The Hugo of streaming?

I have started exploring this subject and I must admit I am totally confused now. I recently signed up with Tidal HIFI and now I'm looking for a proper streaming solution.

My transport at the moment is the Oppo 203. As it doesn't support Tidal, I am using the BubbleUpnp workaround to stream Tidal from my iMac to the Oppo, which is connected to my Chord Mojo DAC and into my Supernait.

Now I am thinking of getting either the Sonicorbiter or the MicroRendu and exploit the Roon solution. I am leaning towards the Sonicorbiter because of its optical out (the Chord Mojo likes optical more than USB and the SQ is generally better via optical).

So my questions are:

1. Will the Sonicorbiter & Tidal (through Roon) directly into Chord Mojo sound better than Oppo 203 & Tidal (through BubbleUpbp) into Chord Mojo?

2. Is the MicroRendu so much better than the Sonicorbiter in terms of SQ to justify the price difference?

3. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Mr Underhill posted:

This got me sseriously considering buying a dual NIC NUC rarther than a Raspberry Pi 3, still in consideration.

A fitPC4 with dual LAN could also be an option, see http://www.fit-pc.com/web/prod...it-PC4-CA125-WB-FM4U

Brilliant posted:

charlesphoto posted:

Hi Brilliant,

Curious about your custom USB cable. Do you think leaving off the 5v power leg makes any difference with the V1? I taped off my Atlas Hyper that I am using but then worried about it gumming up the inside of the rendu so removed it and no idea if there's a sound difference. Any feedback would be great. Thanks, CP

Hi CP,

I experimented with the cable before many of the other tweaks. There is no way now to check it with the mR in place. But yes in the setup when I made the mod, it made a noticeable improvement in V1 clarity!

I believe there is an adapter that eliminates the Vbus pin - but I forget who makes it. Mr. Underhill might be able to help.

In the cheap tweaks dept I received a ghentaudio .5m USB cable yesterday for the princely sum of $21 shipped. It easily betters my Atlas USB cable, and I was able to peel back the shrink wrap on the A side and carefully snip the live wire. Not sure if there was any change after that but I can highly recommend this cable if one feels like splurging and testing different USB cable sounds. 

Thx NBPF - on the list.

In the spirit of cheapish cables, I have one of these in the way:

Audiocadabra Optimus dual headed usb cable

I  swapped out the iFi Power 9V that was feeding the LPS-1/mR for a linear supply.  I like it better - even more 'calmness, smoother, natural' sounding if a bit rounded. PRaT and resolution unaffected.

just wish it also had wireless options like the Auralic Aries has...my bud has that unit: feels the Aries is more versatile over my MR.

Any experiences with the SOTM SMS-200? Apparently it's even better than the MicroRendu and cheaper as well.

I placed an order for one last week, will receive a 1 year Roon license for free with it. 

Hi Amused,

You are referring to the review on the HB-channel or ?

I don't think there is an absolute truth on which component is better. IMO it's all a matter of the whole processing system/ component combination. 

Think the LPS-1, the FMC's and last but not least the DC4 cable made a significant improvement in my system.

Enjoy the SOTM and Roon in your setup. 

Peter

Hi Bowers, yes, the HB review plus plenty other user reviews available on different forums. I already have the 9V Ifi iPower that I intend to use with the SMS-200. The linear PSU will be added at a later stage, probably from Sbooster.

I didn't go the FMC route, just a switch powered by Ifi and some Audioquest CAT7 Ethernet cables. Do you think FMC makes a significant improvement? Is it possible to go with a single FMC as opposed to 2 FMCs (upstream and downstream)? I am kind of short with wall outlets.

What's the catch with the DV4 cable?

Amused posted:

 Is it possible to go with a single FMC as opposed to 2 FMCs (upstream and downstream)? I am kind of short with wall outlets.

 

That's a bit like saying 'I only want either a turntable of a pair of loudspeakers.' You kind of need both!

ChrisSU posted:

Amused posted:

 Is it possible to go with a single FMC as opposed to 2 FMCs (upstream and downstream)? I am kind of short with wall outlets.

 

That's a bit like saying 'I only want either a turntable of a pair of loudspeakers.' You kind of need both!

Not an expert in fiber media converters, just asking whether there's a one box solution.

Amused posted:

ChrisSU posted:

Amused posted:

 Is it possible to go with a single FMC as opposed to 2 FMCs (upstream and downstream)? I am kind of short with wall outlets.

 

That's a bit like saying 'I only want either a turntable of a pair of loudspeakers.' You kind of need both!

Not an expert in fiber media converters, just asking whether there's a one box solution.

The signal in an Ethernet cable is an electrical Voltage, carried in a copper cable. The FMC converts this into an optical signal. Most network devices can only read Ethernet data, not optical, so another FMC is required to convert back to Ethernet.

Mr Underhill posted:

In the spirit of cheapish cables, I have one of these in the way:

Audiocadabra Optimus dual headed usb cable

Hans Beekhuyzen has posted a review comparing the LPS1 with the SBooster. Basically states they are very close, the SB has better dynamics but can be a bit more sibilant. If the LPS1 had been available when I was looking I would have bought it, not massively motivated to buy one now.

I have just bought a 5V/3A DC-30W TeraDak LPSU, which I have used to replace an IFI 5v iPower powering my Raspberry Pi 3, running LMS on piCore. To me there is a slight reduction in sibilance, but this is combined with more detail and better soundstaging.

Having listened to this for a couple of days I then added the Audiocadabra Optimus split USB cable. This added to the improvements I heard with the TeraDak.

These things may be described as small improvements, but they appear to be additive.

The only things I now have on my ToDo list are:

1. Add a further 512GB USB, which will give me 3x512GB Patriot Supersonic; and
2. Experiment with an SLC SSD card into a USB converter.

Both of which I will do next month.

I am really very happy with my system. It has taken months to get to this position following the replacement of the NS01 with the microRendu, but the SQ is now simply excellent and has allowed me to appreciate just how good my system can sound. I do have to say that the Focal 1008bes are pains, they do sound excellent but boy are they forensic in terms of letting you know if anything in the system is not quiet right!

M

Sonicorbiter 2.5

This has given me a VERY definite improvement in SQ; using LMS and Squeezelite.

Is this due to the updated OS? The newer Squeezelite app? Who knows.

Ever since I got the microRendu I have been battling a pervasive feeling of excess higher frequency edge, and have spent time and money trying to combat this. I have been demoing DACs to replace my current Bel Canto DAC 3.5vb, including Schiit and Lampizator. I would summarise the issues as:

>Small number of tracks/albums with hard sibilants (e.g. Tarzan)
>Cymbals being splashy & hard
>General feeling of edge

I found that the Yggdrasil reduced the issues, although it introduced another lessor issue; fantastic clearly resolved and lithe bass. The Lampizator was even better, but without the quality of bass - Level 4.

Now following the 2.5 upgrade?

The Bel Canto now has the same level transparency as the Yggdrasil and Lampizator. The edge is substantially reduced, to the same level as the Schiit. The bass is improved to the level of the Lampizator, not quiet as good as the Ygg. - this is with pop and rock music.

Wish this had been available sooner, I would have saved myself some money, and wouldn't have had the urge to look at other DACs ....but, these have been interesting journeys.

Recommended update - probably system dependent, YMMV.

M

Mr Underhill posted:

Sonicorbiter 2.5

This has given me a VERY definite improvement in SQ; using LMS and Squeezelite.

Is this due to the updated OS? The newer Squeezelite app? Who knows.

 

Hi M.

Your experience sounds almost unbelievable. On the other hand, SQ from microrendu & Hugo is very transparant and in my system the sssss's  and tttttt's are somewhat dominant and draw (too much) attention.  Just ordered the sonicorbiter 2.5 and hope it helps. The involved costs are no barrier to try it as an upgrade ......... 

thx for sharing your experiences.

Peter

Hi Bowers,

The 2.5 OS is very worthwhile. That said I FINALLY got on top of my sibilance issue:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/sibilance-1

I think the issue with the mR and associated equipment may be with floating earth. I ensured that everything was earthing back through my pre-amp and JOY!

I have put a line isolater between my pre & power, simply as I have it and why not experiment - don't think it is making any difference.

I bought an LPS-1 last week. May be an improvement on the SBooster, subtle flavours.

What I can say is that I am thoroughly enjoying my system, and have returned to cataloguing my music - AT LAST!

M

P.S. If you are using Squeezelite then Jesus changed the applet to the R2 version on my request. This enables you to use the LMS C-3PO plugin to do up and down sampling.
As it turns out, my Raspberry Pi 3 isn't powerful enough! But I will look at this in due course as my new DAC only handles 16/44.1.

I had the  2.5 OS working for a short while, but it seems to have stopped for some reason or another. Their website GUI recognizes the upgrade (via find my unit) and I even updated it. All looks well until I hit play in J River- nothing plays.

I put 2.2 back and all is well. I am even a bit nervous to attempt the 2.3 update. I logged the problem  but I am still waiting to hear from Jesus.

Brilliant,

A thought - the mR has a different designation under the new OS. Have you somehow pointed JRiver at the old name ....hence why it works when you 'go back'?

M

Hi M,

I am not sure what is going on - I use DLNA and J River and Windows Media Player both seem to pick it up on the LAN. They attempt but just cannot cast to it, WMP reporting 'unexpected device error'. J River just goes from play into stop mode. I may have a corrupted  2.5 OS, as I am pretty sure I had it working the very first time I powered it up! I tried the re-boot and update on their GUI and all seemed successful!

WMP shows the mR as rendu-00e08f (2.2 OS) and rendu-00E08F (2.5 OS) i.e. caps for the latter which is part of the MAC address

Good to know that it has improved your SQ and hoping for a better experience myself but enjoying 2.2 for now!

B.

B,

If you haven't then I would uninstall the applet you are using then reload it.

M

M,

Thanks but I did try something like that to no avail.

I did:

delete >save> >reboot > reinstall the MPD/DLNA app hoping to roll it back, but it always seemed to auto update to the same version (20.6). Too clever!

2.5 OS Version - 20.6

GUI available Version  (2.3 OS ?) - 19.11

2.2 OS Version reported - 19.9

B.

Damn.

I would now email Jesus - helpful chap.

M

LPS-1 Cheap Upgrade

Having bought one 2nd hand I fitted into the system and noted some changes that I like in terms of detail ....but, I thought that my system had lost something in terms of tone/timbre. I found this had been noted by others as well, who had found a solution - the Sonore DC4 cable .....for $140 + tax.

Being cheap I found a Canare DC04 based cable with Oyaide connectors on eBay. Yep, tone & timbre restored.

If you are running with the standard cable I thoroughly recommend this.

M

I upgraded to 2.5 and can't keep my device "online" with the Lumin app.  I keep losing the mR.  Today it was mid listening session.  I can still get to the mR from a web browser, but the mr can not be streamed too by Lumin, until after a software reboot.

I'll have to do some troubleshooting.