|
|
Post by novisnick on Nov 24, 2018 18:51:01 GMT -5
Over on Computer Audiophile, many people think the microRendu is almost a necessity. I am now intrigued because it seems to make any DAC sound a lot better. I agree with those who think the industrial design is sub-par. It reminds me of an external hard drive enclosure from 2003. Sonre may have market share but Im a firm believer in the sotm product line! 😁🤔 |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs 
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Post by klinemj on Nov 24, 2018 19:13:00 GMT -5
Over on Computer Audiophile, many people think the microRendu is almost a necessity. I am now intrigued because it seems to make any DAC sound a lot better. I agree with those who think the industrial design is sub-par. It reminds me of an external hard drive enclosure from 2003. If you get the deal on the ultrarendu right now (by Monday at latest), the price of it + the power supply is about the same as a microrendu + a decent PS at regular cost. And, the ultraRendu sounds better AND has better overall design (all inputs and outputs on 1 side instead of 2). Mark |
|
|
|
Post by sahmen on Nov 25, 2018 13:45:55 GMT -5
FWIW : A SOtM 15% off Cyber Monday sale is going on here. Use coupon code CYBER15 to get the discount, and yes, all the SOtM sMS-200XXX series products and related accessories are in play. Hell, you can buy on "Lay Buy" (or Lay-Away) if you so wish.... Just thought I should mention it. |
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Nov 26, 2018 19:36:21 GMT -5
With the emphasis on clean power and its effect on the Microrendu, do youse guys plug your MR power supplies into a power conditioner or surge suppression strip? If so, is it audible vs. being plugged straight into the wall? Which power strip/conditioner do you use?
Thanks - Boom
|
|
|
|
Post by pedrocols on Nov 26, 2018 19:41:00 GMT -5
I plug it to a power strip and is so messy back there that I just plug it and forget it. Maybe sounds better maybe worse? Who knows and ain't gonna be me I am to lazy for that.
|
|
|
|
Post by sahmen on Nov 26, 2018 19:49:01 GMT -5
With the emphasis on clean power and its effect on the Microrendu, do youse guys plug your MR power supplies into a power conditioner or surge suppression strip? If so, is it audible vs. being plugged straight into the wall? Which power strip/conditioner do you use? Thanks - Boom All components in my rig typically go through a Belkin Pure AV conditioner or an Emotiva CMX 6--> CMX-2 --.> Wall socket daisy chain. It is possible for some folks to argue that an LPS-1 does not need a conditioner, but that could be mistaken. Personally, I use a conditioner whenever one is available, even for my (cough, cough) Emo amps. |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Post by klinemj on Nov 26, 2018 19:49:43 GMT -5
With the emphasis on clean power and its effect on the Microrendu, do youse guys plug your MR power supplies into a power conditioner or surge suppression strip? If so, is it audible vs. being plugged straight into the wall? Which power strip/conditioner do you use? Thanks - Boom Mine is plugged into one of the Emotiva power strips...forgive me for not knowing the name. I have one of the 2 plug ones with a 6 plug one plugged into that. I've not tried it any other way. Mark |
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Nov 26, 2018 22:56:42 GMT -5
Thanks, gents. Before I read your posts this evening, I pulled out my Emotiva CMX-6 this afternoon and plugged my gear into it. And guess what! All the air and image that I'd been missing was suddenly back. I've been listening to music non-stop since! Shocked me big time. Has something else in my area been adding a lot of noise to the AC starting just recently? I don't know, but with the CMX-6 in the chain, the Microrendu is again doing its voodoo. I've never had power problems before (that I knew of), but I don't think that it's a coincidence that once I put the CMX-6 into the AC-path, the system's sound improved both significantly and immediately. I guess I could unplug everything again & plug it back into the wall sans power conditioning to see if my sound sucked again, but somehow I'm just not motivated to mess with success.
I'd also used the CMX-6 in the past with no audible difference in the sound. But today, it made a big difference. Tis a mystery to me...
Boomzilla
|
|
|
|
Post by novisnick on Nov 26, 2018 23:04:22 GMT -5
Thanks, gents. Before I read your posts this evening, I pulled out my Emotiva CMX-6 this afternoon and plugged my gear into it. And guess what! All the air and image that I'd been missing was suddenly back. I've been listening to music non-stop since! Shocked me big time. Has something else in my area been adding a lot of noise to the AC starting just recently? I don't know, but with the CMX-6 in the chain, the Microrendu is again doing its voodoo. I've never had power problems before (that I knew of), but I don't think that it's a coincidence that once I put the CMX-6 into the AC-path, the system's sound improved both significantly and immediately. I guess I could unplug everything again & plug it back into the wall sans power conditioning to see if my sound sucked again, but somehow I'm just not motivated to mess with success. I'd also used the CMX-6 previously in the past with no audible difference in the sound. But today, it made a big difference. Tis a mystery to me... Boomzilla You may want to revisit my cable thread! 😏 Just sayin. |
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Nov 26, 2018 23:05:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by jamco on Nov 26, 2018 23:38:12 GMT -5
FWIW - I just assembled another HifiBerry Digi + Pro (Raspberry Pi) - this one is in my critical listening area. Gotta admit the sound quality is better than the USB from my PC or Oppo UDP-203. Best of all, it cost me about $100. Not saying it's better than Sonore products - it's just a very effective option if money is a factor. (And I finally got to use one of those Coaxial inputs on my XMC-1) You make a very good point here. At that cost I could address both audio systems. If time permits, I may take another run at it. |
|
|
|
Post by novisnick on Nov 27, 2018 5:31:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by wilburthegoose on Nov 28, 2018 18:56:56 GMT -5
Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. My trial ultraRendu arrived today. It was 35F outside (1C), so I let it warm up on a table for a few hours and then installed it. Took me about 5 minutes once referenced my XMC-1 manual to remind myself where the USB input was located. My wife and I just spent 90 minutes playing a variety of music via Roon. My judgement in a blind A/B test (A = Oppo-UDP203 B=ultraRendu). The ultraRendu was easy to pick out. Fuller, more "analog" sound. Not even close. Laura's judgement: The ultraRendu. By far. She says, "You're not sending it back, right..." As a statement, not a question  I was wrong. You guys were right. Thank you for teaching a stubborn student! |
|
|
|
Post by brubacca on Nov 28, 2018 19:26:20 GMT -5
Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. My trial ultraRendu arrived today. It was 35F outside (1C), so I let it warm up on a table for a few hours and then installed it. Took me about 5 minutes once referenced my XMC-1 manual to remind myself where the USB input was located. My wife and I just spent 90 minutes playing a variety of music via Roon. My judgement in a blind A/B test (A = Oppo-UDP203 B=ultraRendu). The ultraRendu was easy to pick out. Fuller, more "analog" sound. Not even close. Laura's judgement: The ultraRendu. By far. She says, "You're not sending it back, right..." As a statement, not a question I was wrong. You guys were right. Thank you for teaching a stubborn student! Its uncanny, right? Bits are bits and it shouldn't be better.... But it is. |
|
|
|
Post by wilburthegoose on Nov 28, 2018 19:50:18 GMT -5
It makes no sense. I’m a computer scientist. Been doing it for years.
I thought data was data. And it is in the financial world in which I work.
But music data. I have a lot to learn.
BTW. The music sounds more analog to me. Same DAC, different result.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Nov 29, 2018 5:21:01 GMT -5
OK - klinemj - DYohn - wilburthegoose - novisnick - etc. The Microrendu experience brings me back to my audio amigo, Russel. He has consistently claimed that his CD rips sound better - not only better than mine, but also better than almost everyone else's. His HDD system resides in a specific outboard USB / SATA adapter, supported from vibration by tiptoes, meticulously leveled, using specific Enterprise-certified hard drives, utilizing specific USB cables, and with a custom power supply to the drive. He uses a modified "pro" Teac device as his ripper, and every "other" aspect of the rip process is tweaked. And yes, he "demagnetizes" his CDs before ripping. It sounds good enough that at least two manufacturers have borrowed the entire playback system from him to use at audio shows. I'm going to contact Russel and have him do a rip for me to a USB key (his other rip destination of choice). I'll rip the same music to the same USB key. Once done, I'll mail that USB drive to those of you who want to hear it, and you can judge for yourself. What music should I request? I foresee the USB key circulating like a Trobrian-Island pebble... Once you've heard it, mail it on to the next person on the waiting list. Boomzilla |
|
klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,086
|
Post by klinemj on Nov 29, 2018 7:37:15 GMT -5
I'm game! For me, Grateful Dead Ripple off American Beauty, Carole King I Feel the Earth Move off Tapestry, and Steely Dan Black Cow off Aja.
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by wilburthegoose on Nov 29, 2018 9:53:18 GMT -5
All 2500 of my CDs are ripped to FLAC and they reside on a 2TB SSD. Last time I checked, solid state drives don't need to be balanced |
|
KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,261
|
Post by KeithL on Nov 29, 2018 9:58:48 GMT -5
It makes one wonder if maybe they ARE changing the bits.....  Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. My trial ultraRendu arrived today. It was 35F outside (1C), so I let it warm up on a table for a few hours and then installed it. Took me about 5 minutes once referenced my XMC-1 manual to remind myself where the USB input was located. My wife and I just spent 90 minutes playing a variety of music via Roon. My judgement in a blind A/B test (A = Oppo-UDP203 B=ultraRendu). The ultraRendu was easy to pick out. Fuller, more "analog" sound. Not even close. Laura's judgement: The ultraRendu. By far. She says, "You're not sending it back, right..." As a statement, not a question I was wrong. You guys were right. Thank you for teaching a stubborn student! Its uncanny, right? Bits are bits and it shouldn't be better.... But it is. |
|
|
|
Post by wilburthegoose on Nov 29, 2018 10:31:02 GMT -5
Keith - all I know is that I was firmly in the camp of not believing. I've heard it myself, and it's true.
I was folding the shipping boxes this morning, and my wife says - "You're recycling, right - because I'm not sending it back"
|
|
