tokenbrit wrote:So, horizontally symmetric
Rack 1 - Rack 2
Src 1 - Src 2
SM1 - SM2
TM1 - TM2
Rather than vertically
Rack 1 - Rack 2
Src 1 - Src 2
SM1 - TM1
SM2 - TM2
Hi tokenbrit and sorry for the late reply! I got stuck with an unexpected side effect of the new memory firmware; it affects sound quality! Very unexpected, but more about that in a later post.
Assuming that the two racks stand very close to one another, I would probably try the horizontally symmetric layout. My only reason for this choice is that IF the second shelf (counting from above) sounds a little better than the third one, both preamps get a slightly better shelf than the power amps. But if there is no difference between the shelves, then this reason is invalid. Perhaps the vertically symmetric layout makes it easier to arrange the cables behind the rack? Keeping power cords slightly away from the interconnects can sometimes be benficial.
The reason why the racks need to stand close with the horizontally symmetric layout is that the Toslink cable used between Master output and Servant input is exactly 0.5 m long. And I promise this supplied Toslink cable works perfectly. If you change it to a longer one, this could result in some hiccups in the communication between Master and Slave. A longer Toslink cable
could work, but it needs to be high quality (=low loss), because the light used in the Control Link is very weak. And the reason for that weak light is that this low power design was very good for the music.
So: If you want to try a longer Toslink cable for the Control Link, borrow a bunch of different ones and try them before purchase! To evaluate the link, do like this:
Start with both Master and Servant at volume zero.
Press VOL+ on your remote and keep it pressed until volume has gone all the way up to 100.
Pay attention to whether Master and Servant Sagatun's arrive at 100 at the same time.
If Servant is lagging behind a step or two, the Toslink cable used has too much loss.