Novice2012

OK - great info and thanks!! and I got my layout wrong as one of you pointed out. so in fact, with the ER added as I believe you are saying, here is what I would have: switch box in basement sending 2 ethernets, one to sonictransporter, one to optical module, which then goes to the opticalrendu etc. - so to add the ER I would go on one Ethernet from stitch to ER, THEN to optical module, etc. - I do not see, given the optical connection, that I could go directly from ER to optical rendu? do I have it right? (finally?)

okay I have tried to read as many comments and questions as possible to see if I could find an answer to my question but could not so forgive my amateur question but here is my setup and am just want to confirm where in my link I would put the EtherRegen? and confirming you all see no redundancies here? a standard ethernet box is in the basement with a very long Ethernet cable (20 feet?) coming up to my living room---> sonore optical module---> sonore opticalrendu---> sonictransporter i5----->Benchmark DAC2----> Primaluna Evo 300 power amp---Goldenear T1s. is it as simple as the ethernet cord from downstairs going directly into the etherRegen which then goes out to the opticalmodule and the rest stays the same?

ok - that did not work - it appeared to distort? just to be clear, the pre-amp is at noon meaning it is half way to full throttle - you indicated I should go beyond that to 2 pm which made it around 70% - is that what you meant? And currently, the wall volume is 0 when it is at 7 pm and is at 100% when it is at 5 pm - you still think I need to crank pre-amp way up and have wall volume at around 25% or so?

ok - I'll try that out - interesting - i would have guessed I'd be going opposite direction, as in reduce pre-amp volume and get wall volume up high....glad I asked - I do not know impedance of wall control unfortunately - would love to remove this from the system, but cannot figure out how to reconfigure the entire system to do so (that's a whole new post, does not belong here) - thanks again!!

Very simply - I have an odd system, but here goes. Please inform me as to best settings for volume controls to get best sound. Vincent power amp in basement with looooong lead to a wall-outlet volume control in my living room on 1st floor. Wall volume control then leads to my listening room speaks (Goldenear Tirton Ones) in that room. I know, not ideal, but not permanent either - but for now..... To achieve best sound what is ratio of a) volume I should set my Vincent pre-amp to and b) volume my wall volume switch should be set to get best sound. Currrently, I have pre amp at 12 oclock (50%), which translates to listening upstairs as follows: a) quiet listening, volume control is around 9 pm, b) loud listening is at noon, c) I'm older, so rarely do I need volume beyond that. I saw advise that said, turn down pre-amp to 9 or 10 pm or so and allow wall volume controll to go to 80%, 90%, 100% (5 pm) to get max sound quality. Sorry for basic nature of the question, but advise is appreciated.

First off, thx all for the thoughtful commentary. Will try to provide some quick replies, thoughts, etc. based on comments above, in no particular order: * real measured dimensions are: room is 14.5 feet wide, 14 feet deep - my seat is on one side of the long side of the room and speakers are 21 inches from rear wall, 30 inches from side walls. sub is in far left corner, around 8 inches from corner * speakers are aimed inward toward listening position, which is around 11.5 feet from my listening head *listening chair is directly against the wall *as far as what is "wrong" with the system (other than Roon issues ), I have no good answer - I suppose nothing was wrong with my system years ago when I played mp3s through a mac mini to some $600 Focals - it sounded pretty good. But with some upgrades in processing, file quality, speakers, I noticed notable sound improvement - so I suppose I've assumed that were there to be a weak link in my hardware, replacing it with something better, newer could also take the sound to a new level *So now that I've provided actual room specs, a 14.5 foot room, less 30 inches on each side gets me speaks at approximately 9 feet apart....coincidence I assure you *General thought - interesting that virtually all feedback focuses on listening space and not any of the equipment - I can try to be creative with the space based on the feedback you all are providing, the placement of stuff etc., but this is a true living room with chairs, sofa etc. - so I am constrained by that and the general need that my wife "bless" material movement of furniture with respect to reorganizing the room

Ok - seat is midway along 18 foot wall- so I am guessing each speak is 30 inches from side walls or around 12 feet apart - I sit in center spot between speaks. - not odeal but just the way furniture is set up. Will try some tweaks to speaker and Sub place ment. Sent from my LG-H820 using Computer Audiophile mobile app

interesting - i've been researching new DACs thinking that might be the case......been hovering around Simaudio's Moon 280D DAC but also trying to figure out where MQA will go (Tidal now offering some MQA stuff - should my next DAC be compatible...) But you think both the M1 and V Link 192 are the bad boys?

Oooh, yah, see......that may underwhelm...picture my living room - guessing the room is 18 feet wide, 15 feet deep (so im looking at speaks roughly 12 feet away each as they are parked in the corners - 3 feet from side, 18 inches from back.) But a real, basic rectangular, living room, not a "listening room." Sub is in the left corner behind the left speaker. No sound enhancements on walls.

Hello All - would appreciate candid expert opinions as to the weak link in my system. I am not a computer expert, but I am trying (over time) to really improve my system by upgrading components over time to sound the best it can be within my budget. So here is my system: 4TB WD drive with 42k tracks to... Sonic Transporter i5 to...(roon w/ Tidal) Microrendu to..... Musical Fidelity V-Link 192 to.... Musical Fidelity M1 DAC to..... Vincent Audio SA 31 Pre Amp to.... Vincent Audio SP 331 Power Amp to.... Focal Electra 1007 BE speakers with a Focal subwoofer (not Electra level, but the one below it.....(not at home now) Appreciate your thoughts as to which item I should replace next as I gradually upgrade the system. Cheers!!!

Hi all - thx for comments. So the Melco N1A would be acting as NAS AND Roon Server? (I dont yet have Roon...) Won't tax the thing? Have not tried plugging in new file source - I suppose that would help determine if Drobo was source of skipping... will try it. As far as forthcoming Melco software, optimized USB etc. does that suggest waiting for a newer, updated model might be warranted, or are those kinds of upgrades the kind of thing that can be downloaded to current units already out there?

First off, I am not a computer guy (translated, "low knowledge") but having been a reader of CA for years thought I'd see if deep knowledge here can help me get to the end zone quicker (flailing about currently.) ISSUE: songs skip on a regular basis, can't isolate issue, but guy says to start with replacing the Drobo 5-Bay - sound is okay, but I've had this setup in place for 6+ years - time to solve the skipping and upgrade sound. Current equipment/setup: DROBO NAS --> Netgear Prosafe 8 port switch --> Mac Mini (Audirvana) --> Musical Fidelity V Link 192 --> Musical Fidelity M1 DAC to pre amp (Vincent pre amp and power amp out to Focal Electra 1008 BEs. Targeted equipment/setup: Based on lots of reading (understanding half of it), I'd like to consider adding the Melco N1A, the sonicTransporter and microRendu - but I have the feeling some of these may overlap? I am fine moving over to Roon as long as it will read 45k music files off the Melco N1A. Add'l questions - want to keep the MF M1 DAC if possible - will microRendu --> MF V Link 192 --> MF M1DAC work? Does it make sense? Is M1 DAC compatible with the hardware/software we are talking about here? Any need to keep the Mac Mini in the system or get rid of it? Again, thank you for your patience with the amateur nature of the question above, but it's been a challenge for me to plan the new system only half understanding what each piece does. Any/all help, suggestions, guidance, or even a "Just do this, and it will work/sound great" is hugely appreciated.

Currently have: Drobo FS to Mac Mini to Musical Fidelity M1 DAC to Musical Fidelity HPA to Niles SI 1200 (12-channel power amp) out to 6 sets of speakers around house. Want: to add Quality power amp and higher quality speakers in only 1 room!! such that a) 1 track of the system would benefit from highest quality power and best speakers and b) a 2nd track would play the same music, same time through the rest of the house (room speakers) but using the Niles on a non-audiophile level. I want the living room to sound brilliant! and the rest of the house can sound just ok..... If I split signal at some point from preamp to 2 amps, does sound get degraded? another way to set up? Any advice is appreciated.

I've had Amarra issues for a 2 months now, between track delays, cache issues, glitches, etc. Can't get anyone to tell me if Drobo FS is one of NASs that Amarra does not like. Got fed up, "interviewed" A+ and love it....Anyhoo, Richard rightfully pointed me to Amarra tech support, which I delayed forever cause of that day job thing...but tried to contact them yesterday at lunch finally and could find no phone # - only a form to fill out and something about $85 per "help session?" Is there no help support via a phone without the fee? I've already moved on t A+, which works flawlessly with my system, and I am really just trying to get Amarra to work because I PAID for it, darn it!! Is there a help line I do not know about? Am I dead in the water with a useless software whose delays make it unlistenable?

Thanks for comments Richard - you are very helpful, thoughtful and quite frankly absolutely correct in your guidance to give Amarra support a call to resolve, and I will do so. A little tough to do during the day, what with work and all, but will see if they are open in the evening? But just wanted to thank you again for your helpful thoughts and guidance. It is will the experience and help of folks like you that newcomers to this game can make great strides in catching up, learning as much as possible and improving the sounds of our systems. Thx again.