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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 14:06:37 GMT
Perfect, thanks.
EDIT: Actually, I'm going to try Twonky Server as they have a 30 day trial and see if it's the same over DLNA to the WiiM?
I'll give it a go on Windows and Linux using BubbleUPnP as the controller - that'll keep me busy for an hour or so.
If Twonky gives gapless you’ll see they are sort of out out of business but you can still purchase it. I originally tried the DLNA server embedded in Windows but the album info was jumbled up for some reason. |
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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 18:43:52 GMT
Wow, the NOS option on the DAC is rather good (internal streamer too). Music certainly gets my attention and isn’t tiring either. Why didn’t I try this before?
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Post by John on May 11, 2023 18:47:16 GMT
Unfortunately the fixed output prevents me from trying
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Post by Clive on May 11, 2023 18:55:56 GMT
Unfortunately the fixed output prevents me from trying Yes, that’s a ball ache. What I’m getting is great resolution, transparency, crystal clear treble, strong presence. In comparison the previous sound could be described as a trace soft without NOS but some of the improvement comes from the internal streamer but that’s a hunch. I need to compare with the Lindemann but not now, this is so good that I don’t care. |
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Post by stellabagpuss on May 11, 2023 21:29:57 GMT
l am in the same boat, perhaps time to consider a Pre amp?
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Post by julesd68 on May 11, 2023 22:24:05 GMT
Might lose more than you gain bringing in a preamp.
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Post by stellabagpuss on May 12, 2023 7:06:55 GMT
Might lose more than you gain bringing in a preamp. Interesting thought and it's the reason l run directly to my amps Jules,one set less of components to run the signal though. And it depends what NOS brings to the table,so it depends what type of preamp,the cost, something l don't know to much about, Topping A90D springs to mind or if you have deep pockets...a Townshend,a must,remote for volume. Interesting has anyone ditched a preamp as it reduced the sound quality? |
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Post by petea on May 12, 2023 7:15:52 GMT
No, but I use an Allegri from Townshend. I did have an Enigma from Max, but I thought the Allegri has the edge and the stepper motor remote was unreliable and Max changed to solid state for the Allegri Reference. He had my Enigma back for repair / replacement not long before he died and decided to replace it with the Reference as the integrated HPA (while very good) was not important to me (and is now redundant). I spoke with Sue yesterday in fact as I'm still waiting. I will speak to her once I'm back in the UK and she will arrange for a Reference to be sent. Let's see.
Sorry a bit off-topic, but to reiterate I prefer volume control on a pre-amplifier, especially passive / auto-transformer-based.
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Post by stellabagpuss on May 12, 2023 7:34:56 GMT
Great reply,and back's up my view on what a topical subjects pre amps can be,l'll leave it there, as we will be going off Subject, perhaps a new thread for this debate and discussion.
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Post by MartinT on May 12, 2023 7:46:06 GMT
Interesting has anyone ditched a preamp as it reduced the sound quality? I ditched my Pass Labs preamp over three years ago as, once I heard the benefits of driving a power amp directly from a DAC with remote volume, there was no going back. Yes, there is increased transparency from eliminating the preamp and modern 32-bit based volume controls lose no resolution at any reasonable volume level down to very quiet. |
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Post by John on May 12, 2023 7:52:57 GMT
I had a few preamps in my system over the years
Most of them added colour to the sound
These days it means one less box and no thoughts around using a pre with the R26
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Post by Clive on May 12, 2023 8:32:22 GMT
I returned to using a preamp when I bought Colin’s latest power amp, his preamp is great too and my system is better with it but this is very much YMMV territory. The simplicity of no preamp is appealing, it’s the configuration I ran for a couple of years.
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Post by julesd68 on May 12, 2023 9:23:33 GMT
I bought a Topping Pre90 to use with my Topping DAC as was touted by the hoards as being uber transparent etc etc ... It wasn't. The sonic advantage of going DAC direct in my system was massive, not even close. As Clive says, YMMV.
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Post by Clive on May 12, 2023 9:41:23 GMT
I bought a Topping Pre90 to use with my Topping DAC as was touted by the hoards as being uber transparent etc etc ... It wasn't. The sonic advantage of going DAC direct in my system was massive, not even close. As Clive says, YMMV. I’m sure it measures well at ASR 🤣 I think a pre and power need to match well, the design parameters for bandwidth, speed (slew rates) etc need to gel if you are to achieve synergy. |
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Post by julesd68 on May 12, 2023 11:30:52 GMT
I bought a Topping Pre90 to use with my Topping DAC as was touted by the hoards as being uber transparent etc etc ... It wasn't. The sonic advantage of going DAC direct in my system was massive, not even close. As Clive says, YMMV. I’m sure it measures well at ASR 🤣 I think a pre and power need to match well, the design parameters for bandwidth, speed (slew rates) etc need to gel if you are to achieve synergy. You would have thought that being made by the same manufacturer, they could / should have been designed to match perfectly. |
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Post by Clive on May 12, 2023 12:16:28 GMT
I’m sure it measures well at ASR 🤣 I think a pre and power need to match well, the design parameters for bandwidth, speed (slew rates) etc need to gel if you are to achieve synergy. You would have thought that being made by the same manufacturer, they could / should have been designed to match perfectly. Yes you would! That’s certainly the case with my pre/power but I know for sure Colin designed both. |
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Post by Clive on May 12, 2023 13:35:22 GMT
I'm still learning about configuring my media server to work with the R26 streamer...
I had music playing then it stopped. It seems my inconsistency issues are to do with my subnet.
The R26 is ethernet connected to my router.
The Twonky DLNA media server is connected via a WiFi extender as it's 2 floors away from the R26.
I had been connecting the server to the extender via wifi. To get a better connection I did this:
- wifi extender connected to my router via wifi
- wifi extender ethernet connected to the server (the wifi extender has an ethernet port)
I then had a problem with the Twonky license key...it turned out it was an IP address problem.
I'm reading that DLNA doesn't work when on a subnet with the renderer on the main network. So...I've reserved the IP address of the server and it's all working again. I hope this resolves it.
Let me know if anyone has any magic bullets for all this! Maybe it needs a diagram...
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Post by wannarock2 on May 12, 2023 14:02:20 GMT
I like my pre 100% analog path 256-step fully-balanced relay gain control, 0.5dB steps Signal-to-noise ratio > 137dB Total harmonic distortion < -125dB Frequency response a bat could appreciate Crosstalk < -133dB @ 1kHz, -116dB @ 10 kHz DAC XLR-in to pre amp at 5v stepped up thru pre amp gain function to 9v adds SINAD punch.  |
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Post by John on May 15, 2023 6:27:25 GMT
I thought it might be good to review what I find gets the best out of the R26.
Isolation
I am using BR big feet I use 4
Grounding
I am using the RTZ2 and every spare connection on the DAC I connect to the RTZ. It all makes a difference. This lowers the noise floor.
External Clock
I use the Leo Bodnar Precision clock with the mutliflex 141 cable in sleep mode
Out of all the mods I would say the external clock makes the most difference.
So what is the difference with all this.
The first bit is authority The DAC just works well with anything I throw at it. Dream Theater Awaken the master no issues. Deal with the complexity with ease.
Realism It all sounds so natural I do not get a hint of colour it just sounds right. I go to a lot of concerts and play guitar so this is really important to me.
I do not have a hint of fatigue I do long listening sessions where I lose sense of time. In the past I would only be able to listen for a few hours.
Last but not least I have that sense of being deeply connected to the music. Every now and then I just think wow.
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Post by julesd68 on May 15, 2023 11:09:15 GMT
The difference the clock makes is immense John. When I first heard your R26 I liked it but found it a bit too 'rounded' and lacking the required bite on heavy guitars but it's rocking hard now, quite a remarkable change.
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📶NAS > Gustard x26p DAC > Benchmark LA4 Pre-Amp > NAD M22-V2 Amplifier > Revel F228Be Speakers