There is a new version of Eunhasu Firmware on the SOtM web site. This includes their implementation as a Host or Target of the Diretta protocol. In my case I installed the Target on my SMS-200Ultra NEO. I had to enable IPV6 and stop my HQPlayer service to get the Diretta service to start. I then installed their windows Diretta host implementation:
on my Windows 11 server that hosts Roon and HQPlayer(DSD@512). It connected readily enough and I was able to change HQPlayer from NAA to ASIO output. I needed to increase the hardware buffer to 250mS in HQPlayer to eliminate some ācracklingā that I heard playing 44.1 material when it was set to default.
Based on a few hours use, the software seems stable and there is a perceptible difference in presentation versus using NAA. You will need to try a few experiments to determine if you prefer the sound in your system. At the moment I am undecided.
SOtM are to be congratulated on their continued support for legacy hardware (although the SMS-200Ultra NEO is a current product).
Unfortunately, as a technical layman, Iām not familiar with Diretta.
I couldnāt find any information on the SOTM website. A Google search only revealed that itās an audio (network?) protocol. The few forum posts I found on the topic were 3-5 years old and didnāt really enlighten me. Before I laboriously try to figure out what Diretta is actually good for and what, where, and how I need to configure it, Iāll simply ask here:
Is Diretta even suitable and useful for my configuration (ROCK-NUC as Roon Server, SMS-200 as Bridge + Mytek Brooklyn DAC+)?
Used a spare PC to install Roon Bridge and the SOtM ASIO, put V6.1 (?) on my SMS200UN and got Diretta working (bit of fiddling required)
SQ: interesting; bit more detailed and spacious, but maybe less lush
Noticed the former options to tweak SMS processor speed etc have gone? I found slowing the CPU under Roon option very beneficial- so thought it sensible to ensure the Diretta was doing like for like, but couldnāt. To be fair, didnāt feel whatever the latest default setting is, was wrong
Anyway, Host PC is currently on another floor to main Roon/Network, so will relocate it and listen again
So far, itās been a bit of free interesting tweaking hobby nerdiness - and itās showing SQ benefits
Itās pretty cool that you found a way to experiment with the protocol without having to buy anything new. If you are having enough fun to justify keeping it in your system, I suspect that replacing that spare PC with a sMS-200 NEO (does not have to be another sMS-200ultra Neo) will yield even better results.
You may have seen that SOtM published some instructions for connecting the two devices. The instructions are for v5.9, but should work without modification for v6.1:
@Mikael_Ollars is running a setup with sMS-200 NEO as the Host and sMS-200ultra Neo as the Target. Heās quite happy with the setup. He may be able to comment or offer tips.
Thanks David, I did scan that article but didnāt fully absorb it (man read!) - Iāll have another look
Later on Iāll move the current PC etc down to he main rig and have a proper listen. The PC isnāt ideal so (assuming itās worthwhile - yet another) SOtM box could be the answerā¦
Iāll just reiterate a point made by a previous poster - SOtM have continued to support and improve the firmware on their gear, making it better and better - an excellent product that stays relevant in a fast-moving sector
Good fun! And, like you i experiment with hardware and licenses already in my posession!
David is correct, i started out trying Diretta Target on my sMS-200Neo. Host was my headless/fanless Roon/Minim server (Win11) with the ASIO Diretta driver from SOtM. I liked what i heard, and decided to go āfurtherā.
That meant setting up my sMS-200UltraNeo/txUSB Ultra/sPS-500 as a Diretta target, and trying out the sMS-200Neo as Diretta Host.
All good fun, and an increase in percieved audio quality.
Next step was to try out the dedicated ethernet link between the Host and Target, and here i was forced to go out and purchase an USB-> Ethernet dongle, not anything esoteric or expensive.
Utilizing that dongle i set up the dedicated link between the SOtMās.
Alright, now were cooking with gas!
Finally, i wanted to simplify, and chose to purchase an extra network card for my mentioned server, a simple Intel based PCIe 2.5Gbps ethernet card, dedicated to Diretta-communication with the SOtM Ultra threesome. So Host by ASIO Diretta on server, and Target on sMS-200UltraNeo. This is also set up with a separate network subnet, so only used for Diretta.
This was still sounding very, very good to my ears, and to be honest, this has relived me of any latent thoughts of replacing my DACās. All of them have elevated their performance on the USB input significantly.
And finally, i still have both performance settings and priority settings in Eunhasu, with FW 6.n.n?
Can I ask you tech gods the simplest of questions? I have a Wim Pro streamer connected to active spearkers. I can pretty much open any application with sound on my phone, find the Wim speaker, and hear the sound on my speakers. On my main system, i have the SMS-200. I have it set to Roon. So, it only sees roon. Is there some setting where I can just get it to play wahatever shows up on my phone, like the Wim does?
Yes, but not simultaneously as it acting as a Roon endpoint.
This is likely one of the reasons why SOtMās small streamers sounds so good, and works reliably.
If you are an -user, you could set your sMS-200 as an Airplay -reciever, and have access to it from both Roon and your portable devices. But that would make your excellent sounding sMS-200 into a good sounding Airplay-recieverā¦
Thanks. Thatās what I thought. It does sound really good and Roon is great. But, itās nice to hear any old app on your iphone on the speakers with a click of the button.
So Iām currently using a Nucleus which is pointing at a separate PC. Thatās got Roon Bridge and the SOtM ASIO on it set to Diretta Host. That points to my SMS200UN as Diretta target and onto my Lyngdorf ā3400 āDACā (via a USBultra)
Is there any advantage in using an SMS200N as the host (vs the PC)?
My Nucleus is on the garage wall outside my music room, itās on a Paul Pang switch and has a fibre adapter that goes off to the SOtM switchās fibre input then into the SMS200UN. Later Iāll connect the PC to the Pang switch in the garage - removing ~40m of Cat6 (from GF to 1F and back where PC is now sitting, via ISP hub). That will simplify things
I wonder if putting the PC (any D-Host really) on the SOtM switch by the SMS200UM would be better? If that were true, the PC would have to go as it has a noisy fan
PS. Just thought, Iāve got the external SOtM clock and it has a spare output - that could potentially clock another SMS200x as host! .
But Iām getting ahead of myself
-user, you could set your sMS-200 as an Airplay -reciever, and have access to it from both Roon and your portable devices. But that would make your excellent sounding sMS-200 into a good sounding Airplay-recieverā¦
.