Many thanks for your kind words. I forgot to mention that connecting the Pachanko and SPEC through a Melco S-100 switch gave me another serious improvement in performance with the cost of an extra Ethernet cable.
My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!
- Thread starter Bogan88
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From my short experience, the optimal Diretta connection between the Pachanko Constellation Reference and the SPEC RMP-UB1 is as follows:
Step 1. You need to use a good quality switch. I personally use a pair of Melco S-100 switches powered by Plixir dual power supply
Step 2. You need one Ethernet cable from the switch to Pachanko in order to connect it to the network.
Step 3. You need a second Ethernet cable from Pachanko Diretta output to switch in order to send back to the network the Diretta signal.
Step 4. You need a third Ethernet cable to connect the SPEC Diretta Bridge to the network.
The quality of the Ethernet cables is extremely important. The best value for money solution is probably the Neotech 1008 silver Ethernet cable but of course you can further improve the sound using the Way Cables Substance, Pachanko Stellar or some other top Ethernet cables .
For those that use a pair of switches, it is interesting to mention that when i connect the ethernet cable that carries the Diretta signal from Pachanko to the Melco switch, it makes a difference in which of the two switches you connect the cable. I personally prefer to connect it to the switch No1 (closest to the router) and the SPEC to the switch no.2
Step 1. You need to use a good quality switch. I personally use a pair of Melco S-100 switches powered by Plixir dual power supply
Step 2. You need one Ethernet cable from the switch to Pachanko in order to connect it to the network.
Step 3. You need a second Ethernet cable from Pachanko Diretta output to switch in order to send back to the network the Diretta signal.
Step 4. You need a third Ethernet cable to connect the SPEC Diretta Bridge to the network.
The quality of the Ethernet cables is extremely important. The best value for money solution is probably the Neotech 1008 silver Ethernet cable but of course you can further improve the sound using the Way Cables Substance, Pachanko Stellar or some other top Ethernet cables .
For those that use a pair of switches, it is interesting to mention that when i connect the ethernet cable that carries the Diretta signal from Pachanko to the Melco switch, it makes a difference in which of the two switches you connect the cable. I personally prefer to connect it to the switch No1 (closest to the router) and the SPEC to the switch no.2
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@geopolitis I love how this is very specific, and yet very helpful to one considering the Pachanko+Diretta combo!
Edit: Most of those using such a nice server will probably have a switch, so very helpful info. I look into Pachanko for over a year and even saw a Mini SE in action without Diretta, and never knew the part that the source (server) has to send signal via ethernet back to the network. It makes more sense the way you described than the diagram often seen at diretta related websites.
Also, by your previous post, it seems you added a second Melco to your system later. How did you find the improvement, if any, on that second switch to the overall sound, which I suppose should be quite fine before that , with the Diretta and all?
Edit: Most of those using such a nice server will probably have a switch, so very helpful info. I look into Pachanko for over a year and even saw a Mini SE in action without Diretta, and never knew the part that the source (server) has to send signal via ethernet back to the network. It makes more sense the way you described than the diagram often seen at diretta related websites.
Also, by your previous post, it seems you added a second Melco to your system later. How did you find the improvement, if any, on that second switch to the overall sound, which I suppose should be quite fine before that , with the Diretta and all?
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By the way, the Mini SE that I heard, was playing at a very nice shop that also carried other server brands, and I could Even A/B for a few songs Against the Antipodes K21, which as far as I know, costs at least 2.5x the price of the Mini SE.
Although I was not familiar with the other components, I prefered the Mini on all 3 songs I did the comparison. While a close call to be honest, I liked more what I heard with the Mini regarding voices, specially female, highs were a bit more natural. I couldn’t tell any diferences in bass and soundstage. Definition was similar, but at some moments I also prefered the Mini SE. I prefer not to overdo with comments since it was a brief comparisson (one hour altogether) and I enjoyed both sounds. I Only wish they had the Reference there..
Although I was not familiar with the other components, I prefered the Mini on all 3 songs I did the comparison. While a close call to be honest, I liked more what I heard with the Mini regarding voices, specially female, highs were a bit more natural. I couldn’t tell any diferences in bass and soundstage. Definition was similar, but at some moments I also prefered the Mini SE. I prefer not to overdo with comments since it was a brief comparisson (one hour altogether) and I enjoyed both sounds. I Only wish they had the Reference there..
I always had the two Melco switch combo to connect my streamer because it clearly outperforms the one switch setup in any case. But this creates a problem about which switch you should use to connect a NAS or a Nucleus Roon core . For a Roon core server for instance, it seems that the sound is better when there is a dual switch buffer between the server and the the Roon end point. But you need to experiment and decide for yourself.
Regarding Diretta connection setup, the normal connection recommendation would be to connect the SPEC directly to the Diretta output of the Pachanko. But when you use the setup with a switch in between the sound is much much better.
After I purchased CH Precision C1.2, I connected my former Roon server; Mac Mini (recent model) to both my Lumin U2 (via USB to C1.2) and direct to C1.2's Stream HD in. Although the difference between Lumin vs. Stream HD was tone / taste more than quality, I preferred Stream HD of CH. (Note: Lumin was well burned-in, CH Stream was only a few minutes in back then, didn't compare later on)
Later I "upgraded" my system to Pachanko - Reference. I connected the Pachanko via USB to C1.2. I didn't go for Diretta since I'm satisfied enough for my digital listening range. Maybe if in the future CH starts supporting Diretta, I may try it, but for the time being Pachanko reference via USB is good enough for me.
Anyone considering going the same route or not, here is the deal; in my system, in my room, upgrade from Mac Mini to Pachanko Reference was even from first minute was an upgrade and with time it got better. Better detail, better soundstage especially in terms of depth, way more airy. Difference was not "I have been listening to garbage till today, now I'm in heaven" but sound quality got better, clearly audible.
I went for Reference just that local import / tax regulations makes Mini SE + PSU relatively expensive, so the hardware upgrade from Mini SE to Reference against the price difference needed no second thought. I didn't compare the two models, directly went for Reference, I can not comment between the two.
Later I "upgraded" my system to Pachanko - Reference. I connected the Pachanko via USB to C1.2. I didn't go for Diretta since I'm satisfied enough for my digital listening range. Maybe if in the future CH starts supporting Diretta, I may try it, but for the time being Pachanko reference via USB is good enough for me.
Anyone considering going the same route or not, here is the deal; in my system, in my room, upgrade from Mac Mini to Pachanko Reference was even from first minute was an upgrade and with time it got better. Better detail, better soundstage especially in terms of depth, way more airy. Difference was not "I have been listening to garbage till today, now I'm in heaven" but sound quality got better, clearly audible.
I went for Reference just that local import / tax regulations makes Mini SE + PSU relatively expensive, so the hardware upgrade from Mini SE to Reference against the price difference needed no second thought. I didn't compare the two models, directly went for Reference, I can not comment between the two.
I want to come back to this post from Christiaan.
I like very much the visual appearance of the "power supply" housing but I dislike the "computer" housing.
So my question directed @pachankolabs :
It would be very nice to have a Constellation Reference in two identical "power supply" housings.
Is this possible?
Thank you
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