Metrum NOS Hex Flagship DAC

[Blackmore]

Got your RAL cable?
 
THX
 
Quote:

I have bought a Revelation Audio USB 2.0 cable. I have read some nice things about it, from a very cool guru nicknamed 'bhobba'.
I will do some usb cable rolling, my friend who owns AMR DP777 owns Acoustic Revive twin cable, so we'll have some fun in making comparisons.

 

[antonyfirst]

Nope. It will take a while I think.

 

[zachchen1996]

What I'm most curious in, is whether the vega and hex can compare to MSB's new analog dac. If the hex and vega can get extremely close, that would be very impressive considering that the analog dac is 7k.

 

[antonyfirst]

I wish to make that comparison too

 

[Turn&cough]

Quote:

Nope. It will take a while I think.

 
Did you get it yet?
 
I was about to order the umbilical power cord from RAL but I'm reading a lot of really nasty things about this guy Brad.

 

[Zoo Animal]

I've read a bit of that, I think RAL fell victim to success a while back. They already had increasing business then received a couple of positive reviews and an order back log started. Like many micro-sized businesses, there were no plans to scale quickly for increased demand. Impatient order placers and probably stressed 1 man business led to some scrape ups. 

I've dealt with him 3 times, ordered a cable and liked so much ordered nearly a full loom. Then about 2 months ago, one set of ICs stopped working. Investigation showed that the end of one cable had gotten a hard knock, connector and cable now a bit bent and lost connection. This is the part where I blame cat or GF

I sent off an e-mail, and received a reply to post them all within a couple hours. 3 days later I received an email that the joint had been straightened, re-soldered, all connectors cleaned and some minor enhancements to all 4 ends. Mostly this was new and different types of shrink on these now 10 year old cables. Total repair cost and return shipping $0.00. 

This is pretty typical of my dealing with him when purchasing, lots of communication and pretty easy going. As well as flattered I liked his product so much. So, it seems the bubble of back-log is long cleared up and the owner has not been infallible in the past but those days seem to be also in the past.

No horse in the game here on my end, except I think the cables really are that good & have had positives experiences. 

 

 

[antonyfirst]

No news about my RAL cable, I believe I will be receiving by the end of the month or even september.
Anyway, I do have a quick update. I have been comparing the Hex (out of usb, simple usb cable) with the Museatex Idat44-mobile + Belkin Synapse Platinum coaxial cable, which some of you might have heard, as brought up by Romy the Cat as a great digital. The main characteristics of the Belkin are a very powerful, super deep bass response, very wide sound, slightly vocal recession.
With the Omega 2, I have been quite flattered by the difference. The Idat was sounding better, mainly because the bass depth was endless. The Omega 2 have an incredible bass response which I was missing out of the Hex with usb, but was there with the Idat/Belkin combo. Enough to say that it would be already an end game setup (with 'just' a slightly improved KGSS). The Omega 2 sound as, when doing a huge bass hit, they are already 'there'./ Lambda's as well as most headphones, would remind you to someone who, before making a jump, would have to run 10-20 meters to gain speed. The O2 make their bass hit immediately, with super authority, it has a wonderful quality. With the Idat/Belkin this effect is best. Anyway, today I have tried the Belkin with the Hex. I obtained the same improvememnt in bass depth, power, and spatial rendition. Compared to the Idat44m, this combo has a bit more detail and widespread imaging, while the Idat accentuates more the center imaging.
It has to be kept in mind that I am using a cheap usb cable, at the moment, with Hex. But, also, that the coaxial source is my computer Realtek soundcard (Bitperfect). I know this card pretty well, and it's quite decent in my opinion, but it cannot compare with higher end transports (being a FIFO, the Zodiac Gold coax digital out I had tested in the past, or several others like an Offramp or Diverter HR). Although these are only partial conclusions, it already shows a limitation in USB, that in my opinion is wider than what 6moons stated, compared to the full potential of the DAC. I will have to try soon my friend's Acoustic Revive twin usb, and hopefully soon, the RAL cable.

 

[cradon]

I ordered a Metrum Hex to compare with my Auralic Vega, should arrive sometime thursday. I will only be keeping one of the two, anyone interested in purchasing either, please PM me.  

 

[Blackmore]

Thanks for update Tony, so, which presentation you like more so far, Idat44 or HEX, as they have some differences there, right?
 
THX
Quote:

No news about my RAL cable, I believe I will be receiving by the end of the month or even september.
Anyway, I do have a quick update. I have been comparing the Hex (out of usb, simple usb cable) with the Museatex Idat44-mobile + Belkin Synapse Platinum coaxial cable, which some of you might have heard, as brought up by Romy the Cat as a great digital. The main characteristics of the Belkin are a very powerful, super deep bass response, very wide sound, slightly vocal recession.
With the Omega 2, I have been quite flattered by the difference. The Idat was sounding better, mainly because the bass depth was endless. The Omega 2 have an incredible bass response which I was missing out of the Hex with usb, but was there with the Idat/Belkin combo. Enough to say that it would be already an end game setup (with 'just' a slightly improved KGSS). The Omega 2 sound as, when doing a huge bass hit, they are already 'there'./ Lambda's as well as most headphones, would remind you to someone who, before making a jump, would have to run 10-20 meters to gain speed. The O2 make their bass hit immediately, with super authority, it has a wonderful quality. With the Idat/Belkin this effect is best. Anyway, today I have tried the Belkin with the Hex. I obtained the same improvememnt in bass depth, power, and spatial rendition. Compared to the Idat44m, this combo has a bit more detail and widespread imaging, while the Idat accentuates more the center imaging.
It has to be kept in mind that I am using a cheap usb cable, at the moment, with Hex. But, also, that the coaxial source is my computer Realtek soundcard (Bitperfect). I know this card pretty well, and it's quite decent in my opinion, but it cannot compare with higher end transports (being a FIFO, the Zodiac Gold coax digital out I had tested in the past, or several others like an Offramp or Diverter HR). Although these are only partial conclusions, it already shows a limitation in USB, that in my opinion is wider than what 6moons stated, compared to the full potential of the DAC. I will have to try soon my friend's Acoustic Revive twin usb, and hopefully soon, the RAL cable.

 

[antonyfirst]

I think the Hex is a bit better when both are using the Belkin cable, because of the higher harmonic richness and less centered imaging.

 

[Blackmore]

Thanks. According to Cees, HEX, or other Metrum DAC's, needs something around 500 hours of burn in, any idea how many yours have?
 
Quote:

I think the Hex is a bit better when both are using the Belkin cable, because of the higher harmonic richness and less centered imaging.

 

[antonyfirst]

I should be at over 100 hours or so. I cannot say I have heard any differences in sound, lately. We'll see what happens.

 

[antonyfirst]

I have received shipping notification from Brad, for my RAL cable. 2 lovely meters USB cable.
It will be compared with the Acoustic Revive twin cable.
 
Given it's UPS, I should receive the Revelation cable by the end of the week and, by extension, before I go to holidays.

 

[Blackmore]

Good news Tony.
 
I have read that RAL kills AR cable and its cheaper, so, your impressions, even very early one, are very welcome
 
THX
Quote:

I have received shipping notification from Brad, for my RAL cable. 2 lovely meters USB cable.
It will be compared with the Acoustic Revive twin cable.
 
Given it's UPS, I should receive the Revelation cable by the end of the week and, by extension, before I go to holidays.

 

[Turn&cough]

I have received shipping notification from Brad, for my RAL cable. 2 lovely meters USB cable.
It will be compared with the Acoustic Revive twin cable.


Given it's UPS, I should receive the Revelation cable by the end of the week and, by extension, before I go to holidays.

I'm glad to hear that you received an actual shipping notification. Brad's been known to send out electronic shipping info without actually having shipped the item. I guess you're one of the lucky ones who will actually get what he paid for as opposed to others who were ripped off and never heard from Brad again.

Electronic Shipping Info Received

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