Jitterbug-It Works

[Ishmael]

Slippers and KT music is such a long journey, performing it, listening to it, creating a system that fits your ears, your music, your unique brains "ah Ha" way of hearing.

Far be it from me to bounce stones off the inexplicable that works for you, as we learned early that inexplicable happens and matters. So many lessons, one on point, a very well regarded integrated amplifier with 150 watts of power per channel, replaced our first 90 watts per channek integrated amplifier (lesson two, wish we had kept that one for life), and in our system over the months that followed it was louder, but something was missing. Finally we went back to our long term stereo shop and there found a 50 watt integrated amplifier that literally blew away the 150 watt behemoth, in both dynamics and music reproduction, eyes wide open.

Since then having had vintage gear with power meters we have begun to understand what the first 1-5 watts means in the realm of music reproduction, it's where almost 80% of all music is played, as 1-5 watts in a good system with fairly efficient speakers will fill the room dynamically with music. So with so little power needed any small tweek, like the JB, can have a noticeable effect on the music. The same for all the other tweeks too.

 

[Kt77]

Slippers and KT music is such a long journey, performing it, listening to it, creating a system that fits your ears, your music, your unique brains "ah Ha" way of hearing.

Far be it from me to bounce stones off the inexplicable that works for you, as we learned early that inexplicable happens and matters. So many lessons, one on point, a very well regarded integrated amplifier with 150 watts of power per channel, replaced our first 90 watts per channek integrated amplifier (lesson two, wish we had kept that one for life), and in our system over the months that followed it was louder, but something was missing. Finally we went back to our long term stereo shop and there found a 50 watt integrated amplifier that literally blew away the 150 watt behemoth, in both dynamics and music reproduction, eyes wide open.

Since then having had vintage gear with power meters we have begun to understand what the first 1-5 watts means in the realm of music reproduction, it's where almost 80% of all music is played, as 1-5 watts in a good system with fairly efficient speakers will fill the room dynamically with music. So with so little power needed any small tweek, like the JB, can have a noticeable effect on the music. The same for all the other tweeks too.

Ishmael,

While I'm one of those types whom relies upon common sense, as well as being resourceful when it comes to learning a great deal about musical reproduction - tubes - cabling looms - metal plating used throighout ones systems as means to voice said components to suit ones ears|senses, I've come to realize that more often then not many tend to go through gear without giving it time to burn in properly.........., I've seen people trash tube gear in less then 4 months, when it fact it might need 9 months of play before it comes on sung.

In other instances I've seen|heard where adding this or that type of isolation device or platform underneath certain components enhanced them to the point where each began to play the notes correctly as they should relate to timbre - pitch as well as tonality and texture, yet once again over the last 24 years, I've discovered it's not a case of what one hears..........., in so much as what one doesn't.

It's all subjective, but then again............, I've always preferred to own Integrated's that were rated between 15 - 50 watts per channel, so it seems that your experiment from above does hold weight in my book, and proves to be a very valid point.

 

[slippers-on]

Brotha B,

You just might want to hold off for a minute, as I've heard that the newer version of the iFi Audio IUSB Power that's in the works is adding regeneration to said device..........., yet that might just be a rumor?, but you know that you'll be the first person I report to once mine comes in next month.

Good or bad, it's here long term as I've only noticed a few cases where it or the AQ Jitterbug's don't perform..........., and since I've 4 Jitterbug's in home awaiting the other few pieces, it seems promising enough to say, I'm once again very happy with this thread, yours and the one on the Regen for opening my eyes|ears to what I now hear as a very very very strong alternative to vinyl, as subjective as that sounds.........., it sounds good enough to hold my attention, and then some.

Hey Bro! Is that what you heard it was? I say that because iFI has a contest going on....they are bringing out a new product, but didnt say what it was.....they have a contest going, and the first 5 people that guess it will get one for free. I hope you are correct.....I will wait and see. thanks for the heads up!

 

[Kt77]

Hey Bro! Is that what you heard it was? I say that because iFI has a contest going on....they are bringing out a new product, but didnt say what it was.....they have a contest going, and the first 5 people that guess it will get one for free. I hope you are correct.....I will wait and see. thanks for the heads up!

Good morning little Brotha,

Yeah....., I caught wind of that contest two weeks ago, and as most of them had noticed that said new product is intended to be used with their Gemini USB dual headed, what else could it be that requires it besides an IUSB Power?.

I'm still debating upon whether or not to go after a pair of headphones, as I've grown accustomed to merely turning the volume down during early morning ( 1:00 - 3:47AM ) listening sessions as not to disturb the Queen and Princess of the castle, nor neighbors, yet I'm thinking really hard on adding an iDAC 2, so I'll have one set up in the bedroom, with the other in the main spot that stays put.

And as it custom between us Brotha's, it's my duty to have your back, as it's yours to keep me on point as well.

In a minute Black.

 

[slippers-on]

Slippers and KT music is such a long journey, performing it, listening to it, creating a system that fits your ears, your music, your unique brains "ah Ha" way of hearing.

Far be it from me to bounce stones off the inexplicable that works for you, as we learned early that inexplicable happens and matters. So many lessons, one on point, a very well regarded integrated amplifier with 150 watts of power per channel, replaced our first 90 watts per channek integrated amplifier (lesson two, wish we had kept that one for life), and in our system over the months that followed it was louder, but something was missing. Finally we went back to our long term stereo shop and there found a 50 watt integrated amplifier that literally blew away the 150 watt behemoth, in both dynamics and music reproduction, eyes wide open.

Since then having had vintage gear with power meters we have begun to understand what the first 1-5 watts means in the realm of music reproduction, it's where almost 80% of all music is played, as 1-5 watts in a good system with fairly efficient speakers will fill the room dynamically with music. So with so little power needed any small tweek, like the JB, can have a noticeable effect on the music. The same for all the other tweeks too.

Hahahahahaha!

I have a 150 watt hybrid amp! First 10 are class A! A lot of guys don't know how loud 10 watts can be! In my room, I doubt if I ever reach 5 Watts......my volume control hardly never ever goes past the 9 o'clock mark...im always in class A.....lots of small detail at low volumes as well. I love it!

 

[Ishmael]

Well tomorrow I am picking up 4 more gigabytes of RAM which will raise the RAM in our Dell from the current 4 GB to 6 GB (it can be expanded to 8GB, but being an older computer its RAM is more expensive than the more modern RAM so I am going to see if a partial upgrade fixes the problem). It will be interesting to see if this takes care of the occasional skip problem during play back while using the computer to word process or search the internet. Increasing the RAM was suggested as a fix for this problem.

 

[JoeESP9]

Well tomorrow I am picking up 4 more gigabytes of RAM which will raise the RAM in our Dell from the current 4 GB to 6 GB (it can be expanded to 8GB, but being an older computer its RAM is more expensive than the more modern RAM so I am going to see if a partial upgrade fixes the problem). It will be interesting to see if this takes care of the occasional skip problem during play back while using the computer to word process or search the internet. Increasing the RAM was suggested as a fix for this problem.

If you have 4GB and add 4GB wouldn't that equal 8GB?:saywhat:

 

[John James]

If you have 4GB and add 4GB wouldn't that equal 8GB?:saywhat:

Not with the new math!

 

[slippers-on]

Well tomorrow I am picking up 4 more gigabytes of RAM which will raise the RAM in our Dell from the current 4 GB to 6 GB (it can be expanded to 8GB, but being an older computer its RAM is more expensive than the more modern RAM so I am going to see if a partial upgrade fixes the problem). It will be interesting to see if this takes care of the occasional skip problem during play back while using the computer to word process or search the internet. Increasing the RAM was suggested as a fix for this problem.

Chances are, if your cables arent strickly USB standard and 480 mbps, you will have issues with skipping with iFI. Some cables like Wireworld, exceed the USB standard by a long shot....up to 10.2GBps. This is way beyond the USB standard, and they also tell you this on their site....all their usb cables on their site says this "Exceeds official USB high speed specifications". Thats not good for a lot of DAC's that hold to the USB standard like iFI.

 

[BruceRPA]

Thank you all! :thmbsp:

 

[Ishmael]

Nope Joe & John, the computers RAM has four slots and each one had a single GB of RAM so adding two 2GB RAM and leaving the other two 1GB gets me to six. But still skips even with RAM upgrade when I do mouse click from Word program to Windows Media to run music. Although as I am writing now there has been no drop out.

Slippers good point, but the way the DAC is set up, the data runs from a front USB port directly into the JB and then through the supplied cable to the DAC and then from the DAC again with the supplied cable to the integrated amplifier. Looking at the cables supplied by HRT they appear to be of high quality and you would think that they would provide cables to get the most out of their DAC?

So next pay day will purchase the last 4GB of RAM to bring computer to its max RAM level and see if that removes the occasional skip when mouse clicking between programs while listening.

It really isn't that bad compared to what others seem to suffer from, frequent drops/skips all the time. As is I can easily live with it, but would like to fix if possible. Thanks for your advice comments.

 

[JoeESP9]

I use a 11.1" netbook (AMD E-1, 4GB RAM) running Win10 and Foobar/WASAPI push mode with an external USB HDD all feeding an Emotiva XDA-2 via a USB port. I also use Radio Tuna and Spotify. This setup does not drop or skip anything as long as I run it from AC.

The major difference between your setup and mine is that the netbook is a dedicated music server. It's not used for multi-tasking. I suspect that were I to use another application while playing music I'd get skips and dropouts.

 

[slippers-on]

Nope Joe & John, the computers RAM has four slots and each one had a single GB of RAM so adding two 2GB RAM and leaving the other two 1GB gets me to six. But still skips even with RAM upgrade when I do mouse click from Word program to Windows Media to run music. Although as I am writing now there has been no drop out.

Slippers good point, but the way the DAC is set up, the data runs from a front USB port directly into the JB and then through the supplied cable to the DAC and then from the DAC again with the supplied cable to the integrated amplifier. Looking at the cables supplied by HRT they appear to be of high quality and you would think that they would provide cables to get the most out of their DAC?

So next pay day will purchase the last 4GB of RAM to bring computer to its max RAM level and see if that removes the occasional skip when mouse clicking between programs while listening.

It really isn't that bad compared to what others seem to suffer from, frequent drops/skips all the time. As is I can easily live with it, but would like to fix if possible. Thanks for your advice comments.

Even with the added RAM, chances are you will still have the drop outs. Even with the JB being passive, its not totally sticking to the USB standard either, Audioquest has fudged someplace in the technology.....You will have to use another usb slot on the computer for the JB and add the iFI into the slot just before or after it. The iFI gear is 100% USB standard across the board and almost sure to skip if the associated usb gear feeding it isnt. That has been my experience and what I was told by AMR.

 

[George W]

I am wondering if standard Windows maintenance techniques could help with this issue, for example, optimizing the hard drive or a registry repair program? Also, the computer sounds older if it has a maximum of 6 gigabytes of random access memory. Could this be a computer old enough to have memory paging limitations?

 

[Ishmael]

Great advice all now if I can just figure it out, being dragged into tech savvy-dome here. Starting last first, George, I know after taking the Dell Inspiron 530 into to our local computer store that is is a 8 GB as opposed to 6 GB computer (though rated per spec. at 8GB the earlier edition would only use 6 of those 8 GB, whereas the later could use the full 8GB). Kind of like being told you own a V-8 only to discover when you go to change the spark plugs that two of the cylinders were never bored, so you have a V-6.

Botrytis, the operating system is Windows Vista. We have been holding back on upgrading to see if the Windows 10 is a good system (our daughter hated 8, why won't they leave well enough alone when they get a good operating software, sigh?). I would bet this is not the current USB standard, which I think is up to 3.0 now?

Slippers, you are probably right that to avoid skip we may need to set up a separate server system, but as this is the first foray for us into this brave new world of computer music, I thought this would be an inexpensive learning tool (we have a Naim DAC waiting for a full server system in the main system, so what we learn here we hope will save bundles of money later in setting up this system). So far we are learning a lot, and biggest thing learned is why do it? , the ease of access and ability to find and playback is a real eye opener.

But, what we don't want to get into is the Cell-phone model of throw it all away every three years to upgrade, or, worse the computer model of three years after purchase you cannot find parts or software to keep it running. Dilemma, our CDs are bone simple and you can back up a couple CD players as transports for the DAC so you are pretty much future proof, but then you lose the advantages of the server playback system. You can see this already happening in exotic cars, Lamborghinis are being parked because the $5,000.00 engine management part is no longer being made by Lamborghini, a beautiful paper weight. This is the future of all the zillion dollar exotics, as where will you get the software, engine management computers and senders in 20 years, whereas the Model T and all the exotic cars up to the late 60s will be still rolling along.

Botrytis, if you haven't heard them you should check out the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary Speaker as you note you are a "small speaker hoarder". Just finished listening to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" with these speakers in near field listening driven by our computer system, only a couple drops, and jaw dropping. No, they weren't our KEF Ref 104 driven by our Sansui 8080 in our bedroom (heaven), but they were an awfully big slice of heaven. Can't recommend them high enough, and currently a steal.

 

[JoeESP9]

Great advice all now if I can just figure it out, being dragged into tech savvy-dome here. Starting last first, George, I know after taking the Dell Inspiron 530 into to our local computer store that is is a 8 GB as opposed to 6 GB computer (though rated per spec. at 8GB the earlier edition would only use 6 of those 8 GB, whereas the later could use the full 8GB). Kind of like being told you own a V-8 only to discover when you go to change the spark plugs that two of the cylinders were never bored, so you have a V-6.

Botrytis, the operating system is Windows Vista. We have been holding back on upgrading to see if the Windows 10 is a good system (our daughter hated 8, why won't they leave well enough alone when they get a good operating software, sigh?). I would bet this is not the current USB standard, which I think is up to 3.0 now?

Most Windows memory size problems are related to whether or not you're using a 32 bit or 64 bit operating system. The 64 bit system will easily accept 8GB or more of system memory. Being 32 or 64 bit capable is CPU related. If your CPU doesn't do 64 bits it's time to upgrade.

Windows Vista was just barely OK. Windows 7 was a definite improvement. Windows 8 sucked big time. Windows 8.1 was pretty good. Windows 10 is IMO worth the time and effort to accept the free upgrade. I've upgraded three PC's (2 laptops, 1 desktop) to Win 10. Since upgrading, all three PC's have worked flawlessly. The upgrade process was quite easy and glitch free.

 

[Frank Sol]

Bought two 'bugs today... Locally

#1: Win10 --> River Media --> Kernel Streaming --> Jitterbug --> HiFimeDIY U2 Asynchronous USB DAC --> Bravo Audio V2 (NOS Mullard CV4003) --> ATH-AD700

1st impression... better clarity in the mids

#2 will get plugged into my Oppo 105

 

[Frank Sol]

#2 will get plugged into my Oppo 105

I plugged the second Jitterbug into the rear USB of the Oppo then piggybacked the cable from my external HDD holding my music files...

Not quite as easy to discern a difference as it was with the headphone setup :scratch2: if there is any difference

 

[Frank Sol]

#1: Win10 --> River Media --> Kernel Streaming --> Jitterbug --> HiFimeDIY U2 Asynchronous USB DAC --> Bravo Audio V2 (NOS Mullard CV4003) --> ATH-AD700

Having problems with that ^ arraignment :scratch2:

50% of the time windows 10 does not recognize HiFimeDIY U2

40% of the time it will recognize the HiFimeDIY U2 but music through headphones is garbled with static

The other 10% things work as they should

 

[Frank Sol]

Problem solved - sort of

After reading up on this across the net... Some USB DACs dont play well with the 'Bug

The answer is to plug the USB DAC directly into a computer's USB port and the Jitterbug into a 2nd USB port on same controller (I believe I'm saying that correctly) Win10 recognizes the DAC every time now

Does this hook-up method work as well as the piggyback? I think so. Some people think it's better.