Mini-Meet - Saturday 9/3/2016 Sherman Oaks 11 to 4

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by purr1n, Aug 28, 2016.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    We have plankton, Moffat bass, and now we have the Gaurav or G factor. @shaizada is probably red face embarrassed, waving his hands "no no no", but I insist that we use G factor going forward. He has opened many doors for further insanity for many of us, thus deserves such an honor.
     
  2. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    Would like to enquire with the owner of the MUTEC on what exact firmware version was the Mutec MC3+USB at meet using.

    That's because I have confirmed(via email) with Mutec's CEO that the latest V1.10 firmware has made some firmware changes to DDS-PLL which will result in a different kind of sound vs the previous firmware version.

    My experience with Mutec as USB input to Yggdrasil (AES) > balanced XLR > AudioGD M9 > Yamaha HS8
    The new V1.10 firmware has a DSD like warmth and smoothness, but much details has been lost in the process with soundstage becoming more 2D.
    The older v1.03 firmware has more details in the sound, better 3D soundstage and more air.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2016
  3. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Will say that S009 have zero G factor. Totally on the surface not picking up the heart of the music
     
  4. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    I just meant that in that scenario the Mutec and Antelope would be decrapifying the spdif signal. I wouldn't spend 3-6x the money trying to "fix" a $300 part.

    And I'm not saying don't go with the above scenario, putting aside the sota aoip madness I think low power / noise devices are the most interesting thing going on with digital audio, but you can get the Rednet 3 for around the price of the Mutec or Antelope word clock.
     
  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Oh great, now you have to worry about Mutec firmware possibly f'ing up the sound. Wonderful!
     
  6. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    agreed with the intent and counter points, a Mutec3+USB is not a majik fixit for Gungnir Multibit nor every single person's chain.
    and from photos Mutec going beyond Gungnir Multibit spdif (optical, coax?) to Yggdrasil looked done well via AES and an LPS feeding Mutec3+USB (what firmware again?) IIRC.
    am in favor of ditching USB? yes if a Rednet fell into my lap.

    yet I'm still strongly alongside @Hands (see previous long posting) and @MisterRogers that a LPS fed Mutec3+USB as a USB reclocker via AES to Yggdrasil is not a warmbutt shitshmear, nor bloom ridden compared with stock USB connections to a Yggdrasil. full stop.
    unless you want to start re-defining the Yggdrasil with stock USB has having "precise dynamics, sometimes sharp. in a closer defined space with less air of separation."

    is the LPS+Mutec3+USB "worth it" from a cost/value perspective - perhaps not to be honest. but what the hell, I didn't pay retail.
    never having heard a Rednet yet, it may not be either.

    nothing that was heard by analog guys ;)
    at the meet changes what sounds "improved/different" in my environment.
     
  7. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    @Hands

    I thought that the new Mutec firmware was supposed to only add new features(e.g. automatic switching of inputs) but it seems Mutec went ahead with some DDS-PLL changes. Some may like the new smooth sound of V1.10 but for me I much prefer the high detail sound of V1.03.

    Marvey's WARMBUTT SHITSMEAR comment about the MUTEC USB input in my opinion, sounds like that the Mutec at the meetup should be running on the new Mutec MC3+USB V1.10 firmware.

    In my opinion, this firmware sound change should taken into account as this is quite a significant change in sound character. It warrants a re-evaluation of the mutec mc3+usb with V1.03 rolled back.(Again, I have confirmed with Mutec CEO that you can overwrite/interchange firmware on the mutec thousands of times without damaging the unit)
     
  8. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    This isn't similar to attaching $1500 in front of a $300 DAC. The "$300 part" is a simple music streamer. If you want benefits like electrical isolation, precisely aligned samples presented to the DAC, etc., perhaps a single (more expensive) solution exists that doesn't require downstream add-ons in the chain, but I don't know of one. And it's potentially useful to already have electrical isolation via Toslink with the Sonicorbiter, although other tradeoffs may exist.
     
  9. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Madabout,
    being very familiar with v1.10 vs stock USB Yggdrasil the past few days with a lot of source button switch-eroo,
    i'll try to downgrade the firmware to v1.03 later in the week. thanks for the tip.

    at the time of upgrading from v1.03 to v1.10 didn't hear much delta myself or know of the DDS-PLL changes. so maybe I didn't care, or I'm deaf at certain levels due to aging ears just like everyone else. ha! also only had the BW1 then. this time could re-listen with EC Uber 7 and soon Jotunheim.

    do know that stock USB cables from my iMac generates noise direct into the Yggdrasil, which is band-aided via the Mutec3+USB obviously. ;)
    yes yes, will get a new non iMac computer for audio one day. or a rednet. double ha!

    crap, sorry for the crappy USB derailment- happy if the mods moves these post to the other threads with only references here.
    cheers!
     
  10. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    What is the "other" CD Player? :)
     
  11. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    [​IMG]

    Totally sorry I missed the meet :) I would have loved to come, but was caught up with some OTHER family activities and missed on the SBAF family stuff.

    Explain this new G Factor to me and what it means...LOL!
     
  12. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

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    Gaurav (गौरव) is an Indian male name. The name literally means pride, as in "someone who brings a good name or pride to his family or to society or to nation".
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    OH f**k ME. Seriously? Already had to deal with firmware BS with PWD DAC. Never gain. Life is too short. Just by mentioning that, I aged six months.
     
  14. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    Magic = Gaurav Factor = G Factor. I can get behind that :)
     
  15. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    This explains the differences as the Mutec I heard was not on this fancy new firmware.

    Which brings me to the lesson I keep learning over and over in audio: Newer is not always better. Or Newer is rarely better.
     
  16. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    Aaaah got it! Had to read back in the thread. I can barely lay claim to the magic...it is already there in the music. A good setup just brings it out AND you always know when you hear it. Your mind will never tell you...but your heart will beat it out ;)
    'tis the magic and feeling we all seek!
     
  17. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    yah, it's a dreaded smarty pants komptur product that adds +1 to the variable change.
    just like your stylus wearing down to a nub. or OS driver changes during an upgrade.
    or when @Hands D100 updates firmware and it alters streaming file format A vs. B.
    big whup.

    ps. time for me to hook the horses up to the wagon and drive home.
    don't need to worry about running out of that fancy gas-o-line liquid.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2016
  18. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Made me laugh! Might risk running out of that fine liquid enhancer in the jug though.
     
  19. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    In a broader term* for Marvey and the rest who have heard these DAP:

    Mutec V1.10 firmware sounds closer to A&K DAP sound character.
    Mutec V1.03 firmware sounds closer to Sony ZX2 DAP sound character.


    * discounting soundstage,imaging aspect of the sound
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2016
  20. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    Question for @Hands, which do you think is better:
    RedNet D16 vs Soundaware D100 Pro
     

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