Sums it up nicely. It can be an easy rabbit hole to fall into, and the next thing one observes is all the clutter on the stereo rack, and a rats nest of wires behind it. I can say this having added a USB re-clocker and network switch to my system. Sound improved, but visually its a loser.
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Nice runā¦enjoy it while it lasts.
Cheers,
SEE
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ā¦and to add to that thought equivalent to a component upgrade when logged off, with the laptop stowed out of sight. 
More than any other amp iāve owned, the XA-25 needs at least an hour of warm up before it starts to really bloom. Itās a lifetime keeper for me.
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If itās the same in the MPD-8 as āThe Fiddlyā, I struggle with how Fiddly sounds better.
I suppose I would have to hear it for myself.
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The need for an hour warm-up may be an understatement. At least mine can take the better portion of the morning, having been off for 48 hours or more. For planned morning sessions I leave it on over night.
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I try to turn my system on at least an hour before I start listening. It isnāt a HUGE deal if I forget but for sure the system really shines when everything comes up to temp. Fortunately it all being class A building heat isnāt difficult. The amp has so much heat sink so it doesnāt feel as hot as its predecessor was. But it does heat the room.
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Its baby brother likes to be warmed up and performs better warmed up but itās not a requirement.
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The manual says the P/link is a standard ST fibre optic cable:
Fiber is certainly a good thing, Iāve used it for 8 years now. What would be an interesting comparison is to use a generic usb-fibre converter (about $200) and SFP-ST cable into the DAC. You would then have isolated any noise and the DAC will do the reclocking.
Agree. But while the fiber optic cable is standard, the interface (whatever communication āhandshakingā is going on) is proprietary. So, I doubt it could be made to work. As Iāve mentioned, this is purely a Playback Designs proprietary accessory of interest only to other owners of PD gear.
Data is data and itās a standard fibre cable. For $3,000 I reckon they can afford to tell you why a generic converter and SFP-ST cable wonāt work and why they need to use a proprietary system (if indeed it is).
The DAC does all the reclocking and any good DAC will isolate any external usb power noise. Iāve never understood why external reclocking should be of any benefit. Iāve tried it a couple of times and been non-plussed. Fortunately itās easy to sell these external devices as there is always someone else wanting to give it a go.
Yes, and the Playback Designs DAC certainly does all of this entirely on its own. This is why we didnāt bother with the external device until now. But, the outboard USB-X4, when added, does improve upon it. More than we were expecting or we would have simply returned it and likely not have written the review.
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My latest upgradeā¦ A Wireworld Micro-Platinum AES cable.
So, I was running Aureluic Aeries G2 > Phoenix USB Reclocker > Matrix DDC > DSD via IS2.
I always wondered what the AES connection would sound like over the USB chain to IS2.
The AES is better!
Better separation and sound-stage depth and the bass is cleaner. Nothing is audibly worse (unless you need the bandwidth for high res files). A very satisfying change and it certainly made me feel a bit ill for having added all the expense of the Matrix, Phoenix, assorted cables and external PS.
AES is the best digital connection compared to I2S and USB itās too bad itās limited to 192/24.
Exactly. I would also add fiber/optical to that list that has inherently less noise and ground issues but lower sample rates.
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Interesting. Should I have both active on my Streamer to MKII? when doing 192/24 or lower (assuming DSD is out) I should use that connection? And yet another cable I have to buy!!!
I personally wouldnāt trouble. Iād use the best cable for the max format you listen to. I believe with the Grimm MU1 AES is the only connection.
In my case Aurelic can not output both at the same time so if I need to play DSD Ill have to unplug the AES and plug in the USB.
However, I feel like the AES sounds so good I have lost my interest in DSD, at least for my system as it is.
For me I can run one cable and I have to swap it on app and of course input of the MKII.
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Kind of strange that fiber optic is limited, it wouldnāt be if audio had a better interface.
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