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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 8:10:31 GMT
Depends on the units I think I got two mode cable but think Martin uses one mode cable It would not connect up if the wrong mode Yes, true that.. Not like 1m is going to be a challenge🙂 IFI Zen arrives within the hour.. |
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Post by John on Mar 13, 2023 8:18:59 GMT
Put the zen in the exclusive mode you want to use at the back its give you a nice performance boast
But check updated to the latest firmware zen gui in general mode first
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Post by MartinT on Mar 13, 2023 9:03:47 GMT
I have twin yellow single-mode fibres between pairs of LC connectors, separate send/receive.
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 10:47:09 GMT
1st crude plumbing.  Will do John. Not sure why I was sent the single mode, single cable variants of the adaptor things. Does work though. Perhaps I should get twin cable and return this one? I don't normally do much listening daytime.. This might be one of the exceptions🎶 |
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Post by John on Mar 13, 2023 11:03:23 GMT
I have not tried single mode so I am unable to confirm any difference in performance
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 11:49:56 GMT
Slow start. Zen powers up and shows the white, fast internet light. Doesn't do anything besides not be seen by Bubble UPnP or 192.168.211.1 or local Power cycle, no change. Did a factory reset, hoping for no power cuts. 2 red lights, after a while back to solid white. Still the same.. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 13, 2023 12:18:06 GMT
Put ethernet from router straight into a laptop to check your assumptions?
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Post by John on Mar 13, 2023 12:22:18 GMT
The white light means it has a single
Make sure bubble DNLA is on in gui
In bubble you will need to connect the zen stream so that it is seeing it
That should work
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 12:26:23 GMT
One step nearer, ran the ifi wizard.
It could see my router and asked for pw to connect.
Can now see the ifi/settings etc
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 12:37:14 GMT
Aha got it👍 Can now see IFI in Bubble UPnP as renderer.. You guys are the best tech support ever🎖️  Will listen after lunch.. |
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 13:04:03 GMT
Hehe the IF wizard and pw was for WiFi, which I'm not going to use!..
The real problem was the ancient tablet I use was not actually connected and I didn't notice😚😂
Hence nothing could be seen!
Using phone and everything was fine.
Looking at all the Zen settings esp detailed mode, it's very Volumio!
Not necessarily a bad thing.
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 14:26:13 GMT
Final hurdle, having 6 coax sockets on the back of Najda, 4 for external DAC feeds and 2 more which are likely candidates for SPdif in, I got the right one - not having used SPdif for years didn't help.
Got the right one, and she's playing.
Does selecting the mode physically on the back do anything if you've already turned off Spotify/Tidal/Roon etc, in the SW menus?
Evaluation time..
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Post by John on Mar 13, 2023 14:53:22 GMT
The mode on the back is important put it into DNLA mode for best sound using Bubble
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Post by John on Mar 13, 2023 14:54:00 GMT
Refer to the manual for the position
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 15:14:46 GMT
Yes, got that selected.
Good clean sound 👍
Very calm, but detailed.
Bassy! Perhaps though that's Najda SPdif vs I2S?
So long since I used a SPdif DAC.
I'll turn the tapped horns down 1 click.
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Post by John on Mar 13, 2023 16:39:26 GMT
Yes think. the bass issues is in your active setup
Its a well balanced streamer
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 13, 2023 19:19:36 GMT
Yes think. the bass issues is in your active setup Its a well balanced streamer Could be but I think the calmness of isolation and res of Zen has had me playing it louder (noticed more when I got up), which sets the room off that tiny bit more👍 Got to linear feed the 1st lan -> optical converter next. Then open heart surgery to reinstate the WaveIO, firstly to try it with Zen USB, then the Ultrarendu. |
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 14, 2023 6:54:57 GMT
I spent a bit of time reading up on / reaquainting myself with WaveIO.
It was and still is a well respected converter.
I was feeding it with linear power and still have that at the ready.
Taking USB as input, it can not only give I2S out but also SPdif output (I'd forgotten that!).
That means I can leave RPi / Kali plumbed in for now and try the Sonore Ultrarendu with SPdif when it arrives.
Then when the fancy takes me, I can try the I2S route.
Nick, Najda's designer always recommended the I2S route in.
Also, If Zen USB -> WaveIO works, I can evaluate if WaveIO is truely transparent by comparing with / without it in the circuit.
Now to re-kindle WaveIO, I will get the latest drivers from creator Lucien too at some point too.
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 14, 2023 7:21:52 GMT
2 wire connection to spdif coax socket. Pics of internet - not exactly how I'd wire it..  Here it's the 2 red wires from near the black box. The red box pins should NOT be used - were for board dev only! Manual makes that very clear  |
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Post by speedysteve on Mar 14, 2023 12:37:31 GMT
I firstly set up a little soldering station. It's a desk dominated by a huge and heavy Tennis Racquet stringing machine, but it will do.  Yes, that is an Aldi Workstation temperature regulated iron - lasted so far, have an ancient Weller as old faithful in the workshop. Firstly, I could not find one single RCA socket.. only an old splitter -: that'll have to do. It's only a proof of function test.. 5vdc fed too.  Then into the Zen Android app for Volumio like settings menu. Change SPdif to USB. Plug it all in. The app sees the Luckit WaveIO as USB - promising  Zen cabling.   Ignore the I2S connectors top left. They will get used soon though I think.. Power light on.  Music plays.. Will evaluate after lunch. I don't expect any sound improvement of course. Just seeing how transparent WaveIO is. Getting IFI Zen and WaveIO working bodes well for Sonore Ultrarendu, once it arrives. |
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