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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2010 18:49:14 GMT
Hi Guys, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, so can Admin move it and retitle it if required. I've just picked up the following post on 'another place' and I thought some of you guys might be interested, knowning how you love your mods  . theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=98090#post98090 post no. 66 I'd be interested to read your thoughts. |
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FauDrei
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Post by FauDrei on Jan 29, 2010 0:01:49 GMT
...some of us are.
JKeny, as a great digital modder, is active in many forums - including this one. I'm sure that if we ping him he will introduce his latest hiFace mods also on RG.
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Jan 30, 2010 20:50:35 GMT
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Jan 30, 2010 21:05:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 21:16:58 GMT
John Having been able to compare my modified X-DAC V3 with a heavily promoted Benchmark USB DAC, and finding the X-DAC V3 MUCH better, I believe that many of the products you mentioned are overhyped,vastly overpriced, and that places like CA Forum are there in the main to promote U.S.A. manufacturers products. Alex |
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Jan 30, 2010 22:43:32 GMT
John Having been able to compare my modified X-DAC V3 with a heavily promoted Benchmark USB DAC, and finding the X-DAC V3 MUCH better, I believe that many of the products you mentioned are overhyped,vastly overpriced, and that places like CA Forum are there in the main to promote U.S.A. manufacturers products. Alex Hi Alex, I haven't heard these products myself so I can't attest to their sound quality but I would never pay $4.500 for a CD player particularly when a $150 HiFace (+mods) wipes the floor with it! The rest of the system we listened to was an Airtight tube amp (don't know the model) & Quad ESL 989 speakers. Driven by the modded HiFace this was a high-end sound. But, you know, it always makes me wonder how much of HiFi is about bragging rights rather than SQ? |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 22:57:23 GMT
jkeny,
If someone of basic electronic ability was to modify one of these HiFace goodies. What would be the best/easiest things to do?
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Jan 30, 2010 23:36:00 GMT
jkeny, If someone of basic electronic ability was to modify one of these HiFace goodies. What would be the best/easiest things to do? I wouldn't really advise it unless you have pretty good DIY electronics experiences & are comfortable with smd soldering - it's a tiny device, about the size of a USB stick. You have to cut through the white plastic case carefully if you want to re-use the case later. The circuit board is very tight to work on & easy to ruin with a slip of a soldering iron. All the instructions & pics are on that linked thread, however & I'm doing these mods for some people who have contacted me. |
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Spirit
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Post by Spirit on Mar 12, 2010 5:37:02 GMT
jkeny/John, Have you found changing the length of the 'usb cable' (from usb port, to the device) has any impact on the resultant sq? I'd be looking to use one <1m. If not, one of these sitting inside a DAC feeding it i2s directly could be a nice cheap alternative to an SD card-based transport. Far more user-friendly too. Kinda tempted to get one for the buffalo. Then I could put my soundcard in the speaker setup in the living room... Just read through the 54 page thread on headfi.... would be interested in your impressions of the 3.3V PH supply feeding it too  |
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Mar 20, 2010 2:06:23 GMT
jkeny/John, Have you found changing the length of the 'usb cable' (from usb port, to the device) has any impact on the resultant sq? I'd be looking to use one <1m. I haven't really tried different USB cables or lengths to say if there is any SQ consequences I'll be doing exactly this with the AckoDac, the alternative to the Buffalo & offering it as a USB front-end module for the ACkoDac. Cuurently I'm doing this with a ES9022 DAC feeding it I2S directly from a HiFace - works wonderfully well. The ES9022 is the DAC used in the NuForce uDac that everyone is raving about over on Head-Fi - but the uDac uses just a PCM2707 USB controller so is not nearly as good as this configuration. I have a PH 3.3V supply on order but Paul is having some life issues that is slowing him down |
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Spirit
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Post by Spirit on Mar 20, 2010 2:41:33 GMT
Cheers mate |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 3:37:37 GMT
Phil
I don't know if it has any bearing on this, but I have seen several recommendations that USB pens with Audio files should be plugged directly into the rear of the PC and not the front USB connector which is via a fairly long cable.
Alex
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Spirit
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Post by Spirit on Mar 20, 2010 4:15:02 GMT
Phil I don't know if it has any bearing on this, but I have seen several recommendations that USB pens with Audio files should be plugged directly into the rear of the PC and not the front USB connector which is via a fairly long cable. Alex I wonder if using a screened cable (externally) would make a difference. The internal cables that run to a front usb port are hardly... ideal? And then of course there's the question of whether going direct usb->is2-> dac core is better than usb->spdif (plugged in directly) -> spdif input on dac-> i2s -> dac core |
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Post by derekrumble on Mar 20, 2010 11:38:20 GMT
Phil I don't know if it has any bearing on this, but I have seen several recommendations that USB pens with Audio files should be plugged directly into the rear of the PC and not the front USB connector which is via a fairly long cable. Alex But be sure to select a rear socket that is closest to the outside of the casing to reduce noise even further  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 14:57:29 GMT
Good Afternoon Guys,
I got my mod'd HiFace from John a few days ago but only today did I get round to giving it a serious listen and ........
I'm very impressed!!
The signal path was maybe not the best and I would appreciate any comments on this but here it is:
PC playing 24 bit FLAC files through a male to female USB extension lead into Hiface into mod'd Beresford 7520 DAC, through fixed output into G2 amp to Marantz PM6010 OSE KI amp
and onto MS Mezzo 2 speakers. I can honestly say that my setup has never sounded better. I just sat and listened for about an hour, and that was in the morning when, according to some, our ears are not at their best.
Certainly not a cheap piece of kit as far as my budget is concerned and as I didn't use it before it's modification by John (Kenny) I can't comment on the improvement, but as a stand alone investment, very well worth the money, IMHO.
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matt7941
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Post by matt7941 on Mar 24, 2010 23:19:24 GMT
DaveK.
Sorry to take this thread off topic but I've just noticed you've got some Mezzo 2s. I was thinking of downsizing my speakers and these were one of the candidates, it would be nice to hear your opinion of their strengths and weaknesses. I tend not to trust magazine reviews (especially What HiFi) and would appreciate hearing from someone who's lived with them.
Cheers
Matt
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 23:49:01 GMT
Hi Matt,
Out of fairness to the other posters on this thread if this exchange continues let's do it by PM.
I hate to be negative but I may not be able to help you much, for two reasons: -
1) after 50 years in the steel industry my hearing is not in good nick. I have had them tested properly and I've lost sensitivity at both ends of the spectrum.
2) I had a mod on another forum, (Dean, aka SCID, of ZeroGain) who lives local to me (in Sheffield) come over and have a listen. According to him my system is lacking extension at both ends of the spectrum. That may, at least in part, be due to shortcomings in the speakers and/or other bits of the set up.
I am happy with them and they have a reasonable WAF, but SHMBO and I just could not agree on floor standers which is what I really wanted. I auditioned a pair from Richers and it nearly cost me a divorce ;D , so the Mezzo 2s are a compromise. It also helped that I got them off FeePay at a bargain £275.
The above probably won't help you much but if you're anywhere near Sheffield at any time you're welcome to call in and have a listen.
You know where I am if you have any more questions I may be able to help with.
Best Regards,
Dave.
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Spirit
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Post by Spirit on Mar 25, 2010 12:06:39 GMT
Dave, were you using spdif out of your motherboard prior to the hiface?
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Will
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Post by Will on Mar 25, 2010 12:19:02 GMT
I'm glad this post has popped up, I'd not seen it before.
John, I've not read you mods on the hiface, but have suggested the following to someone who owns one. It's a simple case of not powering the hiface via the USB, but providing it with a clean 5V supply instead. Of course, you can build a little box to do this, so as to be non-invasive. Whats you thinking on this, as a straightforward tweak?
A simple little diagram below.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 12:48:20 GMT
Dave, were you using spdif out of your motherboard prior to the hiface? Hi Spirit, No. My PC is well furnished with outputs and I have too many sources so I fed the DAC from the USB as the other DAC inputs were pre-occupied. The test I did with the HiFace was so impressive that the USB input on the DAC is now unused and the other sources have been re-jigged to accommodate the HiFace using one of the co-ax inputs. Hope this answers your question. Dave. |
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Spirit
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Post by Spirit on Mar 25, 2010 12:54:58 GMT
Hope this answers your question. Dave. It does, thankyou |
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Spirit
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Post by Spirit on Mar 25, 2010 12:55:59 GMT
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Mar 29, 2010 16:13:00 GMT
Sorry guys, I didn't get notification of these posts hence the delay in responding - Glad you like it Dave Will, replacing the USB 5V supply with an external 5V you will notice an improvement in sound but not to the extent that supplying clean 3.3V to the clocks & Xilinx chip will give you. Also, your diagram is wrong & could cause damage to the HiFace (but is unlikely to) - you need the ground still connected through to the PC so don't cut it just splice into it. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2010 21:45:42 GMT
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Mar 30, 2010 9:17:51 GMT
Yep, I'm convinced that we are mostly listening to the detrimental effects of PS on our equipment - the more this can be minimised the better for the sound. I believe that the sonic difference between bit identical files ripped to disk using 2 different drives is somehow down to PS issues BUT that'a a whole other can of worms ;D |
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I was just about to post something on it here & did a search to see where I might post it & voila, this shows up 
