Great discovering a really good piece of gear Gary which exceeds expectations. :)
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Great discovering a really good piece of gear Gary which exceeds expectations. :)
Yup, 100%.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Like your Holo Cyan 2 Dac Jim, it’s nice when it happens.
I just bought one of these. By the time I checked out I got charged £513 including shipping.
The AIYIMA DM100 has sold out everywhere, so I did some looking around for something with HDMI out. The spec of this is better than the AIYIMA. For the cash it is insane, IMHO.
https://eweat.com/audio-video/hifi-music-streamer-d35/
After doing Whittlebury this weekend and also Munich last year I reckon the Wadax Studio is outstanding. This time the 3 box version. Just the single unit is fantastic, though. I'm not parting with that kind of money, however.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...898c0b1844.jpg
FWIW I also spent quite a bit of time listening to the Hi-Fi Rose RS130 in this system with large OBs yesterday and today.
TBH very hard to assess the RS130 but too many unknowns to know. But I did pick up a kind of glass edged crystalline quality I wasn't that fond of for whatever reason.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...db58c42b9f.jpg
All that care and attention, yet they can't be bothered to provide a true 75Ohm BNC coaxial output socket! Also does the engraving of musical notes on the heat-sinks improve the overall performance?
You criticising my amazing purchase, Barry?Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Tut, tut, I dunno.
The T8 has a better clock in it. But via the JLSounds USB card in my DAC it shouldn't matter.
TBH I actually like the optical interface to my DAC best. Be interesting if it is still true with this unit.
:lol: I was being fussy, but for £500 it not too much to ask for decent coaxial interface. Engraving the heatsinks involves additional and unnecessary costs but doesn't improve the performance. Otherwise I like it, and looks to be good value.
It's a risk there are zero reviews. But it does pack some good stuff for the cash, including a better PS than the AIYIMA.
I find almost all the digital transport designs have annoyance factors I can't accept. I reckon it's an OK bunch of compromises.
Anyway, back to the T8;)
There are a few different Eversolo groups on Facebook if that’s of interest Gary .
Nice bit of kit that Justin, value looks off the scale for what you get.
Enjoy,
hope it ticks the box for you. :)
@Robin
Yeah, I’ve since joined a couple of em, great resource I think?
It's shipped out today but will take quite a while to arrive I suspect. Just read the manual and it is in well written English. That's not right for Chi-Fi. Something MUST be wrong, Gary, LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
:popcorn::popcorn:
Streaming related… call it an experiment?
Coming this week, have a play at the Weekend.
What Sorcery is this?!Quote:
Originally Posted by User211
:uhho:
:popcorn:
Fun with cables...
Very surprised by the sound Im getting from the Eversolo streamer I want to max it out, without being silly about it.
So a couple of things in the pipeline. :)
First up:
I recently got fiber to the home broadband, and a fancy new Router.
Currently its just plugged into the wall using the cheap wall brick supply.
I want to improve this by powering it from a linear supply, directly fed from the balanced mains.
To do this I'm repurposing a 7A Maplin CB radio linear supply I got back in the day to power my Beresford Dac.
https://images2.imgbox.com/52/00/O3DxQK9a_o.jpg
Been sitting in the cupboard for years, time to be useful again!
Theres a Pot inside you can adjust so it outputs 12V, exactly what the new Router requires. WIll confirm with the Multimeter.
Just need to snip the plug off the Router cable end and solder to the Duelund cable, then connect it to the Maplin supply.
Will twist the two cores along its length to help reduce noise.
I bought 6m of Duelund tin plated copper PVC insulated 12GA mains cable to make up a mains lead, two terminal + and - from the PSU.
Love this cable, use the cotton dialectric 12ga version as speaker cable, not heard better in my system.
The Router is double insulated, so just a 2-core connection to the mains.
The 3pin plug from the Maplin supply connects to a star earthed distribution block, fed by one of the output tails from the balanced mains.
Very clean power, next to no noise floor.
Clean power always good practice. Everything is influenced by it’s power supply.
So how do you think the T8 compares to a dedicated fan less streaming PC with all the right bits inside?
I would say I am asking for a friend, but that would by lying.
Kevin,
I used to design and build the things, (Hifi Choice 5* Award winner ya know!) and the T8 sounds better than any Server Ive ever built or owned.
It just points the stream to your Dac without adding anything?
If it was noisy I'd hear it in my system and its dead quiet.
Read reviews of it saying soundwise it gets 98% the way towards the Hifi Rose RS130, which was my first possible choice.
The UI and software experience is second to none, its actually a pleasure to use and everyting makes sense and is where it should be.
Constant firmware updates address any niggles and add new features.
Forum support from Manufacturer is excellent - always something I look for.
Its a crackin' bit of kit, I'd recommend it to anyone.
It plays well with far more expensive kit and doesn't put any bottleneck on performance.
:thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
I have read the reviews, which is why I made the suggestion earlier in the thread.
I also know about your previous activities. ;)
Hence the question....
The second thing I looked at was something I'd never even thought about before,
potential for "noise on the line" from Ethernet cables?
The Eversolo has a SFP Fibre Ethernet input as well as the usual RJ45 Ethernet, and thats something Im doing some homework on,
but in the meantime as far as normal Ethernet cables goes, I hadnt ever strayed from trusty Bluejeans Cat6 unshielded cables.
Im looking to max out the Eversolo streaming quality, so took a punt on 3 different Ethernet cables to compare to the Bluejeans.
I did my usual rummaging around various forums for opinions and reviews, to help suss out the ones that came closest to that "diminishing returns sweet spot" I try to look for?
Tried the usual Forum suspects, Audiophile Style (ex Computer Audiophile), DCS forums, Naim, Head-Fi and a few higher end American forums too.
I wanted to avoid any Marketing led Manufacturers (Looking at you Audioquest) and stick to those who were (to me at least) based on sound engineering and design principles.
Came up with 3 cables, 2 from the same manufacturer.
1. Japanese company, Neotech UPOCC ethernet cables.
Cable website and info HERE:
https://www.neotechcable.com/Ethernet-UP-OCC-Silver-Cable.html
They do two, based around some solid engineering Some Internet Blurb on it:
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/sit...08-drawing.jpg
Neotech is a prominent manufacturer of high-end audio cables that utilizes
Ohno Continuous Casting (OCC) technology to produce ultra-pure, single-crystal copper and silver conductors.
This casting process was developed by Professor Atsumi Ohno of the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan.
So pretty good so far?
I picked up the 3008 Copper version and the 1008 solid silver version.
https://images2.imgbox.com/1b/02/F3pI4ZRg_o.jpg
The 3008 Copper cable
https://images2.imgbox.com/20/6d/cq45EZLc_o.jpg
Compared to the Bluejeans Cat6 I was using?
https://images2.imgbox.com/1a/bb/GZ9brqsl_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/8a/0b/sYmxcNuw_o.jpg
its a thick boy!
And the Silver core version
https://images2.imgbox.com/64/56/Tzzp3PKT_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/65/c0/a6fMBZAL_o.jpg
Serious plug construction on these
The third cable was from Melco/ Dela (who do Servers and the like. This is their latest cable the C100. Another forum favorite
https://images2.imgbox.com/45/8f/5Q1mNtcd_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/37/11/HGDrOvtv_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/07/5d/P1df90Q6_o.jpg
Far more "normal" construction than the Neotechs, but it does have a party trick in that it is only grounded at one end, to drain any potential noise on the cable to ground?Another "Engineering Principle" based cable which seems to be close to that "sweet spot", one guy on one of the American forums sold his Nordost Hemdall II (very expensive) as the C100 was "noticably" better sounding.
So that caught my attention!
As always though, the proof is in the listening - but this is a very good place to start, to hear for myself in my own System.
The plan was to compare to what I have already, keep the best one and return the rest?
That was the theory anyway... as it happens Im only returning one - replacing the Bluejeans Cat6 on the AppleTV has very unexpected (and dramatic!) results.
Only hooked it up to the AppleTV to help run it in a bit while I was listening to the Neotech on the streamer, but immediuate improvement in Picture and sound from the AppleTV... Crikey!
Decided it was worth replacing the Ethernet cable on the AppleTV as well.
Tried WIFI as a sanity check, everything fell apart, so a good ethernet cable here is definitely worth it. Difference on 4K Streams from Netflix and the like, even YouTube, was really something.
Initial results:
Had about 4 days burning in of the copper Neotech and the Melco, alternated between the two on the Eversolo. Not anywhere NEAR the final sound of these cables but a good starting point.
Trusting my Guy instinct on this one, and not over thinking it. Its usually right. :)
PREFERRED THE NEOTECH - A Bigger more dynamic and transparent sound. More energy to it.
More a front seat presentation which is a great combination with the "mature" very realistic sound of my May KTE dac. Great synergy.
The Melco is more laid back sounding, more of a "few rows back" type presentation?
Synergy not as good in the system, sounds great, a lot better than the Bluejeans, but not as good as the Neotech copper.
So the question was Neotech Copper vs Silver for the Eversolo.
Online chatter about the Silver Neotech:
A couple of guys on the Naim Forum found it very bright and sharp in their systems and returned it, instead going for the likes of the Shunyata Sigma cable (at just under 3 Grand!)
Others with higher end systems (a Swedish high end Hifi group) preferred the Neotech over anything else!
SO need to hear it for myself in my own system.
Would it be too bright, being silver?
I suspected not, with the May Dac having the sound that it does? (think the Opposite of whatever "digital glare" is)
But needed to hear for myself so plumbed it in tonight for the first time.
:eek:
Fresh out the box Its better than the copper, a lot better.
More transparent, the mid and top end has a clarity and snap that just draws you in.
And its not harsh or bright at all.
A lot more to come from this cable, solid silver cable in a ballache to burn in, so preparing for a bit of a rollercoaster.
But the Neotech Silver is the one Im using to get the most out of the Eversolo T8.
*EDIT*
Tried the unused Neotech Copper in the AppleTV to compare with the Melco cable for Movie watching and stuff?
Neotech is noticably better with the AppleTV as well, much more Pop to the picture, better contrast and subtle details in the picture brought out better, even in the quieter scenes.
So not just more flash bang whallop, but subtle details that draw you in as well.
The Neotech is a better cable than the Melco, whether Copper or Silver.
So in the battle of the different Engineering Principles:
OCC casting beats out grounding on one side only.
The old "grounded cable as an antenna" discussion doesn't apply here, maybe in part due to the Eversolo’s emphasis on internal electrical isolation?
Oh,
The Neotech is directional too, not interested in flipping it around to try as its its so unweildy and you could tow a car with it - it stays where it is! :D
More to come as the Silver Neotech cable burns in, and when I hook up the Router be be powered with linear PSU directly from balanced Mains - so happy to stick a fork in this one and call it Done.
MAY tried optical fibre Ethernet with the T8’s SFP Ethernet port, mostly good reports but some claims of a Clinical sound from it?
Only one way to find out, but that’s for another day… maybe.
Yeah... !Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
Id suggest to your Friend Kevin to go for a T8 over a PC based solution :)
Streamer Tech has caught up with Hairshirt PC Build nowadays I’d say.
Innovative Technology integration to the “Norm” has always been the driver for cheaper stuff sounding better, so I’d say we are in a good place right now.
Sure there’s a formula out there, but what we have nowadays would have cost you a LOT more as recently as 10 years ago?
Its a sliding scale, but that’s how it should be.
Brilliant cable evaluation and hopefully the implementation brings about uplift.
I have limited experience in Ethernet cable technology but I do know routers, network switches, network filters etc can all make a difference and I was surprised at how effective an English electric EE1 was in the chain.
Ultimately I would have thought the fibre conversion route may bring about a significant difference.
I have a feeling I will be exploring this whole area soon myself If I find a T8 or a Zen NG does a better job than my current set up!:)
Thanks James.
The fibre Ethernet is an interesting one,
know when my new Broadband was fitted (full fibre to the Property) sound quality
streaming Roon improved.
Not too spendy to try Fibre Ethernet to the streamer, which is good.
Heard mostly good reports on it, a fair few though telling of slightly clinical sound quality it can bring?
I reckon those are from folks who’s gear is maybe revealed not in a good way when the noise from Ethernet is removed with fibre?
As always, it’s all about how nicely it plays with the rest of the Kit?
Who knows right, until you try it in your own System?
I had reservations based purely upon what I’d read about silver cables, so went into it with a bit of trepidation?
For my setup everything being fully balanced and balanced mains powered I reckon I’ve got noise down pretty well, more so when I lash up the mains cable/linear PSU for the Router too.
Zero harshness or “brightly lit” listening fatigue here from the silver Ethernet cable, and that’s with it just plugged in.
Just improved audio.
From experience some time on it will improve it?
Sounds terrific right now, So bollocks to “online wisdom” I say.
Hear it for yourself, 100%
Will have a play with fibre Ethernet at some point, but really enjoying what I’m hearing with the new streaming setup.
Speaking of which,
Eversolo’s brought out a new Firmware update for the T8, the 3rd since I’ve got mine.
Can download and install directly from the App, great stuff.
Great support from the Manufacturer.
I bought a Stack Audio Smoothlan Regenerator which made an improvement to my ears. Might be worth a try mate.
Cheers Ali,Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
I'll look into it mate.
Interesting bit of kit, Paul Rigby likes it which is normally a good sign for me.
"Sometimes accessories and ancillaries help improve the overall sound of a HiFi chain and do so by degrees which is useful, sure. The Regenerator goes much further than that. It improves sound as if you’ve just bought a new streamer, server or some such. That is the leap in sonic improvement here and you hear those improvements right across the frequency spectrum."
https://theaudiophileman.com/smoothl...m-stack-audio/
Yeah it is, I certainly thought it made things better.
They sometimes sell B stock on ebay for a cheaper price, worth keeping an eye out.
As always.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
Thanks Ali, appreciate the help.
No worries mate. :-)
Ok,
just installed Bandcamp as an App on the Eversolo, one of my favourite music discovery Apps.
Can buy the album directly from the App and the Artists get a decent chunk of the money. As it should be.
Sounds great too, reduced quality compared to full 16/44 but not by much.
Plenty enough to enjoy the music, and a easy way to buy the full quality album.
This streamer is terrific.
The versatility reminds me of the LMS ecosystem, being able to just install plugins for what you want by “side loading” Apk files.
Less hassle though than LMS, no need for a separate server PC and endpoint, one box does all.
Zero lag or glitches swapping from one playback type or Streaming service to another.
It just works.
A really good purchase this, ticks all the boxes.
Sounding better and better too with more time on it, noticeably better than a Daphile Linux server setup with integrated Lyrion server (new LMS) installed I tried immediately before.
Happy days.
Plumbing in the Router to the balanced mains next?
Made a DC cable up from braided 12GA Duelund wire to a linear PSU powered by balanced, should lose any noise spat out by the router into the wall using the supplied (crappy) switchmode brick.
Be interesting to see what it brings to the table if anything?
It’ll be my stopping off point for maximising my streaming setup, not an expensive rabbit hole I want to go down.
May try a better linear supply to power the router if I get good results, but probably just stick with what a I have.
The Maplins is a simple linear design, but might be good enough who knows.
Sound quality out the wall is plenty, but know there’s more I can get out of it (well, less noise) powered from Balanced mains.
I used to use Bandcamp for a while.
Glad you're enjoying it and thinking outside the box with things to try.
Router linear powered from balanced mains is a nice bump in sound quality. :thumbsup:
Repurposed a linear PSU from my spares box, and the Duelund 12GA tinned copper DC cable I made up cost me 60 odd quid.
Well worth doing and made a significant improvement.
These ‘1s and 0’s’ can sound pretty terrific.
And as chips upgrade too - Nice!
Currently going through the solid core silver cable burn-in rollercoaster, but it’s getting there. Lots of ups n downs atm.
The Holo May/Serene “natural tone” along with the Duelund speaker cable is a natural fit with all the silver cable I’m using at the digital source.
Want everything from my Source files, warts and all.
Much like yourself Sir.Quote:
Originally Posted by User211
Fun this Hobby, innit? :)
Oh :eek:
https://grooveaudio.com/products/lhy...or-eversolo-t8
This this falls into the “no brainier” category.
Warranty loss, though, Gary.
It may not make an audible difference. Where is the evidence the existing supply in it is inadequate? It may be very good.
Tis not clear cut.
Go for it for fun if you feel like it. I'm just saying;)
Hear ya :thumbsup:
Waiting on the first reviews of it from those that have tried it.
The T8 already has a linear supply and sounds great, so no rush.
Did power supply upgrades on my Oppo 203 and got a great ROI, cant ever go wrong with a better power supply.
Reviews of the T8 indicate its at that diminishing returns point compared to the likes of Hifi Rose RS130 and the like, maybe this will take it past them?
Thats my thinking anyway,
shall see how Eversolo folks that install the upgrade get on.
If its incremental its not worth it, warranty loss as you say, and its not a cheap to replace unit to mess about with.
That said,
if the right reports come back... :scratch:
Read up on the Chinese company offering the upgrade, pretty legit and made some good products.
Know their EE onions I think.
Want to get the vinyl set back up again first, thats a pretty fundamental change.
so tonearm rewire and new cartridge fitting is my next task.
FUN WITH NETWORK TWEAKS?
Loving the sound improvement and all things streaming again with the Eversolo T8, want to maximise it without going down a crazy Rabbit hole.
Reducing electrical noise is everything to get the best out your gear imo, so focussing in on that.
Did a couple of things already, all of which nudged sound quality in the right direction?
1. Now powering Modem/Router directly from Balanced mains, using custom Duelund DC cable.
2. Replaced any throwaway Ethernet cables used for audio with Neotech solid silver core 1008 cables.
Been reading up on networking tweaks on the Audiophile Style forum as that’s their thing, and now looking at Network Switches.
Theres a few Audio gear reviewers on YouTube who’s opinion I trust, and this video was what got me thinking… Hmnn, I wonder… :scratch:
He described really well his own journey from just using supplied Router from BB Provider, to adding a switch.. and finally going “full audiophile” with a switch with proper power filtering, improved clocks etc.
https://youtu.be/NTqmCfq8TP8?si=yuauUIETKpFs397Z
Want to just dip my toe in initially, so read about and a well thought of “non audiophile money” switch is the Netgear 308.
Measures really well apparently and is good for audio.
Picked one up, plumbing it in today.
https://images2.imgbox.com/92/f9/fGj...?download=true
The idea is to insert it between my Router and audio equipment.
Initially using the supplied 12V switchmode supply, but with a couple of added wrinkles? :)
I’ll be powering it directly from the Balanced Mains, so noise to the Switch should be much lower?
Also,
Typical SMPS bricks contain very high impedance components (i.e. cheap) and can throw out a lot of nasty leakage current, which is a no-no if trying to reduce electrical noise that can affect sound quality elsewhere in the system.
I’ll be shunting this noise to ground which should (hopefully!) zap a lot of the noise away and bring it closer to a good linear supply.
A ton of posts in various forums bearing out the benefit of a good psu with an audio switch.
Hopefully I’ll see a bit of that from this wee experiment.
John Atkinson wrote a great ‘how to’ post on it HERE:
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/t...and-grounding/
Cost?
Under a tenner.:)
I’ve already heard the benefit of shunting noise to ground with various bits of kit already, connecting unused RCA sockets to ground earth connection on a 13 amp 3 pin plug, into the wall.
Noise dropped noticeably in some cases, others not so much.
just a function of how good or bad the equipment grounding is.
But at least if you know its being done, your getting the best possible outcome?
Fingers crossed for a good result, let’s see if there’s anything to this…
This final system is taking a looooooooong time Gary :D
I have a couple of the netgear 308 switches in my home network.
I have not compared them to anything else, but as I stream directly from my PC to my DAC, I am not sure I would hear a difference.
Did I say final...? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Yes, but you also said "I think" :lol:
Gary's thread has been running for seven years - these things take time you know. :D
See theres talk of Grant on the forum again?
The Thread title was a bit of a running gag we had with each other :)
In other news...
Taking my Project X8 turntable over to Jony at Audio Origami tommorow?
Want to get the vinyl setup up 'n running again, been playing with the digital for a while, missing playing records.
Im getting:
1. Arm rewire with Cardas 33ga litz cable (Jony says the silver is better, may go for that)
2. Cardas cartridge tags
3. Audio Origami Cartridge Enhancer (A vibration absorber that isolates your cartridge from the arm ) similar but better than Funk Houdini (apparently)
4. Fitting of new Hana ML moving coil cartridge.
5. General setup and Tweaking for best sound.
Dropping it off at his place He'll let me know when ready to collect.
Vinyls been sitting unplayed since I got the Turntable, slight accident put it out of commission after a couple of weeks from new.
So it'll be like getting from new again, and its seriously upgraded over the stock X8.
Its gonna be fun.
*Note to Self going forward*
NO playing vinyl after a couple of Malts of a Saturday - Stick to Digital!
lesson learned :lol:
2 important lessons there Gary, always be careful after a couple of drams and of course Johnny always works his magicQuote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam
Buy an SL-7 to use when you fancy a drink mate, it's an alcohol-proof way of playing vinyl. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazjam