I have tried what I think of as an extreamly effective DIY USB 2 lead on the USB 3 port this afternoon and found that there is quite a noticable improvment in sound. When used on the usb 2 port this cable is better than a standard cable but exposed a sharpness in the high frequency so I did not use it day to day. Now when used with the USB 3 port it has a VERY nice high presentation and first impresions are that it is noticably better than a "standard" USB 2 cable.

I think I can see why a fellow NOS user sent the comment below to  Peter (Peter published this earlier in this thread).

"4 Use a USB cable rated for USB 3. I was using an expensive USB 2 cable. Today I switched to a cheap USB 3 cable. The difference in top end extension was *astounding*. You will need a USB A to USB B adapter because a true USB 3 B cable is not compatible with the NOS 1 USB input. System is now finally sounding 'high-end'."

Tests with genuine USB 3 cables and adapters to follow.

Nick

Glad to hear that the sound is good.


Nothing specific in mind Peter, just that knowing that there are differences between the USB2 / 3 drivers and OS behavior might be helpfull.

With the PCIe USB 3 board I think a PCIe to PCI bridge conversion step has been elliminated a may be helping reduce harware bus latency. This has got me thinking again about the new Socket 2011 CPU architecture. It could be that quite a few features may illiminate steps for the audio stream eg illimination of the North Bridge and 4 Channel memory access, not to mention the 12 threads that the CPU supports etc hummmm...

Cheers,

Nick.

Peter hi,

It would be good if there is a lead towards software changes here.

Regarding your comment about turning off USB 2 drivers. First I added the USB 3 card and the sound improved the most. Them turned off the motherboard USB 2 ports in bios (so no USB 2 drivers loading I guess). The sound defiantly improved slightly again when the bios change was made. General turning off unused physical devices seems to help but could easily be the lack of USB 2 drivers loaded that made the second improvement.

Best,

Nick

Paul, I totally agree about the presentation. I find I'm just relaxing into the music more and listening analytically less. Glad you like it and relieved it was not a case of tweeters placebo 

cheers nick.

it would be good to know if there is any difference between the USB 3.0 motherboard and USB 3.0 PCIe card routes if anyone is able to test both setups (my mother board will not allow me to test, no USB 3.0).


I have been searching for this lead config as well but nothing so far. I have some USB 2.0 solderable male connectors so I may adapt a 3.0 lead and avoid the need for an adaptor.



  +1  


Juan,  I meant to say thanks for the adaptor links in my earlier post.


Best Nick.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the link, I see what you have in mind. Use a USB 3.0 extender cable (the slinky blue ones  ) from the PC then use the converter at the end to plug into the NOS. I will also try this way.

I would be supprised if the USB 3.0 spec connector made a difference anyway. I have not looked at the mechanical spec for USB 3.0 cable but I was expecting to see better shielding and and a higher bandwith capability similar to HDMI type cabling. Since the cost are in the "cheap-fi" range that we both like no problems giving it a go.

Best Nick.

Paul hi,

Very pleased to hear that there is a benifit in your system as well.

I am currently still using a UBS 2.0 cable but was not able to find a USB 3.0 cable that has the old USB 2.0 connection at the NOS USB end. Could you post a link to the cable that you ordered, thanks.

Nick.

Peter hi,

I take your point about the drivers and OS support perhaps changing the way the data stream is handelled. Interesting....

I have been using the PCIe card and drivers for a week or so now and I am confident the setup is for the better now. My comment that it's like the system has had a day to warm up still stands or perhaps the difference is similar difference to that the straight continuous memory makes when changing from mixed continuous.

I will give the USB 3 lead a go and my hot rodded DIY USB lead and thank you to the other NOS customer for the suggestion.

Looking forward to z09-7 

Best,

Nick

I have been tracing a problem in my PC / DAC and as one of the diagnostics I have added a PCIe USB3.0 card to my PC.

This is something that I have meant to try for a while as it changes the path and the available bandwidth for transfer of data from the CPU to the USB port (note the USB 3.0 card is just running is USB2.0 compatability mode to drive my NOS USB). Now that the card is installed it seems to have quite a positive influence on sound.

Having said this, I do agree generally with Peter that the NOS USB is not especially sensitive to USB interface / cable setup etc. But I do think there is perhaps more than "hot roding" a USB 2.0 card happening here.

[UPDATE I have checked the intel chipset architecture for my PC and the data routes that I had suggested here are not correct so I have removed them and updated the text below]


So with the PCIe USB 3.0 card the move to PCIe bus and the USB 3.0 host controller offer better transfer rates and lower transfer latency ( I think ..).

If you are using a more modern motherboard than I do that already has USB3.0 implemented then it may be that you already have the equiverlent of the PCIe USB 3.0 board. If you have a mother board with only USB 2.0 support but do a have PCIe bus then it might well be worth trying one of these cards. I have the NEC USB 3.0 host chip set and it works very well. I would be very interested to hear if others experience a positive effect from using a PCIe USB 3.0 Card. The outlay is low to give this a go at only £25 UKP.

http://www.ebuyer.com/287036-startech-2-port-usb3-0-pci-express-card-pexusb3s22

Sonically I am still pinning down the changes down but I think the sound has lost some digital hardness, bass is better controlled and extended and overall it sounds like the system has had a day to warm up even when it has just been turned on.

Any thoughts welcome.

Nick.

Flecko hi,

That is one hell of a guitar, it must sound beautiful.

Best Nick.

Most builds come in between 50 and 100k depending on spec. The proposition is keep is simple, light weight and well engineered and this is enough to keep up with or in front of some VERY expensive vehicles.

It's certainly a lot of fun on the road.

Best, Nick.

 

Thanks Mani, it was fun having all three together for a while. The red car is an Ultima CanAm. You would approve of the engin possition in that one, it's a 6.3l v8. The car is defiantly leaning towards the track (very basic interior etc). I use it on the road and don't miss the hayabusa at all  

To give an idea of what they will do when setup and with more bhp than mine has. This is the GTR version (has a roof) owned by the Ultima factory at the top gear track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKX2KZruc3E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjOqaH2shOU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

For some reason top gear are not too keen to have the factory car on the program. Owners think its because it would make a mess of the fast laps board given its modest price. Although thinking about it the V8 Arial Atom has moved things on a bit.

Best Nick.

Hi,

This is an older pic of the garage before I moved house, we had to have a thin out, the hayabusa and the TVR drew the short straws.



Besides the Ultima and the family transports, we have recently taken another three cars on that were in the family but that have sentimental value so we did not want to see them go;

Land Rover Serise 3 in beautiful original condition
BMW 323i 1976 with < 5k miles, still smells new inside.
BMW 528 1982 with < 14k miles.

The BMs have been in dry storage for the last > 20 years.

Our problem is storage so most are not at the house as we don't have the garage space until some building takes place.

Peter hi,

Unfortunately the last of the 4 vintage cars we were selling just sold. Sad to see them go but glad to have sorted them out for the family.

Somehow my wife and I could not bare to see all of the other cars go so we are now up to 6 including the daily drivers. The Ultima is the "interesting" one. If Paul comes over on a dry bright day it might be possible to have a little fun in it 

Best Nick.