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vrdsp0

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  1. my own ranking (based on best achievable sound with an external good performance DAC) : 1. Best by far - Lumin U1 mini (USB output, no external PSU), lack Chromecast, DSD upsampling. Fast boot. Rock Stable. Always on due to low consumption. Maybe a remote will come one day. Lack Deezer. 2. HAP Z1 ES (USB output), DSD support, Spotify Connect, remote, screen. I liked it a lot, but slow upload of files. Though I did not A/B test, the Burr Brown integrated DAC of the Z1ES should be better than CXN v2. The Z1ES to TEAC UD503 (with AK4490) via USB was more resolving, dynamic and enjoyable than Z1ES internal DAC. Then DIY solutions (requires time to set-up) 2 ex-aequo. Daphile (USB output) inside a Virtual Machine on a HP Microserver Gen8, no Spotify Connect as far as I remember, no chromeCast, DSD support, rock solid, very old interface, DIY solution. No difference between Real Time kerrnel and the other. 3. Raspberry 3 with RuneAudio (USB output), no Chromecast possible (blocked by Google), Spotify Connect is a patch, volumio-like interface, DIY solution, DSD support, upsampling possible and more. 4. Raspberry 3 with Volumio (USB output), I don't like the interface, Spotify Connect module available, DSD support. Not as customizable than RuneAudio through the UI. Then 5. Cambridge CXN v2 (coaxial output), has a screen and IR remote, has Chromecast and Spotify Connect. no USB output. Very slow boot. Chromecast is slow to engage. Internal Wolfson DAC is already good but I prefer comparable Burr Brown implementations. Coaxial output does not benefit from the AFT upsampling technology. Would have been nice, as modern ESS DACs are now even better than Burr Brown and Wolfson. 5 ex-aequo. Chromecast Audio (optical output). Always on due to ultra low consumption. Chromecast is fast to engage. Not tested Bluesound Node 2i because of no DSD support without transcoding collection before, no screen and no USB output. May try one day, did anyone compare bluesound Node 2i with cambridge cxn V2, on their SPDIF outputs ?
  2. @Liam you need first to flag the radios you want to listen to as favorites in your Tunein account for example through the browser. Then you need to sync favorites through the Lumin app (LUMIN options>radios setting>update radios)
  3. Or better, a kind of Deezer Connect, like the new Tidal Connect
  4. Hello, some questions (I currently have a U1 mini): -Would it be possible to add Deezer Hifi / Elite to the lumin app ? -where to find the new (IR) remote in Europe? -is Chromecast built-in possible? -1. upsampling and 2. transcoding to DSD is nice, would it be possible to add an 5-band EQ, and/or a compressor for basic room correction in-between 1. and 2. ? Cheers
  5. Hello, I was using spotify Connect to stream to the lumin U1 mini, which was great. But during the lockdown, as many, I explored other services (Tidal, SoundCloud streaming on Win10), with temporary discounts. As a side note, I landed on this comparison of grand piano: exciting, despite minimalist : https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=5791 A few usability features would be nice: *Tidal native app on phone: Use the native TIDAL app for control (on Google Pixel ), stream to Lumin U1 mini, then output to USB Mytek DAC ? For instance, I use my trustworthy Chromecast Audio... At 24bits / 44.1khz max plugged in the optical input of the DAC. Don't know if the 24bits are true bits. Native app is the way to go (playlists in one place, control in the notification panel of the phone) *Stream from a Win10 laptop: For instance, I can use the chrome browser to stream to the Chromecast Audio the sound of the desktop or the tab (that's what I did with the soundcloud samples used in the grand piano side note above.) I tried some free app to stream the Win10 desktop to the LUMIN using DLNA, with no luck. I say that, seeing the new Primare NP5, which seems to provide Google Chromecast rendering up to 96khz. Though, I still see no evidence showing someone already succeeded. But if true, and if MQA pass through is ok, then it would render my U1 mini much less useful, as the two above scenarios would be covered at 96khz. Does Chromecast audio rendering require some hardware or is it possible to add this feature with a firmware change ?
  6. Hello Otto, Yes I upgraded to 18444, to have the latest hot fix. ADI 2 Pro looks like a real performer, however I did not try it. Whether it will be compatible with the Z1ES, I do not know. I like the AK4490 sound (from the UD503) as it provides subtlety in its enormous dynamic range. Keep in mind : - read the ADI 2 pro manual before buy, especially to make sure the routing/cabling you expect is possible. It is a geek product that requires a bit of time to handle. - for DSD you will have an alternative : either DSD direct with effects disable (bass, loudness, especially also no volume control!) or effects, but there will be a DSD to PCM conversion inside the ADI2PRO. The latter is very convenient, but is considered less transparent sonically. With this device, and appropriate system, you can make your own opinion. The exclusive feature in the ADI 2 Pro is its A/D capability, to DSD. The sound processing (and volume) is done in the digital domain, in PCM, like pro devices. It includes a preamp too. The Adi2pro has no remote, which is why I did not wanted it. Also, the internal implementation is correct, performant, VERY reliable, but not HIGH-END. In particular, the two stereo DACs are used for 4 channels instead of the classical comparison scheme which improves the Signal/Noise by a few dB on 2 channels. the latest Firmware of the adi2 pro 183/88 DAC23/23 introduce larger compatibility with USB sources. The RME forum (forum.rme-audio.de) is active in case you have issues with the Z1ES. They asked for feedback for the HAP-S1 recently, so a feedback Ith the Z1ES would have attention from then too. Again, it is a semi-pro product, be sure you have enough time to dedicate to set up this product.
  7. A question mark icon means you have some Tags the Z1 does not like. It does not prevent from working. if you want to get rid of this question mark icon, you’ve to find which files or albums cause trouble and retag it with appropriate software before rescanning. Easy to spot if you have just added one album. If you have mass loaded with all your music collection, I have not found a smarter solution than reloading with a step by step approach with full partial rescan in between, until the question mark icon appears. You can check the number of music files discovered by the Z1ES against an expectation, it will help a lot to find what folder cause issues. If it is a question mark in track, artist, album name display, not an icon, then it is a charset related issue, you would have to retag your files with UTF-8 encoding.
  8. You can put more than 20 000 songs, there is no software limitation, but be patient while scanning, that can last two or three days. But that 20 000 songs corresponds to an average 13 songs per album, with 1500 albums being CD 44.1khz 16bits, each 650Mo, that would fill the 1To HDD. With a lossless compression ratio of let’s say 60% in FLAC, you can put 2500 albums, that’s to say 33 000 songs. With lossy formats, you can have lot more songs. With DSD64, I read they weigh 3Go, you can store 300 albums, that’s to say 4000 songs. all figures are proxies. The only limit is the size of the HDD. By replacing the internal HDD, you can get 2To max. (Double the OEM HDD). I don’t rememberexactly, but I have about 30 000 - 35 000 on mine filling 1.1To (lot of old lossy albums)
  9. hello, reset to factory setting before rescanning. This will format and make available your drive.
  10. Hi digital record, try in windows explorer to add a mapped drive. choose an available drive letter (eg. Z:\) folder to map : \\X.X.X.X\HAP_Internal keep checked Reconnect at sign-in you should be able to browse your Z1ES. then try again a drag and drop. As far as I remember, during a scan, you'd better NOT adding files to the Z1ES. It will either reject incoming files at some point, and eventually screw the scan by rebooting the Z1ES, requiring to restart the scan from the beginning!! If you send your HAP to repair, back up your internal files before. Your internal files are not lost unless you fully erase the drive. If your HAP is really fried, which I doubt, you always can open the unit, take out the internal drive, plug it on linux, and restore the files.
  11. 18444R works fine with the M2Tech Hiface Two too, with PCM 16bit 44.1khz and 32bit 176.4khz ;) Change log is displayed on the unit before upgrading, as far as I remember : - improved usb dac compatibility - Spotify favorite renamed preset or vice versa - improved stability of the HDD remote app - update SMB 3.1.1 for Windows 10 compatibility when uploading files to the server
  12. I can live with this ignorance, unless you propose me to share part of your experience ^^. Indeed no comment.
  13. I feared your reaction, yes you're right I'll let you talk about Esoteric, I just do not know these products, never heared. But we talked about Z1ES and NT505 just before, then you talked about your Esoteric device. Furthermore, I may remind you the VRDS story that TEAC brought to masses : http://www.esoteric.jp/about/history/indexe.html Thanks sfseay.
  14. the only solution is to try the UD-503 or UD-505 (or NT- version as a DAC) with the Z1ES and report if it works with the latest firmware, so. Esoteric and TEAC are intimately tied, both at the hardware and software level. The Esoteric N-05 DAC share some components with the UD-503. (not all,hopefully for Esoteric owners ) UD-505 is an evolution of the UD-503. NT-505 adds the streaming features. Of course, features and fine tuning is vastly different. So we cannot make deduction/inference here. I suspect the Z1ES firmware has regressed for casual users using casual devices, in part due to feature request from high-end audio device owners such as this Esoteric. That's another debate. Furthermore, in the NT-505 SNPI (Supplemental information) , TEAC says it is possible to read DSD128 and PCM 24bits/192khz from USB port on the front panel. They talk about flash drive, but I guess a low power HDD or SSD could be plugged. https://www.teac-audio.eu/downloads/3/3/5/2/9/TEAC_NT-505_product_information_EN.pdf Astonishingly, marketers put forward the dual mono construction, while engineers forget the crosstalk measure... And also, better have a look at firmware release notes: All issues relating to the volume are ultra important and was a flaw in the previous 503 series. TEAC looks as if they have worked on this subject : https://teac.jp/downloads/products/teac/ud-505/E_UD-505_NT-505_RN_vB.txt The NT-503 use the iOS HR Remote application, while the NT-505 use the excellent HR Streamer application (Lumin based). By the way, very interesting to find a Lumin software on both TEAC/Esoteric devices. It's new for TEAC. All that said, the Z1ES is still good sonically and good looking. Now that TEAC has shown what is possible in such a little device, SONY can COPY that! :0 Sorry, improve the current Z1ES and fill the need of Sony fans + add Spotify Hi-Res exclusivity at launch! + still take care of SACD owners (ripping feature)
  15. With NT-505 you will not need the Z1ES anymore, it is an integrated high-end DAC + streamer, which does PCM and DSD : https://www.hifi.nl/artikel/26685/Review-TEAC-NT-505-DACnetwerkspeler-en-CG-10M-klokgenerator.html https://www.spill.hk/audiovisual/teac-ud-505-review/ Difficult to get though. Plus, you would need to find another solution to rip SACD though, or keep the Z1ES for this sole purpose... I will never switch again to the latest firmware on the Z1ES, sorry Otto. Maybe if I find an opportunity, I would get the NT-505 some day, but it certainly would mean that I would not own the Z1ES anymore. The UD-501 DAC worked straight right with the Z1ES (but again not tested with latest firmware) I think I've not tested with the UD-503 DAC, which was better, but support for this DAC has been slowly added in linux kernel, did not work with other DIY systems, and I had to sell it. Z1ES works with a linux kernel, so highly possible it was not compatible.
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