Master Clock Talk

[OCC7N]

So I wonder, and have brought this up in other threads.
Which DACs are of "sufficient quality" that one does not need add ons like DDCs or clocks?
I mean at some (price) point a dac has to have what an add on would offer, right?

You are looking for a AIO solution?

Added to that headphones does needs overkill power imo.

Maybe R27HE would do the job?
-I have not seen an AIO with this kind of specs.

(Dont try to understand a DDC, the rabbit hole is deep. I have two

Think of your computer as an poluted enviroment, with noise and magnetic fields. You are simple moving all the work(digital) to a enviroment(DDC) that cleans it and puts everything in time and order with lowest noise as possible)

Every computer needs one imo.

But you probably need to go for a streamer where the ethernet conversion has been done correctly. By this you are bypassing the polution by a lot.

every DDC is not the same though

 

[FredA]

You are looking for a AIO solution?

Added to that headphones does needs overkill power imo.

Maybe R27HE would do the job?
-I have not seen an AIO with this kind of specs.

(Dont try to understand a DDC, the rabbit hole is deep. I have two

Think of your computer as an poluted enviroment, with noise and magnetic fields. You are simple moving all the work(digital) to a enviroment(DDC) that cleans it and puts everything in time and order with lowest noise as possible)

Every computer needs one imo.

But you probably need to go for a streamer where the ethernet conversion has been done correctly. By this you are bypassing the polution by a lot.

every DDC is not the same though

A streamer makes much sense. Less line pollution if of good quality and less noise coming through usb.

 

[OCC7N]

A streamer makes much sense. Less line pollution if of good quality and less noise coming through usb.

Gustard R26 probably a no brainer, if the ethernet is good. I have not seen better specs on a streamer at this price range. It even does 10Mhz in. I was very close to betray my HE9LE, but Im glad I went with R8HE mk2. Not even burned in yet and better than all my dS dacs even without DI20HE….

but DI20HE opens the gate to the 4th dimension. It adds this analog/summing feel, by very little and subtle, the bass phrases from Marcus, Stanley or Victor, is soo liquidy, firm, not tight(limited) … just enough to get the ears wett… Im addicted. Sorry guys.

 

[Jake2]

The 50-ohm looks much like a c2. So could be awesome for the money.

I will eventually receive the Harmonic Technology 50-ohm, which sell for 160 or so shipped for. 0.5m. It's the Christmas Holiday in Hong-Kong so there is a delay added.

This Huber & Suhner 141-based cable (semi-rigid, silver-plated copper core with high shielding attenuation) looks interesting.

https://quartzacoustic.com/shop/hub...re-silver-plated-high-end-50-ohm-clock-cable/

Edit - though on closer inspection the also very well shielded, single crystal copper core Harmonic Technology cable you refer looks more interesting. Look forward to hearing your results.

 

[FredA]

This Huber & Suhner 141-based cable (semi-rigid, silver-plated copper core with high shielding attenuation) looks interesting.

https://quartzacoustic.com/shop/hub...re-silver-plated-high-end-50-ohm-clock-cable/

Edit - though on closer inspection the also very well shielded, single crystal copper core Harmonic Technology cable you refer looks more interesting. Look forward to hearing your results.

This cable is much much like the Afterdark, which is beaten by the c2 AFAIC. So i passed on it.

 

[ChJL]

No AIO necessarily, no PC

Melco N100, X26pro, Ferrum

I just made a shopping list for '23, mostly upgrade Ideas...

switch OK, given that I only have a wlan router...

But if I use "only" cheaper upgrades like U18, OCK-2 (+2 power chords, I2S, 2 BNCs, another piece to plug them in to... maybe fuses?)
I'm considering selling the X26 and getting a DAC which has outstanding clock/digital processing (making obsolete master/reclockers) , as good USB board/isolation as those DDCs (U18, Mutec MC3) puls outstanding power supply (making obsolete a device like DI-20 HE)

Looks like I come up to a price level of RH-7, close to MAY level 3

There are guys who experience an improvement to a Dave when adding a U18 though...

 

[roderickvd]

I'm considering selling the X26 and getting a DAC which has outstanding clock/digital processing (making obsolete master/reclockers) , as good USB board/isolation as those DDCs (U18, Mutec MC3) puls outstanding power supply (making obsolete a device like DI-20 HE)

What are you considering?

Because of exactly these reasons I got a Singxer SDA-6 PRO. Pondering getting a OCK-1 or -2 now though to squeeze out just that little extra.

 

[JaMo]

I am sorry, You will not get a $$$$ rig for $$ money spent.

But. With Gustard X26Pro and even more the R26 You will havea good chance to have a lucky life listening to beautiful sound reproductions. I have both the X26Pro and the R26 and the R26 is a horse-nose better. With the R26 You don't need the DDC (U18...)

 

[sajunky]

A streamer makes much sense. Less line pollution if of good quality and less noise coming through usb.

Streamer makes sense. However integrating streamer with a DAC is a step to far, IHMO.

First, streaming standards are immature, even with firmware upgrades many models will become obsolete in two years. I don't want to render DAC obsolete with streamer.

Secondly networking equipment is located typically on a distance, on different power outlets, so ground loops, power surges cannot be avoided. By example networked TV's are frequently hit on power surges, HDMI ports failing first. Even it doesn't affect SQ (which I seriously doubt), I prefer to keep my investment safe.

 

[OCC7N]

Streamer makes sense. However integrating streamer with a DAC is a step to far, IHMO.

First, streaming standards are immature, even with firmware upgrades many models will become obsolete in two years. I don't want to render DAC obsolete with streamer.

Secondly networking equipment is located typically on a distance, on different power outlets, so ground loops, power surges cannot be avoided. By example networked TV's are frequently hit on power surges, HDMI ports failing first. Even it doesn't affect SQ (which I seriously doubt), I prefer to keep my investment safe.

This is the exact reason that is holding me back.

But we can not deny that DLNA with NAS has existed for a while now. Other than that I have no clue to the technology.

Gustard R26 has enough to be worth the price imo. I dont have it, but trust me it had me in a dilemma, before pulling the trigger on R8HE MK2…

Go for AGD if you have plans of building a system.

I would still recommend you HE9LE over the Ferrum OOR any day with XLR. I did try the OOR for 15minutes(fully burnin) AGD miles ahead!!!

But then there is acss which is another level to the AGD family(dac/amps)….

Im experimenting on building a streamer with smaller footprint with room for pcie slot(jcat)

————-
All this said. I think Auralic Altair G1.1 has been haunting my subconscious for a while now. It has dac/usb inputs. Perfect streamer reviews. I think the only reason that has been holding me back was no 10Mhz input/bnc.

…Hmmm on the other hand the iFi Zen stream is cheap though

 

[sajunky]

I would still recommend you HE9LE over the Ferrum OOR any day with XLR. I did try the OOR for 15minutes(fully burnin) AGD miles ahead!!!

Yes, HE-9LE is a giant price killer, similar to the R-8MK2 in a DAC's department. Better value than Master 9.

Did you compare both amps on AES/EBU or HE-9LE on ACSS? Even inexpensive ACSS cable sounds better than $2k XLR cable. Big saving in this regard.

[Edit] YES, reading again, it was ACSS.

 

[FredA]

Streamer makes sense. However integrating streamer with a DAC is a step to far, IHMO.

First, streaming standards are immature, even with firmware upgrades many models will become obsolete in two years. I don't want to render DAC obsolete with streamer.

Secondly networking equipment is located typically on a distance, on different power outlets, so ground loops, power surges cannot be avoided. By example networked TV's are frequently hit on power surges, HDMI ports failing first. Even it doesn't affect SQ (which I seriously doubt), I prefer to keep my investment safe.

I am not much of a streamer myself. I play local files.

 

[OCC7N]

Yes, HE-9LE is a giant price killer, similar to the R-8MK2 in a DAC's department. Better value than Master 9.

Did you compare both amps on AES/EBU or HE-9LE on ACSS? Even inexpensive ACSS cable sounds better than $2k XLR cable. Big saving in this regard.

No(I know you read it) only XLR comparison to the Chord TT2. HE9LE sparked life into the sound from every angle. I felt like the amp was so fast it had a “drone/amp” for every element/instrument.

HE9LE is even better than the onboard headphone amp on that dac.

I did only try acss with r8he mk2. I just feel like Im done. Everything I hoped all my dS dacs would do is done with ease on AGD system…

I may be in a startin/burnin phase right now honestly speaking but…normally when I put headphones on and dS dacs does not respond well before 1 hour or so(RME DAC FS is the fastest)

With the AGD system…Im just there!

(I should write something in my signature about over exaggerating things is something I do alot, but I just like this system better than anything to date)

 

[sajunky]

I am not much of a streamer myself. I play local files.

I think streamer can play local files on NAS with DNLA, UPnP, etc.

 

[FredA]

I think streamer can play local files on NAS with DNLA, UPnP, etc.

Yeah. My usbridge sig does all that but i keep things simple, i got a 512gb usb stick and a wifi dongle plugged to it. I use it as a player. That's all. It performs well. I avoid updates, they are a source of issues, especially with free software like Volumio.