Qutest, Hugo TT2, Mscaler

I’m an photographer, illustrator and really like listening to music while working. I tend to vary the type of music I listen to depending how I feel but the end goal is the same… to feel relaxed and energised. The more relaxed I feel the easier I find it to zone out and draw free flowing lines and sometimes I feel the energy of music flows through you into my work.

However, before I returned to photography and illustration, I was a credit risk analyst, SAS programmer. I wouldn’t have welcomed music then, probably too much of a distraction when I needed to focus on reading code. Drawing etc is more from within rather than reading… if you see what I mean.

Travelling definitely (except if driving, when there can be background music but nothing involving as I want my attention on the road!) But I commute by bike so no music, radio etc.

Never a moment’s fatigue or frustration for me! But as you say, it is likely down to the individual, though also very possibly the rest of the system used, and maybe the types of music. I only heard TT1 not 2, against which Dave was hugely better.

I do… but I find when listening to music I am drawn to it and start listening and concentrating on it… its rhythms, the chords, the timing, the lyrics, even how insipid it might be and manufactured… I just can leave it in the background passively… so it takes over my thought processes.

Now when I was a student, I found low level day time TV in the background helped me revise… but that was mindless drivel mostly… and I didn’t find distracting but seemed to help. :grinning:

Oh yes the TT was nothing super special. The TT2 and DAVE are in a very different performance league compared to the TT. In fact other than the name and approx footprint there is not much else I can think of in common between the TT and TT2.

Simon it’s been 4 years living with the Dave for me

No regrets at all

That’s changing the voicing of Dave by modifying its power supply

However knowing what I know now I would still say the Mscaler is the best digital source product that chord makes

I can understand where you are coming from here, I had both the Dave and the TT2 for home demo and agree there is definitely a difference. The initial challenge I had with the Dave was it made very familiar recordings sound so different, loads more detail, depth with a different emphasis. Fortunately I like what the Dave does, in some ways it’s a bit like rediscovering my music collection.

I’m blown away with the MScaler and I know its expensive but its the best audio purchase within the past 25 years I have made!

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Is the MScaler connected to the Qutest? Are you able to briefly describe what you are hearing with the MScaler?

@HiFiman, what about your beloved 300? I hear it crying in the background… :wink:

I have one on the way to me for demo, looking forward to it.

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Good stuff… I wise purchase for your good self.

I’ve been following this thread with some interest as I think it seems to reflect the best that is available in experiences with digital sources.

I have a query though for those with the mscaler. What is it’s function?

Is it to display the music as it was recorded at whatever digital bitrate and compression it was recorded at, or is it a musical enhancement device that adds something to the original recorded sound. Reading the various professional reviews it seems to me that it is more the latter than the former?

It’s basically a computer that uses Rob Watts’ algorithms to get closer to the sound as dictated by the original sampling rates - interpolating a smoother analog curve. It’s what Dave does to some extent and replaces that once you fit the Mscaler to the front end.

Am I the only one then who has been underwhelmed with the m scaler? If I had to give up any part of my digital source it would be that and I thought the Phoenix had a bigger impact

@dayjay, I have an open mind on the Mscaler. As previously intimated getting hold of a Phoenix to demo is impossible up here, I look forward to trying one, especially after your comments.

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Its up and running current setup

Node 2i, MScaler, Qutest, 272, 555DR, 300s, SL2s

Nait 2 is waiting for the new room to be built for a second setup.

Effortless music, incredible detail and a feel of analogue. Playing some Kate Bush last night and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I cannot put into words the sound from this piece of wonderful engineering.

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I just love it when music sounds more analogue. A fuller and organic sound which sounds more real. I recently experienced this too, perhaps to a lesser extent since it’s not a MScaler and can somehow relate to the wonderful experience. The MScaler must be something special. Once it sounds so good, it is difficult to describe the feeling with words.

Enjoy ~

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No. From my reading since it was released, it seems it might depend on the renderer feeding it, while the degree of effect of course depends on the DAC. Presumably peoples ears, systems and preferences come into it, though at this moment I can’t recall anybody saying they positively didn’t like it, just some found its effect was negligible.

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