13-May-2017, 10:42
The truth. Version 1.
I enjoyed reading Jean-Marie's earlier post, and I found myself agreeing with more or less every word. It also makes me think back to my recent experimentation with the Aqvox Ethernet switch. Irrespective of what I thought it might be doing, it was hard to escape the fact that when trying it both with AIR and the microRendu / Mutec combo. you could pull the 'output' Ethernet cable from the Aqvox and music continued to play for a second or so. It also claims to reduce 'noise', but in my set-up I can play one of those 'secret tracks' that you used to get at the end of CD's, with 5 minutes of silence before the 'secret track', I can play the silent bit, crank the Devialet uo to +10dB or something, and all I can hear is silence. What exactly is all this noise doing? Nothing it would appear. I have read much on here and other forums recently of people trying all sorts of noise reduction devices, upstream reclocking devices and declaring great 'discoveries'. If someone else writes that a 'veil has been lifted' (another one?) or their system 'is taken to another level' (again?) I think my head will explode! It is not inconceivable to me that that most, if not all, of what is being observed is in the range of confirmation bias, expectation bias, placebo effect and so on. Frankly, 99% of it is utter nonsense. It's good business for the people selling these devices I guess, but I think we would all benefit form being more logical, cynical and saving our cash for stuff that might actually work.
The truth. Version 2.
Recently I have been taking great interest in some of the threads over on 'Computer Audiophile'. There is a group of guys that have been experimenting with 'direct connection' of devices such as the microRendu and sMS-200, that is connection via Ethernet without router or Ethernet switches. Pretty much universally those that have tried this have claimed good results. It does not stop there though. More recently there has been some experimenting with using multiple clocks upstream of the DAC. What appears to be emerging is much evidence that using multiple clocking devices in serial, with the very best clock being the one before the DAC, is obtaining significant improvements in sound quality. An example of what these guys are trying is stuff like using an 'Ultra' modified sMS-200, together with the tX-USBultra, and using spare clock 'taps' to provide superior clocking to the upstream Ethernet switch. Fascinating stuff, and this genuinely appears to be yielding some solid results. This experimentation is ongoing and is yet to reach it's conclusion. For example, now it is established that adding extra clocks upstream works, then how far can this go? Presumably there will come a point where no further benefit is reached, or indeed thing get worse due to noise and losses. This is fascinating stuff and it will be interesting to see how it develops. Of course all this may appear too extreme for some, something for the fanatics and hobbyists only, but I am not so sure. Indeed, it would be easy enough to run the new say the sMS-200Ultra with a tXUSBultra, yielding end results that the more conventional hifi manufactures would charge you five time times the price to achieve. Of course it would be easy to dismiss all this 'Computer Audiophile' stuff using the tired old 'bits are bits' arguments and dismissing these 'new findings' as being delusions in the minds of fanatic hobbyists, with the reality being that they are just victims of confirmation bias, expectation bias, placebo effect. I believe this would be quite wrong, and indeed insulting to those concerned. Some of these guys are highly experienced in this game and very well respected. Some of them spend a considerable time on forums, so will be well aware of the psychological pitfalls of testing hifi kit, these guys are not 'newbies', they are very intelligent and highly experienced individuals. I for one am following their good work with interest. If you look at the new kit emerging from the likes of SOtM, UptoneAudio, Sonore, and so on, together with the very clever and experienced 'experimentalists' on Computer Audiophile, I cannot help thinking that we are entering a very exciting phase with 'digital front ends'. I think we could be on the verge of some real breakthroughs in low cost, high performance kit, and indeed some real breakthroughs in understanding why all this 'bits are bits' stuff is just so wrong.
I enjoyed reading Jean-Marie's earlier post, and I found myself agreeing with more or less every word. It also makes me think back to my recent experimentation with the Aqvox Ethernet switch. Irrespective of what I thought it might be doing, it was hard to escape the fact that when trying it both with AIR and the microRendu / Mutec combo. you could pull the 'output' Ethernet cable from the Aqvox and music continued to play for a second or so. It also claims to reduce 'noise', but in my set-up I can play one of those 'secret tracks' that you used to get at the end of CD's, with 5 minutes of silence before the 'secret track', I can play the silent bit, crank the Devialet uo to +10dB or something, and all I can hear is silence. What exactly is all this noise doing? Nothing it would appear. I have read much on here and other forums recently of people trying all sorts of noise reduction devices, upstream reclocking devices and declaring great 'discoveries'. If someone else writes that a 'veil has been lifted' (another one?) or their system 'is taken to another level' (again?) I think my head will explode! It is not inconceivable to me that that most, if not all, of what is being observed is in the range of confirmation bias, expectation bias, placebo effect and so on. Frankly, 99% of it is utter nonsense. It's good business for the people selling these devices I guess, but I think we would all benefit form being more logical, cynical and saving our cash for stuff that might actually work.
The truth. Version 2.
Recently I have been taking great interest in some of the threads over on 'Computer Audiophile'. There is a group of guys that have been experimenting with 'direct connection' of devices such as the microRendu and sMS-200, that is connection via Ethernet without router or Ethernet switches. Pretty much universally those that have tried this have claimed good results. It does not stop there though. More recently there has been some experimenting with using multiple clocks upstream of the DAC. What appears to be emerging is much evidence that using multiple clocking devices in serial, with the very best clock being the one before the DAC, is obtaining significant improvements in sound quality. An example of what these guys are trying is stuff like using an 'Ultra' modified sMS-200, together with the tX-USBultra, and using spare clock 'taps' to provide superior clocking to the upstream Ethernet switch. Fascinating stuff, and this genuinely appears to be yielding some solid results. This experimentation is ongoing and is yet to reach it's conclusion. For example, now it is established that adding extra clocks upstream works, then how far can this go? Presumably there will come a point where no further benefit is reached, or indeed thing get worse due to noise and losses. This is fascinating stuff and it will be interesting to see how it develops. Of course all this may appear too extreme for some, something for the fanatics and hobbyists only, but I am not so sure. Indeed, it would be easy enough to run the new say the sMS-200Ultra with a tXUSBultra, yielding end results that the more conventional hifi manufactures would charge you five time times the price to achieve. Of course it would be easy to dismiss all this 'Computer Audiophile' stuff using the tired old 'bits are bits' arguments and dismissing these 'new findings' as being delusions in the minds of fanatic hobbyists, with the reality being that they are just victims of confirmation bias, expectation bias, placebo effect. I believe this would be quite wrong, and indeed insulting to those concerned. Some of these guys are highly experienced in this game and very well respected. Some of them spend a considerable time on forums, so will be well aware of the psychological pitfalls of testing hifi kit, these guys are not 'newbies', they are very intelligent and highly experienced individuals. I for one am following their good work with interest. If you look at the new kit emerging from the likes of SOtM, UptoneAudio, Sonore, and so on, together with the very clever and experienced 'experimentalists' on Computer Audiophile, I cannot help thinking that we are entering a very exciting phase with 'digital front ends'. I think we could be on the verge of some real breakthroughs in low cost, high performance kit, and indeed some real breakthroughs in understanding why all this 'bits are bits' stuff is just so wrong.
1000 Pro - KEF Blade - iFi Zen Stream - Mutec REF10 - MC3+USB - Pro-Ject Signature 12
