AudioNervosa
The Market => Manufacturer News => Topic started by: HAL on June 02, 2015, 04:41:13 AM
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The latest HAL MS-3 Music Server is now available.
The unit looks identical to the MS-2, but the motherboard has been changed to an Intel Atom N2600 based with no cooling fan for even lower heat dissipation since the original Intel Atom N2800 motherboard is no longer available. The unit is entirely solid state with the exception of the DVD drive for CD music ripping to the system library.
The first production MS-3 was with VivaHiFi in Vienna, VA for a period of time recently while their HAL MS-2 Music Server was being upgraded to Windows 8.1 OS. Feedback was very positive from Scottdazzle on AC.
New dspMusik digital crossover.
A new 6 input, 8 output DSP crossover and HiRez DAC combination called the dspMusik, is also available. The unit uses 40bit floating point DSP based processing. Has S/PDIF, USB2 asynchronous and 24bit/192KHz A/D inputs. The unit has 8 channels of 24bit/192KHz D/A conversion. All analog inputs and outputs are balanced via TRS connectors. Both Mogami and Monoprice make TRS to XLR balanced cables to connect the unit to the audio system.
The dspMusik can also be used as a USB Class 2 audio DAC. I have already done the software load for that and it can act as a stereo DAC with four stereo pairs. The USB2 input is ASIO compliant and a custom PC USB driver is installed on the MS-3 or any Windows OS.
The unit is custom programmed by HAL for the customer speaker crossover requirements. This is to make the unit plug and play for the customers system.
The first demo of the latest version of the DSP crossover was at CES2015 in January. The latest demo is going on with the VMPS RM50 speakers that were used at one of THE SHOW events for the live vs recorded event by VMPS. The speakers were developed with the Behringer DCX2496 digital crossover as part of the system. The dspMusik was custom programmed to replace the DCX2496 with a minimized signal processing path.
Since there are VMPS owners that have DCX2496 units in their system, this is an alternative to that system. Other speaker systems are a possible alternatives that use the DCX2496 as their crossover system. New speaker designs are also in the works using this as the full crossover system using direct powered drivers.
Pricing is:
HAL MS-3 Music Server running Windows 8.1 64bit OS $799.00 + s/h
Danville Signal Processing dspMusik DSP crossover custom programmed $1500.00 + s/h
Please post questions in this thread if you have any.
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Hal thanks for posting and welcome aboard. Guys Hals stuff is the real deal and Hal is a great guy to boot.
If you are in the market for a Server look no further.
charles
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Thanks Charles! :D
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Welcome aboard, Rich! It's nice to see you here!
Cheers,
Pete
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Thanks Pete! :D
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Here are some pictures of the dspMusik digital crossover:
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Hal could describe the function and set up required for the server ? Have a website ?
Does one have to be an ITT guy to use ? Thanks.
charles
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Charles,
For the MS-3 Music Server running Windows 8.1 64bit OS on the SSD boot drive, all you need to do is connect it to a display via SVGA or HDMI connection. Connect a USB keyboard and mouse and plug it in ( I use a Logitech K400 wireless keyboard and trackpad). It is ready to start playing using Foobar2000 and ripping with Exact Audio Copy using the internal DVD drive once the USB DAC is connected. If I can preload the USB driver for the customers DAC, I do it before it is shipped, but this is not always possible.
You can use either Ethernet or WiFi connections to get to streaming music or music file downloads.
You connect external hard drives and DAC's via the USB interfaces on the front and back.
About it for a MS-3 setup.
Here is my website https://www.facebook.com/HollisAudioLabs (https://www.facebook.com/HollisAudioLabs)
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Doing measurements today to build the digital version of the GR-Research LS-9 crossover for the dspMusik. This will work by biamping the speakers and directly feeding the NEO8 and 6.5" woofer line arrays directly from the amps.
If all the amps are identical then now further adjustments are needed. If the amps feeding the tweeters have different gains than the amps feeding the woofers, this will be an adjustment to the levels to the drivers to match them.
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Other speakers I have dspMusik digital crossover versions for are VMPS RM50's, RM40's, Sanders 10C and 10D electrostatic hybrids. These are for the stock systems that originally used the Behringer DCX2496 digital crossover.
Others that have interest are VMPS RM-V60 owners and the GR-Research speakers in work.
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Couple of questions:
Are the USB Ports on the MS-2 USB 2.0 or 3.0?
Is the MS-3 able to play music files stored on an ethernet based NAS?
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The USB ports in the MS-1 through the MS-3 are all USB2 ports.
The MS-3 has an Ethernet port to allow operation with a NAS for file replay. As long as the file system looks like Windows hard drives, it should work with Foobar2000.
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Any NAS will answer to a URL, to which any modern OS can connect directly or map to a local drive letter.
My NAS url is //nas/, my music music folder (shared folder) on the nas is //nas/music/. My JRiver database points to the URL, but for browsing to the folder using Windows Exporer I mapped a local drive M: to //nas/music/.
Welcome to AN, Rich!
I am intrigued by the dspMusik system, especially after Rim's review saying that it sounds transparent, by his high standards. I have been looking for a system like that to replace my lousy sounding pro audio speaker management boxes like DCX, Rane, Firepod that I use for active crossovers. But the way I use it requires me to be able to change the settings myself. Doesn't sound like that is possible, can the setup software be licensed to end user for personal use? I tinker with it so often I would feel impolite to ask for changes from you, and I wouldn't want to pay a fee for each change or I would go broke. hehe
Rich
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Rich,
Thanks for the welcome!
The Audio Weaver development system for the dspMusik is licensed with each unit. It is not a fully automated install, so that is why I have limited it to the MS-3's that is sold with the dspMusik. For standalone dspMusik's gets a bit tricky, but it can be done. I only do this on a case by case basis to see what the user's PC understanding level is. Anyone that works on/with PC's is probably capable of the install.
I would do the initial crossover design and it can be tweaked by the user as needed.
Rich
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Any NAS will answer to a URL, to which any modern OS can connect directly or map to a local drive letter.
Rich I only asked because when talking to the Sony reps at the HiFi show in Brooklyn last fall they told me that their music servers would only talk to external hard drives connected via the USB port and that support for Ethernet connected NAS units was planned for some future software upgrade, but he could not put a timeframe on its availability. In a recent trip to Stereo Exchange in NYC they tried to sell me three different music servers , non of which could read files off of an Ethernet NAS. When I question this I was given a lecture about how is was stupid to think I needed a lot of storage because I should be getting everything as a streaming file off the net.
Typical high end salesmanship. Rather than try to get me what I came in looking for they tell you you are silly for note wanting what they happen to have in stock. :duh
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That's great!! I thought it had to be a closed system. Thanks for clarifying that, Rich.
Some questions off the top of my head...
Is there one master clock for all 8 DACs, and what is the jitter spec?
Balanced analog outputs are professional or consumer voltage level?
How do you switch between the USB input and analog inputs?
What kind of driver is used for the USB? ASIO pretty please? ;)
Thanks
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Rich I only asked because when talking to the Sony reps at the HiFi show in Brooklyn last fall they told me that their music servers would only talk to external hard drives connected via the USB port and that support for Ethernet connected NAS units was planned for some future software upgrade, but he could not put a timeframe on its availability. In a recent trip to Stereo Exchange in NYC they tried to sell me three different music servers , non of which could read files off of an Ethernet NAS. When I question this I was given a lecture about how is was stupid to think I needed a lot of storage because I should be getting everything as a streaming file off the net.
Typical high end salesmanship. Rather than try to get me what I came in looking for they tell you you are silly for note wanting what they happen to have in stock. :duh
That's funny. Sony always locking everything down.
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tmazz,
The MS-3 is setup as a memory player. As long as the NAS is fast over the Gigabit Ethernet it will load the file in memory to play without much delay. This solves the replay issues with large files.
Rich,
All 8 DAC's run off the DSP derived master clock. It uses a MEMS oscillator with separate DC supply. I have seen no measurement from the company on clock jitter, but it is low from the sound quality.
The Balanced outputs are consumer level.
Both the Analog and USB inputs are active at all times. You just decide which source you are going to use, but not both at once unless you like to DJ. :)
The PC driver is ASIO that you install. It shows up as an audio device on a MAC as ASIO as well.
How's that?
Rich
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How's that?
That's good... damn good, and fast! 8)
Thank you!
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Ok, just let me know if you want to give the system a demo. I have one MS-3 and dspMusik system that can be used to demo.
I just need how the previous DCX2496 crossover setup was done to replicate the settings in the dspMusik system.
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Thanks, Rich, for the generous offer to demo, that will be fun. It will be a little while before I am ready to try it, as I am trying to solve a stubborn speaker resonance problem, but I think I would like to try it.
I currently use JRiver DSP with a pro 8ch interface. Speaker is a 3 way cone diy. I can send you the xo details when the time comes.
I will be hosting a G2G party later this summer, so maybe we can coordinate the demo at that time so others can hear it too. The date is not yet set, pending solving my speaker puzzle. :?
There is a long thread on AC about this system if anyone is interested:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=132170.0
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Rich,
Just let me know when you are ready.
Best,
Rich
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Anyone else interested in demoing the dspMusik with their GR-Research LS-9's? I have one system that can be sent for trials.
I need at least one person in the Continental US that wants to demo it so I can verify the digital crossover is correct. I have no way to test it here with speakers. If you are in the MD, VA or DC area, I can setup a demo with your system.
This will be the full HAL MS-3 and dspMusik demo system with TRS to XLR cables, as changes may need to be made and much easier using the Audio Weaver development system on the PC to change things if needed. I just email you a file to load as needed.
So far each demo has been done that way in every system. It is very easy to use and comes ready to play your files with Foobar2000. Just hook up a display, USB drive, keyboard and mouse to the front USB ports and the dspMusik to the back USB port. Connect the XLR connections to source and amps. Then you are ready to play music. If you need single ended connections, I can send TRS to RCA adaptors to use your RCA interconnects.
You can demo the system for 2 weeks to give you time to evaluate the sound quality. Just ship it back to me after the demo time.
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For anyone with VMPS RM50, RM40 or RM-V60's with a DCX2496 crossover, the dspMusik would be an upgrade to the system. It is installed in one system with RM50's and RM40's. It has been demoed in a three way system setup with RM40's as well with reported very good results.
Have crossovers ready for Sanders 10C and 10D electrostatic hybrids as well that come with the DCX2496. It was demoed on the Sanders 10D speakers with very good results as well.
If you just want the crossover without a MS-3 that is possible as the dspMusik can be standalone like the DCX2496.
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Have a HAL MS-3 running Windows 10 Pro 64bit preview and everything is installed and running correctly. Will be evaluating sound quality, but the earlier version sounded very good, as did Windows 8.1.
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Have decided to try a new line array idea to use with the dspMusik digital crossover.
This will be 10 planar midrange drivers in a line array with a 6x12" servo sub array in open baffle configuration.
Each planar driver will have it's own power amplifier.
The idea is to use impulse response correction for the planar line array to correct it's response and use time delays to align the planar array to the sub array.
Will be checking with the woodworker today about the open baffle for the array. The 6x12" servo array cabinets are completed and being loaded with drivers and wired.
A fun summer project. :D
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That sounds excellent! Summer is the time build new speakers!
Are you using the BG planar mids? Rythmik/GR servo subs? I think I remember that you liked those from reading on AC over the years. What tweeters?
What do you mean by impulse response correction for the planars? Will you stagger the time delay of the individual planars so they are coincident to sweet spot height? That's the only reason I can think to amplify them each separately. Very cool!
Good to know all is well on Win10. Yours is the first word I've heard about win10 relating to audio. I kinda view Win10 as Win8 scrubbed of of the BalmerGates past. I think it's roughly the same under the hood, with minor tweeks to keep it current.
Rich
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Rich,
I will not be using BG drivers since they are still not available for sale. The company that bought BG is still setting up the sales end and not done. I am working with another company that does another style of planar mid tweeter driver.
If you measure the impulse response of a speaker it is possible to invert that response and correct the driver to flat response. There are tools available to do this with the correct measurements.
I drive each planar with it's own amp to have full damping factor of the amp controlling it. This is not the case when drivers are series/parallel connected to an amp. This way the sensitivity of each doubling of drivers is maintained, not the case for series/parallel connection of drivers.
There are also white papers written on the effect of a passive crossover and it's effects on damping factors of the amp to the driver. The crossover in front of the amp directly driving each element solves this problem.
I would have to have a 22 channel crossover to have separate time delays for each driver. That is not attempt in this case, but there will be time delay between the woofer OB and mid-tweeter OB to time align them.
I prefer the Windows 10 interface over Windows 8.1. Both sound the same to me, but I like the UI more. Runs more efficiently on the processors than Windows 7 from what I see.
Rich
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One clarification.
The dspMusik can be stand alone, meaning it has a fixed program running for the speaker digital crossover.
If folks are interested in the dspMusik to have full control and programmability, it will need to be purchased with an MS-3 Music Server.
The software to control the dspMusik is not a simple installation with the USB driver. Having done this for a few customers, it is only possible with me doing the install.
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I see, thanks
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First MS-3 Music Server is built with the release version Windows 10 64bit OS. Like the new UI and sound quality is the same as Windows 8.1.
All the programs are working correctly, so it is now an optional OS for the MS-3 platform if Window 8.1 is not of interest.
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People should be forming a line over this device. Computer audio people that is.
charles
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Thanks Charles!
Will be across the hall from you at CAF. See you there!
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Thanks Charles!
Will be across the hall from you at CAF. See you there!
Which room ??
charles
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GT Audio Works room 404.
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GT Audioworks room 404 pictures:
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Had a great time at CAF2015 and had a great time demoing the MS-3 and dspMusik for folks in the GT Audioworks room. The new GTA 2.5 speakers sounded really good in the room.
Thanks to Greg Takesh and his wife for giving me the opportunity to demo with them.
Looking forward to RMAF2015.
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Had a great time at CAF2015 and had a great time demoing the MS-3 and dspMusik for folks in the GT Audioworks room. The new GTA 2.5 speakers sounded really good in the room.
Thanks to Greg Takesh and his wife for giving me the opportunity to demo with them.
Looking forward to RMAF2015.
Rich, It was a pleasure meeting you and learning about your HAL products. The HAL MS- 3 makes it simple enough for even me to envision how to implement a file based system, and to be able to afford one. You gave me my first exposure to Reference Recordings HRX files and they were extraordinary, such dynamics. Greg didn't know what his speakers were capable of until we heard some of the tunes off the HAL MS- 3. That Swiss Army Knife of a DAC you have, dspMusik, sounded sensational, I'd like to hear from some ACers about their experiences with it.
Rich, your HAL MS- 3 and DAC combo helped propel the room to the top rung of sounds at the show, congratulations on a great show! I'll be busy selling gear to afford a HAL MS- 3 and a pair of GTA 2.5s, what a knockout room.
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KLH007,
Glad you enjoyed the sound in the room!
It was great to hear the entire system and getting feedback from the attendees. Greg's GTA 2.5 speakers really showed the capabilities of the Reference Recordings HRx files played from the MS-3 and dspMusik.
Thank you for your feedback on the system!
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After a lot of travel, updated the MS-2 Music Server with Windows 10 and listening tests are going well with the dspMusik as the DAC, iFi iCan and HiFiMan HE500 phones. Have already run Windows 10 on MS-3's with fine results.
After reading the Meridian MQA info that I can find, there are interesting parallels in how the dspMusik works and their processing.
Working with Danville Signal on the next generation AD for the dspMusik. The prototype in work is a 32bit/768KHz ADC with minimum phase filtering to complement the minimum phase DACs. There maybe another surprise to go with this, but that has to wait for how things work.
Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday Season!
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Thanks Rich ! Same to you.
Sounds like some great new products coming in the future.
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Eh Hal Merry Christmas [[ hoilday season :roll:]. What,s in your safe Hmmmm a MS-2 of course.
charles
charles
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The three way open baffle speaker is up and running.
The setup is the GR-Research BG NEO3PDR tweeter, BG NEO10 midrange and 2x12" H-Frame servo subs running with a Rythmik HX300 servo amp. More tweaking to do, but these sound very good!
Too bad Christy Digital cannot produce the NEO drivers any longer as these are really great sounding speakers.
I will never go back to passive crossovers again after working with the dspMusik digital crossover and amps directly driving the speakers!
Will make some measurements after getting all the levels fully adjusted. Using Room EQ Wizard with the Dayton Audio UMM-6 calibrated mic from the MS-3 directly through the dspMusik to the speakers.
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The Rythmik Audio HX800XLR3 amps arrived today. Will start wiring them up tomorrow to see what happens.
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Amps mounted in the wood cabinets
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Balanced input ChipAmp modules for the triamped version of the OB speakers.
Trying both the LM1875T and LM3875TF versions of the amps.
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Looking good Hal.
charles
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Thanks Charles!
Second pair of ChipAmps ready for testing and listening.
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Both pairs of ChipAmps with the new pair making music.
Be safe in Snowzilla!
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Rich, Enjoy your new setup and stay warm.
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Kemper,
Hope you are staying warm as well. Having fun!
Got more sub modules built up today. Good time to be stuck inside!
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The first 4x12 is wired and working. The second 4x12 is wired and ready for testing.
Here are the full 6x12 arrays stacked with the grill cloth installed.
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Both 4x12 arrays are working and sound great!
Lots of speaker and sub tweaking to do, but it is a fine start.
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Get out those Hammond B12 recordings oh my !! Hal get Joey Defrancesco live at the Five Spot and be awed.
Shock and awe hold on to your scrotum bada boom. Well no boom just bass.
charles
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Charles,
Try the Reference Recordings of Pomps And Pipes.
The Arthur Wills piece will make the entire room shake and it is on 6" of concrete! Pipe organ and bass drums! :thumb:
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Charles,
Try the Reference Recordings of Pomps And Pipes.
The Arthur Wills piece will make the entire room shake and it is on 6" of concrete! Pipe organ and bass drums! :thumb:
Got them and they do shake and bake.
charles
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Here is the system with the two-way open baffle planar mids and tweeters with the two 4x12 servo subs.
The planars are being driven by modified ChipAmps. All Class AB solid state direct coupled at the inputs and outputs. These have balanced inputs for full use of the digital crossover.
The amps are being driven by the dspMusik digital crossovers with time delay to align the subs to the mains due to the distance offset.
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Chip miester at work. Cool stuff.
charles
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Nice DIY system Rich, I'd like to hear it sometime.
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Once I get it fully built, will wee what I can do.
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For all MS-1, MS-2 and MS-3 owners! Do not install any other antivirus or malware software on the machines. They already have MS Defender and MS Malware Removal Tool software running depending on Windows OS version installed.
If you install McAfee, Norton AV or any other software of that type onto the machines and it starts acting strangely, it is that software and should be removed. If it kills the machine, I will charge for tech support and shipping. Past versions of McAfee have even made it change audio buffers in playback and created glitch playback.
Will be rebuilding an MS-3 shortly with Norton installed.
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klh007 has an MS-3 Music Server for trials. Picked it up today at the mini-CAF event at Gary's.
Looking forward to his observations with his USB DAC.
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Just finished a MS-3 reload with Windows 8.1 OS after the Norton problem. On the way back and should be there this week.
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The two open baffle 6x12 servo sub arrays are fully operational. Now this is bass! :D
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Building a new MS-3 for a customer. This one will be for Gustard USB DAC.
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Lap and Evan now have their MS-3 Music Servers. Hope they enjoy the systems.
Next up, line array experiments.
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Trying out speaker and room correction software on the MS-3. First is Dirac Live, next is DRC and then Math Audio. All work with Foobar2000 as the music player.
The Dayton Audio UMM-6 calibrated USB mic works with Dirac Live and made measurements and ran the first correction yesterday. Will be comparing the result and see which sounds better in my setup.
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Have one more MS-3 hardware set here to build before I have to buy more and that takes a few weeks.
Next customer will get short wait time for a system. :D
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The demo MS-3 and dspMusik setup is heading out to try with a pair of GR-Research LS-9 line array speakers. First they are moving the internal passive crossover externally. Next make measurements with CLIO and then try the new digital crossover.
In the mean time they will be comparing their MS-1 running Windows 7 to the MS-3 running Windows 10 with Foobar2000 as the player.
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Open baffle planar line array baffle front's are built for the FPS drivers. Needs the stringers and side wings.
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Can you say lots of moded ChipAmps.
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Oak stringers cut and ready to glue to the baffle to mount the FPS planar drivers.
Next drill the holes to mount the drivers, add the wings and wire up the drivers.
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Have a prototype of the dspMusik digital crossover for the Magnepan MG3.6 speakers running. Had an enquiry about it, so did one from the manual's specifications.
The MG3.6 is a three way planar, but only requires a two way crossover for the way it is actively biamped.
Many years ago had the passive external crossover for biamping my MGIIB's with a pair of Hafler DH220 and later ADCOM GFA-555 amps. With a little EQ from my Hafler DH160 EQ, sounded pretty good to me. Can do that so much better now with the dspMusik.
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Great thread Rich, keep it coming!
Rich
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Rich,
Thanks! :)
More of the FPS planars are on the way. Decided to get six per side running to fully use the dspMusik output capabilities with the servo subs.
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For folks wondering about the dspMusik HiRez DAC sound quality, if you ever heard the Dodd USB DAC that Gary built at RMAF or other place, this is a very similar design. I helped Gary with the digital part of the design and he did the analog section.
Danville Signal had the same DAC ideas and implemented something very close in the dspMusik for all 8 output channels.
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How do those planars sound? Accurate tone? Any plasticky sound? FPS0212 right?
Are you importing them? How much are they?
Thanks
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Rich,
I have only heard a single driver in a desktop PC style system with a woofer added. They sound good and no metallic sound like a ribbon.
As far as I can tell, I am the first to try them in a line array application, so will see what happens.
Here is the listing at Parts-Express.
http://www.parts-express.com/fps-0212m7r1-oem-1-9-16-x-6-1-4-flat-panel-mcma-planar-speaker-6-ohm-15w--292-364 (http://www.parts-express.com/fps-0212m7r1-oem-1-9-16-x-6-1-4-flat-panel-mcma-planar-speaker-6-ohm-15w--292-364)
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Thanks, that's interesting. Are you wiring them together for one amp, or individual amps?
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Each driver has it's own amp. Already have 20 moded ChipAmps built and tested.
The dspMusik will be acting as a beamformer across the line array of the FPS drivers.
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Just received a Raspberry Pi3 Rev B and just downloaded Windows 10 IoT for the unit. Now to get the OS installed and see what it can do.
Still working on the install jig for the FPS planars. The rest of the order should be here soon.
Also checking out another ChipAmp design to see if it has any improved sound quality over the existing unit. It is also moded for balance input connection.
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Have you tried Modulus-86 from neurochrome? Not cheap, but wicked awesome!
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This one is a LM3886TF based amp board from XY with mods. Will see how it works as compared to the originals.
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Just received a Raspberry Pi3 Rev B and just downloaded Windows 10 IoT for the unit. Now to get the OS installed and see what it can do.
I'd be curious about how that works out for you. Start a new thread about it if want?
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Rich,
Will do. Have the MicroSD installed with Windows 10 IoT. Just need to get a power supply with microUSB connector running.
Stopped by KLH007's today and got his MS-3 with Foobar2000 running with a remote control laptop in his system. He now has access to all his music files online.
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Have you tried Modulus-86 from neurochrome? Not cheap, but wicked awesome!
Rich,
The line array will need 10 amp channels per speaker. The latest Modulus amps are large in comparison, so harder to put into a case. Also since I am using a balanced input, they would also have to be moded. The amp modules I have build are balanced input, DC coupled input and output and have no Zobel or Thiel networks for stability. This is possible since the planars are nearly resistive loads and very little capacitive loading. They sound really good with the BG drivers. They also have very little turn-on or turn-off transients that some ChipAmps have. No real need for relay output transient protection.
One thing I am thinking of trying is adding a regulated power supply. I did that with the LM1875 versions I built and really improved the noise floor of the Chinese built amps I used. Before they had a pretty high level of hum with their single ended inputs. After the regulators, were totally quiet.
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Gluing the stringers on the open baffles has begun. Only doing the first set as a test, then after they set, test driver depth and do a lot more gluing! The FPS drivers work well as their own jig to set the stringers for drive spacing.
The dspMusik digital crossover and moded gainclone amps are ready to wire to the drivers and start measurements and listening.
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The glue for baffle #1 stringers is drying. After about 30 minutes will start baffle #2 stringers glue work.
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Thanks for filling in the details
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Something else to check out for audio purposes is the Raspberry Pi3 running Windows 10 IoT. Have the microSD card loaded with the latest OS version ready to try out.
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For those wondering about digital crossovers and their differences to passive crossovers, here is a white paper from HAL to start discussions about them.
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The Pocket CLIO measurement system made it's first passive crossover frequency response measurement. It is fully calibrated to get accurate voltage response measurements.
This will be packed and shipped to an owner of a pair of LS-9's to measure his passive crossovers to build the digital crossover software for the dspMusik.
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Very cool Hal. No moss under your arse.
charles
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First test of 8 channels of amp modules and FPS planars is complete. They are making music! Quick cell phone video.
https://youtu.be/gVYR0-6X_uE (https://youtu.be/gVYR0-6X_uE)
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Kool!
subs on?
Your voice is low dude ;)
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Rich,
The servo subs are on.
My best impression of a radio announcer voice. :D
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Congrats Rich! You have liftoff!! What's next in the process?
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Split it off and started this thread to make it separate:
http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=5926.msg76504;topicseen#msg76504
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For the first time in a long time have a MS-1 chassis in house to try Windows 10 OS. This was basically a brand new chassis I found, so starting fresh.
This one can with a 80GB hard drive installed. Man is it slow compared to the SSD I normally use!
This specific machine will be setup to run the Pocket CLIO software to test speaker crossovers for making digital versions. It is a bit more robust than the Netbook for shipping. Just needs a standard keyboard, mouse and monitor to run.
Built the first one of these in 2011, does not feel like that long ago.
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For MS-1 Music Server owners, Windows 10 64bit OS upgrade worked on my chassis here with improved sound results. The only thing I have noticed is that my BluRay player for ripping CD's is no longer talking to the OS. That maybe a registry issue I am working on, but will most likely not effect the original DVD drives most folks probably have.
Since the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 64bit OS expires in June 2016, you should decide soon if you are going to try it. You can go back to Windows 7 with tools Microsoft install. The upgrade process takes about 4 hours on the MS-1 chassis.
My suggestion is to backup anything you have added to your MS-1 along the way and then do the upgrade. It will keep your files and programs, but certain default settings like Power Management get reset. That is an OS level change that I make to turn off the sleep mode and not disable USB power ports for low power operation. Easily corrected by the user under Control Panel, that is now a right click on the Start Icon.
For one MS-1 I am upgrading, I will be adding Math Audio Room EQ to Foobar2000 for the customers trials with his ACA LS-9 speakers being modified for a dspMusik digital crossover. I am installing all the software along with the Windows 10 OS upgrade once it arrives.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
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After discussion with Math Audio, MathAudio Room EQ will now be part of the Foobar2000 install on all new MS-3 Music Servers.
It will be up to the customer to obtain the calibrated mic for use if they wish to try the process with their system.
Instructions for use of Room EQ are here:
http://mathaudio.com/room-eq.htm
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Just setup a new MS-3 Music Server for a friend by another friend to demo while I am out. The system has a MS-1 running Windows 7, so will be interested in the feedback.
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The last in stock dspMusik digital crossover is now spoken for.
Latest is that the next production run of dspMusik units is at the end of July. Will keep everyone posted as I know more.
This does not affect the availability of the MS-3 Music Server and dspMusik demo units. They are available for trials.
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Another part of the dspMusik concept is to eliminate all linear phase filtering from the digital crossover path. From the USB input to the DAC output, there are no linear phase filters in the DC coupled, balanced signal path.
For anyone reading the information from Bob Stuart at Meridian Audio about MQA, these are the same ideas he is using.
To complete this system, a minimum phase ADC module is in build and will be in testing shortly. The DAC's in use have always had minimum phase filters in use by choice for the Wolfson Micro WM8742 DAC's.
This is unlike any other DSP based digital crossover out there for audio and the reason for the improved sound quality of the system. This is not something that MiniDSP, DCX2496, or other entry level digital crossovers can do.
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As part of these ideas, all microphones and speaker drivers are minimum phase devices. There is nothing in nature that is a non-causal filter like a linear phase filter.
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Picked up the HAL MS-3 Music Server today to get ready for CAF2016 in Rockville, MD 8-10 July, 2016. Updated it with MathAudio Room EQ for trials in the room.
Hope to see folks there to demo the HAL MS-3 and dspMusik with the GT Audioworks planar/ribbon hybrid speakers.
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Just got the MS-3 and dspMusik system fully integrated with Chris ACA built GR-Research LS-9 speakers. He did the measurements needed with Pocket CLIO and I built him the block diagram needed to run the dspMusik to emulate the original passive crossover.
He is very happy with the sound quality running four Bryston 7BST's for the system driven by the dspMusik with balanced connections.
His analog preamp for analog sources goes into the A/D converters on the dspMusik. So his 1/4" tape machine and tuner are working as well.
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satfrat has his HAL MS-3 Music Server up and running with his DAC. Tested it with audio files I put on the unit for checkout.
He is working on his USB hard drive to work with his JRiver install.
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:rofl: I'm 4 hours into loading up my new Seagate 1.5T hard drive with another 24 hours to go from downloading from 2 external hard drives, 15,000 albums with covers. But Rich is right, even before messing with 3 external hard drives, I gave a listen to nearly an hour of symphony that Ric lhoaded up for me to sample. With JRiver and Fidelizer (Purist), I got a good reminder of what I've been missing for the last year & a half. Still have lots of tweaking to do. I've got the top of my 6 shelf Sanus rack full of SMPS's, 7 in all. I need another Wiremold power strip and get them off my dedicated circuit instead of them all being encased by my pc audio gear. Still, the music was glorious and I had the volume 9 db from being maxxed out. Like I said, it's been awhile. Thanks for the tasty classical treat and much thanks for the MS-3 which runs so cool considering it's fanless. I'm very impressed. :thumb:
Cheers,
Robin
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Robin,
Glad you are enjoying the HAL MS-3 Music Server with your system!
Always good to hear a customer is happy with the system. :D
Rich
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It's 6:32 am and 32 hours later, my 15,000 album download is finally over but before I go to bed, just 1 tune.
Thomas Blug Band: Soul & Pepper(2009); #10. Paul's Blues.
I had forgotten how good my system can sound, it's been a long long time. Thanks Rich Hollis! :beer:
Cheerts,
Robin
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You are most welcome Robin!
Nice msg yesterday that long term use is going well and he is a happy listener. :)
Best,
Rich
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I still receive nice emails from MS-1, 2 and 3 users about the sound they get from their system with it as their Music Server. One customer has not turned his MS-1 off since he received it. :shock:
At CAF2017 seeing Music Servers in the 4-5 digit cost range, just makes me happy to go home and turn on my MS-3 and listen to music.
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The MS-3 is a stand alone PC for music as I do not want to get into the DAC of the moment in a noisy RF environment of the machine. Having a clean USB port and fanless chassis make it easy to upgrade as wanted. Just load a new USB driver if the native Windows 10 one does not support it.
It has a built in DVD drive for ripping with EAC to the SSD or external USB drives. Internal storage to SSD is getting less expensive by the day. I can install 1TB or 2TB SSD'S in the machine over SATAIII, for fast access. Cost depends on size of the SSD.
Foobar2000 besides being a player allows room correction with a USB mic like the Dayton Audio UMM-6 calibrated mic with simple measurements. Once complete, all file replay is corrected for your system.
Hope that helps.
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doug s,
The MS-3 only works with USB DACs, which now number in the probably.100's range. I recommend minimum phase filtered style DACs
The MS-3 with 1TB is $1299 + shipping.
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I too leave my MS-3 on 24/7 using JRiver MC 23. According to the Media Center, it'll take me 1.13 years to play my whole library once. so it has me wondering how many times I can play each track before my MS-3 dies? LOL
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Forgot to mention the HDMI or SVGA monitor, keyboard and mouse. The Logitech K400+ keyboard works well.
Saturate, glad it keeps on making music! :D
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AWESOME music, ZERO issues Rich. Since day 1,,,,,
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Actually Doug, you don't need a monitor. Windows 10 does bluetooth so really all you need is an iphone. Ifi has an affordable usb-to-spdif converter at Adorama. And the Logitech K400+wireless keyboard is also pretty cheap. In fact, the most costly component here is that built-in SSD. I went the cheaper route with a powered 10-2.0 USB hub(Amazon) and like 4 HDD's, each with separate fan 2.0 USB enclosures(EBAY) for both my main library, backup HD's and system backup HD. I have ZERO issues with gapless playback from an external HDD library.
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Good luck with the search.
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If you have a big screen TV in the same room as the stereo and server you can just plug in a HDMI cable into the server and with the addition of a wireless mouse and keyboard you have control over the system with a minimal investment and very little added complexity. If room EQ is desired it can be done via the playback software in the server before it goes out the door to the DAC. Assuming the HAL server comes with WIN 10 Creator Edition you don't even need to use a factory supplied ASIO driver unless your PCM playback is at higher than a 192 sample rate as this rate and all lower rates are natively supported by the OS. I have full gapless playback all PCM data as well as DSD-DSF files via kernel streaming.
Very good sound and in my case the ability to kernel stream via the native WIN 10 driver was very audible improvement over all other playback options including the factory supplied ASIO driver for my AURALIC VEGA.
Scotty
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The HAL MS-3 will be driving the new 16 channel dspMusikLCD for The Megaliths speakers with the digital crossover outputs into the 22 channels of amps needed for the system.
The 10 - Parasound Halo A23's and 2 - Rythmik Audio HX800 servo amps are already setup waiting on the new dspMusikLCD to arrive next week.
The MS-3 driving the 8 channel dspMusikLCD sounds excellent in its role as the heart of the digital replay system running Windows 10 64bit OS. Foobar2000 is running the ASIO USB driver for the dspMusikLCD for either the 8 or 16 channel system. Along with being the player, it is also doing MathAudio RoomEQ room correction via the VST plug-in version.
Any analog inputs are going to the new 24bit/192KHz ADC module in the dspMusikLCD to feed the DSP crossover. Multiple customers route their preamp to the ADC inputs with excellent results.
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After software testing, the latest version of Room EQ Wizard now supports 24bit/192KHz response testing with the dspMusikLCD system. This makes the MS-1,2 or 3 fully capable using the windowed response measurements to design speaker crossovers for the dspMusikLCD.
Any MS-1,2 or 3 Music Server can have REW installed for use with the dspMusikLCD.
There are some new capabilities in work to use the measurement data from REW with the dspMusikLCD. These will be discussed once the system is completed and ready for use.
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For anyone with a MS-1, MS-2 or MS-3 running Windows 10, the Fall Creators update 1709 would not install properly on my machines here.
The solution was to get MS Media Creator and create a DVD with the Win10 64 bit update. Ran it from Win 10 and the update was successful.
Now of to some line array speaker measurements with the MS-3 and dspMusikLCD 2x16 digital crossover.