zorntel

Zorntel confirming that the Larry Magic juice on a LUSH is a huge leap forward from the cheap USB cable...which has been retired...I have two modified LUSH's now, one for each system. One is feeding an IFI Black label and the other goes to a HOLO Cyan, both running DSD512. Robert

If anyone is interested in trying DSD512 upsampling for cheap I'm selling an extra IFI micro iDSD Black Label here: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=153058533677&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111 Robert

Original Brooklyn for sale: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=153057695736&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111

Thanks to my SU-1 friend I now have a SU-1 loaner for a week. It has Kitsune's mods but without the power supply. Instead I'm feeding it 5V power from a HDplex 100w LPS running through a LT3045 7V to 6V to 5V chain. The sound is definitely different from that of the Cyan's USB board. In general transients are better, but I think that comes from better high frequency response. Specifically good old 14K tape hiss is coming through stronger. The net effect is that the SU1 sound is a little thin but great attacks on percussive instruments. Tim is sending his fully modified SU-1 (with his power supply) this way so we will be able to do a head to head comparison between the two approaches to power. We will also do this with a Holo Spring as well. Robert

Sorry, I never replied to this. My LT3045's are free ranging. I use plastic risers with metal screws and plastic washers to mount them to each other to give some stability....don't really see a reason for cases.

7V LPS-1 output into a 6V LT3045 into a 5V LT3045. I use a splitter out of the LPS-1 into two of these chains. One goes into the isoregen while the other goes into an IFI idefender positioned after the isoregen before my modified LUSH cable. I don't think the idefender really makes a difference, its just a way to inject power into the USB chain. Robert

The key with the iso-regen is to feed it clean power. Thus the LPS-1 and double LT3045s (6 V and 5V in series) and then to inject cleaned 5V power (also LT3045s) after the isoregen. I imagine they will eventually upgrade the iso-regen with better chips, but in the meantime this is how to get the most from it. I use a single LPS-1 for both purposes. My USB is also coming from a startech USB 3.1 PCIe card that is also fed cleaned LPS-1/LT3045 5V power. All of these changes make incremental differences, but the net effect is staggering. What I've learned in the last year is that a couple of hundred dollars of power tweaks can make tens of thousands of dollars of difference in system performance. Robert

I'm wondering if any Cyan users out there have experimented with Digital interfaces like the SU-1? I know this is a very common approach with the Spring. I had about 30 minutes with an SU-1 yesterday in my Cyan rig and the results were inconclusive. Sound was definitely different, but I didn't have enough time to judge whether I liked the sound better or not. I'll hopefully have a longer period to evaluate it again in another week, but I'm curious who might have done a similar experiment. My friends and I did a bunch of AB testing yesterday between the IFI micro iDSD Black Label and the Cyan (NOS) and we definitely preferred the Cyan. All of this was done with DSD512 input and no SU-1. I have the DSD version of the Cyan running in NOS and I'm upsampling to DSD512 in HQplayer. I'm sending the data to the cyan using a custom shielded LUSH USB cable. The USB chain also uses an ISO Regen supplied with LT3045 regulated LPS-1 power and an IFI iDefender used to inject 5V LT3045 regulated power after the ISO Regen (also from an LPS-1). Robert

I should say that spotify plays fine to the local computer either through the sound card or directly to the IFI DAC if it is connected directly to the computer. The dac connected to the microrendu also works fine with HQplayer. Thus the problem seems to be spotify connect with the microrendu. The Microrendu was upgraded to the newest software today and the whole system was restarted including the router. Lastly the computer and microrendu are connected to the same gigabit netgear switch. Robert

Ok, got it to connect but now it only plays 1 sec of music at a time and then drops and then reconnects....over and over again. Robert

I'm having the same problem with Spotify. When I choose it from the device menu it tries to connect and then fails. I'm tried every manner of restarts all through the connection chain. Microrendu works fine with HQplayer. I'm on 2.5 here. Robert

Given Jussi's measurements comparing the Cyan between DSD128, DSD256, and DSD512 input I'm curious if anyone on the list (including Jussi) who actually has a Cyan has upsampled identical files to these rates in HQplayer and done any comparative listening tests. I've done this with both the T+A and the IFI Black label DACs and DSD512 is astounding compared to the lower rates. I also know people with the Holo Spring and they also prefer DSD512. Measurements are fine and welcome, but when you're an audiophile listening is what matters in the end. Just curious. Robert

Jussi, Just to confirm, do your Linux NAA builds have the necessary LINUX drivers for the Cyan? Robert

Does anyone know if the Cyan requires power through the USB cable in order to connect to the computer?

Turns out it was a hardware problem...dying ISO Regen. I'm back in business. Thanks, Robert