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Post by Slinger on Jan 25, 2019 23:00:36 GMT
Not so much a display as an illuminated short story.  |
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 26, 2019 0:17:27 GMT
Oh yes, the I 2S HDMI re-jig should make the Audiophonics 'proper' in your eyes. I'll write about the LKS properly soon as my head is baked from a day at BETT in the ExCeL. I've been listening all night but I need sleep. Be interesting to know how they handle the I2S part. I guess there's a HDMI socket on the back but it's HDMI right up to a converter on circuit and then I2S as per usual internally / things are kept short. |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 26, 2019 14:15:42 GMT
The LKS is in situ and sounding magnificent. The current Pi is a bit of a lash-up and will be replaced with the Audiophonics housed Pi/Kali/HDMI when the parts arrive. Lots of attention paid to isolation (system rack on RDC cones, EB shelf on RDC cones & cups, LKS on Black Ravioli), grounding (LKS on smaller SGS until I decide if the preamp is staying), mains (LKS powered by Coherent 6D cable, Coherent QP-1 powered by MCRU No.9 cable), cabling (Black Cat Silverstar 75 from Pi to LKS, Black Cat Neo Morphius from LKS to preamp). I'm taking notes so a full review will follow when I have the time.  |
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 26, 2019 14:45:37 GMT
That's great Martin - very satisfying when you do your research and it pays off!
I must admit I am not in the least tempted to go back to an active preamp in my digital system - the current unit is working far too well ...
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2019 15:04:58 GMT
looking forward to you sharing your thoughts
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Post by MartinT on Jan 26, 2019 16:08:37 GMT
First experiment just conducted: bypassing the preamp and connecting the DAC directly to the power amp, taking GREAT care to set the DAC for variable volume and setting it low. I used my SPL meter and a test tone to get the level exactly the same as before.
Nope. Weedy, gutless sound. It exactly tallies with my preference for an active preamp. Putting it back to via preamp confirmed that the power of the music had returned. The Pass stays!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 16:55:20 GMT
Not being funny I would hope so, The TAD is exceptional in that it has a rather special pre built in, at a price.
When I tinkered with one of these a few weeks ago, I found decent gains in the i/v stages before anything else.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 26, 2019 19:18:33 GMT
I've put away the phono boxes in the centre-right section of the rack and I'll move the Pass preamp over there and its power supply to the left of it. That gives a signal path from the DAC straight down to the preamp and then power amp. Then the supplementary Torlyte rack can be released to be sold.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 27, 2019 14:02:22 GMT
Solid Tech system rack reorganised so that I don't need the Torlyte rack any more. Luckily the 'sense' of the preamp being to the right of its power supply remains, which means I didn't have to bend the incredibly thick Revelation Audio DC cable the other way. Everything is now ready for the top-left platform to be re-jigged for the Audiophonics unit when I'm ready.  |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 28, 2019 17:27:12 GMT
A couple of changes: replaced the 20mm fuse in the IEC inlet with an SR Red. Reversed the SGS-1s connections to white (better) cable to preamp input ground and green cable to preamp output ground.
Even better - a tiny bit of brightness has gone leaving the attack and detail intact. Boy, does this DAC boogie!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 17:56:47 GMT
The brightness will go, just leave it on repeat for a week (while your at work) and it will improve no end.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 28, 2019 18:08:53 GMT
I've already noticed the difference since yesterday, Tony. The detail is still stunning but there is little to no glare now and the soundstage is getting deeper. John I think you're going to like this DAC. Dream Theater sounds amazing! |
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Post by John on Jan 28, 2019 18:14:58 GMT
Looking forward to visiting when everything is in place
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Post by MartinT on Jan 29, 2019 21:01:36 GMT
Another small but very good change: I had forgotten that the LKS has balanced outputs and the Pass, of course, is fully internally balanced. I thought I'd bring out my trusty Yannis XLR cables and give it a try. This gave the system a tilt towards the bass, with a very potent and tight bottom end and a further reduction in brightness. The balance is just about spot on now.
Meanwhile, the hours are building towards the 100 hour mark and the LKS is settling into its stride. It's a hell of a DAC, I have no doubt about it now. Full review soon.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 2, 2019 14:33:40 GMT
The LKS has now attained a new level of performance after over a week of running. It's something I've heard a few times before with other components. There is now more space around instruments and performers, it sounds less busy. It improves the dynamic perception and allows more 'listening inside' the music. Instruments like piano have incredible depth and palpability. Vocals hang right there in front of me. Micro-details appear from nowhere, new sounds make themselves known.
Listening to Diana Krall's early album Stepping Out is a revelation.
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Post by The Brookmeister on Feb 5, 2019 19:48:17 GMT
My DAC should be here soon, the seller ships from Germany, just something to play with for a while, be interesting to hear it against the CAD and PS Audio DAC's as well as the trusty LAB12.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 5, 2019 20:31:48 GMT
Really do give it at least a week before judging it, David. My LKS has transformed from impressively detailed in an upfront manner to developing huge soundstage depth and width, highly dynamic micro- and macro-detail and with a rhythmic thrust that is incredible at times. The impression is of it being less busy with the music having space in and around it. Wonderfully musical and immersive.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 10, 2019 18:03:23 GMT
As I'm whiling away time waiting for yet another I2S to HDMI board, I took to the Audiophonics build to:
- strip out the faulty ribbon cable and rear panel socket
- convert it for dual power (Pi separate from Kali/HDMI) 5V with two flying cables
- strip out the non-functioning HDMI board and colour code the Kali pins
- added the Spotify modded index.js to show my playlists
It's put away now, waiting for the new HDMI boards to arrive. At least they both support PS and Gustard pinouts making it future-proof.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 17, 2019 17:47:27 GMT
An update: the Townshend cables are in, linking the LKS DAC with the Pass preamp. Considering they are balanced, they have made more difference than I expected from the Yannis. I think this reinforces my suspicion that litz cables are good for very low level phono work but you need more substantial conductors for line level connections. Clearly the cryo treated copper loses nothing to silver as I'm only hearing upside: more detail and transparency, a slight tilt towards more extended bass and way punchier dynamics. My system is a world away from where it was a year ago.
I2S still to come.
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Post by mattspl on Feb 21, 2019 11:38:13 GMT
Hi Martin,
I'm glad your enjoying the LKS Dac, almost bought one myself.
Have you tried the SR Blue fuses?
Also, Bybee QSE, IQSE and Quantum purifiers are well worth a try.
Cheers
Matt
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