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Full Version: Which streaming input on the Devialet sounds best to you?
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Hi all,

My Devialet D-Premier will return coming Friday (upgraded to 240/250 specs) so I haven't tested everything myself yet but I am really curious which streaming input (USB, WiFi or ethernet) on the Devialet sounds best to you in your system? If you prefer to use a device other than Devialet that does uPnP for example and connect that to a digital or analog input, you could vote for uPnP as well.

I am also curious as to what you are using as a 'music server' playback machine (Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/Server 2012.../Apple OS X version 'x') and playback software (eg. JRiver, Amarra, ...) and if you made any modifications to the system (eg. installed PPA Studio or SoTM USB interface, used a linear power supply, used the Audiophile Optimizer software, CAD scripts,etc.) or used any special cables (USB, ethernet, ...) or networking equipment between the Devialet and the 'server'.

Up to today I myself have used a common hardware but separate Windows 8 PC (powered on 24/7) as a server with JRiver Media Center 19 and WiFi AIR. I remote control it with JRemote on an iPad. The new inputs on the upgraded 240/250 will give me extra options to experiment with. In the coming weeks I'll start experimenting myself as well using a dedicated machine (the Windows 8 machine now also functions as a NAS/backup server/Sickbeard-/mail server) and maybe some special hardware so I can't give my own vote yet. Smile

Best regards,

Antoine.
Hi Antoine,
I'm going to sit on the fence!
I use a Mac mini (OS X 10.9.2) with JRiver. I really can't tell the difference between AIR wireless and ethernet.
I was previously streaming direct from my Synology DS213J NAS via USB, using the Synology's native Audiostation media player. This was less good than the current Mac/JRiver set-up.
Cheers,
Matt
Hi guys.

I am currently using windows server/audiophile optimiser/jplay with direct ethernet connection (static ip, no switch) with Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable.

Way better than my old mac mini / Audirvana setup.

There are many factors affecting the sound quality, like power (my notebook sounds considerably better when run on batteries), file type used ( wav or uncompressed flac much better than compressed flac) or even the storage medium used (files not on system disk, preferably on some solid state) so make your comparisons taking these on account.

Cheers...
Hi Antoine,

in your poll I miss the direct ethernet connection, which sounds best to me. It is indeed a small difference, but I don't have to send the signal over the router. My "only for music" Mac mini sits next to my Devialet. Player software is itunes. The cable is a short Neyton ethernet cable, which is not very expensive, but I think every ethernet cable with good plugs (!) will do.

Second best for me is USB. I have Amarra as player software. You can be very happy with this solution. USB cable has influence.

I have a little problem with AIR Wifi: there are sometimes interrupts with 24/192 files. Maybe my router is too far away, about 9 meters. No problems with 24/96 and under.

Klaus
Thanks guys for answering!! Smile As I myself am in the planning/"design" phase I find it very useful to know your findings and it might help others as well of course.

I myself am most likely to follow the path that Kunter and Beerman took: ethernet and a dedicated machine. Great to see that the Windows server option with Audiophile Optimizer (http://www.highend-audiopc.com) works (I was still wondering if it did since I thought you still need to run the AIR software and so haven't bought any new hardware yet).

@Kunter, do you run the playback machine in core mode or do you need the GUI mode for running AIR and JPlay? And do you have the DualPC setup? (so using an additional control PC/Mac besides the playback machine directly connected to the Devialet)

@beerman, I can't myself edit the poll but the option you mention (direct ethernet) I think is the option "AIR ethernet" I mentioned in the poll or did I miss an additional way to use the ethernet port without the AIR software installed on a PC or Mac?
My experience with Air WiFi has been a bit painful so I'm looking forward to having the time to sit down and give Air Ethernet a go.

UPnP via the MooN 180 gives amazing results so I think that is the way to go at the moment in my opinion (that may soon change though...)!
(28-May-2014, 17:08)Kunter Wrote: [ -> ]Hi guys.

I am currently using windows server/audiophile optimiser/jplay with direct ethernet connection (static ip, no switch) with Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable.

Way better than my old mac mini / Audirvana setup.

There are many factors affecting the sound quality, like power (my notebook sounds considerably better when run on batteries), file type used ( wav or uncompressed flac much better than compressed flac) or even the storage medium used (files not on system disk, preferably on some solid state) so make your comparisons taking these on account.

Cheers...

Hi Kunter,
Not wanting to start a fight, but could I just observe that there are lots of people who'll have problems with this.
They'll say, for instance, that it's easy to prove that AIFF, WAV, FLAC and ALAC files sound identical. Simply by nulling them against one another you can show that they all contain exactly the same musical data.
The same applies to ethernet cables. The ethernet protocol contains data checking. If any data is lost in transmission it gets resent until it's correct. Any two ethernet cables will transmit exactly the same data.
Power supplies are a bit more controversial, but if you're running your system via wireless or ethernet, the PSU of the sending device can have no impact on the data transmitted to the receiving device.
Cheers!
Matt
In addition it's worth noting that in the past Devialet themselves have recommended AES/EBU as the digital connector of choice for external sources. Why this is I can't recall. I have a Simaudio Moon MiND 180 and have compared AES vs S/PDIF indirectly and AES sounds a tiny bit sharper and more detailed to me. I use S/PDIF purely because I managed to snag a secondhand Transparent Reference XL S/PDIF cable recently. I'm perfectly happy with S/PDIF. Would be nice to try USB but the MiND has no USB output.
Hi,did ask around about this,Since i also have a S/PDIF out on my digi player like you they did come up with this solution :

DEVIALET answer on this was :The D-Premier offers full Hi-Resolution playback (24bits/192kHz) capabilities on all digital inputs including the optical ones. We recommend using the AES /EBU input whenever possible, as it is the most insensitive to long connecting cables or electro-magnetic disturbances. It is important to use a genuine 110Ω digital cable

Logitech grounder Sean Adams when i did ask him about the digital out on the transporter :AES/EBU is a defective technology, use coax S/PDIF instead Smile


DEVIALET answer : As hybrid cables are hard to find on the market, I would suggest taking a genuine 75 Ohm digital cable (RCA to RCA) and modify one end to fit a male XLR plug

And so i did

cid:C7B6AC3D-FA81-462B-A393-4F7C5291C837@Inteno
(28-May-2014, 18:02)Antoine Wrote: [ -> ]@beerman, I can't myself edit the poll but the option you mention (direct ethernet) I think is the option "AIR ethernet" I mentioned in the poll or did I miss an additional way to use the ethernet port without the AIR software installed on a PC or Mac?

Hi Antoine,

Almost the same. Almost.

What I mean with "direct ethernet" is just a (short) ethernet cable between computer and the Devialet.
In my opinion the "purest" or "straightest" connection" between the Dev and the source.
You don't have to go over a router, you have fewer plug-connections, you have a short signal path, wich will be lesser influenced by various factors.
itunes is just used as a file management, the Dev gets the files bit-perfect and does sample-rate changing. No other software needed.
(Maybe wrong in this case, but how I understand it, also jitter don't play a role in an ethernet connection).

But I have to confess, the differences between the ways to connect are very small (but audible), at least in my system, it depends on personal taste. I think there is no best way at all. You have to try for yourself and maybe in every music system is another way the better.

Klaus
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