Hugo M Scaler by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread

[Jawed]

I hven't been in this forum for a long time and just realised my old signature and have been updated now. Next upgrade will also include a nice streamer.

If you haven't tried optical from the Node, then it's definitely worthwhile.

 

[Triode User]

I hven't been in this forum for a long time and just realised my old signature and have been updated now. Next upgrade will also include a nice streamer.

The Bluesound Node N130 is not too shabby but in stock form it can easily be bettered. It might be worthwhile investigating installing one of the power supply interface boards which is what I did. This enables one to use an external LPS and I and many others have found this to be beneficial to the sound quality of the Bluesound Node. In the UK they are available by searching for ‘Bluesound Node interface’ on ebay. There is a UK company doing them and also a Polish one. There may be others as well.

 

[LCMusicLover]

I am new to TT2.
I tested MScaler with Susvara yesterday and my ears weren’t able to tell the difference between the pass through and the highest scaling.
Will using speaker system have more noticeable different in sound?

I'm relatively new to owning mScaler/TT2. When I first auditioned them, I used my Plenue II as a source via optical out. And the sound was immediately compelling. But I didn't compare mScaler upscaling to bypass until later.

I would call the impact of the mScaler subtle. There's no obvious '... but now I hear ...' difference I can point to. Instead, it's sort of qualitative -- a little more '...space between the notes...', a bit more immediacy in the '... it sounds like you're right there ...'

I tend to listen critically to new equipment for a while, comparing with the previous kit, but then set that aside and simply enjoy. I get that is not very rigorous, but I believe it lets me spend forget about the equipment and immerse myself in the music.

To be clear, I'm, a headphones-only listener, so I can't say anything about usage with speakers.

 

[The Jester]

Similar effect with speakers, just more noticeable …
It takes a little time to adjust to the MScaler and it’s superior accuracy, possibly the worst thing you can do is take it out of the box, plug it in and then do the meaningless exercise of A/B testing with the current gear, no “listening tests”, just plug it in and listen to it for a week or two and then do a simple test of unplugging it and try listening again for a day or two without it.

 

[ZappaMan]

Genuine question I have src dx to mscaler. I use a quality budget Bnc cable. Would a better Bnc cable make much difference? But how would wave cables which I thought were made to reject a certain bandwidth be having an important effect on the Bnc signal out of the src dx? What frequency are the signals in src dx at @Triode User or what’s your thoughts on this.

Is anyone using a jitterbug with their src dx, I am, “can’t hurt”, I don’t respect my own ability to a/b test, but my rig is insanely good to me.

Audirvāna -> Laptop -> jitterbug -> sablon usb -> src dx -> mscaler Bnc in -> wave stream Bnc out -> opto dx t+R => regular Bnc cables to tt2 -> compact alnico speakers and omega sub.

My current Bnc cable from src dx ti mscaler is :
75 ohm BNC to BNC Lead. Van Damme Coaxial Cable. RG59

I suppose im considering upgrading something… not sure where or what…. But the Bnc cables could be something, thinking maybe adding an etude, or then there is power supplies. Currently everything runs off batteries with accompanying regulators, mscaler using this DXP-3A0 and DXP1A5 from Alexey.

I also have to say, the addition of the speakers takes the musical enjoyment way beyond what I experienced with head phones. Respect !!!!!!

 

[JTbbb]

Genuine question I have src dx to mscaler. I use a quality budget Bnc cable. Would a better Bnc cable make much difference? But how would wave cables which I thought were made to reject a certain bandwidth be having an important effect on the Bnc signal out of the src dx? What frequency are the signals in src dx at @Triode User or what’s your thoughts on this.

Is anyone using a jitterbug with their src dx, I am, “can’t hurt”, I don’t respect my own ability to a/b test, but my rig is insanely good to me.

Audirvāna -> Laptop -> jitterbug -> sablon usb -> src dx -> mscaler Bnc in -> wave stream Bnc out -> opto dx t+R => regular Bnc cables to tt2 -> compact alnico speakers and omega sub.

My current Bnc cable from src dx ti mscaler is :
75 ohm BNC to BNC Lead. Van Damme Coaxial Cable. RG59

I suppose im considering upgrading something… not sure where or what…. But the Bnc cables could be something, thinking maybe adding an etude, or then there is power supplies. Currently everything runs off batteries with accompanying regulators, mscaler using this DXP-3A0 and DXP1A5 from Alexey.

I also have to say, the addition of the speakers takes the musical enjoyment way beyond what I experienced with head phones. Respect !!!!!!

I think you have a great system there, and you would have to spend a lot to improve it. I guess you are driving the Alnico’s direct? Would be interesting to know the results if you could plug an Etude into the chain. I think you may get lots of suggestions though .

 

[Jawed]

Audirvāna -> Laptop -> jitterbug -> sablon usb -> src dx -> mscaler Bnc in -> wave stream Bnc out -> opto dx t+R => regular Bnc cables to tt2 -> compact alnico speakers and omega sub.

So this:

mscaler Bnc in -> wave stream Bnc out -> opto dx t+R => regular Bnc cables to tt2

sounds better than:

mscaler Bnc in -> regular Bnc cables out -> opto dx t+R => wave stream Bnc to tt2

?

 

[bpcans]

@ZappaMan, you've got some really good questions. I use an AudioQuest Jitterbug between my Roon Nucleus and the AQ Diamond USB cable that connects to my SRC.DX, and it noticeably helps smooth out the sound of the music. I think getting some better BNC’s going into your TT2 would not hurt at all. How do like your Sablon USB cable? I’ve been thinking about upgrading to the Sablon EVO.

 

[zen87192]

I use an Audioquest Coffee USB cable that has a Dielectric Bias System attached to my SRC-DX. Seems to be working well.... I may try going direct into the TT2 to see what the difference in sound is.

 

[audio_1]

So this:

mscaler Bnc in -> wave stream Bnc out -> opto dx t+R => regular Bnc cables to tt2

sounds better than:

mscaler Bnc in -> regular Bnc cables out -> opto dx t+R => wave stream Bnc to tt2

?

Airborne Rfi from mscaler out on regular Bnc cables and then opto dx t affecting Dave?? Wave stream must attenuate this. just shows separating the DAC and Mscaler is important. I also experienced better sound quality by replacing the BNC cables supplied with the opto-dx t with 1.2 metre Oyaide DB510 bnc cables. I always had Oyaide DB510 cables connecting the opto-dx r and Dave.

 

[ZappaMan]

So this:

mscaler Bnc in -> wave stream Bnc out -> opto dx t+R => regular Bnc cables to tt2

sounds better than:

mscaler Bnc in -> regular Bnc cables out -> opto dx t+R => wave stream Bnc to tt2

?

I had it the way you suggest for the last few months, I swapped it back recently, on the theory that it would be better to stop rfi as early in the chain as possible. I can’t say definitely what sounds better as I haven’t been critically listening lately, but starting to get more focused now on this hobby I suppose.

 

[ZappaMan]

@ZappaMan, you've got some really good questions. I use an AudioQuest Jitterbug between my Roon Nucleus and the AQ Diamond USB cable that connects to my SRC.DX, and it noticeably helps smooth out the sound of the music. I think getting some better BNC’s going into your TT2 would not hurt at all. How do like your Sablon USB cable? I’ve been thinking about upgrading to the Sablon EVO.

I thought the sablon was a nice improvement when I got it, which could be 2 years ago ! Time has certainly passed. I’m going to have to make time to see, if in the cold light of day, I can hear again what changes these particular components make.
You added a wave cable to your src dx, what can you say about the impact it made?

 

[bpcans]

@ZappaMan, adding a third WAVE Storm BNC between the SRC.DX and the M Scaler was one of the best tweaks I’ve ever made. It was a marked improvement over the sound I was getting using a Moon Audio Silver Dragon BNC. I heard better bass definition and instrument separation, along with crisper highs and a wider soundstage, which was a result of eliminating more radio frequency interference from my listening chain. With the money that I spent on cleaning up my Ethernet music streaming components I probably could’ve bought another pair of TOTL headphones, some nice speakers, or have upgraded my amplifier. But I’m very happy that things turned out the way they did.

 

[ZappaMan]

@ZappaMan, adding a third WAVE Storm BNC between the SRC.DX and the M Scaler was one of the best tweaks I’ve ever made. It was a marked improvement over the sound I was getting using a Moon Audio Silver Dragon BNC. I heard better bass definition and instrument separation, along with crisper highs and a wider soundstage, which was a result of eliminating more radio frequency interference from my listening chain. With the money that I spent on cleaning up my Ethernet music streaming components I probably could’ve bought another pair of TOTL headphones, some nice speakers, or have upgraded my amplifier. But I’m very happy with how things turned out the way they did.

Cool, thanks for the recommendation. And as you mention it, where does cleaning up the Ethernet side rate in terms of important tweaks?

 

[ZappaMan]

I think you have a great system there, and you would have to spend a lot to improve it. I guess you are driving the Alnico’s direct? Would be interesting to know the results if you could plug an Etude into the chain. I think you may get lots of suggestions though .

Yes direct, used custom rca cables from ted Allen, was actually able to listen really quietly at -20h when kids upstairs sleeping…. Normally listen at -0h for a good blast. Watching tv at -18h, as it’s all connected into mscaler.
I think I could get a dealer loan for an amp, it would be interesting to me to see what change it could make.