I have a Yggdrasil, and suspect a good deal of the perceived inferiority of the SE outputs lies in their levels being so much lower than the balanced outs. This can be compensated for, of course, but we're talking about perception. Yggy's balanced output is very hot. It's also very, very...

Would a remote-driven – but not relay-switched – volume control fit this chassis class? I drive a Yggy+Ragnarok at home, but am licking my chops at the potential of a new Bifrost+Joutenheim pairing. Sized properly for a work surface, portable enough for offsite travel... Add up/down volume...

It seems unwise to rule out phenomena without attempting to observe them. Evidence begets theory, not the other way around. (Though it's astounding how many scientists forget this.) I've enjoyed many a sublime moment as a result of Baldr's creations, specifically the Yggdrasil. His efforts have...

Ah, I see. Thank you, Marshall Hance, that's a fantastic article.

Baldr, can you elaborate? I thought A=432 when C=256, and vice versa, given an equal temperament.

  Baldr, please design and product that USB isolator! If it's as important as you suggest I'm sure there will be many willing buyers.   As for S/PDIF conversion, I have a nice external box that does this now. However, it still brings all the complexity of any USB-connected DAC: sample rate...

  Question: what DAC IC does Meridian use in the Explorer? Or the Ultra, for that matter. I cannot find this documented anywhere on their site. The Explorer page mentions an XMOS chip – is that the DAC, or just for DSP and/or USB interface?   Does Meridian craft its own custom DAC ICs, like...

  Thanks. Then it's accurate to say MQA-quality isn't available on mobile, which for me is the operational fact that matters. One can listen to MQA through a PC or by using external components, but not via the mobile device itself.   FWIW, I really want MQA on my phone. I'm sure it would...

Thank you, good to know. To be sure I understand:   1. MQA tracks are not labeled or indicated as such in Tidal Mobile. 2. One cannot listen to MQA-quality audio (> 44/48 SR) directly through a phone via Tidal Mobile. Correct?

Unless I am mistaken MQA tracks are not available through Tidal Mobile. 

Well, I'm willing to endure MQA so long as we have pure software players/decoders which perform the first unfolding and output bog-standard PCM.   Why? Because 1) the first unfolding gets us past the sub-standard redbook layer; 2) software decoding means we can ignore this 'authorized...

  Consider letting buyers of compatible products upgrade to Chtulu in lieu of the stock wall wart. The win: less waste.

  https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/whats-in-subways-chicken-hint-maybe-only-50-chicken/

  It's certainly true that USB is an equal-opportunity bit-carrier.   (hmm, not sure if that's righteous or highly infectious)   Baldr, since you are so familiar with the various digital audio carriers, and express such firm opinions regarding their merits, would you be open to going into...

  Jason is, of course, right: you can and should audition to determine for yourself. What follows are my own impressions.   I run my Yggdrasil into a Ragnarok, which affords the ability to simultaneously connect and quickly switch between SE and balanced outputs. Further, I'm able to audition...

– Given: MQA has a Redbook-quality layer that can deliver PCM data to any DAC.    (some have reported this layer doesn't deliver full 16/44 quality, but alas)   – Question 1: do ALL of the higher-quality (greater than Redbook) MQA streams require an MQA-certified/equipped/impregnated DAC...

  If it's a streaming service one is not allowed to choose what internal format is used. A recurring subscription fee already pays for a number of different royalties – what's one more? Either way, it's not a decision we get to weigh-in on.     Where it does impact me is in what hardware am I...

Thank you! So, only recordings at a 4x sample rate will require MQA hardware for decoding, but 2x can be converted to PCM – correct?  If so, I can live with that.

It has not been released yet. But my question is more general than any single player. If allowed to translate MQA to PCM, software could bridge the gap between a proprietary format (MQA) and standards-based DACs. The question is: will MQA allow this?   I know MQA have discussed a (mandatory?)...

A potentially naive MQA question: Audirvana+, my software player of choice, announced MQA support in an upcoming version. As a Yggy owner, with zero desire to jump ship, what will this mean for me? Specifically:   – Will A+ be decoding all MQA streams into PCM, or only a subset? – Does all...

crazychile and ColdMrFire, you are talking about two different things. The scope and 'mission' of THX morphed over its lifetime.    I would argue that THX jumped a sizable chasm in the move from certifying in-cinema audio to licensing their brand to CE manufacturers. It's still fundamentally...

  I'll bite: yikes! Is PSAudio in trouble? $600 for USB-over-Cat5 is... a lot. And it's still susceptible to any artifacts the OS chooses to inject. Garbage in, garbage out (along with six Benjamins).

Can somebody with a V2 tell us whether its pads will fit onto a V1?

  Guess I hadn't noticed this splashy page on their site, just news from earlier this year (CES?). Still isn't listed under 'Products', though.

Whoa, what's with this?  http://hifiman.com/shangri-la/index.html   Electrostats from HiFiMan... has the release been formally announced?