|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 16, 2022 16:28:29 GMT
l am hoping it will fit the bill Martin,l just added a bit of copper shielding to the internal SATA cable for good measure,certainly won't hurt.
Looking forward to getting up and running,in theory its less noise than my i7, but the i7 has certain advantages,with all the components have there own psu's, and just the MB running off a HDPLEX...
so should be interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 24, 2022 13:52:28 GMT
So minor update, got the Gigabyte Brix up and running, with the usual software, jriver, Fidilizer and Process Lasso running on it, barely breaks 2.3 watts!
l will report back shortly on the unit in stock format,which l'm not expecting to be as good as my current i7 setup.
Damien
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 24, 2022 19:36:02 GMT
Well after a few teething errors, Window's not letting jriver past the firewall, and then discovering the BRIX won't boot up fully without a monitor connection,meaning l had to use a old HDMI dummy plug, and lastly one of the USB wouldn't see my 8tb hard drive,but thankfully, changing to front USB,resolved this...we finally have music....
These are exactly the issues you come up against with PC,thankfully l'm experienced with these issues that normally happen with a new system.
So,to the sound. Firstly the BRIX is running off a cheap 19volt wall wart supply.l do even know if this is the original one,but it works.
l'm actually quite surprised, as in certain aspects it's better than the i7 set up, voices,and the whole of the midrange is more forward, effects on guitars has better separation,it's kinda noticeable.
However,it's like the BRIX is teasing you, at this stage.Bass is present,but has impact,but lacks texture and detail.
l'm pretty sure a 19volt Zero Zone PSU would raise the bar, and getting the SATA OS out of the PC will push things further, certainly independently powering the SATA always raises the game,and always has with every system build l've done.
Also, there's a noticeable different in heat on the BRIX compared to running HDMI, running a monitor the unit gets quite warm, with the dummy plug in the port,it's not even warm...result.
lt doesn't have the accuracy of my i7 yet, but it's looks promising.Of course my i7 has a Matrix Audio Element H USB card thats independently powered.
All being well,phase two tomorrow,l am just going to kick back and enjoy some Tom Robinson.
Hope you're enjoying my ramblings, if not, it could make good reading before bedtime 😴 🤣
Damien
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 25, 2022 5:08:52 GMT
Keep it going, Damien. Yes, I agree that a Zero Zone PSU will lift the sound quality over a standard 19V laptop-style charger.
Some isolation support should help it, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 25, 2022 6:47:59 GMT
Will have to wait for the Zero Zone to drop.
Isolation will follow, l will hopefully report back tonight, with the sata hard drive out of the box,be independently powered.
Talking of Isolation, are you aware of the cheap drum pad damp Isolation platform.
Very cheap and effective.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 25, 2022 8:37:07 GMT
Talking of Isolation, are you aware of the cheap drum pad damp Isolation platform. Very cheap and effective. I know jandl100 had great success with pro speaker isolation pads under his speakers. |
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 25, 2022 12:10:27 GMT
l've had good success with drum gel pads £6.99p Amazon, on components and even my D7 bookshelf Speakers.
Got some thicker ones coming via China, for the subs
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 26, 2022 6:55:55 GMT
Update that, there's no Update. l couldn't proceed with the Sata and psu mod on theNUC, as l need a adapter to proceed, just my luck.
So will have to wait.
While l am waiting, l am looking for suggestions.
l would normally output using a Matrix Audio Element H USB card on my i7 pc into my Audio GD.
On my NUC l a bit landlocked, USB output only, should l just go directly to the Audio GD, or should l consider a ifi silencer or a Matrix Audio X-SPDIF2 , or indeed any other suggestions?
Or could l be over egging the pudding, and let the Audio GD DI-20HE do it's thing?
Damien
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 26, 2022 6:58:43 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 26, 2022 7:35:20 GMT
Thanks Martin, l look into it
Doesn't intona do one as well?
l guess l should look at usb lsolation rather than reclocking?
As the Audio GD will handle that?
Damien
|
|
|
|
Post by petea on Oct 26, 2022 8:40:41 GMT
Regards re-clocking USB, I made the same assumption: that the DAC will handle it and so it should make no difference. The Fidata server has a clean and very well well implemented USB output. Putting an Uptone USBRegen in the path actually degraded performance slightly in the German system. However, recently I inserted an Innuos PhoenixUSB, which is a re-clocker (employing a 3 ppb master-clock running at 24 MHz), into the path between the Fidata and the DAC and this did make a difference and is now a permanent part of the UK system. I shall be looking for one for the German system as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 26, 2022 8:49:23 GMT
Hello Damien
I can loan you an Itona I have an 'x' version, they are used when I'm performing multiple instrument experiments through the big lab PC.
Also if I have to use USB to test dac's & DDC on ther analyser when being fed Via the test PC.
|
|
|
|
Post by petea on Oct 26, 2022 9:07:55 GMT
Hello Damien
I can loan you an Itona I have an 'x' version, they are used when I'm performing multiple instrument experiments through the big lab PC.
Also if I have to use USB to test dac's & DDC on ther analyser when being fed Via the test PC.
Interesting, Tony. I might pick one up when I'm back in Germany to compare with the Uptone one. Which of the 3 models would you suggest? |
|
|
|
Post by HD Music & Test on Oct 26, 2022 9:44:13 GMT
Hi Peter I use them purely for any potential noise blocking from the PC <> the scopes <> Spectrum analaysers <> audio anaylsers this is the X insturdial version 7054-X-DK. The usual suspects use the usb 3 version for audio.
However I did lend it to Martin who was unsuccessful in getting it to work in his system. Damien is using a PC based device for a music server so no issues there.
I'm not convinced on this for audio, it really should make a difference to the high side voltage isolation & data presevation abilities. I can actually measure these devices with deciated fixtures and software. However for allof the sampling & recording data we use on experiments I would rather eliminate all potential data errors creeping into the test set up as much as humanly possible.
Personally I don't use USB data transfer for audio at all, I'm not missing 384Khz + either  upsampling is best achieved in softaware its more accurate than 1 million taps
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 26, 2022 9:57:04 GMT
Hello Damien
I can loan you an Itona I have an 'x' version, they are used when I'm performing multiple instrument experiments through the big lab PC.
Also if I have to use USB to test dac's & DDC on ther analyser when being fed Via the test PC.
l message you Tony |
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Oct 27, 2022 21:58:47 GMT
So finally my adapters arrived today, so l could continue my NUC project.
One of the frustrating things on the Gigabyte Brix is that is no Onboard SATA sockets,in their wisdom they have a non standard ribbon connection with both power and data on a SATA connector.
Anyway,after some DIY with pliers,so l could remove the plastic adapters surrounds,l managed to connect a Silverstone SATA cable and run the lead outside into a new metal box, where l transferred the SSD drive. I was then able to independently run my ifi 5volt PSU to power the SATA, this is something l done on a number of PC builds,and always has good results.
Well l can report, that the difference is BIG, to the point that's its not far behind my i7, and in certain respects actually better, digital glare has really reduce,and l have been rewarded with a really good soundstage,mids and highs frequencies sound really open now.
It still lacks the finesse on lows and lower mids, but l am putting things down the crappie 19volt PSU.
At this stage,it's excided the performance l was expecting, so result.
l have to thank Tony for leading me down this rabbit hole, your help and advice has been spot on,and it goes to show, that you don't have to spend a fortune, to get good quality replay from a PC, a few hacks,DIY and result.
Now off to enjoy some Kepa Junkera
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Nov 3, 2022 18:45:47 GMT
At last...My 19volt Zero Zone PSU has arrived for the NUC.
l'm please to report, even after seconds of use,a big improvement. Early days, but the low end has serious slam, that possibly betters my i7 set up, definitely more dynamic.
Will update with a bit more use
Damien
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Nov 4, 2022 11:10:26 GMT
Some sort of support will help the sound I bet - plus a weight on top if safe
|
|
|
|
Post by stellabagpuss on Nov 4, 2022 12:15:56 GMT
Some sort of support will help the sound I bet - plus a weight on top if safe Thanks Mike, l have that covered, although, at the moment, it's on a on off state,due to playing around. l have a load of DIY Isolation Platforms to add to my subs,when l get time. l recently add one to my Gustard R26, which responded really well, better than any DAC l've had in the past, such a difference, you have to be deaf,so just ges to show,perhaps it's shows the R26 is really sensitive to placement. |
|
|
|
Post by HD Music & Test on Nov 4, 2022 12:23:09 GMT
Not to detract from this thread, I will will show how many pieces of audio equipment are effected by vibratonal aspects. Wills set up a three axis seimometer while looking the output on an anaylser and measuring the actual speaker audio output, you never know we may just see something out of the ordinary?
|
|
upsampling is best achieved in softaware its more accurate than 1 million taps 