Melodious MX-U8 USB Interface 8 Core XMOS chip

[rb2013]

   
 
UPDATE AFTER 2 DAYS OF BURN-IN:
 
Hydra-Z is playing now for two days continuously. It has gained in SQ.
Listening fatigue almost has gone, and, to be honest, there's VERY LITTLE difference between Hydra-Z and my MX-U8.
MX-U8 still has a little more low level detail and more low-end control with a little more pressure in sub-lows.
 
Only problem I have with Hydra-Z are the drivers, those are very old (2 years) and there's no possibility to set low buffers and low latency.
I can't use my preferred settings within JPlay 6.2 which are: Ultrastream / 700Hz / 0.01s / Hibernate ON I'm now on 40Hz / 2s which sounds less open in my system.
 
For now it looks like Hydra-Z (with external battery pack) sounds exact like my MX-U8. Never experienced something like this before,
no tonal differences, no difference in soundstage, no difference in silence and black around voices and instruments, no difference in dynamics,
just a little difference in low level detail and tightness/pressure sub-low (=<30Hz)
 
I also tried different external battery psu's, the 15600mAh pack sounds little bit better than 5400mAh model.
 
Will wait till Wednesday for final verdict, but I expect I will end up with two devices who do sound exact the same 

 
 
If one is not used to DIY solderwork, and handcraftmenship in general, AudioByte Hydra-Z is a killer!
Until now I still do prefer my modded MX-U8 because of driver compatibility, and the easy of updating them.
 
 
Cheers 

 
Alex

Thanks Alex!  Wonder what the difference might be with the ZPM?  or even the TeraDac?
 
You may have just reached the maximum potential for this part of the audio chain.  Hopefully a drive update soon from Hydra.
 
BTW Still way cheaper then the Berkerly

 

[abartels]

Hi Bob,
 
Yes, it's definitely a lot cheaper than Hydra-Z with ZPM, or Berkely.
 
SQ definitely would be better with ZPM since this unit has a very low output impedance.
 
They take use of 2 Maxwell Ultracaps BCAP0310 (310 Farad, 1 Farad = 1.000.000uF) and put them in series because they are 2.7V only.
BCAP0310 has a very low impedance, 2.2mOhm resulting in a total of 4.4mOhm which is VERY low.
 
Btw, Audiobyte speaks of 2x 310 Farad ultracaps, but they don't tell that this results in 155 Farad (155.000.000 uF )
But, that should be enough 

 
 

 
Since 310 Farad seems shortcircuit to transformer and bridgerectifier they limited the charging current.
Firsttime charging can take upto 4 hours.
 
 
How ZPM would influence SQ is just a guess, but for a 5V psu it's rather costly ( €540 )
 
Maybe I'm gonna fiddle around with a few of those BCAP0310, they are about €12,50 each.
 
 
Cheers 

 
Alex

 

[Sergey83149]

It loses the PC lock, the driver seems to not fuction (all of them KS, ASIO, etc...). I have to close and reopen Foobar to get the connection reest.

I rigged a new heat sink and it's working well.  Except we have been getting crazy extreme lightning storms over our house the last few days - yesterday was esp bad.  I turn off and unplug every thing when they come.

Before the addition of the heat sinks it was unlocking every other song with the hot weather.




Picking up an Audio Breeze today - they said no go on upgrading the clocks to Crysteks.  Will have to do that myself - Ugg.  When will Cyrstek make a DIP through the hole version!

I played three days without a break from the IMAC. All perfectly. Sound every day better.
3M, which is the change in sound?

 

[rb2013]

  Hi Bob,
 
Yes, it's definitely a lot cheaper than Hydra-Z with ZPM, or Berkely.
 
SQ definitely would be better with ZPM since this unit has a very low output impedance.
 
They take use of 2 Maxwell Ultracaps BCAP0310 (310 Farad, 1 Farad = 1.000.000uF) and put them in series because they are 2.7V only.
BCAP0310 has a very low impedance, 2.2mOhm resulting in a total of 4.4mOhm which is VERY low.
 
Btw, Audiobyte speaks of 2x 310 Farad ultracaps, but they don't tell that this results in 155 Farad (155.000.000 uF )
But, that should be enough 

 
 

 
Since 310 Farad seems shortcircuit to transformer and bridgerectifier they limited the charging current.
Firsttime charging can take upto 4 hours.
 
 
How ZPM would influence SQ is just a guess, but for a 5V psu it's rather costly ( €540 )
 
Maybe I'm gonna fiddle around with a few of those BCAP0310, they are about €12,50 each.
 
 
Cheers 

 
Alex

If you could do DIY ZPM project that would be awesome.  I guess the almost instanteous current supplied by the ultra caps may just increase the dynamics - esp the micro kind.

 

[rb2013]

I played three days without a break from the IMAC. All perfectly. Sound every day better.

Funny on second system the MX-U8 will occasionally send the DAC into oscillating lock and unlock - there is a relay in my R2R DAC that clicks each time it locks or changes clock settings.  It'll just click, click, click away.  A tap on the top of my DAC makes it go away!  I think I have a ghost in this house. Happens about once a day.  Haven't tried the heat sinks on it yet - they're a pain to cut from the larger CPU heat sink I'm using.

 

[Sergey83149]

Funny on second system the MX-U8 will occasionally send the DAC into oscillating lock and unlock - there is a relay in my R2R DAC that clicks each time it locks or changes clock settings.  It'll just click, click, click away.  A tap on the top of my DAC makes it go away!  I think I have a ghost in this house. Happens about once a day.  Haven't tried the heat sinks on it yet - they're a pain to cut from the larger CPU heat sink I'm using.

Loss of communication with the PC chip from heating occurs in all or only you?
It is necessary to get rid of a ghost.:eek::wink_face:

 

[rb2013]

Loss of communication with the PC chip from heating occurs in all or only you?
It is necessary to get rid of a ghost.

Well yesterday here it cooled down and the 1st system did not unlock playing all night with the heat sink.  These linear regulator generate tremendous heat and have a thermal cut off internal switch.  Never had a single unlock with months of using the Gustards in both systems - and the Musiland 3.0 USD as well.  I run my systems 24/7, as I have class A amps that sound best with a days warm up.
 
As I told Alex - I doubt Melodius designers would have added the heat sinks (the original unit didn't have them), if there was not a problem with overheating.

 

[Wildcatsare1]

Hey Guys, just started a new thread for those interested in vintage or current R2R DACs, hope to read your thoughts there!
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/777597/vintage-current-r2r-dac-owners-discussion-insight-and-review-thread

 

[Benny-x]

 
If you could do DIY ZPM project that would be awesome.  I guess the almost instanteous current supplied by the ultra caps may just increase the dynamics - esp the micro kind.

Seconded!
 
I've had my eyes on those ultra capacitors since I read about them being used in the LIO (by Vinnie, the owner of Redwine Audio). Unfortunately I don't have the confidence in fiddling with them to try, though. If someone more skilled were to take the lead, it'd be really amazing. 

 

[abartels]

  Seconded!
 
I've had my eyes on those ultra capacitors since I read about them being used in the LIO (by Vinnie, the owner of Redwine Audio). Unfortunately I don't have the confidence in fiddling with them to try, though. If someone more skilled were to take the lead, it'd be really amazing. 

 
We will see 

 

[rb2013]

Hey Guys, just started a new thread for those interested in vintage or current R2R DACs, hope to read your thoughts there!

http://www.head-fi.org/t/777597/vintage-current-r2r-dac-owners-discussion-insight-and-review-thread

Nice ! Big fan see the general info and links on my 'PCM 1704 DAC MOD PROJECT' thread. http://www.head-fi.org/t/740362/lite-dac60-pcm1704-r2r-tubed-dac-mod-project

 

[Wildcatsare1]

Nice ! Big fan see the general info and links on my 'PCM 1704 DAC MOD PROJECT' thread. http://www.head-fi.org/t/740362/lite-dac60-pcm1704-r2r-tubed-dac-mod-project

Hey Bob,

Subbed to your Thread and a link posted, thanks!

 

[rb2013]

Hey Bob,

Subbed to your Thread and a link posted, thanks!

Great thanks!  Subbed to yours as well.  The Mother of Tone article does a great job of explaining the differences in DAC designs and the benefits of R2R.
 
Cheers!

 

[rurika]

Hi, all.
Alex, I believe the Hydra uses Amanero combo (usb) not XMOS. That's why you can't use your modified's driver.
Those two chip have difference charistic sounds like you mentioned above.
The Hydra also catched my interest when I was decided to buy a new usb-ddc but it uses Amanero so I chose Tanly instead.

Well, I prefer XMOS over Amanero in my system.

 

[m0reilly]

i see no mention of amanero in my drivers inf or on the audiobytes site. i haven't opened it up yet to check, but it is stated by audiobyte " ARM PROCESSING All USB audio transactions are made through a powerful ARM3 processor. Therefore Hydra Z supports any sample rate available (384k PCM, DSD128) while being future-proof for any extension."