Superdad

A couple of questions if you don’t mind: What is the processor of the machine you installed it on? Where are you storing your music library (elsewhere on you network? Directly attached?) And how did you point Audirvana to your library? Do you upsample (with built in R8brain), and if so, how high? What app/device do you control with? And how/where do you edit metadata for your library since Audirvana for Linux is headless and remote apps don’t let you manipulate much? Sorry, I guess that’s more than a couple of questions. (But I have very specific reasons for each of them.) Thanks!

From an interior photo I found, I believe it is this one, by Aucharm: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832186843185.html

I'm jealous. So many great records from my youth. Aside from classic Procol Harum (A Salty Dog was great), he and his band put out some staggering hits on well-produced LPs. My favorite albums for them were Bridge of Sighs, Long Misty Days, In City Dreams, and Caravan to Midnight (that's about where I stopped and my tastes went in multiple other directions). Enjoy the show!

I agree with your wife on both counts!

Correct. The ‘B’ side ports of EtherREGEN Gen2 will be Gigabit capable. [I say “ports” plural because Gen2 will also have an SFP cage—Gigabit-only—on the ‘B’ side, in addition to 10/100/1000 RJ45 port. But because we are putting only one channel’s worth of Ethernet signals (SGMII or fiber mode) across our one set of active differential isolators that sit on the “moat” gap, only one of those ‘B’ side ports can be active at a time. At power-on the EtherREGEN Gen2 will sense if there is an active connection to the SFP cage; if there is it will turn off the RJ45 PHY chip—and the signals at the ‘B’ side SFP cage will be coming directly off our special ultra-low-jitter 10GHz-capable flip-flop. The signal from that port—in a completely power/clocking/data isolated domain—will be so good that for users of endpoints with SFP input (opticalRendu, Lumin X1/P1/U2, HiFi Rose RS130, Taiko, etc.) will likely get better performance by skipping optical SFP transceivers and simply using a short passive Direct Attach Cable (a shotgun pair of special twinaxial wires).]

Speaking of Audirvana: They just released a beta of their player that for the first time puts them on Linux! (Though control is only via their Remote app on iOS & Android. Debian and RPM ARM64(aarch64) packages are what I see (https://community.audirvana.com/t/beta-audirvana-for-linux-and-nas/). Does that rule out running Audirvana on Rendus as they are iMX6-based? Sure would be cool...

What I find interesting is that this topic—about Tekton—has, over at ASR between two threads, generated 275,000 views and 3,000 posts! Those guys sure love controversy and broohaha…

Don't quote me on that. I am not 100% certain. I'll ask Jesus at Sonore...

Yes, thanks! I think the Wiim Pro Plus--for a crazy-low $219--is going to be the best solution for him. His amp, a lovely original American-made Marantz 18 receiver (sweet warm sound that he loves) which I got him years ago, has only analog inputs--and too few at that. I was going to give him an old Light Harmonic Geek Pulse DAC (plus extra LPS I have lying around) along with the microRendu. But it all would be too complicated to maintain/support (he lives far away), plus he has an aging Apple AirPort Express that he often slings to, as well as a TV. He was looking at the Eversolo DMP-A6, but that's a lot more $ and a bit overkill as he does not need the touchscreen or volume control. So I think the Wiim Pro Plus may be ideal--and since it supports AirPlay as well he'll be able to ditch his AirPort Express.

P.S. I just came across a slick iOS (and MacOS desktop, and even Apple Watch) app called Rigelian. An MPD and OpenHome player that claims to include connection to Qobuz. Just $4/year. Has anybody here tried Rigelian with Qobuz? [EDIT: Well I just downloaded Rigelian and it seems that its support to stream Qobuz only available to OpenHome devices. I guess that rules out the microRendu?]

Hi all: I am not a Qobuz subscriber but my brother is. I think he just plugs his iPhone or iPad into his amp. I think he likes the Qobuz app and creates playlists. But I am about to gift him a Sonore microRendu that I no longer use. I don't think he wants to get into Roon or Aurdivana, he just wants to stream Qobuz from his iPhone to the microRendu. So that means putting the microRendu into MPD/DLNA mode and using some 3rd party app (since I see that Qobuz Connect is not on the short horizon). I downloaded to my iPhone the Conversdigital mConnect app that Sonore recommends. It plays but boy what a horrible interface! Can someone recommend something nicer? My brother's priorities are: --Being able to create and edit playlists easily; --Being able to download for offline listening some albums from Qobuz. Thanks much. --Alex C.

No “waving” at all. Just very focused and technical engineering refinements! [John and I spend many hours per week on the phone, and when he is immersed in work on a Sonore project it often takes him some time to debrief (it’s part of his brain process) before we get to discussing status of UpTone projects. There is also some overlapping tech to learn so it’s interesting to me. I’m sworn to secrecy, but I can assure that there is no voodoo or snake oil involved—just brilliantly inspired engineering based on decades of his experience in digital design. ]

The well-regarded Metrum Ambre and Pi2Design Mercury are both based on Pi4...

That's kind of an odd question for this thread on GentooPlayer OS software. But I'm a GentooPlayer user myself (in fact I've been behind but am updating to latest version today), with it operating on a Pi2Design Mercury streamer for Ethernet>I2S, itself on the 'B' port of an EtherREGEN. This combination results in the best SQ I've ever had in my system. The obvious full disclosure here is that yes, I own UpTone Audio and thus am biased towards our special switch. How come you sold your EtherREGEN? Seems you regret doing so. We are presently in stock--so you could get another... As consolation for your selling regret, you could write to me and I'll give you a modest discount on a used, perfectly functioning unit. Cheers, --Alex C.

The Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe. Wow, that’s a mouthful of a name! Reminds me of a classic muscle car I owned and restored 25 years ago, a 1966 Chevrolet whose full model name was Chevelle Malibu El Camino Deluxe. It was a screamer, not a streamer—but I wished I still had it. Sold it to become Superdad…