MSB Select II arrival

[QuadDiffuser]

Hello John,
Despite that your Curious USB cable is brand new, please borrow a good usb cable of another brand for confirmation too.
I had witnessed some usb cables unable to conduct high rez signal due to bandwith or grounding or impedance issues.

Hi CKKeung,

I borrowed a high-end USB cable manufactured by Viard Audio from their Platinum Line. Two connectors (and cables) to be plugged into the Aurender W20 - one into the USB 2.0 output for the signal, and another into the USB 1.0 output for the power. These two converge into a single connector, to be plugged into the MSB. The result? Exactly the same issues as those I experienced with the Curious USB. I'm pretty sure that the issues have nothing to do with the USB cables themselves.

Next step: I want to connect my Aurender W20 into a bunch of other DACs to see whether the same issues can be replicated.

 

[pke10000]

Given the problems I’ve been having with my Aurender, I would be willing to wager that my Select II’s input modules are not defective. Also, my Curious 0.8m USB cable is brand-new, so I don’t think there’s a problem with it either. I had been experiencing the same instability issues with a generic cheapo computer USB cable prior to receiving my Curious cable two weeks ago.

But good point - I’ll borrow another native DSD and MQA capable DAC to connect it with my Aurender W20 to see whether the problems can be replicated.

Gotta do this anyway, before sending my unit to Aurender Korea HQ, a very costly and time-consuming exercise.

Hi QuadDiffusor
Sorry for your usb issue.
When I tested W20 & Select, it works well at my dealer's room.
If you are hard to send it to korea, please try on line service first. You can see the menu on your aurender app.

And when I tested, the best connection was AES/EBU with clock sync with MSB.
Typically clock sync was very powerful.
I listened the roon module of select was similar to aurender without clock synct, but after connect clock, aurender was much better.
Thesedays, aurender supports MQA to PCM and DSD to PCM, I think you may have no trouble by new audio format.

Thanks

 

[QuadDiffuser]

Hi QuadDiffusor
Sorry for your usb issue.
When I tested W20 & Select, it works well at my dealer's room.
If you are hard to send it to korea, please try on line service first. You can see the menu on your aurender app.

And when I tested, the best connection was AES/EBU with clock sync with MSB.
Typically clock sync was very powerful.
I listened the roon module of select was similar to aurender without clock synct, but after connect clock, aurender was much better.
Thesedays, aurender supports MQA to PCM and DSD to PCM, I think you may have no trouble by new audio format.

Thanks

pke10000,
Thanks for your suggestion, but both DSD and MQA can only be played back natively through the USB connection between the W20 and the Select II DAC.

How did you succeed in playing back those non-PCM files through AES/EBU (or S/PDIF)?

 

[Legolas]

Hi QuadDiffusor
Sorry for your usb issue.
When I tested W20 & Select, it works well at my dealer's room.
If you are hard to send it to korea, please try on line service first. You can see the menu on your aurender app.

And when I tested, the best connection was AES/EBU with clock sync with MSB.
Typically clock sync was very powerful.
I listened the roon module of select was similar to aurender without clock synct, but after connect clock, aurender was much better.
Thesedays, aurender supports MQA to PCM and DSD to PCM, I think you may have no trouble by new audio format.

Thanks

Is there any plans for Aurender products to use Roon or Roon Core instead of the Aurender App?

 

[pke10000]

pke10000,
Thanks for your suggestion, but both DSD and MQA can only be played back properly through the USB connection between the W20 and the Select II DAC.

How did you succeed in playing back those non-PCM files through AES/EBU (or S/PDIF)?

I'm using N10 & ML 30.6 with aes ebu cable.

Aurender has a conversion option, dsd to pcm 88.2 or 176.4. Spdif includes dsd-64 by 68958 spec.
Some players and dacs support dsd by spdif format like as esoteric. But I didn't test it at my system, because my old dac does not support dsd at all.

And some months ago, Aurender started to support MQA core decode, which converts MQA to under pcm 96. It needs additional pay, may be $60. I played MQA files at tidal, then compared on off. I felt more depth of sound.

I had tested W20 and sellect2 at my dealer's room several times. Always Aes ebu was better than usb. And clock sync improves the quality a lot, eventhough the cables are more expensive.

 

[pke10000]

Is there any plans for Aurender products to use Roon or Roon Core instead of the Aurender App?

I'm a Korean. I've ever asked it to Aurender, their answer was negative. Because roon reqires high cpu performance, i5 or i7. Aurender w20 uses low speed cpu to reduce the noise.

I expect W30 support both roon and aurender, which anounced higher position of W20. But the possibility is not so much.

 

[Legolas]

I'm a Korean. I've ever asked it to Aurender, their answer was negative. Because roon reqires high cpu performance, i5 or i7. Aurender w20 uses low speed cpu to reduce the noise.

I expect W30 support both roon and aurender, which anounced higher position of W20. But the possibility is not so much.

Thanks for that opinion. I feel there is a whole in the server market at the moment, for a great streamer at 5K which uses Roon, has LPS and multiple inputs.

 

[microstrip]

Thanks for that opinion. I feel there is a whole in the server market at the moment, for a great streamer at 5K which uses Roon, has LPS and multiple inputs.

Unfortunately no one knows exactly what makes a great streamer. Anyone can get a NAS , a top CPU and a top motherboard, add some LPSs and a a few top cards such as the JCAT USB Card FEMTO or the NET FEMTO. Does it make a great server?

 

[asiufy]

Thanks for that opinion. I feel there is a whole in the server market at the moment, for a great streamer at 5K which uses Roon, has LPS and multiple inputs.

Innuos Zenith mk3 is ~$4k for 1Tb of (SSD) storage. Roon Core, USB/Ethernet, quality LPS, etc. There are others too. There's really no such hole. The challenge is to get that level performance at sub-$1000 prices. That's what I haven't heard done yet.

 

[Kingsrule]

Where is the Roon Core installed on the Zenith? Why can't u buy it without storage? I'm thinking the Roon sw installed on a partition of the SSD and thats why?
What operating system does Innous use? How is it updated?
Do u have it instock and can it be returned?

 

[asiufy]

The Zenith can do Roon Core or Roon Endpoint, it's just the flick of a switch on the dashboard.
I don't know why you can't buy it without storage, I do agree it would be a great idea/addition to the line, and I already let them know. They gotta be working on it.
Innuos has its own Linux-based OS, with a web-based interface, so no crummy app required. Updates are done online, via the same web-based interface/dashboard.
Zenith mk3 just started shipping, I'm getting our units tomorrow or the day after. Statement ships in December.
You're very welcome to give me a call or email for the commercial/business part of your questions


cheers,
Alex

 

[Alpinist]

I love my Roon Nucleus Plus used in conjunction with my Select DAC and Renderer input module. It sounds amazing and has worked flawlessly without any glitches. It handles even the largest music catalogs with ease.

 

[Kingsrule]

I love my Roon Nucleus Plus used in conjunction with my Select DAC and Renderer input module. It sounds amazing and has worked flawlessly without any glitches. It handles even the largest music catalogs with ease.

Now how would u know that?

 

[QuadDiffuser]

I'm using N10 & ML 30.6 with aes ebu cable.

Aurender has a conversion option, dsd to pcm 88.2 or 176.4. Spdif includes dsd-64 by 68958 spec.
Some players and dacs support dsd by spdif format like as esoteric. But I didn't test it at my system, because my old dac does not support dsd at all.

And some months ago, Aurender started to support MQA core decode, which converts MQA to under pcm 96. It needs additional pay, may be $60. I played MQA files at tidal, then compared on off. I felt more depth of sound.

I had tested W20 and sellect2 at my dealer's room several times. Always Aes ebu was better than usb. And clock sync improves the quality a lot, eventhough the cables are more expensive.

How does the 20 year old Mark Levinson 30.6’s sound compare to modern DACs? It seems that it’s maximum input data rate is limited to 24/96.
https://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/159/index.html

My Select II DAC plays back native DSD files, as well as fully unfold MQA files for playback, hence I’m not utilizing the transcoding feature in the W20 except when I require AES/EBU output to feed my Trinnov Amethyst for room correction.

The default playback connection between the W20 and my DAC is USB 2.0 - hence I want it to perform as it’s supposed to, instead of the random garbage which it’s currently spitting out (when idling).

I’ll be borrowing another W20 next week from my friend and comparing it to mine, to verify whether the problems I’m experiencing originate from *my* W20.

 

[QuadDiffuser]

pke10000,
Thanks for your suggestion, but both DSD and MQA can only be played back natively through the USB connection between the W20 and the Select II DAC.

How did you succeed in playing back those non-PCM files through AES/EBU (or S/PDIF)?

*CORRECTION*
I’m able to play back DSD 64x files through the S/PDIF connection (BNC coax).
I guess the high quality transceiver in both the Aurender W20 and MSB Select DAC allows accurate transmission and a stable lock on even the high MHz frequencies. Very impressed !

 

[pke10000]

*CORRECTION*
I’m able to play back DSD 64x files through the S/PDIF connection (BNC coax).
I guess the high quality transceiver in both the Aurender W20 and MSB Select DAC allows accurate transmission and a stable lock on even the high MHz frequencies. Very impressed !

Yep!
DSD64 is doable and AES/EBU was better than USB at my listening.
MQA is not possible, but when I convert it to 88.2~96khz by sw decoding inside of aurender, it was much better than 44.1~48kHz.

 

[Young Skywalker]

I love my Roon Nucleus Plus used in conjunction with my Select DAC and Renderer input module. It sounds amazing and has worked flawlessly without any glitches. It handles even the largest music catalogs with ease.

Fantastic system you have there. I use a Reference DAC (with constant impedance preamp module, single PowerBase, and Femto140 clock) and the Network Renderer V2. I would love to try one of the higher spec clocks and the two dedicated PowerBases in the future.

The Network Renderer V2 module (along with the top USB module and new ProISL interface) features optical isolation internally which means that noise on the network, introduced by cables, or from the computer hosting the Roon Core is not an issue.

 

[Kingsrule]

Fantastic system you have there. I use a Reference DAC (with constant impedance preamp module, single PowerBase, and Femto140 clock) and the Network Renderer V2. I would love to try one of the higher spec clocks and the two dedicated PowerBases in the future.

The Network Renderer V2 module (along with the top USB module and new ProISL interface) features optical isolation internally which means that noise on the network, introduced by cables, or from the computer hosting the Roon Core is not an issue.

If that's the case, why can u hear differences in what is used to connect the V2 renderer? I can hear everything that changes.

 

[Young Skywalker]

If that's the case, why can u hear differences in what is used to connect the V2 renderer? I can hear everything that changes.

Those differences are either the result of expectation bias or they are attributed to something other than electrical noise, data integrity, or digital timing errors.

 

[Kingsrule]

U really don't know what u are talking about here.....