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Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-02 21:43
by FairPlayMotty
I thought I would post this after reading it on the Snakeoil os site.


They have a parallel ITX build in the Southern hemisphere that is pretty consistent with the Hakai approach in most ways. https://www.snakeoil-os.net/wiki/Hardwa ... n-mini-itx

The main differences are the almost universal use in their builds of a USB filter and a Jetway motherboard. This is the build of agent_kith. The aspects that interested me were:

1. whether anyone on this forum has any experience of a USB filter?
2. if anyone has used a cfast card rather instead of an SSD? It seems logical to get rid of a sata cable but only if it sounds better.

Agent_kith has recently introduced RAM playing to the Snakeoil os - I'll try that as soon as I can and post clips.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-02 23:02
by FairPlayMotty
Nobsound Elfidelity PC Hi-Fi Power Filter Card PCI/PCI-E HIFI PC Audio Power Purification for PC

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-02 23:15
by FairPlayMotty
Those power filter cards are in most Southern hemisphere builds including the ones highly regarded by Stereophile and made by Antipodes audio.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ant ... sic-server

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-03 10:29
by FairPlayMotty
The Fredrik of the Southern hemisphere builds seems to be Mark Jenkins, owner of Antipodes Audio. I found it interesting how similar yet how different the builds were. They tend to go for less powerful motherboards than we do. They favour cables that are presumably local to them. In some aspects they went into more detail (e.g. RAM) and in others they go into less detail. And they don't seem to have a favoured DAC. But the initial forums have masses of history and discussion in the same way as the LsNas and others did on this forum. Perhaps it's a coincidence but the software Antipodes Audio runs has the same array of players as the SnakeOil OS.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-03 12:04
by FairPlayMotty
One filter bought. I'll post clips when it arrives.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-07 13:43
by matthias
FairPlayMotty wrote: 2019-12-03 10:29 The Fredrik of the Southern hemisphere builds seems to be Mark Jenkins, owner of Antipodes Audio. I found it interesting how similar yet how different the builds were. They tend to go for less powerful motherboards than we do. They favour cables that are presumably local to them. In some aspects they went into more detail (e.g. RAM) and in others they go into less detail. And they don't seem to have a favoured DAC. But the initial forums have masses of history and discussion in the same way as the LsNas and others did on this forum. Perhaps it's a coincidence but the software Antipodes Audio runs has the same array of players as the SnakeOil OS.
A somewhat another approach and very interesting to read from the Netherlands:

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/ ... 8me.27433/

Matt

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-07 18:29
by FairPlayMotty
Matt,

I read about that beast a while back when I was trying to find further hardware ideas, alternative software and solve what for me is the biggest Hakai puzzle. Unbelievable RAM set up, I'd love to hear it!

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-07 19:33
by matthias
FairPlayMotty wrote: 2019-12-07 18:29 I'd love to hear it!
I listened to it at X-Fi Show this autumn, a few rooms away from Fredriks room, very impressive.

Matt

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-07 22:43
by FairPlayMotty
Cheers Matt, I trust your ears!

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-21 22:09
by FairPlayMotty
I encountered a slight problem with the isolation card, it's PCIe and the Gigabyte boards don't support PCIe. So I'm taking a punt on an Intel Atom PC with the same model of processor most of the Australians use. Luckily it's already built in a silent case with RAM. Bought tonight, should be here prior to Christmas.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-DN2800 ... 2749.l2649

It ought to allow me to make a direct comparison between the Australian approach and the Hakai model.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-21 22:21
by FairPlayMotty
It's Christmas and I'm curious! I've three Hakais, two Tinkerboards and an Antipodean approach. Luckily I have a bigger house now.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-24 20:31
by FairPlayMotty
Clips may get posted tomorrow.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-24 20:34
by lejonklou
Merry Christmas everyone!

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-24 22:22
by matthias
Yes,
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Matt

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-26 02:19
by FairPlayMotty
Clips posted to the playground. I uploaded Source 1 Clip 1 twice to the Gdrive - for some reason it plays oddly for the last twenty seconds. On my phone it's fine.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2019-12-27 18:11
by FairPlayMotty
I'm transferring the Intel Motherboard with the Atom processor into a good quality case tonight. It came in a terrible quality case with a very basic PSU.

I'm sufficiently impressed that I've three more of the second hand computers coming on the 31st December. The seller has between 80 and 100 of them.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2020-01-14 04:26
by FairPlayMotty
The most revealing comments on the Australian thread came after the modifications made to the motherboards including isolation cards, high quality internal wiring to rid builds of molex and other unnecessary connectors, dedicated PSU for the DAC USB etc.

Tasso and Chanh did extensive work on the power supply. The components they used were very expensive Hashimoto transformers (custom built but available by model number) etc. Several owners of HiFi companies made comments on the design and the components. The best off the shelf PSU they found was the Uptone JS-2 Linear Power Supply and they think their final design was better.

The conclusion was that the quality of the power supply was by some distance the biggest contribution to the sound quality of computer audio. This surprised them but they were euphoric about the final sound quality.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Typical Build - Can We Learn Anything?

Posted: 2020-01-14 04:50
by FairPlayMotty
To add some context these guys spent years on the evolution of the build. In much the same way as the work done by Fredrik and others on the Lejonklou site (LSNAS components etc.)

Tasso and Chanh both try to keep the cost of the suggestions they make as low as possible. Their philosophy is very similar to Fredrik's in that every component affects the sound and they don't like to waste money on expensive components unless it's justified by the gain in sound quality. And they also go for simplicity of design. However both have Accuphase DC-950 DACs that cost around $32,500. So to spend hefty sums and conclude that the power supply is the prime determinant of the sound quality is very revealing.