One and a half

Audio System
Edited 2024-08-03

 

Some electrical works still need to be completed.

 

Main Listening System

Source

Self built Music Server, commissioned March 24, 2018 120V AC powered from Cyberpower 1500VA Line Interactive UPS
    ASUS PRIME Z790-A WIFI-CSM LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard 
    Intel Core i7 12700 12-Core LGA 1700 2.10GHz CPU Processor
    Kingston FURY Beast 64GB (4 x 16GB) DDR5 5600MHz Desktop Memory
    Noctua NH-D9L Dual Tower CPU Cooler for Intel LGA 2011-0/LGA 2011-3 Square ILM/1156/1155/1150
    Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB NVMe 1.3 M.2 (2280) 3-Bit V-NAND SSD - MZ-V7S500BW

    2 x WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB 3.5" 512e/4Kn SATA 7200RPM Hard Drive 0F38462 Enterprise drive music Files
    Supermicro SuperChassis 900W Mid-Tower Sever P/N CSE-732D4-903B c/w 900W ATX power supply
    Earth bonding to SSD, JCAT, mobo with AA59569F36T0062 Formerly QQ-B-575 Tinned Copper Flat Braid           
    Windows 11 Pro with Windows 11 Debloat

    Audirvana Origin & Remote

    JCAT NET XE with 5V Linear PSU (Kingston)

    Intel Pro-set load balancing NIC software

    JRiver MC31 (for Bluetooth speakers controlled by Phone)

    HQPLAYER (Desktop) for 'radio' service NAA to ifi Neo Stream

    JPLAY for iOS and Minimserver (not using this often, prefer Audirvana SQ)

 

Software for the library management

    TagScanner
    Teracopy Supercopy from drives to drives
    Beyond Compare Backup and verification 
    Sound Forge 14 for SRC hires to redbook
    db Poweramp R17 Ripper and convert WAV and FLAC to uncompressed FLAC

    MP3 Tag
    Jriver 2x, Weeds out corrupted files
    Audio Inventory ProduceRD ISO to DSF conversion, also Cue ripper of WV and APE files.

    MAAT DR02 offline Dynamic range measurement

    Lossless Audio Checker

    

 

Source control
    iPad 3rd Generation [The M3 MacBook air was useless, since the apps for iPad didn't translate that well on the MacOS platform]
    

 

 DAC
    Accuphase DC-950 (2019)
    [IC Accuphase ASLC50 XLR  1m]

 

Primary Digital Audio Chain (2023-02-12)

 

Despite many experiments and combination, the Network Bridge on the JCAT NET XE doesn't work with Win10 LTSC. Used to work fine, I blame a Windows update issue. If one port sees the router, the other to the Lumin, there's no identification and the adapter shows a 169 IP address. So now using Win10 Pro and sharing is managed by Intel Pro-set

So for now listening setup:

 

Home Network|Router -> -DXE-ISO-PLUS -> 3m Cat5e UTP -> Netgear G105 ->JCAT i350 #1 (with DX)

                                                                                                -> Netgear G105 ->JCAT i350 #2 (with DX)

                                                                                                -> Netgear G105 -> -DXE-ISO-PLUS -> 20m Cat5e UTP > A side Uptone EtherRegen #1

 A side Uptone EtherRegen #2 -> Sangean WFT4D Radio (DAB+, FM, Internet Radio)

 A side Uptone EtherRegen #3 ->- ifi Neo Stream (with supplied iPower 12V wall wart)

 B Side Uptone EtherRegen CAT5e UTP -> Lumin U1 Ethernet Input

 

Lumin U1 USB to DAC

> Acoustic Revive USB-SPS-1.0 Dual cable -> Accuphase DC-950 DAC.

> Wireworld Platinum AES3  -> Accuphase DC-950 DAC.

 

Digital Power supplies

Lumin U1 Black Transport (as supplied with U1) for EtherRegen

Lumin U1 powered by Lumin X1 PSU (03-2020)

G105 Switch TIANCOOLKEI DIY Audio Specialty 12V, 5A DC Linear power supply [Installed August 2, 2024. Made a noticeable difference to cleaning the digital rubbish from the switch. It is not the most elaborate PSU under the sun, but proves a linear supply on a switch is a worthwhile improvement]

 

 

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Optical Disc Player [SACD-CD]
    Accuphase DP-720 (2014)
    [IC - Accuphase ASLC-10 SR XLR 1m]
   

    Sony X800 Region Free Ultra HD 4K Up Conversion Blu-Ray Player 

 

Turntable
    Technics SL1200GR (2019)
    Ortofon Black MM Cartridge (05-2020)
    120V AC supply - 100VA Salzer Plitron (Indian Transformer with voltmeter)
    [IC  Accuphase ASL-10 1m RCA] (05-2020)
    Phono Pre-amp - Accuphase AD-2850 (2019)
    
Tuner
    Accuphase T-1100 (2013)- FM 
    [IC Accuphase ASL-10 1m RCA]

 

    SANGEAN WFT4D - DAB+. FM, Internet radio

    [IC OEHLBACH Series 80 TOSLINK]

 

Pre-Amplifier
    Accuphase C-2420 (2013)

 

 Power Amplifier 
    Electrocompaniet AW250R (2023)

    Accuphase P-4200 (2013)
    [IC - Accuphase ASLC-10 SR XLR 5m]

    [IC - Accuphase ASLC-10 SR XLR 1m]

    Amplifiers are used in Bi-Amp mode (using AW250R Link XLR connection to P-4200). P4200 set to -3db gain.

 

Speakers
    KEF Reference 205/2 (2014)
    [IC- Furutech A36 with Furutech spade, ATaudio banana plugs 1.8m Bi-Amped]

 

Headphone
    Sennheiser HD800s, HD820
    Sony WH-1000MX5

 

Headphone amp 
    Integrated HP amp in C-2420 [Primary]
    Sony TA-ZH1ES (2018) [Secondary]

 

AC Power Topology
    All AC plugged into the wall

    Sources powered by DENAFRIPS BIC500-EU 500VA Balanced Transformer

    Furutech Nanoflex 18-C Schuko to IEC320 10AWG Power cable (0.7m, 1m, 1.5m, 3m)

    YYAUDIO 6N OCC 10 AWG SPC 5m for power amplifiers

    Furutech eTP-60e AC distributor x 3

    Pre-amp, power amplifiers plugged directly into wall.

    Monitored by Pawalle TP80 European Standard Power Filter 8-bit EU Power Purifier Socket Complex 2nd Level Filter Purifier Surge Protection

 

Music Server AC power
    UPS Offline type CyberPower 1500VA with isolation transformer 230V/120V

 

SACD Ripper

Cambridge Audio CXU
    

Audio Rack
    Quadraspire Q4L Cherry - 10 shelves

 

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Garage sound system (downscaled) 2021-11-20 made of pieces not used for some time

      TOSLINK feed from direct motherboard on Music Server

      Geshelli  ENOG2 Pro DAC Clear Case DAC with 12V SMPS. This is a great little DAC but let down with the SMPS. A LPS cost exceeds the DAC's          price.

      15m 2 core and shield unbalanced 16 AWG <- Surprise, once all the equipment connected, the signal was quiet, no hum pickup

      Alpine CDA-9857 Head Unit

      JBL 6in 2-way car speakers in roof of garage in between rafters, 12in sub-woofer, Pioneer power amp

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Projects for Q2 2024

 

CAT6 10GBe system to come. Difficulty in obtaining 10AWG shielded cable for a reasonable price.

 

Most likely be purchasing Mutec REF 10 Nano and MC3+USB specifically to support Redbook playback.