Sonnet Digital Audio: New kid on the block, well.. not really!

[Nostoi]

@Nostoi Thanks, In your signature I do not see Sparkos Aries anymore, why so? And how had changed the sound of your ATH-WP900 with Claire hybrid cable? I am debating with myself whether to get copper series or claire hybrid. Thank you!

I've since sold the Sparkos and changed to the LTA MZ3. The Sparkos is a truly incredible amp, which I recommend 100%. But what the MZ3 brings to the table is the same level of technical performance with a more natural (tube) timbre and larger sense of space/soundstage. That said, it's twice the price of the Aries and I think the latter is a bargain.

On the WP900, the Forza cable brought more coherence to the FR and filled out some of the mids/lower-mids. I would definitely go for Claire Hybrid or even their Noir series - the WP900 needs more body and the Noir might help on that front.

 

[vonBaron]

Chord MScaler sound really with Morpheus, sadly its limited to only 192kHz due coaxial limits. For me it sounds better than Ambre via I2S. More air and detali, better soundstage, more crisp sound.

 

[Baten]

Chord MScaler sound really with Morpheus, sadly its limited to only 192kHz due coaxial limits. For me it sounds better than Ambre via I2S. More air and detali, better soundstage, more crisp sound.

Sounds really?

 

[Curtisvill]

I just set up a Sonnet Hermes streamer using the I2S connection on the Morpheus and all I can say is WOW!!! Everything about the music is better, larger soundstage, better instrument separation, sweeter vocals, better bass slam, fuller mids, crisper treble, and a more holographic sound. I am not a critical listener or reviewer, but the step up from my A&K SP200 to the Hermes as a source is a game changer.

 

[lithiumnk]

Chord MScaler sound really with Morpheus, sadly its limited to only 192kHz due coaxial limits. For me it sounds better than Ambre via I2S. More air and detali, better soundstage, more crisp sound.

You can get the same/better sound than mscaler from ambre if you change the stock rpi3 with rpi4 & run custom linux like audio linux or gentooplayer in ramroot. One can easily use hqplayer embedded on these distros & upsample to 192khz without putting any stress on rpi's cpu. You can get almost similar results from pi2aes/rpi4-8gb/i2s/goodLps as well. I've experienced different types of sound signature ( tonally & technically) from my dac (pavaneL3) depending on the upstream signal processing. If you want to go few steps ahead add an external master clock with mutec mc3+usb or etherregen. Btw ambre is just an endpoint whereas mscaler is a upsampler.

 

[vonBaron]

And how can i do that?

 

[vonBaron]

Soon i will test Morpheus vs Holo May KTE.

 

[vonBaron]

You can get the same/better sound than mscaler from ambre if you change the stock rpi3 with rpi4 & run custom linux like audio linux or gentooplayer in ramroot. One can easily use hqplayer embedded on these distros & upsample to 192khz without putting any stress on rpi's cpu. You can get almost similar results from pi2aes/rpi4-8gb/i2s/goodLps as well. I've experienced different types of sound signature ( tonally & technically) from my dac (pavaneL3) depending on the upstream signal processing. If you want to go few steps ahead add an external master clock with mutec mc3+usb or etherregen. Btw ambre is just an endpoint whereas mscaler is a upsampler.

I already have PPA Ethernet Switch V2 with is similar to etherregen.

 

[lithiumnk]

And how can i do that?

Open ambre >replace stock rpi3 with rpi4 4/8gb> flash new microsd card with gentooplayer or audio Linux. Follow the instructions on their webpage.

 

[vonBaron]

I A / B MScaler to my Ambre and Evo Two + Clock and the sound of my equipment is more to me. MScaler softens the sound a bit too much, it becomes so candy-like. Ambre produces a more aggressive, sharper sound with a closer soundstage, Evo Two similar to Ambre.

 

[khoihd]

Soon i will test Morpheus vs Holo May KTE.

VERY interested in this test! I have Onyx vs Morpheus and can confirm what most have said. Morpheus has a fuller sound and incredible insight into the music!

 

[vonBaron]

This Holo May is great, very energetic and dynamic, more than Morpheus, very large phantom images. The heart beats faster when you listen to it. Overall sound quality very similar to Morpheus.

 

[Nostoi]

This Holo May is great, very energetic and dynamic, more than Morpheus, very large phantom images. The heart beats faster when you listen to it. Overall sound quality very similar to Morpheus.

Sounds like everything I was searching for in Morpheus but didn't find. I only wish they did a compact version of the Holo May.

 

[vonBaron]

Yep, May is big and bulky, almost didn't fit in my desk. For me they are very similar.

 

[Wes S]

This Holo May is great, very energetic and dynamic, more than Morpheus, very large phantom images. The heart beats faster when you listen to it. Overall sound quality very similar to Morpheus.

Sounds like I made the right choice, as I was interested in the May, but I don't need anymore energy or dynamics, so that's good to know. Thanks for sharing! I also, don't have the room for that beast.