pedal
Audio Enthusiast
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Posts: 402
XXHighEnd is THE best buy in Hi-Fi. Thank U Peter!
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« Reply #60 on: February 28, 2010, 02:12:20 pm » |
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I have been on Special Mode for a couple of hours. It's frustrating to find the noise-free spot*, but when it works: Oh, my, oh my - the sound quality takes Red Book into new territory where mankind hasn't set his fot (ear) before! It's like the final CD veil has been liftet. More bloom, more inner detail and more transient details. ------------ *The combination of Latency and Q1 seems to be interactive. The Q1 setting working with fex. 512 latency, doesnt necessarily work with 1024 latency. I have to scan the Q1 between -4 and 30, each time I change (reduce) the latency. Also a setting works fine for one song, but next song in the playlist is heavy distorted.... In fact, it's hard to find a combination which gives noise-free sound from a full album. Right now I have the following combination (latency 1024 + Q1=13) = Q1 parameter = 1022 The gain in SQ is well worth the work, though!!!  |
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Hardware: Stealth Mach III > Lush^2 > 24/768 Phasure NOS1a/G3 > active preamp > 3-way active XO > amps > ribbon/dynamic true line source speakers.
Settings all settings as recommended by Peter by October 2019.
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pedal
Audio Enthusiast
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Posts: 402
XXHighEnd is THE best buy in Hi-Fi. Thank U Peter!
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« Reply #61 on: February 28, 2010, 02:41:24 pm » |
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One more note regarding searching for Special Mode optimum settings: Re-reading the Download and release notes I realize all factors are mentioned by Peter. If you havn't found your noise-free Special Mode settings, I urge you to re-read "the manual" written by Peter. It seems also that both Processor Core Apointment and Priority schemes must/can be changes to get noisefree Special Mode. Hopefully Peter will make Special Mode more automatic in use. |
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Hardware: Stealth Mach III > Lush^2 > 24/768 Phasure NOS1a/G3 > active preamp > 3-way active XO > amps > ribbon/dynamic true line source speakers.
Settings all settings as recommended by Peter by October 2019.
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PeterSt
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« Reply #62 on: February 28, 2010, 03:12:25 pm » |
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Hopefully Peter will make Special Mode more automatic in use. What do you think I have just been doing, eh ?  It is not 100% equal to what you talk about, but the 90% will be sufficient for most.  Watch for the next version, and Adaptive Mode.  |
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For the Stealth III LPS PC :
W10-14393.0 - July 17, 2021 (2.11)
XXHighEnd Mach III Stealth LPS PC -> Xeon Scalable 14/28 core with Hyperthreading On (set to 14/28 cores in BIOS and set to 10/20 cores via Boot Menu) @~660MHz, 48GB, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit build 14393.0 from RAM, music on LAN / Engine#4 Adaptive Mode / Q1/-/3/4/5 = 14/-/0/0/*1*/ Q1Factor = *4* / Dev.Buffer = 4096 / ClockRes = *10ms* / Memory = Straight Contiguous / Include Garbage Collect / SFS = *10.13* (max 10.13) / not Invert / Phase Alignment Off / Playerprio = Low / ThreadPrio = Realtime / Scheme = Core 3-5 / Not Switch Processors during Playback = Off/ Playback Drive none (see OS from RAM) / UnAttended (Just Start) / Always Copy to XX Drive (see OS from RAM) / Stop Desktop, Remaining, WASAPI and W10 services / Use Remote Desktop / Keep LAN - Not Persist / WallPaper On / OSD Off (!) / Running Time Off / Minimize OS / XTweaks : Balanced Load = *62* / Nervous Rate = *1* / Cool when Idle = n.a / Provide Stable Power = 1 / Utilize Cores always = 1 / Time Performance Index = Optimal / Time Stability = Stable / Custom Filtering *Low* (16x) / Always Clear Proxy before Playback = On -> USB3 from MoBo -> Lush^3
A: W-Y-R-G, B: *W-G* USB 1m00 -> Phisolator 24/768 Phasure NOS1a/G3 75B (BNC Out) async USB DAC, Driver v1.0.4b (16ms) -> B'ASS Current Amplifier -> Blaxius*^2.5* A:B-G, B:B-G Interlink -> Orelo MKII Active Open Baffle Horn Speakers. ET^2 Ethernet from Mach III to Music Server PC (RDC Control).
Removed Switching Supplies from everywhere (also from the PC).
For a general PC :
W10-10586.0 - May 2016 (2.05+)
*XXHighEnd PC -> I7 3930k with Hyperthreading On (12 cores)* @~500MHz, 16GB, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit build 10586.0 from RAM, music on LAN / Engine#4 Adaptive Mode / Q1/-/3/4/5 = 14/-/1/1/1 / Q1Factor = 1 / Dev.Buffer = 4096 / ClockRes = 1ms / Memory = Straight Contiguous / Include Garbage Collect / SFS = 0.10 (max 60) / not Invert / Phase Alignment Off / Playerprio = Low / ThreadPrio = Realtime / Scheme = Core 3-5 / Not Switch Processors during Playback = Off/ Playback Drive none (see OS from RAM) / UnAttended (Just Start) / Always Copy to XX Drive (see OS from RAM) / All Services Off / Keep LAN - Not Persist / WallPaper On / OSD On / Running Time Off / Minimize OS / XTweaks : Balanced Load = *43* / Nervous Rate = 1 / Cool when Idle = 1 / Provide Stable Power = 1 / Utilize Cores always = 1 / Time Performance Index = *Optimal* / Time Stability = *Stable* / Custom Filter *Low* 705600 / -> USB3 *from MoBo* -> Clairixa USB 15cm -> Intona Isolator -> Clairixa USB 1m80 -> 24/768 Phasure NOS1a 75B (BNC Out) async USB DAC, Driver v1.0.4b (4ms) -> Blaxius BNC interlink *-> B'ASS Current Amplifier /w Level4 -> Blaxius Interlink* -> Orelo MKII Active Open Baffle Horn Speakers.
Removed Switching Supplies from everywhere.
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pedal
Audio Enthusiast
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Posts: 402
XXHighEnd is THE best buy in Hi-Fi. Thank U Peter!
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« Reply #63 on: February 28, 2010, 03:52:00 pm » |
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Several times in the past, we felt the present version to be the "best ever", and we asked Peter to go on with the user interface and get out of "Beta-mode". Then he went on and made the next version even better sounding. Again and again. I am glad you didn't respond to our crying in the past! LOL
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Hardware: Stealth Mach III > Lush^2 > 24/768 Phasure NOS1a/G3 > active preamp > 3-way active XO > amps > ribbon/dynamic true line source speakers.
Settings all settings as recommended by Peter by October 2019.
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earflappin
Audio Loudspeaker
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Posts: 120
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« Reply #64 on: February 28, 2010, 05:41:40 pm » |
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I also love the SQ improvements that special mode provides in my set-up where I'm using a synchronous AES interface to my DAC. But as I said in another post, IMHO the AES interface is the weak link in my system. Why? Because sound quality is compromised by: (1) PC latency, (2) clock jitter, (3) noise and (4) cable geometry.
Peter's special mode show that reducing latency improves SQ. I have proven that reclocking and electrically isolating the AES output from my Lynx card improves SQ. And I have also proven that different AES cables sound different and better.
IMHO, a DAC with a properly designed async interface should offer superior SQ assuming the rest of the DAC system has been designed optimally (i.e. power supplies, output stage, etc.) and alleviate the audiophile from having to screw around with these other variables.
BTW, the new Antelope Zodiac Plus DAC will ship on April 20th. Should be interesting.
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Mac Mini / Pure Music > Firewire > Metric Halo LIO-8 > Atma-Sphere M60 Mk3.1's > Geddes Abbey Speakers > Rythmik Servo Subs // ASI Liveline Cables, HRS MXR Isolation Rack, PurePower 2000, Elgar 6006B
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manisandher
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« Reply #65 on: February 28, 2010, 10:02:35 pm » |
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I've replaced my Weiss AFI1 firewire interface with an RME AES32 PCI card. I forgot just how much I love the RME gear - the hardware and the TotalMix/Digicheck software. I appreciate the simple things, like having a properly terminated BNC wordclock input, which is so important when you're slaving the interface to the DAC, like I am. Also, with Digicheck, I can verify that QAP adds extra HF information, smoothing the drop-off above 22KHz. (Interestingly, I'm measuring QAP at 23 bits, not 24!) Another benefit is that my Special Mode Q1 value using my humble Atom-based PC has come down - I can now play with QAP at around Q1=160. But I agree with pedal in that finding a 'stable' value is difficult. Just wait a bit. I'm improving the sound here.
If you could make Special Mode less hardware-intensive, I'd be a very happy chappie... Mani. |
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Main System:
Phasure Mach III (Win 14393.0 on RAM-OS / controlled by RDC, / connected directly to music server / XXHighEnd 2.11 / Minimize OS / Engine#4 Adaptive / DB=4096 / Q1=10 / xQ1=15 / Q3,4,5=1 / SFS=4.00 / XTweaks = 34, 10, 0, 0, 0 / Straight Contiguous / Clock Resolution = 15ms / Scheme 3-5 (low/realtime) / 8x Arc Prediction / switch #5 'up/off' / Unattended) mobo USB3 port -> Lush^3 -> Phasure NOS1a B75 G3 -> 8m Blaxius^2 -> First Watt F5 mono amps -> Tune Audio Anima horn speakers
Office System:
Phasure Stealth II -> Lush^2 -> RME ADI-2 Pro FS R -> Neurochrome 286 mono amps -> Tune Audio Marvel horn speakers
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PeterSt
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« Reply #66 on: February 28, 2010, 10:46:51 pm » |
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(Interestingly, I'm measuring QAP at 23 bits, not 24!) Hey Mani - What if Peak Extension is unticked ? does it make a difference ? (it's diificult to reason myself how things work out, which is because of the integration with the Normalized Volume, but if anything it shouldn't make a difference  ) Thank you, Peter |
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For the Stealth III LPS PC :
W10-14393.0 - July 17, 2021 (2.11)
XXHighEnd Mach III Stealth LPS PC -> Xeon Scalable 14/28 core with Hyperthreading On (set to 14/28 cores in BIOS and set to 10/20 cores via Boot Menu) @~660MHz, 48GB, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit build 14393.0 from RAM, music on LAN / Engine#4 Adaptive Mode / Q1/-/3/4/5 = 14/-/0/0/*1*/ Q1Factor = *4* / Dev.Buffer = 4096 / ClockRes = *10ms* / Memory = Straight Contiguous / Include Garbage Collect / SFS = *10.13* (max 10.13) / not Invert / Phase Alignment Off / Playerprio = Low / ThreadPrio = Realtime / Scheme = Core 3-5 / Not Switch Processors during Playback = Off/ Playback Drive none (see OS from RAM) / UnAttended (Just Start) / Always Copy to XX Drive (see OS from RAM) / Stop Desktop, Remaining, WASAPI and W10 services / Use Remote Desktop / Keep LAN - Not Persist / WallPaper On / OSD Off (!) / Running Time Off / Minimize OS / XTweaks : Balanced Load = *62* / Nervous Rate = *1* / Cool when Idle = n.a / Provide Stable Power = 1 / Utilize Cores always = 1 / Time Performance Index = Optimal / Time Stability = Stable / Custom Filtering *Low* (16x) / Always Clear Proxy before Playback = On -> USB3 from MoBo -> Lush^3
A: W-Y-R-G, B: *W-G* USB 1m00 -> Phisolator 24/768 Phasure NOS1a/G3 75B (BNC Out) async USB DAC, Driver v1.0.4b (16ms) -> B'ASS Current Amplifier -> Blaxius*^2.5* A:B-G, B:B-G Interlink -> Orelo MKII Active Open Baffle Horn Speakers. ET^2 Ethernet from Mach III to Music Server PC (RDC Control).
Removed Switching Supplies from everywhere (also from the PC).
For a general PC :
W10-10586.0 - May 2016 (2.05+)
*XXHighEnd PC -> I7 3930k with Hyperthreading On (12 cores)* @~500MHz, 16GB, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit build 10586.0 from RAM, music on LAN / Engine#4 Adaptive Mode / Q1/-/3/4/5 = 14/-/1/1/1 / Q1Factor = 1 / Dev.Buffer = 4096 / ClockRes = 1ms / Memory = Straight Contiguous / Include Garbage Collect / SFS = 0.10 (max 60) / not Invert / Phase Alignment Off / Playerprio = Low / ThreadPrio = Realtime / Scheme = Core 3-5 / Not Switch Processors during Playback = Off/ Playback Drive none (see OS from RAM) / UnAttended (Just Start) / Always Copy to XX Drive (see OS from RAM) / All Services Off / Keep LAN - Not Persist / WallPaper On / OSD On / Running Time Off / Minimize OS / XTweaks : Balanced Load = *43* / Nervous Rate = 1 / Cool when Idle = 1 / Provide Stable Power = 1 / Utilize Cores always = 1 / Time Performance Index = *Optimal* / Time Stability = *Stable* / Custom Filter *Low* 705600 / -> USB3 *from MoBo* -> Clairixa USB 15cm -> Intona Isolator -> Clairixa USB 1m80 -> 24/768 Phasure NOS1a 75B (BNC Out) async USB DAC, Driver v1.0.4b (4ms) -> Blaxius BNC interlink *-> B'ASS Current Amplifier /w Level4 -> Blaxius Interlink* -> Orelo MKII Active Open Baffle Horn Speakers.
Removed Switching Supplies from everywhere.
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Nick
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« Reply #67 on: February 28, 2010, 11:50:43 pm » |
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Hi all, Firstly a big word of thanks - Peter you have made yet another fantastic player upgrade  I wonder if anyone can help, I am trying to get my M-Audio Transit to run in Special Mode. I am just getting "slow motion" music for all of the Transit latency settings and XX Q1 settings I have tried so far. Has anyone managed to work out settings for the Transit or Empirical Off-Ramp that allow Special Mode to work ? Given how much better Engine 4 sounds I am really keen to get engine 4 special mode going as well. Nick. |
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Audio PC
C621 motherboard, Xeon 40 thread CPU.
w10 14393 RAM OS => XX V2.10 / adaptive mode / XX buffer 4096 / NOS USB driver v 1.02 buffer 16ms / Q1,2,3,4,5 = 10,-,1,1,1 / xQ1 =15 / unattended / SFS 0.69Mb / memory straight continuous / system clock 15.0ms / Threadprio RealTime / Playerprio Low / CPU scheme 3-5 / 16x Arc Prediction / Peak Extend off / Phase alignment off / Phase off / XTweaks : Balanced Load 35 / Nervous Rate 10 (or15) / Cool when Idle n/a / Provide Stable Power 0 / Utilize Cores always 1 / Time Performance Index = Optimal / Time Stability On => Lush USB cable => modified NOS1 USB DAC => no pre amp => Orelo active horn loudspeakers with modified bass channel DSPs.
Music server: X99, Xeon 28 thread PC.
System power two 3kva balanced tranformers with dedicated earth spur.
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manisandher
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« Reply #68 on: March 01, 2010, 02:47:16 pm » |
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Hey Mani - What if Peak Extension is unticked ? does it make a difference ? With Peak Extension ticked = 24 bits With Peak Extension NOT ticked = 23 bits Is this what you expected? Mani. PS. It's good to have Digicheck back! |
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Main System:
Phasure Mach III (Win 14393.0 on RAM-OS / controlled by RDC, / connected directly to music server / XXHighEnd 2.11 / Minimize OS / Engine#4 Adaptive / DB=4096 / Q1=10 / xQ1=15 / Q3,4,5=1 / SFS=4.00 / XTweaks = 34, 10, 0, 0, 0 / Straight Contiguous / Clock Resolution = 15ms / Scheme 3-5 (low/realtime) / 8x Arc Prediction / switch #5 'up/off' / Unattended) mobo USB3 port -> Lush^3 -> Phasure NOS1a B75 G3 -> 8m Blaxius^2 -> First Watt F5 mono amps -> Tune Audio Anima horn speakers
Office System:
Phasure Stealth II -> Lush^2 -> RME ADI-2 Pro FS R -> Neurochrome 286 mono amps -> Tune Audio Marvel horn speakers
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