Get ready ? (0.9z-7)

[PeterSt]

Sometimes I can't stop myself ...
This is such an occasion.

Not to placebo you, but merely to challenge for the contrary later (I'm serious !), I sometimes feel the urge to anounce something which should be theoretically right, while I am not sure myself. This - and surely this time, because it seems too crazy.

Mind you please : I am using an NOS1 and my perspective could be subject to that. But I don't think so, and I don't hope so on behalf of those not owning an NOS1.
Here goes :

A few weeks back I applied a change in the software which is one about explicit sound improvement. Not only "a nice idea" but merely based upon a theory I had for quite a while.

Now, after listening to this for these couple of weeks, and at running into more albums I play regularly - but which still get their turn only once in the X months, I don't know what to say anymore.
Well, I noticed myself asking one question day before yesterday : Is it really so that *this* can still be improved ?

I don't know how to explain it.
Ok. One of the albums which sounds so superb since 0.9z-6 is Let it Bleed. It is a typicle album I play once in a while because it is great, but also because it appeared to be subjective to improvement just because it is "old". And, as NOS1 (especially -USB) owners know, the better it all gets, the more crazily good old recordings appear to be. A secret within itself, and nice to experience.

So, it was only maybe two months back I played Let it Bleed, and I could have dedicated it as the best sounding recording from back then (1969). Even with something like a stupid Stones. Mind you, I'm talking about the original issue, not any hires or the like.

Day before yesterday I ran into it again, and felt like listening to it because all improved so much again.
I didn't even recognize it anymore ...

... and I really thought to now dedicate it (on this forum) as the best sounding recording ever.
Okay, I did not, because I know that I need to listen to another few albums first, but it is just to give you the idea.

A maybe stupid thing is that during the first two weeks of this software novelty I just played to me unfamiliar music. Sounded great too, and all I noticed that more than common ended up in my "Nice Stuff" Gallery. This was a first indication.

Today it is hard for me to imagine that this is really caused by this software change and it merely feels like my NOS1 has jumped another leap of burn-in. Seems crazy for the 7 months I have it up and running now; it has to be that software ...


0.9z-7 is not ready yet and I hope it won't take too long anymore now. But, a little dangerous because I want too many things in which are not ready yet. It will be the largest upgrade ever anyway.
By the time, please let me know whether I got crazy, got obsessed by placeboes, or whether my ears finally opened and nothing changed at all.
Or that it is real ...

Peter

[listening]

We love your imagination 

[gsbrva]

I have noticed in my own listening that when a system starts to be very believable, smaller changes or improvements seem to have larger than expected results.

With the best analog setup I had, it seemed like even bad sounding records somehow sounded good.  I mean, you could hear all the distortion and mistakes in the studio and mastering, but none of these things were intermodulated and were just interesting, not usually sources of listening fatigue. 

I haven't had this experience yet with digital, but I want to.  You give me hope that digital can in fact get there.  Many thanks for all the hard work Peter and looking forward to the next release!

   

[Flecko]

I think this kind of perception change is totaly normal for an hi(gh)-fi addict (as we all are)
After I made some significant improvement of my PC-Playback I found again, xxhe is the best sounding player. But perception of things changed again too....also have a theory about that but I will tell more later...
I am very curious about yor findings!

[phantomax]

 
Sorry for my english
Maxi

[stefanobilliani]

Hello Peter and All ,

I have a question for the next version . since the last one is working so well now in my pc ;
Will I have before install to turn the system back to the original state from the minimized os ?
I guess the instructions will explain me all , but I am getting curious for the new changes 

[PeterSt]

Good question Stefano.

No, I wouldn't know why. But if so (like something needs to be officially installed) it will be in the Release Notes.

Regards,
Peter

[Scroobius]

Hi Peter,

Above you describe a big improvement in sound quality *possibly* down to 9z-7 or then tantalisingly maybe not. But then I remembered some time ago you described a problem with your ears (and doors and closed rooms etc) if I remember rightly that is - could it be that your ears suddenly "popped" and that now you can hear clearly again. No surely not!!! - certainly I hope not because I would always want to hear yet further improvements due to software.

Ha ha

Paul

[phantomax]

The thread of this, my experience is that before the last XX version there were some albums that theoretically had to sound good but in practice  sounded bright and harsh. Well, now are among the best sounding. It seems to me that there are some "special" recordings  that only sound good under certain conditions but in those conditions they sound really good.
 PS. I have not learned English suddenly. This is a google translation.

[PeterSt]

Haha. But :

Sorry for my english
Maxi

In an earlier post you said this. But is the actual text missing in there ?

Regards,
Peter

[PeterSt]

Hi Peter,

But then I remembered some time ago you described a problem with your ears (and doors and closed rooms etc) if I remember rightly that is - could it be that your ears suddenly "popped" and that now you can hear clearly again.

Of course that is what I have been thinking about. But as you know I'm not alone here, and the other(s) perceive is as clear ly.
Anyway, ears are okay again for a couple of weeks now - I hope that stays for a while.

[phantomax]

Ehh... well, the text is the icon itself. I wanted to say I was wondering what kind of improvement could be and what a great expectation I had. I obviously did not clearly express it.

[PeterSt]

Ha ha. Ok.

I can't express what is goling to change otherwise than "much more fresh sound". So, the highs coming more forward without that being wong.

Think a bit like the difference between Normal and Minimized OS for the "measure" (quantity) of the difference.
I myself am not sure how to describe the difference other than the somewhat technical "more fresh". But it also incurs for something like Let it Bleed not being recognizeble. So there is more.

Maybe it is not even good - but I think it is ...

Peter

[phantomax]

Mmmmm...I burn with impatience

Best regards
Maxi

[pedal]

I can't express what is goling to change otherwise than "much more fresh sound". So, the highs coming more forward without that being wrong.

This sounds very interesting.

Generally speaking, the "voicing" of the treble and the "character" of the treble is very critical in a system. Every seasoned Hi-Fi enthusiast knows this from swapping cables, adjusting toe-in of loudspeakers or modifying passive X-Overs. Differences as small as a fraction of a dB, is detectable in the treble range, a range where our hearing is most sensitive.

Anyway, I have made several improvements to my system lately. Apart from the NOS1 USB DAC (a big step up!), I have tried out a lot of cables, various loudspeaker positions, room acoustic treatments, active XO settings, etc, etc.

Now I am really, really, happy with my sound quality. BUT, my system is so low in colorations and distortion, that I welcome a slightly more "present" treble.

It is completely wrong to say that present version of XX is soft or dark sounding. It is not. I love it, being sooo natural and pure. Several guests have called it the "best treble they ever heard".

But personally I think there is still something missing compared with real life. I always thought it was the limitation of the media/recording*, but if Peter has a "trick" I am very curious to try it.

To put this in perspective: I tried some pure silver/Teflon IC with rather thin conductors. They did have a more lively treble, BUT at a cost. It took away the focus from the holly midrange. After some days I got tired from "listening to treble". -So the effect has to be subtle.

Perhaps 0.9z-7 will be another step closer to truth? I can't wait to try it out!

*I have heard a few horn systems, including Peter’s system, who does manage to project the treble in a slightly more lifelike way, than my ribbon tweeters. If  I can close this gap, I would be very happy.