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Post by petea on Mar 19, 2020 22:50:29 GMT
I follow a clockmaker / engineer on YouTube / Patreon based in Australia called Clickspring (amazing videos even if you have no interest in precision engineering) and he has set up a group to share skills and projects that some of his followers have realised that they suddenly have more time to spend on. I'm not sure I'm going to join in just yet, but I had been thinking along similar lines myself: what can I do to keep myself occupied. I'm back in Potsdam now and I do have a few things that I have been meaning to do for a while and now seems to be a perfect opportunity. These include some engineering and microscopy stuff as well as some imaging, but it also includes sorting out a few things on the main music system here.
One of the things I had planned to do for a while was to sort out the rather crappy, factory fitted speaker binding posts on the Royd Apex speakers and to put some decent plugs etc on a set of vintage Exposure cables to try in place of the Isolda bi-wire set I have one there. So today I spent some time trawling eBay Germany and have sourced all the materials I need (and some I don't!). I also found some Townsend Fractal speaker cables that will probably make all these efforts redundant, but never mind, it will keep me out of mischief. A Rel S/5 is also winging its way here and UPS tracking tells me it will be delivered tomorrow, so there's another 'little' project. And then I want to think about grounding solutions too.
So, it looks like I have enough to keep me going for a while. How about the rest of you?
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 20, 2020 0:55:51 GMT
In between numerous Skype calls, I spent most of the day setting up a new work area in a spare bedroom. The reason being, that I can't get in the office because of stacks of speaker 'projects' and large rolls of paper from my wife's weekly life drawing sessions. I tried camping out in the kitchen, but after two days on a hard wooden chair, I realised I was grinding my coxyx to a nub - you have to worry there might be a problem when it becomes painful to lie on a soft bed!
So, setting up a new office means constructing a new hifi system - and seemingly the possibility of endless permutations.
When that's done, the are some speaker projects and picture framing jobs to get around to.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2020 4:27:38 GMT
It's more completion of small things with the car for me. Tightening up rivnuts that want to shake loose (holding the front lip in place), finishing reshaping the bezel for my new head unit, bringing out the GPS antenna on top of the dashboard, tidying up cabling etc.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 20, 2020 10:30:18 GMT
Still have loads of stuff to sort.
Just need to get going
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Post by SteveC on Mar 20, 2020 11:32:15 GMT
Damn you Petea! Since your visit, a few weeks ago, my mind has been constantly thinking about my network and how I could optimise the sound of Qobuz Studio (to which I now have an annual subscription) streaming to my dCS Vivaldi Upsampler, DAC and Master Word Clock! I have been playing with the AQVOX 'SE' switch and ethernet cables which you left for me to try and that planted the seed for a further reduction in my bank account! The AQVOX 'SE' switch on the end of a 7m run of MeiCord Opal ethernet cable, originating from my BT router (powered by a Coherent fettled Nobsound 12v LPSU and grounded to an Entreq Silver Minimus) has seen a significant jump in sound quality from streaming media. I have been using the 1m AQVOX silver ethernet cable from switch to dCS Vivaldi Upsampler. TV picture quality was also enhanced, when the same arrangement was hooked up to my 65" LG OLED screen, with HDR content appearing absolutely grainless and with vibrant colours and the blackest blacks! Following a lot of research, I now have, in-house, an Uptone Audio EtherREGEN switch for comparison with the AQVOX 'SE', together with 2 X 1m Sablon Audio Panatela Reserva ethernet cables. The Uptone Audio EtherREGEN is currently burning in with 24/7 internet radio broadcasts, while the AQVOX 'SE' switch remains attached to the TV. As I have another broadband internet point, directly behind the hifi system, I will hook this up to a spare BT router and bypass the 7m run of MeiCord Opal, in favour of Im Sablon Audio from router to EtherREGEN switch and second 1m run of Salon Audio to the dCS Vivaldi Upsampler (connected to dCS Vivaldi DAC). Stay tuned for my listening impressions! Here is a link to a very in-depth review by another user:- audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/uptone-audio-etherregen-review-and-comparison-r887/ |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2020 13:00:48 GMT
I was listening to all Qobuz Studio last night and remarking to myself how good it is.
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Post by petea on Mar 20, 2020 13:36:34 GMT
Interesting result there, Steve and I'm looking forward to the results of the comparison. There is also a review of the EtherREGEN switch on the Hans Beekhuysen channel. I have tried all three variants of the AQVox cables and the Edge (silver on that I lent you) was the best sounding of them. I mostly use the Excel cables from wall outlet to switch and then Edge from switch to streamer etc. The only exception is the MuSoQb in the kitchen here (for which the switch I lent you was bought) which is running wirelessly at present, but I had planned running a long AQVox Basic cable from the main switch in the study through the wall alongside some pipes and under the cupboard on which the MuSoQb sits and into the AQVox switch mounted under it. I'd then connect the switch to the streamer using an Excel cable. However, it is not used that often and often just to listen to radio and so it is not urgent - one day maybe.
And thanks to you, I now have a Rel sub-bass unit in both the UK and German systems: The S/5 arrived this morning and so I have done my weight lifting for the day getting it up the stairs into the studio! I need to fiddle a bit more, but it is already sounding pretty close. I just need to isolate it from the floor now and have ordered some S/H Townsend speaker bars of the right weight range: I decided against a podium because of the down-firing passive even though Max thought it wouldn't make any difference.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 20, 2020 17:01:56 GMT
Chaps, with the Uptone Regen unit going in between a router and streamer, is there any need for a reclocker between streamer and DAC?
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Post by SteveC on Mar 20, 2020 17:32:33 GMT
Jules Have a look at this:- cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0660/6121/files/UpTone-J.Swenson_EtherREGEN_white_paper.pdf?v=1583429386 The Uptone Audio EtherREGEN, effectively removes jitter and reclocks the signal, with a high quality, internal oscillator. To answer your question. I wouldn't have thought that you would have needed another reclocker after the EtherREGEN and before the DAC. however, I am a bit of a novice at this streaming lark and one of the things that drew me to the Uptone Audio device is that it is also equipped with a 75Ohm (or you can specify 50Ohm) BNC clock input and a switch that will allow you to use the internal clock or obtain a performance boost, by throwing the switch to the external position and using a 10MHz reference clock on the signal. Funniliy enough, this will be one of the things I will be trying, with my Mutec Ref10 10MHz reference clock, while I am self-isolating! |
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Post by Pinch on Mar 20, 2020 18:11:39 GMT
It's going to be tricky here since we have two kids to keep occupied. One nearly 4, the other 6 months. Neither on their own is any trouble, but trying to keep the older one entertained whilst taking care of the baby has proven pretty challenging so far. I'd like to say that I'll be taking this time to get a lot of writing done - I have a few papers that I'd like to finish and try to publish - but I suspect I'll mostly be looking after the kids and trying to get through the day.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 20, 2020 18:18:11 GMT
Thanks Steve. Yes I can see you certainly wouldn't need another reclocker as they seem to be doing very similar things. I'm not actually sure what the Uptone does that a normal reclocker doesn't, apart from the external clock facility and where it is used in the audio chain.  |
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Post by SteveC on Mar 20, 2020 18:24:45 GMT
Thanks Steve. Yes I can see you certainly wouldn't need another reclocker as they seem to be doing very similar things. I'm not actually sure what the Uptone does that a normal reclocker doesn't, apart from the external clock facility and where it is used in the audio chain. Jules Did you read the white paper link? |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2020 18:38:58 GMT
Steve & Jules: ethernet is essentially asynchronous whereas the streamer to DAC signal, either USB or S/PDIF, is usually synchronous.
I would posit, therefore, that regenerating the ethernet side may well help but doesn't replace the need for reclocking the streamer to DAC signal.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 20, 2020 18:58:09 GMT
Thanks Steve. Yes I can see you certainly wouldn't need another reclocker as they seem to be doing very similar things. I'm not actually sure what the Uptone does that a normal reclocker doesn't, apart from the external clock facility and where it is used in the audio chain. Jules Did you read the white paper link? Damn, I thought you might ask that ... technical white papers are not my strong suit, so only gave it a cursory look ...  |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 20, 2020 18:59:46 GMT
Steve & Jules: ethernet is essentially asynchronous whereas the streamer to DAC signal, either USB or S/PDIF, is usually synchronous. I would posit, therefore, that regenerating the ethernet side may well help but doesn't replace the need for reclocking the streamer to DAC signal. Interesting, thanks Martin. This is the kind of thing it would be good to experiment with at a 'post-corona' meet up of some description ...  |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2020 20:15:14 GMT
Yes - agreed! We've got a few reclockers between us.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 20, 2020 21:39:28 GMT
You now the clocks go back soon don't you ?  |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2020 21:59:37 GMT
I'll get it modded for daylight savings...
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Post by petea on Mar 23, 2020 17:04:47 GMT
This little lot should keep me out of mischief for a while.  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 23, 2020 20:19:57 GMT
Sunshine reminded me the kit needed dusting
So much dust. Took a while even with good tools, static cloths and stick thing
Rest of the room tomorrow
after a Pilates class via Zoom
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