Hi Omerta,

How did you fix this issue above?
I too have the Ayre QB-9. Had it for a week now burning in, use to have the Weiss Minerva, but for some reason it became temperamental, so i returned it for the Ayre. Odd thing is, I'm having the same issues with the Ayre now. I'm starting to think its a Mains power thing where i live, i really don't know. Some days it sounds incredible then other days it sounds great, but then sounds bad after a minute of listening. congested soundstange, lack of dynamics and body. Have tried everything, re-formatted the PC with windows 7, I use J river media with WASAPI, and used foobar too with the same results. When the Ayre sounds right, it sound PERFECT... compared to the Weiss, it is a different sound, more warm and soft less matter of fact and in your face, but the Weiss i could have easily lived with too. anyway, back to your issue you had originally sounding like it didn't gel, how did you fix the glitch? Have you experienced any of my troubles?

the issue was not with the DAC, it was the PPP needed to be reset. That PPP had other issues, but once PSaudio graciously replaced it the DAC has been back to normal since. I wanted to go to windows 7 because there is a android controller for Foobar, but the Ayre guys told me if I was happy with how XP sounded they would not recommend changing to 7 at this time. I am using a Python CX pc, Transparent USB, hifi tuning fuse and Symposium Rollerblock JR's which also made noticeable improvements. I has been a while so I would have to remove each tweak and seriously listen to hear exactly what is doing what though.

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Lou...

Krell EVO 707, 600(3), B&W 800D, HTM1D, JL F113(2), Ayre QB-9, Pioneer BDP-23FD, Denon 5910ci, PsAudio PPP, Soloist Premier SE.....Nordost(CAST), Purist Audio, Cardas, Shunyata.....Billy Bags, Symposium, HiFi-Tuning.....GIK acoustics

Thanks for reply.
Yeah i know it's not the Ayre's problem as it is consistent with other DAC's i've used. It's a computer issue or starting to think it is a power/phase issue with the power supply to the hifi and computer. Everything else in the Hi-Fi chain is perfect though. Using Wireworld UltraViolet USB cable which personally did make a difference, sounds is less gritty. Don't see how it could be windows 7 issue, as many people are using this OS with no problems. WASAPI seems to sound best using J River and there is a noticeable difference between WASAPI, ASIO4ALL, and Kernel Streaming. Foobar sounded bit dry, less depth using WASAPI, and to think that in theory there should be no difference in sound, but there certainly is.

Did you try ASIO4ALL with Foobar? I always found that the combo sounded better than I tunes and the minmac. I never tried J rivers though. Only other thing I have A/B compared my server setup too in my system is the 5xemp and never found either to be dry sounding.

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Lou...

Krell EVO 707, 600(3), B&W 800D, HTM1D, JL F113(2), Ayre QB-9, Pioneer BDP-23FD, Denon 5910ci, PsAudio PPP, Soloist Premier SE.....Nordost(CAST), Purist Audio, Cardas, Shunyata.....Billy Bags, Symposium, HiFi-Tuning.....GIK acoustics

Yeah tried ASIO4ALL with foobar, still found it too tight and cold sounding, (ASIO4ALL has same effect on j river too) so for me, I prefer the sound of J River with WASAPI, it just sounds more organic and warmer.
This mind you is coming form a foobar user of over 5 years. Was only last couple months of using J river that i could not go back to foobar for sound quality, but i still do use foobar for converting and tagging tools as it's easier with foobar.

now I have to try J river ... thanks for your impressions between the 2................ EAC is also good software for burning and sorting

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Lou...

Krell EVO 707, 600(3), B&W 800D, HTM1D, JL F113(2), Ayre QB-9, Pioneer BDP-23FD, Denon 5910ci, PsAudio PPP, Soloist Premier SE.....Nordost(CAST), Purist Audio, Cardas, Shunyata.....Billy Bags, Symposium, HiFi-Tuning.....GIK acoustics

Let me know how you go and what you think.

How do you guys like your QB-9's? Anyone update to 192kHz class 2 audio or buy it configured that way? I'm using a Metric Halo LIO-8 via firewire and wonder how they compare.

LIO-8: Premier Converter, Processor, Interface

Joe

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Joe

Speakers: TAD CR-1's , Klipsch Cornwall III's, JBL 4312D. Amps: Conrad-Johnson MV-60, Burmester 911 MK3. Preamps: Burmester 099 dac/preamp, Burmester 077 w/ external power supply and 035. Electronics: Metric Halo LIO-8, SCD-XA5400ES, Aqvox USB2 D/A MKII Dac, Sony SCD-333ES, Audio Logic 24mxl DAC, Apple Mac Pro w/ Lynx Studio AES16e, Mac Mini, Amarra and Pure Vinyl. PurePower 2000AC regenerator. JL Audio F113x2

Hi Joe,
I have the original QB-9. I sent it back for the update. I found the DAC to be excellent. Basically, after the update the QB-9 handled all my hirez music without flaw. The only reason I'm not still using it was that I wanted to start archiving my vinyl at 24/192. As you can see from my signature, we currently use the same DAC.

If I were buying now, I'd consider the Weiss DAC202 as well. Of course it is at a much higher price point.

Reg

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AMP's: MC2301 (2), Shuguang Treasures KT88-Z/Gold Lion ECC81
Preamp: C500C/T, Gold Lion ECC83
TT-1 Clearaudio Innovation Wood, TT-2 & Universal Arms, Goldfinger V2 & daVinci V2 Carts
TT-2: JA Michelle Gyro SE, SME IV.Vi, Lyra Helikon Mono Cart, HR Power Supply
Phono Stage-1: Aesthetix Io Eclipse
Phono Stage-2: Channel D - Seta Model L
Server-1: Sooloos Control15 / 808.3 CDP / MD600 2x3TB / TwinStore 2x3TB / MS600
Server-2: Mac Pro (16G RAM), 2x3Ghz, Quad Core, 4 SSD Drives (Hirez, AIFF)
Software: Amarra 2.3/Amarra Vinyl/Pure Vinyl 3.0 NAS: NetGear READYNAS PRO (4Tb, ALAC)
ADC & DAC: Amarra Model 4 (Sonic Studio Badged: Metric Halo LIO-8 + DSP)
Speakers: Sonus Faber Stradavari (2) Sub's: JL Audio Fathom f113 (2)
Power: PS Audio PPP (4)
Isolation: HRS-MXR Racks (2), SRA Amp Stands (4), Sound Anchor Sub Stands (2)
Room Treatments:(Diffusion): RPG Hemiffusor W1 (Bass Absorption): RealTraps
Cables: Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6.0 XLR's & SC's, Silver Electra PC's

Finding out that the update is available and my dealer did not inform me was upsetting until I found out that he is no longer with them. The new guy I am dealing with also agrees that J Rivers is better than Foobar and also there is an app to run it with my android phone

__________________
Lou...

Krell EVO 707, 600(3), B&W 800D, HTM1D, JL F113(2), Ayre QB-9, Pioneer BDP-23FD, Denon 5910ci, PsAudio PPP, Soloist Premier SE.....Nordost(CAST), Purist Audio, Cardas, Shunyata.....Billy Bags, Symposium, HiFi-Tuning.....GIK acoustics