Triode User
Member of the Trade: WAVE High Fidelity
The cables that came with my Blu2 were 0mm diameter. In other words I didn't get any.
The noise I'm referring to isn't a hiss. Indeed when I first heard it I thought it was something to do with the audience. When I started listening to the lossless stream I realised that it is some problem with the encoding
That sounds like you have your Qutest configured incorrectly. Last year the lossy stream was at 48KHz sampling rate - if it really is 192KHz this year, then that's quite something...
Why did you choose the Anniversary version rather than the normal ASLT? The cost is very significantly higher, which appears to be for that metal "band" that goes all the way around, the baffle finish and the base with spikes. The cost seems a bit excessive... I had thought that the spikes would justify this version, but for that price you can go up to SCM100 ASLT premium veneer.
I've been toying with the idea of ATC SCM150ASLT, but I am also wondering about Kii Three (or Kii Three BXT when it arrives). I'm not sure if I want to run a serious speaker system again, though...
I plan to use the Strada 2/TR 3D system to find out if I find speakers appealing.
I'd totally forgotten about Bandcamp as a place to buy music!Thanks. I saw it on Tidal, but I prefer the better sound quality of local files to internet streaming. I’ve since discovered that the album is available as a download from Bandcamp for £3.00.
Most free jazz and improv is never going to make it to streaming services, but there’s more available than you might think.
I didn't realise that there is an "improved" version of the amps. I've had terrible trouble getting any responses to my emails to ATC, which doesn't help.ah .. I should have been more accurate, my 50s are the straight towers (in the cheapest cherry veneer,which is lovely), but they have the anniversary amp packs. These are all discreet components and have a different and slightly less industrial heat sink. So in the scheme of things they weren’t massively more expensive than the standard ASLs, and I figured since I had a DAVE it would be worth pushing the boat out and getting the better amps. I spent a while discussing their benefits with Ben Lilley of ATC, who I trust.
The designer's preference for minimum phase, with a slowish roll-off that starts below 20KHz (for 44.1KHz audio) is theoretically troubling. But the time alignment shown in a step response is damn near perfect for a multi-driver speaker, so the DSP isn't fundamentally evil.I had had SCM100 ASLs years ago with standard amps, downsized to 25s when I moved, then went up to the 50ASLTs with Anni amps that I have now. I would find it very difficult to live without ATCs. I have heard the Kii threes, they were very disappointing.
Edited to add: plus I would have thought that Kii Threes would be a poor match for a DAVE as they have their own DACs and heavy DSP.
This sound quality problem you ascribe to Qutest has symptoms that I associate with an RF problem. If you can feed Qutest with optical that would be a quick test of whether this is an RF problem with the USB feed into Qutest. You must remove the USB connection into Qutest when trying optical to make sure that USB doesn't pollute the results of the test.Like last year's Proms I turn up the volume more via my DAC 2 with some coloration as a side effect but turn it down with Qutest because it sounds a bit harsh and shouty.
I'd totally forgotten about Bandcamp as a place to buy music!
By contrast, HD Tracks is such a disappointing place (with mostly silly prices), I normally don't even bother looking on there.
I didn't realise that there is an "improved" version of the amps. I've had terrible trouble getting any responses to my emails to ATC, which doesn't help.
The designer's preference for minimum phase, with a slowish roll-off that starts below 20KHz (for 44.1KHz audio) is theoretically troubling. But the time alignment shown in a step response is damn near perfect for a multi-driver speaker, so the DSP isn't fundamentally evil.
I'm assuming that feeding DAVE analogue into Kii 3, where the ADC operates with a sampling rate of, say, 384KHz (which is the highest rate Kii 3 accepts when fed digital, far as I can tell) would make the ADC -> DAC process innocuous for audio frequencies, as DAVE will have already output a very heavily band-limited signal, so aliasing damage should be non-existent.
The cardiod directivity is quite an eye-opener though, in theory making the speakers much less troubled by the room. Also being able to place the speakers about 10cm from the wall behind them and to tune the bass roll off to match that positioning is a big deal for room compatibility. Rooms are evil for speakers, which is why I've long been headphones-only.
I'll definitely compare Kii 3 and ATC, eventually...
This sound quality problem you ascribe to Qutest has symptoms that I associate with an RF problem. If you can feed Qutest with optical that would be a quick test of whether this is an RF problem with the USB feed into Qutest. You must remove the USB connection into Qutest when trying optical to make sure that USB doesn't pollute the results of the test.
Alternatively it might be a problem that your headphone amplifier is experiencing because you are using Qutest. e.g. the power supply for Qutest might be upsetting the amplifier. Seems unlikely to be honest.
Another test is to send music over USB to Qutest from a battery powered laptop or tablet or phone. Disconnecting the digital source from the mains removes the worst path for RF noise that can trouble Qutest.
Now playing: Alexander Hawkins, Evan Parker - Leaps in Leicester
I didn't realise that there is an "improved" version of the amps. I've had terrible trouble getting any responses to my emails to ATC, which doesn't help.
I don't want to knock somebody else's product - but sampling at 384k for sure would have problems, and these would be principally transient timing related, as well as the issues involved in adding a ADC and another DAC. I don't know anything about the Kii 3, and I guess it would be perhaps OK if it was limited to bass driver only. If it is carried through to the mid and treble, then for sure depth and transient timing ability would be severely compromised.
I don't want to knock somebody else's product - but sampling at 384k for sure would have problems, and these would be principally transient timing related, as well as the issues involved in adding a ADC and another DAC. I don't know anything about the Kii 3, and I guess it would be perhaps OK if it was limited to bass driver only. If it is carried through to the mid and treble, then for sure depth and transient timing ability would be severely compromised.
I've experienced a strange issue with the SoTM tXUSBultra when using with BluDave: the sound interrupts randomy for a moment, the screen of Dave activates (is normally blank during playback as configured as Display 4) and then the playback goes on. I've tried to change the cables, removing ferrites, power supplies - no improvement. At the end I found following working solutions:
1. removing Blu and using only Dave via USB works
2. removing the tXUSBultra from the chain works
3. using roon to upscale to max. PCM (768 kHz) works
It seems that the tXUSBultra is not fast enough to feed the Blu2?! Only if BluDave is not supposed to do the scaling at all, works as it's intended to work. Anyone with the same problem out there?
I tried to switch the USB power on/off on the back of the txUSBultra. Didn't make a difference. Do you make the Blu2 upscale?Do you put the 5V on? I also ha e txUSBultra and Blu2/Dave and never have any issue.