XXHighEnd

See the file attached.

I'm a little drunk...
so I hope this doesn't sound abrasive
but I kinda stopped reading about here:
"we did compare the iTunes-purchased 256kbps (VBR) MC version of arecent album (The Avett Brothers' 'I And Love And You') with the ripped CD version in ALAC, then the same converted to 256kbps (VBR) MC."
anyway... it all depends here on whether different usb cables applies to Peter's creation... and that won't be answered in this article.
I had a Stello 100 that definitely sounded best with a cable i was smitten with (a no name didn't cost anything usb cable)... so I know there can be differences... especially the usb port you choose to use... there is one best one on your computer is what I learned.

Is there a software available to locate the best USB port or does one do it by the ear?

Arvind

In short words, the USB cable delivered with the NOS 1 is hiding the full potential of the DAC.

I ordered a "Challenger" USB cable with a grounding connection from Entreq.com now and will report in two weeks.

I'm used to the sound of the "giveaway cable"  and will hear the difference instantly, and I bet ............... .

Joachim

Chris, thanks for your pioneering. Will be interesting to see what you find.

Yep, that's the way to do it.
But with your new cable, now don't start AB-ing right away. Just connect it and let it be for a week.

Of course it is allowed to notice differences right away ... :)

Regards,
Peter

Hi Chris,

Seems a bit risky to say this without having tested before other cables. I would add, however, that I welcome and appreciate your efforts to show the differences between different USB cables.


May I ask you why have you chosen this specific cable?.

Regards, Juan

Slightly off-topic...

I'm considering totally rearranging my 'network' of computers. The main idea will be to have a 'monster' PC (something akin to Juan's setup, but maybe even more powerful) sitting in my basement feeding my two NOS1s. This raises a couple of questions, the first of which is relevant to this thread, the second not:

1) How long can the USB cable between the PC and NOS1 be? Ideally, I will need up to 10m to work OK.

2) Can the same PC feed two NOS1s? (Peter???)

Cheers, Mani.

Hi Mani,


7 meters, but this included an additional connection in my test situations. Notice that USB cables longer than 4.5 meters may be hard to find, because officially USB won't go beyond 4.5 meters (but this is related to the power USB can contain, which is not in order for the NOS1).


I wouldn't know why not. But, I also never tested it.
If this is important to you to know in advance it is easy to test for me.
There's one theoretical problem I see :
While the USB driver will be able to see two USB interfaces, at this moment I don't see how the device to be selected will differentiate between the two interfaces. This is related to the device name like "KS: PCM Renderer 4.0" etc. (and something like that) which does not include the interface serial number (but should in my opinion).

Hmm ...
Thinking further, it looks like this will need the device selection in the control panel. So, now you see one device only (and attached to that the channel configuration selection) while in the case of two interfaces you will see two devices (which is also where you see the unique serial number). So yes, I now think that it needs the selection of the device accordingly, and next the device name to select for playback is allowed to be the same ...

Hi Juan,

All cables by Entreq are manufactured with an earthing connection. My NOS 1 shows still great deviations with the DC values and Peters recommendation was "earthing" (the NOS1 is connected to the power amp).

From my experience cables influences the sound. I hear a total different sound with my components connected with Valhalla or NBS Monitor cables. (Entreq cables are superior to Valhalla and less expensive)

And therefore I'm quite sure that the new Entreq USB cable will improve the SQ of the NOS1 to a higher level.

Joachim

Hi Chris,

I´ve been taking a look to Entreq and their cables have some interesting parts like, as you said, earthing. I don´t understand well why would be useful the earthing with the USB cable if the current is not passing to the dac. Unless your dac has some problem as you mentioned and/or, as Gordon Ranking says in an interesting post: It would be nice if you could switch the VBUS signal on the computer side from VBUS to Ground if your device doesn't use it..

Does it apply to the USB cable between the computer and the Phasure NOS1 USB?.

Mani, there is also an opinion about the length of the USB cable in that post.

Please, take a look to the post: http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/2/28679.html (http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/2/28679.html)

About other cables like interconnection or speaker cables of course I agree with you, there are differences in between cables but you are talking about cables that carry current. 

Regards, Juan

You mean when rebooting, right ?
Well, yes. I meant you to try with some wire. :)

Peter

Hi Juan,

the major deviation in the SQ in my system are coming from the power cables connected to the power amp. The sound between Nordost and NBS are two total different worlds.

Joachim

Hi Chris,

I´ve found more difference in between interconnection or speaker cables than with power cords but of course it is system dependent. I had some NBS cables (interconnection) and found them a little aggressive, so I sold them but this was some years ago. I have used very expensive cables like Shunyata Anaconda or Stealth, in addition to those NBS and perhaps others that I don´t remember now (Cardas too) but over time I realized I can get better cables to a much more lower price. The secret is if they work well in your system not in the ads of the strongest brands.

Best regards



Hey Mani

What do you have in mind?. I need also another computer for working reasons but I could use it also for ripping directly the music in the hdd where I have it or maybe to compare it with the one I have now. Btw, what parts would you change in my computer to build such a monster?. I believe, however, that my configuration is still valid and it works fabulously well:  http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1673.0 (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1673.0)

Best regards,
Juan

:yes:

Hello Juan,

may I have some names/brands

best

joachim

Hi Chris,

Power cords: Grover Huffman http://www.groverhuffman.com/home (http://www.groverhuffman.com/home) and Foundation Research LS1 and LS2, the latter (F.R.) I´m not sure if they are discontinued but can be found once in a while second hand for around $300

Interconnection cables: Grover Huffman

Speaker cables: Clear Day Cables http://www.cleardaycables.com/ (http://www.cleardaycables.com/) and other ones without name made by a friend.

Best regards,
Juan

The first day with the Entreq “Challenger” USB cable,

The difference of the  sound  to shelf cable was to hear immediately, finer timbre of all instruments (upright bass, horns and violins) and voices, more air between the instruments.
Reference records are:
“The Shelter In Your Arms” by Sammy Davis Jr.
 “Intermission Music” by Beady Belle ( the duet with Jamie Cullum is a highlight )
“Sunflower” by Wynton Marsalis (horns in heaven and thaat beat of the bass)
“Stolen Moment” by Gap Mangione

The Entreq USB cable is another step up the ladder and now I’m waiting for XXH release 0.9z-7

Joachim

Finally - someone.
But it took you long !

Thanks for sharing Joachim - Appreciated !
Peter

FYI, I gave the guy from Kemp Electroniks a call (he used to import the Entreq stuff. He told me he was going to supply (in a couple of month from now) a USB cable that would sound even better then the ''Challenger'' cable.

http://kempelektroniks.com/ (ftp://http://kempelektroniks.com/)

Cheers