Run, Don't Walk

RoadTripper · « **on:** 17 Jan 2006, 06:04 am »

I'm sitting here listening to my rig with the RWA modded SB3 in place. With every file that I listen to, I say to myself "I just gotta' tell somebody how good this sound is".

Two reasons held me back. First, I know how tedious it can get hearing somebody go through the same old deal about their system. Second, listening is so good, I would rather spin tunes than write about it.

PC audio via the SB3 is really a brilliant solution. In my system, everything is better. I.e. treble, bass, detail, timing (especially the timing). Tonalities of electric blues guitar, Hammond B3, blues harmonica, vocals, full symphony orchestra coherence, dynamics, sound stage (see what I mean, really, does any body care what I am hearing???) are all very significantly improved. This is not a subtile thing at all. The realism of Diana Krall in my living room is downright strange.

I don't know about the 'vinyl-like' thing. My vinyl was a long time ago and not all that great. Tons of distortion, as I recall. But I could be very easily convinced that the PC audio solution is all about jitter removal. What I am hearing may, in fact, be due to a severely reduced jitter quotient at several junctures along the electron paths.

Bear in mind however, that I am replacing an unmodded Toshiba 3950 (and more recently, the OPPO DVD player). So, it is true that my previous source was not all that great. However, the Toshiba did replace my Norh CD-1 tube player. I thought the Toshiba was easily at least as good. Also bear in mind that I never heard the SB3 in its raw, un-modded state.

I am still a bit worried that the SB3 problems which everybody seems to be having may eventually hit me. Some of them have already, but I may have been the cause of some of them. (An untested theory is - Don't use the remote to Browse and select tracks from your library if your Web server is also up and running. I think doing that gets the SB3 out of sync with the server, leading to music stoppage. I haven't had any probs as long as I stick to the Web Server as the driver of the show).

So, run, don't walk to PC audio, especially Vinnie's mods for the SB3.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Jan 2006, 06:21 am »

Is this an SB3 with the analog mods your talking about ? Thanks !!

RoadTripper · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Jan 2006, 06:41 am »

No. Actually, I eschewed the analog mods in favor of doing just the Digital Path mods. I am running the SB3 into my Panny XR45 right now and consequently wouldn't benefit from the analog mods. Also, I normally would be using my Scott Nixon RWA modded DAC, so, again, the analog mod wouldn't benefit. I didn't want to render either of my other routes (DAC or Panny) obsolete.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Jan 2006, 06:48 am »

Thanks !!

JLM · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Jan 2006, 11:27 am »

I've also had a few instances where the SB "gets a headache" and locks up when I leave it on for hours unattended (damn those audio gremlins) as I'm trying to burn it in. A "soft" reboot (turning it off and on) or a "hard" reboot (turning the power to it off and on) has always fixed it.

Carlman · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Jan 2006, 02:20 pm »

I feel exactly the same way as you, Seminarian. Thanks to Lonewolf, I have been experiencing the SB3 paired with a nice tube amp and bookshelves in my office. Up until Friday, the SB3 was stock as were the tubes in the amp. I replaced the tubes with good ones and and got the mods done by Vinnie.

Last night I got to listen to Vinnie's analog mods and I was rocking for a long time... I just put it on random and kept on rockin... I am REALLY enjoying it. In fact, my wife had to use the office and I had to turn it down. I didn't realize how loud it was.

Excellent PRAT, tubey warmth, great bass, ZERO fatigue... I love escaping to my office now!

Oh.. BTW, I have not had a single lockup, glitch or error that wasn't something simple... like someone turned off the music server. I played the SB3 for the past few weeks constantly without a single hiccup. I use the music server as a music server only, though.

-C

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 05:18 am »

Hi Seminarian and Carlman,

Thanks for posting your initial impressions of the modded SB3!

Regards,

oris98 · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 07:49 am »

I have been using my RWA digital modded SB3 for about 6 weeks now. The leave it on 24x7 without shutting it off. I treated it like a most of the digital gear like my DAC for running it all the time for keeping it warm. I never exeperiencing any problem at all with my unit. However, I turn on my usb harddrive only when I want to listen to music.

For kick ass music, all you need is a good DAC (like my DAC1), a good digital cable and the RWA modded SB3. You will never look back to Wadia transport...

Mathew_M · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 09:21 am »

Yeah I've been listening to more music lately since I bought a Squeezebox. Mine is completely stock and I'm running it into a stock Panny XR25 via digital. It's about as smooth as I've heard digital sound without tubes involved.

I've had issues with mine as well (hang-ups both wireless and wired). In fact I almost sent it back. I'm also not impressed with Slim's customer service. Emails go un-answered for days and responses are curt. The software as it has been said needs a lot of tweaking. It still feels like a product in the testing phases. I'm sticking with it since there isn't anything else on the market that competes and when it works it really is a lot of fun to listen to music through.

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 11:08 am »

Matthew,

In our only too human eagerness we're into a leading (perhaps bleeding) edge of technology. This isn't quite for the faint hearted yet. The Olive products are much more user friendly, but unfortunately use rather small (quiet laptop style) hard drives.

kwl · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Jan 2006, 10:48 pm »

I can't agree with Seminarian more! Another very satisfied customer. I have posted my experiences (and a few tips) in the Reference 3A circle [http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=24917.msg221171#221171&sid=a23b4a288673074af70ae96f4b14f095].

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Jan 2006, 02:58 am »

Quote from: kwl

I can't agree with Seminarian more! Another very satisfied customer. I have posted my experiences (and a few tips) in the Reference 3A circle [http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=24917.msg221171#221171&sid=a23b4a288673074af70ae96f4b14f095].

Thanks for your posts everyone!

It's 10pm and I'm going back to work on a few more SB3s (this is NOT a joke

)

All I can say is that I really appreciate the patience of all my customers.... you guys have been very understanding. One day I hope to get some help around here so I can speed things up.

Thanks again,

pugs · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Jan 2006, 03:53 am »

I'm VERY happy with the sound of my fully modded SB3. My system has never sounded so smooth and so good. I had a bunch of problems at first, mostly with my wireless router, but now everything is working reasonably well. I'll be selling my Cary 303/200 as soon as I finish ripping all my CDs.

Vinnie, I may have to send my unit back to you at some point. I didn't know the pigtail was going to be so short. I thought it was going to be long enough to put the SB3 next to the battery enclosure.