Sonore Streamers

[Hifi_swlon]

Keep us hanging?  Not my intention sir!  The fact is that since getting the LPS-1 I have spent the vast majority of my time working jolly hard and logistically nowhere near my system, which makes A/B testing tricky.  Anyway, this morning I have had time to try a few things.  Being completely honest, when I read Hifi_swlon's request to do a comparison of LPS-1/mR vs the mR/iFi/Mutec I did initially think that was a bit bonkers, plus this would necessitate the horror and hassle of doing a new configuration for the Devialet's, as I did not have the USB input enabled.  I did change my mind though, for two reasons.  I am not actually that keen on the process of A/B testing, although I find it interesting I do not particularly enjoy doing it.  What I do like about A/B testing is the information it gives you, such that you form an understanding of what everything thing the chain is doing, contributing, adding and taking away.  The aim I think is to get to a point where you are totally happy that everything is fully optimised, then with your mind at rest you can enjoy the system, enjoy the music, without niggling thoughts entering you mind if something is not quite right or not.  Because of this philosophy, I did think that trying the mR + LPS-1 without the Mutec might actually be informative, and therefore useful.  The other reason for enabling the USB was information gathering regarding why the mR's shareport mode runs at 48kHz, but that is a post for another thread.

So I made a playlist of tracks, many of which were used for the 1000 Pro vs D800 audition which Oxford audio performed with an Aurender N10 running AES/EBU, so although this serves as a comparison, it is a comparison of the same system in a different room four months ago, however, there were a few memories from that audition that stuck in my mind, so I though this might be useful.  For the record, the LPS-1 has been connected to the mR and powered up 24/7 since Monday, and all listening was done via Roon RAAT to the mR.

Anyway, I ran through the playlist four times, LPS-1/mR/Mutec, then iFi/mR/Mutec (this was the test I was most interested in), then iFi/mR direct to Dev, then LPS-1/mR direct to Dev.  I have to say that A/B testing can be a bit confusing and mesmerising at times, so I am not sure if I would recommend this kind of A/B/C/D testing!  Anyway, starting with the LPS-1/mR/Mutec, all was sounding tremendous.  This was a very happy run through of the tracks.  I am very familiar with each of these tracks, and there were a few moments where it did indeed remind me of that Aurender N10 powered audition of the 1000 Pro.  I was just simply enjoying everything, it felt a bit like an 'end game' performance from the system and reinforced my view that the 1000 Pro is a very special bit of kit indeed.  Then to iFi/mR/Mutec.  To be honest, my feeling is that the Mutec is just so good that you could feed it anything and the end result would be OK, I was not really expecting any improvement from the LPS-1 to be that discernible once the Mutec had 'cleaned' everything.  That feeling was wrong.  Running with the iFi there was definitely something lost from the performance, and also I think something negative gained.  It is very hard to describe the effect in words, but there was a certain magic and insight to the music that was lost with the iFi back in place.  It is something in the finest details, a 1000 Pro strength I think, that was not quite there to the same extent with the iFi providing the power.  Also, there were a couple of track in the playlist that have quieter sections, then when everything kicks in they can sound a bit harsh and unpleasant.  The kind of music where you might be listening and enjoying, then when everything kicks in, you reach for the remote to turn the volume down with a slightly cringing expression on you face.  The LPS-1 appeared to excel in sections like this, with the cringing harsh bit being replaced with an insight into what the musicians are actually doing.  I was not expecting anything quite so apparent as this!  

Next up, the USB cable was unceremoniously removed from the Mutec, and the mR run direct to the Devialet.  There was a noticeable drop back in performance, more or less in all areas, but to be honest, not quite as much as I expected.  Previously I had noticed just how much the Mutec improved bass accuracy, and whilst this aspect could still be discerned, everything was still very listenable.  I have been asking myself if the USB implementation in the Pro is a touch better than the old Expert, maybe it is but I cannot be sure.  I then switched the LPS-1 back in, running LPS-1/mR/Dev.  Again, some of the magic returned, and the same observations of the improvement in the 'harsh bits' of certain tracks could be made.  In fact the LPS-1/mR/Dev set up was a very good listen.  To wrap up, the Mutec was then re-instated for a final listen.  To conclude, this was not quite the result I expected.  I thought that iFi Mutec would crush LPS-1 mR in terms of performance.  This was not the case, there were aspects of LPS-1/mR Dev that I preferred to iFi/mR/Mutec/Dev, whist at the same to you could see that benefits of the Mutec had gone.  It is clear to me that both the LPS-1 and Mutec are bringing something positive to the end result, and this shines though whatever combination you try them in.  Another conclusion I can reach is that I am genuinely surprised by just how much the LPS-1 contributes,  The level of contribution is more like you would expect by adding a superior box of electronics directly in the audio chain, rather than a 'mere' power supply, quite remarkable.

There are some practical observations here too.  The Mutec pull quite a lot of power via it's USB input.  With the iFi providing power, this does lead to the mR getting very hot and I have needed to botch up some additional cooling for the mR to mitigate.  With the 7v LPS-1, the mR simply gets reassuringly warm, much better.  However, the LPS-1 itself does get hot.  You can hold your hand on it long term without burning your skin, but it is hot enough to imagine that the meat in your fingers is getting slowly cooked.  Turn off the Mutec, and both the LPS-1 and mR run just warm.  So I think I may get into a routine of leaving the LPS-1 and mR powered up 24/7, and if I know I will be away from my system or otherwise not using it for a few days, I will simply turn the Mutec off.

EDIT:  Upgrade alert!  So impressed am I with the little LPS-1, that already thoughts have started forming in my mind about getting another one, in this case to power the Mutec.  All you need to know really....

Dammit! I knew you'd say all that!!

Oh well, another purchase to add to the list and (possibly) another redundant supply.

(Was only joking about the keeping us hanging btw)