Build a dedicated Audio PC

[Diapason]

Not buying anything currently, but IF I end up getting a Devialet or Wadia one box solution I'll have to start reading this thread from scratch, as PC would be my choice at that stage.

Wadia are basically no longer supporting my player after the change of ownership, so USB modules are as difficult to find as rocking horse poo. They're also very expensive. Wadia have kind of dirtied their bib with me now over this (lifetime support, etc.) so I might baulk at buying another.

[jkeny]

Guys, one cheap source for batteries is your local recycling centre - lots of those small 7Ah batteries to be had. As Nige says, it probably doesn't matter if they are not full power, any more. The problem will be getting them out of the recycling centre - they apparently don't believe in recycling, at least my local one doesn't.

Simon there are a couple of excellent USB converters around - just sayin' :)

[Sligolad]

Did a bit of experimenting with audiophil sound signature settings tonight. Need to do a bit more diverse listening but 1 on controlpc and 4 on the audiopc softs the sound and allows me bring the supertweeters back in. I find with 1/1 with the sound panels behind the speakers I hear what Fran and John don't like i.e a bit too strident. Has anybody else messed with the settings?

Hi Tony, Last weekend I did spend some time playing with settings as I felt I never had the magic in my system since I put in the Cirrus7 and installed server core on 1 + 1 settings.
After some hours I ended up on 4 + 4 last weekend and it has brought back some of the 3D fuller sound I like.
1 + 1 sounded very detailed but a bit too detailed I think and I started hearing sibilance which I hate with a vengeance so its 4 + 4 for me now until I get the battery pack for the Cirrus7 and then we will see if that helps me edge back towards more detail with body and depth.

My Sony laptop with server core on a usb stick as control pc sounded really good before the Cirrus7 so I am looking forward to getting back to this level and then improve on that with linear or battery supplies.

Hard to say sometimes if it is just a case of increasing expectations or I am really hearing the above, really hoping the clean supply for the Cirrus7 makes a big difference as the 19v from the smps just goes straigh on to the board at a single point, not good for audio methinks!
Looks like the 19v linear supply is some time away yet as you predicted but the 19v battery John found should be here hopefully before next weekend and fingers crossed we will see a big improvement.

[Diapason]

Simon there are a couple of excellent USB converters around - just sayin' :)

Problem with the wadia is that there are no digital outs at all. Nada.

[tony]

Hi Pearse. Found 4/4 too bassy. 1/1 is probably the cleanest but then the dreaded detail/highs becoming too much start raising their heads.
Would agree expectation does start to take over but maybe when you get it right like you suggested a few weeks back don't make a dramatic change.The cirrus7 is a dramatic change. Hope the power supply sorts it. At worst you will be using the cirrus7 for something else.
BTW i3 laptop with core on usb sounds best for me as well.The i5 laptop has core on ssd and it just doesn't have edge on the i3.

I am in no rush(not alllowed) to do major work on a new control pc. TBH I want to get some value out of what I have. Keen now to try the batteries on the audiopc and have one of the 5v ones referenced by John on order. Small beer €30 odd euro but Nigel advises most of the lift in SQ came from that.

[/quote]
Hi Tony, Last weekend I did spend some time playing with settings as I felt I never had the magic in my system since I put in the Cirrus7 and installed server core on 1 + 1 settings.
After some hours I ended up on 4 + 4 last weekend and it has brought back some of the 3D fuller sound I like.
1 + 1 sounded very detailed but a bit too detailed I think and I started hearing sibilance which I hate with a vengeance so its 4 + 4 for me now until I get the battery pack for the Cirrus7 and then we will see if that helps me edge back towards more detail with body and depth.

My Sony laptop with server core on a usb stick as control pc sounded really good before the Cirrus7 so I am looking forward to getting back to this level and then improve on that with linear or battery supplies.

Hard to say sometimes if it is just a case of increasing expectations or I am really hearing the above, really hoping the clean supply for the Cirrus7 makes a big difference as the 19v from the smps just goes straigh on to the board at a single point, not good for audio methinks!
Looks like the 19v linear supply is some time away yet as you predicted but the 19v battery John found should be here hopefully before next weekend and fingers crossed we will see a big improvement.[/quote]

[nige2000]

After some hours I ended up on 4 + 4 last weekend and it has brought back some of the 3D fuller sound I like.
1 + 1 sounded very detailed but a bit too detailed I think and I started hearing sibilance which I hate with a vengeance so its 4 + 4 for me now until I get the battery pack for the Cirrus7 and then we will see if that helps me edge back towards more detail with body and depth.

the battery will take out the last bit of sibilance you might switch to 1:4 or 4:1 in the end

My Sony laptop with server core on a usb stick as control pc sounded really good before the Cirrus7 so I am looking forward to getting back to this level and then improve on that with linear or battery supplies.

your laptop will have the battery thing going for it but not the benefit of a full sized pc im sure the cirrus will come out the better

Hard to say sometimes if it is just a case of increasing expectations or I am really hearing the above, really hoping the clean supply for the Cirrus7 makes a big difference as the 19v from the smps just goes straigh on to the board at a single point, not good for audio methinks!
Looks like the 19v linear supply is some time away yet as you predicted but the 19v battery John found should be here hopefully before next weekend and fingers crossed we will see a big improvement.

[its could be possible that a battery may sound better than the unobtainable 19v linear

[tony]

http://www.coreaudiotechnology.com/batt ... er-supply/

Worth a read even I can understand it. If you believe it spent batteries and ones from recycling centres are not the way to go.

Of course linear supplies seem to be their product. Hope some of you guys try out their products!

[nige2000]

http://www.coreaudiotechnology.com/batt ... er-supply/

Worth a read even I can understand it. If you believe it spent batteries and ones from recycling centres are not the way to go.

Of course linear supplies seem to be their product. Hope some of you guys try out their products!

We've a slightly different application here I think

Also I try not to believe everything someone in sales tells me, they sell power supplies

Old fashioned trial and error and going with what we think sounds good
seems to work

[jkeny]

Simon there are a couple of excellent USB converters around - just sayin' :)

Problem with the wadia is that there are no digital outs at all. Nada.

Oh, no digital INs, you mean - so an internal USB board is the only option?

[jkeny]

Yea, Tony, Nige is right - don't believe everything you read - especially those with vested interests. Did I tell you about the speaker makers (supposedly) who claim everything sounds the same, except speakers?
Using batteries in a shunt style supply configuration, as is being done here (battery being continuously trickle charged), seems to operate as a massive capacitor & absorbs any ripple on the charging supply. So it's a different application here & most of the so called issues raised are irrelevant.
One thing that I did discover, however, is that a low internal impedance of the battery may be important to the sound i.e it's ability to deliver lots of instantaneous current. Big SLAs (sealed lead acid) & Lithium batteries have low internal impedance - smaller SLAs don't - so this might affect the sound? Still worth a try if you can get an armful of these batteries from recycling centre for free.