LPS vs SMPS

Letter from Hong Kong (24-20): ELO on LPS and SMPS

Editor: In HiFi circle, it's almost taken for granted that LPS is better than SMPS. It hasn't been close to universally true for me (quite the opposite) and therefore I'm quite gratified that ELO finds the same. We should be true to our ears rather than audio lore. Mind you, some of the very highest end, like megabuck Swiss Nagra, CH Precision, Soulution etc use SMPS.

Preference on Power Supply - Mesmerised 

There's beeen a lot of  debate on the implementation of LPS to replace SMPS. Results is quite polarised. Some prefers the super black , quiet background and improved imaging while some find out that LPS is robbing the life out of the music. So far my experience is pretty mixed. LPS does wonder to one piece of equipment while doesn't on another. So I think one shouldn't preclude which is defintiely better than the other. It is case dependant and also depend on the quality of the LPS and designer's intent and understnading of music! 

I always think that decent power supply is very important to sound quality . Yesterday, my friend RC came to visit my place for a listen. He brought along an iFi Power X 12V/2A . I am very familiar to this little PS and is already working great with my WEA. But this time he gave me a completely new idea. 

We listened to streaming through  my WEA and after a few songs, he suggested me to replace the walwart PS of my modem to the iFi. I gladly obliged and OMG, the sound has literally improved across the board. Before , my setup's sound is good in listening to softer music and due to Douk E6's character, dynamics was a bit softer. But once I replaced the stock PS of the modem to iFi, the piano's attack , size and body has actually stepped up by a very large margin. He also brought in some other gadgets but none was so significant than this implementation! 

Story did not end here, we then switched over to play LPs from Sound Burger and the overall sound was quite decent. Again , I replaced the walwart PS of my U4 to the iFi, same effect! This combo of SB/U4/iFi produces sound that is very respectable, the dynamics, bass, vocals and soundstage both improved more than 30 %. Lesson is power supply, a good one, be it SMPS or LPS can do wonder to every single piece of equipment starting from the source , i.e. modem to router to streamer onwards etc! Well, I always lamenting a Plixir LPS....hmmm

Eventually I had gotten an iFi Power X to power up the Douk U4 and am enjoying immensely the sound of analog which is very at ease and natural that reminds me again that nothing can replace analog. Lucky I got some old LPs from old days and from friends of Eagles, Pink Floyd, Santana, Eric Clapton , Police and some nice Audiophile discs so  that I have a decent selection to become nostalgic~  of course I have been buying more LPs , but less from HiFi grade ones, instead go for very old edition which I usually find more balanced.

Even further improvement??

Yes, a few days ago, I inserted a DIY LPS made by a nice c-hing FM (a mere $45USD) into my modem and yet experienced another lift in SQ in overall system through my WEA as well as through U4! When I first bought the LPS, the sound was lifeless and uninteresting despite a bit quieter in the background. I spoke to FM and he replaced the sliver plated DC cable to another one made of Belden cable and voila, everything that I had anticipated has been realised and music has came alive!  What a difference a DC cable makes!

I discovered way more details and nuances of music details, quieter background and less digital noise without sacrificing the dynamics and PRAT of the music! This improvement now also extends to my Soundburger as well!. The soundstage has widened further, dynamics has improved and bass dig deeper and with more body! I have immense enjoyment with my new LP from Andrea Vollenwieder only for $11USD!

Well, does an LPS always work? Just when I pick up confidence on LPS from the same guy, I have ordered an LPS for Douk E6 to replace the cheapo USB cord of 5V/1A which I use a cheapo USB charger for charging phone to power the E-6! The LPS is nicely built with quality parts, so I have a lot of high expectation that sound may be further improved. To my utter surprise, sound quality not only does not improve, but then overall sound has took a setback. The sound while is cleaner, but it has become lifeless and the microdynamics was much better with USB cable which the pppp to ffff of sound was so clearly heard to a point that I am in awe! Sound on steroid indeed. I suspect by using 3 UMI signal transformers and 6 earth boxes, the background has blackened to a point that it has reached an equilibrium and any more blackening will make it sound dry, as if life being sucked out?! But for now, I cannot reach a conclusion and is definitely case by case where sometimes LPS helps but sometimes don't. Don't ask me why, but it is what I have heard!!! 

I spoke to FM and he told me he has a well built commercial grade SMPS to try out and on a Saturday morning I hook that up and start auditioing it. Overall, it is better than the LPS, however, I still much prefer using the USB charger and is actually too obvious to hear the difference. It's more dynamic in macro and micro, high frequency extension is great and it  has the liveliness that I most treasure! So I now find out that LPS may or may not help. For Douk E6, since it uses DHT , according to a seasoned tube amp designer, the use of LPS will amplify the noise 10 folds so LPS is not recommended to be used in DHT preamps! One learn something new everyday for sure~

On my E6, Results in a  nutshell : USB phone charger > SMPS > LPS

As of now, 

U4 - iFi PowerX 👍

E6 - USB phone charger 👍👍

Modem - DIY LPS by FM 👍

Wattson WEA - iFi PowerX 

Wifi Router - walwart SMPS (next step after I have found a LPS to replace my iFi in WEA)

UMI S2 - USB phone charger , mixed. For some reason, too much hum when hooked up to U4, while on WEA is fine.

For now, I will use my USB charger for Douk E6. Next step is to try to experiment LPS on my Wattson, until then adios!

iFi Zen Blue Bluetooth H10U Metrum Adagio

This marks the first time a phone cam is highlighted in this blog; drooling! 😃🔯

Letter from Hong Kong (20-4): Streaming from a New Cellphone, Eric L Thinks Aloud! Where is he going?

Amended 7/26/20: mrgoodsound's Comment and Tidal Impressions added. Small change to mention of R2R DAC.

Editor: Since his last article, on his own will, Eric L has called a time-out, left paradise and re-entered purgatory (hell was beckoning)! He has upgraded his generic Taobao device H-09 to the same company's H10U. Also, he has gotten a new Cellphone, the top Huawei, known for its formidable camera (remember Eric is a photographer).

This article is divided into 2 Parts. Eric first wrote Part I. As the article was almost ready for publication, I was surprised, but delighted, to find Part II in the draft!

Part I. Struggle with my newly acquired Huawei P40 Pro+, dinosaur Air Mac, iFi Zen Blue and cheapo H10U

This would be an interim report. As a newbie in Streaming Music, I'm still looking for the best solution. I am toying with the idea of a DAC that can play high-res files, including DSD and 24-bit files (up to 200 MB per song!) In the meantime, I'm still struggling to find the best solution to my current setup, to the point that I almost stopped using my Sparkler CD Player completely.

I acquired a brand new Huawei P40+ smartphone since: 1) My Samsung S6 was really coming to the end of its life after 6 years of good service; thanks! 2) I want to be able to take great pictures with its Leica lens when I don't have my Fujifilm X100F on hand; 3) I can use it as a music player! 4) it looks sophisticated!

I joined both Tidal and MOOV (HK based music platform focusing more on local high res songs) within a day of buying the phone.

P40 Pro+ with iFi Zen Blue (Initially) I connected the new phone to my Zen Blue (ZB) for music playing. Well, the sound that came out was really polished, with each instrument well delineated and having the right amount of air surrounding it. I played through the sea of songs from Tidal, anything from R and B, classical, jazz and vocals, overwhelmed and dazzled by the choices it provides. I then asked myself, is this the sound that I'm looking for?

The A/B Hell One morning, knowing it is a painful exercise, I reluctantly opened the Pandora Box of HiFi and entered the Equipment A/B hell. I use Chris Botti and Yo Yo Ma playing (live) the song from Cinema Paradiso, both of which I like so much as both players play with such hearts. As this video can be found on both Youtube and from Tidal as well, I ended up testing with total of 6 combinations:

Youtube on AirMac with H10U or ZB
Youtube on P40+ with H10U or ZB
Tidal on P40+ with H10U or ZB

4 hours went by, and I even drew a table to tally up all the different combinations. But I threw it away as I collapsed exhausted - the A/B Hell was too much of a torture for my old soul! I just needed to relax and listen to the kind of music I like and played through the system with the correct virtues.

Results were pretty much in line with my original impressions. Having had some burn-in, ZB had become more approachable, but so had the cheapo H10U ! I don't know about the brand new P40+. After the test, I also did prolonged listening with my P40 Pro+, first with ZB and then H10U. The Air Mac has a mobility issue since the battery is completely dead and it must be hooked up to power, rendering it no longer a laptop; its BT also always stutters and I need to repeatedly disconnect and connect...Yikes!

H10U vs Zen Blue Here's the dilemma, the much improved cheapo BT device H10U (one up from the H9A  in previous articles) really possesses some magic! The ZB has better delineation of the instruments, better separation and airiness around as well! ZB ticked many boxes in HiFi terms BUT it simply lacks some magic: I no longer feel compelled to focus on the music, and can do other things while having it on as if it were background music! This is not what I want! Unplug the ZB and connect the H10U, suddenly the songs become interesting again: I can feel the emotion of the cellist, which has my poor soul bobbing up and down on a string; the trumpet of Botti has also become more purposeful. I sense a bit more the ebb and flow of music. The excitement factor is back (though not in full)! Less HiFi , more raw but more energetic and that's live music that audience can react and relate to! I think the Sabre DAC chip used in ZB is not my cup of tea...

Now most of the music is played through P40 Pro+/Tidal (and occasionally through the combination of Youtube/P40 Pro+/H10U). I still miss the sound of the Youtube/Air Mac/H10U combo but have to sacrifice for convenience rather than Sound Quality (SQ)...

To be or not to be?

Which brings me to another potentially important factor which DJ had mentioned: would an external DAC help to improve the sound? Both ZB and H10U does offer the option of hooking up to an external DAC. So for the last week, I have been searching for the right cheapo DAC that has the highest Price Quality Ratio. DJ suggested Micromega MyDac or MicroDac etc but they are so rare in the market and they do not play hi-res or DSD. Therefore, I have been thinking, whether I shall go all the way for best SQ and acquire a giant killer on the cheap? I have looked around, I'm most interested in a DAC which is NOS, R2R with FPGA. Don't ask me exactly what these terms means since I am not a techno savvy guy. I just know NOS can sound really good based on my experience with Sparkler CD Player. My only experience with R2R is the Musette from Metrum Acoustics which sounds a tad polite to me, but it's just the entry level unit using one R2R DAC per channel instead of 4 per channel used in their flagship Pavanne and Adagio. There are recent rumours on financial difficulties for Metrum and the designer Cees had left and formed a new company called Sonnet and released  a new DAC called Morpheus . Both Adagio (with world class digital volume control) , Pavanne and the new Morpheus received top accolades from 6Moons and many other HiFi review forums. I have no doubt that they are very good as my friend also distributes Metrum and he offers me a great deal on a like-new demo unit Adagio with a 12 month warranty. I need to audition it as it's way out of my budget, but if I can use it as a preamp, I can sell my icOn4 and Sparkler CDP and simply use the Sony BDP as a transport! In between, I almost bought a nice 2nd hand Meitner MA-1 v1 DAC for a real good price but even though I had reached a verbal agreement with the seller, I failed to get it since he had consigned it to a HiFi consignment shop and it was sold the day before unknown to him! Bummer! Ed Meitner is the designer of the famous DAC from EMM Lab and the brand Meitner is a scaled down version which was retailing at 7000 USD when new in 2011 and is now less than 1/4 of the price. MA-1 V2 is said to have big improvement but I am content with V1 since the sound that came out is very analog sound which I can easily live with (I had a brief audition at the consignment shop, though I definitely was not in a good mood.)

However, if I go cheap and DSD is not a must, my targets will be either Sparkler DAC, MyDac , Chord Mojo or Schiit Modi 3 [Ed: do you mean the Multibit?] as they are really compact and that's what I like about them. Size matters!!

My search is still frustrating and today I opted back to listen to more music from CDs. I bought a new pair of 47 OTA kit cable to hook onto my CDP via icOn4. I immediately notice that the new one fits much tighter to the female ends of the machines; the older ones likely have distorted in shape from extended use and suffered from loose fit.

Silver Lining: Youtube/Mac/H10U is still the most engaging combo and does wonder! Next step , I will find out if a new DAC is able to improve the SQ of my Tidal/P40+/H10U combo so that I can gain my mobility while keeping the SQ with loads of PRAT?

Part II. It's not over yet....the Door is still Revolving but it may stop soon

Flirting with Metrum Yesterday, I finally found some time for an audition of the Metrum Acoustics Adagio. Distributor Ben was really nice and had it set up with his own award-winning Volent speakers. The songs were played through ROON, then a Streamer, the luxury Bespoke TVC Preamp, the Adagio, and finally the Amp, the name of which I fail to remember.

I played through some of his DSD files and some songs which I normally listen through Tidal, sat back and enjoyed the sound, which I'd describe as smooth and natural, pleasing to listen to. The instrumental timbres were good and the soundstage was huge and deep. However, I began to feel a tad too at ease and comfortable on certain songs which usually would have me tapping my feet tapping and swinging my body! Like audiopro said, TIMING is KING ! And I totally dig it as I came from the LINN/NAIM camp of more than 30 years ago!

Metrum uses PCM/NOS/R2R. Unlike the Delta/Sigma used by Meitner, it cannot play DSD files (has to be converted to PCM first). So I would not be able to exploit fully on DSD, damn.

Due to limited time , I had to leave with some doubts in my mind. Perhaps I need another audition?

Back to BT This morning, I started playing some music from OPUS3 disc through my Sparkler CDP. It was really enjoyable and the new version does improve in airiness, instrument separation and the delineation of instruments without sacrificing too much of the PRAT that my older Sparkler aced. Then, I switched back to the Tidal/H10U combo and begin to play the same tunes that I had played yesterday at the Audio Shop. To my astonishment, I wasn't losing much SQ at all! Of course, I didn't have the uber fathomless soundstage nor the ultimate silkiness of sound, but the excitement was back again! And the musicality, when compared to my Sparkler, was comparable, which is saying a lot!

Then the most eye-popping moment came. I used my P40 Pro+ to play some of my favorite Tiny Desks Youtubes. Taimane's ukulele simply just explodes at will but on a dime becomes romantic when called for; the Cajon player is wicked, his fingers strumming out clean attacks and an engaging bass line. My body was possessed and started shaking and I even involuntarily screamed out with joy! if you have not heard of Monsieur Perine, I would heartily urge you to give them a try. I played their Sabor a mi and the sense of "being there" was so strong that I actually felt I was in the concert myself! Yes, my setup is not set up to be laid back, but to be as engaging and truthful as can be to reveal the essence of music! Suddenly my urge for an upgrade of DAC has vanished !!

Thinking Aloud Redux This Morning I rang my friend Kwong (who introduced the H9L , then H10U to me) and told him about my revolving door experience in the name of truth. I told him after all the tedious and the painful search for audio truth, I found out the answer has always been there, from Day One (sounds like a movie script, doesn't it?) I told him, the H10U rocks and actually trumps all others; the lowly BT is probably the most amazing audio discovery of my audio journey. He replied with a grin on his face (I actually visualized that even if we were just on the phone, lol), "With all the money you have saved (wait, I haven't even spent anything yet, lol), why don't you get a "super tweeter ", same one as used in MBL. With the right capacitor, it could improve the sound across the spectrum! And it would only cost less than $2k HKD even with Mundorf! You can also upgrade your power conditioner to a higher grade Long Yu and a second hand one is less than $3k!" What a devil he is! Or perhaps upgrade my laptop? I can't stop giggling~ Itchy still I guess...

Conclusion/Confession? I hereby proclaim that, Youtube/H10U/P40 Pro+ combo is the most HiFi, musical and engaging BT combo that I have experienced. It can give a lot of way more expensive rigs run for their monies! Mind you, the H10U costs only $8 USD and Youtube is free - that says a lot! Do I need a DAC? I would say yes, but it is less of a priority right now. If nothing is wrong, don't change for the sake of changing! I'd rather spend more time on enjoying music. My bar is actually quite low; I don't have any complaints for the music I'm listening to; their shortcomings are minor to me and I can happily live with them, through perhaps not forever after~

Here is the Botti/YoYo Ma Youtube on Cinema Paradiso!

Sabor a Mi was popularized by Eydie Gorme and Trios Los Panchos. I have the original
LP (the left half). Gorme is Sephardic; no wonder her perfect Spanish! A personal fav.

Editor's Postcript:
Everyone writes differently, and that's the fun of it. I myself (I think audiopro and perhaps mrgoodsound too) tend to write in a more presentation, google slide, style (except in some Diary entries). Eric L though has a more fun and dramatic style which I try to preserve as much as possible in my editing. Viva diversity!

This article actually is unique in that he is THINKING OUT LOUD! Some of it we have discussed in private emails. I think he has too many questions now so I invite our writers, friends and readers to weigh in! Let's make this a Roundtable of sort! My weighing in will be long.

Summary In a capsule, I think this is what Eric is going through: In terms of Bluetooth Streaming Device, Eric is sick of the limitations of his ancient Air Mac, BUT unfortunately it is still the better sounding. For convenience, he will rely on his new P40 Pro+ Cellphone. As for Streaming Platform, aside from his favorite Youtube, he has now subscribed to Tidal and Moov, which can provide more true hi-res music, hence his recent interest in DACs.

Bluetooth vs Hi-Res Streaming I think it is important not to lose sight of why we listen to BT in the first place: to explore, to discover and to enjoy new music on the cheap. Hi-Res Streaming will offer that too, but in a different way, as hi-res files are in the minority. Psychologically, unfortunately, Hi-Res Streaming inevitably skews the audiophile subscriber towards more unworthy but sonically good material. For a classical listener like me, NML (huge classical library, low-res; for me it's free) and Spotify together supply most of what I need to keep reasonably up to date with new releases, and these have a LOT more material than many other services, including possibly Tidal, not to mention Qobuz. As I have mentioned in my previous BT articles, when I am in exploration mode, I don't wear my reviewer's hat. Our own mrgoodsound, certainly an exacting individual, feels the same and now subscribes to Tidal (he's well versed in streaming, and is not using BT ). Caution also for Hi-Res Streaming: there are too many factors that affect sound, the computer settings (like buffer size), software (jRiver, Audirvana, Amarra etc), DAC etc and it is not unoften to hear bad sound. It is not going to be smooth sailing all the way. I know, not everyone has the right make-up to embrace BT, and many readers probably skip these articles or at least wonder why we are devoting so much space to low-res BT. Suffice to say, many highly experienced audiophiles I know use it for fun. Corollary: Hi-Res Streaming can easily sound less musical than simple generic BT.

Bluetooth Receivers Think about this, our HK friends, all experienced users, and I (a latecomer), all use very cheap units. I have said just experiment a little on the cheap and just feel it. It is great that Eric is honest to himself, and conceded that the more polished and branded ZB (as of present) doesn't connect with him as well as the generic ugly duckling. It is entirely possible that the Sabre DAC chip (superior measurements always but its name is foreboding and perhaps prophetic) does not sound as organic as a "lesser" chip (this happens too many times in the history of DAC's; the TDA 1543 and NOS were previously exclusively used in the lowest end, as in the Magnavox CDPs I wrote about).

Tidal This is anyway an excellent company, rated by What HiFi as still the best provider. What's commendable is that Tidal pays the artists significantly more than Apple and Spotify (though that is still not saying much). My HK friends like icefox all use Tidal. It is also open secret that friends can share a "Family Subscription" at even lower cost, bad for business but generous to you. Which Level for You? Now, this is interesting, my friend jules, a discriminating listener for sure, maintains the basic membership sounds better than the premium one (this seems corroborated by mrgoodsound, who in an email said, "...I tried it and I guess I must concur, the ‘high’ setting seems to sound less loud/rude and a bit warmer than the ‘hi-fi’ setting, which is glassy in comparison..." MQA Another factor that Eric did not mention is Tidal offers Masters or MQA, series (free now for HiFi Members, one rung above Premium) and that adds another dimension to the complexity, as MQA has greatly divided digital fanatics and much vitriol had been spilled. Am I curious? Yes, I'd love to hear it for myself. Am I going to go all-out? No.

Streaming Device As I intimated in one of my BT articles, every device sounds different. This is not surprising, as the BT signal goes through the device's player (automatically maxed, but controllable by the device's output volume control). For me, my Acer Chromebook 14 sounds significantly better (and louder) than my Windows HP 14. Two laptops work very well for me (the Chromebook also would be next to useless in China) as when I run out of battery on one I switch to the other (that's how much time I spend on this blog, almost 1.5 battery charges a day, including 2-3 hours of news in the morning), but I always use my Chromebook for streaming, even when it is charging. My iPad sounds the worst, and I don't even want to try my ancient iPhone 5S. If you can, stream from a computer, not cellphone. For Eric I highly recommend him to replace the battery, either through Apple or DIY (here), not expensive, but then the BT drop out issue likely will remain, though it is possible it can be improved (here). Of course, with a DAC that has USB, Eric can also stream through the USB. I am pretty sure streaming hi-res will also sound better through the Air Mac than through the smartphone.

DAC's One has to think very hard here. For old-timer me, it is much easier. With a huge vinyl and CD collection, I don't even think about Hi-Res files, despite trumpets blowing all around me. As far as I can see, there is no way any file sounds better than analog (including R2R), and I have heard all the bests. This is not a measurement thing, but a mechanical (direct touch) thing. SACD/DSD Although I like SACD (but I regard it as just a different form, not necessarily superior to PCM), and have a small collection and a hi-end player (Sony XA-5400ES), it is only an occasional foray and insignificant part of my diet, and so I would not consider DSD files. Also, a lot of the so-called DSD files are not native, but converted and PCM in origin. True DSD files have a heavily classical tilt (record labels like BIS, Challenge, Pentatone, Tudor, Channel), and jazz, rock and pop lovers can just forget about it. SACDs sound good, but their CD layers also sound close (I have probably listened to more SACDs than most people, as the library has tons of them in classical titles, though I usually just listen to the CD layer). But I understand the curiosity (even I succumb to hyperboles sometimes, unfortunately). Features Very few DAC's have everything (even less if you include MQA, though some software, like Audirvana, can unfold MQA) and I think even in those that do, some features are likely afterthoughts. I am a long-time student of DAC's but I am almost immovable in my stand. Vintage vs Present Every generation has a few outstanding products amid the vast sea of also-runs. Personally I'd rather listen to a vintage classic any time before I summon up the energy to listen to current jacks of all trades. Too many times in audition, a Studer 730 (16-bit, 1541A) sounded more musical than hi-res and expensive DACs. This is not to say I cannot be swayed. e.g. I loved the sound of the Berkeley Alpha (as heard here; solely PCM, no DSD, though some from Series II on supports MQA through a firmware upgrade) and would not mind testing it one day. That day will come, because DACs depreciate faster than anything else, with the exception of AV amps. No hurry. But That is one DAC that I want. Now, if I really want to experience all these hi-res files and MQA, I'd do it on the cheap and choose (mind you I have not heard it) the $200 iFi iNano DSD (original silver or newer BL) though it only has ONE input, USB (for BT digital out of the H10U, Eric can use his ZB). No, I haven't heard it, and don't have access to files, but it has received many good reviews (like HiFi+ and HiFi News). Of course, double the sum and one can have more connectivity (as in its big brother Micro iDSD and the Chord Mojo Eric has thought about). Ergonomics This is important. Say connectivity, much as I may consider Sparkler seriously, their connectivity sucks. Like mrgoodsound says, there is no reason why they only have 1 input to their DACs. I'd demand a custom one with USB and Coaxial (my own choice). The ergonomic consideration is also why I'd never go the current mode route. Multiple digital inputs is very useful, even necessary for someone like me. I miss my digital switchboard, the incredible Genesis Digital Lens!

The Metrum Audition Although I have never visited the place, I have heard it sounds good. But what Eric finds lacking may be part of the system's sound. A few years ago, my friend jules obviously thought it sounds good, as he acquired a pair of Volent 3.5. However, in my audition I found the Volent polite and bland compared to the cheapo vintage Dahlquist DQ20. His Volent quickly disappeared. In general, I don't like low efficiency loudspeakers (aside from some classic 2-ways), which more often than not do not deliver on PRaT. I noticed in the setup the ultra-expensive Bespoke TVC was inserted between the Streamer and the Metrum, maybe acting as a buffer? Very high end and complicated, but perhaps simple is best? On R2R DACs I remember our mrgoodosund said he doesn't like the ones with discrete ladders. Myself, I have only heard jules' 4-piece Totaldac; it was good but I didn't hear the qualities Sparkler and low-end Magnavox so consistently deliver. Also, for some reason, hi-end hi-res streaming is almost always emotionally vapid. This is part of the attraction of Bluetooth, which is sort of radio wave transmission. I have had the experience of hearing the same album sound better through the radio than my CD player! Yup!

Supertweeter Basically, all of these ribbon/panel tweeters are Chinese made. I found out from Eric the one his friend is urging on him is the (now Chinese company) Swan RT2E-A (here), which is well regarded and sold by reputable companies like Madisound. At 93 db, it may just work with Eric's Dynaudio Crafft (86 db) with just a cap and avoid the trouble of an L-pad. In the past, I have used Aurum Cantus and Fostex with my Tannoy's to good effect. Indeed, what Eric's friend is saying is that adding one can actually clean up the bass, which is my experience. However, it is cumbersome. Moderation!

Of course, I'd also love it if Eric gets a high-end DAC, as we'll all hear about it!

mrgoodosund weighs in:

I will comment on a few things.

-On hi-res: I think is a complete waste of time and effort. To elaborate on why would require a lengthy diatribe, but it ties into my philosophy regarding digital audio as a whole. Well, I would especially not bother with it if one is using Bluetooth.

-On bluetooth/streaming: I don't use it, I have no need for it in my current setup. I use an old laptop or Mac Pro as a dedicated file player. I assume ZB in this article is referring to the ifi? I have been really unimpressed with all of the iFi gear I have heard. It does not surprise me that a cheap taobao unit sounds better. I do use Tidal because it can communicates with a USB DAC in exclusive mode, something Spotify does not support. Otherwise, I prefer Spotify UI and that playback can be remotely controlled from another device. I recommend Eric sources an old computer for cheap and dedicate it to his streaming purpose, or maybe there is a RasPi solution. I am old school and not really versed in this area.

-On DAC: I will clarify I am not a big fan of discrete ladder R2R DACs (I think John wrote I don't like R2R DACs, quite the opposite!) of which Metrum falls under. I don't think very highly of Metrum DACs, although I have only heard one mid-level unit. I use a TDA1541 based DAC with a rather exotic implementation. I can recommend for Eric the Modi Multibit, or to buy a TDA1543 DAC board off ebay and add an active buffer like JELabs http://jelabs.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-good-bad-and-ugly-tda1543-nos-dacs.html

-Supertweeter: when I think of supertweeter I think of operation solely above 20kHz. it is not clear to me where the RT2E linked is supposed to integrate. I very much like and recommend the TakeT units from Japan, the most inexpensive of which are $60/pr and will breath life into sleepy inefficient two-way speakers. http://www.taket.jp/batpure/batpure.html

Eric's Dinner with Family: Octopus, Tuna and Shrimp in Citrus Sauce

 US Angus Wagyu Chuck from Snake River Farm

Of course!

iFi Zen Blue Bluetooth H9A Wenliang

Letter from Hong Kong (20-2): Eric L pitches $7 generic Bluetooth Device against $125 name brand.

Editor's Preface: This Second Article from Author Eric L is a delight. It starts with how he got into HiFi in a Hong Kong era that I had missed, but that would be familiar to many of my HK friends. And then he went into Critical Mode and the Result Surprised him! I absolutely relish his completely unbiased comparisons. At the End I'd like to say a few things in the Postcript. The above is another of Eric L's photos.

How I started my HiFi Journey I started listening to music when I was a little kid of 6. I grew up with music from LPs, played through a Thorens Turntable and a Sansui SS Stereo Amp [Editor: HK in that era was not what it is now; that setup would be at least mid-fi]: Sound of Music, Beatles and Carpenters. For some reason, I also liked to play Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, even if I was not exactly a classical guy. When I grew older (still some 40 plus years ago) I started to hang around HiFi shops like Excel in Central, HK, a renowned stereo shop selling Linn Sondek , Naim (I'm still a fan of older Linn and Naim stuff), Mark Levinson and JBL 4343 etc [Editor: Excel is still around]. There was also Radio People, that carried B and W, KEF 105, Quad, Nakamichi cassette deck etc. Of coz, the salesmen knew exactly that I could not afford to buy even a screw off any of their products but they still had fun teasing me and occasionally would allow me to sneak behind the big spenders to listen to some of their exotic setups [Editor: how heart warming! Try that today!]! That would have definitely made my day and enabled me to boast to others; but wait, there's none like me at my age group to boast to...

My Uncles I'm lucky in a way that I have a few uncles who owned some really expensive and exotic equipment. One owned a full set of Cello (total 8 pieces): Performance Amps, Preamp , their crazily expensive equalizer and flagship Stradivarius speakers, plus dCS DACs. He would invite me to his place from time to time to "enlighten" me and my friends (I got company finally~). Of course, no matter the sound was good or not, or if I knew if it was good or bad, I would pay him back with generous eulogies and praise to secure a future invitation, hehe! Down the years, as I came to know a bit more about the meaning of good sound, I can safely say that his stereo system did have amazing dynamics and sound effects. Another uncle had a completely different approach and they both would laugh at each other's setup; this one was using a Philips CD100 connected to unnamed 845SET monoblocks driving a pair of Top Tannoy. Imperial Sound? Quite musical to my limited ears.

All through my journey, I kept asking what the best sounding system should sound like. I kept finding cheap ghettoblasters with poor HiFi attributes to be extremely musical despite exhibiting a lot of distortions. On the contrary, the more expensive the equipment, the better the soundstage, depth and slam, the more embarrassingly the lack in excitement and musicality! It is so hard to have HiFi attributes coexist with feet tapping musicality! One thing I truly look for is honesty of a system. After all, the sound coming out of it cannot be better than the actual recording or performance, be it live or a studio effort! Well, stereo equipment is not an art to me, it's more like a craft instead. It has to portray the essence of music such that one can effortlessly immerse in it.

Back to HK Coming after the LP era, CD  was hailed as the most convenient format that can replace cassette and analog. Since my Red Dog RCA LPs that I bought with my pocket money were all given away generously by my cousin (thanks a lot pal!), I sold my  system in Canada (LP12/Ittok2/OrtofonMC20 Naim pre-power/ Linn Kan) before coming back to HK. I had to start from scratch again, yet another painful search for musical truth!

After a long search for the absolute sound of my own, with limited financial capacity, and numerous failures, I finally came to realise what I'm looking for. Thanks to a few experienced veterans, in particular Dom (HK distributor of 47 Lab, Sparkler Audio, Mussette, TotalDac etc; he persosnally uses the Pitracer CDP and 47 Lab's top turntable and the extremely scarce Miyabi cartridge, among other exotic stuff), I settled down with Gaincard as my ultimate amp. With a mere 25Wpc, it fits the job perfectly for my purpose - that is to play music which can touch my soul. I'm also extremely satisfied with my Dynaudio Crafft, which I think can sound as natural and dynamic as many speakers up to 3 to 4 times its price today. Even after 30 years, the sound is still as good. Is it the best? By far no, but it ticked all the boxes for me!

Everyday you learn something new! Three Bluetooth Receivers under 125 USD Face Off

So much for the babbling. After you heard about my $7 USD cheapo BT receiver (H-9A), I got another cheap BT (Wenliang) from my friend. AI also acquired an iFi Zen Blue. So I was ready to carry out a mini face off of the three! Source is still the almighty You Tube through my ancient 10 year old Mac Air which no longer supports the latest IOS.. Plus I have my Sparkler CDP 503 II Spiral back. I also borrowed from my friend Kwong a pair of Silvercom silver I.C. and some cones bought from Taobao (again). I was ready to rock and roll.

My anchoring system is the 47 Gaincard and the newly acquired icOn4 TVC AVC Line Control and Dynaudio Crafft. The newly acquired icOn 4 is so good that it blends into my system effortlessly and seamlessly. I would talk about it more perhaps in another separate post. But this is definitely one of my most important purchase recently, since finding the perfect linestage to match with my Gaincard is actually more difficult and demanding than one would imagine!

Fast forward to Father's Day weekend; I negotiated a full weekend's privilege to listen to music almost all day long (if not, it would take another week or two to complete this A/B/C comparison). Analyzing is usually demanding in terms of the focus and concentration needed to critique the minute difference between one piece and another. But interestingly this time, this was not so much the case!

H9A out, ZB in I unplugged the cheapo H9A and hooked up the iFi Zen Blue (ZB). I was expecting some sort of improvement over the H9A, but the sound , though different, did not seem better. I decided to run more songs through it. The night before, the ZB somehow refused to produce sound even when paired but it miraculously worked smoothly the next morning. Occasionally it would get unpaired but pressing a few buttons would make that work again. It's a nice looking device made of metal and has a "zen stone" shape. After fiddling with different combination, I sensed something was missing with the ZB which I could not explain. 

ZB out, Wenliang in I then hooked up the Wenliang that my friend Kwong lent me to see if I had missed anything. The unit is well built with a built in LPS but unfortunately once it was hooked up the sound became one-dimensional and soundstage had collapsed completely. I immediately unplugged it and listen to my CDP which was a treat but I sensed the sound can be further improved (perhaps another post). Now I began to question myself if my previous wonderful BT experience was for real??

H9A back in On the morning of Father's Day, with the special freedom granted me in full effect, I woke at 7am and the first thing I did was to unhook the ZB and swap back in the H9A. Voila, everything came back to live again!!! All the musicality, involvement, soundstage, airiness, PRAT were in full swing and I was involuntarily tapping my feet and following the tunes with immense pleasure and delight!!

I tried all the songs that I have used as reference, esp the Youtube Tiny Desk 's Free National mini concerts. I just loved the vibrancy and sophisticated dynamics of the musicians ! I even tried Chris Jones' No Sanctuary and compared it to my Audiophile CD version - I must say perhaps the BT is 80% in hifi terms but I feet no loss of musicality. Man I can live with it any single day!

ZB may have an edge on speed and instrument spacing, but the airiness as well as the ebb and flow of music have been largely missing, even simply lacking. Sadly my very high hopes did not pan out; of course, I would not give up that easily. Be prepared for a follow up once I can get a handle on it.

In the end, I am keeping my H9A. I also learned that they have a latest version with BT 5.0 and an additional USB input too, and for almost same price! I have already asked my friend to buy a few more H9As for me as spare, LOL!

Free Nationals at Tiny Desk
Chris Jones "No Sanctuary"
Nils Lofgren' keith Don't Go" Nils Lofgren's guitar is so fierce and piercing and his voice so sincere that how can one not be touched by it?

Liang Bo 's "That Boy" is so polished, forceful, soulful that I think even those who don't understand Chinese will like the song. [Editor: this video is from a Chinese version of America Got Talent; this fellow took the crown]

FKJ performance at "Live at Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia" is so spiritual and uplifting that I can dive into music while watching the grandiose and breathtaking scenery. Such a treat. These are songs that I must play once or twice every other day or two~ Another live performance from FKJ at La Fee Electricite is shorter but no less impressive and this is the one that i would loop as well! Yet another favorite is FKJ and Masego playing "Tadow" and I can't stop tapping my feet on this one. Those slickest saxaphones, but both of them are crazily skilled and talented!

Man, am I having so much fun listening to Bluetooth! With a sea of live performances not available on Spotify and CDs, I am in heaven!

Editor's Postcript: 1) We thank Eric here for bringing us more Virtual Home Visits as well as more music suggestions, and we look forward to more articles from him in the near future - a round of applause for cheap fun!; 2) After I posted my BT experience, Eric left comments that echoed mine and one thing led to another. I think I can relate to his experience (and that of my HK friend icefox) but those who have not yet used BT, or who dismiss it (including some of my friends), may not. The important thing of course is: does BT get across the music experience? We obviously think so, but you have to try it as a musical, not hifi, experience to see; 3) The H-9A may be viewed as a David by some, but I actually think there are many David's, such as my Aukey and HK-008 that I wrote about. BT is very basic, and there is not much that you can do to improve or degrade the sound. Newer chips may be more inclusive but they are still functionally similar to older ones. In all these devices, the onboard digital to analogue conversion and power supply are generic and rudimentary. I think there is no need to hunt for a particular model - just experiment on your own. As a corollary, the still inexpensive iFi is not a Goliath either. After run in, who knows? Perhaps Eric L will reconsider. Also, it has digital outputs, which from my experience is unquestionably an upgrade path, though that feature can be had for much less too. Of course, that's an extra component and another cable. As I have said, the built in digital to analogue conversion in cheaper devices cannot be very good and an extra DAC of one's choice will reap benefits. Until the next round...

Dayton BTR01 FX AUDIO BL-MUSE-01 Aukey BR-C1 HK008 Bluetooth Receivers vs USB Streaming iFi iTube Naxos Music Library Spotify Youtube

Click pics to enlarge. Dayton BTR01 in action. Aukey BR-C1 in foreground; iFi iTube and Micromega Mydac in left background.

NY Diary (20-16): Streaming on the Cheap; Bluetooth, Part I
Review: Three Bluetooth Receivers, Dayton BTR01, Aukey BR-C1 and HK008, vs USB
Review: iFi iTube, Part II
Streaming Naxos Music Library (NML) (with Chromebook)

This is a very long article that follows my Bluetooth Journey chronologically, not a more categorical presentation. I chose this way because it would tell more of the joys and frustrations of the journey.

Getting the NML through you NYPL account

This is picking up where I left off in the last Diary Entry on Streaming NML (here). Since writing that, I haven't stopped streaming but have done some adjustments, and some of the results surprised me, to say the least. I'll start with a bit of re-cap.

BEFORE: Ancient Dell Laptop + Unitek USB Cable The Unitek is my go-to USB cable (better than the Belkin Gold, see here; but it seems available only in HK). The Dell was a loaner, pre-Windows 10 but running the 10 (I also tried my even older XP Dell; it displays but cannot run the NML Player). Sound With the Micromega DAC, sound was quite good. The treble was surprisingly detailed, but sometimes with a steely tinge on period instruments or when the going got rough. Cable Swaps I dug out more cables and toggled them, resulting in a somewhat warmer, but just as detailed, sound. So the updated system:

Bluetoon Receivers: Aukey BR-C1 and Dayton Audio BTR01 (chronicled below)
DAC: Micromega MyDAC (DIY 47 labs)
Preamp: Elekit TU-8500 (Gotham GAC-2111)
Amp: Akitika GT-102 (Acrotec 6N-1010)
Loudspeakers: Audiomaster LS3/5A (15 ohm)
Stands: el-cheapo Energy stand used without spikes
Blue Ray Player: Sony S-5000ES (Audio Out; Canare 2T2S)
Turntable: Audio-Technica AT-PL120/Denon DL-301ii

My New Chromebook (skip this part if you have no interest in Chromebook) As described in Diary (20-8), some time ago I irrevocably crippled the browser of my 2012 Macbook Pro and computing on ancient laptops has been a patchwork. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore and impulsively bought an entry level Acer Chromebook 14 for $200, before tax. Considering that computer prices have shot up with increased demand during the pandemic, that was a comparatively good deal. I ordered it from BJ's and was shocked it showed up the next day. I guess it was available at my local store and they delivered it together with other people's groceries. Nonetheless, efficient and deserving of praise! Basic but has Flaws Opening it up surprised me - a nice carrying bag is included. This is my first Chromebook, and it is a very basic one. I liked the fact that it has an aluminum chassis (of course at the cost of additional features). The screen is large, but images, though fairly good, lack some contrast  (Apple it ain't). Working on it feels remarkably like working on a Macbook Air. I use the computer to mostly read the news, write (obviously) and watch a little youtube, certainly no gaming and high demand stuff, so this basic model is good enough for me, and I can sit and write with it on my lap for hours. I open multiple tabs when I write (sites with relatively little ads and pop ups) and stream music at the same time, and the speed is acceptable (not with some youtube videos though) and happily the battery lasts forever. I/O's are few, 2 USB and a HDMI but regrettably no SD card slot. I also tested the earphone out and it was acceptable (no worse than Apple). Drawbacks There are a few, some unforeseen by me. It's not the price, but the ecosystem. Keyboard It is a little different, but adjustment is easy. I do miss several keys that I use a lot (Pg Up/Dn, Home, End and Delete) and hence cannot yet execute some DOS commands (but these keys on an external keyboard work). There are Chromebook shortcuts for these but it will take a little time to learn them. Input Sometimes I have to type in Chinese (not that often). With Apple, it is the best. With a PC or Android Cell Phone, I use the very good Google Pinyin Method, which can easily toggle between the Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters. So I was really surprised the Chromebook cannot; it's one at a time (reason here). And the Fuzzy Logic is not as good. This is a minor gripe though. Wechat This is the Social Media almost all Chinese use. On my Mac and PC, I like to install the Wechat app and use it when I type a lot. But despite some unofficial attempts, this is basically not possible on a Chromebook. As for Wechat's web edition, it can be displayed but fails to login even after scanning the QR Code. This may not be surprising as anything Google is not available in China. So for those who have to interact a lot with Chinese friends and associates, the Chromebook is not a good choice. This is not my case, so it is good enough for me.

Round 1: Initial Woes USB Aargh! I plugged the USB in, and NO sound from my Micromega. MyDAC requires a driver for Windows, but this Chrome ecosystem is apparently different. Next, I thought of my Meridian Explorer but could not find it. Anyway, that was a disappointment (but there is a surprise later). So, I grudgingly continued to use the ancient Dell. Bluetooth (BT) A day later, I decided just to try out Bluetooth. Last year I tried out some cheap Bluetooth stuff with my then-functioning Macbook Pro, and I had great difficulties (here). So I got them out. Well, the Chromebook proved better in this department. The Dayton BTR-01 was detected but would not pair, (surprise later too) but I was glad the Monoprice BHS-839 Headphones paired (it will see some use in the kitchen). When all seemed lost...

Round 2: Aukey BR-C1 Bluetooth Receiver This is a tiny (2") el-cheapo Rechargeable BT Receiver with a mini-jack analogue output. I bought it from Amazon soon after I wrote the Bluetooth/Monoprice Earphone article. Make sure you read the purchasers' feedback (that was what I did when I tried to decide which one to buy). The top one from a tech-savvy guy is most interesting, and I will quote him below.


Two changes and this goes from mediocre to nearly perfect "audiophile"
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2017
Verified Purchase

Upon first play using one of my reference pieces I use, 1.618 by BT, I knew something was off about this gadget. Being a bit electronics and audio proficient, I opted for an autopsy.

1st image: 65-second, 20 Hz to 20 kHz logarithmic sweep at -3 dB and half system volume w/ 85-86 uF stock output capacitors & filters.
2nd image: 65-second, 20 Hz to 20 kHz logarithmic sweep at -3 dB and half system volume w/ ~290 uF output capacitance.

I set up the wrong multiplier for the scope between both sets of measurements. Please compare shape, not the measured values.

The micro responsible for driving this entire device is the ISSC IS1681S made by the Microchip subsidiary ISSC. It's a Bluetooth 3.1 + EDR device that supports a mic and stereo sound. The power source, aside from being plugged in via USB, is a 2YL6 "jellybean" Li-Ion SOT-23-5 charging regulator and a 250 mAh, 0.9W lithium battery. ISSC's site change that this IS1681S can live for 10 hrs on a 120 mAh battery. I didn't map the schematic, but 2x A2SHB-marked transistors, also a jellybean part, drive the left and right channels though 2 caps in parallel-ish and one inductor. The capacitance of each channel on the board is 85-86 uF, which is where I make my point.

A crude linear intensity sweep showed roll-off for everything below 650 Hz. The 3dB point is dead on 51-52 Hz, and the 6 dB point is at 20 Hz. This means that any low mids and high bass is easily being attenuated. As the capacitance is driven by MLCC caps, 0805's being the largest used here, which suffer from letting DC through at higher loads, the isn't enough for driving any decent speaker setup. Even at half volume I was getting a significant DC offset.

I had some 220 uF's sitting around from another project, specifically EEU-FR1C221, so I cut the leads of two of them and soldered them on. Away went the DC offset. Away went the 3 dB & 6 dB low-mid & low frequency attenuation And up went the peak-to-peak amnplitude. I can go louder now along with only a 0.82 dB roll off from 97 Hz to 60 Hz, which is good enough for me. My monitors go down to the mid 50's. Frequency response is flat from 97 Hz to 20 kHz.

Why does this matter? Aukey spent the time and money to inlay 4 steel pieces and 2 screws holding them in to add 20 grams of mass to this device. I'll admit that the thick-walled ABS case and rubber foot coupled with the texture of the plastic are spot on for the feeling of quality. I didn't expect perfect audio, but I didn't expect +6 dB attenuation in bass. The range of the bluetooth transceiver is great, despite the steel blocking a good part of the antenna on the left. However, if they remove the steel and minorly adjust the PCB layout, they will be able to accommodate similarly spec'd electrolytic caps and provide *excellent* sound for bluetooth device that costs $20.

Aukey, please remove the weights and use the cost differential to fix the frequency response. you do this, you'll get 5 stars from me. 2 were taken off because that roll-off starts/stops pretty high up in my opinion and physical presence was prioritized over function.

Amazon gave me a discount for leaving this guy in my cart for a few days (doesn't mean that it will or won't happen to you) so I got bluetooth audio that sounds equivalent to a shielded line-in input to my monitors for $12 so this was a fun experiment that netted me a very capable device I'll want to keep. I want to buy more, mod them, and share them.

And They Lived Happily Ever After? When I first got it last year, I tested it briefly and it did not work with my Macbook Pro either. I almost forgot about it this time. In the early evening, I brought it out for a trial. Connection SURPRISE! It paired easily with the Chromebook! The connection is fairly stable, though at times it'd stutter a little, though overall it is acceptable. Sound Level At first, the sound level was quite low and I had to crank the volume up. Then I realized and checked the Chromebook's volume, which was at my usual low setting (I usually work almost silent, preferring to listen to music from my real systems). I maxed it out and, voila, the level became more normal, though I am certain it is below the standard 2V. Ergonomics For this price, don't expect that much! It has a lot of features for car and earphone use, which is useless to me and irrelevant here. Battery There is a Lithium Battery inside, and USB charging is easy and quick. Once charged, it lasts forever. If you don't want to do recharging, of course you can have it permanently hooked up with a USB charger (not included). Audio Output There is only a stereo Minjack. I used a generic adapter for RCA. Weight It is so light that it tends to be dragged back by the interconnect (and adaptor). The Vibrapod gives more traction as well as control vibrations. Sound I mostly streamed NML. Initially, I was a little unsettled. It seemed more generalized, less detailed. On the other hand, it seemed rather pleasant, not much treble glassiness. Cable swapping made only a small difference (I settled for the Kimber KCAG). Anecdotally, the sound reminded me not a little of my 2018 Bluetooth session with my HK friends icefox et al (here). Then, as I gradually grew more and more acclimated to the sound. I started to suspect I might find it on par with the USB streaming before. I found that hard to accept, as Bluetooth, especially non-Apt X and low-end ones, are universally regarded as way inferior and not fit for audiophiles. It took another day of constant streaming to sort out my impressions. All that remained was switching back and compare (which I did two days later to the same conclusion). Yes, in this system I prefer the Aukey Bluetooth. It's too bad my other BT devices don't work (surprise later). In the next bullet, I shall dwell on its virtues. Radio I spent some time enjoying Radio Garden (link set to Italian Radio Emilia-Romagna). I roamed over the globe, stopping by in Africa and India for some stirring music, finally checking in to RTHK4, Hong Kong's classical (and jazz) radio. Around the World in one hour! I urge you to explore this site but warn you that it can be addictive! :-) Pro's Some of you will no doubt question my high end credentials for preferring BT. Although it is hard to isolate the various elements, a few words to explain my preference are in order. Organic It is about the whole, not the components. There is something holistically right about the BT/Aukey. It breathes naturally and gets to the heart of the music. Now, as mentioned in my first article on NML streaming, its free feed is not even close to CD standard, not to say hi-res, though it is good enough for me (and mrgoodsound, though as a subscriber he may have a slightly better feed) to enjoy the music. Smoothness Compared to the USB streaming before, the Aukey BT is smoother, which is why initially I had to undergo a period of adjustment for what I first perceived as loss of high frequency content and detail. After more listening I became aware that there is about as much detail there, but the distribution is different. With USB, the images are smaller and the edges are sharper; with the BT, images are more fleshed out. I can imagine in the wrong system (say a less resolved one) the BT could come across as more muddy or bloated. But in mine the massed strings certainly sound more real. Soundstage and Hall Sound In terms of depth, the Aukey extends a little further back, but that is not significant compared to its surprising ability to convey the Recording Venue (Hall Sound). In my opinion, accurate Hall Sound goes hand in hand with Listening Comfort. Years of listening to classical music in audiophiles' system taught me the vast majority have no idea of what the hall sounds like - what they hear is a cardboard cutout. Case in point: I went through the excellent Beethoven Symphony Cycle by the Vienna Academy under Martin Haselbock (Alpha). They were recorded in different venues (each deliberately matched with the venue of each work's premiere) and I definitely hear the different halls. Another example: Remy Ballot's Bruckner Cycle was recorded in St Florian Cathedral, where Bruckner was based, and I can hear the reverbs. For a 16-bit aficionado (I am confident the 16-bit chips have the best hall sound, bar none), that's quite something to say! The small orchestra is clearly heard; the vibrato-less strings never grating, very exciting! If you have a streaming service, try it! The cushion of the hall sound lets me hear the really big symphonic works with comfort. Con's Effective Distance It is not very much; long distance champ it is not. But, are you kidding? For $15, I have no complaints. Also, here I do want to address the question raised by the technically minded Amazon commentator concerning the stock unit's roll-off under 670 Hz (-3db at 50-52 Hz; -6 db at 20 Hz). In my opinion, the very gradual rolloff to -3 db at 50 Hz is nothing much to worry about (unless your system is really lean in the lower midrange, midbass and bass) - not a few tube gears probably do that, and cable changes are able to help. In my case, I worry even less as the LS3/5A has a signature midbass bump that will flatten out the curve some, especially since I am using wood-based stands (without spikes) that probably make bass yet a little fatter. Indeed, I am not lacking in bass. I don't feel the need for a sub.

Round 3: Extra! + iFi iTube Late one night, I was playing Bruckner. I was actually contented but the idea of adding a Buffer came to me. I pulled out my little used iFi iTube (my review) and connected the Aukey (with KCAG) to it, using the Belden 8451 to connect to the preamp. Wow! It's not just better, it is significantly better! As Buffer (0 db Gain) I was not surprised that the Buffer sweetened the strings and brass a little, but I was happily surprised by Greater Ease and even more by the Enhanced Dynamics! That adds a lot to the big symphonic experience (like Bruckner)! Aukey has no spec's so I don't know whether there is an impedance issue, but the buffer surely improves things. As Buffer (6 db Gain) Even though the volume knob on the preamp had not even reached 12 o'clock, over the next few days I also tried out the 6 db gain setting. Unlike the previous round, I heard a little difference. Perhaps because I feel the Aukey is low in output volume (or perhaps the compression of the BT plays a role too) the additional 6 db gain adds a little more spice. I A/B'ed some: this is different from cranking up the preamp by 6 db; the attack is a little better. This is the setting I now use. As Preamp (6 db Gain) I briefly tested this, eliminating the Elekit preamp altogether. Just like before, the iFi did not cut it - the perspective is flatter and there is less presence. Maybe good enough for the desktop (which is what some of the reviewers use), but not in a real system. vs Chromebook Audio Out At the end of my comparisons, using the same cable and adapter I connected via the headphone output. I had tested this a few nights ago with my Grado SR-80 and it was par for the course, no worse than my Macbook Pro (not saying much). In this system, the sound was acceptable but not as wholesome as the Aukey. The tinny treble (strings) though was much improved; surely the iTube has helped!

Round 4: Miracle 1, Dayton BTR01 Revived!  + Micromega MyDac The Dayton is a Parts Express Product. It is a BT 3.0, non-AptX Receiver. As I was finishing the article, I opened it up and took a pic. The Chip used is CSR 57E6-87CG. The Op Amp NE5532P is seated on a socket, so should you like you can do some rolling. I googled the chip and guess what I found? A pic of FX Audio BL-MUSE-01 which looks exactly the same. I investigated further and found the innards are identical too! So, The Dayton is OEM'ed by FX Audio, which is a reputable Shenzhen enterprise. Dayton is out of stock right now, though more are due in imminently, whereas FX can be bought anywhere on Amazon and Ebay (the cheapest I have found is this). However, should you be interested, personally I'd pay a few bucks more and buy from PE, because they have a 5-year Warranty and are famous for their service. During this covid crisis, Parts Express must be hurting and they have lowered their free shipping requirement from $100 to $49, and you can include a few adaptors or whatever you need with your order! Of course, those near Hong Kong I am sure can easily purchase the FX from Taobao for even less. Connection As mentioned, first I had trouble; it was detected but would not pair. This was when I was using the Aukey. I moved it further away and plugged it in and forgot about it for about 2 hours. After a while I saw the blue light blinking and I was suddenly able to pair it! I moved it back into the system and it maintained the connection (I turned off the Aukey). As a matter of fact, it has been almost 3 weeks; every night I broke the connection when I turned off my Chromebook and it would re-connect with no problem the next day. The connection is super-stable (visible direct line) I suspect the initial impasse was due to too many devices around. Now, another strange thing: I tried again with my old Macbook Pro and, unlike before, it paired! Go figure! I have no idea why the Dayton works now with my Macbook but not before. Perhaps the 2 hrs of "warming up" did something? Ergonomics This is a small but quite well-built device, with great ergonomics. Power Supply is via a 12V wall wart (Linear PSU is a possible upgrade path). There is a stereo pair of Analogue Output as well as a pair of S/PDIF Outputs (Coaxial and Toslink). The Digital Outputs allow me to use a DAC of my own choice in lieu of the onboard one. I wasted no time. Sound I first used the Coaxial Output (Belden 1694A) into the Micromega MyDAC (iFi not used). A big smile broke on my face! The sound has everything the Aukey has, and significantly more. Retained is the musicality. Improved are the resolution, dynamics, even treble smoothness. In fact, the punch, and bass heft, sometimes surprises me. Brass and Massed Strings have sheen, no etching on most discs; no easy task! Fabulous! Toslink Actually I knew from before: with the Micromega, Toslink (Monoprice) is almost indistinguishable from Coaxial, and so it proves here (I think there must be some re-clocking inside). Analogue Out I connected it with the KCAG to the preamp. No surprise, sound was still quite good, but a little flatter and not as dynamic. I even added the iTube buffer (+6 db) to beef it up, but the sound was naturally still better with the Digital Outputs. However, just like the Aukey it is pretty decent and would be satisfactory without an A/B Comparison.  Lossy NML vs lossless AIFF I played my lossless AIFF files on iTunes. At first, they stuttered kind of badly, though not disconnecting, but that went away after I turned the BT off on my chromebook. Streamed over BT (lossy itself), the difference is there, but not by as much as one would think. Previous Review When I bought it, there were only user reviews. Imagine my surprise that there is now a TNT Review. Damn! I could have been the first! :-( But, wait a second, I just finished reading it. It is a complicated and crazy review, which I completely disagree with (rare in my experience with TNT), so maybe this review will right things!

Round 5: BT vs USB On my Macbook, I have almost 1T of music stored as AIFF in iTunes. In there is an AIFF file of Concerto Italiano's recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations (orchestral transcription) which I love and have previously recommended. So I played the lossless file via USB and compared it to Chromebook playing the lossy NML file with BT. Suffice to say, as an audiophile, I think the USB is still better, but, being a direct connection, not by as large a margin as I'd imagine. Somehow, despite the better resolution of the USB, the wholesomeness of the BT still came through and it is not shamed (I can see with certain music it might even be preferable).

HK008 dangling on the DIY minijack cable. Aukey on Keyboard.

Round 6: Deja-Vu (HK008) After 2 weeks of thorough immersion in streaming, a few days ago I finally fired up my horn rig because, as is my custom, I wanted to test again the TU-8800VK before shipping it out. This is a much more efficient system, so I didn't use the iFi and just inserted the Aukey via the amp's Minijack input, and it played delightfully. System:

BT: Aukey BR-C1 or HK008 (DIY Mogami 2534 with Rean Minijack connectors)
Amp: Elekit TU-8800VK (Belden 9497)
Loudspeakers: Klipsch Heresy I
Subwoofer: Pioneer SW-8

A few hours later, the Aukey ran out of battery and had to be recharged. I substituted the even smaller $10 "HK008" (Amazon), which paired instantly. Amazing! The sound is virtually indistinguishable from the Aukey, so I am not going into details. I continued my streaming with the HK008 as I wrote, until...

Round 7: Miracle 2, MyDAC USB Revived! This is truly amazing (to low tech me). I had almost finished the article when I wanted to find out the cost of a used MyDAC. I poked around and ended up wasting some time reading old reviews, one of which reminded me that there is a small switch behind the MyDAC that switches between USB 1.0 and 2.0. For Windows, 1.0 does not require a driver but 2.0 does. I looked behind my unit. It is set at 1.0. My heart sank but I connected my Chromebook anyway. No sound, as before. What the heck, I thought, and tried out the 2.0. Success! I think that may be because my Chromebook's USB is 3.0 and it won't work on the 1.0. As for the Macbook Pro, may be the USB is 2.0 and that works on 1.0? I have always thought it was from 2012, but I just checked it, and it says "Late 2011". The 3.0 came out in 2011, but maybe my Mac still had the 2.0. BTW, my Unitek Cable and the Extension are 2.0. Anyway, that teaches you again the well-worn lesson - don't give up until you have tried everything! Sound Now I am able to use the same NML lossy files and make a direct comparison between USB and BT. There is no question the USB is still better (in bass heft particularly) but the BT is not far behind. For the small difference, until I have a dedicated computer in my audio system (may never happen) I am staying with BT.

Comments

• Chromebook I don't make much demand on my computers, so my cheap and cheerful unit is welcome. Its ecosystem reminds me of Apple more than PC. It is not an ecosystem of choice for those who have to interact a lot with Chinese friends and associates. More relevant for here, from my limited experience above, in terms of streaming, BT seems OK. As for USB, I think it is OK too. As USB 2.0 came out in 2001, before Computer Music has taken off, I doubt there are many old DAC's with only USB 1.0 input. Because the USB didn't work earlier, I bought a $12 HDMI to S/PDIF Converter (also has a Minijack out) which has just arrived. I shall stream via the HDMI output. I might also reclaim from a friend my Musical Fidelity V-Link (a good USB to S/PDIF convertor that does re-clocking) to try out. As I believe S/PDIF to be better sounding, that would be interesting, but it will have to wait as I'd not like my friend to worry about my knocking on his door during the pandemic. :-) :-(

• Akey BR-C1 and HK008 You can add streaming to your main system for peanuts. With some care, the sound is not bad at all, even good enough for this jaded audiophile. Despite their limited ergonomics, they punch above their weights, literally. Recommended. Also, make sure the distance is not too great and avoid having multiple BT devices on at once as it will cause pairing problems. AND, they are so portable that you can take it to your audiophile nemesis' place to embarrass him (I do that even to my friends, and certainly my HK friend icefox does too)! And good for a gift! The HK008 is not available right now but any generic one will likely be an equivalent. I regard BT as a bona fide Music Server! For those who do not already use a DAC in their system, these are reasonable choices. Given the somewhat lower output, use of a buffer, especially one with gain, will significantly improve the sound.

• Tube Buffer The iFi I use is now in its Mk II iteration, and it is not exactly cheap, certainly not commensurate with the prices of the BT devices. But there are very cheap ones available, and I intend to try out one of these soon (FX).

• Dayton BTR01 as vilified by TNT reviewer I completely and wholeheartedly disagree with the TNT reviewer I cited earlier. That reviewer basically worked in an obstacle course, and, unforgivably, he did not test the digital outputs of this fine device. Had he used the digital output options he would have been surprised. If you ask me, that reviewer's own home limitations disqualify him as a reviewer, no matter how good his ears are/were. His must be the most incomplete review I have ever read on TNT - in the end, that review is more about HIM and his HOME than about the device. Sigh...TNT, you can, and usually, do a lot better! The corollary is, think of BT as a cheap Streamer, not something to send audio over long distances. This is important conceptually. If you want more distance, I am sure it is not impossible but be prepared that implementation will take more trial and error, not to mention more money and possibly frustrations. 

• Dayton BTR01 as I Hear It The Dayton is a GREAT device, and a great bargain, whether you use its analogue out or, much better, its Digital Outputs into your DAC of choice. Or you can get the FX Audio BL-MUSE-01, as it is exactly the same. It is musical and, at least with lower-res files (like the NML), does not even shame itself against the standard USB. Grant you, its Distance of Operation (the only thing the TNT reviewer was concerned about) I cannot assess, as here in this room everything is within sight. But, based on Features and Sonic Attributes, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! For those who already has a DAC in their system with an unused Coaxial or Toslink Input, this is a no brainer - downright FUN!

• BT vs USB As mentioned above, the USB resolves more and is more audiophile oriented. However, there is also something wholesome about the BT, perhaps a subtractive virtue. It sounds best when it is digitally extracted. With a suitable DAC, like the crazy bargain but highly musical Micromega MyDAC, BT is highly satisfying! As I don't have a computer in my audio systems (that may someday change), the BT is now my choice for Streaming. This is because I don't work at a desktop and literally have the laptop in my lap. I'd use the USB if I do work at the desktop but as it is I'd not like to be tethered to a USB cable.  The price of this, ultimate resolution, is an acceptable price to pay. The most important thing is, it can be musical.

• Audiophile Phenotypes and the Good and Bad Things about Computer Music Today in computer music, there is little question purchasing hi-res files (once so touted) is rapidly waning and Streaming is already Mainstream, even for audiophiles (not so good for musicians). If you consider youtube a form of streaming (which it is) it is astonishing how many audiophiles partake in that experience (my friends all do it, and think of those Ken Micallef clips mentioned in the last post). The great thing about computer music is that so much of it is available free or for a small fee. I think all can agree on that, but audiophiles differ greatly in how to receive (retrieve) the stuff. For people like me (and likely my colleague mrgoodsound), with streaming, as long as the music sounds good enough, absolute sound is of no concern. The important thing is to explore music, and when we are listening to something new and exciting, analyzing the sound is the last thing on our minds, and that is why I think one does not and should not need to spend too much on Streaming Equipment. I also think, people like us are likely to buy the music we discover (especially hard copy; I know mrgoodsound does). But I know many audiophiles have a different mindset, and they demand "the best" when they stream, which is why in 2 consecutive recent issues, Stereophile's JVS (kind of an audio Decameron figure; even his prose smacks of it) reviewed 2 Music Servers (Innuos and Wolf) with base prices of USD 13,750 and 9,295, respectively. And you still need to provide the DAC! I am afraid the only people well served at these extreme prices are the manufacturers and the reviewers. If I go with Aukey or HK008, my Music Server + DAC is less than $15! What I am saying is, I doubt these will turn around a piece of music that I do no take to. Maybe you ask, when is "good enough" good enough? Well, for me, proof of Good Enough (my motto) is that I have listened happily to BT Streaming for more than two weeks on my LS3/5A. Seriously, I don't even feel like I need my big rig, such a game changer it is! During this long period, I had gone through many Symphony Cycles: 3 Beethoven, 1 Brahms, 2 Bruckner and a Prokofiev, and that is just symphonies! I even thought that I should not have shipped some of my favorite CD's back from HK when I relocated - they are mostly available on NML.

• BT Upgrade? Another proof of how much I love BT is that after my experience with the Aukey but prior to the successful pairing of the Dayton I was contemplating taking a risk and getting the Arcam rBlink BT Receiver (AptX), which has been discontinued and is now on sale for $150. I have always liked Arcam and had their first-generation rDAC. The Arcam is obviously better built and ergonomically similar (no optical out though). After my success with Dayton I banished the thought, as its digital output is probably not that different and I don't really need the DAC part of it. But if you don't have a DAC and want BT, you may want to consider it. As for on the cheap, I am actually tempted by many Amazon/Ebay offerings that promise long distance BT for $50. Not many of these though have Coaxial Out. For me, a good BT digital Output is now a requisite, that is all I need. Also, I haven't yet tried a better PSU. I do have a 3A Multi-DC-Voltage Linear PSU around but, being easily satisfied, I somehow never put it into use with my numerous wall wart devices! Good enough is good enough for me, but I think this time I shall try it out. As I am streaming day and night, any improvement will be welcome.

• My Doubts about Computer Music Corollary, despite its strengths, I suspect there is something not entirely wholesome about USB Streaming. Grant you, I am not at all the last word in Computer Music, but I continue to harbor doubts. Cheap and cheerful is where I draw the line, and this round of BT experience is supportive. I think back about my HK friends, icefox and his cohorts, all uber-experienced audiophiles (and audio wanderers, even vagabonds) used to auditioning big and megabuck systems (which include expensive Music Servers)  - perhaps I now really know what they were experiencing. There are so many bad computer audio setups out there (including at shows and dealers) that I completely distrust writers who wax lyrics about them. Remember: Cheap is good, but Cheerful is even better! Since when has our audio hobby become a big technical mess? BT is just Simple, Unadulterated Joy, a rare phenomenon in audio today!

• NML Youtube Spotify Mind you, lest you wonder, for a very serious classical listener who wants the broadest coverage of music, Spotify is out of the question, and even Tidal and Qobuz are not in the equation (they have hi-res files but are way behind NML in coverage). But then, even NML is not perfect. There are quite a few esoteric labels not under its stable, and even for those that are, selected albums can be missing. As an example, Vikingur Olafsson, the trendy Icelandic pianist whose Bach track below notched around 8 million views on Spotify, is a DG star, yet his other DG albums are not on NML. I suspect this may be a calculated move on the part of the label. CD Recommendation All of my recommendations come from Streaming. For each one you see I'd estimate there are 20 albums that I decide not to include. This is not at all because they are not good, but because I deem then not generally recommendable (e.g. esoteric, difficult or sonically compromised). Quality The NML Free Feed (likely 64kbps) is good enough for me, and my listening experience is so much the richer for it. I'd not mind listening to Tidal or Qobuz too, but where'd I find the time? vs Youtube Using BT, I listened to the Bach Youtube below (official); it is virtually identical to the NML feed, so I may listen to the occasional Youtube through BT in the future. vs Spotify This gets fascinating. Spotify says its non-premium stream is 160 kbps, which should sound a little better than NML's 64 kbps. So I used the same Bach track as comparison. It sounds no better, so I think 160 is likely the maximum. BUT, this is crazy: it sounds different, and worse for it! I went back and forth, and the Spotify definitely is louder, has less treble definition and more bloated bass. I also compared Spotify with Youtube by using Carla Bley's Live 3 Blind Mice Track, which features as drummer Billy Drummond, one of the Musician Audiophiles in Ken Micallef's series, and the result is the same. I am certain Spotify equalizes the sound for more bass, like the "Loudness" function of yore. In its Android app, there is an equalizer function which one can use to remedy, but the web player offers no such facility. Nonetheless, I shall explore a little more of Spotify for what is not on NML (like Jazz). I searched for one of my favorites, Bruckner's 8th Symphony, and while there were few, I was surprised to find a 2014 live New York Philharmonic performance under Alan Gilbert. I listened to the whole 80 minutes (excellent performance).

Basic Repertoire Any Bach keyboard music, especially when it is played so well by Vikingur Olafsson, is Basic repertoire. While we are on the keyboard, I am a fan of the eclectic keyboardist Carla Bley.