Both Nucleus+ and the Element X is connected via ethernet. The element X got a headphone amplifier as well, so headphones (LCD-4/LCD-XC) connected directly balanced to the Element X. Hence I use the Roon Ready endpoint in the Element X. I can connected via wifi as well, but have not noticed any difference between Wifi and cabled ethernet.
So the Matrix Element X is not even connected to a computer or the core, this way avoiding all potential problems relating to such connections (USB, SPDIF or I2S).
I also have other Roon Ready endpoints connected, Trinnov Altitude32 in my main system.
Thank you for the reply. So your setup is as I described. One ethernet from router to Nucleus. One ethernet from router to element x and then interconnect to your pre or powered speakers, or wireless, etc. Can you do DSD? I looked at the the link to the element X, thank you. They spent alot of time and money on their USB. Looks like it would work pretty well.
I have a ethernet gigabit switch in the mix as well. The Elemen X support DSD512 (for some weird reason only up to DSD256 is supported via Roon, but irrelevant since no content exist) and PCM up to 768kHz. MQA also supported (but prefer hi-res music without MQA).
I also have Synology NAS with local music connected via ethernet cable to my local network. Using Roon to combine local content with streaming from Tidal + Qobuz. Actually Matrix Audio confirmed they plan to support Spotify Connect as well by October 2020 (not that it will be used, but a nice possiiblity).
Is there any advantage in using a linear power supply with the Nucleus ?
If so, can I use a power supply from Pro-Ject Audio with a 20 V output (Power Box RS) and not 19 V as the standard Nucleus power supply ?
Thanks
No, I havenât read the whole thread, but if nobody refuted this⌠I will. That is simply incorrect.
BTW⌠this whole thread is a complete waste of time. How many times will you all fall into the same trap. Somebody starts a troll by saying âX canât possibly make any difference because of Yâ and it begins all over again.
X can be power cords, linear supplies, interconnects, footers, ethernet switches, and so forth. Y is some âscientificâ reason or measurement that âprovesâ their point.
since nobody can prove or disprove what somebody else hears the debate is endless and pointless.
What about there are only two types of switching supplies is incorrect? Is there DC coming into your home?
You should read some of the replies, and the statement that as a designer, measurements and models are all there are for designing things. Some anecdotal opinion doesnât help me optimize a circuit or change operating points etc. When someone says, this cable sounds better, I can measure its electrical properties and thatâs it. IF there is no difference in those properties between two cables, and someone likes one better, how do I change the loser? What parameters do I vary? We have measurement gear that is more sensitive and more reliable than our ears and have for a long time. As an engineer that is all I have. So a âthis sounds betterâ and there is no evidence to back it up isnât useful.
it may not be useful to someone trying to design a circuit, but if it âsounds betterâ it is better. As an end user thatâs all I care about. Should I not use something that sounds better just because I canât explain why?
I donât say this to be mean or condescending, but if you donât know the difference between a switching power supply (SMPS) and a linear supply then a reply here is probably not going to help much howeverâŚ
at its most basic a linear supply consists of 3 components;
transformer to drop voltage down to the level we need
rectifier to change AC into pulsating DC
filter to smooth out the DC
so can be as simply as a transformer, diode, capacitor. It is a passive device. They are usually more complex in audio supplies to include better filtering and often regulation, but much different than an SMPS.
The SMPS has a high frequency oscillator (active circuit) . It is beyond the scope of this forum to teach you basic electronics so Google the difference to get more information.
regarding your position on measurements, it is easily refuted, but if you are in the camp that âif it canât be measured it doesnât matterâ , or even worse âthey measure differently but in my opinion you canât hear the differenceâ then go over to Audio Science Review and join the Luddites over there.
it assumes that the instruments we are using to take measurements are more sensitive than your hearing. This has never been proven as there is no way to definitively determine how sensitive our hearing is. For instance, there are frequencies we can feel (sense) with organs other than our ears. At least our brains donât interpret it as sound as we usually think of it. I can feel very low frequencies even if my brain tells me I donât hear them. I had an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner years ago that operated in the 30K + region. It made me nauseous when it was running even though I didnât âhearâ it. . That is not anecdotal, I threw up.
it assumes we are measuring everything that matters. Since you canât prove a negative, how do you know there isnât a parameter that affects how we perceive sound that we are overlooking?
it assumes we are measuring everything in a way that relates to how we hear. Since we donât know 100% how the ear/brain hears, that is something we canât possibly know
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Bill_Janssen
(Wigwam wool socks now on asymmetrical isolation feet!)
254
Thatâs still anecdotal; the last bit makes it even more so. Itâs important to know what words mean, if you want to communicate rather than pontificate.
Points 2 and 3 raise in me the thought that you may not understand the connotations of âLudditeâ, either. Just me, of course. YMMV.
You missed the point of my original comment. But in addition to that, you missed why the linear supply is called a linear supply in the first place. A linear supply operates with the components (the diodes and regulators) in their linear region, so they are dissipating significant power in the rectification, filtering, and regulation. Switching supplies have active elements are are either cut off or saturated, so they do not dissipate power and are generally much more efficient because of that. The front end of a switching supply is just a hot chassis âlinear supplyâ with a rectifier and filter cap. But that does not negate that they are both taking AC signals and rectifying and filtering them. The linear one has all of its harmonic noise products in the band of interest, the switching one not so much. The original comment was made with respect to noise. Where a switching suppyâs harmonic noise components are well out of the audible band, but a linear supply is not.
Since you seem to be in a position of great knowledge, please let me know how to improve a simple circuit like say a line level preamp with moderate gain and very small power requirements with listening tests alone. Or should I just keep buying them until I find one that strikes my fancy?
very repeatable i.e. based on the facts as they happened, not anecdotes
Luddite = unwilling to accept that the way they are currently thinking about may not be correct, that there may be a new or different way it can be explained that they are unwilling to accept because their current technology does not explain it, stuck in the past clinging to outdated notions.
if that is an incorrect use of the term Luddite then I stand corrected on that point. It does not take away from my conclusions which basically boil down to one simple point⌠. It is not scientific to state something is not happening because we canât explain it with measurements. I apologize if I clouded my argument with too many examples. Assuming that we have reached the pinnacle of science and nothing is left to be discovered is a mistake that has been made often throughout history.
and Sheldon, no matter how you try to explain it or rationalize it, linear and SMPS are very different animals. it has nothing to do with harmonics. I did not miss your point, You very clearly said they are the same
A linear supply is in no way a switching supply. Go ask an electrical engineer. And thatâs all Iâm going to say about it since you insist on being wrong.
I never said that or even implied it. I never said measurements werenât useful, I said they could not explain everything. There isnât an audio circuit designer in the world who doesnât fine tune their devices by listening to them and making changes based on those listening tests. If measurements explained everything they could just do it all on a computer, build it, and ship it⌠but they never do that⌠why? Simple⌠because measurements donât explain everything.
What do you want to tell me?
If you know anything about electronics, then it is logical that there is no point in providing a super DC voltage if this is equalized by switching power supplies on the mainboard. The different voltages for the components installed on the mainboard are namely generated by small switching power supplies on the board.
Well, weâre obviously mixing SMPS used in AC to DC vs DC to DC regulators.
I wasnât aware that small internal regulators in a motherboard was noisy.
Iâm used to technology like LDO regulators (LM3045).
Among those building low noise PC, LPS of good quality is the normal way to go in order to achieve better SQ. Maybe even use several depending on voltage requirements. (Like you can power the SSD separately, or some PCI cards).
Bill_Janssen
(Wigwam wool socks now on asymmetrical isolation feet!)
263
Itâs certainly a widely touted audio shibboleth. Iâm unaware of evidence, measurements, that demonstrates an improvement in SQ, though. Do you know of such?
