Installed the Red in my friend's system today, who is using a PS Audio Directstream DAC feeding MBL monoblocks.
We had to first open up the Red to switch the input voltage to 110V (it has a switch next to the transformer for this) and change the fuse to the appropriate rating for 110V. The build quality of the Red is out of this world, really solid and the internal casework is very elaborate. Had to remove more screws than expected to access the transformer, but it wasn't too difficult to do.
Some interesting findings:
The Red's I2S output is not fully compatible with the PS Audio I2S input. It works fine for DSD signals, but for PCM signals, the PS Audio DAC will apply a pre-emphasis filter which rolls off the highs. This means you would want to use the AES output for PS Audio DACs.
We compared the sound to the Singxer SU-6 acting as DDC, connected to the USB output of the Red. The Singxer was connected to the PS Audio DAC using I2S which works fine (no pre-emphasis issue with PCM signals). Without any tweaks, the Singxer sounded different but was not that impressive.
Next we added the ifi USB iDefender to inject clean 5V from a linear power supply into the USB cable feeding the Singxer. This significantly opened up the sound and now the Singxer sounded very clearer better than the Red's direct output. Bigger and deeper soundstage and smoother highs.
So that's the final configuration for his system:
Red --- USB (+5V from Linear PSU) --> Singxer --- I2S HDMI --> PS Audio Directstream
We had to first open up the Red to switch the input voltage to 110V (it has a switch next to the transformer for this) and change the fuse to the appropriate rating for 110V. The build quality of the Red is out of this world, really solid and the internal casework is very elaborate. Had to remove more screws than expected to access the transformer, but it wasn't too difficult to do.
Some interesting findings:
The Red's I2S output is not fully compatible with the PS Audio I2S input. It works fine for DSD signals, but for PCM signals, the PS Audio DAC will apply a pre-emphasis filter which rolls off the highs. This means you would want to use the AES output for PS Audio DACs.
We compared the sound to the Singxer SU-6 acting as DDC, connected to the USB output of the Red. The Singxer was connected to the PS Audio DAC using I2S which works fine (no pre-emphasis issue with PCM signals). Without any tweaks, the Singxer sounded different but was not that impressive.
Next we added the ifi USB iDefender to inject clean 5V from a linear power supply into the USB cable feeding the Singxer. This significantly opened up the sound and now the Singxer sounded very clearer better than the Red's direct output. Bigger and deeper soundstage and smoother highs.
So that's the final configuration for his system:
Red --- USB (+5V from Linear PSU) --> Singxer --- I2S HDMI --> PS Audio Directstream
Devialet 1000 Pro CI - AQ Diamond AES
PC - ifi iDefender+ - FIBBR Alpha Optical USB + "Studer 900" LPS - Singxer SU-6
PSB Imagine T3 - AQ William Tell Zero / Tornado / DBS Level-X - PliXir Balanced AC
