Loaner: Mercury v3 EU/UK

Thanks to @Michael Kelly EU and UK folks have the opportunity to review this unit.

Here is what I suggest:

The loaner will first go around the EU and then at the end of it to the UK. Logistics wise I suggest we go country by country. Since I got a few PMs already, of which 2 are from NL, NL would follow after Germany.

As as sidenote: Two people (GER, UK) are not SBAFers yet so they might register soon or at a later date. Michael is ok with this.

some rules:

• 7 days per person
  
• always pack safely and well padded so nothing moves inside when you turn/spin the box around.
• please post your impressions here and remember impressions/posting ratio is one of man things that makes SBAF great
• please review this unit with its primary purpose and don't just take a look at the DAC section. Try BNC, Coax, AES, I2S etc.

Don't make any modifications to the loaner, like upgrading some clocks, caps or whatever or putting your favorite stickers onto it. If a problem happens via software, contact him and get this resolved.

Sign Up below

1. @Huhnkopf , Germany
2. @Empyah , Germany
3. Michael , Germany
4. @zottel , Germany
5. @roderickvd , Netherlands
6. @AukePauke , Netherlands
7. @Walderstorn , Sweden
8. Dillan , UK

 

Great opportunity. It will be my first experience with a loaner program. So correct me if i use this thread wrongly.

I know that used software can have a big effect on the sound. I am using Gentooplayer and Diretta now with a Rpi4 as host and a Rpi3 and pi2aes as target. To test the Mercury v3 properly i would like to install Gentooplayer on it (different sdcard). But it will be a 7 days test version and it will be connected on the hardware (rpi4) so later on a test version of Gentooplayer won't be allowed.

Am i allowed to do such a thing?

 

you can easily swap the SD card that it comes with with one that you're comfortable with. Before you get the unit, take a look at the hardware reference manual on our website. There's a section that describes the small number of configuration settings that we use. You may not care about them because a couple of them are just for the front panel LEDs, and another set for the power switch.

If you don't install any of these, the front LEDs will not illuminate, and the power switch will simply turn on and off immediately. no actual harm will occur for the unit. You can then replace the SD card with the original just make sure it boots up, and then send it on. I am pretty much on top of any emails that come in. I do pay attention to this form, but it could be longer to get a reply. Just keep in mind that I am on the East Coast of the United States so between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM I will pretty much answer any email within an hour.

 

Happy new year

Thanks Michael. But you didn't answer my question. I wasn't clear enough. With Gentooplayer i can ask for a trial key. But it will be connected to the Mercury. Nobody after that first Trial key can get a new trial key for that Mercury. I personally have a problem with that if i do that without permission.

 

Can you include the SD card that you will make for that? Then that can travel along with the mercury for others who want to try that as well.

I can include an extra blank SD card for that purpose if that helps anyone else.

 

A trial key works for 7 days

For extended use Gentooplayer cost 69 Euro

https://gentooplayers.com/Download/

 

How about you reach out to them to see if they will allow this particular mercury to keep the player for longer than seven days? There isn't really a lot of incentive for us to fund a piece of software so folks can try that, our goal is for people to try Mercury and eventually turn into purchasers!

 

would like to participate and compare with v1

@Walderstorn , Sweden

 

A question: My main use case, or actually my only use case for a streamer is in conjunction with HQPlayer generating DSD256/DSD512, which means using the USB output of the streamer as optical/coax don’t provide enough speed.

Am I right assuming that it doesn’t really make sense to try the Mercury 3 then, as I’d only use the included Pi4 (and the noise nuke), anyway?

EDIT: @Huhnkopf , please add me to the list (Germany)! While I will try the USB out and compare it to my Pi4 (I’m curious about the difference the noise nuke makes) and Holo Red and iFi Zen Stream, I’ll mainly test without HQPlayer and compare the coax and optical outputs to my streamers.

 

The rules say I need "Friend" status to participate, but I'll ask anyway.
Would love to compare to my Pi with Ian Canada boards when it comes to the U.K.

 

Hi, i am brand new to this forum, so appreciate might be premature to be included...
my main aim if i had a unit (in London) would be to compare the i2S output to Audial S5 DAC with the USB output from Eversolo to the same DAC (for Qobuz)

 

hi, any more reports from the loaner unit?
I ended up selling the ever solo A6, now streaming from Shanling ET3 via I2S to the Audial S5

 

I never got a direct request for a unit to demo. I just need someone to reach out and give me their full contact information and I can send one and begin.