For the last couple of days I have been busy in breaking in PMG512 and Stealth The Grande PC on MU2. The music is simply too good to walk away. I did play two rounds of golf and that is therapy for mental health.
Today everything falls into place, and the SQ is glorious. I am ready to put an used AM M2 fuse into PMG soon. The last time I tried it with my “old” PMG512 it seemed to make a positive impact.
I may be crazy, but this PMG sounds better than the last one. Wait! I have a Stealth Cloude Grande Limited Edition PC on it. That is why and I almost forgot about that.
Both PMG 512 and SACD have four Stack EQ1 footers under each. I made a change by replacing the two rear ones with one EQ2. So, there are three Stack EQs instead of four under each. I like this arrangement better because the sound is a bit more nature to my liking. It does take around 10 minutes to stabilize the sound.
I have four extra Stack EQ1 that I can put on Router and Satellite maybe. I really hope I will not hear any sound difference
Sounds like you’re having a blast Donald. One of the things that I really enjoy about this hobby is playing around with different presentations to the sound. Sometimes a new component will present an opportunity and sometimes it’s a different cable or footer or cartridge. It keeps things fresh and interesting.
I must confess that after two weeks of breaking in the PMG512 I was hoping to achieve only minute improvements over my PW DSD MK2; therefore, putting a stop to my condition known as upgradeitis. Why hoping for such you may ask. The obvious reason would be to save some cash. However, just like most in this thread, I’m hearing improved separation of instruments, huge increase in soundstage width and depth, and even a heavier bottom end.
At this point, I am unable to hear any differences in streaming between my Innuos Zen MK3 & the PMG. My ears cannot detect any nuances whether connecting the PMG via USB Tubulus Concentus cable from Zen or Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable from LHY SW 10-PRO when switching through my PMG Preamp. No Muon Pro filter in the chain. Perhaps my power cables are holding it back or the streaming via PMG is just that darn good. I’m hearing what seems like the space that the musicians are performing in. Live music is even more revealing in my untreated space. All of this is leading me more into some jazz and classical recordings for an abundance of stimulation. It’s similar to walking outside and hearing a variety of singing in all directions and pitches.
Since day one with streamer firmware 3.0.11, I’ve had no issues or hang-ups while connecting with Tidal via Roon. Many thanks to all who have gone through the aggravations and your communications with the team to get it right thus far!!!
ong story short…the loss I will take with selling outright my 1.99 year old DSD MK2 is outweighed by the improvements heard through my new PMG DAC. It’s a keeper!!! My former dac and Rel S510 will go into Marketplace for an Axpona pickup sale. Now it’s hard to say if the funds will go into the bank or into some pw cables.
Your new cable lifters deserve a Stealth power cord.
My 2nd PMG 512 is problem free and it is a great sounding unit too. After three weeks I do not hear more improvement anymore. The streamer inside sounds better than my previous Lumin U2 plus DS MK2 combo so it is a great value in my opinion. Its SQ is on par with Grimm MU2 now. I still hear a difference between them as I explained a few times before, and after a few cable changes I still feel the same. My slight preference is MU2, and that could be influenced by my original plan; using PMG 512 for playing SACDs and MU2 for streaming.
My latest streaming setup is MU2 > Omega-X ethernet > Muon Pro filter (still help) > LHY SW-10 Pro switch > Omega ethernet or MP System ethernet (still evaluate) > Orbi Satellite. PMG streamer is using WIFI. MU2 is powered by a Stealth The Grande, and PMG by a Stealth CGLE.
Interestingly, by using Omega-X and two Stealth PCs, both MU2 and PMG 512 sounded better in streaming. I use Roon and its core resides inside MU2 along with all my local files. So, I guess PMG streamer SQ is helped by better cabling too.
I think I am done with streaming upgrade this year.
I suppose I could use Qobuz connect to test WIFI vs. Wired in my system later. I have two Omegas, SW-10 Pro switch, plus Muon Pro for hardwired, it will be crazy if I like WIFI better on PMG 512.
The Steath>Muon Pro>Steath>Tempus (with Origin ps) sounds great into the PMG DAC. Weren’t it wasn’t so. All that stuff to scrub a digital signal seems overboard, but there you are.
Streaming is now commensurate with PMG SACD playback. The quality of the recording is more the key to greatness than the format.
After switching out a few different and admittedly not so hi-end ethernet cables, I was scrolling and saw your comments @msaladino22 - so took out the ethernet, and went with wifi (which I had given up on before the FW updates).
The PMG 512 Streamer via Wifi is next level.
I do use a PhoenixNet etc., etc. but find the wifi route remarkable in it’s clarity and presentation (played “Great Gig in the Sky” over and over, then went through a bunch of other genres - everything sounds better via wifi in my system). Glad I saw your post! Mahalos
Just wish I could go from Innuos Zen Mk3 to PMG 512 via wirelss now too…
Very interesting observations re wifi but I’ll still need USB for my BACCH4Mac connection, whichever next DAC. PMG 512 is coming back on my radar though
I have been watching The Masters all weekend so didn’t spend too much time on listening music. But a quick listen seemed to result in better SQ with wired connection. Need to listen more. Golfing first today.
Honestly since getting BACCH4Mac I have shut off the streamer in my 512. As good as the streamer is, I love the DSP and room correction that BACCH offers more.
I compared PMG Streamer on both WIFI and wired connection (WC). The listening was all using Qobuz Connect. PMG streamer does not play Tidal Connect as far as I know (let me know if that is not the case).
The WC does sound better than WIFI, but only marginally. In fact, their sounds are very similar, which is surprising since I have over $15k worth of cables, filter, and switch connected between PMG 512 and Orbi satellite. WC sounded a bit more dynamic and slightly fuller. The strange thing is when I went back to WIFI it sounded just as good. I did that a couple of times then realized each setting would take a few songs to settle. Eventually the WC sounded a little better to me. I wonder if without the latest Omega-X ethernet upgrade, will I prefer WIFI? Because this cable made more SQ improvement to wired connection than the difference between the two.
The Orbi satellite is only a few feet away, so the signal is strong without much interference. That may have helped its SQ (not going to find out). The Orbi is powered by an IFI iPower Elite plus an AQ Dragon PC, and the PS is plugged into Gryphon PowerZone. This arrangement has improved WIFI SQ significantly (WC too). Anyway, here is your $15k plus vs $0 comparison.
Here comes the rub, Roon sounds better than Qobuz Connect whether using WC or WIFI. The sound is less digital and more relaxing. Grimm team did a great job in implementing Roon app in MU2 (likely MU1 too). So, here is the ranking of different streaming methods in my system:
ong story short…the loss I will take with selling outright my 1.99 year old DSD MK2 is outweighed by the improvements heard through my new PMG DAC. It’s a keeper!!! My former dac and Rel S510 will go into Marketplace for an Axpona pickup sale. Now it’s hard to say if the funds will go into the bank or into some pw cables. 
