Your perfect component that doesn't exist

[Salt]

The human ear
The perfect loudspeaker
The perfect recording

The infinite list ...

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I want the ability to mix (rather than select select between) multiple 2-channel consumer-grade digital input sources (e.g., WiiM, CD, DVD, Waxwing, etc.) with support for re-clocking and sample rate conversation (SRC). The challenge face today is that these consumer digital devices cannot set their clock against an external master clock, so I am very limited on being able to use either a Digiface or ADI-2 DAC / Pro for more than 1 of those devices at a time.

Product options ... ideally as extension to the

• RME Digiface USB Pro FS (i.e., modernized with addition of SRC and DSP)
• RME DDI-8 Pro FS (i.e., a digital-only interface that swaps the analog with additional digital in/out adds SRC in inputs)

The device would include:

• 4 digital inputs supporting S/PDIF Optical and Coax (optionally also ADAT and AES)
• 4 digital outputs supporting S/PDIF Optical and Coax (optionally ADAT and AES)
• USB CC Multichannel Mode with play (out) and record (in) for all digital inputs and outputs
• High quality internal source clock (e.g. StadyClock FS) that can be a slave clock to one of the digital inputs
• At least 3 of the digital inputs have support for re-clocking and SRC
• TotalMix FX support (if the Digiface USB USB Pro FS)
• DSP capability with Room Correction (similar to UCX II / UFX II / UFX III)

 

[somebodyelse]

2. An app - and if necessary a signal-converter dongle - that allows one to replace the Genelec 9101 wireless remote control with one's smartphone. if that's not feasible, then a successor to the 9101 that adds a display of what the actual f***ing GLM volume level is, better buttons, and momentary LEDs to confirm your button press has actually changed the volume by one step or has actually turned the system on or off.

How's your python? https://github.com/markbergsma/genlc looks like it would provide the communication with the GLM USB adapter.

 

[JaccoW]

I just want a classic looking silver amp with VU meters, HDMI-ARC connectors, a good internal DAC with a set of digital connectors and enough analog connectors to use my vintage tape-based devices. An In+Out for my reel-to-reel and one more for my cassette deck.

Finding a device with even a single analog REC out is nearly impossible nowadays, let alone two.

The Technics SU-G700 and Yamaha A-S2200 come close but only have a single rec out and both lack a HDMI port.

EDIT:
Also give me an Eversolo DMP-A6 or A8 in silver.

Or a Wiim Ultra that can play back DSD and can serve as a DAC for a mini-PC.

 

[markstein]

I agree. MC into a good interface and digital RIAA is far better than anything else I’ve heard.

Also allows room correction on vinyl, which is for me now a basic system requirement.

Will never go back to an analogue phono pre.

Looking forward to your measurements.

Continued in a separate thread:

Microphone preamp instead of phono preamp

Hi all, I was inspired in another thread to compare performance of my RME UFX II mic input vs. my ProJect DS3 B phono preamp. Setup is as follows: - Technics SL1210GR with AT 33 PTG II MC cartridge - Balanced wiring between MC cartridge and preamp - RME ADI 2 Pro is used as control unit and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[tmtomh]

How's your python? https://github.com/markbergsma/genlc looks like it would provide the communication with the GLM USB adapter.

Thanks! I saw that just recently. Unfortunately I don’t have the skills to turn that into a solution. But I’m hoping someone else who does might take that info and use it!

 

[jaakkopetteri]

MiniDSP Flex HT with a full set of bitstream decoding and convenient stuff like Dynamic EQ / Volume. And give me a TV that does CEC without delay with it.

 

[RigorDude]

Ok, first, this post comes with a heavy first world problem warning…

And am I alone?

Great idea for a topic. Here’s one that has been in my head for a while: a digital-to-digital converter that accepts spdif data and outputs USB.

It seems like it should be simple enough. There are a number of ddc boxes that take in USB and put out spdif. Why not the reverse? Lots of people have CD players/transports, and there are quite a few DACs that are either optimized for USB or USB-only.

Perhaps such a device is already available in some corner of AliExpress.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Great idea for a topic. Here’s one that has been in my head for a while: a digital-to-digital converter that accepts spdif data and outputs USB.

Note: The devices below are for USB input into a computer (host), not to a DAC (receiver). The WiiM Amp and WiiM Ultra will have the ability to do S/PDIF (optical) input to a USB receiver such as a DAC.

Two options for Optical S/PDIF to USB:

• Hifime UR23 – SPDIF Optical to USB converter (44-96kHz/16-24bit).
• Hifime S2 Digi – Optical SPDIF input and output to USB (44-192kHz/16-32bit)

Also available on Amazon for about $10 more than ordering direct from Hifime.

Hifime SPDIF Optical to USB converter, record DAT/minidisc to computer

The UR23 accepts SPDIF optical sources and transfer this to USB. Suitable to record DAT tapes, minidisc or other digital source to a computer.

hifimediy.com

Hifime S2 Digi -Optical SPDIF input and output to USB

The Hifime S2 Digi is an optical in/out device. It has an optical SPDIF input and also an output which can both be used at the same time.

hifimediy.com

 

[RigorDude]

Hifime UR23 SPDIF Optical to USB converter. Also available on Amazon for about $10 more than ordering direct from Hifime.

Hifime SPDIF Optical to USB converter, record DAT/minidisc to computer

The UR23 accepts SPDIF optical sources and transfer this to USB. Suitable to record DAT tapes, minidisc or other digital source to a computer.

hifimediy.com

Intriguing suggestion, many thanks! I notice this in the description: Please note that it can’t be connected directly to a USB device like a DAC, it must be connected to a USB host like a computer. That appears to rule it out for the use case I had in mind.

 

[GXAlan]

“WiiM Cinema Pre” and “WiiM Cinema Amp” or “Marantz M9”

• 2.2 ch
• HDMI eARC with Dolby Atmos decoding for virtual height and user selectable LFE behavior. (the downmix for plain PCM often does not include LFE; so having the unit work with the full Atmos stream is key)
• USB input from PC/Mac.
• PEQ vs Dirac vs Audyssey XT32
• Dynamic loudness
• Balanced analog ins and outs (pre)
• Balanced analog in and speaker out (amp)

This would be a modern Arcam SR250 but in preamp option and better features. The SR250 has Dolby Volume but you cannot combine Dirac and Dolby Volume (!)

 

[tmuikku]

Invisibility paint to hide speakers. Better yet, ideal point source speaker without physical matter

 

[MattHooper]

Invisibility paint to hide speakers. Better yet, ideal point source speaker without physical matter

I had the task of making some sizeable speakers “invisible” in my room. That is the left centre and right speakers flanking my projection screen.

The room does both Home Theatre duties, with a big projection screen and surround sound, as well as a separate channel system.

I wanted only the two channel floor stand speakers visible. Seeing all the Home Theatre speakers behind the 3 channel speakers would make the room feel too crowded with equipment. So I wanted to make those fairly large stand mounted left and right Home Theatre speakers and the huge centre channel essentially invisible.

I didn’t have any “invisibility paint,” so what I did was the entire wall around the screen in dark black velvet. Then I continued the Black velvet on the floor underneath the screen for a couple feet, making a sort of stage area.

Then I had the same deep black velvet made into custom fitted covers for the left centre right speakers, and their stands.

The result is that under most lighting conditions in my room, those speakers just disappear into the black velvet background.

Most people who enter the room aren’t even aware that those speakers exist.

Here’s a shot taken in bright light during the day where you can just barely see the speaker grill of the left Home Theatre speaker, behind my Thiel floor-standing two channel speaker.

 

[gnarly]

Proaudio products:
high power amps that have silent fans. >1500 WPC @ 8ohms)
moderate power multichannel network amps that have silent fans.
large scale DSP's that have silent fans.

Hmm....seems to be a theme going on ..Lol

 

[markstein]

Continued in a separate thread:

Microphone preamp instead of phono preamp

Hi all, I was inspired in another thread to compare performance of my RME UFX II mic input vs. my ProJect DS3 B phono preamp. Setup is as follows: - Technics SL1210GR with AT 33 PTG II MC cartridge - Balanced wiring between MC cartridge and preamp - RME ADI 2 Pro is used as control unit and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I also did some experiments with implementing LF X-feed during RIAA equalization and you should try it! Massive LF vinyl noise reduction.

 

[killdozzer]

Ok, first, this post comes with a heavy first world problem warning.

But...

Am I alone in feeling I have to compromise, and also sort of feeling that I shouldn't?

My system situation is almost catered for by what’s on the market but not quite (unless I spend frankly ridiculous £££).

Maybe I'm deluded, but I feel my audio needs are fairly typical for today's invested music lover (no 'a' word please). Two channels, streaming, a few records, a digital source, room correction.

And yet I still have to faff around with an inelegant cludge of boxes, routing, software, and cabling to get the usability and sound I want (which is, let's be honest and thanks in no small part to ASR, fabulous.)

So I thought I’d start this thread to find out if you out there are fully satisfied. And if not, to create a place to share what would make it so (in vain hope clever industry people will take pity and create our desired wonder boxes).

My perfect component would be a one-box preamp/DAC that has the following (and doesn't cost £35,000 - yes very funny Linn).

• DAC with USB, optical and coaxial digital ins
• Analogue preamp with enough gain for low output MC cartridges
• ADC
• DSP on all inputs (including analogue - Eversolo, why???)
  • Digital RIAA EQ
  • Parametric EQ - at least 10 bands per channel
  • Or better still a convolver with tens of thousands of taps
• Dynamic loudness (why does only RME do this for two channel... it's brilliant)
• Roon-ready network streamer
• Bluetooth
• AirPlay
• Balanced analogue ins and outs
• Great measurements across the board (obvs)

Several components come really close to doing all this at a reasonable price - RME, MiniDSP, Eversolo I applaud you. But each one lacks at least one vital element.

Have I missed something? If not, would someone kindly create it?

And am I alone?

I like your thread and often feel the same way. I'm even inclined to think they keep things separate on purpose to sell more boxes.

I could be all-in-one amp kind of a guy, but all of these all-in-one... I'd call them "one-missing-in-all" And I don't like adding boxes and dongles.

I'd even want it to be an integrated and JBL and NAD came close but not quite there yet.

A clean 100w per channel stable down to 2 ohms, 2ch amp with two sub-out's.

Speaker binding posts separate far away from one another. I fail to understand why I need my fingers aching each time I loosen or tighten these.

DAC reachable over all sorts of inputs HDMI and USB-B included and Topping level noise.

Audio in's

MM/MC (and filters, a DSP on Phono as well)

Variable Loudness

Good room correction

Good Headphones out (enough power for demanding headphones)

Tone controls bypass and CD direct

Pre-out / Mains in

And last but not least, give us some nice design! Make it look like some Luxman or Accuphase!!

 

[melomane13]

since it doesn't exist, you have to do it yourself:
Camilladsp allows any number of inputs and outputs, automatic loudness, electronic RIAA, room correction, convolver, streamer, Airplay, bluetooth, Spotify, Tidal... remote control with display.

 

[Rednaxela]

Adding a 10-band PEQ to a DAC - What is holding manufacturers back?

Sony could do a 3-band one in 1989. What is it that seems to make a proper stereo DAC with just 7 more bands too much to ask for in 2022? No software interface required, a simple screen and a couple of front panel controls would do. Even be preferred actually. Is it too difficult? Too niche...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I guess what I’m looking for is a ADI-2 DAC with five more bands, or a DEQ2496 with remote and volume control, or a Flex that can be setup without a computer, and so on…

 

[JCM800]

I want a CD transport with a small desktop footprint, top or tray loading, basic controls & display, typical digital outs, and a $150 max price tag. Spin disc, spit out data. You can buy BluRay/DVD/CD/MP3/data/kitchen sink players with digital outs for a nickel, but every CDT is $600+??

 

[phoenixdogfan]

16 channel USB Dac coupled with JRiver having the capability of decoding streaming and file based Atmos, DTS-X, and Auro 3D, and sending the LPCM 16 channel feed to an ASIO output driver which connects to said DAC.