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Though it's named after the Roman god of sleep, I found nothing lethargic about the Morpheus. I'm happy to report that, like some other R-2R DACs I've heard, it takes music out from behind the glass wall of "digital sound" and renders it in a vivid, fleshed-out manner. R-2R DACs often get knocked for rolled-off frequency extremes and a sound that has a generalized way with detail, but this one managed to dig out copious detail from every recording I played and brought to the game a pristinely extended treble and authoritative bass—strengths associated with delta-sigma DACs. More than any…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: 24-bit, nonoversampling digital/ analog converter with volume control. Digital inputs: AES3 on XLR, S/PDIF electrical on RCA, S/PDIF optical on TosLink, choice of either USB or I2S (the latter over RJ45). Analog outputs: 1 XLR, 1 RCA. Maximum output level: 4V balanced, 2V single-ended. Output impedance: 100 ohms (balanced and single-ended). Frequency response (44.1kHz sample rate): 1Hz–20kHz, +0/–0.25dB. Channel separation: 120dB.
Dimensions: 11.4" (290mm) × 2.4" (60mm) × 9.8" (250mm). Weight: 7lb (3.2kg).
Finish: Silver or black.
Serial…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Garrard 301 turntable in a Box Furniture Co. plinth; Thomas Schick 12" tonearm; Hana Umami Red cartridge; Ortofon SPU Classic G cartridge; Zu/Denon DL-103 cartridge.
Digital sources: Sonnet Hermes network bridge, Denafrips Terminator DAC; Denafrips Iris digital-to-digital converter; Sonore opticalRendu; Roon Nucleus+; Small Green Computer sonicTransporter i5 server running Roon Core.
Preamplification: Shindo Aurieges preamplifier; Parasound Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifier; Auditorium 23 SPU step-up transformer.
Power amplifiers:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Sonnet Morpheus with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"), repeating some tests with the magazine's Audio Precision APx555 system. The AES3 and coaxial S/PDIF inputs accepted 16- and 24-bit data sampled at rates up to 192kHz; the optical TosLink input accepted data sampled up to 96kHz. I wasn't able to examine the Morpheus's performance via its USB input because this was fitted with a RJ45 jack, presumably for an I2S connection from Sonnet's Hermes network bridge, which I didn't have at hand for the measurements…
Manufacturer's Comment
Our heartfelt thanks to Alex for the wonderful review! The measurements of Mr. Atkinson exactly match our measurements. However, we just have a comment on his suspicion that the jitter measurements are the result of the receiver that was used. The J-test is actually a way of determining jitter that is not based on an actual time measurement. The J-test assumes a side effect due to jitter and has more to do with modulation effects caused by jitter. Modulation of that stimulus can only be correct in the presence of a steep digital filter, which is lacking in the…
Capital Audiofest 2021 kicked off this morning with a heady air of excitement coursing through the sold-out host venue, the Twinbrook Hilton in Rockville, Maryland.
By 9 am, a line was forming at the registration booth. Show director Gary Gill busily checked in show attendees and aligned press folk with their pens, badges, hand sanitizer, and directory.
There were no reserved tickets: It’s first come, first served. Parking at the Hilton was packed, but the hotel across the street appeared to have more parking space.
Even before the 10 am start time, the…
Gayle Sanders, founder of MartinLogan, brought Bethel Connecticut–based Eikon Audio’s line of loudspeakers and electronics to Capital Audiofest’s Lincoln room, the gear arranged into two systems.
The Image1 System included the Eikontrol System Control Module (specifically the Eikontrol2, a prototype, which when ready will be Bluetooth equipped and a Roon Ready endpoint) and a pair of Image1 floorstanding loudspeakers connected with balanced Eikontrol interconnects. This system is priced at $25,000 in standard veneer, $19,000 in painted black or white. Eikon refers to the active…
In the third floor Eisenhower room, Valerio Cora brought his Acora Acoustics SRC-2 Loudspeakers ($37,000/pair) joined to the Transrotor Massimo turntable ($16,800) equipped with the Transrotor SME tonearm ($4300), the Dynavector DRT XV-1t cartridge ($9450). The Massimo was also equipped with a secondary arm, the Charisma Musiko ($2500) armed (as it were) with the Charisma Signature One cartridge ($3800).
Phono preamplification duties were handled by an Audio Research Ref PH10 ($33,000), from which the output passed to an Audio Research Ref 10 preamplifier ($33,000) and then on…
GT Audioworks presented their Reference 3 Planar Ribbon Speakers ($49,000/pair), which debuted in January 2021.
Described thusly at the GT Audioworks website—“Full range planar driver, 72" x 10", Ribbon tweeter, 72" x1/2," [at] 4 ohms, 92dB, 40Hz--30kHz,” with an active, optional subwoofer (60Hz—15Hz)—these large planar speakers and subwoofer columns were driven by Pass Laboratories XA160.8 monoblocks ($27,300/pair). Preamplification duties were performed by the Pass Laboratories XP-32 preamp ($17,500). A VPI HW-40 Direct Drive turntable played vinyl into a Pass Laboratories…
When I walked into the Volti Audio/Border Patrol Audio/Triode Wire Labs’ room, Volti’s head honcho Greg Roberts said, “Ken, remove that mask.” I did as the man asked, as all present were vaccinated, and accepted a happy hour drink from Triode Wire Labs’ Pete Grzybowski. I saw Border Patrol’s Gary Dewes smile, and knew I was with friends.
I use and have favorably reviewed these mens’ products. But that doesn’t stop me from marveling when I hear the exceptional sound this trio perpetually brings to shows.
Here at the Capital Audiofest, the complete system consisted of an…