Mani,

thanks for the advice.
the only 'real' Plextor optical drive available seems now to be a DVD R/W  PX L890SA. Not sure if this one supports FUA though. Can't find it on the web.

Interesting observation on the 'freshly' ripped files on the HD.
In the past I experienced that changing to another router influenced the sound, but that was while playing directly from the NAS.  RF influences over the network causing more marginal bit images on the magnetic HD??? Just speculating here, might be difficult to measure.

As Chris suggests, dbpoweramp might be an option. Would be interesting to compare rips from dbpoweramp to EAC (using both the 'highend' settings)

As a fairly new NOS1 owner, I still struggle to get my CD collection on the PC.  EAC seems to be the most recommended audiophile ripper, however it is terrible slow. Ripping a CD takes often half an hour or more. So with a reasonable cd collection it will take weeks to rip it.
Any ideas if there would be a quicker solution or improved setting for EAC to improve the speed (with still audiophile results)?

Hi Praphan,

nice review.

I also own a BADA with Lynx interface (as it was recommended by the folks from Berkeley) and even the non-USB NOS1 is already superior imho in the overall definition, especially in the low and high's and the dynamics. I had the opportunity to compare it at Peter's home when I purchased the NOS1 and the difference was pretty obvious. 

it's a 64 bit edition. Has that any impact on the sound?

Hi Boleary, thanks for the info. I will try that button...
I'm using W7 home edition now

Thanks Nick,

hopefully I will get the new USB version soon so I can experience it myself!

- Quint

Thanks Peter and Boleary, the setting are very helpfull for a XXhighend newcomer like me. I tried them last night and they sounded very good indeed.  A couple of observations:

I noticed that the whole spacial image appeared to be more forward then with my previous settings. Any idea what button would influence that?

Very detailed and life like voices, but maybe a little bit dry sounding. I have the impression that the memory mode choosen (mixed, mixed continues, Straight) is a.o. influencing that?

Really impressive dynamics and bass


Any inputs?

- Quint

Hi Peter,

sometimes I have a strange error.
When I add files to my playerlist, I browse through the directories with the FLAC's and click on the album button showing in the player list window of XXHighend. Normally the songs of the album appear as they should in the player list. However, sometimes I get a popup window for each song of the list with the question if I want to run ...\tag.exe. I can just cancel this request, pressing on the accept button creates no further action.  Pressing cancel puts the files in the player list but with 0:00 playing time (so they are empty)

I have the impression it has something to do with the security setting, however my old version (9.4) worked fine and the W7 UAC shift button is down...

Any ideas on what would be the problem here?

Thanks.

Quint

Had similar effect with the previous version of XXHighend I used. Sometimes (about once/5 hours play) there is the sound of a jackhammer for a couple of seconds. I'm really happy that I still use a preamp.
Maybe the same effect?

Quint

Hi Peter,

from our past discussion, I recalled that you said it to be advantageous to have more processing power in order to improve the sound quality.
Would using the processors of the NVIDIA graphics card be of any possible advantage? I understand that for scientific computing it really helps.

Cheers,
Quint

Hi Peter,

I upgraded with some minor issues to this latest version of XXhighend. The difference with the version I had (think it was 9.4) was amazing. Much more information and a huge increase in SPACE...
However, playing a bit with some different settings (still new at XXhighend) , a large difference in musicality of the sound was noticable. Sometimes a piano sounded as a piano, some times as an artificial instrument. Violins have the same critical sensitivity to the settings.

When I look in this forum, many people have the (for them) optimized settings in their signature. However, not all will have a NOS dac and many who have it are already on USB.

So my questions to this community:

-> is there somewhere in this gigantic pile of information in this forum a clear overview what the sound signature of each XXhighend setting is?

-> what would be the resulting most musical setting for XXhighend within the new version, NOT having yet access to the USB option?

Hi Nick,

did you test this already?

thanks,

Bigear