Mutec MC-3+ USB

[Kwan]

Just to share my test result of different combination of Roon / HQP / mutec usage with my Devialet.

AB tested (again) among below config :
1. Roon RAAT streaming to sms-200 -> mutec -> Devialet AES input, Roon DSP disabled
2. Roon RAAT streaming to sms-200 -> mutec -> Devialet AES input, Roon DSP upsample to power of 2 for PCM, DSD inact (let mutec do the down sampling to PCM)
3. Roon + HQP NAA stream to sms-200 -> mutec -> Devialet AES input, HQP upsample PCM to 176/192, downsample DSD to 176  (so mutec just re-colock, no DSD to PCM conversion)
4. Room + Air, Roon DSP disabled
5. Roon RAAT streaming to sms-200 -> Devialet USB input (for DSD playback and decode by its MAT DSD core)

Air always give a relax / pleasant sound, regardless of up sampling or not, if not doing AB test or serious listening, I may settle with it.
Whenever up sampling is used, HQP always win Roon DSP, although Roon DSP is not bad
Whenever there is DSD conversion to PCM, the performance from best to worst is :
1. Devialet MAT DSD core conversion
2. mutec on PAR with HQP, to my ear and gear, they are slightly diff style, so some may pick one over another.
4. Roon DSP, although Roon DSP is not bad

For PCM playback, config 1 & 3 are the best to me, mutec / AES input play an important role here, whether up sample or not.
For DSD playback, config 5 is the best to me, I guess the MAT DSD convesrion in 40/384 floating point overcome the AES 24/192 limitation, but the sound style is also closer to USB input, and farther away from AES's style. config 2 & 3 are on PAR and take the 2nd best together, HQP is a little more on extension and details, and mutec a little more on texture and body.

Hope this won't be too complicated ^^: