1m is totally fine for i2s. There's a couple schools of thought on digital: one saying shortest is best, the other saying 1.5m is ideal to avoid reflections. Personally, I'm a Tubulus Concentus fan -- once received there was 0 desire to try anything else. On the cheaper end, the Furutech...

Interesting, good idea on bypassing the brass & using a star ground. I have mine connected to a dedicated ground box, but no star grounding as of right now. I'll have to try putting it on the SR Active Ground Block, since that's a star ground. Litz is a good idea, or even cheap pre-braided IEM...

I'll take observed & repeatable experiences with my magic boxes over a random-internet-person's credential wagging every day of the week. I'm just here to improve my stereo & have some fun in the process. Not sure what's going on in your head, but you took an off-the-cuff joke wayyyy too...

I've tried a number of so-called "perfect" USB devices. Many were good, none have offered complete immunity IME. I respect that may not be everyone's experience, hence my recommendation to test in your own system.

@SecretAgent cite your sources please.

Same dudes who wouldn't believe how piezoelectricity is used in a simple quartz watch. Or their dac....or computer....

Some people prefer I2S over USB on Holo products, others don't hear a difference. The majority seem to use USB. I'd worry about the quality of the source more than the output format, and try to demo a couple different devices to see if you notice any improvements. And don't forget I2S vs USB...

@Ian S thanks for providing that level of detail on both parts lists & pics!

I upgraded to 1401 on this morning. I don't remember what version from, but it was probably about 3 months old. Very pleasantly surprised with the SQ uptick.

@George Hincapie you really got in the time machine, went back two years, took that post out of the context of the discussion and wildly misinterpreted the point. I wasn't bashing anything in that post. Different means different, nothing more nothing less. I happily own both Denafrips and...

You need to open the power supply chassis to change two voltage switches. It's easier than it looks. This guide should help https://www.kitsunehifi.com/quick-instructions-on-how-to-open-the-spring-dac-chassis/

Link-up cat8 on Amazon is a nice, weighty budget option. I've been considering messing around with other, more expensive options than the Furutech cable, but more out of pure curiosity than anything. No complaints or feeling like anything is missing with the Furutech cable.

I use Furutech lan8 ncf

Going to drop this here since it's relevant to the spirit of the thread: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9732234B2/en

Are those the 50 or 70? I have a couple sets of EQ's under server & Spring 3. They're a slam dunk for me, just needed a day to settle in after arrival. Way more detail, better soundstage, no tonal aberrations. A set of the speaker isolators is pretty high up on my want list. Let us know how...

Similar things have been discussed in the Taiko thread over on WBF. IIRC they prefer the ipad too, possibly narrowed down to a specific generation.

Not sure if your smelling what I'm stepping in, but I'm referencing a different protocol that uses two AES inputs together as a single digital input. Denafrips has this option on their flagship. That aside, I'm really not sure what other digital inputs you want on the Pontus. You keep...

The Terminator has a mode for dual AES from their DDCs. Not sure if that's the case with the Pontus too, or not. Either way, it has pretty much all the popular digital inputs covered.

@cdacosta I was planning on using one of the SSD's mounting screws. One of the other things I need to do is chassis ground the LPS that feeds the Jcat card and SSD. In that sense, you could view my server as a 3 box solution, with the main chassis, Plixir LPS, and unregulated LPS that feeds...

I just added a ground cable to the unused USB XE output and got a pretty immediate improvement. I think there's a good takeaway -- even if you have any of your mobo usb/ethernet port/chassis ground on a ground box, add another wire from your USB card to the same ground box. Unless I'm...

The tranquility pod carbon is what got me into SR (besides the fuses which I've been using since Purple came out). They go on or under a component and just crank up the soundstage, dynamics, musicality and tangible aspect (in my speaker setup). There was a used Tranquility Pod on TMR, so I...

I was able to pick up a used Synergistic Research Active Ground Block SE today. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to my DIY boxes, and if certain things work better on one vs the other. I'm starting with my two tranquility pods, motherboard usb & server's LPS chassis ground on the...

@dougms3 I held off for a good year or two on making SGW cables, thinking the improvement wouldn't match up to the price compared to all the other options. I regret having waited now, and have something like 5 of them powering the jcat card, singxer, 2 switches and a tranquility pod.

I make my DC cables similarly to that ghent-- 15.5awg Mundorf sgw in jssg360. Beats neotech copper, Gotham, vh audio, etc

@Progisus thanks for the input, but I'm more interested in firsthand observations & experience.