Peter, do you still recommend that people apply all the changes in this thread, even if they're using the 'Minimise OS' function in XX? Or is it now the case that these tweaks simply aren't required?

I think this would be useful to know for anyone who is building a new PC, or indeed reloading Windows ready for XX.

Mani.

Slightly off-topic...

I'm considering totally rearranging my 'network' of computers. The main idea will be to have a 'monster' PC (something akin to Juan's setup, but maybe even more powerful) sitting in my basement feeding my two NOS1s. This raises a couple of questions, the first of which is relevant to this thread, the second not:

1) How long can the USB cable between the PC and NOS1 be? Ideally, I will need up to 10m to work OK.

2) Can the same PC feed two NOS1s? (Peter???)

Cheers, Mani.

Hey Juan, interesting you should come up with this right now. This afternoon I had my 'noise sniffer' out to test a few things. And something occurred to me. My issue with noise is not that noise emanating from the computer and is possibly affecting the sound of the DAC - Peter assures us the NOS1 'takes care' of any noise coming down the USB line. No, my issue is that the computer's SMPS corrupts the same AC mains that feeds the other hifi components. This I can easily see with my noise sniffer. So this afternoon, I got out an old isolation transformer that I had sitting in my basement and connected it to my 'clean' mains. I used this to power one of my 'powerful' PCs with a SMPS. And you know what, this totally stops any noise from the SMPS entering the 'clean' mains (according to the noise sniffer anyway).

I'm happy! I can now use a 'proper' PC to run XX, without worrying about noisey mains, or potential ground loops by running the PC off another circuit.

It looks like the product you mention might work in a similar fashion. But looking at its cost, it's cheaper than most 500VA isolation transformers. Whether it's as effective, I'm not sure. One thing that I'm pretty certain of is that my 'noise sniffer' is pretty sensitive - it's specified to detect noise from 100Hz to 2MHz, and can detect a single dimmer switch 3 floors up in the house. The isolation transformer seems to stop the noise dead.

Mani.

Hi Clay, welcome to the Phasure boards! I never thought I'd see the day... pigs will fly... and you'll be wanting a NOS1 soon!

I have no experience with Bootcamp whatsoever - so sorry, can't help you there. But runnning XX on a number of different PCs? Sure.

I agree 100% with Peter. XX just works more effectively on faster PCs. If you can live with a powerful PC (with the necessary SMPS and fans, etc) then this is the way to go. I myself just can't. Call it psychological or whatever (I don't have the means to really measure this stuff, apart from 'mechanical' noise of course) but I don't want any SMPSs in the same circuit as my hifi, or indeed any fan/HDD noise in the PC. So, I've gone down the CAPS route, as you know. Does it work with XX? Yep, absolutely. And with an XX feature called 'Minimise OS', it really works better than an Atom has a right to.

BUT... if there were a way to totally electrically isolate the PC from the NOS1, there is no doubt whatsoever that I would just put together a big bad PC and stick it in my basement, running off the house AC circuit. Ideally, I'd then want some sort of optical connection to the NOS1.

Oh and although I'm over the moon with my Linux-based Network Audio Adapter, my two NOS1s aren't going anywhere - aong with XX, they're still the best way I know how of playing back 16/44.1.

On a final note, I've tried Remote Desktop. It works fine. But it means you can't use the 'Minimise OS' function in XX as this disables all LAN/WLAN. Apparently, this matters for SQ. (I wonder what affect the LAN connection then has on my NAA... Hmmm.)

Mani

Do you mean the padded cell where Peter does all his XX/NOS1 development?

Who's the more crazy? The 'mad professor', or those who give up an easy audiophile life to follow him?

Mani

Sorry Claude, I can't help you directly. However, I might be able to do something that might be helpful indirectly.

I've just bought a new work laptop to replace my old Dell. It's not a Macbook Air, but a PC equivalent, the Asus UX21E - very thin, i5 CPU, SSD, etc, etc. I'm happy to try the NOS1 with the Asus and see how the SQ compares to the three 'full' PCs on which I have XXHighEnd loaded. (I may need to get a temporary activation code from Peter though - should be OK as he owes me a favour or two ). Probably won't be able to try this until the weekend though...

Mani.

Hi Juan, sorry it's taken me a while to get around to replying, but I've been a bit busy over the Christmas period...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts (as always) and I'm glad you've found a ripping solution that works for you. As I've said before, if Accuraterip says it's accurate... then it is! And if you can do this with a cheap drive, then all the better.

So I suppose the only issue that remains is how different locations on the storage drive could possible affect SQ... especially as XX is a memory player! This is all too weird!

Mani.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Mani.

Just a very quick post for now. My noise issues are solved. It was a simple matter of changing a wire from one pin to another on the XLR input.

Thanks to everyone who chipped in... but of course Bert who figured it out, and was actually on the phone to me just before I proceeded with the wire swap around.

The amps are totally silent and sound just wonderful. And the bass... what bass... I'll post more thoughts on sound quality later...

Mani.

Thanks for the thoughts Peter. Bert's given me an idea that I'm going to try later this evening. Will report back later...

Mani.

I don't think it has anything to do with screening noise out - I think Peter is correct.

But I've checked the cables with my meter and can't find an issue with them - there are no shorts between pins 2 and 3 on either cable. However, as I suspected, the alloy jacket is indeed connected to pin 1. So in effect, the outer body of the XLR plugs at both ends are connected to ground. Somehow, this is causing a short between pins 2 an 3. So there's either an issue in the amps or in the NOS1.

Mani.

Haha...

Well, I've been playing around with various things, trying to eliminate a tiny bit of noise that's coming through the speakers that wasn't there with the Magtech amp. Bert's been helping me via email. Anyway, I've just stumbled upon an old pair of XLR interconnects that I had hanging around in my basement (not used for I guess 8 years or so). They have an additional alloy jacket, that I think is connected to ground at one end. And you know what? The noise has completely gone.

But what's even more remarkable is that my DC offsets have gone from 5mV and 1mV to exactly 0mV and 0mV!!! And they remain there whether music is playing or not. Oh, and I've re-tried all the other XLR cables I have here - the speaker noise returns and the so do the nominal DC offsets.



Any explanations most welcome.

Mani.

PS. Amps sounding more and more wonderful every minute!

WOW! What a car.

So if I get this right, for around £20K, you can have car that pretty much trounces anything out there? Compelling proposition.

However, an acquaintance of mine has an Ariel Atom (with some massive non-standard engine) and does loads of track days. He reckons you can actually have more fun in a slower car than a fast one on a track day... something about faster cars/drivers having to slow down in corners because a slower car they want to overtake has the right to the racing line...

Mani.

Hey Bert, thanks soooo much for putting these together for me. Already, they sound, really, really great. I strongly suspect that getting these amps will be on par with getting a NOS1... in terms of the best hifi choices I've ever made.

Thanks again.

Mani.

You want oil stains? I'll bring my wife's Golf diesel next time! Assuming I get another invitation that is...

Anyway, the BD-Design gainclone 'super amps' are here!!!

I've just set them up, run Densen De Magic and listened to a couple of tracks. It's actually quite difficult for me to compare these mono block amps directly to the stereo Sanders Magtech amp because I had to change all the interconnects and speaker cables also. I'm now using some anti-cable interconnects and very cheap 'n' cheerful single-strand enamelled copper speaker cable (the same sort of stuff used in the interconnects, but not twisted).

I'll hold off making any detailed comments until I've had a good listen. But I'll just say that until today, the Magtech was easily the best amp I'd ever heard with the Quads. And the BD-Design amps are in the same league at the very least.

Mani.