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Post by wannarock2 on Nov 22, 2020 2:50:17 GMT
I bought the Denafrips Pontus a few weeks back as a replacement for the Topping D90 MQA which I decided wasn't for me after a few months. yeah, hans beekhuyzen loves this dac family be interested in more details on the D90 shortcomings. i was intrigued by their velvety signature campaign and its super slow filter performance |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 26, 2020 10:05:16 GMT
I'm scratching an itch, nothing more. I have read so many good things about the Sonore Rendu series of streamers (or network bridge, if you prefer) that I decided I would like to try one if the opportunity presents itself. It did just two days ago: an ultraRendu on sale in Italy at a good price. I've bought it on the basis that I could easily resell it at a similar price if it doesn't beat the Asus I'm running currently. What caught my eye is that the ultraRendu is also a single-board computer, but custom designed to perform one job as well as possible: streaming music. it therefore features an ultra-low jitter clock, optimisation of the USB output, linear regulators, ideal circuit board layout etc. It is another design by John Swenson, designer of the Uptone EtherREGEN. In fact, Uptone and Sonore appear to have a symbiotic relationship and the ultraRendu comes in the same casework as the EtherREGEN. So, when it arrives, I'm going to have some fun comparing them. It won't be easy and there will be no A/B swapping (ugh!) as the ultraRendu requires 7V, the Asus 5V power, so I'll have shuffle things around. Here's a summary... | Streamer | Asus Tinker Board S | Sonore ultraRendu | | Power | 5V | 7V | | Operating System | Volumio 2.853 | Sonicorbiter 2.8 | | Controller | Volumio Android app | BubbleUPnP Android app | | Clock | Standard | Femto low jitter clock | | Regulators | Switching | Linear | | Processor | Multicore with DDR3 RAM | Multicore with DDR3 RAM | | Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 26, 2020 15:41:43 GMT
E45 is cheaper - maybe doesn't sound so good  |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 28, 2020 17:55:07 GMT
In answer to the question "why didn't I buy a Signature Rendu?", it would appear to be an ultraRendu in a case with Sonore's own design power supply. Since I already have a Coherent QP-1 supercap power supply, it would be paying the steep and unnecessary hike in price for a power supply.
Anyway, this is just an experiment at this stage. I have no idea what to expect.
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Nov 30, 2020 22:19:19 GMT
Hmmm don't know what happened there! wannarock2Sorry for the delayed response. Initially I liked the D90 MQA DAC however, I noticed that it's a bright DAC (at least in my system it was ) and found this to be quite fatiguing. I also find MQA to be quite a bright format and all in all decided the D90 wasn't for me. I set up a playlist with with MQA and non MQA tracks side by side and found that invariably I preferred non MQA ( which came as a surprise ). So the decision was made to look at a Denafrips product instead. I still think the D90 is good for the money but it just didn't fit the bill for me. Dave |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 1, 2020 11:07:34 GMT
By using MQA, I guess it was Tidal streams? I found Tidal the brightest of the streams and not the nicest to listen to. MQA is not really a format I would be interested in. Why have a choice of resolutions when, for hi-fi, you would inevitably want the highest resolution unfold available? Looking at their website, it's full of marketing-speak with little reasoning as to why an audiophile would want it.
Give me Qobuz Studio Edition hi-resolution streams any day.
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Post by julesd68 on Dec 1, 2020 13:28:19 GMT
I thought MQA was pretty much dead in the water anyway?
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Morph
Rank: Duo
Posts: 62
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Post by Morph on Dec 1, 2020 19:05:46 GMT
Hello Martin
Yes, Tidal streams. I've actually just taken out a Qobuz sub this afternoon. Quick Soundiiz transfer of my Tidal collection and six tracks in, even at this early stage, I'm impressed. Just need to acquaint myself with the Qobuz interface on desktop/ iphone app and the change could well be lasting.
Dave
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2020 11:42:41 GMT
The Sonore ultraRendu has arrived. Now to find a 7V power supply as a temporary one to get it up and running. I have an idea - and a spare Weiliang PSU and MCRU DC cable. I should be able to adjust it down to 7.5V, the preferred voltage.
More later.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2020 13:23:49 GMT
Weiliang LPSU set to 7.5V and running the ultraRendu via MCRU DC cable on soak test and warm-up. I can see the interface with ethernet attached and have configured and updated the SonicOrbiter operating system and installed DLNA and Spotify Connect apps. I shall take it all over to the music room tonight, connect it to the Mutec reclocker and perform the DAC diagnostics. It all looks very nice at the moment. I have a choice of mConnect or BubbleUPnP Android apps to control it and need to have a think as they're both paid for. mConnect does look very nice and fully supports Qobuz, so that may be my choice. Photos, screenshots and my findings will go into the Sonore Rendu thread. |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 5, 2020 14:04:31 GMT
I think I reached the point last night where I decided the ultraRendu is a keeper. Having a quick listen today has confirmed that it's an incremental improvement that I'll gladly accept. I'm being so very careful that I don't lose anything in the process (been there, done that) but I cannot hear any downside even running on that stock Chinese LPSU.
I've spoken to Tony and he has a Coherent QP-1 with 5V + 8V outputs, which is perfect for the MC-3 and ultraRendu so it's easier to swap than update mine. I'm also going to modify my BR Eflos grounding box - the one with a USB plug - with an alligator clip to ground the uR.
I'll be sorry to leave Volumio development behind, just at the point where I think it's a fully mature product now. However, it's very satisfying having found some more performance for not a great deal of money.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 5, 2020 14:12:22 GMT
Sounds like it will only get better
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Post by MartinT on Dec 12, 2020 17:18:33 GMT
All of my source digital components sit on an Electric Beach S1NX shelf, itself isolated from the main system rack with RDC Cones and Cone Cups. It may look ugly, but I've laid it out to keep the signal path short and direct. Ethernet arrives from the TP-Link router via the blue MeiCord cable into the back of the EtherREGEN. Reclocked ethernet emerges from the EtherREGEN via a very short purple cable into the ultraRendu streamer. This runs SonicOrbiter software and is controlled from my Android Tablet computer using the BubbleUPnP app. The output is USB which goes off to my Mutec reclocker to the right of the photo (which sits on top of the LKS DAC). The Coherent QP-1 supercap PSU powers the ultraRendu with 8V and the Mutec with 5V. The EtherREGEN is powered by 12V from an LPSU on the next shelf down, which also powers the master clock. The two small black boxes in the centre are Black Ravioli Eflos grounding boxes for the two digital components shown. Both components have heatsinks installed to improve heat dissipation, and very heavy door stops to weight them down. There's another on the QP-1.  This is, to date, my best sounding system setup. I'm going to comment further in the Sonore ultraRendu thread as it belongs there. |
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Post by wannarock2 on Dec 12, 2020 22:25:45 GMT
^ WOW! good on ya MartinT  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 13, 2020 18:26:16 GMT
I've treated myself to a pre-Xmas present of a 0.6m Wireworld Starlight 8 USB cable, based on how well my WW AES cable performs. It's actually less expensive than the AQ Carbon I'm using, so I'm trying it out as price doesn't always reflect sound quality.  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 16, 2020 20:09:07 GMT
Just a quick note to confirm that the brand new Coherent DC cable, this one a little longer so I switched it into running the Mutec with the shorter one powering the ultraRendu, is burning in nicely. Already noticeably better than when I hooked it up on Saturday, my soundstage is more holographic than ever with great depth and focus. Emmylou Harris already sounds wonderful but hearing an improvement on Miley Cyrus' shouty recordings is even more impressive.
I'm looking forward to receiving the Wireworld USB cable to feed the Mutec. If it's like the WW AES cable, it should give a small but welcome improvement over the AQ.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 17, 2020 19:46:35 GMT
Wireworld Starlight 8 versus AudioQuest Carbon USB cables is going to take some time and various swaps before I make a choice. Suffice to say, they are both very capable but do things slightly differently.
I need to let the WW burn in before making serious comparisons.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 18, 2020 20:17:02 GMT
After 24 hours (not usually long enough to burn in digital cables), their basic character can be heard quite clearly: the Wireworld appears to have more fine detail, but with some upper midrange glare, while the AudioQuest appears to have a smoother midrange with a touch less impression of detail. It has greater soundstage depth, though. It's neck and neck at the moment. EDIT: the track I'm using is another from my 'shit list' of poor or troublesome recordings. This one is Undiscovered First from Feist's Metals album. It features her strangely mic'd voice coupled with closely mic'd tambourines. There is a vast concentration of high frequency energy which gives a system a great deal of trouble separating it out. That's not the worst of it: when the children come in, all hell breaks loose in a narrow audio band of upper-mid / lower-treble. It's hugely satisfying getting my system to make sense of it as it's a unique and powerful song. Give it a try - here on Qobuz in hi-res. open.qobuz.com/track/12097937 |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 19, 2020 19:59:29 GMT
With about 48 hours on the Wireworld, I am hearing fantastic space in recordings such as Kristin Hersh - Your Ghost from the Hips and Makers album. The opening is gloriously deep with huge air and depth in the soundstage, and incredible note decay. I'm sure I've never heard it sound like this before.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 19, 2020 20:38:46 GMT
Wireworld😀 careful the electrons don't develop sapience, rebel, come out and try and kill you! 😱
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📶NAS > Gustard x26p DAC > Benchmark LA4 Pre-Amp > NAD M22-V2 Amplifier > Revel F228Be Speakers
