Melodious MX-U8 USB Interface 8 Core XMOS chip
Jul 7, 2015 at 5:25 AM Post #106 of 658
   
Hi Alex !  Excellent project indeed.  Congratulations !
And thanks a lot for the very nice pictures !
i would try it also myself if only i had  a clue of how this blessed device works.
Without a schematic i am completely lost. 
But if i understand well you have kept the original power supply based on the lt1963 on board only for the usb receiver and one clock 
and replaced two of the clocks with new boards ?
Unfortunately i cannot understand the circuit ... this is completely beyond my ability to understand.
Congrats again. 
Regards,  gino  

 
Hello Ginetto,
 
Yes, i kept all intact except the two audio xo's. I soldered the NDK's on the adapterboards and feed them directly with seperate psu and transformer.
Only output of ndk is connected to pcb, so NOT VCC AND GND. This way it's completely galvanic seperated and fed with very clean power.
 
Regards,
Alex 
 
Jul 7, 2015 at 12:06 PM Post #107 of 658
Hello Ginetto,  
Yes, i kept all intact except the two audio xo's. I soldered the NDK's on the adapterboards and feed them directly with seperate psu and transformer.
Only output of ndk is connected to pcb, so NOT VCC AND GND. This way it's completely galvanic seperated and fed with very clean power.
Regards,
Alex  

 
Hi Alex thanks a lot again.   I have to be careful because even during desoldering the pc caps i run the risk of damaging the pcb   
redface.gif
  that is very delicate and complex.
But i understand how beneficial is using better quartzs.  Very beneficial. 
Maybe in the future with a better understanding of the basics ... i have to study first.
Kind regards, gino  
 
Jul 8, 2015 at 10:10 AM Post #109 of 658
DSD channel mix issue solved:
 
I would like to report that my DSD channel mix issue was solved just now.
Melodious instructs that No.5 pin [DSD] (and No.7 [DIN]) should not be connected, for this is reserved for their upcoming DAC.
I was also instructed by Melodious that the most of ES9018 DACs switch DSD and PCM automatically.
What I found out today was that the No.5 pin MUST BE CONNECTED to DSD-ON on my DAC.
 
If there had been no instruction from Melodious about No.5 [DSD] pin usage, I would have tried to connect it on the same day as I received the unit in April.
 
And I assume I am the first one who plays DSD files using I2S/DSD output of MX-U8.
I thank those who gave me a comment regarding this issue.
 
Jul 8, 2015 at 11:26 AM Post #110 of 658
  DSD channel mix issue solved:
 
I would like to report that my DSD channel mix issue was solved just now.
Melodious instructs that No.5 pin [DSD] (and No.7 [DIN]) should not be connected, for this is reserved for their upcoming DAC.
I was also instructed by Melodious that the most of ES9018 DACs switch DSD and PCM automatically.
What I found out today was that the No.5 pin MUST BE CONNECTED to DSD-ON on my DAC.
 
If there had been no instruction from Melodious about No.5 [DSD] pin usage, I would have tried to connect it on the same day as I received the unit in April.
 
And I assume I am the first one who plays DSD files using I2S/DSD output of MX-U8.
I thank those who gave me a comment regarding this issue.


Nice!  Good to hear this is finally resolved
 
Jul 8, 2015 at 7:30 PM Post #112 of 658
i'm going to order one of these, with the is2 out being the desired connection of choice, but my present dac uses the hdmi method of i2s input. is there a source of info re making a dyi rj to hdmi cable, and/are there any sub $1000 dacs out there that include an i2s input via an rj jack that can be recommended anyone is aware of (using the gustard x12 atm)?
 
Jul 8, 2015 at 11:53 PM Post #113 of 658
i'm going to order one of these, with the is2 out being the desired connection of choice, but my present dac uses the hdmi method of i2s input. is there a source of info re making a dyi rj to hdmi cable, and/are there any sub $1000 dacs out there that include an i2s input via an rj jack that can be recommended anyone is aware of (using the gustard x12 atm)?
Regarding RJ45 --> HDMI LVDS I2S, I know Yanasoft DIY kit. You must communicate with the seller in Japanese.
http://yanasoft.jp/yana/hdmi_i2s.html
 
Jul 9, 2015 at 8:28 AM Post #114 of 658
  DSD channel mix issue solved:
 
I would like to report that my DSD channel mix issue was solved just now.
Melodious instructs that No.5 pin [DSD] (and No.7 [DIN]) should not be connected, for this is reserved for their upcoming DAC.
I was also instructed by Melodious that the most of ES9018 DACs switch DSD and PCM automatically.
What I found out today was that the No.5 pin MUST BE CONNECTED to DSD-ON on my DAC.
 
If there had been no instruction from Melodious about No.5 [DSD] pin usage, I would have tried to connect it on the same day as I received the unit in April.
 
And I assume I am the first one who plays DSD files using I2S/DSD output of MX-U8.
I thank those who gave me a comment regarding this issue.

 
Hi minorisuke,glad to hear you've got problem solved!!
 
Regards,
Alex
 
Jul 9, 2015 at 8:36 AM Post #115 of 658
  i'm going to order one of these, with the is2 out being the desired connection of choice, but my present dac uses the hdmi method of i2s input. is there a source of info re making a dyi rj to hdmi cable, and/are there any sub $1000 dacs out there that include an i2s input via an rj jack that can be recommended anyone is aware of (using the gustard x12 atm)?

 
Hi, Audio-GD has output and input kits, take a look at:
 
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/diy/I2Skits/I2SEN.htm
 
Jul 10, 2015 at 9:42 AM Post #116 of 658
   
Hi, Audio-GD has output and input kits, take a look at:
 
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/diy/I2Skits/I2SEN.htm


I do not think the Audio-gd I2S kit (I2S-->HDMI LVDS) has a connection for "DSD-ON" (HDMI pin No.15 for Gustard DAC-X12).  See the pin assignment on Audio-gd's page.  If you play only PCM files, it does not matter.
 
Jul 11, 2015 at 7:42 AM Post #117 of 658
Please create a separate thread for DYI modification of the product.
People which are not willing to do DIY just want to have reviews of the out of the box product.
It is too difficult to separate OOTB review from DYI details.
 
Jul 11, 2015 at 8:05 AM Post #118 of 658
  Please create a separate thread for DYI modification of the product.
People which are not willing to do DIY just want to have reviews of the out of the box product.
It is too difficult to separate OOTB review from DYI details.

 
You can read out of the box reviews here as well. The MX-U8 performes great, what do you want to know?
 
Best bang for buck? 
 
-1 Gustard U12
-2 Melodious MX-U8
-3 Tanly
 
Best Sound Quality?
 
-1 Tanly
-2 Melodious MX-U8
-3 Gustard u12
 
 
We do try to make it for other people as easy as possible to convert their out of the box device into a high-end device, for a convenient price tag,
We just can't deny that there's a modification possibility for everyone overhere, even the ones with absolutely no electronic skills.
 
 
If you want to know how it sounds, please just ask, people overhere at Head-Fi will tell you (if you find this thread too technical to read).
 
Regards,
 
 
 
Alex
 
Jul 14, 2015 at 6:50 AM Post #119 of 658
Hi Guys,
 
 
Last week I listened several times to my modded MX-U8, and again I compared to my modded U12.
I did this at my home, but also at a friends place who is owning a very different set than I do.
 
 
There's no need for a blind test, when connecting MX-U8 "it seems" it is MUCH louder, which I can't understand because of digital output at 0db there should be no difference.
 
I suppose this has something to do with 75Ohm impedance match, which seems MX-U8 does a much better job!
 
Biggest differences are in tonal balance, every instrument or voice you hear at MX-U8 is very very natural sounding, just as if they were in my room.
Of course pinpoint precision is much higher and soundstage is bigger and wider with tons of details. Everything is very smooth, absolutely no edges or other artifacts.
 
The differences are that big that one couldn't believe it was the same set listening to. It delivers a whole different listening experience, it's like you're emotional connected
to the music.
 
I suppose it all has to do with feeding the Crystals with seperate, galvanic isolated, low noise psu.
 
For the moment I really can't imagine there's some kind of interface, at any pricerange, that could outperform this MX-U8.
 
 
Maybe, really just maybe, I'm gonna build external psu to feed the crystals in my U12, just to see if the differences indeed are from feeding the crystals with seperate, galvanic isolated low noise psu,,,,,,,,,
 
 
Cheers         
beerchug.gif

 
 
 
Alex
 

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