Also - are people keeping their regens / RURs in the chain post matrix ?
Before:
Win10 computer-router-ethernet-microrendu with LPS-1 power supply-Wireworld Starlight 7 USB -DSD.–Very nice sounding
After:
Win10 computer-router-ethernet-microrendu with LPS-1 power supply-Wireworld Starlight 7 USB -Matrix with LPS-1 power supply- Wireworld Silver Starlight 7 HDMI - DSD I2S input.
EXTRA very nice sounding. -Could stay up all night listening!
I hope that helps
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Usama. Do you have a cheap hdmi you can compare to the mocha in your matrix setup?
I do have a couple of cheap hdmi cables from amazon that I can use for comparison this weekend and let you know. There is a distinct difference between an older wireworld chroma and the Mocha, so I suspect there will be an improvement over the amazon cables as well.
Hiya, I’m current using a cheap hdmi cable and thinking about a mocha, I’m trying for a thicker midrange / bass, does the mocha make that kind of improvement?
EDIT
Or is the improvement the type you get when going from cheap usb to good usb I.e. clarity, bass weight, imaging etc.
Many thanks
It looks a bit like this “sale” is a bit of price framing trickery. The regular price of the mocha appear to be 200 to 220$ at multiple sites.
Yes, I run a Matrix between my Melco N1Z (Mk. 1) and a DS Sr. It is a night-and-day difference in my system compared to Melco > Ethernet > Bridge II. In fact, I just sold my Bridge II, as I was not using it at all.
PS - There are at least two other PS Audio Forum members I know who use a Matrix between their Melco’s and DS Sr.'s.
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Might be worth experimenting with removing the MicroRendu and going straight USB Out (Mac Mini) > Matrix > i2S > DS DAC.
I understand what it does, but it is another box (with another power supply) in the chain and sometimes it brings positive change, and other times not. It really depends on whether the Matrix, in converting USB to i2S, handles cleaning up the signal in similar ways to the MicroRendu.
Improvement with HDMI cable is the same as any other cable. For me difference between WW Starlight Silver and cheap amazon cable or BJC was night and day - and that was out of the box before break - in.
My computer running Roon and Tidal is in my office next to the router. I run Blue Jeans ethernet from there to the microrendu. What you suggest would be a total redo of what I’ve got. I won’t put the computer in the same room with my audio. Anyway, I already owned the microrendu, power supplies, and cables before the Matrix entered the picture. -All it took was some rearranging of what I had. Is it wise to have a long USB connection.?
I’m not a computer wiz and don’t know…
Thanks, i’ve ordered the mocha hdmi unheard, hopefully I will like it, (I love my AQ diamond usb)
As @cudfoo said, the difference was pretty immediate. The bass was tighter and more authoritative but not overwhelming like a gut punch. Overall, the clarity in the midrange and a much better imaging was what sold me in keeping the Mochas. Going back to the cheaper cables seemed much more veiled.
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Yes, I use the ISO regen and LPS 1.2 to provide USB data to the Matrix as well as power. Haven’t compared to feeding it with anything else, but the improvement is v noticeable versus going USB direct to DS Sr.
I see. Thought the Mini was in the vicinity of the DS DAC. Sounds like it best to stick with how you have it configured. I bet the long Ethernet run is better than a long USB run.
Hi all, so I’ve been trying the ifi 5v (which I bought by mistake as I guess I should have got the 9v one) for me the only difference is is that it adds a narrow band of upper bass which makes the sound a bit ‘lumpy’ So it’s not for me.
I had a very different – and positive – experience with the iFi 5v. Must be USB-power-source dependent.
I’m one of the Melco users who Bootzilla persuaded to use Matrix - no regrets, significant improvement and gets rid of all the Bridge glitches/pops I was getting and also gapless works perfectly. Regards, Mike.
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I’m in the same situation - running Roon on my Mac in a different room from the hi-fi stack.
Now the question becomes, “Can one run USB-over-Ethernet to the Matrix?”
Supposedly, and FWIW, the Mocha is a special, discontinued version of the Coffee, which does cost $550 per meter. Mocha and Coffee have similar specs and design. The Mocha is no longer listed on the official AQ website, which suggests it has been discontiuned.
I prefer heft and weight to overly analytical, thus wondering how the Bootzilla cheapo HDMI compares to the Mocha, or to other higher end cables.
You could try a PSA Lanrover. It was discontinued by PSA, but you can find one used on Audiogon or US Audiomart. I owned one, but got original price back on a trade in with PSA for a Stellar amp. They were very good about it, as it is a discontinued product. -Really didn’t work for me. So, I went with Ethernet to the microrendu.