|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 8, 2021 14:38:40 GMT
Mutec USB thingy now here.
Big thanks to John for sending his loaner on do quickly.
Testing / listening later this afternoon.
I will not use the USB input at this stage.
As said, might get that version though, for future proofing.
A lot of streamers seem to be USB out.
I could even resurrect WaveIO again which is takes USB -> I2S and into Najda.
Sounds like more stuff in the signal path, but with SPdif also being in the path it's probably about the same - might not sound so though, who knows.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 8, 2021 17:13:41 GMT
A lot of streamers seem to be USB out. Like my Sonore ultraRendu, for instance. |
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 8, 2021 17:26:02 GMT
A lot of streamers seem to be USB out. Like my Sonore ultraRendu, for instance. Exactly Martin 🎶 A few settings to cycle through.. Although o I was getting a lock a quick call to Tony got some sound out👍 Evaluating now. I don't think that Mutec USB out and WaveIO USB in would work. Some dim recall about WaveIO needing PC drivers etc. The Mutec is the same for PC use. Don't think the Mutec can work like that? |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 8, 2021 17:59:24 GMT
The Mutec is all about either S/PDIF or USB in (depending on model) and S/PDIF out.
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 8, 2021 19:04:30 GMT
Ah yes Martin, only one USB socket!
Configuration recap.
Modded CCA (using LAN) optical out -> Mutec spdif optical TOSLINK in... Mutec Coax out - > Najda Coax in.
Right, first impressions with Mutec reclocker in.
Instant thought, very clean sound.
Not in your face or bright. Just clean balanced.
Further impressions, authorative bass and overall controlled sound, yet not over controlled or contrived.
Some tracks are so very life-like. Almost like the musicians want to climb out of the horns - in a good way though, not fatiguing in anyway.
In some way you can sense what is like the music being dismantled, and rebuilt, the RIGHT way! Aggressive reclocking?
I do get the odd drop out on 24/96!
No such problems CCA directly to Najda - not ever in hundreds of hours listening.
Apparently no dropouts on lower res with Mutec .
So that issue remains. Could be a CCA thing, but why fine without reclocking.
88.2 plays perfectly! Big difference vs ipurifier.
Much more listening and deciding to go.
I will also try optical TOSLINK out and into Najda.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 8, 2021 19:13:47 GMT
I can't speak for the dropouts but you have described the Mutec's characteristics well.
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Jan 8, 2021 20:22:22 GMT
I did not get drop outs with 96/24 I wonder what is going on. I must admit I am missing it in my system but glad you are liking what it is doing
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 9, 2021 0:16:53 GMT
Had horrendous dropouts on some 24/96 tracks and not others with the Mutec. Seems random.
Haley Reinhart's 24/96 were particularly bad.
Been doing my homework.
Others have had problems with dropouts and CCA at 24/96.
Support suggested factory reset and uninstall / install of Google home app and subbing to the Dev programme and you'd get SW update.
That was bogus as Google stopped support before the update was released. Those threads for locked!
Digging deeper there was a problem with some DACs and not others.
Google stopped updating and support before fixing the issue it seems.
So it would seem that Najda falls into the 'it works' DAC group while ipurifier and Mutec do not lock on reliably.
Since CCA factory reboot etc it has been better, opps just did it again!
The problem of ipurifier playing 88.2 persists.
All problems go away if I set output to CD quality in the Qobuz app 🙄
So it seems I need a proper or different streamer to go further with this project 😉
CCA was after all only a bit of fun.
Amazing sounding bit of fun though with the right power and Lan, and if there had been support a little longer I'm sure Google could have fixed it.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 9, 2021 0:25:07 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Jan 9, 2021 5:55:34 GMT
Their are a few Network Bridges that do not use USB
The Limetree Bridge uses Coaxial and has a Femento Clock you could borrow mine for a week to see if you like it. I do not get drop outs and how it interfaces with Spotify Tidal Quobuz and files is a nice step up from Volumio in terms of GUI layout and a good few steps ahead of the pie in terms of sound quality
The Nova Fidelity N15d has a bunch of output options and I am pretty sure Tony could send you a demo unit
Do not discount a Bluetooth receiver if you have a Bluetooth 5 phone. This is a cheap solution that might surprise you especially with YouTube music.
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 9, 2021 8:20:17 GMT
Thanks guys.
Looking at the microRendu on Hifishark - most ads are quite old.
No idea about the micro sound - vs ultra though.
That's a very kind offer John -
How many streaming solutions do you have?
I've read a little about the Femento clock. Were you reclocking that again with Mutec?
Nova Fidelity N15d interesting.
Is Bluesound Node 2l a contender?
Where to start?!
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Jan 9, 2021 9:49:03 GMT
The node is supposed to have a good app perhaps not up with the Limetree N15d and the Sonos Ultra in terms of sound quality
Yes the Limetree is reclocking but the Mutec still makes a difference
Some people daisy chain the Mutec
I imagine they perform at a similar level as have a dedicated board
I not seen the Sonos app but like the app on the n15d and the Limetree and have no idea how they compare together
At present I have the Limetree and Bluetooth receiver I have had the allo digi one and a Tinkerboard with a reclocker I also had a SOtM ultra 200 but don't rate the GUI The Limetree is cheaper and a touch better in my system
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 9, 2021 12:58:50 GMT
This morning, not much else to do 😀
Firstly I put the beefy medical 5v linear PSU back on CCA.
Took ages before I got a one and only dropout on 24/96. Perhaps CCA issues were around inadequate power at the higher resolution?
🤔 Anyway;
A play off was needed!
Between CCA / Mutec -> Coax spdif, and
RPI/Kali -> I2S.
Yes, I fired up Volumio for this 😱
Now, whilst CCA alone vs CCA plus Mutec was a no hands down contest in favour of Mutec;
RPI / Kali reclocker is not such a push over.
The differences are more tonal.
There's a tiny bit less mid range and a bit more upper mid brightness on RPI/Kali.
Easy to fix with a couple of dB gain / cut on these channels and I am not hearing much/anything in direct A/B comparisons.
I even blanked of the light show on Najda and Mutec and got Marie to select between the two, so I had no idea which was which.
This was also combined with the slight dB changes by having two Nadja setups and switching between them at the same time!
Documenting the listening results against what was playing.
This gave an equal split of for and against.
At times I struggled to distinguish at all.
Stalemate!
One thing I'm going to try is 99.999% pure silver hook up wire between RPI and Kali instead of the ofc copper I currently have in.
Watch this space!
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 9, 2021 13:26:32 GMT
Interesting outcome, Steve. Since the Mutec and Kali are both reclocking, the outcome is perhaps not all that surprising.
Don't dismiss making further changes upstream, I have found that everything affects digital playback. Feed the very best power quality to the Kali, perhaps separate from the Pi's power.
The CCA too, by the sound of it, may have been suffering from power rail droop.
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 9, 2021 13:42:17 GMT
Interesting outcome, Steve. Since the Mutec and Kali are both reclocking, the outcome is perhaps not all that surprising. Don't dismiss making further changes upstream, I have found that everything affects digital playback. Feed the very best power quality to the Kali, perhaps separate from the Pi's power. The CCA too, by the sound of it, may have been suffering from power rail droop. Yes, I could see a good streamer/Mutec beating CCA/Mutec of course! Kali and RPI have separate linear PSU's. I will read up on CCA power and see if the DIY community has had a go at it. Perhaps half or a whole over volt might let it chew some Airwaves, and come to its senses. Meanwhile I noticed prices of NOS and even used CCAs climbing! |
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 13, 2021 19:41:00 GMT
Can't find anything about CCA power mods, over volting or the the like.
I'm having fun comparing CCA/Mutec reclocker vs RPi/Kali reclocker.
I redid the super short wiring in high grade pure silver with good quality PCB pin connectors. Not sure audiophile versions of those exist? 😀
I also added another earth wire as per some Najda connecting diagrams. Can't remember why I omitted it before
Certainly doesn't sound worse with it in.
For listening at the moment;
I cue up a playlist on both Volumio (RPi) and Qobuz app (CCA) and then listen to CCA/Mutec, until it hits a 24/96 and a drop out occurs. Seemingly every 24/96 will cause it.
I then switch to RPi/Kali and listen until the next 24/94, I listen to that for a bit and then switch to CCA to see.
Switching is seamless, no delay, clicks etc.
Between the two sources is just about audibly detectable to me, but I don't find myself favouring one presentation or the other!
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 13, 2021 20:57:48 GMT
No idea what is causing the CCA dropouts but presumably it'll have a cheap crystal clock. Perhaps it's at the very edge of what receiving equipment can lock on to.
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 13, 2021 21:08:48 GMT
No idea what is causing the CCA dropouts but presumably it'll have a cheap crystal clock. Perhaps it's at the very edge of what receiving equipment can lock on to. Apparently 24/96 worked fine until about 18 months ago and then s SW update broke it! Google never got a release out that fixed it after that and then the proverbial plug was pulled. |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 13, 2021 21:09:54 GMT
A Rendu would sort you out.
|
|
|
|
Post by speedysteve on Jan 15, 2021 22:09:08 GMT
Probably,
The extra earth, or going all silver between Kali and Najda on the I2S, have certainly had a positive effect.
Things are crisper or more spot on - hard to describe.
I like it anyway.
Currently no need to splurge large amounts of cash on SPdif stuff.
Oh and I feel a bit silly about Volumio!
I had been using it browsing to Xxx.xxx.x.x as identified in attached devices in my router info.
It works but it's hit and miss as the address can stay the same for days or weeks, then something new is connected and it's all change and have to hunt around!
Anyway, I didn't know about the Volumio Android app!
It works for me. No faffing with addressing and no kicks you out of the menu your are in back to the root of you happen to swipe down once to much on a playlist etc.
It's a bit slow to update the playing song sometimes but gets there.
All Res's are spot on.
Much better / can live with it👍
|
|
