Digital sources: Custom Intel/Win11 music server running JRiver Media Center v31 and Roon, exaSound s88 Mark II, and Okto DAC8 Pro D/A processors. QNAP TVS-873 NAS.
Preamplifiers: Coleman Audio 7.1SW for balanced DAC-to-amp switching.
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, NAD C 298.
Loudspeakers: KEF Blade 2 Meta (L/C/R) with IsoAcoustics GAIA II feet, Revel Performa3 f206 (SL/SR). Two JLAudio e110 and one SVS SB-3000 subwoofers.
Cables: Digital cables: AudioQuest Coffee (USB). Analog interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB-25–XLR snake, Benchmark Studio&Stage XLR-XLR. Speaker cables: Benchmark Studio&Stage, Blue Jeans Canare 4S11.
Accessories: Furman Elite-15 DM i, Brick-Wall BrickWall 8RAUD, and CyberPower 850PFCLCD UPS power conditioners, Teddy Pardo 12V power supply (for exaSound s88), HDPlex 300W linear power supply and AC filter (for server).
Listening room: 24' L × 14' W × 8' H, furnished with custom-built 9" × 12" × 40" and 2" × 12" × 48" absorbent panels in each front corner. Sidewalls lateral to L/R speakers have 2" thick, 2' wide floor-to-ceiling OC 705 panels. Front wall has large windows partly covered by insulated fabric drapes. Rear of room opens into 10' × 7' foyer and a 12' × 8' dining area.—Kalman Rubinson
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COMMENTS
Kalman,
Very interesting review
This is perhaps a dumb question, but here it goes...
Do you know whether it's possible to connect an SACD transport or a universal player to the Merging processor? I'm thinking of transports or players that are still in production today.
The idea would be to have the possibility of playing the multichannel layer (in native DSD!) directly from SACDs without having to rip anything or buy downloaded files.
Thanks!
I have thought of one way. It involves adding an external box to accept the HDMI output from the Oppo and convert it to 4 AES/EBU (XLR) outputs. Such a box is one from AudioPraise (https://www.stereophile.com/content/audiopraise-vanitypro-hdmi-audio-extractor).
Another possibility is one of several devices from Meridian (even the old HD621) which are available (new or used) and which can easily be adapted to the task. However, I am not sure whether or not these will force DSD-to-PCM on the output.
In order for this to work, you would need a translation layer between the output of the transport and the input of the hapi. An Oppo bluray player can output DSD into a device that can accept it. But the Hapi has a network interface. I think the easiest way to do this would be a software playwer like HQPlayer or JRiver which can accept the input from the Oppo via an HDMI port and then output to a network interface. I have used HQPlayer for playing CDs live like this from a transport and then back out to a network endpoint device that provides an input to my DAC. I don't see any way to just directly connect a transport to the DAC without this translation layer because I am not aware of any transports that will output over ethernet. You will literally need a computer in between the transport and the DAC.
Yes but, as you note, getting the DSD stream into the computer from a stock-standard disc player is the bottleneck. Sony has made it difficult to move DSD wherever you want.
I have an Sony X700 that has the SACD logo but it actually converts it to 44.1 pcm. Many are having major issues with the X800 model. It also has an HDMI audio only, but I am guessing that is for a Home Theater receiver with HDMI in.
Don't get it. Why not get the product reviewed they make that suits Stereophile readers more.
Like this stereo/streamer dac.
https://nadac.merging.com/product/merging-nadac
"The 8 channels of the ESS Sabre ES9008S Reference D/A converter are merged into 2 channels for improved linearity, greater dynamic range and a lower noise floor."
Cheers George
You are right but we already did that.
See:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/music-round-77
https://www.stereophile.com/content/music-round-90-mergingplayer-pl8
Stereophile is looked at by most/many of it's members I believe for it's measurements which are objective.
So then they can get a "feel" for themselves, if the subjective review is close to the money or not.
Cheers George
Agreed and, as here, now my occasional multichannel reviews now will treated that way going forward (where feasible).
I do think that there are getting to be many more multichannel listeners and many read Stereophile. Kal is not an outlier, rather he is leading into the future of hifi here. But as I have previously noted a few times now, I think the Monoprice HTP-1 is a much better approach for playing multichannel and Atmos material than these free-standing DACs. It already has Dirac with an option for multi-sub bass control, and soon Dirac active room treatment. It employs state-of-the-art AKM 4493s, is quiet, extremely clean and sets up and works with so much greater ease. And because it is a full-featured HT preamp, also provides volume control and switching in an integrated package. It just doesn't do DSD in multichannel from a disc and that could have been the case but they didn't set it up that way. I transcode all my multichannel files in Roon to 24/48 for input and procesing by Dirac. And you get all this for $3999 plus software licenses. In my system, I run parallel front-ends for theater/multichannel and stereo and share the L/R fronts and amplifier between them. I switch the amplifier inputs between the two front-ends with a selector. Best of all worlds and a lot less involved than separates for the same multichannel functionality. As a bonus, I get a great home theater experience. I am waiting for Kal to catch up... :)
"I do think that there are getting to be many more multichannel listeners and many read Stereophile."
If that's the case then maybe the name needs to be changed to "Multiphile" as I believe most dedicated here still have stereo as their main hiend system.
The surround sound sure for the TV in the loungeroom.
Cheers George
So, multichannel isn't of interest to you. It is to many others. You are free not to enjoy multichannel without commenting on those that do or those that express interest in such products, George. You may as well tell the kids to get off your lawn from your porch...
"George. You may as well tell the kids to get off your lawn from your porch..."
No you seem to be on it, going for the personal dig now, so you get off it.
"Stereo" from the Greek origins means "solid" as in presence, formed, hardness, concreteness, three-dimensionality.
I know, since the 60's with LP 2-channel, while we typically think of stereo sound as left and right, realize that since the 1940's some of the earliest non-mono playback systems have been 3-channels or more.
I don't think there's a need to change the name Stereophile even if in time there are more multichannel audiophiles!
I've been trying to promote that logic for quite a while. Seems always to be worth repeating.
Keep persisting Kal. It's important and IMO the future of audio.
"I am trying"
http://tinyurl.com/2x35r59f
Without them the review is just subjective, might as well go read "Absolute Sounds" then for some poetic license
Cheers George
Hey, George, my comment was posted in response to Scintilla's post urging a wider/different coverage of multichannel.
...........and it's not your lawn or his.
I cut my grass yesterday, we needed measurements on the http://tinyurl.com/yvqxrxve to keep the "reviewers subjective comments (you) honest", without them like I said it becomes an Absolute Sounds poetic justice type of trust me spend your hard earned money because I said it's good.
Cheers George
Go, measure!
Nobody stopping you.
you can spend some more time on sites where you agree with the editorial policy than this one where you troll every review with your know it all bs. Stop telling the people at the magazine how to do their jobs. Get a job of your own so we can troll that site. You are rude. Annoying. Hang out on ASR. Stop polluting our site with your trolling nonsense. You do it to every review. You have been called out as a troll on this site before. You're well known as a troll in comments sections and in forums. I wouldnt be proud of that honor.
Find another site to troll. Spend all your days and nights on the ASR site. you do realize that you are in the minority here, don't you. All the major audio sites and magazines are subjective based. You just have ASR. There are no magazines for your kind. No one would read it. People dont read boring negative critiques. YOU BRING THE NEGATIVE. Don't bother. You're going to lose these battles because the magazine and its approach will not change. We like it as it is. Go away troll. ASR is waiting for you.
Yet again just with personal attacks, instead of the topic, sure seems with those statements you make, you can't read/understand measurements.
I haven't read this review carefully enough perhaps ... but ... The multi-chnl capabilities of the Hapi device reminds me a bit of this:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/tony-faulkner-engineered-law-average...
Back in 1994, T. Faulkner did comment on combining channels to perform math averaging, down to two channels.
The lab metrics done by JA look outstanding!
I haven't read this review carefully enough perhaps ... but ... The multi-chnl capabilities of the Hapi device reminds me a bit of this:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/tony-faulkner-engineered-law-average...Back in 1994, T. Faulkner did comment on combining channels to perform math averaging, down to two channels.
I do not see any commonality between a down-mixing algorithm and a discrete multichannel processor. If you do, tell us more.
Kal,
I noted the use case for Atmos recordings and am wondering how you configured your system to allow Atmos decoding from PC?
Cheers!
SHayne
Although I referred to use with Atmos in this review, I did not actually include any Atmos content in it. I acquired the Hapi in time for the review of the Arvus H2-4DA decoder (Stereophile.com/content/arvus-h2-4d-multichannel-dolby-atmos-digital-processor) but I no longer have the Arvus.
In fact, I have no audio system at all at the moment because it is in storage while our apartment is being renovated. Further adventures with Atmos (and other immersive media) will resume when that is completed.
Good review as usual. Looks like you've stimulated some commentary and a little controversy here. Good man. When people don't have any important issues to concern themselves with unimportant ones become important.
Hi Kal,
I appreciate your investigation into equipment needed for Atmos/Auro3D music. I've been content with my ExaSound S88 (5.2 system) for a few years now. I've tried Atmos/Auro3D using 2L's BluRay discs through my Marantz AV8805 processor. It works but I am not so impressed enough to step up to the equipment reviewed here.
Side note: Brendon at TRPTK is releasing both discreet Atmos/Auro3D requiring a decoder and all channels in separate WAV format (huge files) that do NOT need a decoder. We are in a "golden" age for music recording/reproduction!
Marcus
Las Vegas, NV
Brendon at TRPTK is releasing both discreet Atmos/Auro3D requiring a decoder and all channels in separate WAV format (huge files) that do NOT need a decoder. We are in a "golden" age for music recording/reproduction!
Indeed! Brendon is releasing 9.1 (96kHz FLAC, Auro 3D) and 5.1.4 (352.8kHz WAV, Atmos) which are not really "all channels" but the mixdown to that layout. However, given the resolution and the spatial enhancement, they are good enough for me.
OFF-TOPIC: Stereophile forum gone? new
Submitted by hollowman on December 26, 2023 - 4:34am
This is the only place on Sterophile to publicly post on this SERIOUS issue/development with Stereophile.
Its long-time running Forum and all content seem to have been VANISHED.
Many of us have contributed time and effort into our posts in the Forum. For almost two decades.
It's OKAY for Stereophile to discontinue the FORUM as Stereophile deems necessary. But please leave the content in place. It's disingenuous to disappear it from existence without proper, public notice.
Silly exchange about a now-corrected typo is now over.
Freudian algo on that iPhone keypad! (now manually corrected)
Maybe a deliberate cosmic event to flesh out that troll, ChrisS, who read that post carefully and completely, picked out a typo, but weirdly neglects the elephant in the room.
The issue with the Forum is not a joke.
And ... Kal, you lost all your Forum posts and threads, too, over the last two decades. All that investment and effort. Poof!
So why should anyone post in these Comments section, henceforth, if all our content faces a similar existential threat?!
With respect to T.S. Eliot
We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar...
Anytime, anywhere, we all go POOF!
Of course with your extensive collection of SACDs I can see why when the digital industry seems to lack the will to keep hi rez alive. Thanks for all you do to keep us informed.
Dear Mr. Rubinson ,
In your article there is a photograph of the Horus and Hapi in a rack . Could you please tell me who manufactures the Network switch underneath the Hapi ? If I missed it in your equipment list , I am sorry .
Kind Regards ,
Peprita
I do not know. That picture is a stock photo chosen from Merging and I did not use a switch during this review period. The physical connection between the server and the Hapi was a direct cable link.
The switch I am now using (described in my next review) is a Cisco CBS350-8. It is one of the switches that Merging recommends and for which Merging provides full installation instructions at merging.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PUBLICDOC/pages/4819248/Cisco+CBS350-8+Auto-configuration.
I will not be reviewing a switch but I will be using the switch as part of the review setup.
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