Solo streamer

The set is sounding so good this morning I can’t imagine how a cable is going to make it sound better.

As I commented earlier I replaced mine a few weeks ago and I am still marveling at the improvement. I hope that you have a similar experience. 

That’s very good to hear.

~” it sounds so good I cannot imagine it sounding better”

I’ve thought something like this repeatedly over the fifty years I pursued high end audio, right before upgrading something only to find it sounding much better. It’s one of the reasons this pursuit is so addictive.

Still waiting for delivery.  UPS Stops at 7:00PM.

Well, I finally got it close to seven PM
My very first impressions are that, as excellent as it was before, it is better now.
It’s spectacular on pop/rock music. Really unbelievable!
On classical it’s also very impressive but not quite as stunning. I’ve just been listening for a very brief time and I won’t be able to listen again until late tonight as my listening room is also a TV room, and I can’t ban my wife.

Im looking forward to really digging in and I’ll give a more complete report tomorrow. The trick is not to listen hypercritically, but enjoy the music.

Which level Shunyata USB cable? I assume not Omega… although I am sure that is impressive.

@rvpiano were you using stock usb cable?

@ghdprentice 

It’s the Shunyata Gamma USB cable

@audphile1 

I was using the stock USB cable

Again, preliminary observation:  I’m hearing details I never heard before, but I think the cable has to break in more for me to make a fair assessment of the overall sound.

Yeah the stock usb is decent. I have been using AQ Diamond and just tried Audience StudioOne. I’m a big fan of Audience cables but the AQ Diamond is excellent as well. In case Shunyata doesn’t work out, some alternatives…

Keep the streamer queue on repeat 24/7 and your news usb cable will be ready to go in about 10 days

Have to be patient for break-in.  
Hasn’t yet reached or surpassed the magic that was there previously.

@rvpiano where did you order your Shunyata cable from? I called a couple of sites in the US (Cable Company, Music Direct) - gave me a lead time of 3-4 weeks. I have a friend traveling over to Dubai from NY end of next week- so trying to see if I can snag one for myself.

regards,

Manu

Manu,

Got mine from Music Direct. It arrived two days after ordering. I don’t know what the problem was on your end.

Good luck.

@rvpiano what’s it sound like? What are the differences between it and stock cable?

@audphile1 

Well, after playing all day, it’s breaking in and the true character is starting to emerge. To answer your question, I can tell how the stock cable sounded because it was almost identical to sound of the coax cable which I still have installed.   There are two main differences. The Shunyata sounds fuller and also more detailed.  At this point, the differences aren’t huge, because the stock cable sounded really good.  But, differences there are.  The new one is more focused and clear. 
We’ll see what develops, but I think the Shuniata is a keeper.  I’m liking it more and more as I continue to listen.

@rvpiano 

There will be some differences and improvements right out of the gate but it really takes at least few days to start appreciating everything thar the new component or cable has to offer. That’s why a quick A/B never works.
Plus you’re dealing with break in. Give it time and enjoy the music. You will know if the new cable is an improvement. 

@rvpiano you got lucky and maybe got the last piece. They are out of stock and now the shipping happens directly out of Shunyata.

@ghdprentice 

I’ve thought something like this repeatedly over the fifty years I pursued high end audio, right before upgrading something only to find it sounding much better. It’s one of the reasons this pursuit is so addictive.

Bingo! (Bango Bongo)

Spent most of the day listening for sound. Very unfruitful. Ended up not knowing which end was up.
Thankfully, tonight listening to music. Much happier, and really enjoying the sound.
​​​​​.

@rvpiano that’s funny…I’m in the same boat doing the integrated amplifier shootout. Good you were able to get out of that mode. I’m making enjoying the music part of the amp shootout. It’s one of the criteria for me - how engaging it is. Easier said than done once you’ve got the analytical hat on. Nit impossible though 

RV, to help you get away from the electronics aspect of your music, try something I assume you might enjoy, and be a bit new for you. FWIW I've several  transcriptions for piano of Beethoven's Symphonies. Don't know why I have several because, frankly I really didn't connect. I almost missed these Symphonies which are performed by a trio. There are three recordings of them, my first was Sym #4 and the Archduke, The second was Sym #2 and #5, the last was Sym #6. Performed by Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and YoYo Ma on Sony. Music and sound you can just wallow in I think. You rarely hear this kind of chamber music! Try the #4 with the Archduke first if you are at all inclined.

@audphile1 @lalitk need some advice. I am getting an N10 for around $2500. I honestly didn't anything about Aurender till I started following this thread. Do you think that 1. N10 is a worth buying 2. If yes, at the price of 2.5k?

regards,

Manu

N10 for $2500? That’ll be a steal! 

@newbee 

Thanks for the suggestions.  I’ve actually played some of those transcriptions of symphonies for piano four hands with a friend of mine,  They’re really good.  Glenn Gould has played them for two hands wonderfully, also.  
I’ll look for those trio recordings.

@dxbwineguy

What output you’re going to be using with N10.
If USB then NO.
If SPDIF or AES, then buy N10.

Good deal.  I would snap that up

Everything breaking in nicely.  Sound getting better every day.

Glad you are enjoying it ...   

@rvpiano 👍

keep cooking it. I would also disconnect and remove the coax if you’re not using it. Eliminate the unnecessary connection and cable - reduce the chances of EMI and RFi creeping in.

Yes, when I called Aurender they said to remove the coax.

I just for the first time since I got the Aurender started playing records again, which is difficult for me because of mobility problems. ( Much easier to sit back with my tablet and touch the screen.)
It’s interesting how close the sound of the N200 is to analog sound, practically identical.

Actually, tell a lie, I once compared a Haydn symphony LP to the same performance on the Aurender.

Oh no, you're gonna buy something turntable related now ....

Been there…Done that.

@rvpiano

…

It’s interesting how close the sound of the N200 is to analog sound, practically identical.

Minus tick, pops, noisy dead wax and getting up every 15min to flip a record then rush back to the chair to manage to sit back down in time to hear the first notes played.

I sold my fairly decent analog setup (MoFi UltraDeck, Hana ML, Sutherland 20/20 MkII with LPS) to focus on digital playback and stop the arms race between analog and digital. With Aurender N200 and a good DAC, I fee vinyl becomes nothing but a throwback.

I still like the ritual of vinyl and CDs but the N200 is like a really high end sounding g jukebox.  I have discovered so much great music since 2019 when I got the Vault.  

Artists and albums that I really like I buy.   I like owning the physical media.   

It’s still fun for me to spin records despite my immobility.  Each record has a different character and is special to me.  Luckily, I don’t have much audible surface noise on most of them.  
I also like to play SACDs.  I have a converter (DBOB) that brings out the best in them.  Sounds maybe even better than the N200.

@rvpiano

I also like to play SACDs. I have a converter (DBOB) that brings out the best in them. Sounds maybe even better than the N200.

Just to clarify your statement:

I also like to play SACDs. I have a converter (DBOB) that brings out the best in them. Sounds maybe even better than the N200 with the Benchmark DAC3B.

What was the nicest piano you ever played? 

@oddiofyl 

 I like owning the physical media.   

I hear ya. I have about 500 cd's and no player. Don't think I ever will spin them again but I still keep them for sentimental reasons. They also offer diffusion in my room. 

“They also offer diffusion in my room”

@mclinnguy 
🤣……all jokes apart, have you thought about ripping the CD’s? Sadly, CD’s aren’t worth a dime anymore. I have 8-10 boxes full of CD’s in my garage. They will eventually end up a goodwill store :-)

@mclinnguy

The nicest piano I ever played was a Steinway concert grand at a solo recital I gave at Carnegie Recital Hall, now called Weill Hall (not the large hall.)

@lalitk I have done with a few of them, such as Patricia Barber's A Fortnight in France as I believe we have discussed previously, some Japanese pressings, and some Linn hybrid layer's that aren't available on Qobuz, but for the albums that are on Qobuz, if there are any sq differences between the rips and streaming Qobuz I don't think it is worth the effort. I have 24 TB of storage capacity in my server, and I have used 140 GB of it. :) 

But I haven't bought any downloads in many months either. Streaming Qobuz sounds so good, I am currently preferring to put my money into better components, cables, vibration control/coupling apparatus, then look at streaming filters/switches. I still haven't experimented with PGGB software, once I get around to that, maybe this winter when golf season is over and I get bored, then I might have plenty of upsampled remastered CD files in storage. 

@mclinnguy 

Makes sense with what you’re saying. I have ripped all of my CD’s years ago and filtered my collection down to very best sounding albums. The exquisite sound quality of Japanese and Analog Productions CD/SACD’s are the only reason for my purchase. All new purchases gets ripped right away for convenience and when I’m in mood, they come out of case for playtime in my top loader CD player. 

Yeah,it was stupid to buy the best sounding player i have ever owned or even used for that matter.   

It sounds better than my streamer with most content, true high resolution material,  no but with most of what is available on streaming platforms it is superior. 

Becoming very underwhelmed with the Shunyata USB cable. For the money spent I would have expected at least some improvement. None apparent. Any suggestions for another one?  
I think my previous praise was confirmation bias.

Re-suggesting the Wireworld Platinum USB. OCC silver and a unique design. Several options out there in the used world. 

FTA Sinope USB

@rvpiano one of the best USB cables I have tried is Audience StudioOne. Another is AudioQuest Diamond. 
Audience is fuller sounding, has more body and weight while retaining clarity and details. Soundstage is wide and deep. 
AQ Diamond is slightly leaner, faster sounding cable but still maintains natural tone. 
In your system with Benchmark DAC, I would highly recommend the Audience. I used it with DAC 3. I’m using the AQ Diamond now and recently compared it to Audience once again. I’m pretty sure you will not be underwhelmed with the Audience USB. It throws a massive stage that’s really stunning with large scale classical. 

To add…I throw the stock Aurender USB cable into the mix every once in a while. I’ve done it enough times and listened to it long enough each time to eliminate confirmation bias. The AQ Diamond is a better cable. And so is the Audience. Of course all system dependent but I just don’t see how in the context of your system it would fail to impress. 
Try it from The Cable Company