Hi Peter,

I like this... There is a fine blend of analogue finally happening in my system. I can't tell where this is changing, but the annoying effect around the voices that I have been hearing for a while (I never could tell what started this and what I did to hear that) is almost gone or at least there are moments I don't detect it anymore. But now I suspect that this has turned into an obsession for me, so there is some kind of "bad" expectations bias that I have to get rid of...

Yes I like this.

No interruption for the moment, but I have yet to let it play for a while. Except for the dreaded RDC I use (don't tell me please, I know...), I use 9d with the music drive connected through network. I am even self confident I could plug back my supertweeters, even the subs just to add some "weight" to the music...

Could it be that your processor is too low ? I can't go under 1.2mhz. You could maybe adjust it a little faster ? You know, this is not a locomotive diesel engine

I am trying "Real Time" out of curiosity. Still no interruption. As for the rest, I am following your adjustments.

Hey, thanks for your dedicated patience. I knew you were on to something, since you were too silent recently. A Peter not writing is always worrying

Regards,

Alain

Hi Anthony and Nicks,

Thanks for the precisions. This brings a new question... I actually use a iFi iUSB power supply for my external SSD (contains the OS + XXHE)... Would it be (better: could it be) better used if I modify a cable to allow for a molex adaptor to power the molex ? Or would it just increase some other problems ?

Regards,

Alain

Peter,

I can't be 100% sure, but I think it is still possible to get W8 licences. I would just double check with the selling people to be sure of course. On Amazon for instance...

And there is always W2012 for the adventurous I have read many posts about its qualities...

Regards,

Alain

Hi Nick,

You are right with everything I have a PP card now, I removed the Sotm card.

I was not aware that the 5V was for the clock... But is it also used for the USB power running from the PC to let's say a powered USB device ?

Regards,

Alain

To tell the truth, the only way I could "cut" the 5V was with the Sotm card and only after starting XXHE for the first time in a session...

So that is confusing for me too...

Alain

I know this, but I did the test this week-end (I left the molex disconnected)... XXHE brings an error message saying that there is no sound card... And there isn't any to select... As soon as I connect the Molex, all is back to normal...

?

Alain

I was wondering... When you mention that the molex is not necessary, how to let XXHE know that the connection is established with the NOS1 ?

Alain

I do (shut off all USB 2 and USB 3) in Windows, leaving only the PCIe card working. I have been doing just that for many months now. I don't deactivate USB through BIOS though. This is only because I don't have a PS2 mouse and it could be problematic...

On the other hand, I use Esata for whatever drive I connect on my music PC... With 9b there were 2 of them, with 9d I am left with the external OS drive, powered by a iFi iUSB power supply...

If I continue to remove things in my PC, I will need to attach it to something else, otherwise any airflow will have it falling

Alain

I think I understand, but cannot get a firm grasp at it... I don't want to go OT too far, since I feel I am drifting away from the topic...

Anyway, things can only get either better... Or different... This is a big question, but I know that we are aimed towards the "best" and it is always a fascinating journey.

Alain

Thanks Peter, I was not even aware about this...

Alain

Sorry if my thoughts sound contradictory Peter... What I wished to express mostly is that when I listen to an album, sometimes I am stunned by what I hear, as if I was listening to it for the first time again... I experienced such a thing with my latest turntable 30 years ago, but never since, up until now. Never would have I thought that an OS, a cable, a power supply, a "noise web" - would have such an impact. I thought that digital would be the answer to all, that it would sound the same everywhere... So you can imagine all I discovered (and am continuing to discover).

It's just that I am looking behind and I see all the distance I have crossed since...

Regards,

Alain

I should have put this more in context. Since I started using XXHE, it has been and is still my reference. But there is an ultimate reference that would be to go listen for live representations, without amplification and such...

In reality, I am surprised I never really asked myself why from a version to another, from an OS to the other, things can really have a different presentation...

My thoughts are not really organized to give a precise answer about this, but for sure I can only be happy to walk will all of you here

Alain

Before I had mine set at 8ms, because sometimes the music was starting with some strange noises (as if the buffer did not carry enough music to play). Now I can have it at 16ms...

I have always privilieged an "acute" sound when I was using my Bryston dac (through WASAPI) with W7. With the NOS1, I decided to follow your path and with W8 it seemed even more important to do so, because it is a lot "sharper" than W7. I should try WASAPI in a near future just to hear the difference, but I can already say that I will surely prefer KS, maybe because of this voice thing I experienced (and did not like).

Not that I did not recognize the merits of it, but I realize now how important being all together here to exchange our findings is a good thing. I recall saying how much I liked using an SFS of 4 almost a month ago, but at the same time I was wondering why the LF were so prominent on my speakers, since I never really considered them with that attribute. With the subs yes, this was ok, but alone ?

The "noise" I was perceiving with voices is a lot better now. I can't say if that is because I switched to W8.1, changed the settings (and SFS to a higher level), removed the 12v from the molex that is connected to the PP USB 3 card, but I guess that it could be the whole. This obsession for voices should (I hope) vanish in time (it really was unpleasant and at this point I was even listening for this on the radio in the car !)...

To summarize it: I now like what I hear, but I still wonder how come I am always saying this... Should I not decide to settle for a reference and judge all from there...

Alain

Hi Peter,

Do you still use the 4ms buffer from the NOS1 Control Panel with these new settings ?

Alain

Peter,

I am trying hard to understand (and maybe I do ?), but you say that if we connect a USB 3 drive to a USB 2 port, without doing anything with it, the sound comes out more naturally ?

I am less certain if you are talking about W8 or W8.1 though...

Please correct me if I am wrong...

Regards,

Alain