Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Teaser:

I have completed my evaluation of the Lumin S1 server/DAC (using both its internal DAC as well as its spdif output to my Davinci 2 DAC) and just plugged in and started burning in a Melco N1ZH/2 music server. I will give it a solid week of burn in and audition/compare next Wednesday.

I have a 32 core MP64-32 Memory Player ($55k retail) server on order and that will be coming in about 4-6 weeks would be my guess. Possibly sooner. I'm dying to hear that!!!!

Also, I have arranged for an audition/trial of the mighty Boulder 2120 ($65k retail) server/DAC. I'm giddy like a school girl for that to arrive as well!!!

Al from SGM has promised me an audition that will knock my socks off. I'd like to absorb and report all that I mentioned above before taking Al's time; I'm thinking December or January. He's shown me some other cool little affordable grounding trinkets that might be worth trying as well.

Not enough time in the day my friends!!!

Stay tuned!

PS - Yes the Davinci hath arrived. It's got about 500 hours on it. I'll compare it to my cherished ODSX when it reaches a 1000 hours. In the meantime, Steve from Empirical Audio emailed me asking to send back my ODSX for further upgrades that he just came out with and were significant enough that he wanted to implement them into my ODSX. It was shipped out last week and will arrive today.

As a side note, I just put together a "little" office system consisting of a Constellation Centaur stereo amp and Virgo 2 preamp with Focal Sopra #2 speakers. I also bought a pair of Scansonic 5.0 speakers from Larry of Distinctive Stereo (before I found the deal of the century on these Sopra #2's). Although the price is fairly different, I will compare both to see which suits the equipment and the room better. I also need to decide what source I'll be using. Will I go for a server/DAC like the Lumin S1 or A20? Or go crazy and do a server and transition my prized ODSX to the office?!? Don't know yet. Lots of listening to do to decide what's best for that system ....

cheers!!!

"Al from SGM has promised me an audition that will knock my socks off. I'd like to absorb and report all that I mentioned above before taking Al's time; I'm thinking December or January. He's shown me some other cool little affordable grounding trinkets that might be worth trying as well."

Matt,
Ah, I think I said I did not want to over promise and nothing about your socks...or mine, lol. So keep your hose on, lol.
But I did say that we are very excited about some testing underway and if it all pans out like we expect then yea.
But I am sure you will enjoy what you experience once you hear the SGM.

Hmm, "affordable grounding trinkets". Well since one version has silver and gold in it "trinkets" might be too much of a misnomer seeing how "trinkets" are not made of precious metals, lol.

Matt, as soon as you have the time I should drop off some more of the Setchi grounding blocks for you to add to your system. If I can help it I plan on NOT removing the ones in my system. I have one on my SGM and one on my T+A DAC 8 DSD. Just those two made a significant difference. I did not expect that degree of improvement.
I just started to try a pair on my Merrill Audio Veritas Amps.

Well, enough of me. 

Alfonse Mirabella
Ambassador, Sound Galleries & Taiko Audio
Sound Test USA
soundtest.info
[email protected]

@hifial 

Al, Would you mind sharing bit more info on Setchi D-1 grounding blocks? Try to google them but didn't find any info on their merits. 

Thank you! 

Now that I have a hard wired, fast ethernet connection in the room, I'm going to set up the optical isolation and go from there.  I may try the ground units Al has brought up also.  I'm not sure what ethernet cables I'll be using though. I have loved the AQ diamond in the past and even the Vodka has been fine, but I was also told to get a top cat 8 cable.  I don't believe the AQ cables are Cat 8.  Not sure who makes cat 8 for the high end.  

I also notice that Ayre has my QX5/20 available with various inputs. I have the full assault with 10 inputs, but you can now get it with or without the USB and or ethernet or anyway you want or need it. Very interesting marketing.  I wonder if others will do the same??? 

Melco is supposed to have their own software being worked on.  I have reached out to a head engineer there to find out more about the future of their software and other things. I'll report back when he gets back in the lab in the next week or two.  

Seems like IRT servers that so much is going on.  Maybe even more so than what DAC's went though and still do.  Hard to keep up.  

@lalitk 

Sorry for the delay in answering your questions but I have been with family that have been visiting and today I was at a presentation by Thomas Fine, son of Robert and Wilma Fine, the legendary recording engineers of The Mercury Living Presence albums. This was arranged by the New Jersey Audiophile Society for one of our Club Meetings. 

WOW! What a presentation. If you ever have the chance DO NOT MISS THIS ONE! Tom is a very gracious person and willing to answer all our questions. Close to a three hour presentation!  Slides and some excerpts of the original and remastered music. 

Now I will try answer your questions about the Setchi and give you some information, as best as I can. 

I am offering an opportunity to home demo the new Setchi Grounding Blocks by Taiko Audio. They are so new we do not even have them up on our web site yet, lol. Seriously.
Though we have been selling them overseas for a month or two.

I have tried MANY grounding devises over the years and I must say these are exceptional for the price vs performance value.

At first I was highly skeptical of them even though my associates reassured me of their performance. As I said, I have tried many others over the years. But with the Setchi I was WRONG! 

I have a Setchi D1 on my SGM Music Server and a Setchi D2 on my T+A DAC 8 DSD. If I had a separate preamp I would put one on that too but right now (Preamp in my future) I use the analog Preamp in the T+A. 

Order of importance in placement of Setchi in a system. 

1) Server

2) Source (DAC, CD player)

3) Preamp

4) AMP/s

5) Power conditioner

6) ETC ( some costumers overseas connect a Setchi to their electric service panel)

In my system just one made a significant difference and was highly noticeable. But TWO just brought it home! 

The improvements were overall. Much better dynamics, tone, air, sound stage, harmonics and I could go on. I must say that I don't want to describe too much of what the very worthwhile improvements were. You really need to hear it for yourself. Caveat, each system could be slightly different as it is system dependent to a point.
So You really need to demo in your own system.

What are the Setchi? Well I will do my best to explain.

The case of the Setchi is made of Panzerholz aka Tank Wood. This was no accident. We chose this for several reasons. The least of which is not for the improvement in sound it brings. 

Inside there is a replaceable (9v - every two years) battery, more on this below. 
Also inside there is either copper or gold/silver depending on the model. More below. 

The Setchi comes in two types, a D for digital connection/equipment or an A for analog connection/equipment. 

Then there are two versions within the types.

Copper or a number 1 designation. A1 / D1. 

Gold/Silver or a number 2 designation. A2 / D2. 

Depending on what equipment the Setchi will be connected to dictates the connection you will need. All Setchi come with a high quality connector, ie RCA, USB etc. See bottom two photos at the AudioStream link. These were at the Munich Show. 
https://www.audiostream.com/content/sound-galleries-experience

But what does the Setchi do? That is a great question but for me not a easy answer as I am not an engineer. 

What I can tell you its not a regular ground-tweak but more of a ground-plane harmonics harmonizer. As in it counters / reduces / absorbs harmful harmonics being dumped on the ground-plane by almost everything drawing current from the network, not only your high-end equipment but every appliance in your house and even your neighborhood. It`s powered by, or rather harvest its power from absorbing ambient vibrations, the battery is only for biasing its dielectrics which increases its efficiency and keeps it from saturating (which is a weakness of other "ground" tweaks). This is not voodoo but real science.

The prices are as follows. Pricing is in Euros due to the fact that all orders are processed overseas. I place your order and it is processed and shipped from The Netherlands. 

A1 and D1 (copper)are Euros 200 (currently $240) plus shipping.

A2 and D2 (gold/silver) are Euros 300 (currently $360) plus shipping.

Now because the way the Setchi works it MUST be PLACED ON TOP of any EQUIPMENT it is connected to. It can be placed on its side vs placed flat (there is a slight difference in sound one vs the other). 

While the quality of the cable and its length is optimized for absolute performance, you can order a longer length cable with just a slight loss in performance. 

Once connected to your equipment it will take several hours before the Setchi begins to sound really good. After about a day it will reach about 80%. Then over three+ days  it will continue to improve and reach 100%.

If Setchi is removed, the equipment it was attached to will SLOWLY revert back to its previous state in performance. So A / B ing is nearly impossible. 

OK, I think I covered it all. Please feel free to ask me any questions. 

Cheers, Al.

Alfonse Mirabella
Ambassador for Sound Galleries and Taiko Audio

Sound Test USA
[email protected]