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iPad with 24 bit files / high storage capacity / portability: bit-perfect configurations that work! - Page 4

post #46 of 88
9/11/12 at 10:15am

I checked Openfiler and it should be X86-only as usual. Much higher power consumption for sure.

 

On the other hand, the architecture of GoFlex Satellite and Gauntlet Node is based on ARM instead of X86. Their processors are more power efficient and suitable for mobile purposes.

 

So far we might only have one particular affordable board that should be good enough for doing what we really want:

 

http://cubieboard.org

 

http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/66048-android-powered-cubieboard-is-already-sold-out

 

http://liliputing.com/2012/09/45-cubieboard-allwinner-a10-developer-board-prototype-now-available.html

 

http://www.cnx-software.com/2012/08/31/49-cubieboard-allwinner-a10-open-hardware-development-board

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/cubieboard-a-simple-case/634377460.html

 

Pretty awesome if you ask me. Granted the architecture is ARM but having such tiny board with SATA would be killer IMHO.

 

How about tiny boards with X86 processors? Industrial boards are totally expensive as heck:

 

http://www.dpie.com/miniboards/kontron_ktlx800-pitx-lx800-miniboard.html
http://www.dpieshop.com/kontron-ktlx800pitx-25-sbc-amd-lx800-500mhz-processor-p-1139.html

 

Atom might not be exactly power efficient but at least the prices are not too bad:

 

http://www.fit-pc.com/web/fit-pc/fit-pc2-specifications/

 

There are more options with X86 processors if you were interested:

 

http://www.mini-box.com/Embedded-Systems

http://www.mini-box.com/ALIX-boards

http://www.pcengines.ch/alix.htm

 

Another FYI - look at this "portable" NAS with dual SATA slots:

 

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1135/3/

 

 

Or someone could find a little board cheap enough with mini PCI-express slot and add an adapter like this:

 

http://www.pridopia.co.uk/3132me.html

 

http://www.speeddragon.com/index.php?controller=Default&action=ProductInfo&Id=373

http://www.amazon.com/Elecity-Mini-PCI-Express-Coverter-Adapter/dp/B003SLRU8S

 

 

That cubieboard could very well be closer to a single box solution once we stuff that inside a case with a battery, a hard drive, an ODAC, and an Objective 2 amp. Then we simply use a phone or a tablet to control the playback of that headless system remotely without worrying about the streaming aspect anymore.

 

Eventually someone might see the light and create a more integrated system that includes the entire chain from storage + source component to DAC to amp. Less cables to deal with and only a single source of power is required.

 

 

Another plus with Linux would be bit-perfect playback of high resolutions music without downsampling. That could be achieved with Music Player Daemon as mentioned below:

 

http://blog.agdunn.net/?p=434

http://www.head-fi.org/t/561961/bit-perfect-audio-from-linux

 

http://rednerd.com/2009/02/06/bit-perfect-audio-with-linux-and-mpd

 

Sorry to bring something up with different alternatives but sometimes it could be nice to have other choices.

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post #47 of 88
9/11/12 at 11:20am
Quote:

Originally Posted by seeteeyou View Post

.............

 

 

So far we might only have one particular affordable board that should be good enough for doing what we really want:

 

http://cubieboard.org

 

http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/66048-android-powered-cubieboard-is-already-sold-out

.......

 

That cubieboard could very well be closer to a single box solution once we stuff that inside a case with a battery, a hard drive, an ODAC, and an Objective 2 amp. Then we simply use a phone or a tablet to control the playback of that headless system remotely without worrying about the streaming aspect anymore.

 

Eventually someone might see the light and create a more integrated system that includes the entire chain from storage + source component to DAC to amp. Less cables to deal with and only a single source of power is required.

.........

 

^ Hurry seeteeyou, make one of those "single box solution" and orders (including mine) will flood you :P

 

Seriously though, it is an interesting idea. Does not have to be a single box though (just cubieboard+hard drive+wifi dongle+DAC+battery is good enough). Maybe leave the Objective 2 amp out, since it has its own batteries and many portable amps are available.


Edited by zzffnn - 9/11/12 at 12:11pm
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post #48 of 88
9/11/12 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeteeyou View Post
 

Thank you very much for the interesting infos.

 

Do you know if there are any other battery powered portable wi-fi NAS (DLAN/UPnP) or micro computers (500GB+)?

Any ready solution without DIY mods?

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post #49 of 88
9/12/12 at 7:54am

You are very welcomed and credits of that idea should go to this member:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/326831/my-new-3-watt-dead-silent-usb-linux-music-server-pics-added

 

 

For portable wireless NAS, not that many choices so far:

 

Buffalo MiniStation Air (Battery)

 

EDSLAB WiDRIVE DX-325 (5V power via USB)

 

G-Technology G-Connect (5V power via USB)

 

HyperDrive CloudFTP (Battery)

 

ORICO WDX-8625 (5V power via USB)

 

Patriot Gauntlet Node (Battery)

 

Sabio CM1-Mini Wi Drive (5V power via USB)

 

Seagate GoFlex Satellite (Battery)

 

 

For micro computers with IDE / SATA, there are plenty of industrial boards in picoITX form factor but obviously they cost an arm and a leg.
 

It has be pretty small for a portable rig, power efficient enough to be fanless, performance is acceptable, plenty of room for storage with IDE / SATA, and price tag is reasonable.

 

Where do we find something like that? Personally I cannot see that much demand for such product in the mass market while I was constantly looking for that Holy Grail in the niche market myself.

 

No ideal candidates yet but they could be pretty close:

 

ILong TM-8010 (5V power via DC input, fanless, and IDE to SATA adapter required for 1TB drives)
http://www.i-long.com.cn/chanpinzhongxin-132204-0-item-149521.html

 

eBox 3350MX (5V power via USB, fanless, and SDHC only)
http://robosavvy.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/1704

 

The others are coming with X86 processors from Intel / AMD with different power requirements such as 9V DC or above:

Acer Revo

Apple TV Gen 1

ASUS Eee Box

CompuLab fit-PC

Dell Inspiron Zino

Dell Studio Hybrid

Giada Mini PC

Lenovo IdeaCenter

ViewSonic VOT132

Zotac ZBOX nano

 

 

For the software part, these Linux distros should be the best but only for X86 processors:

 

mpdPup (Puppy Linux)

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=70052

 

VortexBox (Fedora)

http://vortexbox.org/content/123-downloads

 

Voyage MPD (Debian)

http://linux.voyage.hk/voyage-mpd

 

It is necessary to put MPD on cubieboard with packages for ARM processors:

 

http://packages.debian.org/search?arch=arm&keywords=mpd

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MPD


Edited by seeteeyou - 9/12/12 at 8:44am
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post #50 of 88
9/12/12 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeteeyou View Post

Thanks again, unfortunately the same 3 battery powered wi-fi NAS as I've already discovered.

PGN won't work with stock software, BMSA has lower spec than SGFS, so I've already ordered GeFlex Satellite, it should be here in a couple of days, I'll PM you if it works for 24 bit-perfect streaming. The hackseagate guys could eventually boost storage and FW.

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post #51 of 88
9/16/12 at 11:43am

This one is also interesting if you were OK with its price and external battery:

 

http://www.solid-run.com/store/product

 

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=CuBox

 

http://www.solid-run.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=604

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post #52 of 88
9/17/12 at 5:43am
Thread Starter 

Since I'm happy I report that I've the GoFlex Satellite in my hand and tested 24 bit perfect audio data streamed to iPad, even stock player works for supported formats.

Buy it and enjoy.

OT will be updated asap.

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post #53 of 88
9/18/12 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeteeyou View Post

Thanks, that's interesting, but I'm already done with Seagate GoFlex Satellite.

 

OT updated with more detailed info and pics of my portable setup, so you can understand how a non powered USB DAC need to be connected for both power and data transfer.


Edited by Thraex - 9/18/12 at 8:32am
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post #54 of 88
9/18/12 at 9:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thraex View Post


Here my actual portable setup:
 ....USB Hub....  Tekkeon MP1580 (able to pass power + data) ....

Nice work Thraex!

 

I may be missing something. Why do you need that USB Hub though, since the Tekkeon charger can pass power+data? Why not just connect the Tekkeon directly to your iBasso DAC/amp?

 

Also does the Tekkeon have any noise? I have a bigger Tekkeon (which is probably an older 3450 R1 model) that can power laptops, but I found it too noisy when I used it with my DAC+amp a few years ago.  


Edited by zzffnn - 9/18/12 at 9:28am
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post #55 of 88
9/18/12 at 12:39pm
Thread Starter 

Remember most USB chargers are power only so won't pass any data, that's why I've insisted and updated lately point 3) in the OT.

 

The Tekkeon MP1580 has 1x USB OUT female (power/data OUT) + 1x mini USB IN female (power/data IN), only the USB OUT can comunicate to iPad that it's powered (latest iOS always check power requirements less than 20mV).

In my config, iPad/CCK is connected via Tekkeon mini USB IN which ask for power instead of feeding it, so even with only it attached, iPad's warning about power req still present.

I need to add a USB Hub which is powered as a matter of fact, so able to meet iPad power check (this way Tekkeon mini USB IN works, but doesn't works alone internally).

With my D-Tech battery powered USB Hub (1x mini USB IN, 4 USB OUT), I can use it alone when internal batteries are charged, or use the Tekkeon to feed power to all the 4 USB ports.

Pic added for both configs.

 

I don't know if It's possible to use only the USB OUT of the Tekkeon with a special USB Y cable able to pass power + data in any of the 3 directions (generally Y USB cables for external USB HDD are power only at one end), since in a USB hub data are managed upon connected devices requests, in a cable you can't manage data.

However even if it's possible you still need to have the right connector at each end (mini USB or USB? Male or female?).

For example if you buy Tekkeon MP1860A (2 USB OUT female, 1 mini USB IN female) you still need a USB male>USB male cable (not a standard, so rare as well) to connect the CCK USB OUT female.

 

Regarding noise, I've already experienced it in my config, it depend mostly from USB loose connections, mini-USB are much more firm.

When I use Tekkeon USB OUT connected to any USB Hub ports and same ports to USB DAC, I've noise even at lower levels, moving the connector I'm still able to find a position with no low level noise, but it's not a stable config to put in a bag.

With mini-USB IN Hub port I've always no noise at all.

 

To recap do check all: USB IN or USB OUT, data + power pass, connector type and mini-USB preferable.


Edited by Thraex - 9/19/12 at 11:07am
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post #56 of 88
9/18/12 at 7:04pm
Thread Starter 

Further noise tests confirm my previous post: mini-USB connector is better than standard USB, more firm the former more loose and noisy the latter.

I've always a high freq noise when I turn the volume max, but that depends on iBasso D7 since even when connected to the notebook USB port (battery or AC powered) the same noise is present.

Tekkeon MP1580 behaves exactly in the same manner, so not its fault.

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post #57 of 88
9/21/12 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 

Major OT update:

 

My setup is smaller than ever, I've added the latest pic which will be the last since I don't need anything more.

I've just received the On Lite H420B (search eBay to buy) 4x rechargeable batteries powered USB Hub: it works like a charm and no more need of an external USB charger like Tekkeon MP1580.

Since batteries can be purchased at will, no more power problems for the USB Hub!

 

I've worked hard also lately and for Point 3) regarding USB chargers able to pass power + data I'll try to explain things better.

To clarify which USB charger can work with iPad, be careful, most USB chargers are power only and the ones able to pass data too work only via USB OUT, so at least two USB OUT are needed (1x iPad 1x USB DAC). The old solution to use an Y cable doesn't work neither (one of the three end is power only) since latest iOS, because iPad check for power req of device asking data, it's not enough to provide power to the USB DAC.
 

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post #58 of 88
9/21/12 at 1:30pm

Thanks for your nice work! Such a battery powered USB hub that is capable to pass USB data is very useful.

 

That "On Lite H420B" does not seem to be available in USA though (I google'd and searched on eBay, google image and google shopping, found nothing). Do you have an alternative model/product/serial number or name for it? 

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post #59 of 88
9/21/12 at 2:00pm
Thread Starter 

In Italy the direct internet shop is here http://www.onlite.it/shop.asp then search for H420B. The product is very similar if not the same as the Cyberpower CP-H420MP that is sold out but maybe still avaiable somewhere.

If you can't buy it, I think the only option is Tekkeon MP1860A (2x USB OUT, 1x mini-USB IN) or the D-Tech but its battery is very limited.

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post #60 of 88
10/10/12 at 9:31am

I'm newbie. Porgo un caloroso a tutti.

Hello Traex, I have the Seagate Satellite, iPad2 with CCK, K550 and ordered the H420B.

I want tell You, and other Friends, two things:

Do You now if the ibasso d6 is also compatible to CCK? and

Why You don't have considered the ibasso dx100?

Thanks

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