to get my head round the differences. Hopefully will sit for a couple of hours tonight and see whats what.
Thanks Stan.
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Post by stanleyb on Jun 27, 2015 10:47:08 GMT
The final version with option-4 is running at 20MHz, instead of the 12MHz from the DAC's own 12MHz clock. It seems to throw up a bit more info in the high frequency range compared to the 12MHz clocked version.
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Post by pre65 on Jun 27, 2015 11:09:33 GMT
From what Tony was saying, is there a "new" chip for the Bushmaster 11 ?
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Post by stanleyb on Jun 27, 2015 11:16:09 GMT
From what Tony was saying, is there a "new" chip for the Bushmaster 11 ? Yep. It has the option-3 from the Caiman II. |
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Post by pre65 on Jun 27, 2015 11:26:23 GMT
Thats good.
Can I get one for my Bushmaster 11 Stan ?
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Post by stanleyb on Jun 27, 2015 12:15:22 GMT
Thats good.
Can I get one for my Bushmaster 11 Stan ? I suggest that you send me an email to discuss that when you got a minute. |
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Post by tony on Jun 28, 2015 16:20:19 GMT
I probably spend more time on cans than my main rig -but have always endeavoured to chase what I hear on headphones in my main set up. Room signature not withstanding the changes/improvements this firmware has brought gets pretty close.
I have found that adjustments to the Capella for cans use and speaker placement in the main rig have been necessitated by the new level of resolution.
A lot of disappointing recordings that I had written off in the past are getting a second wind-the fug and over processed nature is somehow smoothed out and reassembled into what the original engineer had heard in the booth-Im still surprised at the amount of effects on voices and double/triple tracking I hadn't picked up on before.
Quite simply Im only hearing it properly now!!!
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Post by krzysztof on Jun 30, 2015 9:58:28 GMT
The final version with option-4 is running at 20MHz, instead of the 12MHz from the DAC's own 12MHz clock. It seems to throw up a bit more info in the high frequency range compared to the 12MHz clocked version. Does it require fractional PLL conversion (with fractional divider) or integer one for 44.1 sampling especially with certain bandwidth? |
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Post by stanleyb on Jun 30, 2015 10:04:49 GMT
The final version with option-4 is running at 20MHz, instead of the 12MHz from the DAC's own 12MHz clock. It seems to throw up a bit more info in the high frequency range compared to the 12MHz clocked version. Does it require fractional PLL conversion (with fractional divider) or integer one for 44.1 sampling especially with certain bandwidth? I am not disclosing anything about the inner working of the options. It could affect any patent application that I might wish to apply for. |
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Post by krzysztof on Jun 30, 2015 10:08:30 GMT
Does it require fractional PLL conversion (with fractional divider) or integer one for 44.1 sampling especially with certain bandwidth? I am not disclosing anything about the inner working of the options. It could affect any patent application that I might wish to apply for. Well, good luck Stan. What I can say that using in CMII SPDIF converter is quite state of the art and unless the PLL looses lock, the output jitter will be indistinguishable from the intrinsic jitter of the PLL itself in my opinion. The rest is programming of the loops and 20MHz will speed up that process. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 11, 2015 12:50:08 GMT
Plugged mine in at last
Wow. That's rather good
There's so much more information coming through
Is it my imagination ... Does the new chip increase volume or can that be that be all detail ?
(No DB meter here)
Another fan here
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Post by krzysztof on Jul 15, 2015 5:44:03 GMT
I guess not so much post flowing over this thread since we've been all busy listening to the new firmware - that's good. I just want to chime in and say that on CMII the latest firmware seems to improve the situation when switching between different resolutions files - there is no more such annoying, loud cracking sound when changing the songs (Option 3 with Audirvana Plus via toslink). Overall, the sound is more refined and smooth to my ears - it's just sound right with every details preserved and of course as always, you need good source and mastered material.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 7:44:45 GMT
What type and length of cable do you suggest to use with the Caiman II?
Optical or coax?
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Post by krzysztof on Jul 15, 2015 7:49:12 GMT
What type and length of cable do you suggest to use with the Caiman II? Optical or coax? The shortest the better as a general rule. I use 1 meter long glass toslink. As for the type of the connection, depends on your gear and ear, but on my side I've found CMII sounded much better with optical than USB (which is rather simple implementation). Don't know about coax, because I don't have any source with that output to check, but could be also better than USB. |
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