Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

Hi Jim, I moved from BT to Plusnet (I.e. consumer subsidiary of BT) with a FTTC connection. When I had Melco these didn’t work with the BT router, so I swapped that out for a Draytek Vigor; I now use the Plusnet router with a couple of Cisco 2960’s chained with fibre optic. Wired Ethernet parts all Belken Catsnake Cat6a.

Love my MScaler but, I’d say the TT2 first as well! As has been mentioned, it makes for an excellent headphone amp as well! Also good if you want to experiment with feeding efficient speakers directly from the TT2.

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I am not sure that is upgrading ISP connectivity, unless moving from ADSL to VDSL with your new retail service provider, PlusNet … as otherwise it is simply changing retail service provider for the same service type … and the same link layer performance if using the same cabinets, indeed both use BT infrastructure in the final mile if using Openreach cabinets.

If using a BT Retail broadband service (ie not PlusNet), then you might want to try the SH2, it’s advanced router which does a few things underneath the covers including helping responsiveness for the Naim app. I note that many on this forum have referred to using the SH2 with their audio replay systems.

sell the auralic aries G1, and get the MScaler.

as a replacement for the auralic, I would use a google chromecast audio into the Mscaler optical inputs.

I use the google CCA with my chord mojo in my office, and am delighted every day I use it.

Is that the first generation Chromecast that you use Analog? I have read good things about it on Headfi, but always had a Naim streamer up until now. What do you stream, Tidal from a phone or I-pad?

Use a chrome cast for a front end? No I don’t think so. Hahahaha. How would I stream DSD from my NAS? Or listen to local radio.

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for my office listening from Chord Mojo - it is tidal with a CCA - not sure if first or second generation.

I use an android device casting tidal or spotify sometimes, and with Android it works flawlessly.

The Mscaler (for me) is the best digital source in the world right now, and the auralic is just typing up your cash for no good reason at all.

For DSD you would be surprised to hear what the designer of Mscaler uses - just his laptop.

Why not go to head-fi and ask him yourself.

When I google them, it looks like they output to HDMI for the new ones, or the 1st generation output to a speaker plug (3.5 mm)? How are you getting optical?

The chrome cast audio has a combined 3.5mm audio and mini toslink optical output

What cables and ftps did you use to link the 2960s?

I don’t think my Mscaler takes mini optical though, have to look.

well there’s plenty of mini-toslink to optical cables available, including…good ones from audio quest

personally I use an adaptor (buy from amazon) with the optical cable that came with the Mojo and with Dave…

Hi Opus,

How are you powering the Qutest?

M

I agree regarding the point that this has been a transfer to a PlusNet accunt rather than a service upgrade - I didn’t fully elaborate on this in my reply to Jim…

Since I am moving house soon I won’t be changing anything on my network and audio system until then.

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Cisco-spec FTP’s and OM1 fibre optic cables - all from eBay. My white Cisco 2960’s (also sourced from eBay) are the mains powered version, I couldn’t stretch to the ‘PD’ version beloved by some.

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I do exactly the same when selling on eBay, i.e. ending the auction on Sunday evening and use the £1 selling fee offer; be careful though on T&C’s as eBay only enable the £1 offer for the first listing - not a relisting if the item doesn’t sell.

Hi Jim,

I backed up from the Melco N1ZH/2 all of the ripped music to a Samsung EVO SSD (which I used externally on my NUC Roon Core for a while), and then restored those files to the ZenMiniIII when it arrived (from eBay, an Ex-demo sale).

I haven’t needed to rip any more CD’s directly to the ZenMiniIII, as my collection is quite stable - I use Qobuz for additional albums.

I just wanted to separate the services (roon, Asset) from my NUC which I use constantly as a heavy general PC user- the NUC gets very hot during normal use.

The Zen/Zenith also supports an additional ‘LMS experimental mode’ when acting as a roon Core. There have been other posts on this. I have configured the MoOde OS on my Allo DigiOne Sig to act as a Squeezelite device, I.e. it can act as an endpoint for LMS in this case (as an alternative to being a normal roon endpoint) This seems to deliver an improved sound quality vs. the conventional roon configuration, although this compromises multi-room links with my two Naim devices which I normally have grouped with the Allo. I can easily revert, in roon, to that setup if I wish.

I now listen to the music, not the kit.

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But if you ‘end listings’ individually you can immediately ‘sell similar’ without changing anything in the listing, and it will go back on for £1 max selling fees (if you have activated that promotion at the time).

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Thanks for sharing this band.

Just listening to this LP:

Some great riffs citing bands like Floyd and Metallica that I hardly ever listen to now, but softened through the acoustic instruments and simplicity of the music.

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