qwerter Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 Has anyone compared these two? http://jplay.eu/jcat/ https://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/product/sotm-tx-usb-pci-e-usb-host-card
firedog Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) Lots of people have. Opinions go both ways. Try computeraudiophile.com or audiocircle.com. I think I saw posts there on the topic. Edited November 1, 2015 by firedog
AccMagi7s Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 We fortunately have both JCat and SOtM on @JDWest's custom built server for the demo here in W.A. I have had JDWest's server in my possession a little over a week with both cards and JCat Sata cable. To my humble opinion, I found JCat performed sonically better than SOtM. The tests were conducted on my setup, which consists of; Accuphase DC-37 to Vitus SL-010 and to Gryphon Antelion Signature to a pair of Wilson Benesch ACTs. W.A Audiophiles can loan the card(s) or server from him direct or drop by his place for a demo? Hope it helps? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1
joelha Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 We fortunately have both JCat and SOtM on @JDWest's custom built server for the demo here in W.A. I have had JDWest's server in my possession a little over a week with both cards and JCat Sata cable. To my humble opinion, I found JCat performed sonically better than SOtM. The tests were conducted on my setup, which consists of; Accuphase DC-37 to Vitus SL-010 and to Gryphon Antelion Signature to a pair of Wilson Benesch ACTs. W.A Audiophiles can loan the card(s) or server from him direct or drop by his place for a demo? Hope it helps? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk SOtM has a newer card know which I own and have been testing: http://www.sotm.sonore.us/SOtM3.html#1 I'm not ready to call a winner yet as both cards are burning in but where I agreed that the JCAT card is better than the SOtM PCIe card, this is a much closer call. I'll need more time but this card conects directly to the USB pin out on the motherboard. It's pretty darned good. Joel
AccMagi7s Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 Joel, USB-Hub is not new. The new one from SOtM would be the new clock upgrade. Check it out from their website, again! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JDWest Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 The new SOtM clock upgrade for their PCIe card and internal USB hub (or custom) is brand new. No-one has tried it in DIY. It is derived from the tech used as an option in their latest, highest model server and they've just decided to release it as a DIY option. http://www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/portfolio-item/sclk-xxxx/#toggle-id-2 I know this because I sell SOtM products and I helped talk them into releasing this for DIY. If you're thinking I might be biased, well yes in that I'm on my own personal quest to build an ideal music server so I wanted SOtM to release their very best DIY solution. I obviously haven't tried it yet so am not commenting on performance. I also sell JCAT so have no financial bias in which brand you choose.
joelha Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 So there's no advantage to using the USB-Hub vs. the PCIe card? Or is there? How hard is the clock upgrade to install . . . for someone who is loathe to even touch a soldering iron? Joel
JDWest Posted November 4, 2015 Posted November 4, 2015 So there's no advantage to using the USB-Hub vs. the PCIe card? Or is there? ... Joel SOtM developed the USB hubs as an alternative to their PCIe card. They don't tout it as an improvement. Providing a solution for projects that lack an available PCIe slot was certainly a motivation. Though their PCIe cards and hubs use a very similar approach to improve the USB output, SOtM readily admit that the sound is a bit different. If you hear a difference, I am sure that is real and hope you'll let us know which you prefer.
joelha Posted November 4, 2015 Posted November 4, 2015 Thanks a lot, JDWest. And specifically what's involved in getting the clock upgrade installed? Joel
JDWest Posted November 4, 2015 Posted November 4, 2015 ...How hard is the clock upgrade to install . . . for someone who is loathe to even touch a soldering iron? Joel I'm with you on the soldering iron and I'm still trying to understand it so apologies if I get it wrong. I think a separate card that connects to PCIe or internal hub via a couple of wires that I think need soldering (plus power). Probably very easy for people that use soldering irons. There was talk that some type of pre-assembled units (e.g. clock + PCIe) might become available or that a group of us could send our units back to them for assembly. A user manual should appear on that website soon.
joelha Posted November 4, 2015 Posted November 4, 2015 Thanks again, JDWest. I'll hope for a pre-assembled unit. Joel
BioBrian Posted December 15, 2015 Posted December 15, 2015 The user manuals are here: http://www.sotm-audio.com/sotmwp/english/portfolio-item/sclk-xxxx/ ...confirming that no soldering is needed. Cables supplied. I can't see a price, though. Has anybody tried this new clock?
kaka Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 I have the original Sotm board (externally powered off a linear supply) plus a Jcat (battery powered) I found the Jcat board sonically superior but it was quite a while ago, so I can't tell you why
Sir Rab of Everest Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 I'm with you on the soldering iron and I'm still trying to understand it so apologies if I get it wrong. I think a separate card that connects to PCIe or internal hub via a couple of wires that I think need soldering (plus power). Probably very easy for people that use soldering irons. There was talk that some type of pre-assembled units (e.g. clock + PCIe) might become available or that a group of us could send our units back to them for assembly. A user manual should appear on that website soon. interesting... From the installation manual: "...the original tX-USBexp can not be used with sCLK-48.0 without the special modification" ... which leads to the inevitable question: "can we modify our original boards to effect this "special modification" (which i suspect is the case), or more required? (I'm guessing some desoldering will be required). Does anyone know? - r
JDWest Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) interesting... From the installation manual: "...the original tX-USBexp can not be used with sCLK-48.0 without the special modification" ... which leads to the inevitable question: "can we modify our original boards to effect this "special modification" (which i suspect is the case), or more required? (I'm guessing some desoldering will be required). Does anyone know? - r Firstly, I have the new kit (PCIe + clock) and it really is very simple to install. Just 2 wires to plug in and all cables and adaptors provided. No soldering. [Added]: Clock has a 2-pin plug for power. Kit provides an adaptor for SATA power connector-to-2-pin plug. So having an extra SATA power connector from mobo makes for easy installation. My server uses just one SATA power cable but it had 3 output connectors; SATA (SSD), SATA (clock) and Molex (PCIe card) Also, it sounds fantastic IMO . Better than JCAT PCIe. SOtM did speak to me previously about the option to return standard cards for modification but I'm not sure if that is still on the cards. I can ask them but courier costs worry me. As for DIY option, I don't know. New card in kit has a tiny, tiny coax cable socket for clock cable installed on the card. Hard core DIYers could likely find an upgrade solution but pin-point soldering onto PCB would be required at the least. I wouldn't count on SOtM to publish DIY methods. Imagine the troubles it would cause them when people do it wrong and destroy their cards. Cheers, JD Edited February 21, 2016 by JDWest 2
Sir Rab of Everest Posted February 21, 2016 Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks @JD. As it happens, I literally have not even taken my USB card out of the box! So maybe exchange is possible. I'll ask them. Thanks again, r.
Ian McP Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 Just posted this in a different forum. Of interest to you guys? In layman's terms what's its potential? Beaglebone Black http://au.mouser.com...k/n-5g1kZ2bv0qx < http://www.theregist...rm_kickstarter/ And with £25K pledged against an initial £5K seek and 29 days left to go the Kickstarter project certainly is sparked up and firing on all four . . . Watch the vid' https://www.kickstar...atency-interact > regards Ian
realysm42 Posted May 9, 2016 Posted May 9, 2016 Bringing this one back from the dead; just back from perth with new sotm card and additional clock. Thanks for sorting me out John! Not heard the jcat, so have no point of comparison against that but will be intetesting to see what the upgraded component sounds like to stock sotm. Will report back when it's fitted. Ps a real pleasure to meet more of the gang (Don and Tasso).
realysm42 Posted May 9, 2016 Posted May 9, 2016 Just got it installed; as John said, it's an easy job, shouldn't take you more than 20 minutes. First impressions are good; I won't go into detail yet as I want to let it settle in and for me to get used to it.
realysm42 Posted May 10, 2016 Posted May 10, 2016 So i left it burning in last night and all day today; I don't know what the expected/recommended burn in time is. It's made a nice uptick in certain areas of sound. Everything in the frequency range is both calmer and presented with more confidence; hard to articulate really. I think these benefits could be expected by yhe addition of an uprated clock - lower jitter = a less stressed sound which in turn allows more music through. Bass is very pleasing, sounding fuller, tighter and more tuneful. Also every part of the music takes less attention to pick out of the mix. I imagine there's more burning in to occur, but barring any revelations i think i have the measure of this thing now. I feel glad to have taken the risk/made the investment, moving from full ifi, to sotm, to sotm with clock. I'm surprised that with the music server thread there's not been more interest in this avenue; if you've got money to chuck at a psu then this is also worthy of your attention!
AccMagi7s Posted May 10, 2016 Posted May 10, 2016 I'm surprised that with the music server thread there's not been more interest in this avenue; if you've got money to chuck at a psu then this is also worthy of your attention!Ok - you have baited me and I will bite! The whole idea of a delicate USB card is to isolate from the motherboard all the craps within in its USB ports specifically for the sensitive audio signals.... It is done by having its own clock with a delicated/seperated audio grade power-supply. If I understand you correctly, it own clock is no good and must have the additional clock module from the same Vendor, externally wiring to and from the original USB card with the additional powersupply in order for it is to sound better? If that is the case, I make no apologies here, but the design is either defective or incomplete. I would query back to the Vendor the values of having that particular USB card if it could not perform by its own in the first place where the RRP for the item compare to non-audio card is significantly higher. Or have you fallen to the marketing BS? So far SOtM PCI had proven to be needless the addition clock module and it still sounds fantastic! TBH, none of the PCIe has came close...! The fault is in PCIe design and I think they are trying to patch up in hope it will sound parity to PCI. Unfortunately - patchy solution remains a patchy outcome. They need to go back to their drawing board and resign from ground up with decent chances....
realysm42 Posted May 10, 2016 Posted May 10, 2016 Chill out mate; I'm not baiting anyone. I'll answer properly later.
AccMagi7s Posted May 11, 2016 Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Chill out mate; I'm not baiting anyone. I'll answer properly later.Haha...! My obsessions on the area of interest seems taken its toll. Sorry about that! Edited May 11, 2016 by Chanh
JDWest Posted May 11, 2016 Posted May 11, 2016 Well then let's present Chanh's solution: 1. Buy a SOtM PCI card...Oh wait, nobody sells them any more because SOtM ceased production years ago. 2. Strip it down to a naked PCB 3. Replace all the caps 4. Add bypass caps 5. Replace power connector 6. Tap into internal power circuit to separate the clock power 7. Build a tweaked and fully separate 230VAC-5VDC PSU to power the clock 8. Use a separate 230VAC-12VDC PSU to power other portions of the PCI 9. Rejoice that unlike PCIe, your PCI did not need to be redesigned from the ground up for it to sound better. Sorry Chanh but you deserved that 3
Recommended Posts