2.09 sound quality

[PeterSt]

In some post I read that it has to do, as you mention, with the grounding of the USB cable and the dac.

Hi Juan,

I don't think that I said - or am saying that (but with the notice that your sentence is hard to interpret by me, which by coincidence counts for the whole of your post (somehow)).

All I can say for real is "No, I never said that" and thus I can't bring value into your suggestions.

I observe a variation of the dcoffset from the reference value, 0.77 / 0.55 to 0.98 / 0.79, maybe more. When I unplug the dac, the reference value only lasts a few minutes and then gradually increases until reaching the aforementioned values ​​where it remains stable with small oscillations.

That this change is occurring is known (also see your email (for everybody) about the New DC Offset), but that this is under the influence of "ground loop" or what it is, is/was not known to me. As you will recognize from the email, I say "when cold" and "when warmer is may vary 1mV).

What's interesting with this, is that this can well be "caused" by the galvanic isolation in the USB chain. "Caused" between quotes and merely a "happens since".

Regards,
Peter

[juanpmar]

Hi Peter, I thought I had read something about it but I'm sure I've mistakenly mixed some concepts like galvanic isolation of the USB cable and removing the ground from the NOS1.

I changed the SFS again to 0.90 and the driver to 8ms and yes, it disappears what seemed to me a slight intrusion of the bass in the mids area. I have to keep listening but for now the sound is beautiful.

Regards,
Juan

[PeterSt]

Hi Juan,

I thought I had read something about it but I'm sure I've mistakenly mixed some concepts like galvanic isolation of the USB cable and removing the ground from the NOS1.

Maybe not, but it is a bit different (from my understanding of what you thought) :

With the black wire: connected (Sw#3 down) the Galvanic Isolation in the i2s section is violated "halfly". Notice that I now mention "i2s" because that's where it is and always has been, while today we also have "USB Interface" galvanic isolation by means of the Phisolator. And I don't think I ever even thought of any "black wire" impact regarding this. It should be Up for the best isolation anyway.
In the past the i2s isolation has sure been mentioned by me in relation with the black wire (but thus was just called "Galvanic Isolation").

Does this help a little ?

Best regards,
Peter

[juanpmar]

Thank you Peter. Yes, it helps.

Juan

[PeterSt]

Hi all,

It now slowly becomes clear that some other new dimension (?) is in order : the general dynamics of the track itself. To this you could respond "sure, of course", but don't be so fast ...

It seems to be about the same thing as all being way more separated (each instrument has its own space and does not interfere with the others at all), combined with a "more black" as how I perceive it myself. Try to envision this (and for a few Dutch, use Drukwerk - Je loog tegen mij (no Remasters please) as an example) :

First off, basses are so extreme and in the middle of your face, that once again this can't be but still is so. This was not so at all. But mind you, this is agains the relative silence of the remainder. This is what is occurring throughout. But what's far more startling is this :

The music plays along and at times the drummer seems to jump from his stool and with his whole body as weight behind the sticks, he smashes his drums. He does this at the breaks most of the time (a break is one measure where e.g. all the toms are passed from high to low ending on the floor tom - and this instead of the normal rythm).
The fact that this is (way) louder is sooo true (realistic). But you only realize that this is suddenly there when you (suddenly) hear it.
I have played this album numerous times, and suddenly it is working out like this.

It is nothing about highs which stand out and emphasize (I say it again "what highs ?" so the effect must be real. It includes the pressure of the drums, just as that it shows the force on plucked bass guitar strings.
So the dynamic range of an instrument has increased, and not by little.

Regards,
Peter

[music33]

Dumb question - how do I turn off OSD Text, when I click on it nothing happens, the color of the on/off switch remains black.
thanks, dave

[PeterSt]

Dave, Possibly you have activated "Don't do anything with Coverart" (in de Coverart section) ? If that is the case, your screen will be black with nothing shown on it, during Unattended Playback.

Peter

[music33]

yes, i have 'don't do anything with coverart' activated, does that mean OSD Text is off? thanks, dave

[acg]

So the dynamic range of an instrument has increased, and not by little.

Yep, completely agree and I did not think this was ever likely to be achieved by changing one or two buttons in software.  For me the change is extraordinary...like wow kind of extraordinary...like changing speakers.

[PeterSt]

yes, i have 'don't do anything with coverart' activated, does that mean OSD Text is off? thanks, dave

Dave, it should be, yes.

[Rmalits]

Hi there,

during the last days I listened a lot with release 2.09 using Q parameters like:
Q1 x xQ1 = 30x40.
Q3,4,5, = 1,1,1.
SFS = 20.
ClockRes = 15ms.
Appointment Scheme = 3-5.
OSD Text = Off.
Custom Filter = second highest or highest for 705600

Challenged by a pretty good new DAC, I borroughed from a friend, which is doing internally PCM to DSD conversion, I was trying different Q parameters.

The result:
SFS = 12    sounds magic in my setup!

There is an amazingly big difference to SFS = 20, where the highs were not so clear, as already stated in another post above.
I also tried very small SFS, like 0.9, but for me SQ becomes too thin then and there is kind of a bit of hashness with such small SFS values. The benefit of good highs is already there with SFS=12.

What's also good now:  There isn't any glich to hear any more after a few seconds now.

Kind regards
Richard

[PeterSt]

The result:
SFS = 12    sounds magic in my setup!

Hey Richard - this is very much welcomed.
Yesterday I had the plan to try something else today for the low SFS which I had at 0.7 the past days and which I switched back to 0.9 yesterday already. But still a sense of what you are talking about : a bit too thin.
So in is your SFS = 12 and tonight we'll see what it brings.

Thank you !
Peter

[Rmalits]

Hi Peter,

SFS = 10 is also worth a try. Already pretty more "analythical" SQ than with SFS = 12. So, between 14 and 10 SQ changes pretty much.
Below 10 I didn't find values with such good sound for my ears.
I am looking foreward to your experiences...

Kind regards
Richard

[PeterSt]

Richard,

The SFS=12 did not last very long for me. I took it back to 8 and there it remained. Pretty good balance between all, still being dynamic and sounding sufficiently full at the same time. I will try 10 thouh.

Great stuff - thanks !
Peter

[Stanray]

Last night I tried SFS settings between 0 and 20.

<6: the sound is detailed, but also a bit "detached".

>14: it becomes too "mushy".

So I settled for SFS=10 and that seems balanced (in my system, for now and with the music I played).

Stanley