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Post by John on Mar 6, 2022 19:25:41 GMT
I have been trying with a microrendhu but have a long cat8 cable run and just the Gustard U18 so results are okay just mids lost a bit of clarity I just no longer want the complexity so will try the Android tablet with a better cable and then decide what to move on
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 7, 2022 10:32:16 GMT
Sounds like a nightmare John, hopefully you'll get there.
Typical my I2s cable has arrived, l now have 2 leads that need to be run in.
Making it difficult on the ears..
Damien
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Post by John on Mar 7, 2022 10:42:45 GMT
I always knew a good chance it would not work for me.
I have been down a complex streaming system in the past to address sound issues and know it would take a lot of work to get to where I want
I will try a better cable with my tablet. If it does not work out, I will move the U18 on and wait for the new Mutec that should take Bluetooth to new levels
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Post by MartinT on Mar 7, 2022 11:41:42 GMT
I completely understand the pain of getting the digital chain up to the level required for hi-res streaming. It took me 2 years and a lot of rework but I'm now there and still going forwards. I guess I'm lucky that the Mutec set an already high bar so that my system was ready for me to hear what the U18 can do. And what it can do is exactly what I want!
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 7, 2022 20:44:10 GMT
So...Plugged in the new l2s cable, and waited holding my breath, expecting a major change in tone, brittleness....
What a wonderful difference, that cheap HDMI cable must have been made by the Devil himself, the cable offers up a cleaner and larger soundstage.
Now, remember l only listened for 15 minutes,so early days,and this is now with 2 new cables being run in, but you would have to be deaf not to notice the AVPLAY l2s cable made.
l am hoping that you have the same improvement Martin, when your cable arrives
Damien
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Post by MartinT on Mar 7, 2022 21:27:15 GMT
l am hoping that you have the same improvement Martin, when your cable arrives It's going to be interesting comparing the shorter Blue Jeans FE with the AVplay. That's going to be an excellent fight and I'll give both plenty of burn-in time. |
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 7, 2022 22:54:01 GMT
l wished l had more time too listen longer. At this early stage, l can say the stereo effects are faster,and more pronounced in the mix,and surprisingly cymbals are clearer in the mix,more sparkle,less rolled off,more to my liking,but not at the expense of being harsh,like someone turning the treble up.
I can't believe the U18 has gone up another notch, and the l2s cable has made such an improvement,bigger than any USB cable change l've ever made,and that some statement.
Amazing really, l still have PSU to try on Matrix USB card, and finally, once l saved enough,a AfterDark.
As you said, should be an interesting fight with the Blue Jeans and AVPLAY cables.
Damien
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Post by MartinT on Mar 9, 2022 18:47:57 GMT
U18 has arrived. Connected in, tested on AES and left to warm up.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 9, 2022 19:43:14 GMT
🥁 Drum Roll......
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Post by MartinT on Mar 9, 2022 20:35:47 GMT
First impressions with a barely warmed up and not burned-in U18. The same progression as with John's U18: not bad with AES output and external clock (AD King), slightly better than the Mutec already. Add the Blue Jeans FE cable, remove the AES cable, reconfigure for I2S and things are already sounding great, comfortably pulling away from the Mutec. It's clear that my previous hankerings over using I2S as the purest input format, directly accessing the DAC chipset without conversion from S/PDIF, yields a considerable gain in sound quality. Specifically, a more detailed yet more relaxed presentation with incredible air and space, but with whipcrack dynamics. Lower sibilance and less harshness.
Now for the discovery (insert drum roll here). I had a suspicion, voiced in a conversation with Damien, that the U18 in I2S mode should act as the master clock for the DAC, meaning that the latter will not use an external clock as it takes its clock feed down the I2S cable. First I switched between int/ext clock in the DAC and could hear no difference. Then I left it set to ext and yanked the clock cable out while it was playing. Music kept on playing.
OK, that's significant and very interesting. I now had an exciting time (cue teenager mode) reworking the system to give the U18 my top AD Triple Crown clock (effectively feeding it and the X26 Pro), and the EtherREGEN the AD King, removing the BG7TBL clock from the system together with its PSU. Being very careful to check everything and only having turned off the ER momentarily, I fired up the music again.
I played the same songs again (cue 63 year old with stupid grin on his face) and either that's the most effective burn-in in 30 minutes I've ever heard, or it's given me more of what the I2S connection gave me earlier. Cut to the chase: it's musical, exciting, vivid and infectious while being fluid and non-harsh. So there is a magic formula!
I'm quite chuffed at having removed a clock, a PSU, DC and clock cables. See, I told you I would simplify given some time!
Right then, I'm going to listen to it a lot more and report back after I've given the U18 a non-rude amount of burn-in time.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 9, 2022 22:28:12 GMT
Great news on many levels Martin.The Gustard U18 really is a landmark moment for myself. They could have just omitted a clock connection, but as you have found out,it takes it to a whole new level, and l am looking forward to experience it when l get a clock.
Personally l found a big gain with just the U18 and l2s output to DAC,heavens knows what it sounds like a decent clock.
Keep us updated Martin these are exciting times
Damien
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 10, 2022 10:35:59 GMT
Great
Especially with less kit
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2022 19:51:34 GMT
More observations on the U18 after 24 hours left burning-in with internet radio:
Stereo imaging is in another league with positional information quite startling.
I am hearing things I didn't know were there. Low level detail is everywhere. At this point, with familiar music, it's quite a surprise to me.
Dynamics are prevalent throughout all kinds of music. Little percussion taps are peppered throughout recordings.
The listening experience makes me sit up and take note, yet the delivery is relaxing and non-harsh.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 10, 2022 20:54:00 GMT
Bonkers there can be so much available with those upgrades
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Post by Slinger on Mar 10, 2022 21:26:30 GMT
Is this the 27 th or 28 th time you've reached the end of your journey, and barring a few possible micro-improvements your system cannot be further enhanced? I seem to have lost count ...again.   |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2022 21:45:20 GMT
I got close just a couple of months ago, but this is an unexpected lift as a result of listening to John's U18.
Life happens like that. The journey is the joy, I don't want to arrive. Plenty more music to listen to, I won't be running out soon.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 10, 2022 22:15:02 GMT
Great news Martin, your comments are making me smile...as we are sharing the same experience.
lt really needs to be heard to be believed.
How far can digital go, and are we near a endpoint, million dollar questions, like yourself, l enjoy the journey.
l wonder if we will see U18 cloans from other manufacturers, and l2s on more DACs. l often wonder if Manufacturers or designers look at forums for discoveries like this.
Will be trying a Gustard fuse in the U18, l am a bit of a skeptical, by thought l would give it a go.
Damien
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Post by MartinT on Mar 10, 2022 22:21:27 GMT
An SR Purple is superb in the X26 Pro, but that's a bit steep for a fuse newbie. A Gustard or AMR Gold should be able to let you hear the difference.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Mar 11, 2022 5:52:55 GMT
My U18 has had a week of burn in, mostly by just leaving the Lumin streamer running into the U18. Although I haven’t gone back to a configuration without the U18 to compare I really do feel that with it in the system it’s a definite improvement. Things just sound incrementally better. Poor recordings still sound crap but the good stuff is better again.
My Lumin U1 mini is plugged into the U18 via USB and then it’s off to the X26pro via I2S. I haven’t tried fuses or fancy power cables as yet. I probably won’t as I’m saving my pennies for either an external clock or a nice Modwright valve pre amp.
The U18 is definitely worth a go if you can make use of it. It’s cheap enough to experiment without losing too much coin if you find it doesn’t improve in what you already have.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 11, 2022 7:57:09 GMT
That's great to know in regards to the Lumin U1 mini works well with U18.
Funny l nearly ditched my PC set up for U1 mini, however the Matrix Element H lifted the performance enough for me to stick with PC.
Looks like l am not the only saving for a clock lol
Damien
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