Anyone have any info on The Bricasti Design Model 5 Network Player

[firedog]

3 hours ago, davide256 said:

I'm not seeing anything impressive for hardware here vs a femto Auralic Aries. Whats there to get excited about?

How do you have any idea what the hardware is?

[fsmithjack]

On 2/18/2018 at 7:38 AM, One and a half said:

By all means. If Bricasti can expand on this post a little more. Bricasti advised the M5 connected to the network, with routers et al will work, and a single wire connection couldn't. 

This could mean, the M5 is incapable of having the IP address set manually, there's nothing in the manual or in the reply from the vendor. I appreciate to make connections simple for everyone, but simpler is often better.

 

I owned the Aires 2x Femto w/SBooster - Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB Cable and the microRendu with Uptone gear wiped the floor with it - just crushed it into little pebble dust and it floated away into the wind and I liked my Aires - just got this Bricasti media player installed in my M1SE. It’s just another universe is all. Just like my Interconnects. Just sold my Cardas Clear Reflection XLR which look and sound great. Sold them for $500 - bought Kubala-Sosna Emotion for much more. You look at both and read about both? How can one be sooo much money money? No one can explain that in any convincing way that would make sense to you. The trick is to plug them in and then listen to them. That’s the only way! Pics, specs, media information, reviews, feedback are all well and good but until you plug them in and hit the play button there is nothing anyone can do or say other than one is sort of a mass market esq, plastic kind of great bang for buck unit that is a great starter rig to jump on up from a PC as it’s simple and decent enough improvement and the other is a botique, hand made out of a solid peics of extruded aluminum alloy hand crafted from one he brightest and minds the digital world has ever seen. Just saying  Hmm let’s see Auralic or Bricasti.... 

[FredM]

M5 review

https://www.audiostream.com/content/bricasti-design-model-5-network-player

[One and a half]

5 hours ago, fsmithjack said:

 

I owned the Aires 2x Femto w/SBooster - Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB Cable and the microRendu with Uptone gear wiped the floor with it - just crushed it into little pebble dust and it floated away into the wind and I liked my Aires - just got this Bricasti media player installed in my M1SE. It’s just another universe is all. Just like my Interconnects. Just sold my Cardas Clear Reflection XLR which look and sound great. Sold them for $500 - bought Kubala-Sosna Emotion for much more. You look at both and read about both? How can one be sooo much money money? No one can explain that in any convincing way that would make sense to you. The trick is to plug them in and then listen to them. That’s the only way! Pics, specs, media information, reviews, feedback are all well and good but until you plug them in and hit the play button there is nothing anyone can do or say other than one is sort of a mass market esq, plastic kind of great bang for buck unit that is a great starter rig to jump on up from a PC as it’s simple and decent enough improvement and the other is a botique, hand made out of a solid peics of extruded aluminum alloy hand crafted from one he brightest and minds the digital world has ever seen. Just saying  Hmm let’s see Auralic or Bricasti.... 

I prefer a planned approach to upgrades than trying this and that with little time to appreciate the changes.

[One and a half]

Further to this post , the AC voltages measured between the PC and the two switches using STP Ethernet were barely 1V, typically 0.6, 0.3V. This could probably be improved if the different components would be star grounded. 

The equivalent in audio terms would be analog interconnects using no shielded cables like Kimber between source and target, tuner and amplifier. Sure there's no shield noise to think of, so the amount of transmitted hum is greatly reduced, at the expense of picking up stray fields from unshielded power cables. The Kimber though uses complete symmetry with enough twists to fend away fields. However have enough potential difference between source and target and the 0V wire carries the difference in current and that's not good either.

 

For Ethernet transmissions, it would be impractical to provide star grounding/bonding, since IT people don't know what this is, and will goof it up every time creating a worse nightmare. That's why UTP is everywhere, radiating HF. Galvanic isolation is provided by, a transformer. The shields on these transformers are connected to...? Differential noise travels freely over a transformer unless it's specifically designed not to do so. The bits get through, that's all that matters to the IT crowds and fair enough that works. But keep that sh$te away from audio equipment, tyvm.

[One and a half]

19 hours ago, plissken said:

 

Not true... Read Seimons "The Antenna Myth".

 

I ran data cabling in large machining and stamping plants (Ford being my largest client). It all 'Depends' on how the shields are tied. Not just CAT cabling either. Alarm wire, RS232, RS485, GPIO, SCART, etc etc etc.

Toy plant design. It works probably due to the immunity of the components. Nothing compares to the fields generated by a 25 MW (that's megawatt) motor, where the dv/dt is 6600V or more in microseconds. Shielding is super important and floating shields are unheard of unless specifically designed for the power cabling, but rarely for small instrumentation signals.

[plissken]

3 hours ago, One and a half said:

Toy plant design. It works probably due to the immunity of the components. Nothing compares to the fields generated by a 25 MW (that's megawatt) motor, where the dv/dt is 6600V or more in microseconds. Shielding is super important and floating shields are unheard of unless specifically designed for the power cabling, but rarely for small instrumentation signals.

 

An the last time I looked none of use where sitting in the sweet spot between two heavy presses. 

[fsmithjack]

It's funny I am such a dummy I started this thread but there is another Bricasti thread I have been writing on that one all along thinking it was mine. I am such a dummy

 

OK Guys - I've got the skinny on Bricasti Streamers / Network players. . I am going to link my Review and Feedback from Brain at Bricasti from my Review for the Bricasti M1 /M5 /M12 network players which all are almost identica but of course the M5 is a stand alone product but it is almost the exact thing as the M1. Link to come soon. 

[firedog]

ask Chris to merge the threads. It will be more convenient for all of us. 

[fsmithjack]

Great idea - how do I do that? Thanks 

[firedog]

1 hour ago, fsmithjack said:

Great idea - how do I do that? Thanks 

Send him a pm through the site messaging

[davide256]

On 2/19/2018 at 2:57 PM, firedog said:

How do you have any idea what the hardware is?

Thats the problem... we don't. This is being sold as a black box, no idea of what tech is inside. Fine if your intended market is the pointy hat crowd on Agon but not what any educated consumer should settle for.

[firedog]

12 hours ago, davide256 said:

Thats the problem... we don't. This is being sold as a black box, no idea of what tech is inside. Fine if your intended market is the pointy hat crowd on Agon but not what any educated consumer should settle for.

I guess someone could open one up and post a picture. We do know that it has the same linear PS as the DAC, and I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of those insides online. Some of the parts are custom, so I don't know how much knowing what they are would help you.

 

But lots of makers don't give details of the components inside. The individual components don't necessarily mean that much-the implementation does.

 

With stuff like this you are also paying a lot for the case/cosmetics. 

[fsmithjack]

20 hours ago, firedog said:

Send him a pm through the site messaging

 

Thanks - I just did and he responded in like 30 seconds. I’m a leaning  thx 

 

 

[fsmithjack]

15 hours ago, davide256 said:

Thats the problem... we don't. This is being sold as a black box, no idea of what tech is inside. Fine if your intended market is the pointy hat crowd on Agon but not what any educated consumer should settle for.

Hey wait - I must be a Agon pointy hat ? then I think? Not sure that’s how I want to see myself though? What does that mean? If it means someone that knows a decent amount and certainly knows when something sounds better but doesn’t know how design it or take it apart and/or rebuild on the super deep analytical or technical level them well yeah that would be me/us I guess I think ? 

 

I just buy, loan or try and share what I learn and before ask questions to try and learn. I learn a lot over here. 

[davide256]

9 hours ago, fsmithjack said:

Hey wait - I must be a Agon pointy hat ? then I think? Not sure that’s how I want to see myself though? What does that mean? If it means someone that knows a decent amount and certainly knows when something sounds better but doesn’t know how design it or take it apart and/or rebuild on the super deep analytical or technical level them well yeah that would be me/us I guess I think ? 

 

I just buy, loan or try and share what I learn and before ask questions to try and learn. I learn a lot over here. 

Pointy hats (think Hogwartz) eschew any technical understanding... magical thinking.  Kind of a polar opposite to "objectivists". SInce this is a computer hobbyist site magical thinking isn't common here, many have a tech background and won't respect a product that can't explain why its tech is better than a competitors.

[fsmithjack]

Oh ok I got it a little I think! Thanks. I have no idea who the heck Hohwartz is though? Lol. Should I know that ?? I have a feeling I should but don’t .Hmm ok so is this sort like the cable thing? I live for my Kubala-Sosna Emotion Cables - and know they transformed my entire system in a way really like nothing else has so is this where the science can not show any real or meaningful measurables to justify the cable thing but Agon guys like me buy and love their cables type of thing? If so no problem I understand everyone looks at stuff different and if not then I’m still trying to understand and playing catch up a little. Sorry for the newbie questions and thanks for the info. 

[rickca]

Hogwarts.  You never heard of Harry Potter?

[fsmithjack]

Lol... I have heard of Harry Potter but I’ve never seen any of the movies nor read any of the books. I’m just glad it wasn’t some obvious person I should have known  

[fsmithjack]

UPDATE:

 

I just shared this on my Bricasti M1 > M5 > M12: Network Player - Member REVIEW thread and thought it may be of interest here as well. Thanks 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

I am extremely pleased with the performance and upgraded sound quality of my Bricasti M1SE's built in Network Player. Such a great upgrade!

 

At the advice of another super helpful CA member who is a fine fellow: ismewor

 

ismewor has helped me improve my system a great deal.  The members here on the CA are more friendly and helpful than any other forum i have been on.

 

Here is the switch I just purchased and that is being delivered today. The Ethernet cable plugs right onto my DAC now from my switch so the hope is that this is going to be a nice upgrade. I will let everyone know my thoughts on it. 

 

 

OCXO AUDIOPHILE SWITCH

 

LINEAR POWER SUPPLY
PROPERITY DESIGN CIRCUIT 
Our Engineer study the switch and design the linear circuit that best provide ultra-low noise power to feed the switch and oscillator module. 

DUAL RAIL PARALLEL OUTPUT DESIGN 
Not usually seen in regular linear supply, it requires additional cost and design in mind. However, this sure to provide constant feed as needed in sudden voltage drop or unstable power environment 

HARD CRAFTED RECTIFIERS DIODE AND SUPER-FAST DIODE 
Which work hand in hand with AC-DC conversion system to provide stable working environment. 

LINEAR POWER SUPPLY - Specifications
- AC 120V, 60Hz 
- 9V Ouput 
- Oyaide DC connectors
- Furutech IEC 

OCXO CIRCUIT 
ULTRA HIGH PRECISION OCXO 
The unit core features an (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator) OCXO. This OCXO was designed for high audio quality in mind to provide extreme precision frequency (+-10ppb) and reduces phase noise. 

24K GOLD CIRCUIT TRACE 
The 24K circuit trace on our PCB is needed to match our power supply which able to provide extra stability for the oscillator module. 

ULTRA STABLE REGULATOR DESIGN 
With our new design, we are able to achieve the measure we needed for the oscillator. 

ZERO GROUND CIRCUITRY 
It continuously drives the ground signal and greatly reduces noise (jitter) caused by unstable volts. 

OCXO CIRCUIT - Specifications 
- Military Spec OCXO 
- 2oz Copper PCB +/- 10ppb 
- Ultralow Jitter <1ps RMS 
- 12V DC input 2.1mm x 5.5mm

 

[fsmithjack]

Ok guys - I am sharing this on a couple of my other threads as well so please know this.

 

I am only doing this because so many great CA members helped me in the past and I want to return the favor and reach as many of them as I can. They get emails so sorry for duplicates to some of you 

 

Many times I have read great info on this site about a product and/or a mod and that led to great growth in my own personal system. I appreciate those CA members for sharing.

 

Moreover, I personally place much more stock in feedback from other fellow CA members. Members that went ahead and spent their own money on a product verse a reviewer,  dealer or OEM. I find end user/owner feedback to be the most genuine and helpful. For this reason I am returning the favor.

 

Guys, I have a couple of products that are not real expensive and their performance has absolutely blown me away and trust me I am becoming a jaded A-phile so for me to be blown away is a big deal.   

 

I have no affiliation with Bricasti other than getting to know Brian as a customer and a fan of the products. 

 

I love how they do business. They don't leave their customers behind and come out with new models every couple years but instead just keep upgrading the current models. Bricasti and Ayre or two companies that are very loyal to their customers and as a customer I appreciate this approach. More should follow their lead.

 

The two products are:

- Bricasti Network Player (M1/M12 or M5 )

- The Linear Solution OCXO Switch and Linear Power Supply

  

Trust me this is a big deal!

 

This combo is an absolute game changer and is cheaper and better sounding than everything else out there on the market today!

 

_________________

 

Honestly guys, I have got to know Brian at Bricasti but only as a customer and a fan of his products like I stated earlier. I love his DAC as it changed my system like no other product but everyone knows he makes a killer DAC and the worlds best studio Reverb. 

 

This is different. The Bricasti Network Player (M1/M12 or M5 ) and The Linear Solution OCXO Switch and Linear Power Supply are right in the wheel house for us computer audio lovers.

 

I have a decent / pretty competent analogue front end and my computer audio wipes the floor with it. It was not that long ago when digital still could not compete with analogue but those days are long gone! 

 

The Network Player is a simple, well made, not over the top but still very high quality Ethernet based network player and I am telling you guys I have not heard a computer based audio product that sounds this good.

 

I am not making this statement lightly either. I have owned many great network players: Sonore, SOtM, Aurender, Auralic and Uptone's great power supplies and Regens but this is on a total other level.  

 

I can't get over it. My network player was installed in my M1SE DAC but Brian says it would most likely be impossible to tell the different between the M1/M12 and the M5 in a blind test. They are close. Yes the built in versions are supposed to be a bit better but if you don't already own a Bricasti then the M5 will be an incredible option for you.

 

I'm telling you this Bricasti Network Player (M1/M12 or M5 ) and The Linear Solution OCXO Switch and Linear Power Supply combo are absolute word beaters. Way better than the Aurender's or Lumins or the Rendu's and SOtM Ultra's.

 

I'm telling you I have owned or heard them all and as an owner not a dealer or OEM but as an end user and a fellow CA member I am telling you this combo are the ones to beat.

 

I am telling you. Buy the switch and then get a dealer loaner of the M5 and then you will log on here and say OMG he was right.

 

I mean its your money have a blast, I'm just telling you this combo is the best going at anywhere near the money. Sure you can buy a W20 and/or get the top of the line Antipods and I am not sure they will be better and you can get these under $3k

- Bricasti Network Player (M1/M12 or M5 )

- The Linear Solution OCXO Switch and Linear Power Supply

 

This comb will blow the doors off of everything out there anywhere near the money. Heck, it might be the best you can buy at any price? I sure have not heard better?

 

OK, maybe the full suite of SOtM Ultra's with 4 Power Supplies and either Mutec Ref 10 Clock or the new SOtM external clock will be better this combo but do you want to know what made me go away from this option?

 

 It wasn't even the money at the $8,000 plus but it was the fact that I would need to spend thousands more on 50 ohm clock bnc cables. They said you can get the ones that only a few hundred too get you by but to get the best you need the top cables and they are thousands and I said - ok no thanks. Enough is enough

 

Moreover, It just got too be too not only much money but this tech is constantly changing and evolving so quickly. SOtM and Sonore have new models every year or two.

 

OK, yes lets talk about model changing quickly.

 

Bricasti doesn't change models. Ever... They just keep upgrading the ones they have so you will know for a fact that your investment is safe and that Brian will update this and you won't need to buy a new one in a year and a half. You can mail it back in and get it upgraded for a few hundred bucks. Sonore and SOtM can't afford to offer to this their customers but Bricasti sure as heck does. This has to matter. It sure as heck matters to me! I own Bricasti and this is no small part of that. 

 

What do you think SOtM will do in a year or year and a half? Do you think they will let you mail in your model and have it upgraded to current model? No they will come out with a new model so you need to sell your old one and buy a new one. That is just the way it. I am here as a fellow member telling you there is a better way and it sounds better to boot! How often in life to your get real win[wins. It is not that often I am sure. It isn't for me anyways. 

 

So what is this that I am I telling you?

 

I am telling you this is the very best sounding Network Player on the market. Hands down it just is! Bricasti know what the heck they are doing. I promise you this from a CA member to a CA member. Their gear sounds fantastic!

 

It will not become out dated because of how this company operates and is so loyal to its owners. The built quality is second to none, it is the best there is. CNC Milled aircraft solid block aluminum. Very similar power supply as used in the work class M1 and from a company that is one of the most prestigious digital brands in the world. Am is missing something here? Guys, I am serious.

 

I am not making any of this up. This can all be verified by you with a little research.

 

What i don't understand is how none of you guys or so few of you guys own these yet! I a going to assume because there have been so few members that have experienced what I have. Trust me the word is getting out. These are that good! They are actually even better than that.

 

Go get one and get one today and then come back to this thread and give me your thoughts,

 

Sell your rendu's and regens and plop it down on one of these and make sure you get the killer OCXO switch also. That is key with great synergy.

 

Now you don't need to do anything but I am sharing because the sound I have now is absolutely so much better than what I had in the near past.

 

The Bricasti Network Player (M1/M12 or M5 ) and The Linear Solution OCXO Switch and Linear Power Supply are crown jewels that few people know of. Well at least I know I did my bit by the CA members and old you about the cheapest and best sounding computer based audio that is on the market today. What you do is up to you but I still can not believe how good my system sounds.

 

Thanks for reading 

 

______________________________________________________

 

 

$649.00

http://thelinearsolution.com/ocxo_switch.html

 

$2,400.00

http://www.bricasti.com/en/consumer/m5.php

 

 

_______________________________________________________

[Solstice380]

@fsmithjack  We’re glad that you are happy.  Really, we are.  

[Afveep]

Thank you for the great comments on Bricasti products! We became a Bricasti dealer because we feel the same way too! Can you please tell us more about what you have experienced with the Linear Solution switch? Specifically, what difference have you heard between the Linear Solution and an off-the-shelf switch such as a NetGear or other good quality switch? 

[fsmithjack]

Thanks man - I appreciate it.

 

The Netowrk upgrade was nice and all was well and good. I was happy and then one of the other kind CA members told me to try the switch.

 

$649 isn’t cheap so I was a little apprehensive but I’ve always got great advice on the CA. I took the shot! 

 

So glad I did! 

 

He had nothing to gain - just trying to help another member push things forward is all. 

 

He uses a Dave DAC, I’ve never heard one myself but heard they are very nice.

 

Well I took his advice and bam - smack right upside the head. 

 

The OCXO Switch/LPS made the Network Player just blossom and if I was to pick one or two thing it would be the separation and the delicacy of the stage. The separation allows the delicacy to be so much more present and noticed and it’s not subtle but man the separation is like nothing I’ve ever known.

 

So much air and space and width but in it - it is so defined. I think it might not even be separation per say but each little thing in the stage is discrete so that gives the illusion of separation so I guess that’s what it is but the stage is just insane. It’s like - I don’t - I can’t explaim it. I mean I’ve made a bunch of upgrades resently and I guess they have all just gelled! It never does this which is so odd. There is alway give or take?! 

 

I don’t know - credit has to go to the player and switch! 

 

I mean - Guys, look at my signature - look at my gear - I’m not a rookie that just moved up from a receiver to an integrated. I’m a pretty experienced and grizzled aphile but this upgrade has me feeling like the first time I heard electrostatic Martin Logan Pannel speaker with Money by Floyd when I was blown away. I went on to try a half dozen pannel ML Speakers after that. 

 

im telling you this combo was bigger jump from when I switched to Magico Speakers or my M1 DAC itself. It’s almost not making sense it sounds so dam good! 

 

Ive not struck gold like this in his hobby in a long time. I’ve spemt thousands and would be happy with a 10th of this! 

 

im telling you guys. It’s actually odd?! 

 

If you have a decent or moderate system and you grab this M5 and this switch and if you use NAS make sure it has a nice LPS and make sure your router has a nice LPS and I’m telling you - if it sound like my rig - you will be out of your mind happy! The switch needs some credit for sure but it’s the Network Player doing the heavy lifting.

 

i can’t get over how good his is.

 

i just have Roon shuffling though my 1.5TB of music and I hear a song I haven’t heard in so long and  I’m like wow that something! 

 

Honestly part of it is luck I guess but I’ll take it. This is no small upgrade. This is rediculious. If anyone lives in MA PM me. I need someone else to hear this.

 

My non Audiophile wife says how did you get your radio to sound so nice? She calls it a radio..lol

 

It’s not subtle either. The back wall just dropped into space - the voices fell back which normally I don’t like but that took place with not only everything widening but so much separation. 

 

The stage changed so much! Like a different DAC or Preamp. Honestly even more than that. 

 

I recently added a PS Audio P10 Conditioner. Not a cheap add. This upgrade is a 1000 better then that. 

 

I just added Kubala-Sosna Emotion XLR Interconnects. I bought Used from a CA member. Same one that recommended switch. He gave me a great deal but these retail over $8000.00. I paid no where near that but these are great cables and were a nice upgrade but no where close to this.

 

Honestly, it might be the best upgrade I’ve ever made and I’ve made some decent one over the years. 

 

Just trying to share a bit more. An old Johnny Cash song just came on. It’s just, it’s insane. 

[Jeff Miller]

I’m using an off the wall switch with the sbooster regulated power supply with my Bricasti and I’m getting the best digital I’ve ever heard. It’s hard to believe this expendive switch is that much better. My analog Basis debut table plus super arm 9 by basis Asthetix Io and dual power supplies and Midake cartridge still best my digital.