Merry Christmas!! Best wishes for all fellow listeners…
Considering getting the Cascade DAC…
Current source is Esoteric Grandioso 5 units.
What is the recommended module connecting to P1 XD SE? XLR? RCA? Or other option?
Would word sync work with Esoteric P1 XD SE? In Esoteric manual, 10 MHz was specified… cannot find specification on the word sync with MSD input modules…
Would appreciate user experience… and clarification from MSB team…
Best
Welcome to the forum, and possibly the MSB life.
I use the Renderer module for my music listening, but use the Coax and TOSLink module for other inputs, and the plain USB module for computer connection if needed.
At this point you probably should try both modules, and pick the one that sounds the best. Perhaps someone in the Esoteric fora would know if one of the outputs on your player “sounds” better than the other.
I’ll let the experts chime in about the clock output.
If replies are slow here, email one the guys at MSB, they respond quickly. Tis the season though, so they might be doing family time this year.
Good luck on your audiophile journey!
Hi Kevin,
Happy New Year and a belated Merry Christmas!
I have the Cascade with both ProUSB and Renderer modules. My input is from a Roon Nuceus Titan. I also have a Activ Audio filter on the Renderer (I don’t think it is really needed, but it is part of my “belt and suspenders” approach to keeping noise out of the Cascade.
I haven’t noticed a sound quality difference between ProUSB and Renderer. I use Renderer most of the time simply because it allows me more control from the Roon interface.
In the past I trialed an Aurender N20 with SPDIF+Word Clock and ProUSB. I didn’t find any quality difference between the SPDIF and ProUSB. I also didn’t notice a quality difference between using the Roon Nucleus and the N20.
It seems that as long as you can do a bit perfect transfer from your streaming source to Cascade, Cascade produces clean, exact music.
I also use one of the Cascade XLR audio inputs for the output of the phono stage of my turntable. It is dead quiet.
Cascade, all by itself, seems to do an amazing job of isolating itself from the audio connection noise that tries to invade it.
Dan
Thank you Michael. Thank you Dan
Current source is CD/SACD playback and Reel tapes. Slow to adapt to the streaming/computer source…
Will try the modules as recommended….
My experience with Esoteric is that clock made a huge difference…. So wondering if the clock section is compatible MSB Esoteric….
Best
Welcome! I have been out sick and mostly unplugged for the Holidays, sorry for the delays. @Jonathan_Gullman will have to confirm the Word Sync, but I think that is correct.
We are looking into the potential of the ES-Link for SACD transmission, but it is unclear why what is on the HDMI cables as of yet. If both channels are on each cable, there could be potential to make it work. If it is truly split between the two though, it may be a dead end. In that case the XLR input with word sync would be your best bet.
Cheers!
Thank you Daniel… hope you are better…
Glad to know that you are working on ES-Link option… if yes, that would be great… look forward to have this option soon
Awaits Jonathan’s comment on word sync
Best
Esoteric gear for some reason uses a 10MHz reference clock as the clock input, they don’t use word sync.
We don’t support 10MHz as it’s not useful for audio playback. The best clocks to keep product in sync is either word sync (44.1kHz or 48kHz) or the master clock (22.5792MHz or 24.576MHz). These native rates are the most useful for audio playback and keeping everything in sync.
10MHz is very common in scientific test and measurement equipment. For example, 3 of our R&D measurement devices support a external 10MHz clock input. This is why 10MHz clock standards are so much cheaper as they are more mass produced. Audio playback doesn’t need 10MHz so all audio clocks are generated from the 10MHz clock adding vast amounts of phase noise (jitter).
We go more into clocks here on our website:
Learn More About MSB Clock Technology - MSB Technology.
Hi Jonathan,
Appreciate your clarification.
With or without the clock function, already placed order to local dealer….
Looking forward to listening….