[leeperry]

Suffice it to say, audio isn't the only industry where margins are high

I'm sure but time is on my side, soon or later they'll give those 50% vouchers again and patience will have entirely paid off.

All this said, lo-fi brickwalled commercial music is quite the disappointment on such hi-res equipment as those JCAT USB boards but bluray movies with lossless soundtrack and surround stereo dowmixing appear amazingly live sounding

 

[iFi audio]

bluray movies with lossless soundtrack and surround stereo dowmixing appear amazingly live sounding

Although it's been a while in my case, I remember that they have nice audio indeed.

I'm sure but time is on my side, soon or later they'll give those 50% vouchers again and patience will have entirely paid off.

It always does

 

[leeperry]

IME the femto version requires a reboot when unplugging external 5V PSU but not the XE so that's way more convenient when switching things around in order to properly A/B, great improvement

 

[Tubewin]

Just installed the jcat usb xe card. Everything sounds even more natural with less digital glare. Currently using a uptone audio lps 1.2 to power the card, but there has been some distortion at random times. I'm going to save up for the Optimo 3 Duo power supply or another Ferrum Hypsos to replace the uptone 1.2 lps.

 

[leeperry]

Distortion? I don't think this has anything to do with the JCAT board or your PSU.

 

[iFi audio]

Distortion? I don't think this has anything to do with the JCAT board or your PSU.

I agree, if it's random distortion heard on some tracks, in many cases this is related to software and settings more than hardware.

 

[Tubewin]

Distortion? I don't think this has anything to do with the JCAT board or your PSU.

Well, it was.

I agree, if it's random distortion heard on some tracks, in many cases this is related to software and settings more than hardware.

It wasn't software or settings. How do I know you may ask? Because I bought another jcat usb xe card and it doesn't do that. Granted I'm also using a different power supply now.

So, I'd like to give some impressions with the Jcat USB XE and Net XE cards. My pc system never sounded this natural before. Absolutely annihilated digital harshness and edge, and everything sounds exceedingly organic and lifelike. But it wasn't easy to get there. I had both cards connected to my uptone js-2 at one point, but the sound thinned out and the unit got extremely hot. I had ordered a Jcat optimo 3 duo and while it was able to keep it's sonic integrity while powering both cards, I missed the sweet and nimble tone of the js-2. The jcat 3 duo provided great body and density while also providing almost fatiguing levels of bass, I preferred the tone of the js-2 and the density of the 3 duo. So I wondered how it would sound if I connected the JS-2 to the usb xe card and the 3 duo to the net xe card, and I'm pleased to say, I got the best of both worlds. The full body of the 3 duo and the sweet vocal tones from the js-2 came through. I'm not of the opinion of throwing more money to fix a problem, but I have to admit it did work out in this case. Absolutely the best my system ever sounded. The level of upgrade is comparable to me upgrading my dac from a Musician Pegasus to the Holo May. But if you add up the cost of the two power supplies plus the two jcat cards, it gets pretty close to a holo may in price. I know purchasing another dedicated power supply when you can use one may seem excessive, but it was absolutely worth it in my case. I'm just so impressed with the way it sounds, I thought I should share it with you all.

 

[ToddRaymond]

I wonder how the Keces P8 would sound with the XE. Or maybe HYPSOS is the way to go.

 

[Tubewin]

I wonder how the Keces P8 would sound with the XE. Or maybe HYPSOS is the way to go.

I just ordered my second hypsos. One is powering my headphone amp, this second one will be powering a Uptone EtherRegen. If I hear a noticeable difference I would consider getting a jcat signature ethernet cable as well.

 

[iFi audio]

Well, it was.


It wasn't software or settings. How do I know you may ask? Because I bought another jcat usb xe card and it doesn't do that. Granted I'm also using a different power supply now.

So, I'd like to give some impressions with the Jcat USB XE and Net XE cards. My pc system never sounded this natural before. Absolutely annihilated digital harshness and edge, and everything sounds exceedingly organic and lifelike. But it wasn't easy to get there. I had both cards connected to my uptone js-2 at one point, but the sound thinned out and the unit got extremely hot. I had ordered a Jcat optimo 3 duo and while it was able to keep it's sonic integrity while powering both cards, I missed the sweet and nimble tone of the js-2. The jcat 3 duo provided great body and density while also providing almost fatiguing levels of bass, I preferred the tone of the js-2 and the density of the 3 duo. So I wondered how it would sound if I connected the JS-2 to the usb xe card and the 3 duo to the net xe card, and I'm pleased to say, I got the best of both worlds. The full body of the 3 duo and the sweet vocal tones from the js-2 came through. I'm not of the opinion of throwing more money to fix a problem, but I have to admit it did work out in this case. Absolutely the best my system ever sounded. The level of upgrade is comparable to me upgrading my dac from a Musician Pegasus to the Holo May. But if you add up the cost of the two power supplies plus the two jcat cards, it gets pretty close to a holo may in price. I know purchasing another dedicated power supply when you can use one may seem excessive, but it was absolutely worth it in my case. I'm just so impressed with the way it sounds, I thought I should share it with you all.

So it was hardware's fault after all? Here I assume that you've asked JCAT's founder what was wrong and he helped you out?

As for your impressions of sound progression, congrats! The cool thing about PSUs and various USB sorters is that their performance stacks, so often each new component pushes the overall quality a notch further. Our micro iUSB3.0 already does a lot to clean up the USB line, but a galvanic isolator before it is still audible upon adding it and so is a PSU for the former. So yes, I know what you mean

 

[Tubewin]

So it was hardware's fault after all? Here I assume that you've asked JCAT's founder what was wrong and he helped you out?

As for your impressions of sound progression, congrats! The cool thing about PSUs and various USB sorters is that their performance stacks, so often each new component pushes the overall quality a notch further. Our micro iUSB3.0 already does a lot to clean up the USB line, but a galvanic isolator before it is still audible upon adding it and so is a PSU for the former. So yes, I know what you mean

Yep, it was the hardware. I don't know if the lps 1.2 did something to the card or not, but even after replacing the lps, the first jcat card would make that weird distortion noise/sound. I decided to purchase a second one just to see if there was a difference, and sure enough there is no distortion on the second card with the new linear power supply.

 

[iFi audio]

Yep, it was the hardware. I don't know if the lps 1.2 did something to the card or not, but even after replacing the lps, the first jcat card would make that weird distortion noise/sound. I decided to purchase a second one just to see if there was a difference, and sure enough there is no distortion on the second card with the new linear power supply.

Understood, all good. Come to think of it, you had to have loads of confidence in that card to order a second one in spite of issues. Distortion aside, it had to really work out for you and it's cool to read that the effect was worth the effort. Great stuff, thanks for sharing

 

[Tubewin]

Understood, all good. Come to think of it, you had to have loads of confidence in that card to order a second one in spite of issues. Distortion aside, it had to really work out for you and it's cool to read that the effect was worth the effort. Great stuff, thanks for sharing

I'm not going to say I was ecstatic about spending another 915.00+ on the same card. But when I took the first card out and connected my dac to the motherboard slot, the digital harshness/edge was very apparent. I knew I needed another card. The JS-2 and the Jcat card combo is something special. But add the net card with the optimo 3 duo... another level...

 

[ToddRaymond]

On the other hand, I'm thinking I may initially try the OPTIMU nano power supply. I eventually want to get the Net Card XE as well, somehow.

I'm a Mac user, and I plan to use an OWC Helios 3 and Helios 3S for the two cards. I will report on my findings once I have 'em.

 

[iFi audio]

But when I took the first card out and connected my dac to the motherboard slot, the digital harshness/edge was very apparent.

Exactly. Many USB accessories might not seem as much upon connecting them, but after their removal it's often surprising how much worse overall sound quality gets.