Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

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Thanks Ray - great write up as usual. I've always been surprised by the changes that occur from small changes to my setup. The time of day seems to change audio quality in my house. I'll see if they'll install some high amp AC sockets in my next home...

I agree about a well powered Chromecast as a great all-in solution for Roon users. The NUC endpoint with Audiolinux is slightly improved over Chromecast but isn't really consumer ready....

Again thanks for your insight.

Outstanding review!

Ray - have you had chance yet to try your SR4 with this setup?

@STR-1 I have! SR4-19 (@15V) has a huge positive impact powering the HMS (vs PP2 battery). It also has a huge positive SQ impact when powering the end point NUC @ 19V, with the HMS on PP2 battery. I slightly prefer the NUC End Point on PP2 @ 19V + SR4 @ 15V on HMS combo, to the NUC on SR4 @ 19V and HMS on PP2 @ 16V combo. Alas, I don't have 2 SR4's to see what the marginal lift is by running both the end point and HMS on SR4's.

I just read the entire post and I am extremely impressed with your knowledge, patience and fortitude to conduct these numerous tests.
It wasn’t clear to me what device is powering the Dave DAC. I have a NUC running Roon software and I am planning on purchasing either the TT2 or the Dave with the M-Scaler.

Audio Bacon reviewed some BCN Cables last year connected between the Dave and the Blu Mk. 2 transport.
https://audiobacon.net/2018/08/11/the-audiophiles-short-list-the-best-digital-coaxial-cables/
I know you used some homemade cables at one point but I am wondering how using higher quality cables would compare to your set up.

A lot less boxes if nothing else. I wonder whether there would be an additional sound benefit of adding some of these high quality cables to your system. The price of course would increase substantially, For example, the recommended (among others) Snake River Boomslang cables at $595 a piece would be an extra $2,380 as you would need four of them.

Thank you @slingshot80 for wading through the tome! I have auditioned the WAVE BNC cables and was very impressed. They improved upon my Ferrited Cable of Shame. I have not had an opportunity to audition other high end BNC cables, but would welcome that opportunity.

I did not have the WAVE cables on hand when I got the ODX so I could not directly compare. With ODX, I could still hear an improvement with my FCOS when I was running the RX module on the SMPS. When I started powering it with the LPS 1.2, I could no longer hear a difference between the stock Chord cables and my FCOS. After that, I have not put too much attention into BNC cables, but more into cleaning up other parts of my system.

Audio Bacon gave the Wave Storm Troopers it “Finest Cut” award. Not cheap though at $2,125 a pair. Is this the one you tested? They have two cheaper models: the Stream at 895 pounds and the Stone at 495 pounds. Interestingly, the picture of the Stream shows it connected to the M-Scaler https://www.wavehighfidelity.com/storm-1/wave-storm-bnc-cable-cane3

Audio Bacon stated: Tonally, the Boomslang is slotted in-between both the dCBL-BNC75 ($700 for each cable) and Storm Reference – with the SOtM being more resolving, quick, and transparent and the Storm Reference being more impactful and dense. For those with similar palates, one of these three will work well in your system. Seems like the Boomslang may be the Goldilocks’ pick, just right.