I have owned a number of EMM Labs DACs and the XDS1 integrated CD player in the past. IMHO the sound does not compare with my current digital setup. Dave, Opto DX, and Mscaler. The EMM Labs analogue volume control also lacked transparency. The problem with both EMM Labs, and Playback Designs is the conversion from PCM to DSD. DSD always sounded too smooth, slow and lacked bass depth and drive in my experience. (I also have experience of the DCS Scarlatti stack upsampling to DSD. One thing I did like about EMM Labs was the standard ST digital optical connections. Hopefully Rob will incorporate these or something similar in the Choral Mscaler and Ultimate DAC. I now have without doubt by far the best digital playback ever in my system with my tweaked Dave and Mscaler. I am looking forward to getting the Choral Mscaler and Ultimate DAC.Nice, I'll check.
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Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread
- Thread starter ChordElectronics
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GuiltyRocker
1000+ Head-Fier
MAXOAK Laptop Power Bank 185Wh/50000mAh(Max.130W) Portable Laptop Charger External Battery Pack for Laptop iPad Phone Notebook https://a.co/d/8qwjtw8
I wonder if this would work well.
I wonder if this would work well.
Playback converts to 16x DSD in 2 steps and they uses a windowed function for one of the conversions. The reconstruction filter at the end of the chain should be a simple LPF. You are thinking about minimum phase filter specifically.
MScaler also uses a windowed function in the digital filter. Except Playback is not charging you for a separate box for that step 1 of the conversion.
you dont need an mscaler to get a windowed sinc function from chord, all of the dacs do this, the mscaler just uses a larger window
Reactcore
Headphoneus Supremus
Trueyou dont need an mscaler to get a windowed sinc function from chord, all of the dacs do this, the mscaler just uses a larger window
I once did a test and fed Dave's DX out to Qutest dual in, and i got a 705/768k upsampled signal in Qutest.
In essence Dave acted as a 164k taps scaler
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True
I once did a test and fed Dave's DX out to Qutest dual in, and i got a 705/768k upsampled signal in Qutest.
In essence Dave acted as a 164k taps scaler
I recently learned that you can actually connect up two DAVEs like that for even better sound although it doesn't makes sense to do that versus running an M Scaler
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connecting the dx outputs of one Dave into the dual bnc input of another Dave will just bypass the WTA1 stage of the second Dave which I guess you could say could improve noise as that is a large portion of the FPGA use in Dave. Many have speculated if that is one of the reasons using the mscaler sounds better, moving all that work and switching noise out of the Dave.I recently learned that you can actually connect up two DAVEs like that for even better sound although it doesn't makes sense to do that versus running an M Scaler
but running the dx outputs of the second Dave into another chord dacs dual BNC inputs wouldn't be any different than using the outputs of the first Dave. the WTA filter is done in the first, the outputs of the second Dave will be the same as the inputs as the WTA1 stage is bypassed for 16fs inputs.
mentalmal1
New Head-Fier
I use Poweroak K2 battery packs for my M scaler, TT2 and Ether regen. I believe they’re the same as the Maxoak ones but are quite a bit cheaper. I got them from the Netherlands. Very pleased with the results compared to stock PSU’s.MAXOAK Laptop Power Bank 185Wh/50000mAh(Max.130W) Portable Laptop Charger External Battery Pack for Laptop iPad Phone Notebook https://a.co/d/8qwjtw8
I wonder if this would work well.
GuiltyRocker
1000+ Head-Fier
Let's talk power supplies for the M Scaler, I am thinking about upgrading to the IFI Elite 12v power supply, it looks and measures much better than the stock power supply, what do you guys think?
musicinmymind
Headphoneus Supremus
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Let's talk power supplies for the M Scaler, I am thinking about upgrading to the IFI Elite 12v power supply, it looks and measures much better than the stock power supply, what do you guys think?
If you can bare with batteries, just get bixpower BP90, it should be cleaner then Ifi 12v
GuiltyRocker
1000+ Head-Fier
I see.If you can bare with batteries, just get bixpower BP90, it should be cleaner then Ifi 12v
GuiltyRocker
1000+ Head-Fier
What's interesting is I tried a battery with the Qutest vs the Ifi i Power X and the Ifi sounded better, the battery was more laid back, the Ifi gave it more impact and dynamics. Strange.
alishafai
100+ Head-Fier
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My MS arrives in a couple of days, and I like to try connecting to it via Optical. The MS will be paired with TT2.
My MacBook Pro can't output via Optical. So, my question is, am I better off [SQ wise] getting a network streamer with Optical out to go into the MS or simply get a USB to Optical adapter for the MacBook?
Thanks, in advance.
My MacBook Pro can't output via Optical. So, my question is, am I better off [SQ wise] getting a network streamer with Optical out to go into the MS or simply get a USB to Optical adapter for the MacBook?
Thanks, in advance.
Your results are consistent with mine. Being more laid back means lack of RFI, and it is a good thing. iFi elite gaves me more "wow" factor (more impact and dynamic) at first, but after I listened more carefully I found iFi Elite was brighter. That's the sign of being more RFI. I ended up returning iFi elite....the battery was more laid back, the Ifi gave it more impact and dynamics. Strange.
Back to different batteries, I have Bixpower, Maxoak, Krisdonia, and Anker. The unregulated direct battery output from Bixpower is the best.
You can see my previous posts for more detail comparison. Below are some examples:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hug...nics-the-official-thread.885042/post-17211596
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hug...nics-the-official-thread.885042/post-17343065
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GuiltyRocker
1000+ Head-Fier
Interesting, ok I'll get the Bixpower to hear the difference.Your results are consistent with mine. Being more laid back means lack of RFI, and it is a good thing iFi elite gaves me more "wow" factor (more impact and dynamic) at first, but after I listened more carefully I found iFi Elite was brighter. That's the sign of being more RFI. I ended up returning iFi elite.
Back to different batteries, I have Bixpower, Maxoak, Krisdonia, and Anker. The unregulated direct battery output from Bixpower is the best.
ZappaMan
Headphoneus Supremus
I’d say, don’t worry about it, just go usb to mscaler. Run that for a few months.My MS arrives in a couple of days, and I like to try connecting to it via Optical. The MS will be paired with TT2.
My MacBook Pro can't output via Optical. So, my question is, am I better off [SQ wise] getting a network streamer with Optical out to go into the MS or simply get a USB to Optical adapter for the MacBook?
Thanks, in advance.