I know exactly what you mean and they are very fine amps but I am not sure I would swop my Pass Labs XA60.8 monos (connected directly to Dave by XLR) for them.
The quality of experimental mode over the conventional roon server mode is readily apparent.
I have found that using multiple endpoints(multiroom) and DSP functionality is less stable via Squeezelite/experimental mode on the ZenMiniIII (with upgraded memory to 8GB -same as the bigger servers) than using RoonReady- I experience drop-outs and stops - I can switch between Squeezlite and RoonReady on my main endpoint, and I also have different endpoints (Naim) for roonReady and for Squeezelite (SB radio). This dropout issue seems to particularly apply with hi-res (e.g. 96/24) tracks - local or Qobuz.
This may be a constraint of my main RPi4-based Allo endpoint rather than the server mode.
It will be interesting to see what software features the next generation of Innuos servers will have.
Well… so far I’ve been really impressed with the Etude but I’ll be giving it a few more days before trying to sum up my thoughts on it.
@Simon-in-Suffolk you mentioned something above that made me think… yeah! The Etude has brought out character in my speakers that’s become familiar with the Meze Empyreans.
The bass has improved significantly and overall feels very fast. I was listening to a track that I know has a pan from left to right and back again relatively quickly. The Etude surprised me, not just because it was fast but for the first time it panned a semicircular right round me. I replayed it a few times as it was quite impressive. The precision of the imaging is incredible and is revealing more than I’ve heard before!
I’m in the process of sorting out a good price/deal… seeing if I can get an XLR thrown in as well.
Then the decision of Silver or Black. I quite like the silver if I’m honest!
Good stuff… definitely black for me…
I have the Wave High Fidelity leads in now… yes they are heavy… there is a difference, but I am not going to lie, it is subtle… like a slight layer of condensation having been been removed from the sound… but I am not sure it’s a case of not being able to live without it… more listening to do.
Edit… listening to Florence + the Machine… and she tends to be recorded with very compressed near field vocals and therefore sibilant vocals… and yes they are reigned in with no apparent hint of excitation.
That’s what I thought would be the case. @MrUnderhill will confirm, that’s the same, similar result to the Power Bank. It removed a slight sheen, edge to the HF, improves the depth of soundstage and bass a bit too. It’s a nice upgrade to the sound for £120 but not so sure about a grand or more!
During the day for passive listening while working, I can happily enjoy it all with the standard M Scaler power supply… especially with the Empyreans.
I had both options in the house, the demo one was silver and I ordered black to match the Dave, silver was nice as well.
The Krisdonia is a superb VFM upgrade.
Fitting the Wave spdif was for me an ‘oh’ moment. The reference cables was able to add to this, which I thought was incredible as I thought everything that could be extracted had been - shows how detrimental noise is. Whether the cost of entry for each of these steps is worth it to you will be a personal judgement.
My system is singing at the moment. In my case my 300DR is securely in place as my SBLs ain’t goin’ nowhere!
I found it subtle too, felt it continues doing what the M Scaler started to do. When you put it all together though it adds up and the Phoenix on top was a real wow moment
It is not like adding a 555 to a 272 upgrade, but I felt more connection with the music immediately after adding mine. They do not fix bad recordings, but my very best recordings really seemed to improve to the point that I know I want to keep them in place.
Recommendations needed on XLR cables to run between the TT2 & Etude
In the new year when I have a bit more time I intend to audition a few cables that will be the permanent one but I will need to get one until then.
I was thinking along the lines of Mark Grant Cables - Canare L4E6S star quad balanced XLR or something like the QED Reference XLR 40 2 XLR. Open to other suggestions…just looking for a quality cable that will tide me over without being to pricey given it will be a short term thing.
Next year was thinking of demoing Tellurium Q Ultra Black / Ultra Silver. Again… open to other suggestions! Cheers
I use TQ Black XLR between the Dave and Etude, happy with results.
I’ll be demoing a selection of Black & Silvers I think. I like the silver speaker cable but I want to make sure I don’t go overboard with the silver… need to make sure the finished system has a detailed but balance sound.
I love transparency but I also don’t want to make it hard work to listen to over longer sessions!
Think I would put the extra £2k to an MScaler or an Innuos Phoenix but that’s down to my view on cables plus got a good deal on replacing speaker cables, USB and XLR cables.
Mind you if I keep reading Head-Fi I might just put the house on the market and buy cables
The max spend will be between 500 - 900 and that would be the main system finished… barring changes to streaming over the years… which change more often than DACs and amps.
As it stands the system is Roon Rock NUC > M Scaler > TT2 > Etude > PMC 25.22
Plus plenty of network and cable tweaks!
Canny year
So I take it the Etude is staying ?
Still a few days demoing but I haven’t heard anything to put me off.
I was a little concerned at first with the slight noise from the fans (being near field 3-4ft away). My fault though. You know when you put your ear up close to something and the sound becomes ingrained in your mind and you continue hearing it long after its gone. Well, that’s what I done on the 2nd day .
I thought there might be a problem with it… until that is I could still hear it when I was in front of the TV (it’s in the upstairs office ). Given its probably only 8db I’d need the hearing of a bat to pick it up from that distance!
I’ll be back listening to it again a bit later but didn’t notice it last night. What I do notice is the lovely bass, dynamic music with incredible soundstage and imaging!
What did you have before the Etude if you don’t mind me asking? I’m intrigued by that and the Ultimate 6 which would give an all Chord system compared to my 282/250dr
Nothing. I ran the TT2 via XLR adapters into TQ Silver speaker cable into the PMC 25.22 directly.
It sounded great like that, transparent, detailed and great sound stage but felt it was likely the speakers were not performing at there best in terms of bass control. Given how good I thought it sounded before the Etude, I’m quite surprised by how much of a difference it made!
Before that I had the SN2 & HiCap but the mids sounded quite compressed, muddy even in comparison to feeding the speakers directly from the TT2. It was quite a difference
The speakers are 89db @8ohm.
I’m very impressed with it, effortless control, and as you say, bass, dynamism and soundstage. Fortunately or unfortunately ? I don’t have the hearing of a bat, I really have to get up close.
I think the Etude will be a long term purchase. As in, it is terrific amp that will be good in most room sizes and, doesn’t require servicing like the Naim amps… which is a bonus!