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John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona

108.169.2.66
Posted on April 18, 2016 at 15:59:52
Sordidman
Audiophile

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



Running with the LIO, & connected via a custom internal 7v LPS. They say it was pretty much a "hit"





"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.'"

 

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RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 18, 2016 at 16:20:10
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 I want to purchase one for my office. Do you know when it ships?

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 18, 2016 at 16:44:13
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 It's going to ship in two batches, - first production run for those who signed up for the mailing list. And then the second production run.

No firm date yet, - but the rumor is that it's imminent.

I'll probably post when it ships, or when i receive mine.



"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: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 18, 2016 at 17:26:27
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 Thank you very much Sordidman.

It is obvious many on this board will dump on it. It is basically a tweak free zone, with the Regen built in and a clean signal path.

All that is left to do is enjoy music. It won't go over well here.

Call me crazy, but the uRendu with an iFi Micro iDSD is an $1200 digital front end that would rival multi thousand dollar set ups of yesteryear.

 

RE: "many on this board will dump on it", posted on April 18, 2016 at 19:58:46
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 John Swenson is a pretty savvy guy, so if he had anything to do with it I would think it a high value piece of gear.

What interests me most is that it might offer a streaming solution for TIDAL and QOBUZ through Logitech Media Server, however that might work.

I await the 'Sordid One's' review.



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

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 04:05:43
SBGK
Audiophile

Posts: 444
Joined: March 22, 2012
 the light bulbs look a bit dim, better with leds
http://mqnplayer.blogspot.co.uk/

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 05:27:47
Mr_Steady
Audiophile

Posts: 2042
Location: North Florida
Joined: August 19, 2014
 Well I don't want to be the first to criticize this, but the tube output stage does raise some questions.

They appear to be the Svetlana SV-572. That tube went out of production ten or fifteen years ago, and I don't think they will ever be made again. You used to could find them on eBay. They are a mechanically fragile tube. That is, they don't travel long distances well. Something to think about as you try to stockpile a reserve of tubes.

The only info I could find about how they are used in this player is that they are used as a linestage. I don't know why they chose a power triode for linestage work. The 572 is damn near a transmitting tube. Those thoriated tungsten filaments sure do look cool though don't they?


-----------------------------------------------------------
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!

 

Dim bulbs are always a big concern -t, posted on April 19, 2016 at 06:56:53
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: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 07:04:49
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 That's an interesting observation, but the thread is about the Sonore uRendu streamer. So....

 

RE: "many on this board will dump on it", posted on April 19, 2016 at 07:06:22
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 It does support TIdal and Qobuz, via Squeezelite and DLNA.

 

microRendu is just the small outboard box., posted on April 19, 2016 at 07:12:06
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 The LIO has a 7v linear power module that was custom designed for Axpona as an insert to the DAC/Integrated.

The more these little boxes pile up, the more linear power supplies & expensive connecting cables we want/need to buy.

I just recently heard & read about Vinnie's stuff. I would like to hear it, but it would be very unlikely that I would ever want to own any of it. The tubes do indeed look very cool; likely they would give my cats the opportunity to knock over more than just my speakers.

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.'"

 

It's finally the SBT killer that many folks have been waiting for -T, posted on April 19, 2016 at 07:13:02
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: "many on this board will dump on it", posted on April 19, 2016 at 07:16:39
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 You'll have to come over and listen to it, once it gets here......

Just got the fiber link all wired in and happy and tested. And, - this week will likely bridge the two NICs in the NAS.



"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: It's finally the SBT killer that many folks have been waiting for -T, posted on April 19, 2016 at 07:21:03
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 This is true, although I think there have been decent SBT replacements around for years, but not anything like this.

But rest assured some will complain about the lack of screen. But headless is absolutely the only way to go for best sound.

 

Way cool, posted on April 19, 2016 at 10:10:32
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37568
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Here's a link for anyone interested. I might just have to get one myself. :)

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 10:19:18
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 If only they made it with some other output format than USB, I'd order one right now, I too like/trust the Swenson. Sorry, not interested in USB output, it's just another can of worms I was glad to dispose of, and stick with the cans of worms I already fish with (they need less boxes and tweaks to sound satisfactory, to me).

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 10:42:32
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46278
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 As Sordidman said, the microRendu is just that tiny silver box in the picture.

As for the 572 tube, you can still get them but not Svetlana branded. It was indeed a popular low cost HF (~2MHz - 30MHz) transmitting power tube or HF power amplifier tube back in the day.

Cary Audio also used it in a couple audio amps many years ago. Dennis Had also used it in older Dentron HF power amplifiers - in his past life before he started Cary Audio.

You can still get Shuguang 572B, but beware some are rejects.

Taylor 572B are available from RF Parts Company, a reputable outfit.


 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 11:55:44
Sordidman
Audiophile

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

Well, - with the Regen built in, and its power configuration, many of those outboard boxes may no longer be needed, - depending on your DAC/player's inputs.
Of course, there are a bunch of other devices that use SPDIF, AES/EBU, optical outs... YMMV....

"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: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 12:01:45
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 I hear you too..but...most DACs with small foot prints have USB inputs only, and it is a good bet buyers will be pairing it with similarly priced converters... and USB insures all resolutions come through with no compatibility issues.

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 12:16:12
cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 3208
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000
 I get what you and Sordidman are saying. I was glomming on to the LMS-compatible/SBT replacement aspect. But "better".

It makes no diff to me how large the unit is, as it would pale compared to any other piece in the system, never mind the speakers. Now I'm starting to think there's a portable or headphone side to this, which I didn't think of, if size is of some concern. I guess I'm still missing the previous Swenson SBT replacement that got canned. Just want a better "analog" digital output. Actually, just as good would be fine too. Or a gift of more SBTs. Really, for what I listen to, and even the occasional 24/192 classical, the SBT is fine for my music files. Don't need a display either, never use it.

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 12:28:57
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 No worries. I never saw it, or any of the other cool little streamers as SBT replacements. The SBT was great but time has moved on and there much more sophisticated implementations. Don't get me wrong, When Logitech stopped supporting the SBT, they made a big mistake.

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 14:04:57
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 You do know about the Auralic Aries Mini?

wireless... Analog out... wired, (should be soon) capable of UPnP, which could compete with a SBT. SPDIF, too...




"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: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 19, 2016 at 17:11:05
Mr_Steady
Audiophile

Posts: 2042
Location: North Florida
Joined: August 19, 2014
 I didn't even see that little box. I did google the microrendu and came up with the same photo S posted. I was thinking there wasn't anything "micro" about it. Also, power tubes for a power amp makes more sense. :)

Live and learn.


------------------------------------------------------
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!

 

RE: "this week will likely bridge the two NICs in the NAS.", posted on April 19, 2016 at 17:44:12
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 Is that even legal in California?

I try to keep my NICs out of my NAS, but that's just how I roll.




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

 

RE: "this week will likely bridge the two NICs in the NAS.", posted on April 19, 2016 at 19:15:46
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46278
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
That's San Francisco, CA! It's probably legal AND encouraged. ;-)



 

I actually heard it..., posted on April 20, 2016 at 04:47:57
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ...and loved it at Axpona. Its hard to say what contribution the uRendu made to the overall sound but the sonics were wonderful. It was airy and expansive in soundstage, never hard. Very analogue like. Vinnie said he loved the uRendu and believed it improved the sound about 20%. He said he didn't want to say 50% because that would be a bit much but he was very very bullish on it.

Btw it was SV811 tubes.

 

Thanks, posted on April 20, 2016 at 06:34:31
Sordidman
Audiophile

Posts: 13665
Location: San Francisco
Joined: May 14, 2001
 My patience is just about gone, - space on the rack has been available for way too long. Power supply is plugged in, waiting......

"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: Thanks, posted on April 20, 2016 at 07:44:36
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Me too.

 

as far away from the USA as I possibly can get -t, posted on April 20, 2016 at 08:46:03
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: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 21, 2016 at 00:53:51
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 640$ !?!?!

1. With free software (squeezelite) build by others and other SW
nobody really needs
2. Without powersupply


That's IMO a joke!!!


I'd bet my 40$ RPI plus 20$ tweaks plus iPower is not doing much worse.
Perhaps I'd have to add an iFi iPurifier2.
But that gets me into the 200$ region!
Not to forget I'm ten times more flexible with such a solution.


"Audiophiles" ask to get fooled - the story continues!


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

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

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 21, 2016 at 02:11:43
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
 My reservation about valves that stick out, without mechanical protection, is that they are intrinsically unsafe. Anyone in UK who gets hurt by one of these will probably win big in a court case.

 

The Modern World, posted on April 21, 2016 at 05:11:17
Mr_Steady
Audiophile

Posts: 2042
Location: North Florida
Joined: August 19, 2014
 Much about the modern world is intrinsically unsafe. Picture two automobiles hurtling at each other at 190kph with only a yellow strip of paint in the middle of the road separating them, and they pass each other with maybe 50cm to spare. You are wholly dependent that the oncoming car isn't piloted by someone who is legally blind, retarded, mentally ill, drunk, on drugs, preoccupied with something like an electronic device, doesn't have a bee flying around in the car with them, kids aren't fighting in the back, or just plain have their head up their ass.

Exposed valves pale in comparison.


-------------------------------------------------------
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!

 

RE: John Swenson's/Sonore microRendu at Axpona, posted on April 21, 2016 at 07:09:10
Isaak J. Garvey
Industry Professional

Posts: 1207
Location: Hollywod, CA
Joined: January 7, 2016
 Just stop it already. Definitive opinions about things you have NOT HEARD.

Design your own motherboard and source the best parts, not the crap you subscribe oo, then tell us how much you can sell it for. Not to mention a built in REGEN.

 

LoL !!, posted on April 22, 2016 at 20:43:18
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46278
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Just another thing to complain about in old age. I suppose valves can be unsafe if you handle them while hot, but so can a cup of coffee. But the funny thing is, some morons have actually sued over hot coffee! Some folks might sue over hot valves. Who knows these days.




 

RE: LoL !! Lack of Safety Culture, posted on April 23, 2016 at 04:18:54
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
 Not allowed in EU generally .I guess IT 'system managers' feel that they can do what they please out of ignorance.

But this is a stupid attitude.

 

RE: LoL !! Lack of Safety Culture, posted on April 23, 2016 at 18:39:47
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46278
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Not allowed in EU generally.

I'm not in the fricken EU, thank God!

I guess IT 'system managers' feel that they can do what they please out of ignorance.

How do IT 'system managers' relate to running equipment with exposed vacuum tubes? 1) I'm not an IT systems manager. 2) But I've run equipment with exposed vacuum tubes many times.

For some of our concerned EU friends, the trick is to not cuddle up to, kiss, suck on, lean on, or touch the vacuum tubes at all while hot. Similarly when driving a car, the trick is to not crash it. Or trip over your own two feet while walking across the street. These too can be dangerous but the nanny state can't protect everyone from their own stupidity. So be careful.



 

RE: LoL !! Lack of Safety Culture- Sigh is, posted on April 24, 2016 at 00:00:30
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
 the only possible response to posts such as yours on the subject

 

RE: LoL !! Lack of Safety Culture, posted on April 24, 2016 at 02:35:19
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 For some of our concerned EU friends,

These days, allowing for national and regional variations, safety regulations are broadly comparable, not least because many are set by international bodies. (I accept that many EU "regulations" are back-door protectionism. Those of us living, however reluctantly, in the EU know that our concerned US friends' government would never behave like that.)

the trick is to not cuddle up to, kiss, suck on, lean on, or touch the vacuum tubes at all while hot.

My concern is not just for the adult with interesting habits - your syntax is unclear but I take it you didn't learn those "donts" the hard way - or even the one who has an otherwise trivial accident with a metal-handled broom. It's more for the child whose curiosity leads it to contact the high voltages tube circuits typically rely on.

 

RE: LoL !! Lack of Safety Culture, posted on April 24, 2016 at 08:39:22
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46278
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 It's more for the child whose curiosity leads it to contact the high voltages tube circuits typically rely on.

Of course, and it's the responsibility of parents to keep the child safe. Some inmates have sold their vacuum tube gear while others put tube cages on them if children are in the households. We don't need the government to regulate such things. IMHO we are already over regulated by our governments.



 

RE: LoL !! Lack of Safety Culture, posted on April 24, 2016 at 12:22:27
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 Same problem with my beryllium tweeters. I couldn't use these if I had children (or cats) in my household, otherwise highly poisonous beryllium dust might get created and inhaled.

But then, I wonder how highly poisonous this stuff is. As a 12 year old radio ham I played with liquid mercury, lead based solder, and even managed to burn my fingers on RF on an antenna coupler (no pain, just the smell of burning flesh). I also managed to touch an active secondary of a neon sign transformer. That was exciting, as I work up across the room with no recollection of what had happened.

I am a firm supporter of the Darwin Awards. :)

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

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