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• Hi I am curious - if I buy a TT2 - why would I need this ? What advantages does it bring ?

  Thanks Vincent

• Jay, the M-Scaler is a digital-to-digital device. Hence PSU cannot affect sound quality, per-se. The only possibility is for less analog noise on the dual BNC to the hugo2 and thus corruption of the D/A analog side. But now this link is gakvanically isolated.
  I come to you for your technical advice ...so in your full review please clarify your comments.
  Thanks

  • Hey Daniel! Technically, it shouldn't affect sound quality...but for whatever reason, it does. A digital-to-digital device such as the SOtM tX-USBultra also benefits heavily from a better power supply. I'll definitely touch upon this in my M Scaler review, with comparisons to batteries and high-end supplies.

    • Jay, forgive my brutish reply but you are held in esteem to be knowledgeable about why a DDC PSU affects SQ 'for whatever reason' so I don't know why you cloud this with mystery. Its no mystery - its all about PSU affecting the DDC's emission of analog RF noise into the metal conductive chain and affecting downstream analog equipment. Many audiophiles (you?) think a better PSU on a DDC changes the bits - wrong - they are always the same. The PSU just colors the DDC's analog noise to change the tone/character of the DAC's D/A modulated signal.
      Rob Watts says RF noise is insidious and now M-Scaler has galvanic isolation on the link from the DDC to the DAC ...so we no longer need ferrites to quash this RF noise. If you hear an audible difference by changing PSU's or other power variables ...then it must mean that the RF noise is still getting through (add more ferrites!) or backing up through the AC mains to other equipment.
      I'm looking forward to your review!
      Dan

      • You're totally right. I was just being lazy in my response. Whatever reason = many reasons. Bits don't change and we're hearing RF noise. Power supply design matters and I'm suspect it's going to still make a difference, even with galvanic isolation on the M Scaler. We'll see!

        • @Daniel, The PSU affects the clock and digital circuits. The cleaner and lower impedance the PSU, the cleaner output you get from the DAC.
          When bits are transmitted in the real world, they are subjected to the effects of physics: jitter, noise from PSU, self noise from voltage regulators and components, impedance, vibrations, etc.
          If bits are bits, try running a USB cable for 10m and watch the bits deteriorate.

• I guess I'd be a little more excited if my Hugo 2 hadn't been in the repair shop (factory authorized repair of unit originally purchased by me new) for the past 3 months waiting on a new board. I don't doubt the sonics, but the Chord customer service has been terrible.

• Am I right in thinking that if we fed optical to the m-scaler, then there would be no need for an expensive server like the Innuos Zenith SE since the optical connection will get rid of all noise b4 the mscaler gets the signal ??

  • The m-scaler sounds better when fed from TOSlink rather than USB, my experience, quite a noticeable difference. My system for info- Eversolo DMP-A6 ME, TT2-M-Scaler, Michi X3, B&W 804 D4

• Hi Jay,

  Just put in an order for the MScaler and Hugo TT 2. What BNC cables are you using atm? Do you think longer cables will still positively impact the sq as in the case of the Blumk2? Currently looking at the Habst Digital BNC but them being so pricey, I'm hoping I can get away with a pair of the 0.5m, especially since I'll be stacking.

  Best,
  R.

  • I'll be posting a BNC cable review very soon :)

    • Cant wait! :)