Hi Jarek,

Just saw your post about the Sotm usb card and I have something to add. I tried this card as well and ended up with the same results, eventually sending it back to Jesus. Great guy he is by the way and I'd like to try his usb converter.

I ended up installing a 2-port usb3 card by Startech and it has solved all my problems. I listen a lot more now, without any hangups, FIFO errors and the sound is amazing. Now I need to upgrade my Zalman to i7.

Can't imagine the sound will get much better though.

/Lee

Peter,

This is exactly how I installed XXHighend the first time. Did it again and it is playing.

Using wasapi as I think KS is not supported by the Berkeley guys unfortunately. So I am happy with the Lynx setup using KS.

Using the Wasapi driver, many of the KS variables such as buffer size, etc. are grayed out. Are there any variables that you suggest I change using wasapi? Engine #? Q1=?

Thanks.
/Lee

Hey Guys,

Just set Device Buffer Size to 512 (from 4096) and SFS is set to 400. The first error msg I get is
REPORTED FILE LENGTH IS 0; CAN'T PLAY; CHECK FOR DISK FULL.

then another one:
ENGINE #4 DID NOT START WITHIN EXPECTED TIME.

The I changed device buffer size to 1024:
DEVICE ALLOCATED BUT CAN'T PLAY; CHECK DAC SETTINGS, APPLIED SAMPLE RATE, ETC.

Hey Peter,

I pulled the Lynx card and am experimenting with a usb setup instead: Sotm usb card-->Alpha USB Converter-->Alpha Dac, on a Zalman machine running Win 7 and XXHighEnd.

I was getting great results using KS mode with the Lynx, but now I want to test this (above) usb configuration and was curious if anyone had any suggestions for config? My one main concern was that KS mode isn't working at all with the Alpha Dac. Has anyone had this issue? So I am forced to use Wasapi drivers "Speakers: Alpha Dac" as indicated in the XXHighend output device window.

Any other setting suggestions for this new config?

Thanks!
/Lee

Earflappin and Peter,

Can you guys give me any suggestions for configuring 9z6.1 for the Sotm usb card-->Alpha usb converter-->Alpha Dac?

I currently have good sound streaming in all resolutions, but the player only works using the "Speakers: Alpha USB Interface" driver, which I assume is Wasapi. When I select the "KS: Alpha Dac" option, I'm not sure the Dac accepts KS. I get an error window and no music plays.

You guys have any recommended settings or tweaks? 

Thanks!
/Lee Mincy

Praphan,

Can you explain this a bit more or point me in the right direction?

"off mobo Lynx interface which requires PCI extender (Exsys EX-1095) so you can feed the Lynx card with linear psu"

what is off mobo?

Any else tried pci extender?

/Lee

Praphan,

Thanks for the note. I'd love to demo the Phasure usb Dac. Isn't it around $5000 US? How about you lend one to Jon Reichbach at Sonic Studio (I work with him) and we can test it and hear the sound (both using Amarra on a Mac and my copy of XXHighend on my Zalman/Lynx setup. This way, I can turn it into a great demo event for the Bay Area Audiophile Society, which includes two writers from Stereophile. Would give you some great press in the Bay Area, if the dac is that good.

Just a thought. Amarra is for Mac only, so I don't see a conflict, but actually a nice opportunity.

/Lee

Wrong header data? So is this something that Naim should solve for? Just curious.

I am really liking 9z6.1, really impressed. Redbook never sounded so good. Hearing details I never heard before, even in 9z5.2. Also am loving the upsample slider, which I never really used much until this weekend. It ads so much to my old or poorly recorded cd's. Makes them listenable once again, even fat sounding where they used to be shrill, harsh and lack bass.

All of this is KS thru a Lynx aes16 card into a Berkeley Alpha dac. I've also recently installed the two inline Sotm filters (HD and fan power) and think they help with noise floor? Blacks seem somehow quieter.

Next experiment is to play with usb and both the Sotm and Alpha usb converters --> alpha Dac. But I honestly doubt the sound will improve much from here.

Kudos Peter!

/Lee

Yeah we did. Now I have XXhighend playing at 1ms and am really impressed. sfs =430, ks scheme 3 Q1 30, 0,0,0,0.

Thanks Pete.
/Lee

Peter,

How can I re-activate my copy of XXhighend? It is running in demo mode now, since installing 9z6.1.

Lynx card has always played 96k tracks with no problem. It is configured for single wire aes only.

/Lee