Network Streaming - The Journey Continues...

[POV]

6 minutes ago, Silent Screamer said:

 

OK before this very moment I had never heard of a digital to digital converter before. Kind of seems silly to make one. Why does it exist?

 

 

 

It depends on the situation, but there is a place for DDCs.  Say for example you had a DAC/integrated amplifier/reciever that you really like and you want to be able to connect a tablet or PC to it but it only has SPDIF inputs and doesn't have a USB-B or C input then a device like the matrix audio x-spdif 3 will enable this at very high quality.

Edited February 28, 2024 by POV

[Silent Screamer]

Well a decision and a purchase has been made... After looking at a number of different options I have purchased an EverSolo DMP-A6 Master Edition Music Streamer.

 

While I don't currently have need for the internal DACs, there may come a day when I want to remove the GroundSound and use them, so I am looking to future proof myself. Big thank you to all that provide advice and helped steer me in the right direction.

[Silent Screamer]

A parcel arrived this afternoon and I couldn't wait to hook it up.

 

The first thing I got going was some internet radio while I sorted out the NAS access. First thing I noticed was I have never heard the radio sound that good before.

Second thing I did was find the EQ button and had a bit of a fiddle which led me to my second discovery... I seriously need to do something about my open baffle bass. There is so much bass missing.

 

OK so I got the NAS access via SMB and NFS sorted and started listening to some real music. Probably the first thing I noticed was it immediately sounded more detailed. Not sure how this is possible since I thought it was highly detailed already, but yet there it is. I can even make out most of what Kate Bush is singing in Wuthering Heights... Even with my aging ears that is something I have never been able to do before. It also sounds like the noise floor is lower. Because the quiet spots in the music are more noticeable.

 

Then I started thinking to myself do I really like it? It sounds a bit more clinical now, and a little less warm and inviting with this extra detail. Guess a bit of crossover or speaker modifications are in order. It's not bad, it's just different and going to take a bit of getting used to. Then next thing I noticed is that sound stage is more open than before. Everything doesn't sound like it is coming from the middle as much as before. Now it sounds like some of the instruments are more off centre than before. Also the instruments themselves sound more clean and detailed it's not just voices.

 

The voices sound slightly different, almost more like they are in the room with you as apposed to a recording. I think they also sound a bit smoother. I could be imagining it but it sounds like there is slightly more bass, or the notes that are there are being played more cleanly.

 

All in all I think it was definitely a step in the direction I wanted to take with taking the sound to another level.

 

On a side note, some people in videos complain about the phone software being hard to navigate because of the menus inside menus. But I am finding it to be quite intuitive. Yes there are a lot of options to look at, but they are not spread all over like a dogs breakfast. It is fairly easy to work out where you need to look for something.

 

I can also pick songs from a folder view which is what I was hoping to do since my music is very disorganized and I am used to selecting specific folders rather than albums or artists. I have lots of 70's and 80's various artist CDs on my NAS so there are probably hundreds of artists, and not a quick way to find songs or albums.

 

I was hoping it was going to be a noticeable difference since the wife pushed back on the purchase and I bought it anyway. It hasn't disappointed.

 

 

Edited March 6, 2024 by Silent Screamer

[frednork]

Seems like a good outcome. good stuff

[Silent Screamer]

6 minutes ago, frednork said:

Seems like a good outcome. good stuff

 

By the time I got to Pink Floyd, it was an extremely obvious improvement in sound stage. This is the potential I knew this system had all along I just didn't know how to coax it out of it. Next step is to look at making some new speakers to fill some sonic holes the new streamer has uncovered. I know there is another level in it yet.

[Silent Screamer]

A few weeks have past and there was something not quite right about the unit when I first put it in. I can listen all day at volume with my system with no fatigue at all but suddenly I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the sharpness of it. I thought it was excessive detail but having put a number of hours on the unit now it seems to have smoothed out those first rough edges.

 

I have just order a PD Creative linear power supply for it, to see if I can coax a little bit more out of it, but on the whole this is what I have probably been chasing for the last 10+ years. It is like I am listening to a completely different system. The sound stage has completely changed from most of the sound coming from between the speakers to identifying instruments in different spots between the speakers. It's hard to explain the amount of difference changing the source has made.

 

I always knew it had the potential, I am just finally getting the promise to meet delivery. Now the input sounds so clean it is time to start looking at ways to get a fuller sound out of the speakers, what is there is fantastic I just need more of it.

[Irek]

Have you tried different sound settings? 

[Silent Screamer]

3 hours ago, Irek said:

Have you tried different sound settings? 

 

Are you referring to using some EQ in the unit? I could, but I would rather address the real issue. For way too long now I have been using 18" woofers for the bass. I needs a lot more support in that region. Either in the form of some kind of box, or a dedicated subwoofer.

[Irek]

1 hour ago, Silent Screamer said:

 

Are you referring to using some EQ in the unit? 

I was thinking about DAC filters. 

[Silent Screamer]

28 minutes ago, Irek said:

I was thinking about DAC filters. 

 

I have far more adjustment in my active crossover than the streamer begins to imagine providing, but I have long thought I need to go big or go home. I have been running a fairly minimalistic three way for a long time. I have always felt like the mid range and bass could use some re-enforcing. I have a ton of drivers that have been waiting to be made into speakers, I just need to settle on a design and stop changing my mind. I am currently thinking that I might change my single mid into four mids in a series - parallel configuration, and put the 18" into some kind of box.

[Irek]

1 hour ago, Silent Screamer said:

 

sounds like you need a subwoofer. 

[Silent Screamer]

29 minutes ago, Irek said:

sounds like you need a subwoofer. 

 

There is a lot to be gained by improving what I already have, but I have a serious sub that just needs to be built, I already have a Crown DSP amp and driver / passive radiators.

[Silent Screamer]

Got a package from Poland today... I ordered a linear power supply from PD Creative, it was well wrapped and arrived in one piece.

Installation was straight forward although I took my time doing it. I have included a picture of the order you should try and fit the screws.

Forget putting the spacers on the screws, they aren't going to stay there. Also forget trying to put all four spacers in at the same time.

Put one spacer on closest to the power plug first as it is probably the hardest to get to. Put a screw in the board and gently lower the board fitting the screw through the spacer. Do a couple of turns with the screwdriver, but don't tighten it up.

Second, third and four spacers you can get in quite easily with a pair of tweezers. Again keep all the screws fairly loose till all for screws are in then you can tighten them.

 

 

[Silent Screamer]

The PSU came with this piece of paper showing the performance of this specific PSU. But it might as well have been written in Chinese for all it meant to me...

OK so how does it sound? That at the end of the day is the important thing.

I would say the difference is subtle, but not unnoticeable.

I put on Cannon by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra first. I had to listen hard but it sounds like a double bass in the song digs a little deeper than before. Also it sounds like it was somehow cleaner ummm, smoother maybe, not sure. Image seemed marginally bigger than before.

I didn't experience any nasty sounds that might require a burn in, I was happy right out of the box. The upgrade didn't produce any night and day changes like changing from the old streamer to the new one, but for someone chasing that last bit of improvement I think it was worth doing. Not sure it was worth the money for the improvement, but I am not sad I spent the money on it.

 

[Dropbear67]

On 25/3/2024 at 10:14 PM, Silent Screamer said:

. I can listen all day at volume with my system with no fatigue at all but suddenly I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the sharpness of it

psychoacoustics ..... the music hasn't changed.. you have ..

be HAPPY with your Eversolo.. it's an amazing bit of kit. stop trying to hear issues that aren't there.

 

[Silent Screamer]

6 minutes ago, Dropbear67 said:

psychoacoustics ..... the music hasn't changed.. you have ..

be HAPPY with your Eversolo.. it's an amazing bit of kit. stop trying to hear issues that aren't there.

 

 

No it wasn't imaged it was there, but like others that have bought the same unit, they noticed a quick burn in period where it smoothed right out. The new PSU made it even smoother. Very happy with the Eversolo. Only thing I would consider needing improving is the phone software, the player itself is fantastic.

[frednork]

1 hour ago, Dropbear67 said:

psychoacoustics ..... the music hasn't changed.. you have ..

be HAPPY with your Eversolo.. it's an amazing bit of kit. stop trying to hear issues that aren't there.

 

What is the basis for your statement for this situation?

[Grizaudio]

The Eversolo certainly looks nice... Nice one. 

 

 

The DIY style cabling from main board to chassis RCAs is average. This is DIY standard IMHO.

I would be expecting direct the chassis connections. 

 

At least the XLR's are direct to circuit board. 

[Grizaudio]

On 08/05/2024 at 3:50 PM, frednork said:

What is the basis for your statement for this situation?

 

I'd be surprised if the power supply didn't do something, especially if you are connecting to the analog sections. 

 

[Grizaudio]

On 04/04/2024 at 9:00 PM, Silent Screamer said:

I didn't experience any nasty sounds that might require a burn in, I was happy right out of the box

 

It should only take 30minutes maybe an hour for caps to form correctly, once initially switched on. 

After that its the person burning in.... IMHO. But everyone has a different opinion on this. 

 

Additionally I can't imagine the FM clocks in the A6 requiring any real amount of time to get to operating temps.

Edited May 10, 2024 by Grizaudio

[Grizaudio]

On 04/04/2024 at 9:00 PM, Silent Screamer said:

The PSU came with this piece of paper showing the performance of this specific PSU. But it might as well have been written in Chinese for all it meant to me...

OK so how does it sound? That at the end of the day is the important thing.

I would say the difference is subtle, but not unnoticeable.

I put on Cannon by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra first. I had to listen hard but it sounds like a double bass in the song digs a little deeper than before. Also it sounds like it was somehow cleaner ummm, smoother maybe, not sure. Image seemed marginally bigger than before.

I didn't experience any nasty sounds that might require a burn in, I was happy right out of the box. The upgrade didn't produce any night and day changes like changing from the old streamer to the new one, but for someone chasing that last bit of improvement I think it was worth doing. Not sure it was worth the money for the improvement, but I am not sad I spent the money on it.

 

 

Looks nice, cost? circa $250? 

Edited May 10, 2024 by Grizaudio

[Grizaudio]

On 28/02/2024 at 9:14 PM, POV said:

My advice is to stay away from USB reclockers, these devices are unnecessary and really don't achieve anything.  With USB data transfer for audio it is asynchronous, meaning that there is no clock signal and the clocking is done within the receiving device.  For years now audiophiles have been convinced that USB data transfer introduces jitter, hence the demand for so-called reclockers, but it really verifiably doesn't in the vast majority of circumstances.   All you need is a well designed DAC and let it do it's thing.  If a re-clocker is verifiably making an audible difference then there is a problem with the DAC design in question, but really this is unlikely with modern DACs from reputable manufacturers.  Too much of this stuff gets overcomplicated and a shroud of mystery appears that is unhelpful in my view.

 

The best way to wide berth any possible issues, is to buy a great DAC [like you say] with proven measurements and performance, and use galvanic isolation. Job done. 

 

[Silent Screamer]

1 hour ago, Grizaudio said:

 

Looks nice, cost? circa $250? 

Price was $388 AUD for the PSU. Not using analog outs. Using the USB to connect to my active crossover which has 8 Burr Brown DACs in it. My amp is current down and I was thinking about trying to build a passive crossover to try the analog out just to see what it sounds like.

[Grizaudio]

Awesome, there’s a few of us here that run DSP crossovers and active setups. 
 

enjoy. 

[Silent Screamer]

Just a quick update on the streamer of choice. While there were several good options and I appreciate all the great comments and suggestions, I am really happy with the choice I made. The EverSolo DMP-A6 Master Edition with an externally purchased LPS was a good call. There may be better out there, but it was the lift I was looking for without complexity and a simple way to play music.

 

I've just stuck in a 1 TB M.2 stick to copy all my music to local so I no longer have to worry about the NAS, router or hub. This is what I was hoping the Nvidia Shield was going to be, but it is a long way from it. All in all I am very happy with my purchase.