Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

Personally I’d be surprised if Dave is updated any time soon. Abs the only change that might be contemplated is a more powerful amp, but that is not a very strong reason for Chord to pursue. I think they’re more likely to produce a matching “Choral” version of the MScaler, but I also doubt that anytime soon. A better store/ renderer like a grown-up 2go/Ugo seems to me to be a place to put their development, as well as a higher level ADC (whether Davina or TT level).

Yes I am hoping for a desktop 2go/2yu before I pull the trigger on an Auralic G1 or G2,but no rush to do anything right now on my end.

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Not so sure whether there is a big enough Chord market for a Choral-sized/big-sized transports — it would need to sound significantly better than the current offering. Would it be worth the energy/resources? And in any case, I thought small was beautiful in the world of transports… In an Frank/Watts interview, I got the impression that digital amps are high on the agenda.

M Scaler has arrived and so far very impressed, more so than the demo. It’s one of those tough ones o explain. It sort of reminded me when I first connected the HiCap to the SN2… I was hard too identify at first, A B didn’t really help much. It was just a case of leaving it for a few days, week, and when when you disconnect it you go urgh… get the thing back on quick.

It just seems to make everything sound right. Bass tightens, Soundstage seems bigger… more definite and imaging focused. Smooth, real and detailed are probably the words that spring to mind. Do I feel the TT2 was the better 1st step… I think so but, I find it hard to believe the M Scaler wouldn’t elevate anything that it’s attached to.

One thing I really like with all the changes… and it has nothing to do with sound… well, not entirely. It’s the space saved. The entire system is so small in comparison to full size boxes, it fits into rooms that much easier without standing out like a sore thumb… but, the sound quality is massive. I feel a lot happier about the way it looks just as much as the amazing sound quality.

So, I’ve reached my end point with Chord… a few tweaks here and there (isolation wise) and possibly a set of headphones before the end of the year. There are so few cables there isn’t much to tweak, good thing?!? I thinks so!

Look forward to reading the adventures of other now… @MrUnderhill :wink:

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Just about all oversampling and scaling is done in software of one sort or another… ie programmable DSP microcontrollers, SPARC controllers, FPGA or general purpose CPU.
The key difference in my opinion is the method and algorithm used. Roon uses IIR algorithms, where as the mscaler uses an FIR method which is why it’s all about taps… or more accurately filter response kernel size. FIR really needs hardware accelerators for most practical purposes, where as IIR can be done using general purpose CPUs with high precision arithmetic capability.

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Very interesting. I figured Chord does this all via their hardware not knowing all the details etc. (FPGA)
Have you used Roon to upsample previously? I tried upsampling Flac 16/44 to 192kZ and it didn’t sound too bad to be honest. Using my ND5xs2/nDAC I’m curious as to which Sample rate conversion filter would be preferred? My Mac mini has no problem upsampling.

Yes I use Roon as a scaler at present… i am using smooth linear phase

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Thanks, I’ll try that one out tonight. Any other “tips” for a IIR user?

Not really other than power of 2 oversampling … :grinning:

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Thanks! I’ll try that as well. I was using “custom”

If you are using the supplied dual BNC cables,try adding some clip on ferrites. I have ten per cable on mine. Next up for tweaks,Google Audiowise, lots more to do yet,lol.

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Haha… will do. At some point I guess I’ll get some Wave BNC cables.

As it happens, the addition of a power pack didn’t noticeably improve the sound. I have them plugged in to a wireworld matrix 2. I will look at power options later on as well!

I’m happy with the way it sounds and looks now… it will also be easy to extend later if I move into a larger room… the addition of a power or pre/power amp. Very happy with source now though.

Should say, thanks to everyone here for their input along the way… it’s been a fun journey so far.

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Audio wise recommend their Opto-dx over Wave cables, they are cheaper too. I am with you though, just enjoy what you have for now before thinking about the next tweak. I know exactly what you are hearing, having run the same setup for six months, other than my Core in place of your G1.

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Maybe you are not playing anything in the photo you posted, but on the Mscaler, the third button from the left should be white for dual BNC, and the fourth from left should be lit up to show the file you are playing, red for 44.1, green for 96 KHZ. On the TT2 you should read DBNC, low or high gain, filter 1, Xfeed zero are my preferred settings. Just making sure you are getting the full upscale.:grinning:

Yeah, I’d just turned it off but forgot to switch of the G1… both the TT2 and mScaler were off.

However, that’s not to say I didn’t muck things up to begin with. I had the video button switched on (1st button white)… I was thinking, it sounds ok but not as good as I was expecting… not realising I wasn’t making use of the 1m taps at that point :roll_eyes:

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@anon23154165
Is that a diy fraim style system you have - or commercially available? It is quite nice.

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It’s a Custom Design Milan Reference 10 stand… there are quite a few wood and glass choices. I bought some toughened polished glass to make the isolation plinth. Ball bearing on top of a case bearing for each foot :+1:t2:

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Did you have the dsd processing option switched off also???

I have been trying the DSD options in roon since my last post, but I haven’t drawn any firm conclusions, since I have been busy on other projects at work and home.
I think it gained a bit in clarity but lost something in the mid-range & bass, but that could be my cloth ears or the Mini just being pushed a bit too far for it’s processor (I didn’t notice any distortion).

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When I tinkered with Roon up scaling, I noticed something similar. It felt a bit more detailed but lost some of its energy, rhythm… the G1 upscaling was a little better but again, it lost a bit of the energy… it was as if the timing wasn’t quite there.