Dan -
Would you mind commenting on how significant the sonic impact of ACTIVE filter was once introduced in the signal path before the Renderer interface? I’m currently using an Ether Regen with outboard clock > Gobel Network Cable > Renderer. However, I’d been keen on demoing the ACTIVE if it was impactful to your sonic quality.
Thanks,
Blake
Hi Blake,
Great to hear you have your Cascade!!
I never did an A/B test. When I talked to Vince he recommended the Activ Audio filter so I just got it. I also got the Green Wave EMI meter (also a Vince recommendation) and found quite a bit of EMI on my AC lines, which leads me to believe there is noise on my ethernet cable. I don’t have a way to measure EMI on my ethernet directly.
Basically I’m not trying to minimize the amount of equipment I have for noise control. If I think it will quiet things down I add it. That’s why I have three home runs and three Audioquest Niagra power conditioners, which noticeably cleared up the sound in a before/after test. In fact one of my audiophile friends is considering a Niagara after hearing the results.
Besides listening, the power coming out of the Niagara has, in effect, no EMI in it (that’s less than 25mV). according to the Greenway. Without the Niagara some of the outlets had EMI levels beyond the range the Greenway can measure.
I didn’t do the twisted wire thing though. I couldn’t understand how it works 
I know it eliminates common mode noise but I couldn’t see how it would eliminate differential noise or ground noise. But you are having outstanding results with it 
. That goes to show one of the mysteries of electricity…
I’m not sure why the Aurender AES/Word clock is better than ProUSB. I could hear no difference when I trialed the Audender. Both are doing synchronous data transfers (which makes it easier to control the digital noise that is inherent in the stream data). The ISL module sends what is, in effect, the word clock to the ProUSB module so the data arrives already synchronized…
The ProUSB module is more isolated than the AES connection is. I would expect the AES connection to leak more EMI into the DD than the ProUSB does… the ProUSB is basically leaking 0 EMI into the DD.
In any case I almost always use the Renderer because it integrates so well with Roon.
Dan
Thanks, Dan. You were supposed to tell me the Activ was a revelation. Without it, your system would be unlistenable! 
.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. My dealer is lending me his Activ. Should have it in my hands and will post my experience.
Will also report back on my experience with the AES/EBU and word clock. Like you, I’m delighted that the Renderer sounds as good as it does. I really hope the former doesn’t sound better in my system. Would be happy to streamline my signal path.
As for the twisting, hard to know how much improvement it’s contributing to my system’s recently elevated sonics. What I can unequivocally hear is difference in attack and slam I hear when my amp is a on a dedicated branch circuit wired with 6 AWG vs 10 AWG.
Hi Blake,
Looks like you are really getting your system dialed in.
See if your dealer can trial you a Niagara 7000. One of the features it has in its amplifier outlets is that it can provide 90 Amps for 25ms. It would be interesting what, if any, difference in attack and slam it made in your system.
Dan
I have one of those Activ filters here on my desk. Just need to find the time to check it out. Curious to hear your thoughts on it after doing some AB’s.
@Dan, have you experimented with audiophile fuses in your systems before?
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Des
Hi Des,
No. I haven’t.
Dan