Posts: 180
Threads: 18
Joined: Oct 2018
Reputation:
6
Can someone briefly explain “ground lifting”? When I googled it, the video that came up, the guy was actually cutting pin1 on the xlr. Is that what you guys are doing? Cutting the pin off your high end cables?
Posts: 29
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2016
Reputation:
3
27-Jan-2024, 09:46
(This post was last modified: 27-Jan-2024, 09:47 by Ecki.)
Astonishing effect on sound after desoldering Pin 1 at RCA-XLR adaptor for (D400 slave).
I thought of moving to the SPDIF way for slave connection (being able to use the trigger cable), but galvanic isolation is more complicated then (extra device).
Guess, i will also buy a special cable instead of SPDIF+adaptor.
In meantime i've established means of galvanic isolation for Ethernet-, USB- and slave inputs to great effect.
Posts: 29
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2016
Reputation:
3
Well, the sound character changed remarkably, stage is very different, even more pressure in bass.
But it has been a rather short listening session only and i have to wait if i really like all the changes as a whole...
What i'm wondering about:
i cannot remember any hints from reviewers on AES cable modifications (unfortunately i could not (re)find Devialet's instruction for adapting, but i believe they connected Pin 1).
Professional testers attested dual mono significant improvements in sound quality compared to a single unit - why did none of them try the mod?
Or does a super expensive cable with full connections achieve the same results? (i believe - no)
It's such an easy/cheap mod ... possibly saving thousands of dollars.
Posts: 29
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2016
Reputation:
3
10-Mar-2024, 17:00
(This post was last modified: 10-Mar-2024, 17:02 by Ecki.)
In meantime i found the sound to be not even unfamiliar but also worse to my taste.
It felt like a huge bowl around each speaker, concentrating to depth only. I also missed the crisp and punchy sound character of the system.
Things became more strange when listening with headphones (pre out of slave connected to headphone amp).
Finally i decided to reconnect Pin 1 for testing and now things are right again in my hearing.
To be honest, i have no idea what happened first w/o Pin 1 connected - i was deeply impressed in the beginning.
I ordered a new streamer which will allow to do w/o Devialet pre out and thus try to settle pure SPDIF connection from master to slave.
Posts: 253
Threads: 24
Joined: Feb 2018
Reputation:
9
10-Mar-2024, 20:56
(This post was last modified: 10-Mar-2024, 20:57 by chrisc.)
If the AES input is being used on the master amp, it is correct to assume that the recommended connection type would be RCA on the master to XLR on the slave?
Cape Town - South Africa, the home of good wine
Mercury Pi2 & Gentoo, Expert 440PRO CI. 4Tb SSD. ML Electromotion, REL sub. 2 x Dachshunds