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Post by MartinT on Aug 10, 2023 18:03:50 GMT
I received the Sonicorbiter v2.9 for my Sig Rendu SE today. Fairly easy to setup with a couple of reboots required to make the software changes. Operationally, it seems identical. Now to the sound. nicholas and I had already spoken about it and I was hopeful that the USB stack improvement might result in a small increment in sound quality. I was remembering all the Linux tweaks you can make to Volumio on the Pi and how the resultant changes are easily audible. Well, it does sound different. The first drum strike in Sheryl Crow's Now That You're Gone made me jump. The dynamics before were very impressive but has now ramped up to scary on some tracks. Incredible. There doesn't seem to be any tonal difference, which is a relief. I detect a little more detail, too. Only one downside so far - the album artwork doesn't always appear unless I restart the song. Puzzling. |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 10, 2023 18:48:17 GMT
Only one downside so far - the album artwork doesn't always appear unless I restart the song. Puzzling. Another reboot has fixed that. The sound quality improvement continues, I'm hearing it in everything I'm playing. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 10, 2023 19:15:38 GMT
I'd like my review to be honest but I know little about streamers. The sound quality is better than the Bluesound, hardly surprising I bought it cos my mate said it was good  What did I miss ? |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 10, 2023 20:07:56 GMT
I bought it cos my mate said it was good That'll do. When will you try the Cisco cable and the other optical converter? |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 11, 2023 12:17:04 GMT
Further listening reveals a far cleaner treble performance with detail within the detail.
I would go so far as to say if you have any kind of Rendu (micro, ultra, optical, Signature) you should get hold of the v2.9 firmware for it. It's an easy $29 upgrade.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 11, 2023 15:14:42 GMT
I bought it cos my mate said it was good That'll do. When will you try the Cisco cable and the other optical converter? Cisco cable tried out and the differences were so huge I could not believe them Another try tomorrow No failures with the system so fingers crossed this is working well, changing the adaptor soon as the only variable with a question mark |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 13, 2023 16:14:56 GMT
Is it me ?
Submitted my review
I have my upgrade !
Enter the code for free upgrade
81 pence to pay
I'll cough for that
Credit card refused
Deleted, re entered
Not having it
Anyone else have that ?
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Post by MartinT on Aug 13, 2023 17:21:33 GMT
I had no trouble with the CC, although I think I checked out with PayPal. Tell us more about the Cisco cable. nicholas and I have already been there! |
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Post by nicholas on Aug 13, 2023 18:38:32 GMT
I had no trouble with the CC, although I think I checked out with PayPal. Tell us more about the Cisco cable. nicholas and I have already been there! What he said ^ |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 13, 2023 18:46:31 GMT
CC problem
Turned me down for 81 pence
Trying again
World Champs cycling got in the way of checking the Cisco cable, as well as internet misbehaving
Soon
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Post by MartinT on Aug 14, 2023 18:10:15 GMT
Can firmware burn-in or does it change the device such that it requires a new programme of burn-in?
I don't know, but after 24 hours of Tara Labs and a good week of playing music, my Rendu still causes me to sit up and take notice. Everything sounds more immediate and exciting, more dynamic and with better defined and less harsh treble. It's not a subtle upgrade and could easily pass for a gen 2 of the product.
I haven't heard from anyone with a micro-, ultra- or optical- so I don't know if the upgrade is universal, but in my Signature Rendu SE it has created the most musically impressive streamer I have yet heard. Judging by comments in Audiogon, others are equally impressed with v2.9 firmware.
I'm glad the guys at Sonore have taken their time with this, I have moved from 2.7 to 2.8 (small change) and now 2.9 (significant change). Listening to John Swenson's wonderful design showing just what it can achieve is a joy in itself.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 14, 2023 18:50:17 GMT
Tara Labs back on when I get 2.9 in
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Post by MartinT on Nov 8, 2023 14:30:01 GMT
For those of us already running SO (Sonicorbiter) 2.9, there was an important update on 4 November which upgrades the Linux kernel to 6.2.15. This update can be problematic for some users while others have had no problems with it.
If you do have problems, do the following:
1) Uninstall all the software modules
2) Perform the update and restart
3) Add the software modules back in and configure
4) Restart and test. If it doesn't work, repeat Restart and Update until it works
It took mine about 5 restarts before music would play without glitches. Since then, it's been fine.
When you perform these updates you should check that your USB device is listed in DAC Diagnostic and then press Save in Settings or set the unit to NAA mode.
You also need to go to Roon, HQPlayer, BubbleUPnP or mConnect to reset things there.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 10, 2023 17:33:23 GMT
A first admission from the Sonore support section in Audiophile Style...
Hopefully they will fix them, making a fully updated SO 2.9 SD card a little less anxiety ridden.
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 11, 2023 17:30:20 GMT
Confused, is it the original 2.9 that has issues, or is it the recent update you wrote about causing new ones as well?
Is the latest one 2.9.1 or similar config management label by any chance?
I've not received notification of a recent update to 2.9 so far.
I did update my 2.9 micro SD version, smoothly OTA a couple months ago.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 11, 2023 17:36:25 GMT
The original SO 2.9 is fine and I'm back to using it again. The update that happened last Saturday is an abomination that caused a lot of effort in getting it to stick without errors and still played with glitches in my system. I've switched to a different SD card for the time being.
If you haven't updated yet, then DON'T!! Unfortunately, there is no version indication, it just keeps saying 2.9 after the update.
I'll let everyone know when there has been another announcement.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 11, 2023 20:36:15 GMT
I dodged a bullet there then !
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Post by MartinT on Nov 11, 2023 20:58:44 GMT
I dodged a bullet there then ! You did. I've had a bit of a go at them for lacking version control. Why not call the update 2.9.1 so that we can easily identify it? |
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 11, 2023 21:00:55 GMT
I dodged a bullet there then ! You did. I've had a bit of a go at them for lacking version control. Why not call the update 2.9.1 so that we can easily identify it? Surprising Amateur mistake Not their normal way of working surely ? |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 11, 2023 21:07:30 GMT
Their OS has been rock solid until now, and it could well be that older Linux libraries have been deprecated forcing them to update the kernel version.
However, a little more testing before release may have shaken down the bugs.
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