My router is one that communicates with the outside world by way of 4G. It was also free as part of the internet providers package. I personally think that FMCs increase the noise, possibly because of their conversion circuits. Certainly their effect on sound quality has all the signs of...

I often use the track Spiral Stairs by Mammal Hands when comparing such things as network changes. This is quite useful for identifying differences. It is what I used when I finally decided that all the changes audible from using fiber and FMCs were making the background instruments on that...

I am one of those who have tried many different FMC and many different SFP (including Finisar) and all so far have made the sound of my system worse. Worse as in slight exaggeration of percussion notes, plucked notes etc. All the well known culprits that eventually lead to a fatiguing sound. I...

I don’t think it is a hate thing but just rather that the extra circuits in the Dave to create the balanced XLR outputs are always bound to be very slightly inferior compared to the simpler RCA output but whether it can be heard is a moot point. Having said that, my active speakers only have XLR...

I only got my hands on it 4 days ago and it has been sat here glowering at me since then. :relaxed:

@mpino61 it looks as if you have been having fun. Having myself been on a journey through various power supplies with the Mscaler and Dave which started for me with a 3 rail DC3 supply for the Dave and a single rail DC3 supply for the Mscaler (and now is an ARC6 supply for each) I have been...

All fiber that I have tried, from cheap to expensive audiophile versions, made the sound more brittle and introduced noise artefacts into the music. My working theory would be that the final fiber to RJ45 conversion circuits introduce more noise than the fiber blocks. I have not tried the NA...

For sure but that can’t be expanded to include “someone on an internet forum said it was good, therefore it is good”. I once got caught out and thought a dac must be okay because of the lavish praise heaped on it across the internet. I sold it after 3 weeks. (Not a chord dac). A really good...

Have fun with the Oladra. I found the Oladra 2 pretty fine straight out of the box with very little burn in required. Also as I’m sure I have said before, I think it really shines using Squeeze + Squeeze and also the bnc output even though the usb is upgraded. Finally, as with just about...

Yes, I still have the PhoenixUSB and a SRC-DX and a Sablon EVO usb cable. I found the PhoenixUSB to make the SRC-DX to sound at its best and have always thought this might be partly down to the quality of the separate 5V usb power outlet in the Phoenix because this powers the SRC-DX via the usb...

I will have to think about the speakers because I normally use ATC 150 active speakers and they are XLR input only so I might instead use a Pass Labs XA60.8 pair of power amps with some Spendor passive speakers.

I have one of those if that is the case but I will ask what is his favoured set up so I can replicate it.

Hmmn, well, the two sides have staked their claims and there is only one way to find out so I am borrowing a Mojo 2 next week to compare to Dave. I will also try the Mojo 2 with MS. This will be in a speaker system as I do not own any headphones. The claims for Mojo 2 seem to centre around...

Quite large.

And €10k is £8.5k UKP which will be interesting because IF the Quartet is a two box device made with aluminium billets to match the Dave then that will eat up a fair amount of the budget never mind what is inside the two boxes. Anyway it will not be too long until it is formally announced /...

Hmmn, well I think it might be one of those situations where one has to be there and hear it to assess whether it is really ‘better’ and ‘more transparent’. I have many times concluded differently after hearing other things that have been lauded as being ‘better’. Indeed when listening to...

Well I only listen with speakers (I do not own any headphones) and I have had TT2 and Dave side by side in my system for a few weeks before selling the TT2. For me the two immediately noticeable differences are that the Dave has a lovely subtle and utterly transparent top end compared the TT2...

Of course you only need the dual bnc from the SRC.DX if you are playing higher rate upscaled files (eg 705 or 768kHz) otherwise you only need one bnc cable from the src.dx to the Mscaler. The second bnc from the SRC.DX is not carrying any signal for lower connection rates (try disconnecting it).

Indeed, I think we all know what @walterboss is talking about !!

I compared the 5V with the original smps vs a SJ DC4 and then a SJ ARC6 supply. I was hoping that I could stick with the DC4 on the 5V but unfortunately were very noticeable improvements going to the ARC6 version which was bad for my wallet but really good for sound quality. As well as other...

Amazing as always! Totally in awe. From your schematic I am not sure what you are doing to the 5V digital rail, if anything. I ask because my changing different supplies in and out for the 5V made me conclude that it has a significant influence on sound quality. At least as much as the +/- 15V.

Your comments about trying the different outputs from your Antipodes K30 to the Mscaler are interesting. I compared optical, usb and bnc outputs from my Antipodes Oladra V2 to the Mscaler and the optical was my least favourite of those. As you say the latest version of the Antipodes streamers...

No, the Oladra has always had a smps. The power supplies in the Oladra V1 and V2 are essentially the same but with some slight tweaks to better suit the new USB board.

Hello Clive, I like what they do a LOT! Thank you for suggesting them in conjunction with the Puritan Groundmaster. It was actually quite a task to get the rods into the ground to a good depth (two rods, both 8ft deep). My next task is to try a 3 voltage rail LPS to power my Oladra Instead of...

I am also speakers only and never use headphones.