Not surprised using a dedicated streamer of good quality is better than USB direct from a Roon Core. Its a computer. Generates a ton of noise on the line. Just having the streamer between isolates it a bit. But I am a firm believer in the using the optical conversion that Sonore started. Many others doing it now too. Even PS Audio years ago with the air gap in their transport is basically the same thing for a transport. Makes a big difference. Love my Sonore.
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In my system the Innuos MKIISE> EtherRegen> Mano > I2S > DAC beat my prior USB chain:
Innuos MKIISE > EtherRegen>Sonore ultraRendu>Innuos PhoenixUSB>DAC
at 1/5 the cost
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One way or another, all digital processors (DACs too) are computers. Sound quality, interference and noise all depend on design and implementation. Take for example Grimm MU1 which doubles as Roon core, file server, streamer, and digital sound processor. It sports a mini PC board fitted with Intel Core i5 processor in addition to other boards.
Edit: It occurred to me the following brands delivered streaming DACs and/or streaming integrated amps: Naim, Meridian, dCS, T+A, Mola Mola. Finally, Grimm and Roon put NUC board each in their product. Both are on Stereophileās A+ list for file players.
I bet Grimm designes it with that in mind. But a NUC is not. A laptop is not. putting an ethernet in your system is almost as bad as connecting your cable (remember those days) into your system. I dont put RF blockers and such, but I did notice a big diff. when I separated the streamer from the DAC with optical isolation.
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You might be surprised to learn that Grimm has two switching power supplies in the MU1.
Per design spec ethernet ports are galvanically isolated, cable ports were not (at least the ones I have experience with). Iāll take an ethernet connection over an un-tweaked usb any day.
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I would too. But I would take Ethernet after optical aka rendu over vanilla Ethernet any time
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Iāll add optical at some stage, but Iāve been impressed today at just moving my Nuc+ out of my audio cabinet, to my study (about 30m away). Iām going to add 3M blocker to the Mano next, I think
they always suggest put in other room. Some say for fan, but I did as my room has too much gear already and I do everything over ethernet.
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Added Herbies tenderfeet to my Mano, DSD and BHK Pre, and 3M RF blocker to the Mano and DSD. Woohoo! Each made a difference 
Awaiting IsoAcoustics Gaia 1ās for my Amphion Krypton 3 speakers ā¦.
Update- the IsoAcoustic Gaia 1ās are fantastic!!
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Hi @fdemello and @Philip_Gan after reading lot of your posts around this forum I consider both of you well experienced with the Mano Ultra.
Are you still using it?
Your results are inspiring me and am tempted to buy one from Magna HiFi.
I know that with the up coming AirLens the time would not be correct and would be preferable waiting some more weeks, but considering the months I suppose will be needed to receive here in Italy the AirLens (if its launch is confirmed early in October) Iām looking now at the Mano Ultra.
As you I want to abandon the USB > Matrix > I2S path to try a LAN > I2S different way. The same the AirLens will provide in future.
As you I use and love the DS DAC Sr and certainly will buy the MK II, as soon as possible. Even if Ted is suggesting to reconsider USB input I tend to prefer planning the I2S way (as Paul at the end of the day).
My streamer is the Innuos ZENith MK 3 fed by PhoenixNET switch. I only stream from Qobuz and mainly using their Sense App, I found it far superior in SQ than Roon even if the ability to occasionally use Roon is to take into account too.
Which option software needs the Mano to be installed to work with Sense App for streaming Qobuz and eventually play files stored on the ZENith hardisk?
Once configured for Sense App use, how can you play (occasionally) Roon? Or this is one chance only between the two once Magna first installed software on board?
As for cables I have ready to use HC Dragon power cords, AQ Diamond USB and AQ Dragon 48 HDMI cables. I already have a Pink Faun LAN Isolator (Input ZENith) and I will buy another one for PhoenixNET input (the cleaner the better also because a MacMini is connected to this switch for other occasionally usage when I play DVD concerts) with the Mano Ultra. I would order it with the SR Purple fuse inside, to close the circle. Some Orea IsoAcoustics will go under the Mano, of course.
Are you still happy with Mano over Matrix after all this time?
Thank you for your help.
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Hi @luca.pelliccioli
Greetings and thanks for reaching out. I am still using the Mano Ultra II. Itās best to check with Rob (info@magnahifi.com) regarding the software options. The software can be changed later as I understand it.
I have an Uptone EtherREGEN to clean up my ethernet, which I think makes a real difference - probably same effect as your Pink Faun LAN isolator.
I am really enjoying my set up at the moment, but also looking interestedly at the AirLens and DSD MkII. There is a lot of enthusiasm for DSD256 it seems, but at ~7GB per album, perhaps thatāll be reserved for special recordings. The Mano Ultra MkII is limited to DSD64, and I feel like I might be missing out on the opportunity to experience DSD256 on occasions.
Enjoy!
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Thank you Philip, so appreciate you reply.
Yes I use the PhoenixNET with the same purpose of your EtherREGEN to clean up the ethernet path before the ZENith streamer and a Pink Faun to isolate it as well.
Iāve already sent an email to Magna HiFi (where I already bought last year my Matrix), also to understand which SPDIF Output to choose accordingly to the DS DAC correspondent Input (balanced XLR but which one?), even if I will use only the I2S wayā¦ why not to configure also this output as needed for my DAC?
I know the DSD64 limit of the Mano and frankly at the moment is not a problem at all in my system: I only stream from Qobuz via Sense App and some few rare DSD file I have on the ZENith hard disk can be played at 64!
My expectations for the AirLens are not related to higher DSDxx resolution, that I have not the opportunity to play indeed, but mainly about general sound quality improvements this new unit will be able to bring. If and when I will buy it.
While for the DS MK II I will buy it for sure as soon as it will be possible, hoping that LAN > I2S will still be the preferred way to go, even if on board we know from Ted it will have a significantly improved USB Input.
This is the reason why Iām considering the Mani Ultra: since now a big improvement and also when the new DAC will be here. As for the AirLens, who knows? Time will tellā¦
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Hello @luca.pelliccioli
I replaced my DS Sr DAC with a Meitner MA3 which does not have I2S. It performed much better than the Mano/PS in my system.
However the Mano is a great unit paired with the PS. When I was using it Mano/I2s it was far superior to any other input on the PS. Really enjoyed this unit. It does have that DSD64 limitation but it wasnāt a big deal with my library.
I did get the SPDIF 2nd output and the Roipee software (better than Volumio which relies on Air Play which restricts resolution)
Good luck
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Thank you for you reply, really helpful!
Happy you are enjoying music with new units in this crazy journey!
If my memory serves me well you were using an Innuos ZENith with the Mano, if so did you use the Sense App or Roon with the Ropiee software? Iām asking you because Iām loving more the SQ of InnuOS Sense App vs Roon and Iām hoping, thanks to the Mano, to improve it even more. So if Ropiee is better in your opinion may I use it to play only with Roon or also with Sense App (I donāt understand which software installed on the Mano is needed to correctly/better play with Sense App)?
Thank you.
I have a Magna HiFi Mano Ultra available for sale ! It is the original version. It has never been opened. I decided to buy a music server instead of a streamer. I am selling the Mano Ultra for $700.
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Hello Luca - I am still using a Innuos Zenith. When using the Mano it was Zenith>EtherRegen>Mano>DS Sr
I was mostly Roon with the Mano. I cannot recall what had to be done to use the Innuos Sense app (if anything). Sorry about that.
I would ask the guys at Magna to confirm if Roipee will work for it as well. I know the Mano was seen as an endpoint in Roon. Iām sure they can help
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Thank you but Iām afraid you have the 120V power version, I live in Italy and the 220-240V version is needed. I hope you donāt think Iām snob but if I ever buy it, for the cost and configuration, I feel more confident buying the last model directly from Magna HiFi, shipped from the Netherlands, closer to me.
Anyhow thank you so much.
Sorry for forgeting the issue of A/C power !
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Rob from Magna HiFi confirmed me unfortunately that the Sense App doesnāt work with the Mano Ultra. Just Roon using it as an End Point and the Innuos ZENith as a Core.
It seems that the AirLens will be my solution, acting as a renderer able to receive ethernet (input), isolating the signal and passing through an I2S (output) to the DS DAC. Using Sense App, of course.
If any other similar unit are not on the market, I just need to be patient some more weeks/months. I hope.
Anybody knows products like the AirLens?
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