Oh, I didn't buy the ASRock because I think it'll necessarily sound better than my current Asus. If it does, that's great of course. No, it's because I have a spare Zalmann TNN-300 case sitting around that I'd (maybe) like to employ as my main music PC. And it only takes micro-ATX mobos and not ATX mobos such as the Asus.

Mani.

Thanks for the info Nick.

I have the z77 version of this mobo in my office PC, and like the sound that I'm getting there. So I've gone ahead and ordered the x79 version to replace the Asus P9X97WS currently in my main music PC.

Will report back thoughts on changes in SQ between the two x79 mobos once I've had a chance to install it (hopefully next week sometime).

Mani.

Hmmm... not exactly a glowing report: http://www.stereophile.com/content/cas-2013-day-one-scaling-heights

I suppose this is the risk one takes when exhibiting in a show environment. It'd be interesting to hear back from others who attended as to whether they agree with Jason Victor Serinus's description of the sound. (Jason seems to blame the speakers.)

In any event, Peter looks pretty happy with himself

Mani.

Any reports from people who managed to visit the show in person?

I'm especially interested in the discussions Phasure helped to organise...

Mani.

Hey Paul/Nick, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

I'm planning on taking a trip down to Paul's next week (exact day still TBD) as I'm really interested in hearing the IPLs for myself. I've visited Paul's place on a couple of occasions already, the last I suppose around a year or so ago, and have been massively impressed - totally different sounds on both occasions, but both absolutely listenable. So my expectations are nigh-on stratospheric this time. I'll share my impressions as honestly as I can once I've visited.

More next week...

Mani.

For me it's a case of being content with PCM already. So I'm not that interested in DSD... for the time being.

But I can see some (potentially vast) value in pursuing DSD. And it all lies at the ADC stage, not so much the DAC stage. It's my contention that the only way to do PCM properly is to use 'pure multi-bit' ADCs, with no oversampling filters or delta-sigma modulators (and then use 'pure multi-bit DACs, such as the NOS1, for replay). And this is simply no longer possible with today's PCM ADCs (even the top-end Lavry uses an oversampling filter). In fact the only currently available 'pure multi-bit' ADC that I'm aware of is the Altmann ADC, but it's only 16/44.1 (not good for mixing, level-matching, etc) and only has an RCA spdif output AFAIK. And why is this the case? IMO, simply because of cost issues. Pure multi-bit ADCs are expensive to get right. It's much easier to get good measurements (not sure they're the 'right' measurements though) from multi-bit (nowadays 5-6 bits) delta-sigma ADCs. Whether we like it or not, this is probably the future of high-end ADCs. And this being the case, it may be better focus efforts on optimizing these for best SQ.

Just a word of warning: I'm very much an 'armchair engineer' when it comes to the theory of how digital systems work. However, I currently own and have played around with three different types of ADC: a 'pure multi-bit' (the Pacific Microsonics Model Two @24/192 rates), a 'pure DSD' (the Korg MR1000) and a 'multi-bit DSD' (the Tascam DV1000HD). My thinking really stems from what I've learned playing around with these.


Juan, sorry I missed this. Had I seen it, I would have responded that the only way I currently know of to play SACD ISO files through XX and the NOS1 is to extract to DFF (I use the 'SACD Extractor 'program) and then to convert to PCM using something like 'Audiogate'. I've done this and quite frankly have generally been underwhelmed with the results. I don't know where things have gone 'wrong' but most of my CD rips sound better...

Mani.

Hey Peter, greetings from Rio! (Yeah I know, I travel too much...)

It's phenomenal that Phasure has managed to organise such great sessions for CAS2013. Wish I could be there, especially for the Sunday 10:30am session... (I'm actually working in the US towards the end of next week and am sorely tempted, but getting back home to the family takes precedence.)

I know people on CA have suggested that the sessions be video-taped and then put online. Could you get this organised? I think it'd be massively appreciated if you could.

Cheers, Mani.

Nah, I think Tablet -> Audio Engine PC is bluetooth. Audio Engine PC -> NOS1 is currently USB3, but I think this might become bluetooth in the future too.

Really exciting stuff...

Mani.

I suspect he's using something like VirtualBox to create a virtual PC for the audio engine. I only came across the concept of virtual PCs yesterday and I can't quite imagine the configuration he could be using, so could be totally off.

For those of us who have played around a lot with PC hardware, and the affect the various pieces of hardware have on sound (e.g. the type of playback drive, etc), it seems obvious that getting rid of everything in the audio engine PC (including even the OS drive) can only be a good thing.

Some of us, led primarily by Nick's thinking, have doggedly pursued the idea of minimizing (electrical) noise in the PC by doing things like having only one HDD in the PC, removing all fans from the PC (including PS), disabling all USB drives except the one necessary for the DAC, etc, etc. I can see how using a virtual PC for the audio engine would take this thinking to the ultimate level...

Mani.

Just read through this thread on CA:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/would-technical-explanation-why-software-players-could-sound-different-16991/

Click on page 6 and scroll down to Peter's posts and you'll find this:


(The bold is all mine.)

Wow! Looks like my computer audio dreams may soon be met...

A couple of questions Peter:

1. Can the Audio Engine PC be a low-powered PC, something like an Atom, that can be run off a 12V linear power supply?

2. Will the NOS1 require any updates? (I mean, will the NOS1 need a 'true' USB3 connection, as opposed to its current USB2?)

3. When is this due for release?????????????????????

Mani.

For those who don't know, this is the lake right next to Peter, Ciska and Paul's place. Apparently it didn't even exist before they decided they wanted a house with a lake-view... It's a bloody artificial lake that they had dug out for them when they had their (gorgeous) house built.

If anyone ever questions Peter's resolve to 'defeat' computer audio, he's like the bloody Terminator - just keeps going, and going, and going... EDIT: Until he get's his way.

Mani.

That's totally unbelievable Peter. Bobby seemed like someone who really lived life to the full. It's a shame that his life should end like this.

I'm not sure what the lesson is here - 'live life to the full and whatever happens happens', or 'be careful, life is like walking a tight rope - or indeed, if there even is a lesson here.

Life, hey?

Mani.

The GT-R should pick on something its own size.

Mani.

I've only had the NSX for a couple of years and have rarely driven it in the rain in this time (have been caught out by the British weather on a few occasions though).

But I had a Honda S2000 for 9 years as my main car, and boy that was 'fun' in the rain... even more so with the roof down ;-) FWIW, the S2000 is a seriously underrated car. They can be had for peanuts nowadays and can put a smile on your face like very little else out there, certainly for the price. Oh, and in 9 years of ownership I never even had to change a light bulb. Nothing, absolutely nothing went wrong with it. Phenomenal piece of kit.

But the NSX is special... I'm not kidding, pretty much whenever I have it parked up (going shopping or filling up at the petrol station), someone will come over to me and start talking about it. It's not the fastest car (wouldn't even think about trying to keep up with Nick) nor the best looking. But the engineering task that Honda undertook at the time of its development was just breathtaking. Throw out the rule book and start from scratch. I really admire this way of thinking... when it's done properly.

Mani.

Mine is a coupe and I don't fancy cutting the roof off. Of course if I had a beauty like the one in your garage, things would be different ;-)

Mani.