MSB Reference Transport - the first home audition

Mike Lavigne

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 25, 2010
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Your attached photo is the new optical ProISL connection socket of MSB. It needs a dual-LC type of optical cable.

This is the newest ProISL connection of MSB.
Similar to the past ProI2S, ProISL is an I2S format, conducting the various clock signal and music data simultaneously.
ProISL and ProI2S are also bi-directional. The MSB transport will be slaved by the clock signal sent from MSB dac.

This new ProISL utilizes high speed single-mode optical conduction with lower latency and electrical isolation between the transport and dac.

CK,

not entirely clear whether you were able to hear this newest dual ProISL interface?

if not; when will that new interface be auditioned?
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
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CK,
not entirely clear whether you were able to hear this newest dual ProISL interface?
if not; when will that new interface be auditioned?

Hello Mike,

I auditioned the Reference Transport with this ProISL 2 weeks ago, as mentioned on #38.
There is only one version of ProISL currently.
I have amended my wordings on #40 to avoid confusion.

But I expect MSB may make upgrades in future, because using better optical transceivers or better optical cables do give audible improvement.
 
Last edited:

Mike Lavigne

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 25, 2010
12,467
11,363
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Hello Mike,

I auditioned the Reference Transport with this ProISL 2 weeks ago, as mentioned on #38.
There is only one version of ProISL currently.

and is this 'one' version the 'dual' version, or not? the confusion is that the interface is a dual interface, and you use the singular term ProISL.

does ProISL = dual cables? or will there be 'dual ProISL?

talk was that this new interface would set new standards. but if the AES with clock (or the previous transport) is superior and it is this fully new interface, then it's disappointing.

I have amended my wordings on #40 to avoid confusion.

But I expect MSB may make upgrades in future, because using better optical transceivers or better optical cables do give audible improvement.
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
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and is this 'one' version the 'dual' version, or not? the confusion is that the interface is a dual interface, and you use the singular term ProISL.
does ProISL = dual cables? or will there be 'dual ProISL?
talk was that this new interface would set new standards. but if the AES with clock (or the previous transport) is superior and it is this fully new interface, then it's disappointing.

The term ProISL is invented by MSB for its bi-direction optical connection between their transports & dac.

This connection employs the industrial standard of LC type of optical cable & transceivers.
LC type optical cable consists of 2 optical fibres bundled and terminated in a single plug.
lc-duplex.jpg
http://www.timbercon.com/LC-Connector.html

There is an optical fibre transceiver installed inside the MSB Ref Transport chassis.
SFP1000LXST.main.jpg
https://www.startech.com/Networking-IO/sfp/modules/1000base-lx-sfp-module~SFP1000LXST
 

Mike Lavigne

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 25, 2010
12,467
11,363
4,410
The term ProISL is invented by MSB for its bi-direction optical connection between their transports & dac.

This connection employs the industrial standard of LC type of optical cable & transceivers.
LC type optical cable consists of 2 optical fibres bundled and terminated in a single plug.
View attachment 42534
http://www.timbercon.com/LC-Connector.html

There is an optical fibre transceiver installed inside the MSB Ref Transport chassis.
View attachment 42535
https://www.startech.com/Networking-IO/sfp/modules/1000base-lx-sfp-module~SFP1000LXST

CK,

many thanks for making it so clear to me. sorry I was not understanding. i now get it.

so this 'super-duper' interface, is just not 'yet' taking us to another level at this point with transports. I was curious whether it would then cause me to consider acquiring a transport, which is why i wanted to make sure i understood. looks like the SGM server is my long term source. and discs are not going to be in my future. this has been my opinion for awhile, but feedback on this new interface made me re-consider. but no longer.
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,053
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Hong Kong
CK,
many thanks for making it so clear to me. sorry I was not understanding. i now get it.
so this 'super-duper' interface, is just not 'yet' taking us to another level at this point with transports. I was curious whether it would then cause me to consider acquiring a transport, which is why i wanted to make sure i understood. looks like the SGM server is my long term source. and discs are not going to be in my future. this has been my opinion for awhile, but feedback on this new interface made me re-consider. but no longer.

Hello Mike,

The MSB optical ProISL is much improved than the past electrical ProI2S.
Optical isolation with faster data conduction do help transports.

BTW these optical cable & transceivers are more commonly used for ethernet connection.
The Japanese Buffalo BS-GS2016/A switch is for network audiophiles. It has 2 slots (the 2 covered slots on right side) for installing optical transceivers.
img_main.jpg

The coming SOtM audiophile switch has 2 such slots too.
53.jpg

And so will the coming Uptone Audio Ethergen switch.

Optical connection can isolate audio systems from the noise coming from network effectively.

Ben Lau of Volent HK (HK dealer of SGMS and frd of Edward) has been suggesting to Edward that the coming SGMS flagship should have such a LC optical port for ethernet connection.

Therefore, not as simple and you may eventually have some optical cables inside your listening room! Haha
 

Mike Lavigne

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 25, 2010
12,467
11,363
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Hello Mike,

The MSB optical ProISL is much improved than the past electrical ProI2S.
Optical isolation with faster data conduction do help transports.

BTW these optical cable & transceivers are more commonly used for ethernet connection.
The Japanese Buffalo BS-GS2016/A switch is for network audiophiles. It has 2 slots (the 2 covered slots on right side) for installing optical transceivers.
View attachment 42536

The coming SOtM audiophile switch has 2 such slots too.
View attachment 42537

And so will the coming Uptone Audio Ethergen switch.

Optical connection can isolate audio systems from the noise coming from network effectively.

Ben Lau of Volent HK (HK dealer of SGMS and frd of Edward) has been suggesting to Edward that the coming SGMS flagship should have such a LC optical port for ethernet connection.

Therefore, not as simple and you may eventually have some optical cables inside your listening room! Haha

already there.

my son the network engineer did install an optical cable next to my Ethernet cable i used for the MSB Renderer connection, but we could not get the optical interface to work at that time. Ed did mention that they were investigating incorporating an optical interface into the SGM to then eliminate any need for a switch (not sure i'm saying that correctly). too bad MSB is not using optical for the Renderer (maybe that is the next step).

in 2001 i was using an optical interface to connect my EMM Labs dac to the transport. it was a proprietary interface allowing the transport to send the dsd signal from the transport/sacd to the dac. i still have some of those optical cables around here somewhere. so this is old news to me. :)
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
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Hope that MSB can make an optical Renderer module but this is not easy, because the transiever is hot and draw current when at work. The Renderer chassis is rather small.

The first optical cable in my audio system is the singe-mode ST&T connection between Theta transport and dac.
It was very innovative at that time.
 

BruceD

VIP/Donor
Dec 13, 2013
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The first optical cable in my audio system is the singe-mode ST&T connection between Theta transport and dac.
It was very innovative at that time.

Yes remember Franks Opti-Goo to put on the tips--:D

BruceD
 

pke10000

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2018
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Hello
Yesterday, I visited same shop and compared reference transport with several machines for 5 hours.

My result is Msb reference transport of cdt > W20 > msb reference transport with roon at neucleus+ = Metronome kalista >>> Msb select network card.

I think Metronome has some different character, so the matching was not good. But others were played at best condition with Viola bravo and Yg sonja2.2.

I think W20 is still the best as an network player. But it is hard to ditrctly compare with higher price cdt. I expect W30 in next year, because Aurender said it would be located at higher position than W20.

Reference transport has a fantastic cdt, and network perfomace is as good as W20 even a little lack. But it has a more chance to be better with innous, or any other roon server.
So I keep my opinion that you don't need to buy w20, if you have reference transport.

And ProISL was not enough to compare with spdif or aesebu which use clock sync also. But if we consider the price of digital & clock cables, ProISL is superb.

The network module of msb select was not miracle. It was hard to compare with independent machine. But it is just $2k.




20180808_180748.jpg
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,053
3,172
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Hong Kong
Hello
Yesterday, I visited same shop and compared reference transport with several machines for 5 hours.

My result is Msb reference transport of cdt > W20 > msb reference transport with roon at neucleus+ = Metronome kalista >>> Msb select network card.

I think Metronome has some different character, so the matching was not good. But others were played at best condition with Viola bravo and Yg sonja2.2.
I think W20 is still the best as an network player. But it is hard to ditrctly compare with higher price cdt. I expect W30 in next year, because Aurender said it would be located at higher position than W20.
Reference transport has a fantastic cdt, and network perfomace is as good as W20 even a little lack. But it has a more chance to be better with innous, or any other roon server.
So I keep my opinion that you don't need to buy w20, if you have reference transport.
And ProISL was not enough to compare with spdif or aesebu which use clock sync also. But if we consider the price of digital & clock cables, ProISL is superb.
The network module of msb select was not miracle. It was hard to compare with independent machine. But it is just $2k.

Hello pke10000,

Many thanks for your sharing!
You stayed in the shop for 5 hours? You must be a returning customer or very good friend of the boss of the shop! ;)

The Hong Kong MSB dealer once told me that when he delivered a Reference Transport to a customer, he took the chance to compare it with a Metronome Kalista cd transport.
He said that the MSB Ref Transport was the clear winner.
I had doubt at that time but I am now a believer.

The Hong Kong HiFi Show is on this weekend (10-12 Aug).
Hope that The HK MSB dealer can get hold of a prototype of the Select Transport for demo.
 
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pke10000

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2018
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Hello CKKeung.

Kalista was the top level cdt for a long time. Those fame was not built in a day. It has more deep base, dark and transparent like as old style.
Msb is speedy, detail, and well composed like as new style.
I think yesterday result was just matching issue.

I stayed 6 hours. I tested Kronos turn table with octave phono for an extra hour. Analog is in different league with above digital sources. It is not good to compare each.

His job is a host of the shop, but he is also an audiophile. Yesterday was a holiday of the shop, so I could test a lot with him. I respect him.

Please enjoy your show, Cheers~.
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,053
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Hong Kong
The Select Transport was debuted at the Hong Kong Hi-end AV Show held on 10-12 Aug.

Not much details of it was disclosed because the Gullman brothers and Vince were not in HK.
They are in US, very busy tackling the backorders.

This Select Transport + Select II DAC + MSB Rack combo was ordered by a Mainland China customer.
To be frank, their gold colour is definitely NOT my cup of tea! :(

You may notice that there is a small protrusion on the chassis top, around the transport mechanism area.
I heard rumours that the transport mechanism has got a special disc clamp-like design, diff from that in the Reference Transport.
Any WBF members have got some additional insider info?

002954azootcjou8qjcsqc.jpeg
(from www.hiendy.com/hififorum/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=118374)
 

Believe High Fidelity

[Industry Expert]
Nov 19, 2015
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ibelieveinhifi.com
I had the chance to hear the MSB Transport just this past weekend, but I am not sure if it is the Select version or the Reference version, but the chassis is the same as in the picture.

Will double check, but it sounded pretty damn good regardless through a Select II DAC
 

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,053
3,172
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Hong Kong
The photo of the top of Select Transport below shows that it's different from that of a Reference Transport.

PhotoGrid_1534161947642.jpg
 

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