[HAL]

Thanks Charles!

Having fun!

[HAL]

Updated Windows 8.1 to 8.1 Pro to use Remote Desktop on the MS-3. 

Will be experimenting with the Surface for full remote control.

[*Scotty*]

Rich with whom are exhibiting and in what room.
Scotty

[HAL]

Scotty,
I am not exhibiting.  Just demoing after hours for folks interested.

[HAL]

Getting to see a lot of friends this weekend.  Discussing lots of audio subjects and attending the seminars.

Posted some pictures in the Axpona thread for some of the larger speakers.  Will try to get into the Wilson demo with the new speakers this afternoon.

[HAL]

Had a great time at Axpona over the last 3 days.  Getting packed and ready for the trip home.

Will be trying one of the Meridian Explorer 2 MQA DAC's with the MS-3 Music Server.  Will use the iFi iUSB Power devices to start for low noise power.

[HAL]

Made it home from Chicago!

Both dspMusik demo systems have arrived back from travels.  One unit is slated for trials with a pair of Sanders 10C electrostatic hybrid speakers once the owner is ready.  The demo with the Sanders 10D speakers went very well.

Upgraded the MS-3 to Windows 8.1 Pro and doing the latest MS updates now.  Once completed, will be trying Remote Desktop with the MS Surface.  Will verify that both Foorbar2000 and Audio Weaver can be run remotely and allow the user to place the setup close to the music system for use. 

There is now an experiment into a new A/D conversion system to use with analog equipment.  Parts were shipped today to begin the prototyping.  This will be a long term design and test, so no fixed time for when it will begin.  Two different methods will be tried for the A/D conversion and the better sounding system will be put into development. 

The fun continues! 

[HAL]

Two of the demo systems have returned and the last MS-3 demo unit is on the way back.

The Meridian Explorer 2 MQA DAC will be here today.  Have the iFi iUSB Power setup to use with it for clean power from the MS-3 running Windows 8.1 Pro. 

From the description, it uses an Apodising filter system running in DSP as part of the processing.  This comes from the same research that was used to design the Wolfson Micro WM8741/WM8742 series DAC's.  The WM8742 DAC's are used in the dspMusik 6x8 crossover.   They do not discuss the filtering used. The WM8741 series offers user selectable filters.  All the dspMusik crossover demo's have been with the Minimum Phase Apodising filters after that was added to the Audio Weaver development system.

 

[HAL]

The Meridian Explorer 2 DAC arrived and the USB driver is loaded. 

Using it with Etymotic Research ER-4S in-ear phones for trials.  Levels are low, even with the volume at max.  Will need to try this with my Audio Alchemy HPA-1.0 for more gain.  Works with Foobar2000 1.3.8. 

Loaded up the Pono Player software and that works.

Looking for some MQA FLAC recordings of interest to try. 

[HAL]

The Meridian Explorer2 MQA DAC volume control is buried in the control panel once you find the second page.  Volume level is fine now after boosting is 26dB.

The top three LED's give you sample rate feedback.  The color tells you if it is a standard, MQA or MQA Studio quality file. 

Trying it without the iFi iUSB Power.  Will add the iUSB Power after listening trials.

[HAL]

Very happy with the Meridian Explorer2 MQA DAC running with Foobar2000 for music playback.  HiRez sounds very good indeed. 

For someone looking for a good starting Music Server and DAC, the MS-3 setup with the Meridian Explorer2 is a great intro system for HiRez digital music playback.  The line level output from the DAC is the industry standard 2VAC, so should work well in most systems.

Looking forward to trying some MQA FLAC files for replay once they are available. 

[Phil A]

Trying it without the iFi iUSB Power.  Will add the iUSB Power after listening trials.

Rich - when you get to it let us know about the above.  Thanks

[HAL]

Phil,
Will do. 

[HAL]

Have the Remote Desktop connection running between the MS Surface and MS-3. 

Still getting use to the new commands needed to control all the functions, but nice to be able to run everything remotely.

[HAL]

Have test data back from Danny on the planar magnetic drivers for the line array idea.  Have sent them to the companies to see if they can build modified versions of the drivers to use in this application. 

Building ChipAmp boards to test out with the drivers.  Have both the LM1875 and LM3875 versions to try for sound quality to power each driver directly.  Have them built with differential inputs and the next set will use so very good resistors for the feedback networks. 

Wiring up the servo sub modules to use with the OB desktop speaker idea for trials.  Will be trying 2x12" servo subs as a stand for the OB planar magnetic two way speaker.

[HAL]

The modified planar magnetic panel drivers are in work.  They are trying to match the parameters I am interested in and waiting on the results.  If they can match the target response, sensitivity and matching, will get 20 samples to build the line array.

Waiting on latest word on the open baffle build from the wood worker.  Spacing for the planar midrange in work is setup for this pair.

Will be back to the sub build next week after some travel.  The clamps fit and need to start wiring the connectors to the 1x12" modules.  Will setup two 2x12" modules to go with the NEO3/NEO10 OB speaker as a test with the dspMusik doing the crossover and time alignment. 

Going to work with REW to see if it can do the time offset measurements needed with the log sweep.  If not, will use CLIO. 

Waiting on word for a demo with a pair of Sanders 10C speakers.  Will be interesting to hear the results as compared to the Sanders 10D demo.

Also waiting to hear word of a demo with a pair of VMPS RM-V60 speakers that had it's original DCX2496 die with the settings. 

Anyone interested in trying an MS-3 and dspMusik setup, the demo unit is available.  Please PM me for details.

[HAL]

The latest info has Windows 10 coming out late July.  Will be testing both the standard and Pro versions on the MS-3 to verify correct operation like the trial versions.

Asked GR-Research to ship two more 12" servo drivers when he has time.  That will get the OB NEO3/NEO10 setup competed.  Then time for some tweaking and listening.

[HAL]

The dspMusik 6x8 can now be offered as a stand alone digital crossover that loads the custom code on power-up.  Will take USB input from either a PC running the USB ASIO driver for the system, or from a MAC using it's ASIO driver.  The stereo analog, S/PDIF and USB input connections will be available to the used.

If you are purchasing an MS-3 to use with a dspMusik, I will preinstall the development system to use for parameter changes if that is wanted, or just setup the dspMusik to be stand alone depending on the customers request.

[HAL]

Another pair of 12" servo subs is on order from Danny.  Will be finishing up this setup once they arrive. 

Will be using the Rythmik HX300 servo amps with the subs in the 1x12" modules.  They have the balanced inputs to use with the digital crossover to run these as fully active three way speakers.  Using ChipAmps modified for balanced inputs for the BG NEO3 and NEO10 drivers.

To compensate for the distance offset between the NEO OB and servo subs, will be using pure time delay on the planar array for time alignment. 

[HAL]

Woofers arrived for the upper 12" servo modules.  New crossover design ready for testing once the servo's are wired and running with the HX300 amps.