ChrisG

View Classified AFTERDARK PROJECT CLAYX MUTEC MC-3+USB w/ FARAD SUPER3 BLACK MODERNIZE EDITION for sale Selling my Afterdark Mutec MC-3+USB & Farad Super3 Black Modernize edition. Purchased in October 2022. Both units are in excellent shape. I used this between my Antipodes K50 and Rockna Wavedream Signature DAC and, even using it with the K50, it made a big improvement, so it would be a great addition of you aren't using a dedicated audio server. The only reason I am selling is because I have a Taiko Extreme on order. List price new $2,662. Asking price is $2000. You can check out my feedback as 7Ryder US Audiomart and at the 'gon. Buyer pays PP fees and shipping. The Project ClayX Black Modernize includes: Upgrade the YAZAKI san Ultimate Ruby MICA Capacitor x 3 Triplets to optimize the DC power sections Upgrade the Duelund Coherent Audio Capacitor JDM Pure Silver Foil for sound tuning Duelund Silver Audio Grade Cable (Double run inside Mutec MC-3 + USB) Custom made AfterDark. AutophileMAT Carbon Fiber Shielding for EMI and Anti-Shock dumping material for Duelund Capacior Modification and install GX16 4 pins DC socket with Carbon Fiber Backplate KAMET EMI Shielding material apply on CPU at the middle AfterDark. Continental Triple Crown CFS Copper Duelund DC Cable 0.5m for sound optimization Includes Farad Super3 LPS SE https://www.adark.co/products/mutec-mc-3-smart-clock-usb-black?_pos=1&_sid=2d521bb1a&_ss=r&variant=39348225376374 Seller ChrisG Date 03/12/23 Price 2,000.00 USD Category Digital to Digital Converters  

I'm going to sell my R26 and will post it in the next couple of days - it's broken in, but I never registered it, so it comes with an unused warranty card. I am selling because I prefer my Rockna Wavedream Signature XLR. If anyone is looking for one, DM me. Thanks. Chris

Until we moved into our current house a couple of years ago, I had a combined audio/HT system for years. Had an Integra Research RDC-7.1 for a processor, upgraded to a Classe SP800 and then to a Trinnov AL16. Through all of these combinations I had separate 2-channel preamps, with the last being a VTL TL7.5 Series III and separate DACs from PS Audio, Linn (Akurate, Klimax DS & DSM), TotalDac, Audio Research, Schitt Yggdrasil, Chord DAVE and prolly a few more I've forgotten about. Subs have always been JLAudio f112s and amps came and went, most recent in that system was an Hegel H30. Speakers came and went until I discovered Vivid Audio B1s and I still have B1s, but they are the upgraded Decades. The system was 7.1 with B&W in-ceiling and on wall surrounds. I first started doing the combined system because, to use the subs for music, you had to run the outboard DACs through the processor's DACs for bass management. And, no matter what anyone says, in my experience, the DACs/Streamers that I owned (and still own) sound better than using the DACs in a processor, yes, even the Trinnov. So it was always an analog preamp for 2-channel listening and then using the processor for HT. I've owned the AL16 since January 2019 and upgrading from the Classe to the Trinnov was a revelation - using it for HT everything was clearer, surround content was more localized, better bass response, etc - well worth the investment. That said, even though I gave up DRC, using the analog preamp with my DAC always sounded better to my ears. When we downsized in mid-2019, wifey didn't want speakers and subs on the floor of our great room anymore, so we compromised and I tore out a closet in one of our 3 bedrooms to make a 2-channel room and, in addition to treating this room acoustically, I purchased a Trinnov Amethyst preamp*. The room we have now for HT, is a compromise - windows on left and right side, in-wall & in-ceiling B&W speakers, some acoustic treatments to get rid of the slap echo. It's pretty good for HT, but not for listening critically to music, luckily I have my 2-channel mancave. As others have said, Trinnov's surround processors are great and, without the 3-D mapping in the AL16, I would not have been able to get a satisfactory result in our great room with the speakers in the ceiling, not to mention having to put the center channel speaker over the TV so I could get it low enough with a fireplace under it. With the 3D mapping, the surrounds sound convincingly enough like they are on the wall, not the ceiling, and the dialog from the center channel sounds like it is coming from the TV, not above it. Additionally, the support from Trinnov (John H and Tom B here in the states is great and when they are "off", Antoine) is great - always a quick response from someone. I made the decision to go with Trinnov because the products sound great AND they are committed to upgrading their processors - either via software or, if required, hardware - so owners don't have to go buy a new processor every couple of years when a new CODEC comes out. And, as written here, if there are hardware upgrades that owners would like to do, they do them at a very reasonable price, at least compared to purchasing a new A16 or A32. That's also why I've stuck with Linn Klimax for my streamer (years ago I had a KDS, sold it to go on a USB DAC adventure, and bought a Katalyst KDSM - a very expensive detour). Until the Next Gen Klimax DSM came out (which Chris recently reviewed) Linn was able to upgrade every Klimax DS or DSM since the model was introduced in 2007 and, when they determined that they couldn't get the current case to accomodate what they needed for their latest Klimax, they gave owners a really good deal on the trade-in. With the new Organik architecture, I suspect more of their upgrades will be programming related, rather than hardware related as in the past. The way technology is changing with DACs/streamers and/or surround processors, investing in one of these that isn't upgradeable isn't very cost effective and kudos to the manufacturers that don't leave their customers behind by having an upgrade program - we've invested a lot of money with these firms and it's good to know that they are invested in their customers as well by offering upgrades instead of coming out with new models every couple of years when Dolby changes something or the latest chip from TI, Analog Devices or ESS comes along. *with the purchase of the new Linn KDSM, I plan on getting rid of the Amethyst and doing convolution filters in Roon for the 2-channel room and run the KDSM directly into my Audionet MAX amps. While the Amethyst is a great preamp, I want to avoid more AD/DA conversion so I can hear the Linn in all of its glory! ChrisG Bend, OR

If you're on hifiwigwam, check out the Linn Owner's forum - lots of discussion about how the new system hub improves Exakt speakers even without the Organik upgrade

Great review, Chris! Pro tip: the black version sounds better - mo' blacker blacks!

Are you talking about running Squeeze natively on the Melco? I don't believe that's possible - Squeeze isn't an option on these.

Damn, you beat me to it! Chris, hope you like the NGKDSM as much as this Chris does!

My Trinnov AL16 does a great job too!

Looks like he has some VTL electronics in his rack as well. I used to own a TL7.5 Series III preamp and I recognize the power unit w/ the connection cable on it. That was (and still is) a great preamp.

When you say "plain old Roon", does this mean using it without Mitch's convolution filters or with them? While I don't have filters from Mitch, speaking as someone with an acoustically treated room and a Trinnov Amethyst, I have to believe that using Roon w/DSP would sound better than using the N20 into the Rossini without DSP, especially after looking at the graphs of your room w/o DSP. BTW, the Antipodes new K & S series have storage options similar to Aurender's - they come with no storage and accept 2.5" drives. In the case of the K50 and K30, they can take up to 24TB. If you're reluctant to compare your DIY servers to the N20, a more apt comparison would be between the Antipodes K50 and N20; maybe Antipodes would send you one for review.

To clarify, - are you saying that when using the variable output setting with the volume set at 100%, it doesn't sound as good as when using the fixed volume setting? - While I know you must be using the volume control on your Rega with the BSN2 is in fixed mode, when using the BSN2 in variable mode, are you adjusting volume on the BSN2 or the Rega?

My Linn Organik KDSM is fully vaccinated!

Looking back at a response from their COO, it looks like if you use Roon and do the core decode, Roon pays. If you don't, no payment https://community.roonlabs.com/t/why-do-manufacturers-support-mqa/155965/294?u=7ryder

Technically, Roon only pays royalties to MQA when the user plays a file that is MQA encoded. If you don't use Tidal w/ Roon, there are no royalties being paid.

FWIW (and YMMV), I've demoed an Innuos Statement and an Antipodes K50 in my system directly connected via ethernet to my Linn KDSM/2 and, even after copying files from my NAS to these servers, I didn't hear a difference versus having the KDSM (and my dedicated SGC I9 server) connected to a Melco S100 switch. I did hear a difference using a Melco N10 vs streaming from my NAS, but interesting enough, having the SGC I9, N10 and KDSM connected to the S100 instead of connecting the KDSM to the N10 via ethernet directly sounds better. Frankly, the S100 made a big improvement in the sound of my system which was immediately noticeable and adding a Farad Super3 power supply improved it further. I'd encourage you to look into auditioning it and seeing for yourself.