XXHighEnd

I'm rather ashamed to say I've been the proud owner of a new NOS1a (with BNC and USB cables) for about 1 month now, but only tonight did I finally get music pumping. For various reasons, work, life, a failed laptop project, several failed W10 installations, this is my first few hours with NOS1a...

Coming from an MSB Analog DAC, and after discussions with several members here, I knew I was making the right decision, but I must admit my conviction has been tested over the last 3 or 4 weeks.

I must say Peter has been outstandingly helpful and supportive as I lurched from one bad move to another. The annoying thing about him is that he's (nearly) always right:
"Laptop + XXHE + W10 = bad" - so true, but it took me 2 weeks of toil to fully appreciate this.

So tonight after finding some time in the past few days, and with yet more help from Peter, I finally got things working as they should be (I hope). Using a new PC, 2.03 and W10 10074. Activated, screen sort of ok, all sample rates working, sound coming out of both channels (yes, even at the same time....). I have just spent about 2 hours flicking through various stuff in my collection - Can, Neu!, Alela Diane, PJ Harvey, many more - and have been astounded at the sound quality I'm hearing. The often repeated comment of "accuracy and tonal weight" seems totally true. Bass is deep and pumping, quite shocking at the moment, I need to turn my subs down. Soundstage depth is impressive. Too soon to make other observations but all VERY positive so far. I'm only using the basic SQ settings for newbies so I haven't even touched the fancy filters, minimised OS, unattended playback etc etc. And of course i know that break in of my NOS1a will take many hundreds of hours with several twists and turns in SQ to come. More reports to come in the future.

Paul

"Laptop + XXHE + W10 = bad" –  Noo, it works (dependent of the processor!) if SQ has priority!


1)   I’m listening to XXH with 8xAP since 2 years only. Reason for me: more ambience & timbre

2)   The laptop processor is an i5-2410M with 3161 CPU marks, the i7-3930K has 12077 CPU marks. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-3930K+%40+3.20GHz

3)   XXH is installed on a RAM disc with both SSD’s.

4)   Peter’s recommendation is to cut down the CPU speed (i7-3930K) to appr. 0,5MHz per the BIOS, which is not possible on my laptop. To lower the CPU speed I’m using the “energy options”, selected 60%= 1,36 MHz & shutting down the GUI after 2min.

5)   Using various settings in X-Tweaks (XXH 2.03 + WIN10-10586) and the processor runs now in the “Turbo mode” with 2,86 MHz (normal 2,3MHz), the same result with  omitting X-Tweaks and MinOS. (every computer reacts/works different)

6)   On another SSD with W10-10240  + XXH2.02, the system  is running with a “third party MinOS program”. Processor speed remains at the selected 60%= 1,36 MHz in the “energy options”.

7)   Made some tests with two settings of the ”network services” and stranded with all ”network and LAN services”  shut down.                                                                                                                                                                  So, no remote + LAN, WiFi etc. and the SQ improved immense, and that not by a small margin. (more details, deeper bass; all CD’s are new for me again)

8 )   Another change occurred was the Volume setting (of XXH):  with ”network services”  on = 31, and without = 37.

Here, the best SQ on my system, ever.

Wish you all a “Happy New Year” and good health for 2016 and beyond.

Joachim

Oh Paul, ALL the credits go to you. The only small credit I might take is that you wanted to do all yourself (being complete novice with XXHighEnd and which is NOT a small task) and that I granted that to you.

All the hats off to you.

Regards, thank you for the feedback and enjoy !
Peter