Z0.9-6

[GerardA]

Thanks, Bigear, Peter but especially Boleary!
Those settings make a big difference!
(Core appointment 3, straight cont. and time 2.5 ms)
Now I understand why everybody is so positive!

[CoenP]

I also noticed that it takes a little searching to find the sweet spot and I also took acoustical instuments as a reference.

Dispite having no NOS1, I much prefer the sound of Arc Prediction (4X on 44.1 material) over the DSP filtering on 09-z52 and 09-z6. This is not a subtle difference; with AP the instruments regain their natural timbre, wholeness and dynamics. Ordinary soundcard filtering is a joke, typical digital leanness with associated HF 'detail'. Reverting back is no option, not even with XX in control.

Key for exellent sound on my system is to NOT enable the Peak Extend feature when using AP. Even when level matched it is clear that the peak extend introduces a rougher, dryer and less relaxing sound.

I've not yet turned all the relevant wheels on XX so maybe there is even more to be yielded form 09v6.

Allready a happy user of v6,

regards, Coen

[CoenP]

Ooops,

I just noticed the peak extend thread  ...

[PeterSt]

Haha.

No worries Coen. The Peak Extend thing is not measureable by normal audio in-band frequencies - which doesn't tell it isn't audible. Only extremes show it, and although that not being about audio (as no test signal is really), I really prefer listening to something which looks right all over. The transients involved, however, sure do occur in audio. But since this is about 1 sample long (ok, short) transients (going from 0V to 2V (with)in 1/44000 of a second, this shouldn't be much audible. But still ...
... When we at last can measure something which doesn't look the best, we better comply to the better.

My view of course,
Peter

[boleary]

Thanks guys. I wish I could say I knew what I was doing to get those settings but I'm afraid its just luck and lots of listening/trial and error. What's great about this whole XX experience though is the shared experience/knowledge of the members. Its really quite amazing when you think about all the voices that have contributed to Peter's incredible (or should I say incredible Peter's...) project.

[juanpmar]

This morning I´ve tried the boleary settings and I´m amazed, just a little difference with his settings, my Q1 must be 7 to maintain 96 instead of his Q1,6. The sound is fantastic with an improvement over my settings in soundstage, smoothness and bass precision. I´ll keep listening but if continues to sound as good as now I´ll change my signature. Thanks boleary!!

[Bigear]

Thanks Peter and Boleary, the setting are very helpfull for a XXhighend newcomer like me. I tried them last night and they sounded very good indeed.  A couple of observations:

I noticed that the whole spacial image appeared to be more forward then with my previous settings. Any idea what button would influence that?

Very detailed and life like voices, but maybe a little bit dry sounding. I have the impression that the memory mode choosen (mixed, mixed continues, Straight) is a.o. influencing that?

Really impressive dynamics and bass


Any inputs?

- Quint

[boleary]

Hey Quint, play with the Split File Size (SFS) setting. Reducing it will give a sharper less rounded sound, increasing the opposite. However, if you are using Z6 this may not work. What version of Windows are you using?

[Bigear]

Hi Boleary, thanks for the info. I will try that button...
I'm using W7 home edition now

[boleary]

That's 32 bit and not 64?

[Bigear]

it's a 64 bit edition. Has that any impact on the sound?

[boleary]

Well, i guess theoretically it should have an impact because you should be able to run higher SFS settings with the 64 bit version, if you have more than 3 gigs of memory. However, some "64 bit" folks are having problems with the SFS settings in the SC (Straight Contiguious ) mode. See: http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1804.msg18343#msg18343

[PeterSt]

I don't see how this is related to the 64 bit OS ...

Statistics tell me something like 90% (if not much more) uses 64 bit, and 2 people have problems with the Privileges thing. 2 out of I don't know how many. They are bound to fall in the 64 bit category.

[boleary]

I don't see how this is related to the 64 bit OS ...

Hi Peter, I guess what I was thinking in response to Bigear's question about whether a 64 bit OS impacts the sound, was that with a 64 bit OS one can generally use higher SFS's (more memory) and that highers SFS's are "generally" better sounding. Even with Z6 I am experiencing changes in SQ with changes in SFS after minimizing the OS.

Maybe I've been prefacing my listening sessions with too much herbal inhalation...... Though Z6  locks engine 3 into memory, am I the only one experiencing changes in SQ when changing SFS? (and not clearing Engine 3 from memory prior to changing the SFS) Hope this makes sense 

let me just say one more time that Z6 is the VERY BEST iteration of XX. The balance is just unbelievable, no more "forward" females! But that's probably not a good thing in the non-audio world 

[PeterSt]

Sure. But I was referring to this :

However, some "64 bit" folks are having problems with the SFS settings in the SC

and not to the SQ because of SFS or possibly something else.