Champagne wishes and caviar dreams, digital playback division on a budget

[JonMarsh]

This is also an experiment in a different way to put together a long complex formatted post with the content creation working offline, and imported as images.









































Key Topics Discussed:

High Value proposition digital music playback system
Sign magnitude R2R Ladder DAC for Audio
Soekris DAC1101 USB digital playback
Soekris DAC1541 Desktop DAC with headphone amplifier and line outputs
Soekris DAC2541 Desktop DAC with headphone amplifier and line outputs
Mac Mini with form factor dock using NVME SSD
Cambridge Audio ACX35 CD Player with SPDIF Digital output
Audirvana Origin software for local music library playback
Audirvana Studio software with local and streaming services music playback
Audirvana software for optimized hardware playback on PC or Mac.
Audirvana smartphone remote control program


What's your choice for an "performs out of it's class" digital system with minimal budget and maximum aural rewards?

[technodanvan]

Format looks nice Jon, very easy to read on mobile and computer browser. I wonder how many people will be purchasing the MSR7 in the next few days...

[JonMarsh]

Thanks for the feedback- the readability is an important factor, besides it is much faster to prepare in Pages than to try to do that level of formatting in the forum tool- as I can have saved styles and apply them quickly. Also, I have a simple process for printing to PDF, then separating the PDFs and exporting to the graphic format that is smallest considering what is on the page (PNG for text or page with few colors; JPEG for more complicated pages. This would have been a bear to try to create directly in the forum software, but I think it is more readable and enjoyable.

[theSven]

The problem I see with this is that the text is not going to be searchable. Yes it does present well, but none of it is searchable by the forum or by search indexes. I have to think on this one and what options there would be here. Great content though JonMarsh!

[JonMarsh]

Good point, SVen- have to see about adding a search term index to the end of the article, as a work around. I’ll do that for this post tomorrow morning.

[JonMarsh]

Format looks nice Jon, very easy to read on mobile and computer browser. I wonder how many people will be purchasing the MSR7 in the next few days...

Funny you should mention that, too!

if you haven’t heard Marcin’s “Kashmir” and “Sweet Dreams” on this setup with the AT-MSR7 headphones, you have no idea how good MP3 can sound… but that’s the performance and mix and mastering, largely.

But the playback system makes a difference too.

That was my initial audio check on this configuration, after installing Audirvana and hooking up the Mac Mini to the DAC1541. It even took me back a bit… I think the AT-MSR7 ‘phones are very possibly under appreciated. But I appreciate them.

[theSven]

I don't see the Singxer SU-1 USB available anymore, would the Singxer SU-2 DSD1024 USB Digital Interface Femtosecond Clock Interface be the next generation?






The Mutec MC-3 USB is what you also suggest or the non USB version?



As I start on this DAC 2.0 journey I need to get familiar with these options and what the art of possible is 😁

[JonMarsh]

Yes, the Singxer model you linked to is the current one. Regarding the MC3+ USB, I'm sending you a PM.

[JonMarsh]

Anyone seriously interested in "Budget Re-clocking" would do well to check out this thread- in fact, for being 10 years old, it is remarkably topical and in a sense "next gen", and fits well to the concept above, as the devices discussed are far more economical than many off the classic and newer studio devices.

https://www.htguide.com/forum/primetime-a-v/digital-audio/40274-in-quest-of-budget-reclocking

The most powerful offering from Mutec in overall functionality is the MC-3Plus with 1G clock system.

https://www.markertek.com/product/mut-mc-3plususba/mutec-mc-3plus-usb-smart-clock-aluminum-front-panel

While not inexpensive, compared to even simple offerings like the Berkley Audio Alpha USB, it is substantially less expensive and offers very high grade internal clocks as well as the ability to work with external sources such as Rubidium 10M master references (which Mutec and many others also make). These are not inexpensive either, but surprisingly (to me) the Stanford Research SRS PRS10 is still relatively reasonable compared with other offerings.

https://www.thinksrs.com/products/PRS10.htm




In my own systems I have used Mutec products and also a Brainstorm DCD8 with an external LFPRS Rubidium reference.

[Evil Twin]

Perhaps you are referring to a configuration resembling this one...

[theSven]

Perhaps you are referring to a configuration resembling this one...

That's how I envisioned it from reading the older thread and this one with the re-clocking. I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts to share on using the Rubidium clock or the difference was not worth the cost?

[JonMarsh]

The notable thing PewterTA wrote about was how good it was without even going to the Rubidium oscillator...

The notable thing relevant to this thread is that last weekend the

Brainstorm DCD8 was up and running with one LPFRS setup, the second LPFRS setup is nearly ready, (SMPS on the way), and the Mutec MC-3 has been checked out initially in the system for functionality, but no listening tests (no time!) An encouraging trend I see, regarding the more reasonably priced Mutec MC-3 Plus, is how many write-ups I'm seeing on other forums for guys getting good results with it for re-clocking both with and without using a 10MHz reference oscillator with it- seems like the built in clock technology is rather good, too. The instructions and setup info with it are actually easier to decipher than for the more expensive DCD8- both have quite a bit of flexibility, and like that movie, with great power comes great responsibility.

Given the focus in this topic is how far one can improve with as minimal an investment as possible, this is well worth keeping in mind- the 1G clocking used in the Mutec is at a fairly high level. Yes, it can be improved. But the total system and room configuration should be considered, and money spent where it will achieve the most bang for the buck!

As an extreme example, imagine putting a Berkeley Audio System Reference 3 DAC in Darko's room without the room Vicoustic room treatments... and consider that a pro Audio rubidium reference may cost $5K (Mutec Master REF10) and up- (Antelope Audio 10MX- $7K). This is why eBay is popular for DIY solutions for used industrial parts.

[JonMarsh]

To update a bit more about current intentions and plans, the Audirvana setup with DAC1541 is going to be loaded onto my new favorite conveyance, a Trinity Bamboo Top Kitchen cart. One of these carts is currently in use for my iMac + Pocket Clio test setup, and I have another that will be assembled soon for the movable test system core for doing basic listening evaluations of speakers prior to finishing setup of the "main" systems.

https://www.costco.com/trinity-ecostorage®-bamboo-top-kitchen-cart.product.100379253.html





I'm planning to use the M1 Mac mini Audirvana setup already running, feeding a Berkely Alpha USB, connected to the DAC1541. The output of that will get hooked up to my Denafrips Hyperion, provided I can find it! Tracking stuff in storage has not always been my strong point!!









If I can't find it readily, my fall back will be seeing if I can shoe horn one of the Cambridge Edge W's into the bottom shelf of the cart.



I plan to use this setup for listening checks for the final stages of the Isiris fine tuning, and for the development of the Saint-Saëns Planar/SMJ-40 plus the Natalie P Ultra.

[theSven]

You could consider investing in air tags and putting them with all the high profile devices...