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The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1

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Posted on April 6, 2015 at 17:16:49
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 I am simply amazed at the recent upgrade for the Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1. It is the best digital I have yet heard; really sounds analog-like and beyond.

New oscillators, new discrete IV section, new USB Module board, and an FPGA to select PCM or DSD are some features.

Playing with the new JPlay Streamer, this is a killer combination.

 

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RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 7, 2015 at 07:51:29
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1988
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 Can you give us an idea of how much we're talking about here?

Including the Crimson w/w out silver trannys etc.

Thanks

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 7, 2015 at 08:05:46
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Crimson / Quotient $9000

Crimson / Quotient /Silver Transformers Approximately $19500

The Silver transformers' price is approximate. It is quoted at the time of order. Yes, the cost for this feature is brutal.

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 7, 2015 at 12:52:30
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Hi Steve,

That was an wonderful review I enjoyed it...

Gordon is a special guy, and I don't mean special ed! :)

He is a great designer, and really understand good sound.



 

Thanks Bob, posted on April 7, 2015 at 13:26:30
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 The Crimson / Quotient has surpassed the sound of my MSB Analog DAC / Analog Power Base so much so, I can't believe it.

Gordon has a bunch of cool things in the works; a Quotient board for the Cosecant, and a board that I won't discuss since it's still in the mind of the designer. But I would love to get it.

 

Can't say I'm surprised..., posted on April 8, 2015 at 08:39:11
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001

Been following his creations since the early 2000's.

Best sound in show at RMAF 2014?

Could very well be. Don't recall the exact name/version of the DAC he was showing at the time, but it looked a bit like the one in your review.

And the plasma tweeters on the Vaughn speakers were icing on the cake.


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Not to hijack: But..... I am really looking forward to , posted on April 9, 2015 at 09:30:40
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 reading the Audiostream review of the SoTM. Are you doing it? I am also really hoping that good comparisons are performed.

Cheers,


"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"

 

RE: Not to hijack: But..... I am really looking forward to , posted on April 9, 2015 at 11:14:38
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Michael will be doing the review.

 

Thank you for the info -t , posted on April 9, 2015 at 14:31:10
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 .

"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 9, 2015 at 17:59:18
Abstraction
Audiophile

Posts: 78
Location: Upstate New York
Joined: October 15, 2007
 Well, think of it. It times get hard, you could junk out the silver.

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 10, 2015 at 13:35:38
Rich Brkich
Dealer

Posts: 832
Location: Near Syracuse, New York
Joined: April 3, 2000
 Nice review! Gordon will be/is porting the Quotient module (or a version of it) to the Cosecant and I am looking forward to hearing that (in our demo Cosecant) after reading your review!

Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Ownwer/Operator Signature Sound

 

Same one in copper, posted on April 13, 2015 at 11:25:49
Gordon Rankin
Manufacturer

Posts: 2928
Joined: June 9, 2000
 Yea I can't afford my own stuff in Silver :)))

Thanks,
Gordon
J. Gordon Rankin

 

Thanks Steve, posted on April 13, 2015 at 11:27:34
Gordon Rankin
Manufacturer

Posts: 2928
Joined: June 9, 2000
 Steve,

Thanks for the review and the nice comments. As you know this took a long time and about 20 prototypes.

Getting more of the Q1's made now and then try and cram all this stuff into 1/4 the size required for a Cosecant.

Thanks,
Gordon
J. Gordon Rankin

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 13, 2015 at 22:53:55
EduardG
Audiophile

Posts: 284
Location: So. Cal
Joined: May 30, 2002
 wouldn't you sell your gold Rollex first?

 

Ah yes, the case of the Cobbler's children., posted on April 14, 2015 at 09:33:01
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001

OK, the copper sounds plenty good!




First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 01:47:10
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
Really amazing. A $19.000 DAC still needs Jplay to sound good !?!?

No comment. You finally got me speechless.


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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 05:40:20
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Yes, it is far easier to hear differences in software with a revealing DAC like the Crimson.

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 06:58:20
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 After years of hanging around here, you still havn't understood anything.

It's a major flaw of a DAC, if the DAC doesn't manage to filter out physical changes or issues on the USB bus.

With a high quality DAC you should not experience any changes - no matter what source, OS or software is feeding the DAC. (Assumption: bit transparency - that's given with pretty much all audiophile playback software).

As a matter of fact, your revealing DAC reveals all its weaknesses on its own USB interface. That's what you hear.

Enjoy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 07:10:56
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 "After years of hanging around here, you still havn't understood anything"

We have been down this road together many times.

Actually, supplying a clean source for the 5v USB significantly reduces the differences between USB cables.

But software can make a difference; more easily heard on higher quality DACs. This is what I have found in my experience evaluating many DACs.

Not much more to say.

viel spaß

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 09:07:47
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Look. In the early days I almost got stoned by people who didn't hear a difference after SW optimizations. Even Gordon was denying that there are differences for a long time. I do know very well, what differences they can make.

I'm doing software optimizations since almost 10 years.
And that goes down to OS kernel optimizations.

All these optimizations have nothing to do with the value of a bit. A 1 remains a 1 and a 0 a 0.

Software optimizations on the transport side improve the stability of the stream. Usually the system gets less stressed.
The less stable (powersupply, mainboard, USB interface) your transport, the more impact you'll experience from software optimizations. That's my experience.

And yes. A Schiit Wyred reclocks and repowers the stream and also filters some noise out. We know since years that active USB hubs (reclockers) will impact the stream. With optical USB you fight the noise. Asf.

However. All this and more boils down to the inability of the DAC to cope with the physical challenges originated at the "upstream" equipment.

There are DACs with reclockers, isolators, well done grounding schemes,
femto clocks, great powers supplies and still there are differences.

Unfortunately Gordon ran out of ideas after introducing his async USB stuff. Otherwise he probably would have solved the issue by now.
On the other side. Why should he? People are paying 19k for an imperfect
DAC. I think he can live with that.



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blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 12:23:45
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Your conclusions are absurd. You are suggesting that Gordon's DAC is imperfect and not worth the money. I accept the fact that all of the DACs I have evaluated are imperfect.

The Crimson more than holds its own in the $20K and over club. As a side note, I have arranged an evaluation of the $24K Weiss Medus DAC.

I'll let you know how it stacks up after I try it with Pure Music, Audirvana Plus, JRiver Media , Amarra, JRiver Media for Windows, Foobar2000, and JPlay Streamer. I'll try Fidelizer Pro 6.5 for Windows.

I'll use a firewire cable, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Synergistic Reserach Galileo LE USB cable, JCAT Reference USB cable, Light Harmonic Lightspeed USB cable (both single end and double lead) and a Belkin USB cable.

I'll listen in the early morning, when the sun goes down, late at night, with and without the dog.

I'll listen before and after I argue with my wife.

And these are just a few of the trials I will run to garner your favor. Something I value greatly.


 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 14:20:45
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Steve,

I have learned to ignore Mr. soundcard a long time ago, he is totally bizarre and complains everywhere he goes. No matter what forum he is on, or what thread he gets into he will trash whatever someone else is doing. He must be pretty unhappy, and frustrated so he takes it out on everybody else. Don't let him aggravate you, it is really not worth it. All this talk about this perfect DAC, is stupid IMO. If there ever comes a time that this animal exists, we will see more than likely that software, and the timing in the computer may still make a significant difference in what we hear.

Regards
Bob

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 15:09:37
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 . . . after I try it with Pure Music, Audirvana Plus, JRiver Media , Amarra, JRiver Media for Windows, Foobar2000, and JPlay Streamer. I'll try Fidelizer Pro 6.5 for Windows . . . I'll use a firewire cable, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Synergistic Reserach Galileo LE USB cable, JCAT Reference USB cable, Light Harmonic Lightspeed USB cable (both single end and double lead) and a Belkin USB cable.

I'll listen in the early morning, when the sun goes down, late at night, with and without the dog . . . I'll listen before and after I argue with my wife.

OK, OK, very clever and all that 'cept that (a) we all know you're lost without the dog and (b) you don't say whether you're going to go in sighted or "double blind".

Gotcha. I'm with the dog on this one.

D

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 16:15:57
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 Thanks for reminding me Dave. I'll be sure to close my eyes. And you are right; I'm lost without the dog!

Steve

 

RE: The Amazing Wavelength Crimson / Quotient Q1, posted on April 15, 2015 at 23:03:43
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Lucy might enjoy this. :)

 

And you will be spending the rest of your life on that road..., posted on April 16, 2015 at 08:28:19
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 Yes, better speakers allow one to hear differences in amplifiers.

Yes, better amplifiers allow one to hear differences in source gear.

Yes, better sources allow one to hear differences in recording quality.

No, some people will never understand that.

That said, I have yet to read anything here which clearly states exactly what JPlay does and how it does it, but I am confident it does whatever it does BEFORE the signal reaches the computer's USB port and can in no way 'fix' any problems associated with digital to analog conversion.

So I am forced to accept the fact that a better DAC will allow one to hear differences in audio playback software, whatever that is!



First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Bob, please stop...., posted on April 16, 2015 at 08:30:53
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 That's at least twice in the last few weeks I've been forced to agree with one of your posts.

I'd be worried if I were you.


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: And you will be spending the rest of your life on that road..., posted on April 16, 2015 at 08:58:47
Mercman
Audiophile

Posts: 6581
Location: So. CA
Joined: October 20, 2002
 The post was more about the Crimson than JPlay. All I can suggest is that people try it if interested. JE stated he heard no difference with it.

I do hear a very positive improvement with the software. But that's just me.

 

RE: Bob, please stop...., posted on April 16, 2015 at 13:58:41
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
 Apple SUCKS!!!

Sent from an IPad...

Do you feel better now?

 

Thanks, I feel better now...., posted on April 16, 2015 at 16:37:56
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 With fred and cracass on vacation this place was losing its balance.


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

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