darkfrank

I stopped reading when someone said he couldn't distinguish any SQ difference between a Mac and an enterprise server, lol.

Their testing PC is not much different than a standard pc with some useless filters and a fanless case. Eventually, they even added a fan powered by the motherboard...

So, I ordered the 960GB TLC version after reading all the reviews here and on other forums, and I received it yesterday. My initial impression is very good. A little bit of background on my music server: I have an Intel 8700K, Z370-G M-ATX, ADT Wide Temp 2666 DDR4, Pinkfaun Ultra OCXO USB card, Taiko DC-ATX, and HDPLex H5. I use ROON for local playback, with no streaming services or internet connection. My customized Windows 8.1 OS has many kernel services stripped off. As you can see, storage is crucial in my build. I prefer a single storage device partitioned with OS and storage rather than a small-size OS disk and separate storage disks. Adding an additional storage device obviously degrades sound quality by a lot, no matter how good the storage disks are. Before making this decision, I also purchased the Optane 905P 960G U.2 and was really disappointed. It lacks the musicality of Intel DC S3510/S3710 SATA SSD. The Optane was connected to the CPU-directed PCIE lane by using a U.2 to PCIE adapter card/U.2 to PCIE adapter flat cable. (The cable performs a little bit better). Both adapters are 3.3V and 12V PCIE pin tapped to be able to be externally powered by the Taiko DC-ATX 12V DC output. The sound of the Optane 905P is dynamic, powerful, and analytical, but the decay simply stops too fast and straightforward, which always reminds me that I'm listening to a computer. The Intel SATA SSD, with the help of a good SATA cable, linear power supply, and DC cable, does not have such powerful resolution and dynamic - maybe a little softer and with less precise imaging - but presents music more naturally. On the other hand, the NVMe Femto SSD preserves the dynamics and micro-details that Optane has, but also brings musicality back to some extent. It would be promising after the run-in period is finished.

I would avoid anything that come from Samsung, have been trying their product since DDR3 memory, 860EVO SSD, 970PRO M2, all of them share the same house sound: vocal coloration, lean and digital glare. Even tho supplied the SATA SSD with expensive sata cables and Linear Power supply, they are still far inferior to the intel DC SSDs.

Just wondering if anyone tried to use the apacer ecc memory on a SOtM sMB-Q370? Does it work?

Hifi system powered from independent electrical panel, two balanced isolation transformers and ground filters are used. Home electronics filtered by Furman power filters, Shunt filters such as Greenwave are also placed next to the high power pollution source such as refrigerator and air conditioners. Finally, Ferrite Cores on lighting rails.

It's really painful when your system is too sensitive. Even with a lot of power conditioner used (different type, direction, location) , I still can hear the difference clearly on my hifi system (powered from independent electrical panel) just by changing a power cord on somewhere else of my home's power grid.

Well I dunno if Gan are really so good to audio cuz I have tried some different brand of the GaN charger they always have bigger impact to sound (negative side) compared with the traditional charger. Maybe due to the higher frequency of switching noise they are harder to be removed by power filters or isolation transformers? I've to unplug these GaN charger while I'm listening music otherwise the sound become so dull.

Its the asus z690 chipset not recognizing the JCAT asmedia controller, upgrade firmware of the card on an older platform will fix this problem.

I almost have the same feeling when comparing the JCAT XE with the Pinkfaun Ultra OCXO. PF has more dynamic contrast and richer analogue tone while JCAT is more laid-back and calm.

Thanks for the explanation. Is this a good place to connect the wire to the case grounding point?

Hi, I’ve a question about the jcat grounding. What are the purpose of adding ground wires to the jcat cards while the pci baffle are already mounted on the case?

Any reason for not using the Z-NAND? It should have the lowest latency?

Yes, I tried this method and its the best method that SQ is almost as same as to unplug the network cable. Since I only play local files, I installed a second JCAT Femto net card on my normal PC, enter a separate subnet other then the Internet and connect to my server though a Lan cable. Install the ROON remote on this normal PC, create a pair of .bat file to enable network adapter>start ROON UI, select songs as usual, then click another .bat file to kill ROON process and disable network adapter.

I must say that even I'm already using the Telegartner M12 switch, by using ROON to play local file only, unplug the network cable still improve the SQ for about ~20%.