Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

Flow control?
Unless you are using SPDIF, everything else has flow control.

Everything I have does apart from the StarTech FMC. Does it not matter if that doesn’t have it?

We might be at cross purposes… if it’s a network FMC it will have flow control…

Ok, I could have sworn I seen something say it didn’t have it, could be imagining it :crazy_face:

That said, the main benefits the OpticalModule has over the the StarTech are supposed to be the ultra low jitter FEMTO oscillator, the linear regulators. There aren’t any in the UK at the moment so I haven’t been able to try one.

Hi Toon,

Well, guess what I have just slotted into my nearfield system in place of my Hugo TT?

A TT2.

Loaned to me for a while.

I need to strip my M-Scaler out of my main system and re-acclimatise to the bare Qutest for a while before putting in the TT2. I will then add the M-Scaler/Qutest before M-Scaler/TT2.

M

3 Likes

Haha… hope that’s a long term loan :wink:

Make sure too listen to the TT2 on it’s own for a while. Even though I missed the MScaler / HQP effect, it still sounds extremely good on it’s own!

Actually, I know you used to have some Sonore hardware… if you have a Rendu of some sort kicking around still, you could try it as an HQP NAA end point in your NF system. Then you could keep the MScaler in the main system and still have good up scalling in the NF setup!

The Sinc-Mx - LNS15 & Poly-sinc-gauss-xla - LNS15 are good combos.

I sold on the ultrarendu.

I won’t re-enter the NUC/HQplayer fray, happy with the neatness and SQ of the MScaler, and filled the space with phono stages and a Krisdonia battery.

If you are in reasonable striking distance of London then I am always up for a listening session :wink:

M

1 Like

Without doubt… I’m able to keep the servers etc away in a different part of the house to leave a neat system otherwise… well, I just wouldn’t want it all in my office… it would be too much.

Striking distance :thinking: do you fly a tornado or similar? I’m near Newcastle so it would take a while from London if you don’t fly! But if you’re ever in the area, you’re certainly welcome!

You’ll have to let us know how you get on with the TT2. Maybe pop you headphones into them as well.

:smiley:

Tornado indeed. Never been to Newcastle, although that was where my Mum hailed from. If I get within striking distance I’ll be in touch. If you get down to The Smoke please make contact, decent cake if nothing else!

Yes, like you I have a rack and patch panel in the loft. For me I found that I was spending too much of my precious listening time on the computer side, a real busman’s holiday.

Just running in the TT2 in my nearfield system at the moment. @Sloop_John_B has nothing to fear from the TT! I am using it into a 140/LS35a wanna-bes, I seem to remember that you used it as an integrated?

M

1 Like

Divent tell the Missus that… she’ll set off walking now :rofl:

For I time I used it directly into my PMC 25.22. It did a really good job. That said, as soon as I added the Etude as a power amp and used the TT2 as a DAC/Pre Amp it really did jump to life (XLR out). The bass improved massively with the extra power. It improved everything to be honest but bass, pace and timing was very evident.

2 Likes

Anyone tried any of this stuff (esp amps) with big Shahinian speakers?

I run Dave/Étude into Shahinian Arc2s (previously with 282/250DR). Very happy with the results, although I suspect you are asking about bigger Shahinians than mine?

Thanks, but yes I have the quirky larger ones. Diapasons…But very encouraging that you obviously find them a good match.

Currently using an ND5XS2, MScaler, Qutest, I’m tempted to press the button on a TT2 is this a worth while upgrade?

Please note the current setup sounds sublime but a TT2 has appeared on the used market for a good price.

Yes, I would go for it, a great DAC and a really good headphone amp.

1 Like

Not into headphone listening and introducing another pre amp seems a bit strange but if the DAC section is a major lift above the Qutest then I may jump.

I don’t use headphones much but when I compared the TT2 to the Dave I felt the TT2 headphone amp was better. Yes introducing the TT2 raises the possibility of feeding it directly into the NAP300, somebody else on the forum started using a Dave direct into his Naim amp instead of his 282. I have no stand alone preamp in my set up as it is all digital.

1 Like

Possibly me you are referring to, I ditched my 282 and ran Dave into 250DR for a while. I was happy with that although I later moved to a Chord Étude power amp. Give it a try if you get the TT2 but have a listen before you commit to losing the 282 as there’s no guarantee you’ll like it. You’ll need to get some RCA to XLR cables made up.

1 Like

The Étude does have a healthy 150W rating and certainly gas more grip over the Arcs than my 250DR had, so who knows? I did consider trying one of the higher end Chord power amps, but they are big boxes that wouldn’t fit on my existing rack so in a rare moment of self control I just went for the Étude. Still, maybe something to consider if the Diapsons need more clout.

Tried the TT2 into a 250DR — wanted to love it, as I didn’t fancy a costly Naim volume knob. Sadly, the TT2 as pre-amp sucked life out of the music — maybe that’s a bit harsh… But the SN2 cum Hugo 2 was better. All into PMCTwenty5.23.

P.S. So I had to bite the bullet — and we now have a 282…

1 Like