Metrum Pavane

[winders]

Is it because PS Audio give better clarity or that they all sound like SACDs even with PCM due to upsampling? Do you find the sound too cold or analytical ?

I found the DirectStream to be less digital sounding and more musical. At first, I thought the DirectStream had less detail than Yggdrasil because the sound was like analog and was smoother. But all the detail is there it just isn’t in your face as much as it is with Yggdrasil. I don’t know which DAC is more accurate but I know which one was more fun to listen too. I have not heard the new version of Yggdrasil yet. I am told it is a nice step up from the original.

 

[Chopin75]

I found the DirectStream to be less digital sounding and more musical. At first, I thought the DirectStream had less detail than Yggdrasil because the sound was like analog and was smoother. But all the detail is there it just isn’t in your face as much as it is with Yggdrasil. I don’t know which DAC is more accurate but I know which one was more fun to listen too. I have not heard the new version of Yggdrasil yet. I am told it is a nice step up from the original.

Interesting! I am also wondering if you have compared pure PCM playback from files that are recorded as PCM 16-24 bit (not DSD to PCM) and see which one does it better. Pavane vs PS Direct stream. Pavane is supposed to be very analogue and warmer. Is this analogue feel u get from PS more like a very liquid smoothness, grainless or just sounds more like vinyl or more like life concert ? Also what musical genre do you use to test ?

 

[winders]

Most of my content is Red Book so most is PCM-source. I do have some 24/96 and 24/176.4 content along with a few DSD64 tracks. I listen to classic rock, classical, and Jazz.

None of it sounds like concerts but then I have yet to hear anything that rivals actually being at the venue in a good position. When I say “more musical” and “smooth” I mean there is no digital harshness and it sound more like vinyl.

 

[Chopin75]

Interesting! I am wondering if the design works especially well for Redbook CDs since they are all upsampled to DSD. BTW, do you use the PS audio memory player via I2S ? If not, what CD transport ? and via AES or SPDIF for the CDs ? Was the metrum Pavane new version with DAC module 2 and did you also use AES into Pavane ? I heard Pavane's USB is not that impressive. Thanks!

 

[Energy]

I see, this makes sense for you. I do not have PCM downloads 1000s of CDs so for me I can't do DSD unless I rip them all to downloads, which I won't bother or I use PS audio DSD DAC which apparently has not been that impressive. I am fine with CD playback unsampled for now as I have a very good CD transport so I suspect Pavane may be the way to go. Holo upsampling is terrible I heard. But Audio-Gd R2R can do manual upsampling.
DSD do sound great, as I have many SACDs, so you think using conversion to DSD via HQplayer is way superior via Holo DSD DAC than PCM via Pavane, using Hi Res PCM files or upsample to Hi Res before feeding to Pavane?
There is always a war between PCM vs DSD...
One more thing, when u connect the Singzxer-SU-1 to Pavane, do you need special config. for it to work? The web config does not have one for Pavane as it is not known to have I2S. Note Metrum is making some music server with I2S feeding to Pavane now. - Metrum Ambre
Will likely send the board for you to mod, when I need to in future, thanks in advance!

You actually can listen to CD's through HQPLAYER and upsample them to DSD so no need for ripping.

I use to upsample PCM to something higher like 192 or 384KHz but found it to overly smooth sound and takes away from the NOS.
All upsampling from hardware is crap compared to one from a computer running high quality filters and modulators like HQPlayer.

I have tried Singxer SU-1 with all outputs such as S/PDIF and AES feeding the Pavane and the HDMI input board is better. No matter what resolution files used on the Pavane, the upsampled to DSD on the Holo Audio Spring still sounds miles ahead of the Pavane. I had both together at one moment in time. Both using HDMI input (i2s). I like the Pavane but without DSD support it doesn't sound as good even with i2s mod. No matter how much I upsample it to whatever bit-rate, still not as good. Same opinion when I upgraded to level 2. Adagio was still not as good but close.

No special config since the configuration is on the input board itself from Audio-GD which should be set to the same standard as PS Audio. As long as you leave all the switches underneath the Singxer SU-1 off you should be fine. Either you do what I did or you can get their pricey $120 RJ45 board to replace the USB board lol.

 

[Chopin75]

You actually can listen to CD's through HQPLAYER and upsample them to DSD so no need for ripping.

I use to upsample PCM to something higher like 192 or 384KHz but found it to overly smooth sound and takes away from the NOS.
All upsampling from hardware is crap compared to one from a computer running high quality filters and modulators like HQPlayer.

I have tried Singxer SU-1 with all outputs such as S/PDIF and AES feeding the Pavane and the HDMI input board is better. No matter what resolution files used on the Pavane, the upsampled to DSD on the Holo Audio Spring still sounds miles ahead of the Pavane. I had both together at one moment in time. Both using HDMI input (i2s). I like the Pavane but without DSD support it doesn't sound as good even with i2s mod. No matter how much I upsample it to whatever bit-rate, still not as good. Same opinion when I upgraded to level 2. Adagio was still not as good but close.

No special config since the configuration is on the input board itself from Audio-GD which should be set to the same standard as PS Audio. As long as you leave all the switches underneath the Singxer SU-1 off you should be fine. Either you do what I did or you can get their pricey $120 RJ45 board to replace the USB board lol.

Thanks! I am now thinking of maybe the R2R-7 given that it can do everything from DSD 256, to NOS +/-filter or OS. I suspect Pavane is great for certain repertoire/sources and maybe it is quite forgiving but perhaps a bit colored ? Maybe Holo is a bit more "raw" or naked?
The HQ playing Redbook CD and upsampling it seems really cool, so basically like remastering to DSD in real life. Now do you need a powerful PC or Mac to do that ? Or need 16 RAM? This would be important as I am planning for possibly getting a new Mac. There is also audivarna and Pure music but not sure if they can also play CD and upsample at the same time.

 

[Energy]

I say go all the way to a DSD512 capable DAC and get a decent machine (high CPU count) to handle that upsampling power.
I believe MacOS can only do DSD upsampling over DoP (type of transmission) which isn't what you want. You want Native DSD which requires either Linux or Windows.

In order upsample your redbook to the best DSD512 filters/modulators available, you'll need a 12-16 core Windows Machine ($$$). The second best thing is to play the same DSD512 format but with lower performance filters like poly-sinc-xtr-2s. The modulator should be kept at AMSDM7 512+fs. You can check it out by downloading a trial version of HQPlayer. Even 8GB ram should be enough, it doesn't eat much RAM, mainly CPU power.

• The Pavane is fairly neutral with a hair on the bass side. Smooth sounding, detailed but not too forward. Makes a good DAC for a forward sounding amplifier like GS-X MK2.
• Holo Audio Spring is more balanced to my ears, sweeter sound signature, has weight throughout the frequencies. Only found the AquaHiFi Formula xD and Rockna WaveDream to sound better but those are multiple times more

 

[Chopin75]

I say go all the way to a DSD512 capable DAC and get a decent machine (high CPU count) to handle that upsampling power.
I believe MacOS can only do DSD upsampling over DoP (type of transmission) which isn't what you want. You want Native DSD which requires either Linux or Windows.

In order upsample your redbook to the best DSD512 filters/modulators available, you'll need a 12-16 core Windows Machine ($$$). The second best thing is to play the same DSD512 format but with lower performance filters like poly-sinc-xtr-2s. The modulator should be kept at AMSDM7 512+fs. You can check it out by downloading a trial version of HQPlayer. Even 8GB ram should be enough, it doesn't eat much RAM, mainly CPU power.

• The Pavane is fairly neutral with a hair on the bass side. Smooth sounding, detailed but not too forward. Makes a good DAC for a forward sounding amplifier like GS-X MK2.
• Holo Audio Spring is more balanced to my ears, sweeter sound signature, has weight throughout the frequencies. Only found the AquaHiFi Formula xD and Rockna WaveDream to sound better but those are multiple times more

Thanks for the explanation. This is more complex than I want. Now do you think there is actual difference in SQ when you do DoP vs native DSD? Some claim no due to that the signal all pass unaltered. What do u think?

 

[simomat]

I will receive soon my Adagio with the I2S input board that is replacing the USB. Modification is done directly by Metrum Acoustics. Also getting the MQA module.
I am super happy with my Adagio I think it’s very detailed, amazing resolution, and spacious 3D sound and laid back presentation.
I pair it with custom active speakers and srm-727 and Stax 009 as headphone rig.

Will get Ambre or something alike to make it work.
I am confident I have made a good decision getting rid of USB and want to try I2S, I believe I won’t regret it.
Have not heard Holo but I am not a fan of conversion, over sampling and so on. From what I have read Adagio and Pavane are superior than Holo as far as resolution and transparency.
I can use spdif in the meantime (Roon to Oppo 203).

Will report back.

 

[Chopin75]

Most of my content is Red Book so most is PCM-source. I do have some 24/96 and 24/176.4 content along with a few DSD64 tracks. I listen to classic rock, classical, and Jazz.

None of it sounds like concerts but then I have yet to hear anything that rivals actually being at the venue in a good position. When I say “more musical” and “smooth” I mean there is no digital harshness and it sound more like vinyl.

Sorry to ask you again, did you use the PS-audio wave or memory player via I2S into the PS audio DAC? I ask this because you mention playing Redbook CDs.

 

[winders]

Sorry to ask you again, did you use the PS-audio wave or memory player via I2S into the PS audio DAC? I ask this because you mention playing Redbook CDs.

No. I use the Bridge II card installed in the DirectStream as a Roon endpoint. The Bridge II card plugs into Ethernet. I don't play CDs/. I rip them and play them from a Roon server (sonicTransport i5).

 

[Blueswyh]

Any one thinking about letting go your Pavane ?
I am searching for this for a while but seems the used market is dead with this model.

 

[336881]

Any one thinking about letting go your Pavane ?
I am searching for this for a while but seems the used market is dead with this model.

I let mine go a while back and I bought it used only a couple months after it had come out. The Pavane was released when the Yggy and DAVE were the talk of the town. Most enthusiasts either went big and got the DAVE or saved their schillings and got the Yggy.

I thought it was a good sounding dac using AES. Smooth yet detailed. I have found dac bliss the last few months with a Sony DAS-R1 and Schiit Eitr for much less than the Pavane.

Less coloration would be the main thing I would work on the Pavane. It is really pleasant and easy on the ears at first but like with many warm sounding products it went a bit overboard ultimately. The Sony/Eitr combo is still on the warm side as well but dialed back a little and subsequently a bit cleaner sounding.

 

[Blueswyh]

I have found dac bliss the last few months with a Sony DAS-R1 and Schiit Eitr for much less than the Pavane.

Less coloration would be the main thing I would work on the Pavane. It is really pleasant and easy on the ears at first but like with many warm sounding products it went a bit overboard ultimately. The Sony/Eitr combo is still on the warm side as well but dialed back a little and subsequently a bit cleaner sounding.

Wow, seems we shared a lot of thoughts about DAC . I used to investigate DAS-R1 too as it is also a R2R based and hi-end model with used price much easier to go. But there is hardly one for sale either.
Could you help share some experience about Das-R1‘s resolution, weight and richness of the sound as well as soundstage compared to Pavane?
I bought a Ygg a few days ago and it is still on the way to me. I want to try Pavane and then dicide to keep which one, as there is actually no opportunity to audition any of these in my town.

 

[336881]

Wow, seems we shared a lot of thoughts about DAC . I used to investigate DAS-R1 too as it is also a R2R based and hi-end model with used price much easier to go. But there is hardly one for sale either.
Could you help share some experience about Das-R1‘s resolution, weight and richness of the sound as well as soundstage compared to Pavane?
I bought a Ygg a few days ago and it is still on the way to me. I want to try Pavane and then dicide to keep which one, as there is actually no opportunity to audition any of these in my town.

I would say the Sony takes resolution, the Pavane takes richness and the weight is about the same.

At least for me the Yggy was a bit bright, the Pavane a bit too warm and the Sony/Eitr is just right. I do have a ECP walnut V dac that I found just right as well that I'm willing to let go for around half what I paid for it. It is usb/xlr out only though. PM me if you are interested. ECP (Doug) builds some wonderful products imo. One of the few that can compete with Schitt, Apex and Headamp and Apex and Headamp do not build dac's other than portable.