Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

That’s fine Simon, each of us finds our own way.

Rob Watts, and many others say that clip on ferrites actually degrade the sound, but I never tried taking mine off. The solid core ferrites Nick uses are for the exact frequencies that are problematic, off the top of my head, I can’t remember what those are though.

They can not if in common mode… so on coax clamped it is common mode and impedes with respective to capacitive ground.

So no in practical terms it does not degrade any sound or signal that is conveyed in the encapsulated conductors… but I wouldn’t put on an analogue signal cable.

However in extreme circumstances they can produce a tuned circuit that can interact with the ground, but I think unlikely in our applications. Also imperfections in the cable can cause a degree of differentiated filtering… but typically the common mode will denominate at the frequencies we are interested in.

If EMI was a key issue then legally Chord would need to provide fixed ferrites on the leads for it to be sold in the UK or EU. As it doesn’t have this any EMI from conducted cables is at very low levels, and I am sure Mr Watts would want to refer to that. Although there is a warning about EMI emissions from the mscalar itself.

BTW ferrite chokes (what you refer to as solid cores) , that clamp on cables tend to have low Q and so they for the most part act as low pass filters near the resonant frequencies for stray AC signals travelling along the shield. now a ferrite choke is in fact a tuned circuit in reality, but with a very low Q… so the bandstop is over a huge range of frequencies, and indeed if one is addressing a extremely wide range of frequencies one could put multiples chokes in series.

But yes if you go back I have always recommended HF/VHF ferrite clamps on SPDIF coax leads, and Ethernet cables to act as low pass filter.

One thing I’ve noticed with the TT2/ MScaler / Empyreans setup is how detailed it is. Like the details you described above but also on a couple of tracks I listen to, a background hiss appearing just as someone is about to sing and stops when they end. Had me checking cables etc then accepted it must be an issue with the production. Not one of my favourite extra details.

Thankfully these are rare and extra detail revealed by the Empyreans etc are far more enjoyable.

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Yes I notice that sometimes… a decay can abruptly stop… Now in a recording studio microphones and guitars can be gated, that is they cut off below a certain level to remove additive noise. It might be that one is hearing due to the greater transparency.

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Interesting… I’ve noticed a few bits similar to that as well as real clarity around positioning between artists when in a studio. You get a real feel of space, 3D like at times.

I find listening to Yello albums really entertaining, they seem to enjoy playing with sounds moving through space/soundstage. The extra effort in production techniques becomes very evident with the Empyreans.

I want to experiment with physical distance too, right now my Mscaler sits two shelves above my TT2 on my Fraim, but these new cables would allow more separation. I could change this to three shelves apart, but then my Naim Core would be in between them, with it’s power supply.

I have just put TQ Silver II into my main system (ZenMiniII->AlloDigiOneSig->TT2->TMA250x2R poweramp->ATC SCM11) and this as provided improved clarity over the TQ Green (now called Diamond Blue) - which provide a ‘darker sound’ -and which has gone into my second, Atom, system very nicely…

My view of the MScaler (having had one with a H2 and sold both to fund the TT2) is that 50% of the benefit comes from the USB/SPDIF conversion which can be found cheaper elsewhere (Mutec, Audiophilleo, Matrix, USBregen, Allo USBridge/DigiOne combination). The other 50% of upscaling, appears to mainly benefit users of upmarket headphones as per HeadFi. The additional remote is a PITA.

For @anon23154165 you have a very helpful TQ dealer in Wallsend who provides excellent customer service, even to those ‘down south’

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Thanks… I hadn’t realised he was there. I will look them up as I could well be needing interconnects if I decide to add an amp between the TT2 and my PMC 25.22.

Sill haven’t decided whether to look at the TToby or the Etude. My usage now is probably 70/30 in favour of my Empyreans… now if there was a Chord Dealer near by that does Home Demos, that would be great. Anyone compared these two amps?!?

The M Scaler remote sits on a shelf and is never used. It’s within arms reach in my office so a bit pointless for me.

Why do you need an amp, are you changing speakers? I thought you said the TT2 drove them with ease? Remember, Rob Watts is supposed to be working on new digital amps too, might be worth holding off for a while.

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David (Baker) doesn’t do Chord or Naim, but he is a good audio-consultant not just a box-shifter. I was going to suggest the TToby or Etude to you - although I also like my TT2 ‘bare’ for the clarity in nearfield/late night listening it inevitably doesn’t drive speakers like a power amp can.

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I was in contact with Chord and I described my system and they felt that the speakers maybe pushing the bounds of what Rob Watts was intending.

That said, the volume the TT2 is at -20 to -5db never seems to make it hot … or very warm for that matter!

It seems to handle the speakers comfortably from what I can tell!

This is exactly how I use mine. Nearfield 4ft triangle in a small room. Not sure if I’d benefit from the amp and if so, probably the TToby would be more than enough.

@T-elmi I’ve got the website bookmarked for later… I’ll checkout what he has there! Thanks

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I listened to the TToby and the Etude, chose the Etude. The TToby was good just felt the extra power was better for my room/speakers. Also suggestion, from my dealer, TToby due for upgrade/replacement, don’t know if this is the case.

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Thanks… useful info. It sounds like it would provide more than enough power but, as @NO-QUARTER mentioned as well, it is likely a new set of amps could become available in the near future!

I don’t mean to cast doubt on what Chord said but, the TT2 doesn’t appear to be struggling at all with the PMC speakers which are 89db@ 1m with 8ohm Nominal Impedance.

The only time an amp will be essential is when I move from the TT2 to the Dave but that won’t be for a while yet.

Incidentally, besides power, was there much difference in terms of clarity and detail between the TToby and Etude?

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I only listened to the two in comparison at my dealers demo room, I had the Etude on home demo so my view on differences may be a bit vague, sorry. The TToby is a fine amp and my dealer had one ex demo with £1k off, so was tempted, but went with the Etude for a bit more oomph plus was a better match for the Dave but not the M Scaler !

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Yes. Also I think logically that the filter is better to be as close to the streamer input as possible.

In the case of the ENO they use hand wound chokes. The FMCs & EMO I used to use acted in part as a low pass filter I suspect. While this removed noise I disliked it removed extra information that these products let through.

Regardless of any of this the only way to know is to try. I know that it works with the PrestigeII/Meridian 210 & Melco/dCS NB. It is easy to hear the effect.

I think they are on the ‘don’t hold your breath waiting for them’ list of thing things which RW might be working on.

On the subject of using TT2 to direct drive speakers, I had mine driving 89dB Spendor SP200 speakers and whilst it was in the ‘not bad’ field of SQ the Dave connected to some proper power amps (I used Pass Labs XA30.8 or 60.8) driving the same speakers is a whole load more transparent and the bass is magnificent in comparison (I find the DAVE bass so much more detailed than the TT2 anyway, even when TT2 is used as a DAC into and amplifier).

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Well, ultimately I’m moving towards a Dave so an amp is a certainly required for that so as a stepping stone to that goal and amp should be next. That would keep it to a 3 box system… excluding the Roon NUC.

On that basis and staying with Chord it’s a choice between TToby and Etude with the obvious match for Dave being Etude. I’ll probably just keep an eye open for a good deal for one of those… time is on my side so I can wait around for a bargain!

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So, how the Naim DC1 is if/when partnered with no Naim products?

thank you, @Simon-in-Suffolk
regards