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391  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: Your first RAM-OS Disk Upgrade ! 14393.0 on: September 21, 2016, 09:07:18 pm
I was wondering ... Does the procedure work in the first place ?

Well, I got caught out with the 'MyW10-14393-copy.vhd' name - I couldn't then add a new line to the boot menu. But as soon as I changed this to 'MyW10-14393.vhd', everything went fine.

But I have an issue now. I only have 16GB in 'Le Monster'. Occasionally I get a 'Free Memory' error after pressing Play in XX. This can happen in Attended as well as Unattended. Pressing 'Continue' seems to work and the music starts fine. However... there are very faint hiccups during playback. I tried increasing the SFS from 0.12 to 1.00, and I think this helps, but then I think the sound suffers a little. Would be nice to solve this without having to resort to adding more RAM memory to the PC.

Overall, 14393 seems way more lively and interesting than 10586. It's even listenable with the Intona removed, as I believe Robert reported a while ago. I'll have to do more listening before I decide whether I prefer the sound with/without the Intona.

Mani.
392  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 21, 2016, 11:43:06 am
As you are no doubt aware Mani, good low end is mostly about positioning...

... It takes a lot of effort to get right.

Yeah, sure Anthony. In the old days, I used to spend hours/days with 'golden ratios', etc. My Orelos, with their currently sand-filled wings, weigh in at about 150kg each. Also, they're quite big in comparison to my [approx.] 6x5x4m room. So by necessity, they have remained sitting relatively close to the corners of the room since I received them.

In any event, I'm not sure if OB speakers can be treated in the same way as IBs, ported, etc.

Mani.
393  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 21, 2016, 07:57:30 am
Hey Anthony, thanks for the insights - very interesting.

But I don't think I'll be messing around with the Orelo speakers. The DSP and servo-assisted bass is an integral part of the design and can work incredibly well - anyone interested should just take a visit to Paul's place to hear this, with his slightly smaller Orelino speakers (if Paul's willing, of course). The 211 SET amps totally transformed the sound of my Orelos overall, but had little affect on the bass, which suggests to me that the 'quality' of the bass is being determined by the DSP and the servo-assistance. No matter what I try, I can't seem to get the low end right in my room with the Orelos.

Mani.
394  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: 2.06a Unattended scaling problem on: September 20, 2016, 10:42:32 am
Easy to check ? (no is fine !)

Haha... Maybe when have more time... (I thought I'd try 14393 yesterday and didn't anticipate needing to put the video card back in because the IP address had changed. It all starts taking way more time than you initially think it will.)

Mani.

PS. 14393 is sounding very nice!
395  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 20, 2016, 10:28:17 am
Hoorah for the SET resurrection!

 Grin

You will probably find that a lower voltage tube than the 211 will give you even better results...in my limited experience the lower voltage tubes have more balance and nuance and are able to shift dynamically with more composure.  Tubes like the 6C33C have a low plate resistance (and 200V B+) and can consequently be made with a much lower output impedance (around 0.1R-0.2R depending on loading) and in this situation where you may end up trying to directly amplify the BD15 drivers in Peters speakers the low output impedance will certainly help.

Thanks Anthony. I'll be exploring different options going forward, and this is really helpful. Lamm uses the 6C33C, right?

Mani.
396  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: 2.06a Unattended scaling problem on: September 20, 2016, 10:16:12 am
Your real problem is that you try to work with a 3200 resolution which is (allow me) foolish, because everything will be way too small and only specialized software will utilize it properly (like video playback). So your solution : set the DPI higher (the 250%) and think all is fine.

I bought my laptop earlier this year. I never set anything - the screen resolution and DPI were factory set to 3200x1800 and 250% respectively. Everything has worked fine until now, so I never bothered to change anything. But now that there is a problem, of course I'm happy to try whatever.

I've just changed the settings on my laptop to 1920x1080 and 100%. The XX window still comes up smaller after Unattended than before, but it looks 75% or so of the size now (rather than 40%, as before). So the issue remains when I use my laptop...

I can live with this, but I'm assuming there will be more and more people buying new devices (laptops, tablets, etc) with screens factory set to very high resolutions, so perhaps a solution for this issue is still worth pursuing.

Mani.

397  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: 2.06a Unattended scaling problem on: September 20, 2016, 09:23:23 am
Hey Peter, here are my current settings:

- XX scale factor = 1.7
- controlling desktop:
   - resolution = 1920x1080
   - W10 scaling level = 100%
- controlling laptop:
   - resolution = 3200x1800
   - W10 scaling level = 250%

To be absolutely clear, when I'm using the laptop and come out of Unattended, XX looks as above (2.5x smaller than before Unattended - but with the text scaled correctly). But closing and then re-starting XX brings it back to the 'correct' size. So, whatever re-scaling mechanism is working on the restart doesn't seem to be working when coming back from Unattended. Does this make sense?

Mani.
398  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 19, 2016, 10:27:57 pm
When I put the completed GC amp into service I was astonished with what I heard - they were much better than the SET's (in this room). The mid range was surprisingly similar to the SET's but the top end, bass and control over the speaker was in a different class to the SET's. However I do remember the SET's having a very beguiling sound.

My 211 SETs actually have a very mediocre sound with the cheap Chinese valves that come standard with the amps. Most customers upgrade to the very good Chinese Psvane 211 valves, which really improve the sound of the amps. I didn't try these valves when the SETs were connected to the Orelos, but suspect there wouldn't have been such a massive improvement in SQ. There really is a quantum leap in SQ going from the Psvanes to the German Elrog 211 valves. I suspect most of the magic is happening within these valves.

Certainly my SET's just did not have the umph to deliver sensible power and dynamics in this large room even though they were driving efficient speakers. The mid range was excellent but I have to say the GC's matched them in that respect. I have heard many SET based systems but I have to say I could not be tempted back from my experience anyway.  I would love to hear your SET amps though maybe you can change my mind!!

The dynamics that I'm getting with these amps, driving either of my speakers, is simply stunning. I'm sure they'd run out of steam with the Impulses at some point, but in my main room with the Orelos, I never dared taking them louder than -21dB.

Of course, you're welcome to come and listen for yourself whenever you like!

Mani.
399  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 19, 2016, 10:16:30 pm
Hey Nick, good to hear from you after such a long time!

Might some of the magic you are hearing be down to the Consonance presenting a relatively easily driven load to the NOS1 output stage ?

Certainly a possibility. However, as I said earlier:

The only area that sounded pretty similar was the relatively lean and a bit dull/flat bass - totally different to when the amps were in my office. (But this isn't so surprising, as the bass amps in the speakers take the signal and amplify it to match the sensitivity of the mid/high horn. If they weren't there, I suspect the bass would have been a lot better.)

If the improved sound was down to the SETs providing an easier load for the NOS1a, I'd expect the LF to be massively improved too. And it just wasn't. In my office, driving the 96dB/W@1m Impulse H2 speakers, the bass is simply tremendous with the SETs. Driving the Orelos, it hardly changed at all, and certainly didn't match the improvements in the rest of the sound.

Whenever I've heard Paul's Orelino speakers, I've always said there is something wrong with the LF in my speakers. The DSP adjustments sounded impressive when I first did them, but reverting back to the original filters showed me how much better they (the originals) actually were.

Right now, I'm still inclined to think the improvement in SQ is down to the phenomenal performance of these 211 SET amps. Oh, and the >$1.5k (for a pair) Elrog 211 valves - simply stunning, compared to the Psvane 211 valves that came with the amps when I bought them.

Mani.
400  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 19, 2016, 08:14:23 pm
So what you're saying is that this noise at 60dB down (or maybe a bit more down) and which eats half of your digital bits, sounds better to you.

Yes! And that even with this noise, I can hear minute differences in SFS. I didn't realise these SFS differences sat between the MSB and LSB  scratching

Mani.
401  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Re: Single-ended triode amps on: September 19, 2016, 06:47:13 pm
I know a guy who's got a massive Kondo collection. Maybe I can persuade him to sell me a pair of his cheaper monos. Would still be too expensive for me  unhappy

No, I know exactly where a pair of SETs for my main system are coming from. I've been in touch with the manufacturer and he's looking to get me a pair by the end of November. Of course I'll post all the details in due course.

Mani.
402  Ultimate Audio Playback / Chatter and forum related stuff / Single-ended triode amps on: September 19, 2016, 06:21:46 pm
I suspect this post will ruffle a few feathers, but here goes anyway...

I bought a new (actually used, but new to me) pair of single-ended mono valve amps (a pair of Consonance 211S monos). They were virtually brand new and going for just a 1/3 of (not off!) their original retail price. And their reviews were very interesting. So I bought them, with no real idea of what I was going to do with them. (Not the first time this has happened...)

The seller suggested that I get hold of a pair of new Elrog 211 valves for them if possible and I managed to do this.

The amps are rated at around 15W into 8 Ohms. The speakers in my office are rated at 96dB/W@1m, although I suspect this is a little bit optimistic. In any event, I attached the amps and was literally blown away with the sound. And this only a few days after the Mach II was installed here. I could have lived with this sound forever. Really.

But then I thought... I wonder how they'd sound driving the 118dB/W@1m Orelo speakers. I knew they'd be too noisy for a permanent setup, but wanted to try temporarily anyway. So I connected them and switched them on. Immediately there was way more background noise than normal, to the point where I could actually hear the audio PC electrical noise coming through the horns - lots of clicking and swirling going on. And there was quite a bit of noise coming through the LF drivers too. At the listening position the noise remained easily audible and way more than would be ordinarily acceptable. I was going to simply disconnect the amps, but thought I'd try them anyway. I set XX to -30dB and pressed play, and...

... I was presented with simply the best sound I've ever had in my listening room. The sound easily bettered the speakers' built-in amps in every way imaginable. The only area that sounded pretty similar was the relatively lean and a bit dull/flat bass - totally different to when the amps were in my office. (But this isn't so surprising, as the bass amps in the speakers take the signal and amplify it to match the sensitivity of the mid/high horn. If they weren't there, I suspect the bass would have been a lot better.)

Reverting back to the regular all active set up, the sound is as flat as a pancake in comparison. All the magic has gone.

So, what to conclude? A few things:

1. Ambient noise makes no difference to the SQ. I know Peter will hate this statement. It's been my 'dogma' (and many others here too, I know) for many, many years. But this experience tells me otherwise. Maybe the type of ambient noise is more important than the amount. The relatively high noise coming through the Orelos from the SETs would not have been correlated with any signal. I wonder if this makes a difference?

2. The SET crowd really aren't mad. I suspect they've known all along that they have the best sound, and laugh at the rest of us. Unfortunately, most of the SET crowd use turntables (I certainly have nothing against that) and have never heard anything approaching the quality of the XX/MachII/NOS1a combination. For me, this digital chain and a SET driving a good high-efficiency horn is a match made in heaven.

3. I remember reading a paper by Nelson Pass, talking about the monotonicity of air, and how single-ended amplification is the only type that can ever truly sound 'natural' to the human ear. Maybe he's on to something?

4. I remember reading a paper by Thorsten Loesch talking about the harmonic distortion produced by a single-ended amp being benign to the human ear. Maybe he's onto something?

5. I remember reading a paper by Eduardo B. E. de Lima talking about how the distortion spectrum of a single-ended amp could actually be used to reduce the distortion inherent in speaker drivers. Maybe he's onto something?

5. With the SET in place, even with all that background noise, I could easily hear minute differences in SFS, etc. Actually, such differences were easier to hear with the SET in place. And the amount of inner detail coming from the music was nothing like I'd ever heard in my room before. The difference between the Mach II and my previous audio PC was much greater with the SET in place than with the active amps.

*********************
As a result of this little impulsive buy, I've had to reset my whole audio thinking. These amps are gems. But I suspect all decent SETs are, because of the physics of sound and the way the ear hears it...

Anyway, no going back for me! There will be a permanent SET setup in my office and in my main room by the end of the year. I cannot listen to anything else now.

Mani.
403  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: 206a or too much Kool Aide! on: September 19, 2016, 04:56:53 pm
Hey Brian, the only thing that matters is that you're happy with your sound.

(I'm going to start a new thread about an amplifier experience I've just had that has made me rethink all my audio 'dogmas'.)

Mani.
404  Ultimate Audio Playback / XXHighEnd Support / Re: 2.06a Unattended scaling problem on: September 19, 2016, 04:50:21 pm
Hey Peter, thanks for your last 3 posts, but I set RDC as per instructions ages ago. It has been working perfectly on both my systems until 2.06a. I used to use my laptop with screen res 3200x1800 with no problems whatsoever with 2.05. I mentioned this before and you dismissed it...

I don't have an audio PC in my office right now but will try the Mach II back in the office at some point.

I've put the Mach II in my office system, and everything works perfectly, as it has always done in here (see attached). To be clear, I never use the windows like this - I always have the RDC windows maximized - but I wanted to show you that it doesn't make a difference.

So, the only difference between these screen shots and the earlier ones is that the Mach II is connected to a different NOS1a... AND THAT'S ALL. The music server and the controlling PC remain the same, both with a screen resolution of 1920x1080.

The last two screen shots show what happens when I use my 3200x1800 as the controlling PC. The reduction in size when resuming from Unattended never used to happen with 2.05, but at least it's still usable.

Mani.
405  Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: 206a or too much Kool Aide! on: September 19, 2016, 02:37:21 pm
Yeah... get rid of your glitching  Grin

(In total jest of course.)

Mani.
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