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

[Luckbad]

Going to go ahead and let go of the Rednet 3. It does sound better than the Lynx E22 and Mutec MC-3+USB, but it's big and I can't fully solve my JRiver hourly or so dropouts (though foobar2000 never has them). I'll get back on the AOIP train later.

 

[ccschua]

what is the limit of RN3 as compared to D16 ?

 

[motberg]

Is anyone using DAW software for 2 channel casual playback? Any comments on SQ vs. stuff like Foobar ?

 

[johnjen]

Progress report.
 
I just finished cooking the Mogami and Canare AES rated (110Ω) commercial grade cables and made up a 2 channel break out cable.
 
Uh, er, um…
If you have the ability to run with an AES3 connection I HIGHLY recommend you do so to compare it to SPDIF.
 
I can easily switch the inputs on my dac from spdif to AES and even after barely 1hr the differences are obvious, compelling, and emotionally involving.
My setup allows me to compare between an Oyaide DR-510 'Tweako' SPDIF cable that is well broken in and sounds wonderful and the AES3 input (that had 0 hrs on it).
 
Even before I got my 800's on my head I was hearing nuances from my $40 speakers.
 
It's like yet another veil has been removed, the focus has become significantly tighter, and I'm hearing details I've never heard before, again…
 
I can hear why Mike Moffet prefers the AES3 data path on his dacs.
 
And this is just commercial grade 110Ω cable, not the Statement Silver 'Audio' grade cable that is still being cooked and will go into service either later tonight or 1st thing tomorrow.
 
And yes these cables will get further tweaks as they settle in and I refine their implementation.
 
This situation reminds me of the truism, where you don't even know you have a veil, until it's removed.
 
And I still don't have a 'tweako' fuse installed yet.
 
JJ

 

[wushuliu]

   
I am pretty sure you will love it. I find myself listening to an entire album now instead of jumping from track to track. The noise floor is much lower and I am getting many more spacial cues. Instrument position is also more solid so on big orchestral pieces I "see" movement of the music as it is passed between instrument groups.  
 
I bought a second D16 and it comes tomorrow. It will go into my headphone system. Plan A is to remove one of my two music servers and let the remaining one use DVS to send music to both D16's. This will simplify my system and allow me to sell one music server and it's associated LPS. I already sold both of my REGEN Ambers. The only gotcha will be if my LAN has too much latency.
 
BTW. For those contemplating getting an RN 3 or RN D16 Sweetwater is great to deal with. They have demo units and if you ask them for their "best price" will sell for even less that their web price.

 
It will be interesting to compare my sd card player with its modded mess of wires and battery power. The sd player sounds amazing but kind of a pain to use. As long as the RN3 sounds as good I will be happy.
 
Especially if I'm able to use it with Hysolid streaming via ASIO...

 

[Iving]

   
I bought a second D16 and it comes tomorrow.

 
Much kudos and respect for being the first "Double D16 Owner" (doubting that you have a rival ...)

 

[RKML0007]

Rednet D16 in the house!

Here's my chain:

Early 2012 MBP > Amarra for Tidal > DVS > Cat6 > D16 > BNC > 2Qute > ZDS > HD800S

Setup went smooth - no issues. Enjoying the music deeply. It's going to take some time to get a handle on what I'm experiencing. At first I was switching back and forth between USB but after awhile I wanted to just relax and slip away with the Rednet flow. I was worried that my old laptop wouldn't cut it, but so far so good! Getting 250usec latency on the D16, 150usec is grayed out. 10msec on DVS.

Anxiously waiting to receive the @MisterRogers uber USB source kit so I can finally hear the Mutec Magic for myself and let 'em battle along with a microrendu for good measure. Also waiting for yggy to come home and make things even more interesting!

 

[somestranger26]

I posted before that I wasn't totally blown away by the sound quality from the Rednet 3, like some are posting. Since then I've made several incremental improvements to my system including replacing the fuse, adding "magic hexa" vibration footers underneath, upgrading the power cable to a Cerious Graphene Extreme, and of course it has more break in time so it should be finally settled in. I also upgraded the power cable on my DAC with a graphene extreme at the same time as I upgraded the RN power cable.
 
Now the sound quality is just incredible and yes I am blown away. The bass extends so far, so impactfully, and yet with incredible finesse. The soundstage is so immersive I finally feel like "I'm there" instead of just listening to music. I can hear the most subtle details like the artist playing the instrument (plucking the strings, hitting the drums, etc.) instead of just hearing the notes play as the end result of that action.
 
The graphene extreme power cables that @rb2013 has talked up are truly incredible. I was using Pangea AC9 on RN3 and Cabledyne Silver on my DAC before, so I wasn't upgrading from cheapos, and the improvements were immediately audible. I don't think I've ever heard such a significant difference with a cable before.
 
I have a PS Audio DirectStream DAC scheduled for arrival tomorrow which I hope elevates things to the next level. It also has an AES input unlike my Audio-GD Master-11 so I may have to try making a breakout cable like @johnjen has done.

 

[johnjen]

I just re-terminated the Silver Statement AES3 cable with a 'tweako' DB-25.
As soon as I put on the 800's, it was immediately obvious it was superior to the best of the 2 commercial grade cables.
 
But man it was a handful in getting it connected to those little DB-25 pins, and deal with the strain relief, while dealing with a rather stiff cable and even stiffer silver wires, without over heating them (melting the insulation).
Not a job for those who get frustrated easily, nor those who have little experience with such things.
 
But worth it all the way around.
 
It's just now got ≈ 1hr on it and it has already surpassed the other cables that had 3hrs on them.
 
JJ

 

[mourip]

  what is the limit of RN3 as compared to D16 ?

 
What do you have in mind by "limit"?

 

[mourip]

  I posted before that I wasn't totally blown away by the sound quality from the Rednet 3, like some are posting. Since then I've made several incremental improvements to my system including replacing the fuse, adding "magic hexa" vibration footers underneath, upgrading the power cable to a Cerious Graphene Extreme, and of course it has more break in time so it should be finally settled in. I also upgraded the power cable on my DAC with a graphene extreme at the same time as I upgraded the RN power cable.
 
Now the sound quality is just incredible and yes I am blown away. The bass extends so far, so impactfully, and yet with incredible finesse. The soundstage is so immersive I finally feel like "I'm there" instead of just listening to music. I can hear the most subtle details like the artist playing the instrument (plucking the strings, hitting the drums, etc.) instead of just hearing the notes play as the end result of that action.

 
I found that I underestimated break-in on my D16. It sounded better than my USB chain right out of the box but has now moved from merely better to "jaw dropping".

 

[mourip]

   
Much kudos and respect for being the first "Double D16 Owner" (doubting that you have a rival ...)

 
Being an audiophile and having a background in IT is a curse. I really want to see how these devices work networked across a LAN. I also like the idea of simplifying by dropping my hardware count!

 

[jabbr]

   
Being an audiophile and having a background in IT is a curse. I really want to see how these devices work networked across a LAN. I also like the idea of simplifying by dropping my hardware count!

 
 
Some nice reads:
 
https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/tech/tech3329.pdf
http://www.ravenna-network.com/app/download/12307524023/AES67+and+RAVENNA+in+a+nutshell.pdf?t=1448374458
 
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/DanteP1AXFeb2014.pdf
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/DanteP2AXMar2014.pdf
 
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/RavennaPart1AXMay2014.pdf
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/RavennaPart2AXJune2014.pdf
 
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/StandardsReview_AES67.pdf
http://www.audioxpress.com/article/AES67-2015-Revision-Confirms-Stability-of-the-Audio-Network-Interoperability-Standard
 
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/DanteDevelopmentAXFeb2016.pdf
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/AXApr2016RavennaDev.pdf
http://www.audioxpress.com/assets/upload/files/AXMay2016AES67dev.pdf

 

[mourip]

  Going to go ahead and let go of the Rednet 3. It does sound better than the Lynx E22 and Mutec MC-3+USB, but it's big and I can't fully solve my JRiver hourly or so dropouts (though foobar2000 never has them). I'll get back on the AOIP train later.

 
Did you ever try turning off the JRMC automated library scan? Also are you using the Dante ASIO driver in JRMC? 

 

[mourip]

That looks slick!! I may follow up on the plastidip -- trick is waiting enough time between coats and getting 6-7 costs so peeling is easier (if you want to go back to red).

 
Dear Focusrite,
 
If you are lurking here PLEASE consider dropping Red as the chassis color for the new audiophile two channel device that we are all hoping you will make. Also while you are listening please drop most of the front panel lights in favor of just keeping the virtual ones in the Control Panel or at least make them mutable.
 
There are serious Wife (Husband, Significant Other) Acceptance Factor (WAF) issues here and we all know that a happy spouse (Wife, Husband, Significant Other) allows new equipment purchases to proceed.
 
Thanks!
 
AOIP Lovers