01-Feb-2015, 13:37
(This post was last modified: 01-Feb-2015, 13:38 by GuillaumeB.)
Last night I changed the firmware on my d1 server. I had previously installed a version that supports MPD, UPnP, Airplay etc
It's a bit of a faff since you need to remove a fiddly little micro SD card from the back of the unit and using an adapter burn an image of the operating system on the card which is 16 gigabytes!
Anyway I installed the version that is for MPAD only and according to Vincent sounds better, since everything is optimised to give the best possible sound quality with pre-loading of tracks. In Vincent's own words it is "very focused on very resolving and balanced systems".
Oh my goodness! I couldn't quite believe the improvement. I listened to the same album before and after I made the change. The album was Stacey Kent - The Changing Lights, in 24/41.1
The improvement was unmistakable. Stacey Kent's voice just sounded more natural and "in the room". It's like the focus sharpened and there was a better sense of where the instruments were in the room.
When you think you've done just about everything to optimise your system and an improvement like this comes along unexpectedly it certainly puts a smile on your face!
Think I'll be sticking with this version for the time being.
Guillaume
It's a bit of a faff since you need to remove a fiddly little micro SD card from the back of the unit and using an adapter burn an image of the operating system on the card which is 16 gigabytes!
Anyway I installed the version that is for MPAD only and according to Vincent sounds better, since everything is optimised to give the best possible sound quality with pre-loading of tracks. In Vincent's own words it is "very focused on very resolving and balanced systems".
Oh my goodness! I couldn't quite believe the improvement. I listened to the same album before and after I made the change. The album was Stacey Kent - The Changing Lights, in 24/41.1
The improvement was unmistakable. Stacey Kent's voice just sounded more natural and "in the room". It's like the focus sharpened and there was a better sense of where the instruments were in the room.
When you think you've done just about everything to optimise your system and an improvement like this comes along unexpectedly it certainly puts a smile on your face!
Think I'll be sticking with this version for the time being.Guillaume
Industry disclosure: UK distributor for Shunyata Research
220 PRO, totaldac d1 server with additional external power supply, totaldac d1-seven, Echole PSU for Totaldac, Wilson Audio Sasha 2, Shunyata Research cables, Shunyata Hydra Alpha A10 + DPC-6 v3, Various Entreq ground boxes and cables, Entreq Athena level 3 rack, 2 X SOtM sNH-10G with sCLK-EX + 10MHz Master Clock input + sPS-500 PSU, i5 sonicTransporter w/ 1TB SSD
UK
