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Then I Got a Pulse, Now I'm a Believer

My apologies to The Monkees. 

I received my Innuos Pulse today and it's outstanding even with the coax output. Better clock in the Pulse I assume. I don't know what they do to those 1s and 0s but they sure sound a lot better than the ones coming out of the Node 2i. I've followed the many discussions about this and it's my sworn testimony that a better streamer is worth it. 

But tomorrow a new DH Labs Mirage USB cable arrives and I can finally hear my BitFrost 2 64 through its USB input. 

mashif
mashif OP
328 posts
 

@ronboco 

I never used the DAC in the Node 2i except when my BitFrost needed service. I just happened to receive the LPS for the Node the day after I sent it off. So I listened to the Node DAC for one day without LPS and the next day I installed it and noticed it sounded much better. But I was glad to get the BitFrost back. 

soix
10,167 posts
 

 

Well, I finally got to hear the BitFrost with the USB input. And I didn't like it! I listened for a day and something just sounded off. Tried a lot of different music and they all seemed not quite right. 

Is the USB cable new?  If so you should give it at least 100 hours to break in before making any firm conclusions.  

mashif OP
328 posts
 

@soix 

You're absolutely right. I spent a good part of today listening and comparing. What I noticed is that the USB has a much bigger and deeper soundstage that initially sounded strange. Today I toed in my speakers about a half inch more and that refocused the soundstage back into the room a bit. Yesterday it sounded like the left and right were disconnected. Now it feels integrated again with USB. 

I do tend to be impatient even though I know better. I'll stick with USB for now but I can see a better cable in my future. 

ghdprentice
7,686 posts
 

OP,

Is this stuff all broken in? Make sure you have at least 100 hours... preferably 200 hours on each device before drawing conclusions. 

I am listening to a new component and if I had drawn a conclusion on the first few days it would have been so far off you would not believe it. Trebly and harsh... which utterly disappeared in a few days to be rich and warm and powerful. I am reminded nearly every time I put something new... or even just transported, how important break in it. 

mashif OP
328 posts
 

@ghdprentice 

Only the USB cable is new. And it has improved a lot after only 72 hours. 

I want to thank you for the insights you offer. Your focus on musicality over pure sonics has greatly influenced my listening. As I've moved up in resolution, hearing new things, it's too easy to get lost in "sound quality" and forget why I was listening in the first place. But your reminders about that have helped me focus back on the music even as the sound changes. 

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