09-z9b sounding very good although havn't tried different settings yet due to M2Tech Hiface failure(I knocked it and damaged the USB plug to board connection).
Now have the Hiface Evo due to big discount($275Au) from Australian retailer "Wicked Digital". This was a huge improvement in sound, being separately powered over the Hiface.

Robert      

Sure does, that's what I run, check my specs. I only run an i3.
Since Peter's latest version it runs cooler with all the tweaks set to Ultimate and in OS minimised, unattended with no glitches. Never had any problems except loading new versions XXhighend due to my ineptitude. In fact I wouldn't call it budget unless you use a cheap DAC, even these are getting very good.
Mine easily beat a Meridian 200 CD transport with my Benchmark DAC.

Robert

I concur with Art and bass has got worse with the night club electronic generated dance music culture which has boiled over into recording studios, live concerts to the point that people believe this is real bass even with music instruments. We have all heard the booming car approaching.

I left BASS REFLEX speakers about 20 years ago by first blocking my ports much to the disgust of the speaker designer. When I got my REL subs it wasn't till I blocked these ports that I got the boom out of the bass.

I now own 2 subs that come sealed with a 12inch driver that barely moves. My Tannoy monitors are permanently blocked. Interesting they came from new with dense foam blocks to partially block them.

This from Barry Ober "The Sound Doctor" site http://www.soundoctor.com/whitepapers/subs.htm



He is not alone in stating this. I admit the room is the final frontier in achieving good bass. 

The other problem is people don't listen to a variety of concerts(classical, jazz, rock etc) in different venues to get a handle on sound in acoustic spaces. Industry(Professional and Hi-Fi) related people are some of the worst check Art's mention of Leo Fender for one, I was astonished at reading this.

Why are some off our recordings so bad?????

Gosh thought those Audioquest RF stoppers had long gone. They always seem to be an improvement on first listening but on second are not, they take something away from the real sound. I had them on all my Audioquest power cords but removed them all in the end. Nordost don't have them at all.

Using Nad for remote volume control only reason for inclusion between DAC and speakers. Recognise going direct is better but do like watching live concerts on screen. So conflict off interest but having been a drummer really prefer live sound concerts.

Peter you did better than me, I got halfway through and thought BS. Still listening is helpful if you can, before parting with $.

In saying that I run Nordost power cords at what are insane prices, but I did hear an improvement probably not relevant to the perceived sound improvement value for money.

Yes I really do need to try the NOS1 which in my country is $5000NZ dollars quite a lot for us farmers. I'm only guessing at the sound improvement on this one but to me the design philosophy seems very sound. 

Gosh hardly got used to -2 and now we have -3a. I had no problems running XT Ultimate. Sound a further refinement over -2 at this point, still listening.

Robert

Well with some nervousness I downloaded this new version and following the correct procedure, installed, activated and played some tracks.

Gosh it all worked perfectly and well the sound is something else.

Certainly another step up in sound but I'd say, much more 3D with more weight, detail and clarity. Loving it, now I have to listen to all my favourite tracks again and ignore the family.

I have no interest in W8 yet or can compare to it.

Robert

Everything working fine but when dialling in SFS 2/160 I get this  message going to unattended:

Your sfs is to low to allow unattended playback. Equation is 51380224 to be smaller than 2000000.

What does this mean?

It works fine in attended SFS 2/160.

No didn't work. I should have set restore prior to loading z8d. Yes hard lesson not creating a restore point prior. Does this mean a new OS install and online activation etc argh???? I tried after reading all minimise OS forum words, all advice offered, but no good.

It all went wrong when I dropped d files over a but XXhighend was still in minimised OS. It only plays 4 songs then stops also. Gone back to z7 now works fine. I suspect OS with z8 is corrupted. Its become too hard I've spent too much time on this today.

I concur with Stanray but worse I can't get mimimise OS to work.  I've tried going back to z8a and that won't minimise either. This is with basic settings no tweak settings. z8a was working fine last night with all the settings showing in my profile. I've deleted and reloaded fresh activated installs of z8 a + d versions still no minimise OS.

Hi guys I'm considering making the "Carbon" from this recent blog by Chris. Anyone have any thoughts on his new designs? He's made these with a good agenda, with no fans for one.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/section/c-p-s-489/

I want to upgrade from my laptop but not go over the top. 

Merry Christmas everyone, I agree listen to the music.

I'm finding converting music files 16/44 to 24/192 more listenable.

Also interested in The Computer Audiophiles latest versions of computer servers recently put up. I'm a fanless convert. Not sure how much he has compared parts but he seems to be moving in the right direction.

No problems with 05 XX version on my laptop but am making a dedicated server next year.

I think that more effort needs to be put into computer parts that sound better and have synergy with the other computer bits to enhance the whole sound!!!!

Power supplies are everything as always in audio!!!!!!!

I did wonder about all of this when I checked out Led Zeppelin remasters which didn't do very well on the DR site.

I owned a German pressing of LZ 1 CD and when the remasters came along in the 90's I got hold of a German pressing and after extensive listening comparing. I felt the remaster was definitely better.

I mention German pressings as these were always superior to our local pressings we got mostly made in Australia.

Regarding Crime of the century I only ever owned the vinyl not the original CD so was not able to compare original with the MFSL download I currently have. I was put off downloading the remastered version due to adverse comment on download sites re the so called 'loudness wars'.

I thought 'loudness war' was created for radio and small sound system playback Ipods etc to attempt to create a big open dynamic sound. Its practised in radio stations and studio's. 

I have always been wary of remasters being better and listened before buying. Although, I so often like the music, I would buy it anyway even if its only marginally better.

I also note no Golden Earring albums have been tested for DR.

A very interesting site this one. After recently purchasing Supertramp on Blueray live and watching I was inspired to repurchase Crime of the Century. I'd only ever owned the vinyl which I sold years ago after giving up on vinyl.

I ended up downloading the MFSL version taken from the gold CD of Crime of the Century. It certainly sounds great and is the only remaster that is ok so far of this recording.

Look Windows is an absolute pain. After reloading I have to spend time shutting down services and then I'm never sure I've got them all. Dedicated software does away with this.

Lets face it, Windows is designed for everybody but not "us dedicated audiophiles". Honestly its got to be simpler.

Perhaps you need a windows version that suits everybody and a dedicated audio version that is designed to suit exact or near minimum hardware setups such as yourself and Juanpmar.
 
In saying that I do appreciate all you have done and I do love the sound I have with my cr*ppy laptop which still beats my CD setup. PA is still a viable thing. The problem is making it work across a multitude of setups. The DC thing is a problem for most. They don't have the insight or gear to do it.

We have to try new things in the digital domain to push the boundaries and you are certainly doing that. 

This is mean't as constructive advice not a criticism, I want XXhighend to work "easily" and sound amazing. Its got to be simple to work.

I have no proof but I'm blaming Windows!!!! Its never been right!!!