Audio-Gd Master 7 - Discrete Fully Balanced DAC (PCM1704)

May 19, 2024 at 2:58 PM Post #4,456 of 4,475
Combined to an externally clocked di20/he or di24/he, you get quite amazing sound quality.
Actually, I was very pleased when I had my Pi2AES connected directly to this i2s input.
But then I make an upgrade and connect Ian Canada's Fifo Q7 in the same way and failed.
For some reason, connecting the Fifo Q7's output pins to the Master7's input pins does not produce sound.
It would be interesting to know if anyone has been able to successfully make a similar direct connection.
 
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May 19, 2024 at 3:59 PM Post #4,457 of 4,475
Actually, I was very pleased when I had my Pi2AES connected directly to this i2s input.
But then I make an upgrade and connect Ian Canada's Fifo Q7 in the same way and failed.
For some reason, connecting the Fifo Q7's output pins to the Master7's input pins does not produce sound.
It would be interesting to know if anyone has been able to successfully make a similar direct connection.

What kind of connection?
 
May 19, 2024 at 5:21 PM Post #4,459 of 4,475
from any digital source directly via i2s bus interface without additional hdmi or usb conversions
Confused. Do "I2S bus" means RJ-45 connector?

Avoid. It is less standarised than HDMI and quality is not so good.
 
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May 20, 2024 at 11:34 AM Post #4,462 of 4,475
This is the crux of the question. I would like to know if anyone has managed to get Ian Canada stuff with master7 working. And what prevents them from working together directly.
From the Q7 manual application notes:

2. What kinds of DACs can a FifoPi Q7 work with?

A. Any kinds of SYNC mode DAC..... However, by principle, any master clock mode DAC, such a Hifiberry DAC+, have no way work with any reclockers including FifoPi Q7....


If it means dependancy on the Master clock signal, this is a clue. Ian support should clarify it.
The current documentation on the Audio GD webside says that pin 7 of RJ-45 is unused, but there are traces on the Internet that Master 7 use MCLK sygnal. @FredA posted already confirming it.
 
Aug 5, 2024 at 9:44 PM Post #4,464 of 4,475
yeah, but master7 works with Pi2AES reclocker being connected directly pins to pins without the slightest problem
I tried my PI2AES version 1 on my A-G R7HE mk3 DAC and left and right channels were swapped.

Try a stereo test track to identify if left and right channels are on left and right speakers

Regards Andrew
 
Feb 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM Post #4,465 of 4,475
Good evening everyone
I have had an Audio GD Master 7 dac from the end of 2016 with firmware version V7 for a few years. The DAC is set in NOS mode (the jumper is not inserted in the "Bypass" position). The signal to the DAC arrives in i2S through an Audio GD Di20 interface via an HDMI cable.
From a discussion currently underway with a group of friends, the doubt emerged as to whether it would be better to use the Accusilicon 90/98M clock present on the interface instead of the older (and unknown) clock present on the Master 7.
From what I have been able to understand, a jumper should be placed on the "PLLEN" position inside the DAC and, automatically, the Di20 interface clock would take command of the Master 7.
Is that so?
I didn't find clear indications about this on the AudioGD website.
What also creates even more doubts for me is the fact that in the Master 7 there are four jumperable positions "CLKS1", "CLKS0", "OWS1" and "OWS0", which make me think they refer to clock functions, but there is no mention of these four positions and their function and method of use on the AudioGD website.
Is there anyone who has already resolved this doubt and tried using the Di20 clock?
Have you achieved tangible benefits?
Thank you
 
Feb 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM Post #4,466 of 4,475
"jumper should be placed on the "PLLEN" position inside the DAC and, automatically, the Di20 interface clock would take command of the Master 7"
- this is correct.

From Head Fi Master 7 thread for NOS jumpers

8X OS mode
ON Bypass
OFF IPS0
OFF IPS1
ON PLLEN (when using i2s)

NOS mode
ON Bypass
ON IPS0
ON IPS1
ON PLLEN (when using i2s)

Add an external clock to the DI20 for additional very noticeable improvement
- such as LHY AUDIO OCK-2S or better...
Using a Balanced Isolation Transformer for DI20, Master 7, and external clock to take everything to another level
- such as ZeroZone PT-500 or PT-700S Balanced Isolation Transformer or better....

Cheers, Peter.
 
Feb 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM Post #4,468 of 4,475
According to this page, the jumper should be off to disengage the PLL, if you have a 2016 Master 7 (Not a Master 7 NOS). Note that this is different from earlier versions of the firmware.

Alan
The pll can be either on or off, whatever sounds best to you. With it on, timing will depend on the master-7 internal clock to some extent. I preferred off.

Welcome back, Peter!
 
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Feb 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM Post #4,469 of 4,475
I think you are going to need to experiment as it looks like there are different instructions out there. I saved the "manual" from the Audio-gd website when I purchased my M7 in 2014 and have also tried the different settings and confirmed with my ears. For my version of the M7, in order for the dac to use the clock signal from the i2s cable (from your DI20) you need to add a jumper to the PLLEN pins.


Master 7 User Manual.png



Here is another screen shot from the Audio-gd website from 2023:

Master 7 User Manual later version.png
 
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Feb 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM Post #4,470 of 4,475
I saved the "manual" from the Audio-gd website when I purchased my M7 in 2014
Yes, the settings changed in 2016 when the last version of the firmware was released for the standard Master 7. If you ever update the firmware to the 2016 version, the jumper settings will be those on the page I referred to. It's too bad the jumper settings changed so much over the year; it is a source of confusion.
 

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