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Author Topic: A bit of testing with the Intona  (Read 15762 times)
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manisandher
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« on: August 26, 2016, 12:01:35 pm »

Take the following with a big pinch of salt...

When I was 'testing' the Sonore microRendu with the iFi Nano DAC a few months ago I took a few 24/192 captures. Here are two spectra - the same track, with and without the Intona.

I'll do some more in-depth testing at some point to see if this is actually repeatable.

Mani.


* With Intona.JPG (32.35 KB, 317x358 - viewed 944 times.)

* Without Intona.JPG (32.07 KB, 317x359 - viewed 929 times.)
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« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2016, 12:07:59 pm »

I'll do some more in-depth testing at some point to see if this is actually repeatable.

I've just found a couple of other files. Here's what silence* looks like with and without the Intona...

*Edit: Playing back the 'digital silence' file from the Alan Parsons test CD.

Mani.


* Silence with Intona.JPG (32.64 KB, 318x363 - viewed 847 times.)

* Silence without Intona.JPG (29.83 KB, 319x360 - viewed 960 times.)
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« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2016, 12:14:48 pm »

And finally, in case it's of interest, silence with the Intona feeding the NOS1a...

[The rise in noise after 45kHz is down purely to the ADC and not the DAC.]

Mani.


* Silence with Intona NOS1a.JPG (31.62 KB, 317x361 - viewed 916 times.)
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« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2016, 01:38:20 pm »

Hi Mani,

Thanks for these graphs - very interesting !

For what I understood when I got the Intona:
- Cut noise with galvanic isolation.
- Also cut a possible ground loop (and I was able to verify that because I was having one before my upgrade to NOS1a).

Nothing technical about what I am saying but if the Intona is helping with cutting noise, maybe with build 14393 what we interpret as "very accurate" or "sharp" is not really about that and it turns a good thing into something else...

Alain
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« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2016, 02:50:54 pm »

Hi Alain, in your case the Intona has cut the ground loop by providing galvanic isolation - that's exactly what galvanic isolation means. Galvanic isolation does not necessarily lead to noise reduction - a common misconception. (But if you're using an isolation transformer, it probably does cut HF noise - unfortunately, it'll kill transients in the music too. This has been my experience anyway.)

Now looking at my iFi DAC graphs (not the NOS1a, because there's no with/without Intona), it's clear that the Intona is cutting noise, as well as providing galvanic isolation. So to my mind, the Intona does more than just providing galvanic isolation. Maybe some of what it does is actually destructive to the sound? Robocop seams to hear this, but for me it's exactly the opposite. To me, the Intona cleans things up, making music sound simply more realistic.

Anyway, this has inspired me to test things further with the NOS1a, with and without the Intona. I'll capture some digital black files and also a couple of 1kHz @-90dB files. If anyone can think of any other tests I could perform, just let me know.

Mani.

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« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2016, 04:19:37 pm »

Hi Mani,

Very nice initiative. And I am afraid it sprung from my text :

In my view the Intona can't be "technically tested".

but my "technically" was not meant as in "measuring". Instead, I tried to refer to "nicer highs" or "better bass" or other kinds of what I call technical reference (as in technical listening).

So just in case : of course the Intona can be measured for noise (like 8KHz, might you be able to focus on that). And then especially for non-isolated D/A converters (so take a normal NOS1 and you will see a difference as well).

Otherwise, please continue !
Regards,
Peter

PS: And what I said in the other thread : the Intona makes things right (more real); I just have no other description for it. But this would take the NOS1a for granted and I can't testify for other DACs.
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« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2016, 11:04:43 pm »

Unfortunately, it seems my ADC simply isn't good enough to measure whether the Intona makes a difference or not... with the NOS1a, that is  unhappy

But on the plus side, the NOS1a really is quiet  Happy

Mani.


* 1kHz @-90dB - with_Intona.JPG (60.78 KB, 592x517 - viewed 818 times.)

* 1kHz @-90dB - no_Intona.JPG (63.88 KB, 593x519 - viewed 871 times.)

* Digital Black - with_Intona.JPG (62.96 KB, 594x515 - viewed 813 times.)

* Digital Black - no_Intona.JPG (64.14 KB, 594x516 - viewed 857 times.)

* No signal - with_Intona.JPG (62.31 KB, 593x515 - viewed 861 times.)

* No signal - no_Intona.JPG (62.38 KB, 593x516 - viewed 831 times.)
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« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2016, 11:39:05 pm »

Remember the graphs on cables. Are not what we hear.

The actual differences are quite small between Intona and no Intona whether we can hear them is another story.

I can state the Intona does make a difference but how correct is this in our systems.

I do need to go back to 10586 and try Intona.

In reality Intona is designed for industrial setups and no consideration for audio listening. There is a place for using this technology in audio but it needs more work which I guess is what Peter is working on. But ultimately it should be in the DAC and not another box.

Robert

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« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2016, 08:01:09 am »

Quote
There is a place for using this technology in audio but it needs more work which I guess is what Peter is working on.

Thank you !

Quote
But ultimately it should be in the DAC and not another box.

Haha, this is not correct. That is, it would be useless to put that in the DAC. And for example. For the NOS1a it *is* in the DAC. But logically, it is now after the receiver. "Logically" because we're in the DAC anyway. So the only usecase for an application like this would be at the other side of the input connector. Well, then do it outside, that saves you a trip to the electronic repair store.
Understand ?

What I'm also saying with this, is that what's in the NOS1a is another "application" as such. It also galvanically isolates, but it is in another position in the chain.

Regards,
Peter
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« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2016, 08:37:55 am »

I'll capture some digital black files and also a couple of 1kHz @-90dB files.

Hi Mani,

What are "digital black" files ? I can imagine something, but looking at the result of that ... I don't know. Especially not when comparing that to silence (could be the same) and even more especially not when comparing that to playback at -90dBFS through the NOS1a, which looks totally different and/but (!) normal to me.

Thanks !
Peter
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« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2016, 09:32:31 am »

Remember the graphs on cables. Are not what we hear.

Yes, we should always bear this in mind.

Mani.
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« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2016, 09:42:37 am »

What are "digital black" files ? I can imagine something, but looking at the result of that ... I don't know. Especially not when comparing that to silence (could be the same) and even more especially not when comparing that to playback at -90dBFS through the NOS1a, which looks totally different and/but (!) normal to me.

'Digital Black' is track 95 on the Alan Parsons Sound Check 2 CD. He describes it as "silence - all bits at 0". Yes, my 'digital black' and 'silence' graphs look almost* identical. With the former, I am playing back the digital black file on XX. With the latter, nothing is playing back (but the NOS1a is still connected to the ADC).

(*There is a curious spike at 46kHz, only visible when a file is being played back, i.e. not present in my 'silence' graphs. This spike actually seems larger with the Intona in place. But this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt because it may simply be a quirk of the ADC.)

So all in all, another 'failed' experiment. I'm starting to appreciate how Edison must have felt...

Mani.
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« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2016, 11:47:19 am »

Quote
So all in all, another 'failed' experiment.

Why ??

Anyway, I still don't understand why silence(/black) looks so strange for that noise floor, vs. playing that -90dBFS signal which looks fine for noise floor ...

Peter
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For the Stealth III LPS PC :
W10-14393.0 - July 17, 2021 (2.11)
XXHighEnd Mach III Stealth LPS PC -> Xeon Scalable 14/28 core with Hyperthreading On (set to 14/28 cores in BIOS and set to 10/20 cores via Boot Menu) @~660MHz, 48GB, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit build 14393.0 from RAM, music on LAN / Engine#4 Adaptive Mode / Q1/-/3/4/5 = 14/-/0/0/*1*/ Q1Factor = *4* / Dev.Buffer = 4096 / ClockRes = *10ms* / Memory = Straight Contiguous / Include Garbage Collect / SFS = *10.13*  (max 10.13) / not Invert / Phase Alignment Off / Playerprio = Low / ThreadPrio = Realtime / Scheme = Core 3-5 / Not Switch Processors during Playback = Off/ Playback Drive none (see OS from RAM) / UnAttended (Just Start) / Always Copy to XX Drive (see OS from RAM) / Stop Desktop, Remaining, WASAPI and W10 services / Use Remote Desktop / Keep LAN - Not Persist / WallPaper On / OSD Off (!) / Running Time Off / Minimize OS / XTweaks : Balanced Load = *62* / Nervous Rate = *1* / Cool when Idle = n.a / Provide Stable Power = 1 / Utilize Cores always = 1 / Time Performance Index = Optimal / Time Stability = Stable / Custom Filtering *Low* (16x) / Always Clear Proxy before Playback = On -> USB3 from MoBo -> Lush^3
A: W-Y-R-G, B: *W-G* USB 1m00 -> Phisolator 24/768 Phasure NOS1a/G3 75B (BNC Out) async USB DAC, Driver v1.0.4b (16ms) -> B'ASS Current Amplifier -> Blaxius*^2.5* A:B-G, B:B-G Interlink -> Orelo MKII Active Open Baffle Horn Speakers. ET^2 Ethernet from Mach III to Music Server PC (RDC Control).
Removed Switching Supplies from everywhere (also from the PC).

For a general PC :
W10-10586.0 - May 2016 (2.05+)
*XXHighEnd PC -> I7 3930k with Hyperthreading On (12 cores)* @~500MHz, 16GB, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit build 10586.0 from RAM, music on LAN / Engine#4 Adaptive Mode / Q1/-/3/4/5 = 14/-/1/1/1 / Q1Factor = 1 / Dev.Buffer = 4096 / ClockRes = 1ms / Memory = Straight Contiguous / Include Garbage Collect / SFS = 0.10  (max 60) / not Invert / Phase Alignment Off / Playerprio = Low / ThreadPrio = Realtime / Scheme = Core 3-5 / Not Switch Processors during Playback = Off/ Playback Drive none (see OS from RAM) / UnAttended (Just Start) / Always Copy to XX Drive (see OS from RAM) / All Services Off / Keep LAN - Not Persist / WallPaper On / OSD On / Running Time Off / Minimize OS / XTweaks : Balanced Load = *43* / Nervous Rate = 1 / Cool when Idle = 1 / Provide Stable Power = 1 / Utilize Cores always = 1 / Time Performance Index = *Optimal* / Time Stability = *Stable* / Custom Filter *Low* 705600 / -> USB3 *from MoBo* -> Clairixa USB 15cm -> Intona Isolator -> Clairixa USB 1m80 -> 24/768 Phasure NOS1a 75B (BNC Out) async USB DAC, Driver v1.0.4b (4ms) -> Blaxius BNC interlink *-> B'ASS Current Amplifier /w Level4 -> Blaxius Interlink* -> Orelo MKII Active Open Baffle Horn Speakers.
Removed Switching Supplies from everywhere.

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AlainGr
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« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2016, 01:54:39 pm »

Hi Alain, in your case the Intona has cut the ground loop by providing galvanic isolation - that's exactly what galvanic isolation means. Galvanic isolation does not necessarily lead to noise reduction - a common misconception. (But if you're using an isolation transformer, it probably does cut HF noise - unfortunately, it'll kill transients in the music too. This has been my experience anyway.)

Now looking at my iFi DAC graphs (not the NOS1a, because there's no with/without Intona), it's clear that the Intona is cutting noise, as well as providing galvanic isolation. So to my mind, the Intona does more than just providing galvanic isolation. Maybe some of what it does is actually destructive to the sound? Robocop seams to hear this, but for me it's exactly the opposite. To me, the Intona cleans things up, making music sound simply more realistic.

Anyway, this has inspired me to test things further with the NOS1a, with and without the Intona. I'll capture some digital black files and also a couple of 1kHz @-90dB files. If anyone can think of any other tests I could perform, just let me know.

Mani.


Hi Mani,

Thanks for the precision and the additional graphs Happy The comparison with and without Intona with the NOS1a seems to show very little differences...

I am not at home presently but hope to be able to do some listening comparisons.

I still have to verify what will happen with that previous ground loop...

Alain

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Desktop with ASUS Sabertooth X79 motherboard,Intel 3930k 6 cores (+ 6) at 1.2 GHZ,32GB ram 1333Mhz,Win 10 pro build 14386 64 bit with no updates,OS + XXHE on external Sata III SSD (Esata), music (WAV) on external 5200 rpm drive through network, OS MInimized, XX with engine 4 adaptive,4096 (buffer size), CPU with scheme 3,Player = Low,Thread = RealTime, Q1 = 14,Q345 = 1,1,1,Q1x=1,Clock res = (variable),Stop Desktop Services,Stop Remaining Services,Stop Wasapi,,LAN on,persist = on,all OSD off,SFS = 2,PE off,PA off, Arc Prediction,x16 Upsample, Straight Contiguous,Lush USB  cable,Phasure NOS1a DAC,Meitner PA-6 preamp, Spectral Audio DMA-180  Power Amp, Tannoy System 15 DMT II, Tannoy St-100 supertweeters, Tannoy TS2.12 subwoofers (2). * On hiatus for a while...
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