Actually my Melco is connected to the EE8 switch, as the Lumin U2 mini. The EE8 is connected to the router.
I tried the direct connection from U2 to Melco player port, but prefer the actual set up.
In elsewhere discussions, not here, a guy said that the best is connecting the Melco to the router and streamer to the switch.
I find it strange, as the router is noisier.
He had an Nd555 and top Melco.
Have you tried that set up?
My access to cables is difficult, so i am a bit lazy right now, but i intend to try.
I prefer my nd555 connected to the phoenixnet, and the melco connected to the phoenixnet as well. That way the phoenixnet “clock” gets used on the final music delivery to nd555. There was something less natural about some music by going direct.
Me too Gazza. But i don’t have the PN anymore…
But the EE8 is also a low noise switch with a good “clock”…….so having the same effect?
Yes, i prefer also both in the EE8.
But my question is: had anyone tried the Melco connected to the Router and streamer to the switch ? As someone found this set up the best for his Nd555 and Melco and Etheregen switch if i remember well.
Got to be @Darkebear ?
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Yes , absolutely. But I doubt he wants to touch at the fine and fragile equilibrium he reached
Maybe you? You have the top Melco and Nd555. ,
If you dont have a switch in your rack or within say a meter of the dac, then using the melco’s player out port is a nice bonus to have, and i found it was good to use for years when i had my NDS.
But like others seem to do, once you have a network switch in the rack then like others, i run my melco to the switch and then to the dac.
I found i liked how streaming from qobuz sounded more alive and dynamic when running this way, its not a huge difference as normally not much is when doing stuff like this, but i just thought it sounded a bit nicer.
Definitely worth a try i say, i use a innuos phoenixnet switch just so you know. I also hardly use my melco these day’s as i find streaming just as good as playing the same stored music from the ssd drive on the melco.
Guys, it’s still not my question.
Please read again.
I’m confused - I use my Melco in loop-through mode: ER switch - Melco - ND555
I tried direct and it is more lively with some edge-detil better, but I found it was harder for me to connect with or less coherent, so I still use it through the Melco.
I think choice will be personal preference and system-dependant.
Mine is an Active system which already does speed and detail well, so the balance is in the coherence and low frequency timing and connection. Small differences but I preferred one option, but with this particular system.
DB.
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DB, one guy, elsewhere, has an Nd555 and Melco.
He connected his Melco to the router, not to the switch. And his Nd555 is connected to the switch. He said it sounds better to him than both to the switch or Nd555 to Melco and Melco to switch.
So my question is about connecting the Melco to the router.
That’s how I had mine connected when I had a ND555 (and I too have a EtherREGEN instead of EE8). This is also how Alan Ainslie (chief Melco designer) recommended I connect the Melco - he was visiting Signals when I bought my Melco, Gazza was there too.
I have not experimented connecting the Melco any other way, but @Gazza , you seem to have yours connected another way IIUC.
I have Router to ER switch to Phoenixnet, then Melco to Phoenix and ND555 to Phoenix. That way the Melco signal gets reclocked by the Phoenixnet before being picked up by ND555.
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OK, but if you had PN>Melco>ND555, as Alan Ainslie seems to recommend (i.e. connecting the Melco direct to the ND555), wouldn’t the Melco reclock the signal from the PN, or am I showing my ignorance?
Out of interest, have you compared SQ of different ways of connecting?
Yes, but the PN has the better clock, it sounds better this way to my ears. I have done as you suggested, it did not sound as natural.
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Cheers Gazza.
Were you off to Oz this year?
Just on our way back after 5 weeks in Oz.
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The guy who owns the Nd555 and Phoenixnet or ER, don’t remember, connect the Nd555 to the switch but Melco to router. For him it’s the best for sound, vs both to switch or Melco to switch and Nd555 to Melco.
I am evaluating the Lumin U2 as transport actually, so haven’t tested yet.
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