Metrum Acoustics Onyx (balanced Dac) and Jade (balanced Dac + Pre)

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by sacredgates, Oct 3, 2017.

  1. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Your 'artisanal' MCTH LPS is 28v 2A - so from what folks have said above, no worries.
     
  2. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

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    I got a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 yesterday and have been listening through the AES connection and there isn't anything concrete I can point to, but AES does sound better. A little crisper, with more present treble, tighter bass, much blacker background, and slightly better separation of layers. Background layers and vocals definitely seem more pronounced. It's not an enormous difference but it does sound and feel more immersive than coaxial. I don't know if it was worth $379, but it's definitely a step up from the Eitr.
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2020
  3. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I use a 0.5m Supra Ethernet cable. Relatively affordable and good sounding.
    Was using a cheap router cable before and it sounded a lot brighter. Not bad at all - it’s still I2S after all - but I prefer the Supra.

    But it’s all in my head, since bits are bits!
     
  4. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Actually with direct I2S the cable matters. This is because the master and/or bit clocks go directly to the D/A circuit, often without any form of buffering or reclocking. Noise on these lines can directly affect the accuracy of the conversion.

    This is not as true for AES or SPDIF where the clocks are recovered and re-synchronized by the receiving circuitry. In that case, the quality of the clock recovery is the most critical factor.

    Michael
     
  5. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I was joking

    I was trained a EE engineer :p
     
  6. lehmanhill

    lehmanhill Almost "Made"

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    I'm hoping that Mister Rogers has gotten his i2s module from Metrum by now. If anyone else is thinking about ordering something from Metrum right now, I suggest you wait. I picked up a used Pavane over the holidays and ordered an i2s module from Metrum's Global Store at the end January. Its now more than 3 weeks later, and I have only received automated responses to my original order and follow up emails. I just sent them another email, but if I don't get a human response from that, I will probably cancel my order and payment through Paypal. My best guess at the moment is that Metrum Acoustics is a ghost company and has managed to fail is a very short time. I will report back if I learn anything.

    If all else fails, I will take Mister Rogers suggestion and contact Cees at Sonnet. If I'm luck, their i2s module may work for me.

    Jac
     
  7. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    whoa. I sincerely hope Metrum improves their customer service performance. their product line deserves quality customer service.

    that being said- Cees and Sonnet Audio should have a number of compatible products hopefully. Best of luck, and please keep us informed of Metrum responses in the future.
     
  8. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    This is quite disappointing to hear since I was thinking of finally getting around to an I2S module for my Onyx...

    Maybe should just sell it and upgrade to a Morpheous with the module already! #audiophilelogic
     
  9. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    I was advised by the dealer, from whom I bought my jade, not to order from Metrum right now. I also tried to get an i2s module but I can try to contact Sonnet instead.
     
  10. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    Is it possible to reverse engineer the module? I have a few customers that have bought our adapter for the PI2AES, but obviously, they need something to plug it into at the other end!

    Michael
     
  11. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    A few months back I ordered an I2S card from Metrum. After a month or so of lost order, no shipping, hounding, they shipped off a package. It wasn't an I2S module, but two DAC TWO Modules :-| To say they're a hot mess right now would be an understatement.
     
  12. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I bet you it is. I know someone on Head-Fi got an Audio-GD I2S module working on a Pavane. You'll have to do some scrolling and reading, as the info is spread out across a few posts, but I think there's enough info to figure it out.

    https://www.head-fi.org/threads/metrum-pavane.766568/page-19
     
  13. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    Just for laughs, I checked with Cees to see if the his new Sonnet I2S card will work in Metrum DACs. Short answer, no. They're electrically compatible, but not in form factor. Like the Audio-GD I2S module, the Sonnet could probably be adapted for Metrum use.
     
  14. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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  15. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    What a s***-show. I will wait until someone finds a solution then, don't want to bother Cees with my problems. It's a shame though.

    If someone finds a solution please share.
     
  16. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    We stopped carrying Metrum a while ago and unfortunately don't have any parts. Sorry about that!
     
  17. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    If someone is willing to lend me an adapter so I can clone the design, I will go ahead and make one available as I am doing the RJ 45 adapter for the PI2AES already. I would only need it for a few days, but it would make the most sense if it’s someone in the US so we could ship it back and forth pretty quickly.

    Michael
     
  18. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Wow!! You rock @Michael Kelly
     
  19. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    You probably received @lehmanhill 's order :D
     
  20. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I stripped one of my Jade's chassis screw, after installing the I2S module.
    If I manage to unscrew it, I can take pictures of the module and reverse-engineer it with my scope.
    From memory, it has extra components in addition to just the RJ-45 jack, but a close-up picture might reveal what it is.
     

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