USB Nervosa Thread Decrapifiers, pro interfaces, and bears oh my

I see this trend towards increasing SQ as the prime motivator for anyone experimenting with these digital signal path 'improvements'.
Some will see relatively large improvements while others less so.

I attribute these variations to the degree of resolution of the system they are applied too.
This is an adjunct to the removal of CP's (choke points) where once the threshold has been crossed or a gross limitation has been removed, even seemingly small changes can have Big effects and can lead to 'Better', at an accelerated pace.

It's like being able to smell again AFTER the stink in the room has been removed.
Or like what happens after drinking bitter tea, where EVERYTHING tastes wonderful.

Just some observations.

JJ

 

To make this more simple, my Gungnir Multibit hooked up via USB to my PC source sounds like f'ing ass compared to when the Mutec MC-3+USB is in the chain.

 

Now that is a ringing endorsement. Was planning on getting one (rather than MC-1.2) in the next month anyway to use with Gungnir Multibit, but that cements my decision!

 

It could be because my source in particular sucks, but the Mutec MC-3+USB is sorely missed from my system since I sent it off. It is an outstanding USB transport and reclocker.

I do have a Sonore microRendu ordered as well, but the Mutec will be staying, as it can be paired with the microRendu in the USB feedoff.

 

That's the setup I'm planning for as well.

 

My Bifrost 4490 benefits huge from the amber Regen.

I like to leave a component in a few weeks then take it away to get a very clear picture of what its been contributing and the difference was striking.

4490 was borderline unlistenable without Regen (hyperbole alert), and 4490 is an awesome DAC. I merely mean the Regen is so good with it, stripping it out made me loathe the difference. Of course before I got the Regen, I was very pleased with 4490, but the saying goes... everything sounds great until you hear something better.

 

Cool, then we can compare. More on adventures on decrapifying.

I have a Mutec 1.2 (which is going out on a loaner tour today) and thought to concentrate on that first. Because of how the schedules played out, I was able to listen to it only with my Asus PC, a Wireworld Starlight USB and the ifi Micro iDSD feeding my modded HD 800. That's weird for me for a number of reasons, as a) the USB cable I normally use is out b) I don't do much headphone listening and c) this may be the third hour I've listened to this 1.2.

And i preferred the USB direct to the ifi. I did it over a period of two hours, and extended listening. The Mutec does clear up space between the instruments, but tends to flatten dynamics a litlle, and seems to reduces overall depth. On headphones you do don't get much of that anyway. It also does lose a smidgen of texture or timbre with the instruments, but does it give it some air around it. It was enough to tell me I wouldn't do this setup, and while I don't listen this way anyway, but someone else might.


Everyone I've read raves about the Mutecs. I don't really think it works in every situation. This is from a person that has a lot of this stuff, lately (to inventory, 1 Mutec 1.2, 2 Mutec 3+ USBs, 1 Berkeley Audio USB converter, 1 Regen, 1 Wyred4Sound Recovery). I'm still doing evals, so I'm holding off impressions. But I would not use one long term without testing it in how I would use it (in my case with speakers and a Gungnir Multibit).

My true fervent wish was that a super PI made all this obsolete, but that's not likely. Hopefully the microRendu is good enough and I will be thinning this herd really soon.

 

Very interesting. Yes, I can't really enjoy my chain as much without the Mutec; however, that doesn't mean the Mutec is perfect. It just points to how bad my USB source is. Intruments and voices sound hashy and ill-defined by comparison.

What you say about a flat, depthless sound is worrisome, since I recall reading that elsewhere. Without having access to other devices, it would be difficult for me to tell.

The Rednet AES67 devices seem to be pretty well-received by owners of Mutecs and MicroRendus, preferring the Rednets to the latter and often with the Mutec in the chain for reclocking purposes.

The D100 also seems like a great workaround.

I am starting to regret my preorder for the microRendu actually.

 

Did you see this?
http://audiosciencereview.com/forum...asurements-of-sonore-microrendu-streamer.577/

 

Not saying it invalidates it, but do keep in mind this is the AmirM of endless fights with Arnie Krueger on AVSForums fame. Hefty grain of salt.

 

I read through the entire thread last night. For me, it was more the Rednet users who compared the microRendu and Mutec chain that gave me pause. I am not sure how to read between the lines quite yet with the audiosciencereview measurements. Some of it smacks of nwavguy objectivist naivety, but at the same time the tendentious, commercial interests entangling Connaker with Uptone/Sonore sponsorship of CA merits some skepticism. I would be delighted to hear some input of how to navigate the commercial biases littering this linked thread in particular.

 

Pardon me, but could you elaborate on this? I've heard of him a few times and apparently he was booted from HF and made his own amp/DAC... Specifically what do you mean by "objectivist naivite"? Im still learning the ropes of the audiophile culture so looking to learn as much as possible.

 

I am in your situation, but until you get me an auto sample rate switching device I'm not really interested in Rednet. On the other hand I have a microrendu in hand now, and it so thoroughly smoked my Aries and iusb 3.0 that I put them both up for sale instantly. The sound was crisper, faster, more vivid, richer. It wasn't close. I'm sceptical that another protocol (rednet) can do the same just because there's no USB in the chain, especially since the aforementioned USB in the microrendu is really not your grandpa's USB but rather a purpose-built entity...

 

Read and you will understand, please don't ask folks to explain him. Well, you can, just not me.

http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/

 

That's really great to hear. I didn't realize you had received your uRendu already.

 

There is a fantaical cult of sorts, who thrive especially on reddit and pop up on head-fi, who polemically prescribe an extremist faith in measurements without balancing their position with an acknowledgement of the inescapable presence of subjective taste and bias in which they are unwittingly enslaved. They tend to believe in the existence of a perfectly "neutral," "uncolored" amplifier that functions as a "wire with gain." This amplifier was purportedly designed by their prophet nwavguy. But several users believe it sounds like shit despite having good measurements.

The genesis of Changstar and this site is predicated on the fusion of objectivism with subjectivism, recognizing the importance of the former (often neglected on head-fi) without disposing of the latter. There is no such thing as "wire with gain." Thus the phrase nwavguy objectivist naïveté refers to a brand of pseudo-intellectualism whose essence is really a kind of quasi-religious extremism.

To put this in context of the ASR article, I am unsure if the one performing measurements is merely prescribing a similar ideology and whether both sides in the debate are writing primarily from commercial interests.

Glad to hear that @jelt2359 is enjoying the device at least.

 

Yep, haven't posted about it as I've been busy listening

One thing though, it was just shocking how much more vivid and dynamic the sound became. I ended up adding HQPlayer to my Roon, and using the "Gauss1" noise-shaping algorithm. This added just the right amount of smoothness and musicality, and is now my preferred stack. I expect things will get better when I add the Mutec in, but as I sat back listening for impressions I ended up going for hours and hours and hours, and forgot to take notes.

First world problems.

 

Ah, moar SuperGlue, where the experience is so compelling you can't do anything but be swept up and carried away by the music.

A decidedly GOOD thing in my book…

JJ

 

@Artasia, thanks for the insight.

 

I hadn't. Thanks very much for pointing it out. I do know that Amirm has a vendetta of sorts against John Swenson, calling him an Amatuer designer. While I do agree with some things Amir has backed (he bought Pacifc Microsnics while he was with Microsoft) a lot of it comes across as petty self aggrandizement borne of cashing out Microsoft money, and putting up a high end store. Does he understand the effect of what he's measuring? Who knows. Can I hear it in my setup, I'll find out soon enough, I guess.