[474194]

@wilsonlaidlaw and @AC-12: I‘m absolutely no expert regarding SACDs, but I was and am looking into HDCD matters. In the course of that I was looking at those defunct Oppo BlueRay players (BDP 93, 95, 103, 105). They can be acquired used, and their manuals are still available on the Oppo Digital website (https://www.oppodigital.com/Support.aspx). The four manuals state that (a) DSD from SACD is not sent out via coax/optical for copyright reasons, but that (b) DSD over HDMI is sent out as DSD bitstream. I presume the latter still is encrypted. The https://www.stevehoffman.tv forum somewhere points to a hardware card solution for Oppo‘s.

Again, I‘m not at all into SACDs... Just figured the Oppo manuals might help.

Yes, the defunct 1's run a pretty penny. Maybe 2K for something decent. That's why picking up one for $40 as a experiment maybe worth the risk if you have a large collection.

Anyways, subject officially dropped on me end.

 

[474194]

can i ask, what this container box is, and whats inside it ?

The HiFiBerry Digi+ board is power scalable, so you can add a 5v and/or 3.3V LPS to bypass RPi power supply.

I believe they are TeraDak LPS DIY or a similar brand. One LPS 5V for optical and one 3.3V for coax.

There was a link in the post, but I'll screenshot here of the owner:

Here's another DIY with Teradak LPS:

Bottom right cable connects to the R6 header (pwr) on the board (older model).

https://www.teradak.com/products/?id=25
https://www.teradak.com/products/114.html

Here's a Teradak + HiFiBerry Digi+ pre-built (non-official hifiberry that powers the RPI, not the optical board directly):

https://www.teradak.com/products/113.html

English is not their native language, but we all understand Audiophile language. Audiophile recognizes Audiophile:

 

[betula]

On another uk forum I take part in the classic way to solve your conundrum would be to post with your location and organise for members with both of those DACs (and others in the same price range) to bring them to your house for a ‘bake off’ in return for you providing coffee and cake! I have hosted bake offs on a whole host of subjects from small footprint floor standing speakers to xlr interconnect cables and it has always been fun and informative.

I am opened for this suggestion, but I live in a relatively small rural town. Every now and then I travel up to London to audition stuff, but the ADI2 DAC is not available in the stores I sometimes visit. I had the H2 on loan, so I know how H2 compares to TT2.

 

[ZappaMan]

The HiFiBerry Digi+ board is power scalable, so you can add a 5v and/or 3.3V LPS to bypass RPi power supply.

I believe they are TeraDak LPS DIY or a similar brand. One LPS 5V for optical and one 3.3V for coax.

There was a link in the post, but I'll screenshot here of the owner:



Here's another DIY with Teradak LPS:





Bottom right cable connects to the R6 header (pwr) on the board (older model).

https://www.teradak.com/products/?id=25
https://www.teradak.com/products/114.html



Here's a Teradak + HiFiBerry Digi+ pre-built (non-official hifiberry that powers the RPI, not the optical board directly):

https://www.teradak.com/products/113.html





English is not their native language, but we all understand Audiophile language. Audiophile recognizes Audiophile:

I didn’t realise that this eco system existed

 

[Triode User]

I am opened for this suggestion, but I live in a relatively small rural town. Every now and then I travel up to London to audition stuff, but the ADI2 DAC is not available in the stores I sometimes visit. I had the H2 on loan, so I know how H2 compares to TT2.

I will message you the forum I was meaning. I live in a small village in rural Leics and yet people were willing to drive to me from the south coast after bringing lured with home made lasagne.

 

[474194]

I didn’t realise that this eco system existed

Me either until Phuca's post inspired me to cut the USB cord and go optical. I was hard-headed and stubborn especially after investing in a good amount on USB cables. RW kept recommending if you want reference go optical, but I just kept brushing off. I was like whatev RW (hand in face).

Then Phuca put together a Anker 26800 + CCA rig and it triggered portable possibilities going optical. I bought 4 CCA's, but return them all because CCA is a buggy ecosystem and the sound is flat. I have another Justboom Digi Zero and that was flat as well, even with a Lifatec glass optical. The HiFiBerry was the only one to make redbook sound like hires. I regret not getting a Anker 26800, but battery banks come and go (Should of followed Phuca's gear).

Sometimes while listening, I feel it's getting close to the elusive "Mini-DAVE" unicorn. Similar to this Qutest post:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cho...official-thread.869417/page-303#post-15415837

B4 HifiBerry+Lifatec Glass = Borderline Desktop SQ
After HiFiBerry+Lifatec Glass = Desktop SQ, Borderline "Mini-DAVE"
LPS+HiFiBerry+Lifatec Glass = "Mini-DAVE"?

It helps that I'm running one of the most neutral cable equipment available:

https://theheadphonelist.com/the-silverfi-iem-r4-cable-royalty/

So a wombo combo of HiFiberry optical + Lifatec Glass + H2 + SilverFi R4 really hits the spot.

I just feel so fortunate I can run in such a small battery-powered with onboard LPS portable form factor or I can go desktop-size full-size LPS.

One of my reference sources are TARGET CDs which are flat transfers from the master source before sound processing was a thing.

http://www.thetargetcdcollection.com/

I started collecting TARGET CDs in the mid-2000s, but hires distracted me for a decade. Now these CDs are pretty expensive on eBay, but some prices are reasonable. If you go into used CD shops, sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough if you know what to target. Usually though, CD shops filters the good TARGET CDs from the main CDs.

The CDs being flat transfers really has really nice synergy with this pure neutral rig. The compressed stuff works well too, but nothing like being so close to the master source.

 

[dontfeedphils]

I didn’t realise that this eco system existed

I stumbled into it about 3 months ago and it's been a huge change in my system. Probably the best bang for the buck upgrade I've made.

 

[474194]

I stumbled into it about 3 months ago and it's been a huge change in my system. Probably the best bang for the buck upgrade I've made.

Beautiful. Thanks for bringing up the subject. I have horse blinders on for batteries so forget all about the LPS option. Glad to hear about the positive impressions with a Chord product. Something to definitely revisit one day.

 

[474194]

Anyways, I think this is a good point to stop on this thread and go back to HFA (Head-Fi Anonymous) meetings. I relapsed a little bit this month. Going to focus on getting started with the RPi guide and will be back when a Hugo3 thread is created. That should get us even closer to a "mini-DAVE".

System finished so time to enjoy the music...

 

[Hellraiser86]

I am looking for a more affordable secondary listening station beside my TT2. I am wondering if I should stick with Chord and get a secondhand H2 or try something new like the RME ADI2? I don't need portability and don't need battery. The RME is also like £500 cheaper even compared to the secondhand Hugo2 (£700 vs. £1200). I don't necessarily need all the functions and EQ of the RME, and I am a Chord fan since Mojo's release. On pure sound quality would I be disappointed with the ADI2 compared to H2?

Hi I’ve got both and just received my SPL Phonitor XE this monday. I am going to compare them both just as an DAC tomorrow.
As for the whole package:
RME sounds more neutral in comparison to the Chord. If you want you can describe the Hugo a bit more warm. So in that case its a matter of taste. Dynamics are better on the Hugo. Soundstage wins the RME.

 

[Scrum92]

Anyways, I think this is a good point to stop on this thread and go back to HFA (Head-Fi Anonymous) meetings. I relapsed a little bit this month. Going to focus on getting started with the RPi guide and will be back when a Hugo3 thread is created. That should get us even closer to a "mini-DAVE".

System finished so time to enjoy the music...

Looking forward to the guide!

 

[ceeloChamp]

After many years of loving the Hugo 2 I finally bought one! I also have the leather case, which I won't take it out of, but I am still feeling way too cautious...I was hoping someone here could set my mind at ease. Will 'tossing' the hugo 2 in my backpack and 'throwing' said backpack in the car potentially mess it up? I used to just throw my mojo in my backpack and not think twice, now I'm scared.

I know that is a stupid question, but realistically how durable and how much jostling can a thing like this take? Thanks!

 

[musickid]

It's not a good idea. Hugo 2 has a glass portal mojo doesn't.

 

[ceeloChamp]

It's not a good idea. Hugo 2 has a glass portal mojo doesn't.

there is no chance I’ll break the glass, I’m talking about just like transporting it daily in a backpack, I’m not going to be dropping it or anything. At worst I’ll be sliding it under an airplane seat, and jostling it around, not smacking it into stuff

 

[musickid]

be careful with it its fragile