Rb2016 Credentials

Hi guys, My first post here - I'm the guy who started the XU208 and AES67 threads on Headfi. Been reading this thread and have just a few comments.

Being a dedicated vinyl junkie for 30+ yrs, when I came into some serious bucks - pursued it with vigor, passion and a large checking balance. Well won't bore you with the details of over a dozen top turntables (like a Linn LP12 modded, Rega P9, etc...) and more then a few dozen MC cartridges - I finally found my nirvana analog system - albeit after spending north of $30K. VPI Super Scount Master Signature table, Dyna XV1S and Benz Ebony LP carts (well $10K right there), CJ tubed phono pre-amp (NOS tubed of course), Bent Audio Silver setups, all wired with Nordost Valhalla cabling, etc...bought a huge collection of all fresh vinyl (when you could still get the good stuff), Classic Records QUIEX SV-P 200GM Pressing (the most holy of all virgin vinyl). This feeding a another $70K of front end.

Well I thought I had reached audio nirvana - but with some major hassles. One night after a few glasses of wine I dropped one of these prized 200GM pressings - putting a large scratch in it. I thought what if I bent the cantilever on one of these $5K cartridges? This was over 14 yrs ago - computer audio was just becoming viable (USB 2.0 Audio was just a tinkling in Rankin's eye). I decided to make the plunge. Spending big bucks on a RME FF800 (the only Pro Audio device that could do hi Res 176k and 192K without hiccup). Rolled through a dozen DACs and ADCs. Then decided to digitalize my entire massive LP collection. Listening to music was a PIA, the VPI had a massive outer ring clamp, inner weight, then there was the VPI LP washer, demager, destat. With a collection of 200GM,180GM and regular vinyl each with greatly varying thickness the tonearm VTA had to be set for each LP. The idea was to achieve the same amazing SQ but with mouse click convenience...this started an insane pursuit of the best digital chain possible.

Well I digitalized my entire collection at 32 bit 176K using the best ADC I could find. Then sold my analog rig. Invested the money into a totl DAC.

Well fast forward through an intense 14 yr journey. Some time last year I found the amazing Singxer F-1, after rolling a few dozen DDC's - and man did this thing sound good for USB - but it still wasn't competitive with my old vinyl rig. That started an intense USB gizmo trial and experiment -- and the result?

Eureka! I did it - with an insane USB chain both power and data - but I finally SURPASSED that near sota vinyl rig. Oh joy of joys - you can read the 4000 posts of my excruciating, but in the end rewarding journey over on Headfi.

This path lead to another major discovery, not that the ICRON/Startech GB LAN Iso Audio USB extender wasn't enough (that was the final part of the USB chain that pushed my digital over the top - that and a massively modded R2R PCM1704 tubed DAC). With the help of some posters we uncovered the AOIP Rednet devices.

This was beyond anything vinyl I had ever heard - when that chain was perfected (Mutec MC-3+ USB as reclocker, Antelope OXCO Wclock).

But I sold my Rednet - after coming upon the BURL B2 Bomber DAC - the new version with the AOIP Dante built right into the board. No more SPDIF/AES - no need for the Mutec (which I also sold), really no need for the Antelope. Me and a friend have embarked on modding the BURL - removing the SMPS - replacing it with a LPS, upgrading key components, etc...

The result has been simply stunning in SQ.

So anybody who says that analog, even very good and expensive analog is the very best audio source is deceiving you - it may be better that the digital they have heard that is just many rungs down the ladder.

Even a well chained USB digital source can exceed the best of vinyl at a fraction of the cost. The biggest winner? Floor noise - the detail that vinyl can reveal is orders of magnitude less then the very best of digital.

A word of caution - it is not easy to achieve - or cheap.

Cheers!
Bob

 

It irritates me that this product name is taken. If SBAF ever parodied USB Audio nervosa with a device of our own, this is the kind of name we'd come up with.

 

@Rb2016 , if you have a record collection you are interested in selling, let me know.

These silly black discs are so annoying, no point bothering with it at all.
I'm glad you posted because I finally see the light...

 

Too much information for tweedie

 

The DAC section is in fct excellent - not the APL NWO - but nicely designed. No Sabre crap - nice AKM's, no capacitors or transformers in the analog signal path, discrete class Opamps, etc...

Sorry used to posting on Headfi - are these words to big for this crowd? Don't want the puke buckets overflowing...

 

IMO the Yggdrasil is at a whole better level of design - DAC wise. The magic with the BURL is a direct board level AOIP Dante implementation. Already the REDNET stuff is impressing a lot of people (didn't some here compare it the micro-rodeo?). The issue with the RN 3 and and 16 is the AES/SPDIF connection - improved by a Mutec MC-3+ USB as reclocker, but still a weak link.

Someone asked awhile back about a one package AOIP/DAC. There are two right now - the $10K NADAC implementing AES67 Ravenna and the BURL B2 Bomber implementing AES67 Dante with the full blown Audinate Brooklyn II card.

The issue for the NADAC is those lousy Sabre DAC's. And the SMPS. Really under the hood not impressive. Would post here - but that would likely start a puke jerk off session - wouldn't want that.

Sorry for all the words - you see I present 4 decades of experience - not just some snarky - I'm the coolest cat worthless comments.

 

No those are in my archive - along with 2500 CD's, a few hundred SACD's, etc...

Working on Jason Serinus to put my AOIP up against his DCS DAC and USB chain - that would be interesting...

 

Might - I get a dozen PMs a day on the Singxer F-1 (the unit I made famous), Gustard U12 (another), REDNET, Dante, AES67, Russian Holy Grail 1975 tubes (broke the news on those babies - wich I hadn't they went from $20/pr to $200/pr now), DAC60 mods, etc....

My threads are insane - a few hundred thousand views...i go by RB2013 there.

Is there some kind of beef with Headfi - I mentioned SBAFin a post and it got the moderator delete...

 

Well I tried here - what a bunch of DBs...Odious!

 

Yeah, this really is Douchebag central...gets hard to even breathe around here. I'm with ya!

 

C'mon give it some time, I'm sure a member of the Head-fi bourgeo-- elite will fit right in soon enough.

 

Didn't you try to post your HF 6922 mega tube review over on changstar last year?

The one that declared the 1975 Russian holy grail tubes, that only you sell the winner?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/761078/6922-tube-review-17-top-6922-6n23p-e88cc-cca-7308-e188cc-tubes

 

At $250 + shipping no less.

 

The '75 Silver Shields are in fact excellent. A Raspberry Pi with I2S hat running SPDIF sounded significantly better than the Singxer though. And I suspect the Lynx units will beat any USB implementation out there, even the mega buck ones.

What's with all the e-peen wagging though?