PsiPhi
Last Activity:
Feb 2, 2024
Joined:
Sep 24, 2021
Messages:
10
Trophy Points:
13
Positive ratings received:
32
Neutral ratings received:
2
Negative ratings received:
0

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Received: Given:
Like 32 286
Dislike 0 1
Respectfully Disagree 2 2
heart 0 0
Miss Information 0 1
Epic 0 28
Agreed, ditto, +1 0 0
Location:
Canada
Occupation:
Power Engineer

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PsiPhi

New, from Canada

Qobuz'n Feb 2, 2024

PsiPhi was last seen:
Feb 2, 2024
    1. PsiPhi
    2. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Fully balanced
      1. Merrick, Justin S and Gazny like this.
    3. PsiPhi
    4. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Amir-NADS, the forbidden fruit...
      1. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        The Klippel speaker stuff is cool, but Eat from the DAC tree of SINADS and your life will be forever tainted...
        Jul 16, 2022
    5. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Could afford a better DAC if he hadn't spent so much on cables...
      1. AdvanTech likes this.
      2. SoupRKnowva
        Jul 9, 2022
        PsiPhi likes this.
      3. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        Haha, yup. First world problems...

        Life is good!
        Jul 9, 2022
    6. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      I hate cables
      1. Qildail, AdvanTech and Gazny like this.
      2. roshambo123
        roshambo123
        I heard tell of alchemists who have invented a curious method of communicating with each other through the ether
        Jul 8, 2022
        Cryptowolf and PsiPhi like this.
      3. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        At this point, I fear legends hold more promise than do White Papers.

        What is a trip to Wonderland without tasting the delicacies..?
        Jul 8, 2022
        Justin S and roshambo123 like this.
    7. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Anyone have a lead on Pi2AES boards? Looking at ifi Zen stream as possible alternative
      1. Michael Kelly likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Vansen
      4. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        That is a good point to consider, for sure. Any other streamer alternatives? Metrum Ambre looks decent
        Mar 25, 2022
      5. Vansen
        Vansen
        I’ve been wanting to get my hands on the pi2aes, but have been using two Allo DigiOne for years and like them a lot.
        Mar 25, 2022
        Justin S and PsiPhi like this.
    8. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Any love for Lumin in these parts? Looking at the T2 specifically...
      1. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Looks like a high end box with some ESS parts inside.
        Mar 22, 2022
      2. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        ...that comes from Hong Kong.

        I wrote Sabres off for a long time, but IME they *can* sound good with careful FPGA
        Mar 22, 2022
      3. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        Been a while since I've listened to Burr Brown (DAC) chips, im curious about the ifi iDSD as well.
        Mar 22, 2022
    9. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Ayre QB9 < Ayre CODEX
      1. YMO likes this.
      2. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        ...we miss CODEX

        And wonder what lies beyond...
        Jan 17, 2022
        Scubadude likes this.
    10. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Can't be satisfied, but I juuuust can't keep from tryin'.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        I am open to audio prescriptions!

        Our DAC has not been functioning for a couple of weeks, so I'm crying the 'upgrade and/or repair' blues.

        Our Ayre QB-9, acquired as a temporary replacement, is not cutting it.

        Upgrade?
        Yggdrasil A2 gen 5?
        Ditch USB and try I2S?
        Dec 30, 2021
      3. YMO
        YMO
        Get rid of USB @PsiPhi. QB-9 was good for its time but time to move on.
        Dec 31, 2021
        PsiPhi likes this.
      4. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        Thanks for the encouragement!

        After 25 years on technical side of the recording industry, I have a fair amount of experience with optical/spdif/AES, (as well as various clocking schemes).

        Generally speaking, my feelings are that

        Implementation > Architecture

        But it's fun to try new things! I have very little experience with the 1986 I2S protocol.
        Dec 31, 2021
        YMO likes this.
    11. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      Ayre QB9 in the house!
      1. bixby likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. YMO
        YMO
        I had the Codex, very good DAC but I hated the USB Audio and Toslink inputs after a while.
        Dec 25, 2021
        PsiPhi likes this.
      4. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        Indeed. Sonically I am really impressed with that little box. I would be happy to live with it, but after making some cabling upgrades, I can't help but feel we are leaving some performance on the table.

        We like the Codex a lot though, and with synergy in mind, moving up the Ayre chain to a QB-9 'twenty' seems to be the obvious choice. But USB in only... Might be a deal breaker!
        Dec 25, 2021
        YMO likes this.
      5. YMO
        YMO
        Ayre isn’t going to change with their focus on USB. Their pricing also sucks.
        Dec 25, 2021
        PsiPhi likes this.
    12. PsiPhi
      PsiPhi
      To chi-fi or to not chi-fi, that is the question.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Sqveak
        Sqveak
        Think about what you aim to achieve and then hit up the general advice thread here. It may save you some time, money and heartbreak. Non portable chi-fi can be a mine field.
        Dec 17, 2021
      3. PsiPhi
        PsiPhi
        Thanks for the suggestions. Minefields are to be avoided, my life is exciting enough!

        Our Ayre Codex lost USB functionality a couple of days ago, so considering repair vs upgrade;

        Holo Spring L2 is well reviewed here

        Exasound E62 is a contender

        Rockna Wavelight

        Ayre QB9-twenty

        Leaning toward the Ayre QB-9-twenty for more of a 'good thing'. Haven't found any reviews for that piece here though...
        Dec 17, 2021
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        A lot of times we simply just haven't heard everything as a community, so no one has had ears on it here. There's also another reason why we might refrain from reviewing something, but that's for you to figure out if you don't know already
        Dec 18, 2021
        Cryptowolf, PsiPhi, Claritas and 2 others like this.
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  • About

    Location:
    Canada
    Occupation:
    Power Engineer
    Gear List:
    Gear lists are stupid, but this our main music system at home:

    Sources;
    Ayre Codex
    Ayre QB-9 (update or sell?)
    Techniques 1200 with Nagaoka MP150
    Denon DCD-1520

    Preamp;
    Sony TA-E90ES

    Amplifier;
    Ayre V-3mkii

    Speakers;
    Ascend Sierra II

    Interconnects;
    Teo Audio

    Speaker cable;
    Silversmith Fidelium
    Reformed DAC addict undergoing relapse...