These "utility" USB ports seem to be about the same on Pulse and Pulsar.
Now
@Vangelis reported in post #27 that connecting Phoenix USB to Pulsar sounds better than the Phoenix lite output of Pulsar. I assume that
@Vangelis connected the Phoenix USB to one of the "utility" ports since connecting the Phoenix USB to the Phoenix lite output of the Pulsar was worse. IIUC, this was also your assumption in post #30.
So it might be that Pulse + Phoenix USB sound better than the Phoenix lite output of Pulsar. The combo is only a little bit more expensive than the Pulsar.
Matt
Hi Matt,
Yes, that was my original assumption too.
Now, the ports on the Pulse and Pulsar are just ports on the motherboard.
To be more precise, Innuos calls them (in their Pulsar Quick Start Guide): "Auxiliary Ports-for backup and future use".
Back-up, I understand, but "future use" is something new: it might mean that with a software upgrade we could use these ports to connect a pen drive or something and play files through there, which would be a useful functionality.
However, Pulsar has a far more elaborate power supply and overall design refinements than the Pulse, so I doubt it if Pulse + Phoenix USB could outperform it.
Please, let me reiterate, since I've had the Pulse and I now have the Pulsar:
When I first got the Pulse, I was initially using it through the said USB ports.
I later realised that the sound through the spdif out was leaps and bounds better.
Why? Because inside the Pulse there's a dedicated D to D converter board for spdif and it sounds just lovely.
If your DAC has a spdif input it would be a shame not to use that.
Now, the Pulsar I have now sounds much better than the Pulse through the said USB ports.
How do I know?
Well, it's a bit embarrassing really, but when I first got the Pulsar and since I have my gear inside a cabinet I have asked my daughter to connect the one end of the USB cable to the Pulsar while I was struggling to connect the other end to the DAC.
"Mission accomplished!" she muttered and I sat down to marvel at my new Pulsar (which I did BTW), only to realise later that she had not connected the USB cable at the dedicated port but to one of the auxiliary ports instead.
Still, the sound wasn't half as bad.... which would indicate that the power supply magic on its own (without the help of the Phoenix lite) is enough to exert a discernable difference.
Only Pulsar + Phoenix USB could potentially outperform the Pulsar on its own, as
@Vangelis might have suggested (at this stage, I can only assume that was what he tried), but this is something for braver souls than mine.
It's funny I haven't actually have had the chance to write anything about the Pulsar before delving into this conversation, but maybe it's time to say it's an absolutely amazing piece of kit and although I initially wanted to wait and not jump in early (as I am not a huge USB believer and wanted to wait for other modules to be released first), I am nevertheless glad I did.
Personally, my USB concerns are completely lifted (it might also help that Lampizator has a superb USB implementation) and I'm a happy camper!
I have personally found the upper harmonics to be particularly extended, natural and engaging, an area where
@Vangelis had exerted some criticism.
Apart from that, the Pulsar has a stronger dynamic nature, pace and bass heft, but also tremendous bass detail.
In fact, I have never been able to follow bass lines as easily as with the Pulsar.
There is also an apparent timing correctness: in some equipment you may feel that the drummer has a mild case of spastic paraplegia, when he does the hi-hat to rim thing, but on the Pulsar he seems to be cured all of of a sudden!
More, when the Pulsar fully breaks in (which judging from the Pulse will take a lot of time, probably more since there are more capacitors in the power supply and an OCXO clock).
Cheers,
Ted
