AUDIO over IP - REDNET 3 & 16 Review. AES67 Sets A New Standard for Computer Audio

[motberg]

I think SOTA USB actually requires serious attention to the computer itself, especially power supply, and always some type of galvanic isolation in the path.

 

[Tand2016]

  I think SOTA USB actually requires serious attention to the computer itself, especially power supply, and always some type of galvanic isolation in the path.

I agree. On my Mac mini i7 2011 I use the UpTone JS-2 and MMF (fant controll). I dismounted the HD drives and booted with a 32 gb SD card,  simplified the processes with CAD Optimizer 1.3 Script. All this helped a lot on the mini and combined this emoved some blur and background noise.
 
The FMCs also helped but not as much as the UpTone JS-2 and MMF.

 

[Tand2016]

dCS has released their Network Bridge. 
 
 "It receives audio via UPnP, Apple Airplay, Spotify Connect, TIDAL and other sources and outputs bit perfect au-dio in a form that a legacy dCS DAC can use, and that’s really what we are try-ing to achieve."
 
Not the same as the Rednet and I would guess a much higher price than my lovely 16 R.

 
https://www.tapatalk.com/topic/65634-audioshark/10478-dcs-has-just-introduced-the-network-bridge

 

[rb2013]

I think SOTA USB actually requires serious attention to the computer itself, especially power supply, and always some type of galvanic isolation in the path.

Galvanic isolation comes free with AOIP

 

[joelha]

   
I added fiber to my setup a week or so ago but started with it between my switch and my PC. My PC has two ethernet ports with one dedicated to DVS. I cannot say this made a difference.
 
A couple of days ago I moved the two FMC's and the fiber connection to the link between my PC and my D16. This made a difference although it was subtle.
 
This afternoon I replace the supplied SMPS to the FMC that is on the D16 end of the link with 9V from my HDPlex LPS. This made a noticeable positive difference, giving me a cleaner sound and more distinct instrument positioning.
 
Thanks for letting us know about your own experimentation.

Hey Paul,
 
I'm wondering how far apart you've placed your D16 from from your PC.
 
Mine is only about five feet apart and I'm wondering whether optical cable could make much of a difference over such a short span.
 
I have the FMC's and linear power supplies to give all of this a try but wanted your opinion.
 
Also, how far away from the D16 and PC are you placing your FMC's?
 
Thanks in advance for the information.
 
Joel

 

[mourip]

  Hey Paul,
 
I'm wondering how far apart you've placed your D16 from from your PC.
 
Mine is only about five feet apart and I'm wondering whether optical cable could make much of a difference over such a short span.
 
I have the FMC's and linear power supplies to give all of this a try but wanted your opinion.
 
Also, how far away from the D16 and PC are you placing your FMC's?
 
Thanks in advance for the information.
 
Joel

 
My D16 is basically sitting on top of my PC/Server. I do not think that distance is the culprit as in an opportunity for interference to be induced on the cable from the environment. I think that the fiber basically stops cable noise that may come along regular CAT5/6 cable from the PC dead in it's tracks.
 
Experiment an see. I just have an LPS feeding the D16 side of the fiber link. Currently the FMC's are not too tidy.
 
To be honest this tweak was only minimally noticeable in my own system.
 
JABBR is the LAN isolation king so hopefully he will weigh in.

 

[joelha]

   
My D16 is basically sitting on top of my PC/Server. I do not think that distance is the culprit as in an opportunity for interference to be induced on the cable from the environment. I think that the fiber basically stops cable noise that may come along regular CAT5/6 cable from the PC dead in it's tracks.
 
JABBR is the LAN isolation king so hopefully he will weigh in.

Paul,
 
What took you so long for that response?
 
Thanks for that.
 
How close do you place the FMC's to the D16 and your PC?
 
Thanks again.

Joel

 

[mourip]

The FMC's are currently a couple of feet away but I am probably going to buy some 1 foot ethernet cable and put them closer to each end.

 

[johnjen]

I am running an FMC setup with rather short cat5e cables on both ends and an LPS powering the RN3 end.
The computer FMC is sitting on top of my Mac using a ≈ 2' cable and the FMC unit that feeds my RN3 is sitting right beside it using a ≈1' cable.
 
I agree this FMC setup is subtle but what I hear is, it contributes moar of what the RN3 brings to the party.
 
And while ethernet does employ galvanic isolation for the data lines there is still wire connecting one device to another.
These FMC's completely break this metal link between one end and the other.
Perhaps it's the lack of susceptibility to RF or EMI or some such, but that any change is noticed, let alone is considered an improvement, is telling in and of itself.
 
JJ

 

[Tboooe]

I don't know if there will be any comparing with Mivera Audio.
Mivera Audio is going to be a 100% closed brand system.

Hi guys. Just getting up to speed on audio over ip and planning to take the plunge soon.

Anyway, I wanted to ask about the statement I quoted above. I thought the upcoming Superstream Pro (Ravenna) can be used with any server using the virtual sound card. Additionally, can't the Superstream Pro output to any DAC as well?

 

[Iving]

http://www.redsharksound.com/studio/item/104-genelec-8430a-first-ever-aes67-audio-over-ip-in-a-studio-monitor

 

[jabbr]

Hi guys. Just getting up to speed on audio over ip and planning to take the plunge soon.

Anyway, I wanted to ask about the statement I quoted above. I thought the upcoming Superstream Pro (Ravenna) can be used with any server using the virtual sound card. Additionally, can't the Superstream Pro output to any DAC as well?

 
These are some quotes from the MIvera Audio forum in respons to my questions or as general announcements.
Their product propositions still change on a daily basis.

From Mike:
Looks like we're going to ditch the option of no internal storage with the Superserve. And increase the storage option up to 16tb. That should be enough for anyone. So storage options will be:
6/8/12/16tb.
This is the only way to ensure 100% perfect reliability. This takes all outside variables out of the equation. Folks who want to use a NAS can go for our free OS download.

 
So it is no longer an option to use your own NAS unless you go with their general non-optimised Linux OS for the (home build) server.
 
 
In my questions to Mike (and also in my statement in my previous post here) I was refering to the PureStream Pro DAC (with the internal Ravenna board) (by mistake I said SuperStream in my question but meant PureStream and Mike answered it for the PureStream) which can apparently only communicate with a SuperStream Pro (with the Ravenna board in the Pro Interface Box).
I was looking at the option to buy/try the PureStream Pro DAC on its own as I don't have any need / wish for a SuperStream streamer device.
Apparently that isn't possible. The PureStream Pro DAC is fed a DSD256 signal. But the PureStream Pro DAC apparently doesn't accept just any DSD256 signal via Ravenna. The 1-bit stream might be based a non-standard word clock:
 

Question:
the PureStream Pro (having an internal Ravenna board) will take input from any Ravenna VSC as long as it is in DSD256 format?
 
Mike replied:
It all depends on what we end up upsampling to. It might end up being 33.33mhz. The Superblock system will be built to work with the Superserve.
 

The SuperBlock system/stack is the system that the PureStream Pro is part of, it is the system/stack that is based on the Ravenna protocol. The other systems/stacks are not.
 
I find that Mike makes this whole product proposition extremely confusing and intransparent, by not giving any insight in what product use what protocols and how they may be connected with products outside of his own brand.
He is looking to sell only complete stacks of servers, streamers and dacs. Just buying a single product is not an option because I believe they use all non-standard protocols or protocol implementations.
Their VSC will run only AudioLinux OS images, which I don't have any interest in using.
 
Other Ravenna VSC may not have the right frequency signal if I understand his response correctly.
 
All extremely confusing and focused on a closed brand topology.

 

[Tboooe]

 
 
I find that Mike makes this whole product proposition extremely confusing and intransparent, by not giving any insight in what product use what protocols and how they may be connected with products outside of his own brand.
 
 
All extremely confusing and focused on a closed brand topology.

Thank you jabbr.  I totally agree its very confusing.  I am mainly interested in the proposed Ravenna Pro device which according to Mike's post on CA yesterday, sounds similar to the Rednet.  Interestingly, that post describing the Ravenna Pro as well as his other posts are now deleted at CA.  I do not know Mike but it seems he keeps getting banned from sites???
 
Anyway, from what I read of the Ravenna Pro it sounds like it will have multiple outputs and the option to upgrade the clock.  A VSC will be supplied that runs on Windows or Mac.  Right now, its all a pipe dream but the Ravenna Pro does sound like exactly what I am looking for in terms of audio over ip.  

 

[mourip]

  Thank you jabbr.  I totally agree its very confusing.  I am mainly interested in the proposed Ravenna Pro device which according to Mike's post on CA yesterday, sounds similar to the Rednet.  Interestingly, that post describing the Ravenna Pro as well as his other posts are now deleted at CA.  I do not know Mike but it seems he keeps getting banned from sites???

 
I am glad that someone else said that. He has pretty much taken over a thread on CA for "USB vs Ethernet" and has turned it into a confusing marketing thread for his next product. I have seen it happen a bunch of times on CA where someone will announce a product months or almost a year before it comes out to keep interest up until they bring it to market.

 

[Tboooe]

The Mivera Ravenna Pro product does sound like a solid Rednet alternative though.  Its supposed to be released before the Xmas.  I will wait until then but if its still vaporware at that time I will get the Rednet.  This gives me time to start saving my pennies!