Audio GD Amanero Combo/ Xmos U8 using and update

[abartels]

Thanks for all the info B0bb, I will try later, I don't have I2S generic, but I figured out rpi does not output masterclock which is needed  for my I2S dac.
Will try usb.
 
Maybe just buy a DAC+ Pro
 
Regards,
 
Alex

 

[b0bb]

  Thanks for all the info B0bb, I will try later, I don't have I2S generic, but I figured out rpi does not output masterclock which is needed  for my I2S dac.
Will try usb.
 
Maybe just buy a DAC+ Pro
 
Regards,
 
Alex

You are welcome.
 
My Picoreplayer image is v1.19, if you used the newer 2.x, the names in the drop down menu are slightly different.
 
In general, I would not rely on the boards with their low cost crystals to provide the master clock, the Crystek XO costs almost as much as the RPi itself.
 
This is part of the reason why some people complain that these boards did not produce the expected sound quality.
 
I2S is a little harder to get going so the USB route is a good first step.
I2S is less bloated than USB and if implemented correctly, lower latency and better jitter performance.
 
You will still need a stable high precision master clock as reference for I2S.
 
This is where the Twisted Pear Cronus comes in and you have the choice of XO, the NDK will work on this board

 

[bballas]

Amanero,usb32 or xmos can work with yulong u200 wifi module? Thanks!

 

[abartels]

  Amanero,usb32 or xmos can work with yulong u200 wifi module? Thanks!

 
Please explain what you are trying to accomplish, it's like saying: traveling boat can work with airplane? Thanks!

 

[abartels]

 

  Thanks for all the info B0bb, I will try later, I don't have I2S generic, but I figured out rpi does not output masterclock which is needed  for my I2S dac.
Will try usb.
 
Maybe just buy a DAC+ Pro
 
Regards,
 
Alex

You are welcome.
 
My Picoreplayer image is v1.19, if you used the newer 2.x, the names in the drop down menu are slightly different.
 
In general, I would not rely on the boards with their low cost crystals to provide the master clock, the Crystek XO costs almost as much as the RPi itself.
 
This is part of the reason why some people complain that these boards did not produce the expected sound quality.
 
I2S is a little harder to get going so the USB route is a good first step.
I2S is less bloated than USB and if implemented correctly, lower latency and better jitter performance.
 
You will still need a stable high precision master clock as reference for I2S.
 
This is where the Twisted Pear Cronus comes in and you have the choice of XO, the NDK will work on this board

 
Hi B0bb,
 
I decided to buy an RPI 3 (I had old 1B version), including HifiBerry DAC+ Pro and a wooden enclosure. Will receive those today.
If I'm not too late at home today I will try how it sounds, without mods, directly analog out. Later on, coming weekend, I will try I2S and some psu mods.
 
Regards,
 
Alex

 

[abartels]

RPI 3 not received today, just came home and fiddled a bit around with RPI 1B (2usb ports only).
Installed PiCoreplayer 1.19 and got it working with my USB Dac.
 
Sounds not bad at all, but in no means comparable to my DualPC setup (Server 2012 / AO / JPlay).
 
Seems compressed, not that airy, not that big and deep soundstage, notice some listening fatigue, but, I think there would be A LOT of people who were VERY happy with this result 

 
RPI powered with 10800mAh battery, all stock, no mods.
 
 
To be honest, I'm impressed!
 
VERY curious what I2S from HifiBerry DAC+ Pro on RPI 3 will bring me,,,,,,,,,,
 
 
To be continued......

 

[b0bb]

  RPI 3 not received today, just came home and fiddled a bit around with RPI 1B (2usb ports only).
Installed PiCoreplayer 1.19 and got it working with my USB Dac.
 
Sounds not bad at all, but in no means comparable to my DualPC setup (Server 2012 / AO / JPlay).
 
Seems compressed, not that airy, not that big and deep soundstage, notice some listening fatigue, but, I think there would be A LOT of people who were VERY happy with this result 

 
RPI powered with 10800mAh battery, all stock, no mods.
 
 
To be honest, I'm impressed!
 
VERY curious what I2S from HifiBerry DAC+ Pro on RPI 3 will bring me,,,,,,,,,,
 
 
To be continued......

 
The RPi is pretty average out of the box, if you see potential in taking it further, a few things need to be done
 
1)MS KMangler has a Linux cousin, the ALSA mixer, it has to taken out of the playback chain
2)The RPI recommended 5V/2A+ powersupply sold by Newark/Farnell is quite good, the thin small soundstage is one symptom of the RPI not liking its current powersupply.
3)Get a RPi2, it is the best of the RPi units, the 1B is single core you will have to carefully tune the ALSA parameters like buffersize and period counts to get results better than what you are seeing. RPi3 is an unknown at the moment.
4)Do not use USB power from the RPi, you may already be doing this.

 

[abartels]

 

  RPI 3 not received today, just came home and fiddled a bit around with RPI 1B (2usb ports only).
Installed PiCoreplayer 1.19 and got it working with my USB Dac.
 
Sounds not bad at all, but in no means comparable to my DualPC setup (Server 2012 / AO / JPlay).
 
Seems compressed, not that airy, not that big and deep soundstage, notice some listening fatigue, but, I think there would be A LOT of people who were VERY happy with this result 

 
RPI powered with 10800mAh battery, all stock, no mods.
 
 
To be honest, I'm impressed!
 
VERY curious what I2S from HifiBerry DAC+ Pro on RPI 3 will bring me,,,,,,,,,,
 
 
To be continued......

 
The RPi is pretty average out of the box, if you see potential in taking it further, a few things need to be done
 
1)MS KMangler has a Linux cousin, the ALSA mixer, it has to taken out of the playback chain
2)The RPI recommended 5V/2A+ powersupply sold by Newark/Farnell is quite good, the thin small soundstage is one symptom of the RPI not liking its current powersupply.
3)Get a RPi2, it is the best of the RPi units, the 1B is single core you will have to carefully tune the ALSA parameters like buffersize and period counts to get results better than what you are seeing. RPi3 is an unknown at the moment.
4)Do not use USB power from the RPi, you may already be doing this.

 
Hi B0bb,
 
Without the ALSA mixer I couldn't get my USB dac to work, but that is of no importance since I will go the I2S route anyway.
 
I will feed as many as possible stages with clean power, 0.8uV noise psu's, I am very fond of them, and if needing more power, I can put them in parallel.
 
Today I received my RPI 3 including HFB DAC+Pro and wooden case. Will start this evening and hope to post some first listening impressions!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
To be continued...

 

[norrest]

Anyone install amanero in AudioGD DAC?

 

[sahmen]

  Anyone install amanero in AudioGD DAC?

I am also interested in the answer to this question, as I have purchased the Amanero384 usb module from Kingwa for my Audiogd Reference 5.32, since November 2015, but I have still not been able to install it because my DIY skills on this particular front are next to zero, and I wouldn't want to mess anything up. I would really appreciate some help from any head-fier who has the skills to do the job.
 
Any helpful input would be welcome. Thanks.

 

[Mahdi8]

I am also interested in the answer to this question, as I have purchased the Amanero384 usb module from Kingwa for my Audiogd Reference 5.32, since November 2015, but I have still not been able to install it because my DIY skills on this particular front are next to zero, and I wouldn't want to mess anything up. I would really appreciate some help from any head-fier who has the skills to do the job.

Any helpful input would be welcome. Thanks.

You will need to join the forum to see the picture but this is a good step by step guide http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php/topic/88775-amanero384-combo-meets-audio-gd-reference-532/?view=getnewpost

 

[sahmen]

^^^  Thanks, but I have seen those same sets of instructions on Audiokarma...  I have even exchanged e-mails with the one who posted them, but that has not given me the courage to attempt installing the Amanero myself.  For one thing, the instructions do not look as easy and straight forward as they might look to others to a DIY NOOB like myself,

 

[Mahdi8]

I've done my own amanero upgrade posted the guide here for Ref7s with NOS module upgrade http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php/topic/109185-teaching-an-old-dog-new-tricks-amanero-384-usb-module-in-audiogd-ref7s/ Massive improvement over the old spdif going through Kingrex UD384 usb spdif. Really happy with the result. works with some issues on my first gen pi (audio clicks on playback) after going through lots of trial and error in buffer settings I finally got it working just nicely. 
 
One thing I notice when installing amanero Ref7 doesn't need master clock input so theoretically the DSP should be able to receive I2s directly from the Pi. has anyone tried this with other AudioGD DAC with DSP1 board?

 

[norrest]

Some one install on NFB-1SE? 

 

[fob69]

Hi,

I bougth a new ES9038pro audiogd DAC and had previously a ES9018 one. The new one has amanero combo usb card, the old one the USB32. My source is powered on lifepo4 battery that had a huge impact on SQ.
I am now at more than 100 hours of use with the new dac and i don't have the wide stage, black screen i had with the previous one. I suspect amanero card don't get the benefit of my low noise battery suply on my source i had with my usb32 card (may be it is more isolated).

Is 100 hours burn in enougth for amanero ?
If i switch the cards to make a test with the usb32 in the ES9038, except the reverse slot, may i have other thing i should do ? Do you think it will work without MCU update ?

Thank you,

Bernard