One and a half

This is now completed, with the TIANCOOLKEI LPS 5V USB A to USB-C cable (the cable that came with the ifi, it looks very generic). The cables from the iPurifier Pro are "Nordost ODIN Ethernet Cable Cat8 Speed Lan Cable RJ45 Network Patch With High Purity Silver Plated Conductor" (what a mouthful, and most likely OEM version of a boxed Nordost) and generic CAT8 Lindy cables. The Cat 8's feed the iPurifier and and Sangean radio. A second "Nordost Ethernet" feeds the Lumin U1. Sound wise another level of grunge is gone, many factors at play here, short cable runs (0.5m), LPS and the silver Ethernet cables. Easy to listen to, brought out some micro details, still some more to go on that front, but pleased with the presentation so far.

Provided the currents of the U2 mini and the 2Qute don't exceed the Sbooster power supply current output, it is a simple exercise worth carrying out. I would supply each device separately with LPSU, join the 0V together and ground the 0V from each PSU. I see that the U2 mini is powered from mains AC as standard, perhaps return the U2 mini to this config and supply the DAC from the Sbooster may be a better option.

Good suggestion, that's next, just waiting arrival of boutique Ethernet cables. I do have a JCAT power supply, but the connectors are wrong trpe, JCAT have the 5.5mm/2/1mm barrel, the IPurifier USB-C, Alternatively, there's a 5V USB A on a TIANCOOLKEI Power supply which is from a linear supply which is close by,

Here is the supplied power adapter, it's something bundled with a mobile phone. A USB3 connector from a computer is just as good. I suppose if the power is cleaned enough, the raw input may not matter much. The AC connector should match the country location.

After a week or so, the image instead of being bubbles are now spreading out from the centre and filling in left to right speaker from centre. For vocals, they are a little wider, but not so huge, like an 8' piano. I'm quite amazed how objects in the Ethernet chain can improve SQ, such tweakery is a little cheaper than wholesale changes like a new DAC but are very noticeable. Ordered two 120V/12V 5A linear supply due at the end of the month for the Netgear switch and main router which have already proved that another level of grunge is disappearing.

While we wait for EtherRegen Mark II to arrive, similar in concept is the ifi LAN iPurifier Pro (was expecting extreme or pro plus, perhaps too old buzzwords now). Here an Ethernet stream is de-jittered, optically isolated with FMC converters and regenerated. Connections are input/output RJ45 and a USB-C connector for power. The front has LED bars for operational and power states, the communication device layout from the film 'Close Encounters of the third kind' is a strong resemblance! Connection Detail For now: Server -> JCAT XE -> Netgear GS105 (Generic SMPS noisy PSU) -> Netgear Port 5 Cat 6 > iPurifier in > iPurifier out > DXPLUS filter > 25m Cat5e > DX Plus filter > EtherRegen (Mark 1) > ER output to Lumin U1 Essentially two levels of isolation in series. Sound Quality Tonally - No change Extraction of minute details - Not noticeable. A linear power supply for the switch can extract more details, witing for a 120V 12V 5A PSU to arrive (Aliexpress job). Image left to right - Still the same Image height - A little more about a foot above the speakers Vocals and instruments - This is exceptional. What happens is that main vocals are in the centre, contained in a 'focused bubble', any BV are spread between centre and the left and right speakers. Bass defies directionality, drums behind vocals. Any additional instruments are contained in their own bubble with uncanny 3D placement. Classical music is a good test for identifying individual instruments, easily. I like this device. Still in the burning in phase, these are the results after 48 hours. Don't place the iPurifier on a warm/hot surface like in the photo. it will shutdown with excessive temperatures.

If you have not a copy yet of Tubular Bells 2003, was published on a DVD. It's a different mix and a new recording, it's my favourite version of Tubular bells.

Only real exposure to DRC was with HT receivers, Sony & Yamaha. The receivers were somewhere upper mid-tier, and both flattened the sound to loss of excitement. The bass really took a huge hit, and wasn't pleasant even the highs lost their brilliance, the response would have been flat, so was the music! Is DRC trying to correct for distortion, or it can't see past the distortion from the speaker, nulling out and boosting frequencies perhaps with a sledgehammer and not a fine brush. Since then, haven't used any DRC in 2CH setup, just room treatments here and there, rugs, plush couches, painted brick walls. I don't expect a room could ever be treated perfectly, heck even if it was, the recordings we listen to 95% suck badly so is it worth the exercise? The other issue is that another component is in the chain, even digital could add timing errors, and there's the processing issue as well contributing to noise and masking critical details.

I found the Lumin U1 with the X1 power supply greatly benefited from a change in AC source , so much that it affected the choice of USB treatment devices and cable choices. A balanced Denafrips transformer with additional AC EMC filtering, required only a single Acoustic Revive split cable. Tossed out were ifi Micro USB3, Intona usb filter and the cables and power supplies in between. Preference for AES3 output is preferred over USB, and only use USB for dsf (to the same DAC).

Indeed, their website fails, was working when posted. Dunno. There were no prices for the software listed, only the complete servers.

In the past few years, the MC3+USB was used to reclock USB with very positive results, mainly in clarity from a PC to a DAC. Tried also two MC3+USB in tandem, was a difference, but not worth the cost, far better to upgrade the DAC instead. One major plan this year is to implement the MC3+USB, REF10 Nano & cables for the AES3 output from a U1. AES3 is very good for 192 and lower sampling rates, which for 70% of local library music can cope with. For DSF, have the choice direct to DAC as existing, or use the MC3+USB, however, some opinions here favour the 'whatever the input is, make the same is used on the output' for the MC3+USB. @Superdad has been supportive of pricing and has worked out the cabling for the clock and EtherRegen (original). Also can you wait for four days for a reply?

If albums have the same name, Jriver merges the two into one album format the preview pages when importing. It takes a day or so, then the newer album appears properly in the recently added albums like its supposed to, the older same name album is shuffled where it belongs. Seems always just the two albums, never more than the two.

Over many experiments, Jriver has a poor implementation of streaming, it sounds rough compared with Audirvana or HQPLAYER in NAA mode. When Lumin is used as an endpoint, it can clearly pick up flaws, gave up on Jriver long time ago for this aspect. Version 32 works and sounds great for local usb playback and for large library management. I operate HQPLAYER as an NAA to an ifi neo stream 24/7 as a radio, that plays a loop of 4000 tracks of chillout as a background for when I'm not actively listening. NAA is setup as a default upsample redbook to 358 PCM . Gave up on just playing redbook straight, was too much a pain the arse to try, and left it as is. For SQ and stability, Audirvana works best for the Lumin.

So sorry for not replying until now. Here is a guide for the Oyaide Tunami cable, which is a similar diameter to the Monosaudio cable and also has the screen bonded to a smaller uninsulated cable, my guess 16/18 AWG size. Some tips: Male Connector end (Both Schuko and US plug 3 prong) a) When stripping back the cable to expose the cores, maintain the length on the cores at least 75mm or 3". Reason being, the cables are easier to bend at the base of the main cable where you need it the most. Pre-shaping the 10AWG (6mm) cable is very important, since you don't have the ability to shape the cores at the required 40-50 mm length from the core. b) Once shaped, so that the cores are inline with the connector, then cut the Line and Neutral cores to about 40mm. Bare off the ends for the Live and Neutral whatever the stripping length is for the mains male connector. This is usually 6-10mm, depends. c) for the ground conductor, strip off a little more 12-15mm, but keep the end of the strip (closest to the insulation, the same as the Neutral and Live cables. This gives more material to work with. d) The illustration shows heat shrink over the ground cable, I prefer to sleeve the shield wire separately since it's more maneuverable. The colour of the shield heat shrink should be green/yellow. Twist the shield around the ground conductor with pliers, to be really tight, then cut off the excess to match the same stripping length as the Live and Neutral. e) place heatshrink over the core of the cable to tidy up where the cores start to be exposed. f) use a REALLY SHARP knife to cut the insulation the Fiskars craft knife Item #67007097 is ideal. Female IEC End (for the equipment) a) The shield is cut off at this end. Use heatshrink to cover the core of the cable to the cores and keep this insualted. b) Use the same technique as the plug end keep the cores long, shape them, then cut and insualte. Testing Use an IR tester set at 250V to test the insulation, it must be 1M Ohm minimum but is usually full scale (open) or typically 200M. With a multimeter, check the polarity, so the Live goes to live and neutral to neutral and Ground to ground, no crosses allowed.

Came across a review of the Laufer Teknik Memory Player 64, and wondered if any CA/AS members have one to share listening experiences. Laufer Teknik is the US distributer for the Memory player at this website. Essentially is a computer with modified windows and Jriver. The outputs are SPDIF, USB, connectors for USB drives. They do have a propriety method of preparing streams or digital files with the ultimate aim of reducing jitter to nil. It is possible to buy the server on its own with all the goodies, however, the technology is available to install on a computer system or existing music server. Their quote from the website: ' Originally exclusive to The Memory Player, these technologies are now licensed individually, and can be purchased and installed in any music server or computer audio system.' One technology is convert CD to a 64bit wav file and playback 32bit, there are a few more interesting concepts the review says most of it. Also has a PSU that fits in an ATX plug, so not just limited to hardware. There's also a mini version for about 30% of the Player 64, also worth looking at. The brand has been around for 2 score, so not a new company. Lots to read about this machine, the attention to jitter is something worth reading about.

Either those or the GS108, pretty much bullet proof, day in and out performance for years. Only one has gone bad on me and that's about 25 years of history using the Netgear.

Yes, there are many choices! The build quality is very good, looking for a different approach, with two 6V in balanced mode. So the - ve of one will join with the + ve of the other and the midpoint of the two joined to earth (PE, ground). Maost of the supplies on Aliexpress are floating outputs, so this shouldn't be an issue. Current wise the lower voltage increases the given current, but 6V is an odd voltage these days, matter of searching. I'll try the ZeroZone first, see how we go. I don't mind spending the money on say a Teddy Pardo, if the Aliexpress jobs come even close, I'd be happy. The reading on the voltage was the same as a Fluke 289, rounded up to one decimal, accuracy is fine!

Choosing a power supply for a noisy Netgear G105 switch is a bit of minefield, since there are so many choices, and the cost of the power supply is easily 2-4 times the price of the switch itself. I had intended to use a linear supply for an ifi Neostream, but thought to experiment with using a new power supply on a G105 switch instead. The switch is located after an audio server and in front of an EtherRegen. The ER already has a linear power supply on it (ex Lumin U1 original linear PSU). The difference between the regular wall wart and the linear power supply is noticeable for the better by a long shot. Soundstage is much the same, the music is clearer, the ifi is not the greatest streamer, but it made a great improvement. The Lumin U1 easily bettered the Neo-Stream, and the music again much clearer had a real bite to it. For less than USD200 the proof of concept is well established. Now to add in the router... Obtained from Aliexpress, about 2 weeks delivery.

No, nothing of the sort ever, Android Edge, Windows Edge, Chrome. Antivirus is Windows Dedender

Prevent common and differential wording from the website is best if backed up by a measurement though. The transformer looks fine and does better than the Equitech, since it has a filter, suppose you can do the same by adding a filter after the transformer and a plain distribution outlet. The function is identical to the Denafrips transformer apart from the power rating. The 100A short term output is probably at 3V 😉

The rules for wall outlets in AU is that the cable size is minimum of 2.5mm, cores are red and black the latter being the neutral, so the connection for the live is on the right (viewed from the front) and it's red. Take your point about the boxes and lugs, outlets have plenty of depth, since a box is not required for plaster walls (unless insulation is made of foil inside the wall). Just noting differences.

There's a few US style outlets around the house, where there is a loop, I used eye type lugs rather than the clamp or just the screw for 2 5mm ~ 12AWG. Upstream is a 3kva transformer, it's enough for what I need, the largest load is an air blower to remove water from car paint during detailing. The ground had no washer by default, so periodic checking is needed. Leviton brand used for about 10 years or more, the grip is pretty tough, and plugs won't fall out in a hurry. Didn't realise an industrial version is possible, but don't use 120V for audio other than the turntable motor. 120V is used for all IT gear, audio runs at 230V schuko plugs and sockets.

Just tried Win11debloat, it's a powershell script that removes garbage from Win11. I gave up counting after 20 apps, guess about 100 or more apps that can be removed disabled, depends what you want to keep. One drive is listed as an app to delete. Also asks to retain Explorer win10 style context menu, start menu, Win11debloat is free at github. Cross checked against what's removed and seems to be what's promised. For audio, you could go further, like stop printing services and the like, s'pose. Meseems enough is good enough with the debloat.

@rafa, have a look here https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/laiv-harmony

Yes, that's right. if you want, you could bring it down some by working out the short circuit strength but for a puny transformer it will only last milliseconds anyway.