[milkdudd]

Well UAPP is good still for mqa full decoders if u haven't bought the plug in. U have the opportunity to compare both. Which I can't. U have to go through the rounds of optimizing UAPP too which can be rewarding. Proper buffer/Cache size always important.

Also local file playback has been non-functional for me on mconnect. So I only use it for tidal.

Again, thanks for your help it's very much appreciated. And while I will continue to work with UAPP, I am still confused as to which version of Mconnect I would want to download. I guess my choice is between "Player" and "Player HD" is this correct and which one would you suggest? Thanks again, I'd be lost without this forum and your guys help. Again I should state it's an Android phone not tablet

 

[801evan]

Again, thanks for your help it's very much appreciated. And while I will continue to work with UAPP, I am still confused as to which version of Mconnect I would want to download. I guess my choice is between "Player" and "Player HD" is this correct and which one would you suggest? Thanks again, I'd be lost without this forum and your guys help. Again I should state it's an Android phone not tablet

I just bought the upgrade and didn't bother with comparing once I see it was functioning. I have also since moved to using a zen stream and mconnect works with that and since UAPP is not a UPNP, I can't use it anymore. I prefer it over HQplayer/pggb solutions.

 

[milkdudd]

I just bought the upgrade and didn't bother with comparing once I see it was functioning. I have also since moved to using a zen stream and mconnect works with that and since UAPP is not a UPNP, I can't use it anymore. I prefer it over HQplayer/pggb solutions.

Okay thanks so much for all of your help

 

[milkdudd]

I want to post this update in case anyone else has the same issue. It turns out the A22 can only process MQA through the USB input. I'm a little bummed because now I will have to connect the U18 to the A22 with a USB cable instead of i2s. I think that's still better than not using the U18. Do those of you who know a lot more about this stuff than I do agree with that? If yes, would

I want to use a 1.5 m long cable to avoid "reflections"? As always, thanks in advance

Edit: I just looked closer at the U18 and I'm a bit shocked to see it doesn't have a USB out.

The attached screenshot is from Aoshida. I see there's an asterisk next to the statement. Anyone know if this could be incorrect and one of the other connections supports MQA?

 

[801evan]

I want to post this update in case anyone else has the same issue. It turns out the A22 can only process MQA through the USB input. I'm a little bummed because now I will have to connect the U18 to the A22 with a USB cable instead of i2s. I think that's still better than not using the U18. Do those of you who know a lot more about this stuff than I do agree with that? If yes, would I want to use a 1.5 m long cable to avoid "reflections"? As always, thanks in advance

Edit: I just looked closer at the U18 and I'm a bit shocked to see it doesn't have a USB out.
The attached screenshot is from Aoshida. I see there's an asterisk next to the statement. Anyone know if this could be incorrect and one of the other connections supports MQA?

Oh that's right. Only the new ess chips takes in mqa via spdif. I don't think the new ones take in on i2s even due to the nature of the format. I love my ifi diablo and I still needed to buy a zen sig one to enjoy mqa via spdif. It's still relatively new where DACs can take in mqa via spdif. I2S, i haven't checked on that yet.

 

[Rantenti]

Yes I’ve a Wireworld Starlight 7 on order for the I2S….. For the USB the best I’ve used is Gothic Audio Semperfi “The Outsider” pure silver….. Noticeably better than the Curious Evolved.

Indeed, very often silver cables sound better.
May I ask what other silver USB cables have you tried apart from the Gothic Outsider and what are your impressions?

 

[Matthew Willims]

Indeed, very often silver cables sound better.
May I ask what other silver USB cables have you tried apart from the Gothic Outsider and what are your impressions?

That’s the only pure silver USB cable I’ve tried. The others have all been coax or I2S cables, also clock cables…. Surprisingly I’ve found for I2S I much prefer Audiolund XTreme…. Tinned copper cables. These should theoretically be appalling for a digital cable but in practice they just add a certain richness and naturalness with improved timbre on human voices.

 

[Metron]

Hi everyone,
Has anyone compared the Gustard U18 with the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 and iFi Micro iUSB? I'm also particularly interested on their toslink and coax output, not IIS.
Regards,

 

[doitttt]

Matrix X-SPDIF 2, not so good
iFi Micro iUSB ,is waste of money , does not provide ,anything for usb

right now I am, by trying topping d10 balance.
it was a surprise how good the sound is
in relation to gustard u18
topping d10 balance has jitter at 10ps measured on ap-x555
almost as good as Audiophilleo
the best of the whole topping d10 balance costs 130dollars
or 123 euro

 

[Metron]

Matrix X-SPDIF 2, not so good
iFi Micro iUSB ,is waste of money , does not provide ,anything for usb

right now I am, by trying topping d10 balance.
it was a surprise how good the sound is
in relation to gustard u18
topping d10 balance has jitter at 10ps
almost as good as Audiophilleo
the best of the whole topping d10 balance costs 130dollars
or 123 euro

Thanks for your reply. I’ve watched two reviews from established audio YT channels, and D10s was clearly making sound worse, and iFi was making a very marked improvement. My question was in relation to U18.

 

[iFi audio]

and iFi was making a very marked improvement.

That's the consistent feedback we've been getting. Very few people were unhappy with it micro iUSB3.0, but to clarify, the noisier a USB line is, the more that reclocker/regenerator does.

 

[doitttt]

relation to gustard u18 and between topping d10 balance it is straightforward.
topping d10s in ratio, topping d10 balance
topping d10 balance improved a lot, signal noise ratio, has come up to 121db, 6db improved, as well as jitter come down with 10 db -160db
gustard u18 has an advantage using xmos 216
here are review
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/topping-d10-balanced-review-usb-dac.25094/

 

[doitttt]

to ifi audio
micro iUSB3.0, are waste of money
I found another solution.
idefender as well as xpower, for the laptop, I use it, now use now.
clean power, are key words here

 

[Metron]

That's the consistent feedback we've been getting. Very few people were unhappy with it micro iUSB3.0, but to clarify, the noisier a USB line is, the more that reclocker/regenerator does.

The problem with iFi is that it is not easy at all to find it. Is it discontinued?

 

[Matthew Willims]

Moved to a Soundaware D300REF recently.... After about 4 days burn in it's already equaling what I was getting with my LPS powered mini PC, Gustard U18 + Afterdark Emperor Double Crown OCXO clock..... Far more expensive though it turns out worth the extra $. I'll be adding an Afterdark 3 output Emperor Double Crown to the mix in the coming weeks as well which should improve things still further.

But yeah, loved my U18 but the D300REF at about 4x the cost is clearly the better performer..... Likely because the Roon Bridge is built in though I find the USB input to be every bit as good also.