QSA LANEDRI Series

Hi Steven,
Very glad yo see that there is a QSA Forum on WBF.
Congratulations!

QSA : My take on their expensive products

Threre has been another WBF thread on QSA fuses for some weeks already, but I still want to share with WBF brothers my personal audition/comparison experience. Disclaimer : I am NOT in anyway in the music/hifi industry in Hong Kong. I am only an audiophile and consumer. All WBF brothers who...

www.whatsbestforum.com

I think I wrote the first QSA review on WBF, back in 2012.

QSA : My take on their expensive products

Threre has been another WBF thread on QSA fuses for some weeks already, but I still want to share with WBF brothers my personal audition/comparison experience. Disclaimer : I am NOT in anyway in the music/hifi industry in Hong Kong. I am only an audiophile and consumer. All WBF brothers who...

www.whatsbestforum.com

May I ask you two questions?

Firstly, I notice on you website that QSA-Lanedri cables are being launched.

HOME | QSA LANEDRI

www.qsa-lanedri.com

May you tell us more about them?
What metals are employed and what special features do they have?

Secondly, several frds of mine in Hong Kong have bought QSA JitterPower.


Again, please tell the WBF members more about these series of accessories.

Many thanks!

Cheers,
CK

 

R&D Update #4 - The Taiko Network Switch and NIC

The Taiko network switch and NIC finally arrived to my home last week and I have spent the past 5 days breaking it in. I thought I'd share my experience here. Photos don't do them justice. They are works of art:






A trusted colleague suggested there could be issues with the Taiko switch and a QSA network. His words:

"The taiko switch is orthogonal to the QSA lan"
Unfortunately they fight each other when in series
With extreme, need to pick one path or the other"

Having gone down the QSA rabbit hole so deeply already, it was perhaps one reason I hesitated to bring in the Taiko switch right away. Prior to inserting the Taiko switch and NIC into the chain, I decided to remove all QSA LAN cabling and DC cabling. I figured this is how most people would experience the Taiko switch. As one might imagine, there was a pretty significant and painful collapse.

Day 1 - Insertion of the Taiko switch and NIC into a non-QSA network. Even using the cheap SMPS that comes with it, the impact was immediately obvious as it resurrected a collapsed network. Improved dynamics. Slam. Crisp and crunchy bass, just remarkable definition. Speed and liveliness. Everything the Extreme does so well was significantly enhanced. It's easily the finest and most impactful switch I have experienced. I decided to replace the stock SMPS with an Uptone Audio LPS-1.2. Dynamics didn't improve but noise floor and tonal saturation improved.

Day 2 - Emile reminded me to run the software script on the Extreme. It should result in "across the board improvements. The script sets parameters to work optimally with the switch's firmware. Traffic control," he said. I ran the script. Once again, just wow. Not subtle at all. I swapped the LPS-1.2 for a Paul Hynes SR4 and finally a SR7 each at 12V. There were tonal difference but once again, dynamics didn't change. Emile told me this switch has it's own internal GaN switching supply but running at very high frequencies making it more independent for basic characteristics like dynamics. Really clever, basically any PSU can be used and dynamics will be the same.

Day 3 - Reinserted QSA-treated DC cabling to Ubiquiti router and modem. These are the DC cables with Jaegers. Just like before, Ultimatum levels of improvement. Even better speed and slam. No issues with one fighting the other. No way these will ever be removed again. I then tried the DC cable extender on the LPS-1.2 powering the Taiko switch. Dynamics didn't improve but space, color saturation, and density did. The impact was greater than going from the SMPS to the SR7.

Day 4 - Replaced standard untreated BJC CAT6 UTP LAN cable between router and Taiko switch with QSA Gamma Infinity LAN cable. This was the area of controversy for some and so I was prepared not to like it, perhaps too much of a good thing. These things have a way of being system dependent but in my system, I loved what I heard. Excellent synergy and all the things I loved before with this QSA cable are there now.

Day 5 - Emile said to expect a fog to be lifted after 5 days. Hard to say that's the case since it all sounded so good from the get go but nothing but good things to say on day 5. I finally inserted a 5m long Q-L Gamma DAC cable to replace the stock 2m DAC cable that came with the switch. Just like with the QSA RJ45 LAN cable, once you hear this cable, it's hard to go back. Dynamics, bass control, clarity, density, refinement, they all improve.

Are there downsides? Just one. With RJ45 cabling, because I have the option of using LAN Jitters, I can tailor the sound. As before, I found the Horn LAN Jitter to be captivating in it's ability to produce a expansive and holographic
sound field as if I've added tubes to my system. For now, that is not possible with the DAC cable but the Taiko switch and NIC are incredible and a compatible match with QSA in my system.

 

The order is in:
1 Ultimatum Infinity PC
2 Gamma Infinity PC's
1 BNC
2 Ultimatum Infinity SC's
2 Gamma Infinity SC's
1 QSA Silver Horn Duplex.

Hoping for the best.

 

The order is in:
1 Ultimatum Infinity PC
2 Gamma Infinity PC's
1 BNC
2 Ultimatum Infinity SC's
2 Gamma Infinity SC's
1 QSA Silver Horn Duplex.

Hoping for the best.

Wow. That’s a fortune. Can you share your experience this Gamma INFINITY PC VS TAKUMI? Thanks

 

The order is in:
1 Ultimatum Infinity PC
2 Gamma Infinity PC's
1 BNC
2 Ultimatum Infinity SC's
2 Gamma Infinity SC's
1 QSA Silver Horn Duplex.

Hoping for the best.

Looking forward to when you receive all your Aries Cerat gear, Will. Please do share your experience.

 

Wow. That’s a fortune. Can you share your experience this Gamma INFINITY PC VS TAKUMI? Thanks

Yes, I will be sharing my experience when I receive them. The plan is to put the Ultimatum Infinity Cable at the end of my Inakustic 3500P power conditioner to a QSA Silver outlet. That will be my first test. I will be surprised if the Gamma Infinity will best my Hijiri Takumi but we will see.

 

Yes, I will be sharing my experience when I receive them. The plan is to put the Ultimatum Infinity Cable at the end of my Inakustic 3500P power conditioner to a QSA Silver outlet. That will be my first test. I will be surprised if the Gamma Infinity will best my Hijiri Takumi but we will see.

Thanks Will. I ‘m sure the Ultimate Infinity PC will be better than Takumi because of a few times expensive than Takumi. I got Gamma Infinity PC from wall to Puritan 156 and sometimes I can feel struggling in complicated songs. Anas suggested the Ultimate Infinity PC instead of Gamma but of course the cost will be really big difference. Oh btw, I also have Hijiri Kiwami IC and AES XLR in my system. If you have any chance to try Gamma Interconnect from QSA, please also share with me. Thank you. Kevin

 

Thanks Will. I ‘m sure the Ultimate Infinity PC will be better than Takumi because of a few times expensive than Takumi. I got Gamma Infinity PC from wall to Puritan 156 and sometimes I can feel struggling in complicated songs. Anas suggested the Ultimate Infinity PC instead of Gamma but of course the cost will be really big difference. Oh btw, I also have Hijiri Kiwami IC and AES XLR in my system. If you have any chance to try Gamma Interconnect from QSA, please also share with me. Thank you. Kevin

I have two Takumi's and two RCA's from Hijiri. I am sticking with them.

 

I have two Takumi's and two RCA's from Hijiri. I am sticking with them.

Appreciate your sharing. Yeah I am also sticking with them.

 

I can say the main reason I went with the QSA line of cables was after I experienced what the Silver QSA Jitter plug did for my system.

 

Just a quick update on my experience with QSA. As per my previous post, I have a number of QSA items now in my system. More recently, I added a Spectra Infnity PC for power conditioner.

I am truly amazed how QSA has turned my system into a non-system - all i have now are performers themselves in the room with me, it's that real (to me). But what compelled me to write this brief update is something that has changed within the last few weeks. Some context first:

* My wife has never had any interest in sitting and just listening to music. The only time I could get her to do that was if I put on a concert video so she also had something to look at. Put simply, she is just not that into *just* listening to music.

* She has no idea about what I have changed in my system over time. The only time we talk about the system is if I want to change out something that will affect the look of the room.

* I normally play the system at very low volume around dinner time, just as background music. I wait until she goes for a run or is doing errands, etc, before I can sit and listen at levels I enjoy.

Well, here's the best testimonial for QSA, my wife is now wanting me to turn up the music and is making requests for certain songs or artists, she is actively engaged. She will now sit with me and we can *just* listen to music. I never thought I would see this day, I really didn't. She has not said anything explicit like your system sounds different and I have not said anything to her about changes. So her engagement in the music now is purely based upon how real it now sounds, and that emotional connection is obviously powerful enough for her to a 180.

Could not be happier. Thanks, QSA!

 

Just a quick update on my experience with QSA. As per my previous post, I have a number of QSA items now in my system. More recently, I added a Spectra Infnity PC for power conditioner.

I am truly amazed how QSA has turned my system into a non-system - all i have now are performers themselves in the room with me, it's that real (to me). But what compelled me to write this brief update is something that has changed within the last few weeks. Some context first:

* My wife has never had any interest in sitting and just listening to music. The only time I could get her to do that was if I put on a concert video so she also had something to look at. Put simply, she is just not that into *just* listening to music.

* She has no idea about what I have changed in my system over time. The only time we talk about the system is if I want to change out something that will affect the look of the room.

* I normally play the system at very low volume around dinner time, just as background music. I wait until she goes for a run or is doing errands, etc, before I can sit and listen at levels I enjoy.

Well, here's the best testimonial for QSA, my wife is now wanting me to turn up the music and is making requests for certain songs or artists, she is actively engaged. She will now sit with me and we can *just* listen to music. I never thought I would see this day, I really didn't. She has not said anything explicit like your system sounds different and I have not said anything to her about changes. So her engagement in the music now is purely based upon how real it now sounds, and that emotional connection is obviously powerful enough for her to a 180.

Could not be happier. Thanks, QSA!

A happy wife is a happy life as long as they do not know what you have invested in your system. LOL

 

A happy wife is a happy life as long as they do not know what you have invested in your system. LOL

Yeah, learned a few things with wife #1. With wife #2, we have separate bank accounts which means I can spend my money however I see fit - bliss indeed

 

Yeah, learned a few things with wife #1. With wife #2, we have separate bank accounts which means I can spend my money however I see fit - bliss indeed

Good to know you still have a bank account after Wife #1. I think my wife would drain the swamp if I left her....ha ha

 

Good to know you still have a bank account after Wife #1. I think my wife would drain the swamp if I left her....ha ha

A painful topic for another thread

 

It would appear the impact of QSA treatment on DC is greater than AC.

With LAN cabling, because of the limitations of the design of RJ45 connectors, 23awg is about the largest wire you can use and that is the largest wire we have found.

You're the OP of this "War and Peace" forum thread and I posted this just about 3 years ago, maybe it wouldn't hurt to give them a shot since the parts wouldn't cost that much at all?

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...ter-audio-streaming/page/666/#comment-1059624

Apparently Belden 7959A as well as EV502T1 could actually go all the way up to 18AWG @ 7x26 stranding

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/566-7959AB59500
https://edesk.belden.com/products/techdata/metric/pdf/7959A.pdf
https://info.belden.com/hubfs/resou...al-ethernet-cable-product-bulletin.pdf#page=4

Basically we could get in touch with Belden and find out what RJ-45 connectors are compatible with their 7959A

https://www.belden.com/support/contact-us

---

Not sure if this particular seller from China were telling the truth, it's yet another source that's claiming to utilize 18AWG wires

https://www.taobao.com/list/item/649900064795.htm
https://www.taobao.com/list/item/650265863094.htm

IMHO those RJ-45 connectors looked pretty darn close to these guys, not sure if that Chinese seller were getting "lucky" and managed to cram his 18AWG wires inside them?

https://www.linkomm.com
https://www.amazon.com/LINKOMM-2-Pack-Shielded-Installation-Modular/dp/B079N9PVJB

Suitable for 22 to 24 AWG solid or stranded STP shielded cable wires

 

If we look at my preferred Telegaertner cat8 plugs, the maximum cable size they will accommodate is 22awg. This however makes provision for the insulation on the copper wire itself so there is scope to use a large wire but insert it bare into the plug without insulation. I have actually tried this with my earlier ‘Reserva’ generation 18awg wire but it was a painful building experience which didn’t give any SQ benefits. I concluded that ethernet cable performance is driven more by technical factors than artisanal material choices. And this is coming from one who traditionally uses the biggest wire csa he can fit into a given plug format

 

Now that's quite interesting, it sounded like the exact opposite of what's being said here IMHO

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/qsa-lanedri-series.36078/page-18#post-874208

It is available as either 5m or 7m. The shorter lengths have not been tested as they likely will sound inferior due to the smaller 30awg conductor used. The 5m and 7m use 24awg conductor which is 4x more conductor mass.

Though the only way to find out would be sending both 22AWG and 18AWG flavors to Hong Kong, then we'll see if the latter one were actually reaping the benefits of the treatment process with more conductor mass. Of course the length might also make a difference, therefore the $64,000 question would be how long is long enough?

Ideally we're building both of them with 2N copper wires as I pointed out here

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/58164-building-a-diy-music-server/page/210/#comment-1234323

BTW, could we actually go even lower than 2N by any chance?

 

You're the OP of this "War and Peace" forum thread and I posted this just about 3 years ago, maybe it wouldn't hurt to give them a shot since the parts wouldn't cost that much at all?

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...ter-audio-streaming/page/666/#comment-1059624

Apparently Belden 7959A as well as EV502T1 could actually go all the way up to 18AWG @ 7x26 stranding

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/566-7959AB59500
https://edesk.belden.com/products/techdata/metric/pdf/7959A.pdf
https://info.belden.com/hubfs/resou...al-ethernet-cable-product-bulletin.pdf#page=4

Basically we could get in touch with Belden and find out what RJ-45 connectors are compatible with their 7959A

https://www.belden.com/support/contact-us

---

Not sure if this particular seller from China were telling the truth, it's yet another source that's claiming to utilize 18AWG wires

https://www.taobao.com/list/item/649900064795.htm
https://www.taobao.com/list/item/650265863094.htm

IMHO those RJ-45 connectors looked pretty darn close to these guys, not sure if that Chinese seller were getting "lucky" and managed to cram his 18AWG wires inside them?

https://www.linkomm.com
https://www.amazon.com/LINKOMM-2-Pack-Shielded-Installation-Modular/dp/B079N9PVJB

The Schroeder method is a good way to increase conductor mass and would be useful for analog and potentially digital interconnects. With LAN, the limiting factor are the RJ45 connectors. Maybe someone with more knowledge than me can answer this but I am not aware of any RJ45 connectors that can accept 18awg wire and so the connectors are the limiting factor.

While increasing wire gauge results in a "relative" improvement in the impact of QSA's treatment and is a worthwhile thing to do, it doesn't get "jaw dropping" until you get to about 6awg (DC wire seems to be the exception). The bigger gains seem to happen with connectors such as the Bocchinos or the Jaegers. Even the amount of conductor in the Ultimatum speaker cable spades is pretty massive. Here is what a Bocchino wall plug looks like taken apart. We're talking bus bars.



Here is what the wall plug on the prototype 4/0 Ultimatum power cable looks like. Just insane.

 

The Schroeder method is a good way to increase conductor mass and would be useful for analog and potentially digital interconnects. With LAN, the limiting factor are the RJ45 connectors. Maybe someone with more knowledge than me can answer this but I am not aware of any RJ45 connectors that can accept 18awg wire and so the connectors are the limiting factor.

While increasing wire gauge results in a "relative" improvement in the impact of QSA's treatment and is a worthwhile thing to do, it doesn't get "jaw dropping" until you get to about 6awg (DC wire seems to be the exception). The bigger gains seem to happen with connectors such as the Bocchinos or the Jaegers. Even the amount of conductor in the Ultimatum speaker cable spades is pretty massive. Here is what a Bocchino wall plug looks like taken apart. We're talking bus bars.

View attachment 111867

Here is what the wall plug on the prototype 4/0 Ultimatum power cable looks like. Just insane.

View attachment 111868

Yikes, did you get your city inspector to sign off on this Roy? Sure you're not voiding your homeowner's policy?

 

Yikes, did you get your city inspector to sign off on this Roy? Sure you're not voiding your homeowner's policy?

Lol, Darryl. This 4/0 power cord is a "one off" proof-of-concept prototype that is Anas' brainchild. Only Anas has personally experienced this power cord (I am not brave enough to try it). As far as I know, there are no plans to make this a product due to practical and safety concerns but predictably, according to Anas, the impact of a treated power cord this size is huge. One thing that was learned is the importance of ground. Most manufacturers compromise the gauge of the ground lead with the thought that it doesn't need to be the same gauge as hot and neutral but once treated, the impact of the ground lead is quite massive and so from a safety standpoint, I wouldn't see a problem with using as large a ground lead as possible.