XXHighEnd

I am surprised I am the first one who takes the honor of teasing a little. I just compared the new beta version of XX with the previeous version. I used the same settings like it is written in my subscription except that I used "no appointment scheme" in both versions because I do not have the activation code for the new one yet.

I try to stay on the floor and not to exaggerate. There is absolutely no bad developement in the sound. The new version realy sounds better in every way. What is the most obvious improvement is the room filling sound. The music floats into the room, sounding bigger with more details but in a natural and pleasent way. It sounds more right. The word describing it best is implicitness or (I got this from leo.org and think it is a nice description) "like a duck takes to water". Whatever you did to the "numbers" stored on my PC that shall become music, it was right. I do not know if there is already something going on but I think you should write a book to make people (and me) understand what it is all about.
Greetings
Adrian

Great news, Flecko!

What about the treble? -And the presentation (placement) of the cymbals in the mix?

A change in the the treble is also well noticable. It is more accurate, in a good way "sharper". I am not paying much attention to cymbals but for example the bass drums "klack" is more pronounced. Guitar strings seems finer with more information about what the fingers are doing. The room is better defined, bigger, which is due to the higher precision of playback in the whole frequency band.

I've been listening to 0.9z-7 for a few hours in total now and trying to find a single word that describes the difference from earlier versions and I think that "harshness" sums it up. 0.9z-7 seems devoid of any remnants of the usual digital hardness I was used to, with the net result being a very smooth sound. I hate to use the term "analogue sound" as to me that conjours up images of turntables and the inherent problems they have, so perhaps I will simply say it all sounds "lifelike" and "natural". This smoothness is not to the detriment of detail though, as that is still there in abundance.

Still playing with the setting and I expect that will continue for a few days to come as I explore their new influence, but I'm sure you all will thoroughly enjoy the new sound when the last few obvious bugs are squashed, which hopefully won't be too much longer.

Regards,

Russ
 

It was worth to wait for it  :) After the little hours of listening I try to summarize my experience: The difference is immediately audible. Peter talked about more precision and I hear more instruments, more people and a beautiful room - I call it a big step to pure sound. I'm looking forward to the next days ...

30.07.12
In my smaller listening room, room resonances in the lower frequency area are not audible anymore.
31.07.12
Used today new settings Q1=50, Phase=3, Mobo Bios reset to default, all unnecessary Mobo components disabled:   :) 8) :whistle:

Georg

YES, better. More information, fuller soundscape, sense of being closer to the real thing and all of that with a smoothness that penetrates inside the body. I´m eager to get the correct settings.
Thank you Peter and congratulations. Please take my money, I don´t want any return at all.

Best regards,
Juan

Let me add something. Where are my speakers?, I can't see them, they disappeared totally. :goodjob:

Juan

I was planning not to post on sound quality until 09-7 went on general release but it is just too good to stay silent.

What a fantastic step forwards, now I understand what Peter was saying about the distortion levels in earlier versions (which we all thought were great).

I am really liking the new parameters they work so well and allow you to tune to your system and preferences but without so much compromise as earlier versions. I am sure there will be hot debate on settings  ;)

Peter, I don't know what mathamatical alchemy you have come up with or how you control the PC in real time so well but this is truly spectacular. Many, many thanks :)

The PC comes of age as a music transport running XXHE 09-7.

Nick.

It was worth to wait for it  :) After the little hours of listening I try to summarize my experience: The difference is immediately audible. Peter talked about more precision and I hear more instruments, more people and a beautiful room - I call it a big step to pure sound. I'm looking forward to the next days ...
30.07. 12
I got a smaller room for listening music: Room resonances in the lower frequency range aren't audible anymore. 

31.07.12
Played today with new settings Q1=50, Phase=3. All PC BIOS settings are turned back to default, all relevant Mobo components disabled: 
8) :yes: :whistle:

01.08.12
What should I say - that's a world class music player!

Georg

Peter,

Thanks for all the state of the art works !!!

Sound so real and smooth as silk. A big quantum leap from z6.

Regards,
Praphan

I've listened to only a few albums until now and I can only confirm what is mentioned above. Clean, pleasant, detailed sound, wide soundstage and a "right" timbre. Yes, XXHG, and especially 0.9z-705, for me makes digital finally come of age.


Stanley

Since spending a little more time with it I've though of another word ....

.

.

.

.

.

.

WOW!

There is still work going on behind the scenes to get some bugs squashed so the rest of you can enjoy it from the start fuss free, so hang in there. It will be worth the wait and Peter is as keen as can be to get it to everyone.

Cheers,

Russ

I've just downloaded... and I can say straight away that I concur.

More thoughts in time...

Mani.

When I started listening to this version, I was not at my best to compare 09-7 with 09-6c, since I had to use my laptop and headphones - something I dont do often. I felt there were differences, but it really happened when I switched to my desktop and main speakers.

Man oh man... I feel as if I had changed either my DAC or my speakers. There are textures, details and timbres I never heard like this before.

I don't really consider having good ears at this, but it is almost impossible not to hear the differences.

Peter, I don't know how you can accomplish this from one version to the other, but it's a sure statement in favour of a NOS1. I think I will start putting money aside right away :-)

 :xx:

Guys,

Where's the download link for 0.9z-7? Or I am missing something?

Ivo

Hey Ivo, given the enormous changes in 9z-7 Peter only released it to a few beta testers so the majority of bugs could be worked out before a general release. Sit tight, its going, I believe, to be released soon.

To those who don't have the new version yet.  It hasn't been all fun and games.  Thanks to Peter I have some tunes going, but... well, computers will be computers.  Anyway, Peter is still the hardest working man out there, (meaning he ain't done yet)
Thank you Peter  Hold onto to yer butts all.

Any comments from the Beta testers regarding the BT remote control?

Mike

That hasn't been tested yet Mike. Well, I haven't. Perhaps Peter is keeping it from me .. haha

Cheers,

Russ

I don't think any beta testers out there have tried the remote features.

I am now still trying to understand the impact of sound quality offered by the new "phase" feature. I feel I get a tighter controlled bass with an experimental setting (see my sig below). But not sure yet.

Praphan

That is been kept from everybody so far. The beta testing is not about that.

Regards,
Peter

Thank you Peter.

I suspected as much but was curious.

Of course I am on the edge of my seat...

Mike

Hi Peter,

this new release is great stuff
- more separation
- more darkness

I hear the CD's now from a different angle.

On the live tune "My Favorite Things" by Al Jarreau/Kathleen Battle (Album - Tenderness) I hear the singers on very different places for the first time.

This release 0.9z-7 is a must.

Joachim