Can someone compare the MSB house sound vs Playback Designs house sound?

[asiufy]

If you have the I2S Pro output on the transport, then most likely you have the UMT Plus not the UMT - two different models.

My dealer also swears by Ethernet streaming via UMT+ as opposed to using the USB 384kHz input on the DAC. Getting a separate PSU for the UMT+ video part is also said to bring considerable improvement.

The clock, as edorr already noted, is useless on the UMT+ if you already have the MSB DAC with Galaxy Femtoclock.

Adam,

I'm getting an UMT Plus soon
Please elaborate on this extra PSU for the UMT+ video part. Which one should be used?


alexandre

 

[Alrainbow]

Alex if you are posing the question to me , the diamond PSU is the one that can power both. As my system is for audio only
I did spend for additional PSU for the UMT plus.
But there are other people here that feel differently then I do .

Al. D

 

[Elberoth]

Please elaborate on this extra PSU for the UMT+ video part. Which one should be used?

I'm not an expert on UMT+, since I never got one. My dealer swears by dual PSU arrangement, and so does MSB on their website:

You can expect to see an improvement in the audio and video

http://www.msbtech.com/products/universalPlus.php

Worth a try IMO, but only if you can demo before ordering.

 

[asiufy]

Hmm... I wonder if I can use the DAC's Diamond Power Base to power that 2nd power input, leaving the Transport Power Base to handle the audio section of the transport...
Or maybe just get a simple desktop supply for that 2nd (video) input...
Guess I'll have to wait until CES and ask Larry
I'm getting an UMT+, so I'll be able to test that, and more!

alexandre

 

[edorr]

Hmm... I wonder if I can use the DAC's Diamond Power Base to power that 2nd power input, leaving the Transport Power Base to handle the audio section of the transport...
Or maybe just get a simple desktop supply for that 2nd (video) input...
Guess I'll have to wait until CES and ask Larry
I'm getting an UMT+, so I'll be able to test that, and more!

alexandre

I agree spending $500+ on the standard brick to power video seems like a waste. Either use the 2nd output of the diamond or get a cheap 12v supply reterminated with DIN plug. Are you planning on listening to the forthcoming Blue Smoke digital converter as well?

 

[Elberoth]

I wonder if you could use the Analog DAC PSU to power the UMT+. It is much more robust than the 'brick' PSU (which is switch mode based I belive), having two separate transformers, and must be much cheaper the the full blown Platinium Power Base.

Analog DAC standard PSU:



UMT+ Desktop Supply ($595):

 

[asiufy]

I agree spending $500+ on the standard brick to power video seems like a waste. Either use the 2nd output of the diamond or get a cheap 12v supply reterminated with DIN plug. Are you planning on listening to the forthcoming Blue Smoke digital converter as well?

Are they going to show that? Is that the one with MSB i2S outputs?


alexandre

 

[edorr]

Are they going to show that? Is that the one with MSB i2S outputs?


alexandre

Yes. They will ship in q1 2014. I'm likely going this route, because I want to run Dirac on my server, which the UMT won't allow me to do.

 

[asiufy]

Ah, so that's just a PC in a box? Not interested


alexandre

 

[edorr]

Ah, so that's just a PC in a box? Not interested


alexandre

No. It is basically a USb to I2S pro converter. They use an OEM card supplied by MSB to do this. There is no PC/server in this box. I'll put my CAPs 3.0 in front of it and feed it USB.

 

[microstrip]

No. It is basically a USb to I2S pro converter. They use an OEM card supplied by MSB to do this. There is no PC/server in this box. I'll put my CAPs 3.0 in front of it and feed it USB.

Does this unit accept the clock coming from the DAC?

 

[edorr]

Does this unit accept the clock coming from the DAC?

Yes. It implements I2S pro, so the unit is slaved to the Femto clock in the DAC. Since there is no other noisy circuitry in this box and it also takes 12v power from MSB source, I would think it is as good if not better than the UMT +.

 

[Alrainbow]

I have an off ramp by empirical audio . It does the same thing. It has it's own PSU and clock, but doesn't the MSB dac just resample what ever you provide to,it's own clock?

 

[edorr]

I have an off ramp by empirical audio . It does the same thing. It has it's own PSU and clock, but doesn't the MSB dac just resample what ever you provide to,it's own clock?

In "reclocking" mode that is what the MSB DAC does - buffer and reclock in the DAC. However, I2S pro works differently - it sends a clock to the source. This is not the same thing as the empirical audio. The Offramp 5 has I2S connection to work with PS Audio DAC, but I don't think this slaves the OR5 to the PS audio. I had all of this myself at some point (OR 5, PWD MKII).

 

[Alrainbow]

Lol me too . It also works with audio gd DAC,S. As well. The only problem with this stuff is the msb dacs are so much better I'm not sure mine even be worth trying. But what you are explaining is a similar product I am guessing . So it will let use USB from a CPU or player and convert it to i2s pro . Why do this what is to gain. Please explain ?

 

[edorr]

Lol me too . It also works with audio gd DAC,S. As well. The only problem with this stuff is the msb dacs are so much better I'm not sure mine even be worth trying. But what you are explaining is a similar product I am guessing . So it will let use USB from a CPU or player and convert it to i2s pro . Why do this what is to gain. Please explain ?

Yes it basically converts usb to i2s pro. I asked the same question (why would this sound better). Both Vince @ MSB and blue smoke audio agreed the i2s pro interface beats usb (which I am using now). I would not buy this converter without in house trial though.

 

[Alrainbow]

As I have been using the UMT plus only I cannot give an opinion , but the UMT. Is just amazing. And I just ordered the dual transport PSU hoping it can improve even more. Thanks for replying .

Al D

 

[edorr]

As I have been using the UMT plus only I cannot give an opinion , but the UMT. Is just amazing. And I just ordered the dual transport PSU hoping it can improve even more. Thanks for replying .

Al D

Yes either the blue smoke converter or UMT plus over i2s pro will sound best I think. If I decide i won't use Dirac drc, I may go the UMT route myself.

 

[Alrainbow]

I wish I could help in your decision. Truth be told of all the dacs I have owned and not just listened to at a show or sound room this setup is in another universe. As I am sure there is equal or better I have not heard one. It has only been a couple of weeks so the honeymoon is still going. I am glad I went for the UMT plus in that I was tired of playing with the USB settings and such never knowing if it could be better. I have another transport and will try it as a comparison soon, but I do not expect it to be better.

Al. D

 

[rsorren1]

Hi everyone. Let me comment on the power supply questions that have been raised here regarding the UMT Plus transport. As you know, I own the Diamond DAC, UMT Plus, and the Diamond supply. I have discussed all of the power supply options with Vince Galbo, MSB, and my dealer. Here is a description of how I am connecting the 12V power supplies. If you look on the back of a UMT Plus, there are TWO 12 V power inputs. MSB actually isolated the video circuits from the audio circuits and gave us the option of powering each separately. If you choose to run one 12V power supply line to the UMT Plus and plug it into the "12V Digital Supply", both audio and video circuits are powered by the one supply. When you plug a second 12V supply into the UMT Plus, you will hear a relay click in. This relay separates the video circuits from the audio circuits. I run the standard "desktop" supply into the first 12V power input of the UMT as this is the input for the transport and video circuits. I use the second power output of my DIAMOND power supply plugged into the UMT Plus labeled "2nd Digital Supply" to power the UMT audio circuits. When I run things this way, the improvement I hear is in a slightly quieter noise floor, slightly smoother treble response. It is better than with one supply. THE OPTIMAL SOLUTION: buy a Signature Supply and have it power the transport while the DIAMOND supply powers the DAC. The following is from the MSB web-site:

The Power Supply - The Universal Media Transport uses an external DC power supply. That keeps all the ugly byproducts of AC power and its conversion away from the important clocks and timing of the audio transport. The DC is again filtered and regulated within the transport providing ultra-clean power for each part of the circuits. But that is not all. We have actually separated the UMT plus into two parts. Each is provided with an external power supply. The main power connector powers the drive and video circuits. The secondary power supply runs the clock and audio processing circuits. The second power supply is optional. If no power supply is connected to it, the main connection is bridged to power the whole unit. But as soon as you plug in the second supply, the two parts are disconnected and the audio output is now truly isolated from the video.