I must say I was dead set on getting some ESLs next upgrade, but they seem quite fragile compared to conventional Loudspeakers?
Very much put off the Used market re ESLs in light of hearing this too 8-/
Are Magnaplanar Loudspeakers also as enviro-sensitive, does anyone know?
I must say I was dead set on getting some ESLs next upgrade, but they seem quite fragile compared to conventional Loudspeakers?
Very much put off the Used market re ESLs in light of hearing this too
I have been thinking the same: a pair of s/h MLs had to go back due to a popping noise from one panel and rather put me off the idea.
Now considering One Thing Audio refurbished Quads, which would almost certainly last longer than I shall.
The XMOS board sounds very good - so we are very keen to hear it mated to your board early indications are we might sidestep upgrading your MDAC and just ship you a XMOS board + Superior with your PSU until the direct MDAC2 replacement PCB proper...
OK
Would that even work without the voltage regulators on the MDAC board?
They were SL3s and apart from the popping sounded fine. I cleaned and vacuumed them twice; the faulty one only popped when playing music. When I researched the cost of new membranes (which I should of course have done earlier) I hastily returned them for a refund. I appreciate that the Quad sound will be different again, but they would at least be re-furbished to as new (or better) condition and there would be recourse to OTA if necessary. For me they look like the most cost-effective solution, as if they see me out I don't need to worry about s/h value. But I need to audition a pair first.
Just listening to Quad ESL's through a Paradise phono stage.
sumptuous.
WRT. MDAC I would give the 5 rail linear PSU (Calex) and a BP. Pre. an 89.75% rating over the std. MDAC.
I seem to remember that there was some talk a while ago that the optical input might work at higher rates than 96k, though it's not guaranteed to.
What about the output? If I play sample rates more than 96k, does the optical toslink provide digital output downsampled to 24/96, does it do nothing, or does it attempt to output whatever rate is being played?
- Richard.
Hi JohnPaul,
While the external PSU's indeed bring an improvement to the MDAC, while decent its nether the less relativity small by comparison to the changes the Superior board brings. For sure to get the best from superior you need the External HQ PSU which is why superior is not so practical as we currently are not able to offer a whole solution.
Just trying to work out all the inputs and outputs...You can see the connector group of the i.MX 6 board in the lower right half of the rear panel rendering. 2x USB Host, SD-Card, HDMI and Ethernet.
IIRC one of the advantages of the i.MX 6 platform is the dual display support. It should be possible to use the front display and external HDMI at the same time.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/86116171/FDAC Rear.JPG
AFAIK "Superior MDAC" was never meant to be anything beyond the 3-4 evaluation boards (which are, I imagine, for DIY-capable people). It was born purely because John needed an evaluation board and could easily let more of them be manufactured at the same time.Hi John
Does that mean that the superior is abandoned and we are just proceeding with the FDac?
Just trying to work out all the inputs and outputs...
What are the two HDMI connectors next to the (AES?) XLRs for?
Also the 4 XLRs on the bottom left 'module'? I remember a separate DAC for sub-bass duties, but what else might be offered.