No problem. I see the thought of Taiko's fan. Hope all of you will recognize the truth in the future but I also know the trust is generally unpalatable.
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Wadax Reference Dac and Server arrive
- Thread starter Mike Lavigne
- Start date
Do your best to put the new Nordost switch on an Equi=tech circuit. If you can get the other switch and NAS upstsirs on Equi=tech, all the better. If for no other reason than best practice.
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Mike I know it's not your wheelhouse but do use any kind of net work iso from nas to audio room. Do you use a router in your room just for audio to divert all network traffic for audio only ?
I have found a significant change in doing to.
not practical to get the upstairs gear on the Equi=tech. i have considered acquiring a stand alone power conditioner for those pieces but it's never been high enough on my wish list to happen. i guess i'll move it up the list. god knows i've covered most bases.
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like i mentioned; i have my upstairs network switch which has my NAS on one branch (my files are on on my Wadax server so the NAS is not active, it's just a back up), my football watching TV on another branch, and then my branch that goes to the conduit to my listening room downstairs. i can choose either fiber or copper ethernet for this branch....both are in the conduit and end up near my gear downstairs. Emile had me using the fiber; but then just as i was doing the compares a month ago he switched me to the copper. which is what i'm using now. so i have the option to go back to the fiber for isolation, but it seems that the copper sounds better.
when i did the server compare a friend loaned me a network switch and LPS which did seem to boost things a bit overall for both servers. but that's gone now.
we will see how the Nordost switch changes the equation; i would always have the option to switch the fiber back into the mix to try for greater isolation.
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Elliot G.
Industry Expert
It uses SSD's. It has 4 bays for additional storage space over the internal 2 tb that comes in the machine.
I believe at this time the largest SD drives are 8 TB so 8tb times 4 plus
I believe at this time the largest SD drives are 8 TB so 8tb times 4 plus
in 2023 16tb SSD drives will be available. which will then expand the capacity for the Wadax Ref Server to 4 x 16tb = 64 tb + 1.8tb resident = 65.8tb capacity.
that is a lot.
right now i have the 1.8tb resident, plus 3 x 8 Tb = 25.8tb of capacity (using around 19tb of it). my plan is to remove two of my 8tb drives and buy one 16tb drive and move those files to the 16 drive. with 2 empty slots. then i can either erase the 8's, or add another 16 or -2- 16's. it just depends on how my trend of adding files is at that point. but it is easy and flexible all the options it gives you with these drives. it's 20 seconds to change a drive. then a minute to register it.
these are all SSD (solid state drives) and make zero ambient noise. and nothing to wear out from friction and fail. not that they can't fail for other reasons. no moving parts in the dac or server.
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Mike, did you try downloading an high quality Qobuz file and comparing it with the same resolution streamed version?
not yet got into that stuff. and never personally downloaded streaming files from Tidal or Quboz.
i have noticed anecdotally that the files sound better. but not done much serious comparing. not played with the digital adjustment knobs yet either, so maybe those source differences can be mitigated.
after my network switch is done and things are optimal that way, i will dive deeper. that could be a factor.
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Maybe you confused Wadax and Melco. I also want to add HDDs to save money but I do not know how to add. I even never see Wadax has HDDs tray from all of previous models.
music with "more intent"......the first idea that comes to my head listening to the first few notes with the new just introduced Nordost QNET switch. to be fair i also added the Sablon Ethernet cable too. so it's the combo of both. but still with a wall-wort power supply (likely SMPS). it is plugged into the Equi=tech.
this is in direct compare to pure copper CAT6 direct into the Wadax server.
2 weeks ago with another less spendy unnamed switch + nice LPS i also used the Sablon Ethernet cable but did not get anywhere near the lift. so this is a quite a bit more positive at least at first blush.
like the music is being played with more emotion, expression and flow. more propulsive. a bit of 'idler' applied to digital. it's also a bit more 'un-varnished'.....more open and clear. colors more intense.
nice step up. enough for now......
this is in direct compare to pure copper CAT6 direct into the Wadax server.
2 weeks ago with another less spendy unnamed switch + nice LPS i also used the Sablon Ethernet cable but did not get anywhere near the lift. so this is a quite a bit more positive at least at first blush.
like the music is being played with more emotion, expression and flow. more propulsive. a bit of 'idler' applied to digital. it's also a bit more 'un-varnished'.....more open and clear. colors more intense.
nice step up. enough for now......
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after listening for an hour, i started reading the manual, and.....this is exactly what i'm hearing......imagine that.
Hi Mike, thanks for sharing your impressions. I am wondering if you had a chance to audition Telegartner M12 Gold switch? I’m using this switch with JCAT Ref LAN and DUO LPS, in my system it turned out to be a ’end game’ upgrade for my steaming setup.
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honestly; assuming that the Nordost QNET continues to perform consistently with what i've heard so far, and the Nordost LPS i have coming boosts it a little more, i'm not going to acquire any alternatives. sometimes you just come to the end place. and that would be right here.
but......if anyone wants to send me network things to compare directly, happy to do it. at least this type gear is relatively easy to swap in and out, and the differences are pretty easy to hear in my system. your Telegartner M12 Gold is definitely one of the one's i'd like to hear in my system if one happens to show up. for that one i'll even pay the return shipping if its Continental USA.
my only warning is that i keep reading and being told that network enhancing tools are very system dependent. so i'm not in a position to show any broad based results, just what it does here.
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I completely understand. A system like yours definitely begs an audition of what I consider the best ethernet switch currently available 
I sincerely hope you get to hear M12 in your amazing system someday.
systems.audiogon.com
I sincerely hope you get to hear M12 in your amazing system someday. Digital….pushing the boundaries! | Virtual Listening Room
lalitk's listening room featuring Reference System Toggle for Details, Power Cables Toggle for Details, Signal Cables Toggle for Details, Anti-Vibration Toggle for Details, Accessories Toggle for Details, Tannoy Canterbury GR, Tannoy TANNOY ST-300Mg, Accuphase E-650, Merging Technologies...
and yours too.I completely understand. A system like yours definitely begs an audition of what I consider the best ethernet switch currently available
Digital….pushing the boundaries! | Virtual Listening Room
lalitk's listening room featuring Reference System Toggle for Details, Power Cables Toggle for Details, Signal Cables Toggle for Details, Anti-Vibration Toggle for Details, Accessories Toggle for Details, Tannoy Canterbury GR, Tannoy TANNOY ST-300Mg, Accuphase E-650, Merging Technologies...
beautiful system you have there.
Am eagerly awaiting your comments on this switch Mike. It would also be great if you get the chance to try out the M12 gold switch like @zebo67 has.
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One of the things I like most in my system is Stealth Audio cables. If you get a chance try a Sakra V17 LE interconnect. It gets right out of the way.
today received an upgrade to my 1.5m Sablon Ethernet cable to the 2020 version. many thanks to Mark Coles for sending me a new one so i did not have to wait 2 weeks for a turn around for my 'old' one to be updated. my old one will go back as a trade in. Mark said we need 200-250 hours for it to open up.
still; first 30 second impressions is a little more bass weight, more lit soundstage edges and holographic imaging compared to the 'old' one. now 20 minutes in, seems like it absolutely synergizes with the Nordost QNET switch. neutral and fast, fast, fast. but with ease and a relaxed naturalness and flow. just a little more of these things. more 'not there'. no doubt it will go thru ups and downs as it breaks in.
thank you Mark!
in a week or so i should receive the new Nordost Linear Power Supply for the QNET switch. that should wrap up my digital gear efforts......
still; first 30 second impressions is a little more bass weight, more lit soundstage edges and holographic imaging compared to the 'old' one. now 20 minutes in, seems like it absolutely synergizes with the Nordost QNET switch. neutral and fast, fast, fast. but with ease and a relaxed naturalness and flow. just a little more of these things. more 'not there'. no doubt it will go thru ups and downs as it breaks in.
thank you Mark!
in a week or so i should receive the new Nordost Linear Power Supply for the QNET switch. that should wrap up my digital gear efforts......
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