Got it up and running with a coax cable still no 2is. The background got quieter, with more separation, and no changes in tone still sounds like the DS MK1 just better. Thanks for listening to me work this out:)
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Appreciate the effortâŠ
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In a different thread I posted that the Red sounded dull to me on a DSD Mk1 compared to a Bridge II in the same DSD Mk1. Encouraged by some replies, I took it out of its box again, and invested some further time. Here is what I found.
First, my setup: Roon on QNAP NAS â consumer grade Netgear GS105E Ethernet switch â Red | Bridge II â DSD Mk1 â XLR â BHK 300 â Audio Physic Cardeas Plus and a pair of REL 212SX
Second, the bit perfect test that PS Audio kindly provides: passed
Third, Red via I2S (Alt 2 from the I2S configuration), AQ Pearl 48: dull and muffled, indeed. No competition to Bridge II.
Fourth, Red via USB, some no-name cable torn out from some Arduino experiment and here we go. Enjoying my music again. Not sure whether I can tell a difference to the Bridge II, but I guess next will be a decent USB cable, some more listening and finally removing the Brdge II from the DAC.
So, the Red stays out of its box and will be the working horse for the time being.
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Just to be clear, you did not try any Red outputs into the DAC with the B II removed from the DAC.
Is that correct?
TIA.
The Bridge II stayed in all the time. And still is in.
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Removing the Bridge will make a larger improvement than any connection type. Itâs easy to remove (2 screws and a little pull/wiggle). Removing the Bridge makes the DS much quieter and gives you a lower noise floor.
Not in my experience.
Which part�
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The value/performance proposition for the Red (for me) is its potential for allowing the removal of the Bridge II Ethernet card from the DS DAC. Reportedly, the Bridge II is a significant enough source of ânoiseâ that alternative signal paths can yield superior performance.
Since I am currently focused on seeing if there is a better mousetrap for Ethernet streaming to the DS, I am looking forward to hearing about your listening experience once you get a chance to put the Red through its paces with the Bridge removed from the DAC.
Thank you for sharing here.
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Agreed. The combination of removing the Bridge and later using it as a standalone source into the DACâs I2S is MUCH better sounding.
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Paul, will the Airlens take so long, that the expense for the Bridge box even makes sense for Mk I users?
It definitely sounds better on the MK1 but whether or not that level of improvement is worth the expense is up to you. If it were me (and I am certified nuts) I would absolutely do it.
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Thanks for the hint on the SQ improvement! For me, if I know I will buy two units (the case for the Bridge and later the Airlens, of which the former will be obsolete later), it mainly depends on the time range between the two, if itâs worth it, less the SQ difference.
So say, if it takes 1 more year until the Airlens comes (or if it doesnât come at all) I might consider the box. If the Airlens comes latest within 6 months, Iâd probably not.
This would be the decision maker in my case.
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@jens42 Did you check the different PIN configurations on the I2S output? because something happens that there is a very big sound difference between I2S v.s AES/EBU or USB.
Today in the afternoon I will do the tests, unfortunately I no longer have the MKI to compare it to the bridge.
OK so to bring this back to the actual title of this thread - I am one who purchased the Red after seeing it was out. The price range Paul mentioned for the forthcoming Airlens is just more than I want to put into a streamer. Iâm not super-wealthy and prefer spending most of my audio money on new records. This came in at an OK price for my audio budget. I also have a Holo Spring 2 KTE for my DAC so I know the company and have been very pleased with my DAC.
For my streamer, I was using a Raspberry Pi with a Pi2AES hat that has served me very well for quite a while. Unfortunately its the only thing I can compare the Red to. However, the difference was very noticeable. Iâm getting better imaging and improved dynamics. I also am noticing a huge difference in treble response, so much so that when I was A/Bâing the two I came to the conclusion that maybe something is wrong with my pi+pi2aes - not sure. Just for clarityâs sake, I am using the i2S output whereas I was using AES before.
I am very happy with this upgrade.
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Are/were you up sampling on the pi? Iâve seen the software filters in soxlib (as used by multiple streaming packages on pi for re sampling) get confused and put a wide notch around 4kHz.
(Unrelated - This also occasionally occurs in âhardwareâ based upsamplers that use a particular, and very common, chip - itâs described as a hardware bug in the chip 
)
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Hmm⊠thats a good question. If I was, it was not something I did on purpose. I might have to plug it back in and see if I happened to be doing so.
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Always worth checking - lower noise and better jitter I would expect, but drastic change in frequency response doesnât sound right 
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I had some time comparing my Mk1 with and without the Bridge II installed (went back and forth multiple times), both times feeding it via USB from the Red. There certainly is a difference, but not a too dramatic one. Without the Bridge it gets a bit more relaxed and natural. To put it into context, my recent upgrade from BHK250 to BHK300 was much more significant.
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Regarding the Red and the inferior I2S path into DSD Mk1, I wonder whether the degradation comes from DAC accidentally assuming CD preemphasis, and then doing the deemphasis. This could explain the missing heights in the sound. I seem to remember that there is some convention to pass the preemphasis bit over I2SâŠ