(04-May-2016, 21:49)Gentleman Wrote: [ -> ] (04-May-2016, 15:47)Antoine Wrote: [ -> ]Again I don't agree. If it would be a problem most of the USB DAC's out there wouldn't work. Power is a standard requirement in the USB specs so this shouldn't be an issue as well. Also there's plenty of USB powered DAC's, the Mutec's aren't really that different.
Here I disagree, Antoine.
As many of us have experienced the Devialets do NOT need the 5 Volts power from the source to use the USB input. Moreover it is a known fact that the power supply inside an USB cable can degrade the SQ. Because of that some people have modified their USB cables for the use with a Devialet to improve the SQ. Additionally some reference grade USB cables (such as the fabulous JCAT Ref. USB) come with two cables (one for the signal only, the second to provide the power (which must not be connected to a Devialet)).
Furthermore some dedicated high end USB add-on cards come with jumpers to switch off the power supply of the USB output for better SQ.
I didn't mean with my hint that the MUTECs are special but I thought it is worth a reminder to those who use an USB connection without the 5 Volts with their Devialets. In fact this caused us some serious headache the first time we tried to install the MUTEC MC-1.2 between our source and the Devialet while still using a JCAT USB card with disabled 5 Volts.... 
In Dubio Pro Audio
Jan
Since you still mentioned: "So in fact we need to do some more research or tests if the USB-MUTECs will work with MELCO, AURENDER, etc." I thought you meant something else, namely that the Mutecs requiring the 5V (and actually using it as a power supply as well besides merely using the 5V for handshake initiation) would somehow pose an issue if people would use the Mutec with a Aurender, Melco or any other off the shelf streamer/music server. This would surely not be the case.
Of course people should need to check first if their USB DAC (or other USB audio device) needs the 5V first before trying to somehow 'block' the 5V lead.
(Off topic: I myself have owned a dual headed Kingrex cable quite a time ago, still own a Gigabyte mainboard in which I can disable the 5V, and have also experimented in blocking the 5V lead and disabling the 5V on my JCAT USB card but it never worked in my setup. No idea why it does work for other Devialet owners. I've tried both the mainboard as the JCAT card back then. Things would work with the 5V disconnected AFTER the initial handshake took place only. Doesn't matter anymore though now I use the Mutec MC-3+ USB
)
(04-May-2016, 21:58)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ]I compared a Canon USB printer cable to a Chord Sarum TA USB cable last year and the latter was much better. I was very surprised as I'm definitely a cable sceptic.
What were you printing?
(04-May-2016, 23:34)thumb5 Wrote: [ -> ] (04-May-2016, 21:58)PhilP Wrote: [ -> ]I compared a Canon USB printer cable to a Chord Sarum TA USB cable last year and the latter was much better. I was very surprised as I'm definitely a cable sceptic.
What were you printing?
Using the Chord Sarum my photos printed (tracks played) in full glorious colour, with the Canon printer cable they were monochrome
Comparison of Aurender N10, CAD CAT server, TotalDac d1-Server, Auralic Aries, Audiophile Vortex Box - thread on Head-Fi forum. Its a few months old but worth skimming through.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/787020/review-c...vortex-box
For those with short attention spans, here's the reviewer's conclusion:
As good as the TotalDac d1-Server and Aurender N10 are, the CAT is better. Not night and day better but better in important ways. The presentation is both smooth and effortless yet incisive at the same time. It embodies the tonal richness of the TotalDac d1-Server but outdoes the TotalDac in terms of tonal clarity. There is a more vivid sense of presence on vocals. It matches the soundstage of the N10 and improves on the N10s ability to render delicate details and subtle nuances. The bass on the CAT is fuller, tighter and better defined. The treble is well extended, maybe even a little more airy than the N10 but both excel here. It also lacks the slight digital edge present in the treble of the N10 that was not obvious except under direct comparison. Tracks that I previously considered bright now seem more tolerable.
Reading this makes me slightly annoyed that I listed to the W20 vs CAD CAT rather than N10 CAD CAT! However, I note these words from the review:
'After speaking with my Aurender dealer who had both units on hand and had good personal experience with each, his opinion was that unless you can take advantage of the dual AES/EBU output and external clock option of the W20, the N10 and W20 are sonically equivalent and so we mutually decided he would send me his N10 evaluation unit which was fortunately already well broken in.'
So if this is more or less true, then my conclusions from W20 vs CAD CAT should be more or less the same as N10 vs CAD CAT. One thing I recall from my last audition was that I preferred the bass from both the CAD CAT & the W20 to the Melco, the review above states 'The bass on the CAT is fuller, tighter and better defined.' (vs N10) I would say the W20 and CAD CAT sounded almost identical with respect to bass performance, but ultimately this must surely be very much down to system matching. Anyway, I normally end up reaching different conclusions to reviews, and I have an N10 audition planed for later in May......
I'm not sure if N10 and W20 sounds the same. They are built differently, first most is the power supply.
To be honest I'm very disappointed, if the Melco had sounded better I'd have gone to buy myself an N1ZH ?
Cross posting.
However, to clarify concerns posted earlier that the Mutec requires special drivers even for Mac OS/Linux installations, with the consent of Mutec CEO, Christian Peters, here's his response:
===
the MC-3+US requires only for Windows special drivers supplied on our website. When interconnecting it to MAC or Linux based computers, the MC-3+USB should work with them at once without the use of any driver. I cannot see a reason why your application should not work, presupposing the Melco keeps the Linux guidelines.
===
Hope that helps.
(07-May-2016, 03:00)tategoi Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not sure if N10 and W20 sounds the same. They are built differently, first most is the power supply.
To be honest I'm very disappointed, if the Melco had sounded better I'd have gone to buy myself an N1ZH ?
In my mind the only way to be certain is to take all three or four units home. Everything is so subjective and system dependent.
I have never tested the Aurender and Melcos back to back here, but I have compared both the N1A and N1Z to my reference, the d1 server from totaldac.
The N1Z was spectacular in every way. In fact I've almost bought one on several occasions.
But in terms of ownership propositions look no further than the totaldac: first to become RoonReady, free hardware upgrades (I only paid for shipping one way!) and fantastic service generally whereby Vincent answers my questions usually within the hour at any time of day or week. And it sounds seriously good.
Guillaume
(12-May-2016, 10:13)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ] (07-May-2016, 03:00)tategoi Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not sure if N10 and W20 sounds the same. They are built differently, first most is the power supply.
To be honest I'm very disappointed, if the Melco had sounded better I'd have gone to buy myself an N1ZH ?
In my mind the only way to be certain is to take all three or four units home. Everything is so subjective and system dependent.
I have never tested the Aurender and Melcos back to back here, but I have compared both the N1A and N1Z to my reference, the d1 server from totaldac.
The N1Z was spectacular in every way. In fact I've almost bought one on several occasions.
But in terms of ownership propositions look no further than the totaldac: first to become RoonReady, free hardware upgrades (I only paid for shipping one way!) and fantastic service generally whereby Vincent answers my questions usually within the hour at any time of day or week. And it sounds seriously good.
Guillaume
@Guillaume With the AIR 3 beta your view on totaldac still stands?
