Audiobyte Hydra Stack: Hydra.Vox + Hydra.Hub + Hydra Zap

[DrDen]

…With I2s you need a DDC that could support Rockna I2S protocol. Like an Singxer SU-6.

Not necessarily. My Vox has three I2S configurations in its menu, including PS Audio.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Yeah forgot about it...

 

[Beanieboo1113]

@Beanieboo1113

I you want upsampling...suggesting go to Roon + HQplayer or JPlayer IOS + HQplayer route. And ditch the HUB.

With updates, VOX via USB or I2S can go DSD512/PCM768. With USB is just straight from your computer. With I2s you need a DDC that could support Rockna I2S protocol. Like an Singxer SU-6.

For USB, a reclocker/regenerator would be good like LHY Audio's UIP or a used Innuous Phoienix USB (better).

Thank you Mickey. I have read the entire thread and your posts specifically and considered the Singxer SU-6. I am glad that there is consensus on the redundancy of the Hub. I think I will give an extensive listen and enjoy the Aurender, and will eventually get the Singxer SU unit when it appears for the right price, and try the upsampling path as an alternative. I can always use the Aurender with my second Ayon system.

 

[Beanieboo1113]

Not necessarily. My Vox has three I2S configurations in its menu, including PS Audio.

Pardon my ignorance, are the configurations firmware dependent? And how do access them? What are the alternatives to the Singxer?

 

[DrDen]

Pardon my ignorance, are the configurations firmware dependent? And how do access them? What are the alternatives to the Singxer?

Yes, initially there wasn’t that option, if I remember correctly. I’ve been owning my unit for two years, never updated the firmware.

 

[Beanieboo1113]

Yes, initially there wasn’t that option, if I remember correctly. I’ve been owning my unit for two years, never updated the firmware.

Больше спасибо. Сегодня же и проверю. У меня похоже последняя версия 1.53.

 

[nikolaindigo]

Ahh I appreciate it. I will just stick with my Aurender unit. It sounds fantastic. Not sure yet whether to go Coax or USB. Some suggest that the Coax on my aurender is better than the isolated USB. But that is beside the point.
So DSD on? I will try both ways again. I went the DSD "on' rout only because it makes sense to eliminate the redundant features to achieve theoretically best sound quality. Having had the unit for a few days and my ears along with my preferences haven't settled yet. Not enough time spent comparing. On the one hand I gravitate to DSD 'on" on the other Off sounds more open. I could very well be confusing openness with something else.

For the connection I lean more towards USB but you must try it for yourself. AB has it implemented perfectly. Both of my friends who have AB are on USB connection. One of them switched to Rockna Wavedream not so long ago. I have been on I2S (HDMI) for over 10 years. I had 2 coax to try at a price of around 250 euros, so I can't say that I gained a lot of experience with that one. As for cables and connections I struggled for almost a year to somehow reach the sound of my friends and only recently did I succeed with a quality I2S cable. That was a really weak link for me even though I had and tried cables that people said were good. From my new experience the quality of the digital cable is crucial for the system to give it's best. But that's a different topic and people break spears on that subject. I can only say that with my new cable AB plays much better than when I tried Rockna Wavedream at my place with my ex I2S. And much bigger differences than some upsampling gave to me. As for the settings on the VOX I prefer linear and DSD on. This gives me the widest and deepest soundstage which is crucial to my music taste. My colleagues use the hybrid option on both the AB and Rockna.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

AES/EBU or SPDIF from me coming from my SU-6 at PCM384 w/ Hybrid option.

 

[Beanieboo1113]

For the connection I lean more towards USB but you must try it for yourself. AB has it implemented perfectly. Both of my friends who have AB are on USB connection. One of them switched to Rockna Wavedream not so long ago. I have been on I2S (HDMI) for over 10 years. I had 2 coax to try at a price of around 250 euros, so I can't say that I gained a lot of experience with that one. As for cables and connections I struggled for almost a year to somehow reach the sound of my friends and only recently did I succeed with a quality I2S cable. That was a really weak link for me even though I had and tried cables that people said were good. From my new experience the quality of the digital cable is crucial for the system to give it's best. But that's a different topic and people break spears on that subject. I can only say that with my new cable AB plays much better than when I tried Rockna Wavedream at my place with my ex I2S. And much bigger differences than some upsampling gave to me. As for the settings on the VOX I prefer linear and DSD on. This gives me the widest and deepest soundstage which is crucial to my music taste. My colleagues use the hybrid option on both the AB and Rockna.

Last night I have been trying both Coax using Kimber Kable KCAG and an unknown USB cable my audiophile friend told me was good. I preferred the USB path. Broader sound stage, more details and the music in general had more life to it. That was my perception. I am going to keep it this way for no and listen in this mode. I also kept the DSD "on". I find it is the most optimal way, as I do believe in a power of subtraction. Redundancies in my opinion have to be eliminated. I am planning to experiment with a different USB cable. Currently looking at different ones trying to decide based on what garners more accolades within a specific price range. Perhaps you can speak from experience. I would be interested in hearing your opinion. Eventually may try a USB reclocker as well suggested by Mickey. However, given that my Aurender is a high quality piece, I am a bit apprehensive. I do want to try the I2S also. Perhaps with the Singxer SU-6 eventually, as the least expensive option among others. If the effect of the latter is substantial I might consider a more expensive piece with the factor of diminishing returns in mind.

 

[Beanieboo1113]

AES/EBU or SPDIF from me coming from my SU-6 at PCM384 w/ Hybrid option.

I thought SPDIF had limitations with DSD.

 

[Beanieboo1113]

Last night I was trying to get DSD to play by trying to switch on the "DSD over PCA' function on the Aurender. It kept telling me that my DAC is not equipped to handle DSD. Then it continued to say that if not so, then I should contact the support. I found it strange. Has anyone had something similar with DSD playback?

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

I thought SPDIF had limitations with DSD.

On SU-6 SPDIF annd AES/EBU can support upto DSD128 / PCM384.

 

[kenny518646]

Got my vox/zap stack few months ago, I've heard life of the supercapacitor in ZAP is not long...
Anyone has the stack is from early production met issue with the component life?
Do you recommend to shutdown the vox or unplug the power cord when not using it?
thanks

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Last April I had a problem with my AB stack shutting down and recharging once in a while. The culprit was the charging module. Supercapictors were tested and it was OK with both HUB and ZAP togther (thought it was the culprit).

 

[nikolaindigo]

Last night I have been trying both Coax using Kimber Kable KCAG and an unknown USB cable my audiophile friend told me was good. I preferred the USB path. Broader sound stage, more details and the music in general had more life to it. That was my perception. I am going to keep it this way for no and listen in this mode. I also kept the DSD "on". I find it is the most optimal way, as I do believe in a power of subtraction. Redundancies in my opinion have to be eliminated. I am planning to experiment with a different USB cable. Currently looking at different ones trying to decide based on what garners more accolades within a specific price range. Perhaps you can speak from experience. I would be interested in hearing your opinion. Eventually may try a USB reclocker as well suggested by Mickey. However, given that my Aurender is a high quality piece, I am a bit apprehensive. I do want to try the I2S also. Perhaps with the Singxer SU-6 eventually, as the least expensive option among others. If the effect of the latter is substantial I might consider a more expensive piece with the factor of diminishing returns in mind.

From my experience I already knew that a quality digital cable can contribute a lot but it was difficult to get and try a more expensive I2S model before buying. There are simply not many of them on the market and they are more complicated to build. On the forums discussions about I2S cables led to the highest AQ model and the model below it...dragon and firebird. I couldn't get and try those models here before buy and they were too expensive for my budget anyway. Nowadays it's a big risk to buy AQ in SH because there are a lot of fake products. After those 2 models the next one often mentioned was Tubulus Concentus I2S. I finally decided on it and managed to find it at a good price in SH after a year of searching. The cable is excellent. It also sells easily and quickly so I didn't consider it a big risk when buying. As for USB cables all my friends use one of our local small constructor from Croatia. He makes the best USB we've tried from all Croatian cable manufacturers. It may not be the best cable manufacturer but in the USB segment it's certainly the best we've found so far. In comparison its mid-range model beaten the AQ Diamond. All my friends use his best Titan model, but the lower Purple is very close. I have that mid-range USB model Black which was already better than the AQ Diamond and used it for a laptop and it's great and not as expensive as the best ones. I've used various copper I2S/HDMI cables before...MPS HD-230, MPS HD-280, Pangea Premier and Ricable Supreme. Ricable was the best all-arounder for all genres till I got Tubulus. I like SS amps more than tubes or SS power + tube preamp so I like copper in my system...like old Cardas Golden Cross...but only Tubulus made a huge difference for me. I believe there are also good copper I2S cables but I haven't had the chance to try them. As for the I2S/USB difference on the AB VOX it's either non-existent or insignificant. The difference is made by a better-designed digital cable. Nimak cables are all silver. Higher models use litz wire diferent diameters and are more suitable for tube based systems like my friends have. While the middle models use a solid wire of different diameters and are more suited to the SS because they give more body in the sound. In the end everything is a matter of preference and the matching system. Sorry for my long reply!