Audiobyte Hydra-X 投資回報超預期。

ivanchan

odysseyhk 發表於 2013-6-29 22:13
Music Server 2 => USB => Hydra-x => I2S(HDMI) => W4S DAC2 DSDse

It is really really great sound. Es ...

Ching， ms2 直接經hdmi 去dac2 同中間加部hydra-x 有乜分別呢？

odysseyhk

ivanchan 發表於 2013-6-30 16:27
Ching， ms2 直接經hdmi 去dac2 同中間加部hydra-x 有乜分別呢？

It is the built-in sound card vs the hydra-x output.

First of all, MS2 built-in I2S does not support dsd . Hydra-x support DSD 128.

From sound quality point of view , hydra-x is very very musical . As I said , 感動到毛管棟.  It is more musical and excellent vocal compared to the built-in I2S. Don't forget that MS2 I2S already won those CAS our customers carried to our showroom for comparison .

It is really great using I2S to feed data directly to ES9018.  But there is one limitation with this approach . When ES9018 handles switching between PCM and DSD , there is a click sound which could not be eliminated as we are using I2S raw interface . Nothing in the middle to handle this switching noise .

While I'm trying to see if player software could handle this switch better, with Linux and MPD player in my current showroom set-up, the pop sound could not be avoided .

Well , the sound quality improvement well justified the limitation of DSD/PCM switching .

wakalaaa

does Hydra-x support vortexbox？

odysseyhk

wakalaaa 發表於 2013-6-30 20:42
does Hydra-x support vortexbox？

Hydra-X is based on USB Audio 2.0 standard. So Linux and Mac can use it without driver.  

It works ok on Vortexbox.  Cheers.  

Note: ASIO drive available for download for Windows platform.

odysseyhk

Tested Hydra-X with the original DAC2 as well.  DSD64, DSD128 and PCM 352.8 over I2S/HDML all sounded great.  

Although the old DAC2 screen displaying the source type (stay unchanged when switching to DSD64 and DSD128), DSD 64 and DSD128 works without any problem.

So Hydra-X is a valid sound quality upgrade option for original DAC2 exploring the hidden function of I2S/HDMI direct ES9018 DAC chip access.  

So far I think this DDC (Digital to Digital Converter - USB to I2S path) is by far best digital source we tried.  It is very best investment at the very beginning of the music source.  Cos if you are not doing it right, you could not correct it downstream!   Hydra-X, I LIKE it.  

odysseyhk

徵求 Mytek DSD DAC 192  測試 Hydra-X DoP SPDIF output => Mytek.  

Ching 有興趣請 PM.  謝謝!  

odysseyhk

Just received PS Audio PerfectWave 12 2M (Silver I2S cable).  It is special price which is really really excellent deal.  Will use it the showroom together with the Hydra-X and Wyred4Sound DAC2 DSD Special Edition.  I think it is going to bring the sound quality to the next level.  

odysseyhk

Finally have time to compare psaudio silver i2s hdmi cable with the wyred4sound cable . The silver cable gives better dynamics and finer inner details and more focus sound stage. Very good upgrade indeed.

odysseyhk

Hydra-X+ is released.

CKKeung

odysseyhk 發表於 2014-2-6 00:24
Hydra-X+ is released.

The placement of the connectors are completely different from Hydra-X.
I guess there is a completely new circuit board.
Any more details/info on this new Hydra-X Plus version or internal photos?
Thanks!

odysseyhk

CKKeung 發表於 2014-2-6 07:10
The placement of the connectors are completely different from Hydra-X.
I guess there is a complete ...

Yes, it is a new board with refined circuit and improved battery power management.  As many customers asked for coaxial SPDIF which is known to be better than RCA connector, so this new version has both SPDIF and RCA connectors.   Toslink optical connector is removed to give room for coaxial.  

I2S (HD-Link) is now vertical instead of horizontal.  It is more firm and stable this way considering the weight of some HDMI cables.

I have installed it yesterday driving the newly received Rockna Audio WaveDream DAC (using MSB DAC module).  Working pretty well.  Going thru run-in now.

wakalaaa

同舊款差幾遠？
舊款有冇得trade  in

darkfrank

wakalaaa 發表於 2014-2-6 15:59
同舊款差幾遠？
舊款有冇得trade  in

我都想知

odysseyhk

wakalaaa 發表於 2014-2-6 15:59
同舊款差幾遠？
舊款有冇得trade  in

I think you are using I2S connecting to W4S DAC2 , Coaxial may not be very important to you.  Sonic performance is not very big.  It is a revision update, not version update.   Don't need to upgrade to this revision la.  

dominiquetu

odysseyhk 發表於 2013-6-9 10:12
Just received email asking if I would wait a few more day for DoP support on AES and SPDIF. Of cours ...

DoP support on AES and SPDIF. .......

odysseyhk

dominiquetu 發表於 2014-2-6 17:04
DoP support on AES and SPDIF. .......

Yes, DoP is supported on SPDIF, AES.  Native DSD on I2S (HD-Link).

darkfrank

odysseyhk 發表於 2014-2-6 17:03
I think you are using I2S connecting to W4S DAC2 , Coaxial may not be very important to you.  Soni ...

hi odyssey, can u compare it with the old ver mainly on the bass?

After long time listening I still prefer using a nice linear psu which can archive better dynamic and bass with little loss of snr. I dont think the internal battery can fully utilize the potentital of this unit. Make me wonder if changing larger capacity would help.

odysseyhk

darkfrank 發表於 2014-2-6 17:39
hi odyssey, can u compare it with the old ver mainly on the bass?

After long time listening I sti ...

It would be great if u could bring what u have and compare at showroom to be sure. It would be fun .

angusluk

odysseyhk 發表於 2014-2-6 17:46
It would be great if u could bring what u have and compare at showroom to be sure. It would be fun ...

How much ?

odysseyhk

angusluk 發表於 2014-2-6 22:12
How much ?

Our price is transparent and listed on our web site.  

http://www.odysseyaudiohk.com/eng/price.html