Mani's NOS1 G3

[manisandher]

Hi Arvind,

Well, I've just compared the Phisolator to the Intona in my office system, and I totally agree that the Phisolator sounds better. I will try it again in my main system later this evening.

Mani.

[manisandher]

I've just tried a few different USB connection combinations. [For Peter: the whole system is running off the same AC mains circuit - actually, running off the PS Audio P10 AC regenerator set to 230V (changing the AC voltage changes the sound more than most people could ever imagine!).] I won't go through everything, but will share my main findings.

The Phisolator seems to clean the sound up. There are no annoying edges to the sound anywhere. The bottom end is full and dynamic. And there is a certain level of detail present. But as I've said from the beginning, the Phisolator seems to have an overly 'smoothing'/'rounding' effect on the sound. This might be welcome in many other systems, but not in my SET/horn system - it simply sounds too polite for my liking. I've mentioned it before, but it keeps coming back to me - it sounds like DSD to my ears.

My 3.5m Clarixa cable is simply phenomenal. No other USB cable I have here (including my ultra-expensive 3.5m Tellurium Black Diamond) comes close to the realism of this Clarixa. And in a strange way, I think this 'long' Clarixa sounds better than the shorter Clarixa cables I have. God only knows why...

OK, here's the upshot of my playing around this evening: The best sound I'm getting is with the Clarixa plugged directly into the NOS1's USB port C (i.e. with no Phisolator or Intona in the path). It's almost as though with the 3.5m Clarixa, I don't need any additional USB 'processing'.

On a final note, I will say that the Phisolator, and the short USB cable that comes with it, sounds very, very good indeed, and I can understand why it would be the best sound for most people.

Mani.

[Robert]

overly 'smoothing'/'rounding' effect on the sound

This is the effect I get with Filter engaged. Going back to AP I get more treble detail(especially cymbals) and bass, all round better sound. Moving from 120 SFS to 4 SFS is better and easier to hear. This is without the NOS.

Longer digital cables(over 1 metre) have often been quoted as sounding better going back 30 years.

I think Intona(and other devices) are very system dependant but I think it also has a similar effect as quoted above. Unfortunately it improves some aspects of the sound so I have it in my system. It comes down to your own audio morals whether you can live with it or without.

Robert

[PeterSt]

Thank you for your contribution, Robert.

Regards,
Peter

[manisandher]

Just a quick update...

Since swapping to the BD30-SPR mono amps, the Phisolator now 'works' in my system. It's 'ultra-natural and smooth' sound complements the hyper-resolution of the BD amps very nicely.

I still prefer AP over Custom, but feel that the Q settings need to be adjusted to prevent the sound veering to much on the 'metallic' vs. 'wooden' side. My current settings are those which Peter came up with a while ago: Q1=14, xQ1=10, Q3,4,5=1.

Yep, I could live with this sound indefinitely.

Mani.

[Scroobius]

Mani,

Have you got a Lush? I have kind of followed recent posts but not sure if you actually have one or not. If not, then get one NOW NOW NOW and then all rules will be changed and anything you think you know - well you really don't - forget them and start again. 

I don't think the posts on Lush quite do it justice but see below because things are a bit different here because..............

............................. a fundamental problem (I think you know what) was fixed in my system by Peter during his visit but since then and with the Lush all rules are re-written. In other words anything you may think you have heard here before needs to be forgotten.

Ha ha I guess that's an invite.

Oh and by the way when you install the Lush you will need to COMPLETELY change your settings. I love getting back to ultra small latency settings - always did love em and now I am back to them - well WOW.  But actually can you say WOW with just a natural sounding system - how can you WOW someone with a system that just sounds well RIGHT.

Cheers

Paul

[PeterSt]

Maybe for Mani himself (but also for you Paul) : No, Mani hasn't got one because we really didn't have any spare second to make one. This counts for all currently pending orders (and was promised, so to speak).

Thank you Paul,
Peter

[manisandher]

... get one NOW NOW NOW and then all rules will be changed and anything you think you know - well you really don't - forget them and start again.

From how people have described the sound of the Lush, I'm confident it'd transform the sound of my system 100% for the better. Although I very much look forward to receiving mine at some point, my system remains very enjoyable to listen to right now, albeit a bit tighter and more clinical than I'd like.

Oh and by the way when you install the Lush you will need to COMPLETELY change your settings. I love getting back to ultra small latency settings - always did love em and now I am back to them - well WOW.  But actually can you say WOW with just a natural sounding system - how can you WOW someone with a system that just sounds well RIGHT.

It's interesting, as soon as my valve amps were in chain, I started pursuing a similar route - trying to eke out more and more detail, because it seemed to improve the sound. But I suspect the valve amps were smearing the sound (just asking too much for them to drive full-range 3-way passive speakers with no LF assistance), and I very much doubt that's what the Lush is doing.

Ha ha I guess that's an invite.

I don't have any work travel for the next 6 weeks or so, so let's liaise...

No, Mani hasn't got one because we really didn't have any spare second to make one.

No problem from my end. It'll be a very nice surprise once it shows up!

Mani.

[manisandher]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I'll put it in this thread for now...

My Lush arrived today, but I've only now had the opportunity to put it in. And what can I say? It is simply phenomenal! Everything that everyone has said to date, though Peter's initial description nailed it completely. It's all about 'musicality' and pretty much nothing else. More of my own thoughts (perhaps in the Lush thread) when I've had more mileage with it.

The best Phasure product/upgrade to date? Not sure... But certainly the best value for money, of that there is simply no doubt in my mind. And I suspect the Lush will transform any system, irrespective of software/hardware used.

My prolonged and immense frustration with USB audio has been vanquished in one fell swoop. Can't thank you enough Peter...

Mani.