A new thread just for the SD card should probably be started 
…
Do you guys ever start a listening session and for no reason in particular sound quality seems to have increased? I just got home from work and put on a familiar record and I swear to God something has changed in my system because I don’t remember it ever sounding this good.
I wonder if state of mind or even something as simple as your current blood pressure has an affect on our perception of sound. I did have a pretty good day today and I feel extra relaxed. Maybe that has something to do with it? Or maybe it’s just 3.0.6 finally burning in for good?
Edit:
Now that I think about it, earlier before work, I had music on much louder than I usually do. Electronic dance music with lots of bass. Maybe that speaker workout has something to do with it? If that’s the case, I’m going to intentionally have more loud listening sessions.
I connect NAS to DS via USB which is the only way. I got a new 2gb SD but the same results. I run out of option.
If I recall correctly the whole point of the 3.0.6 update was to make changes to the way the DAC talks to Linux-based devices over USB. I’m guessing you’re hitting a bug related to those changes. Have you checked for updates to your NAS as well? Have you shared details of your NAS with PS Audio so they can try to reproduce?
Thanks. My NAS is made by IO data called Fidata HFAS-52F06A.
Hate to side track the tread. That said going to do it anyway.
My experience is that speaker do need to be played really loud once and awhile.
About 10 years ago I had a party and was blasting music. Both VTL MB-450’s blew a tube and the police were called. LOUD!
My WP 8’s had hundreds of hours on them. Before the party. A few days later after recovering from my hangover I couldn’t believe how much better they sounded.
Zu audio has found that playing speakers loud for burnin has a measurable effect on their bottom line.
2 Likes
After 10 days of 3.0.6 (fourth install), I listened for awhile and then reinstalled 3.0 and listened. Then re-burned in 3.0 for 24 hrs and listened again. Not entirely happy with either, although 3.0.6 makes me antsy, like I’m mesmerized by something yet want to shake free of it, get it over with as soon as possible. Here’s a test for tonality, which is my starting point, since tonal balance is so tied to musical appreciation: put a tenor or baritone singer on and compare the two versions. With 3.0, the lower half of the voice range is manifestly present and satisfying (lower midrange and upper bass), but there’s little sense of it being there with 3.0.6. The difference is not subtle, which makes the choice necessary.
2 Likes
OK must admit I have been out of the loop.
The last version I had was 3.04 and I preferred 3.00.
So how does 3.06 sound relative to 3.04 and 3.00? I do like more mids. I don’t use a bridge so that is not a factor.
Thanks
I went directly from 3.00 to 3.06, and enjoy 3.06 much more than 3.00 (see post#281) - will not be going back.
The only reason I loaded 3.06 is because I read that 3.06 was fixing issues with Linux based servers over USB. Since my music server is a Linux based Innuos Zen MKII, I did not hesitate to try, and have not been disappointed.
Everybody pretty much agree that 3.06 brings greater clarity in the upper mids and highs: some like it, some don’t. I can see how 3.06 could bring a sound system out of balance if the system was already quite detailed in the upper mids.
Well, I may have a suggestion to bring back balance: I just received my Audience USB cable, and after 5 days of breaking-in, I can say that I have much more lower mids and bass that I never thought possible by a simple switch of USB cable, and the nasty artificial hissing in the highs is gone: what an improvement going from Audioquest Carbon USB (solid 5% silver-plated conductors) to Audience USB cable (copper) !
While Audioquest Carbon cable was highlighting the highs to the point of causing listening fatigue, the Audience USB cable brought back balance across the spectrum - very natural sound.
And 3.06 never sounded better …
1 Like
Are you really suggesting those of us who find 3.0.6 out of tonal balance need to switch cables?? And note, it’s about tonal balance not details.
In short, yes.
In my case, the tonal balance was already on the bright side because of my Audioquest Carbon USB cable, but I did not know that. In other words, the Audioquest Carbon USB cable was artificially exaggerating the presence of the highs in my sound system.
After talking about it with my dealer, he suggested trying out the Audience USB cable.
When I tried it out for a few hours during the week-end 3 weeks ago, and after listening to my own Audience cable for the last 5 days, I can say the annoying brightness is gone - really, it is gone.
As a result, the tonal balance in my system (I cannot comment on your system) is much closer to neutral. Hopefully, when I get my new Innuos Zenith MK3, the tonal balance will be back to neutral.
As I said, it is only a suggestion - it does not cost you anything to ask your dealer to lend you an Audience USB cable and hear the results for yourself.
If the tonal balance is still bad, then return the cable to your dealer at no cost, and revert back to 3.00.
Or, you can disregard my suggestion altogether.
I was just making a suggestion for those who wished 3.06 could work for them.
1 Like
One could chase their tail and spend a lot of bucks following your suggestion, all due to a free firmware change. Doesn’t make sense. I wonder if you’d think about it the same way if Linux wasn’t involved in your setup.
I do not know what to say …
You said “Are you really suggesting those of us who find 3.0.6 out of tonal balance need to switch cables??”.
And then you say “One could chase their tail and spend a lot of bucks following your suggestion, all due to a free firmware change. Doesn’t make sense”.
Yet, I only suggested changing one USB cable, not all your cables.
You said “cables”, I said “cable”.
Nobody is forcing to do anything - I only made a suggestion.
Who gets to decide which suggestions make sense or not, and based on what criteria?
Many people on this forum own a DSD Sr. which cost USD$ 6000.00, plus all of the other components that complete their sound system (e.g. pre-amp, amp, mono-block, music server, speaker cables, RCA cables, power plant, etc …).
So, while I agree that a USD$1000 Audience USB cable is expensive, it is not so much out of price compared to other audio gears own by people on this forum.
Many times, I read individuals mention owning this, owning that or suggest buying this or buying that, many times those suggestions are way outside my budget.
I simply ignore them and move on - no need for personal attack.
And I will never never never reply to their posts saying their suggestions makes no sense.
It is simply not my business to judge if their suggestions makes sense or not.
What matters, is that their suggestion works for them and may work for others.
Period.
So, you are not satisfied with 3.06, and my suggestion to buy a new USB cable as the owner of Linux-based music server to make 3.06 more listenable & enjoyable is non-sense?
Then, all you have to do is leave it at that: ignore my suggestion, revert back to 3.00 and don’t spend any money.
End of story.
I thought this was a public forum where people exchange ideas to help one another knowing that our individual situation can vary greatly from one audiophile to another.
Isn’t the idea?
Post suggestions, and who knows, you may be able to help someone: some suggestions are (too) expensive, some are inexpensive, some suggestions are impracticable but may open the imagination to other alternatives we may have not considered otherwise (e.g. Audience may not be the only manufacturer of neutral USB cable, or there could be used ones out there for sale).
I did not expect that kind of harassment on a great forum like this one (there is no politics involve here).
Why are you lashing back at me?
What do you want from me?
Let’s be clear: I did not create 3.06, I only use it, and I have no power to change it.
I can only make suggestions to make life easier&better with 3.06.
If you are upset at being forced to go back to 3.00 because 3.06 does not work for you, then you have to bring your grievances to PS Audio, not me.
That will my last post on that forum for a long time …
3 Likes
And please do not take it amiss, friendship prevails on this forum.
I agree with you regarding HDMI cables. I have WW Platinum Starlight 7 HDMI 0.5 m cable. This purchase was money well spent.
1 Like
I also am very pleased with the Platinum 7 HDMI. The cable debate is endless and often agitates people despite the fact that it’s free to try…
1 Like
Cables for free? I’m aware of firmware upgrades for free, but not cables. Yes, the cable possibilities are endless - and not free, not by a longshot - which is what makes the suggestion to solve a temporary firmware problem by chasing cables bizarre to my way of thinking. 3.0 may not be what 3.0.6 is in some respects, but it is darn good - until another version comes along.
3.06 felt like there was less texture, less meat in the mid range than 3.0
Probably my imagination but 3.0 makes my imagination happier.
2 Likes
This is only my own observation:
I have an assortment of cables reflecting changes over my many years in our hobby. The ones I thought had something special - but in a new equipment configuration were found not to be ideal - I chose to keep. Others I sold. So, when in the course of various FW updates across both the PWD and DSD I felt something may have changed in some way that was a little off in my system, I would try a different IC. On more than one occasion it restored a synergy that made me appreciate what the improved FW did, in a way that complemented my system (I didn’t like all the newer FWs, as many long timers here may recall! 
). Didn’t happen too often, but I was happy to have an assortment of high quality ICs on hand when it seemed some experimentation was needed.
2 Likes
Yep, that’s what I’ve recommended many times in the past. Since many say the various releases are (at times) like a component upgrade, people should check their systems/tweaks like they do when they get a new component. I’ve got a couple of baskets of reasonable quality cables (interconnects and power cords) and I always try multiple of them when I change something in my system.
6 Likes
Trying cables is free. If they don’t make a difference nothing lost. If you like them then yes, cost possibilities are endless