Tellurium Q Black Nait XS2

Posted by: ThatsNotMyNaim on 23 July 2016

Hi all,

I'm having some TQ Black delivered monday on trial. Just wondered if anyone had any experience of it? Especially versus Chord Rumour / XS2 which currently have.

Hoping it tightens/cleans up the bass without losing rhythm and drive...  but also smooths the highs a little. 

I loaned: Odyssey, EPIC. NAC A5. Didn't like them.

EPIC was detailed but lazy. Odyssey was tinny and lost all of the bass definition I get with Rumour. Almost lost the bass completely. 

Rumour is too thick and heavy in the bass though. Lacks openess and is a bit harsh on vocals.

NAC A5 was dry/bland but punchy and well timed. But the highs were a bit ropey at times. Was tempted but put the rumour back in and felt it was warmer in a nice way.

iMac/Audivarna(WAV library)>Chord Silver Plus USB>Chord 2Qute(TP PSU)>Chord Chameleon VEE3>Nait XS2>Chord Rumour 2 (2 metre pairs)>Proac 118. (All stock Naim power cables).

Atacama Moseco 6 (Plan to replace with Partingtons)

ERIS 5.0 

 

Failing this it's Hi Cap DR time (or other...)

Cheers

Adam

 

Posted on: 27 August 2016 by ThatsNotMyNaim

Cheers for this. 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Adam if using USB with the Hugo and you can hear ground noise I am afraid you will need a ground isolator (galvanic isolation) or get the TT version of the Hugo that has the USB ground isolator built in.

Also if using a regular Naim NAC then setting the level to 'turquoise' seems to provide the optimum output gain for best SQ. The Naim Highline (phono to DIN) is another worthwhile enabler.

S

Cheers Simon. Could you give me an example of a ground isolator? I cant afford the TT at the moment.

I'll get a good Toslink though and try that also.

Cheers

Adam

Posted on: 27 August 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Hi Adam - i don't use USB, but several on here do - and hopefully will chime up with their USB isolator recommendations. Toslink should work well too.

Posted on: 27 August 2016 by Innocent Bystander
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:
GraemeH posted:
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

If it's like the Qute but smoother and more natural, I'll have a fit!

Let us know.

G

Hugo is here. Hugo has saved the day.

You were spot on. All the metallic, shouty, harshness has gone completely. The Hugo is so much more natural and analogue sounding. The musical flow is astonishing.

Now I need some further help please ha.

I plugged in using standard USB cable which i assume isn't ideal (regardless it is still much better than the Qute in all those above mentioned ways). Is there a better cable USB cable option? Or is SPDIF converted to USB better?

Also the Hugo hasn't got any galvanic isolation so there is some hiss coming from what i think is the Mac. Not a major issue but how can the RF be controlled without the isolation? 

The hugo TT has GI on the HD USB port ... can you play standard definition through the HD USB on the TT? 

Just wondering how to now maximise sounding quality with the Hugo. TT is probably out of reach the moment. 

Cheers

Adam

Depends on your renderer/source (sorry, can't remember what it is and haven't time to trawl back). With Computers, including the Mac Mini that I use, some people go to great lengths to improve the power supply, but that is only one source of the dreaded RF pollution of the signal, ditto network if you are streaming across it (latter avoided by something like Mac Mini). Using an isolator between renderer and Hugo does the trick in a simple and far more affordable way.

Posted on: 27 August 2016 by GraemeH
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:
GraemeH posted:
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

If it's like the Qute but smoother and more natural, I'll have a fit!

Let us know.

G

Hugo is here. Hugo has saved the day.

You were spot on. All the metallic, shouty, harshness has gone completely. The Hugo is so much more natural and analogue sounding. The musical flow is astonishing.

Now I need some further help please ha.

I plugged in using standard USB cable which i assume isn't ideal (regardless it is still much better than the Qute in all those above mentioned ways). Is there a better cable USB cable option? Or is SPDIF converted to USB better?

Also the Hugo hasn't got any galvanic isolation so there is some hiss coming from what i think is the Mac. Not a major issue but how can the RF be controlled without the isolation? 

The hugo TT has GI on the HD USB port ... can you play standard definition through the HD USB on the TT? 

Just wondering how to now maximise sounding quality with the Hugo. TT is probably out of reach the moment. 

Cheers

Adam

G

Posted on: 27 August 2016 by ThatsNotMyNaim
Innocent Bystander posted:
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:
GraemeH posted:
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:

If it's like the Qute but smoother and more natural, I'll have a fit!

Let us know.

G

Hugo is here. Hugo has saved the day.

You were spot on. All the metallic, shouty, harshness has gone completely. The Hugo is so much more natural and analogue sounding. The musical flow is astonishing.

Now I need some further help please ha.

I plugged in using standard USB cable which i assume isn't ideal (regardless it is still much better than the Qute in all those above mentioned ways). Is there a better cable USB cable option? Or is SPDIF converted to USB better?

Also the Hugo hasn't got any galvanic isolation so there is some hiss coming from what i think is the Mac. Not a major issue but how can the RF be controlled without the isolation? 

The hugo TT has GI on the HD USB port ... can you play standard definition through the HD USB on the TT? 

Just wondering how to now maximise sounding quality with the Hugo. TT is probably out of reach the moment. 

Cheers

Adam

Depends on your renderer/source (sorry, can't remember what it is and haven't time to trawl back). With Computers, including the Mac Mini that I use, some people go to great lengths to improve the power supply, but that is only one source of the dreaded RF pollution of the signal, ditto network if you are streaming across it (latter avoided by something like Mac Mini). Using an isolator between renderer and Hugo does the trick in a simple and far more affordable way.

Ok, thanks for info.

I'll look into an Isolator. I used an iMac but soon to be replaced with Mac Mini.

Do you have a modified Mac Mini. Power supply / SSD. Or just the basic but then an isolator between mini and hugo?

Is the uptone regen an isolator?

Cheers

 

Posted on: 27 August 2016 by Innocent Bystander
ThatsNotMyNaim posted:
Innocent Bystander posted:

Depends on your renderer/source (sorry, can't remember what it is and haven't time to trawl back). With Computers, including the Mac Mini that I use, some people go to great lengths to improve the power supply, but that is only one source of the dreaded RF pollution of the signal, ditto network if you are streaming across it (latter avoided by something like Mac Mini). Using an isolator between renderer and Hugo does the trick in a simple and far more affordable way.

Ok, thanks for info.

I'll look into an Isolator. I used an iMac but soon to be replaced with Mac Mini.

Do you have a modified Mac Mini. Power supply / SSD. Or just the basic but then an isolator between mini and hugo?

Is the uptone regen an isolator?

Cheers

 

I've fitted twin 1TB SSDs (mine is a late 2012 model, which is easily DAY upgraded. Poaer suppy is the standard MM one.

I believe the uptone regen is also an isolator, though how good on RF I don't know. The name suggests it also reclocks, however that isn't necessary with the Hugo as it does that itself. I use a Gustard U12.