johnzz4
500+ Head-Fier
Unfortunately, once I start playing with IPS1, I get channel imbalance. Everything pans a bit to the left. One other person mentioned the same thing. Let me know if it works well for you..
Audio GD Master-11(Combination from Master 7 and Master 9)
- Thread starter doyouknowSBmean
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Unfortunately, once I start playing with IPS1, I get channel imbalance. Everything pans a bit to the left. One other person mentioned the same thing. Let me know if it works well for you..
somestranger26
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I noticed this on my Reference-10.32. The less oversampling I used the more it panned to the left.
aive
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I experienced a channel phase shift issue in NOS mode which changed depending on my audio sample rate - measured via an oscilloscope.
Would love more details.
If I use white or pink noise, they become audible at the same time (I flip my headphones around to verify because I'm about half a dB harder of hearing in my left ear).
With actual songs, I still hear things as leaning slightly right, which is as it should be for my hearing.
What were you running into the DAC? I know jitter is super important to eliminate for NOS mode.
At the moment, I'm using an unpowered USB port into an UpTone Regen with PLL disabled.
Even with PLL enabled and no Regen I'm not hearing imbalance.
rigo
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I went into the Mac Audio MIDI settings to change it to the source - 44.1/16 and I am able to change it to 44.1, but I don't have an option for 16 bit, just 32. Anyone with a Mac see the same thing? Does it matter if I leave it at 32?
RKML0007
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Not sure if this has been mentioned previously, but I noticed a very large volume spike that occurs for a split second on my Master-11 when switching from HP to Pre while listening to music. So be careful guys and stop the music or turn it down if you're doing some testing. Wouldn't want to damage your ears or cans!
Heard back from Kingwa again. Basically, you shouldn't try to use NOS mode without being 100% sure your source can handle it. From the computer itself to the power to the USB out and cables, you need pretty specific components to ensure that you won't encounter problems.
I have...
This appears to be plenty to use NOS mode on the Master-11 without issue. Last night I forgot to post but I checked the levels in RIAA and REW and there is no channel imbalance. I don't have an oscilloscope to check for phasing issues, but I'll experiment more with different sample rates to see if I have issues at all.
I have...
- A really nice computer I built with very high end components (with some software/service optimizations done manually in Windows 10)
- Gigabyte Z97X Gaming GT motherboard with USB DAC-UP ports and the power disabled on those ports
- Emotiva CMX-6 for the computer and Master-11
- AudioQuest NRG-2 power cable into the Master-11
- AudioQuest NRG-X3 power cable into the PC
- AudioQuest Cinnamon USB cable (that I sometimes swap for Schiit Pyst or Belkin Gold, but I usually use the AQ cable)
- UpTone Regen
This appears to be plenty to use NOS mode on the Master-11 without issue. Last night I forgot to post but I checked the levels in RIAA and REW and there is no channel imbalance. I don't have an oscilloscope to check for phasing issues, but I'll experiment more with different sample rates to see if I have issues at all.
Articnoise
Headphoneus Supremus
I agree with Kingwa as usual. The quality of source, power and cables are always important, but if using the Master 7 in NOS it’s even more important IME.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/625793/audio-gd-master-7-discrete-fully-balanced-dac-pcm1704/2805
Timmitus
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So, what's the consensus on the Master 11? It seems like there are some quality control issues. Has kingwa solved the volume glitch? That's the problem that's preventing me from buying it. Blowing up my headphones is one thing, but blowing up my eardrums is something else.
No more quality control issues than anything else. One user is having that problem.
For the Master series, they use their most experienced builders and test/burn them in for 300 hours. That's way more significant than most companies.
The only reason you're hearing about that one glitch someone is having is the time and expense of shipping the unit back to them to get it fixed. They're trying to solve it without going to the trouble.
Schiit products, for example, seem to have more issues than Audio-GD, but it's super easy to communicate with them and ship things back and forth.
Timmitus
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I thought there were a few people having various volume issues. What about your fan mod? Is overheating an issue?
I guess, bottom line, is would you purchase the Master 11 again?
Nah, overheating isn't a problem and the fans aren't needed. I'm just ridiculous.
I did see one person get funky volume issues with static discharge but all electronics hate static.
I'd buy the Master-11 again. It's friggin' awesome.
Timmitus
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Thanks. This has probably been covered already, but what is the difference between a separate master 7 and 9 vs the 11? I know the Master 7 has 8 pcm1704 chips. What impact does that have? I'm just waffling on this and a Schiit multi bit DAC.
Not sure many have heard both. According to Kingwa the stack is slightly better and way more expensive.
Some have owned the Master-11 and Gumby/Yggy and could comment on differences.
If you search the thread there are some comparisons.
From what I gather, the Audio-GD is more musical and the Schiit is more detailed. I favor that euphony.
Ivan303
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There is not overheating issue with the Master 11. NONE!
The Master 11 runs several degrees cooler than my previous DAC/Headphone Amp, the OPPO HA-1
MUCH COOLER!
And there is NO REASON to leave in on for days at a time anyway, as it takes only about a half hour to stabilize and the sound doesn't change after that for HOURS, if at all.
I crank mine on when I get up in the morning and shut it off when I go to bed at night and NEVER have a problem.
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