Competition Closed...but what is in the Retro – Stereo 50?

[john57]

  Hi
 
I have a question: is there a way to play music from a portable source, such as usn flash drive... I would just plug it in and play. I assume no, and that you have to use a device that takes usb and outputs usb B into the back? (I am not including the coax or rca outs)

You could look into Bluetooth and it works quite well with the Retro.

 

[ptolemy2k6]

  You could look into Bluetooth and it works quite well with the Retro.

will it keep the same fidelity though?  i thought bluetooth compresses music

 

[john57]

The Retro uses Bluetooth(aptX) which is about CD quality. As long the remote device uses aptX you should get good sound quality. I tested that myself and the IFI aptX implementation is quite good better than the OPPO HA-1 Bluetooth.

 

[cjs001]

@ptolemy2k6 I think you're looking for something like this 

 

[ptolemy2k6]

  @ptolemy2k6 I think you're looking for something like this 

interesting, what is it connected on other end> laptop or

 

[cjs001]

You can look up more on Chromecast Audio here. It just need a usb power supply and hook up with your wireless hub with your phone where your phone will be the remote then you can pretty much plug it through the iFi retro.
 
Bear in mind though that you're still restricted to whatever is the highest quality streaming services you can get off of it until (and if ever) they implement personalized contents I believe.
 
Chromecast Audio Specs:

1. Output:
   1. Stereo analog output [2Vrms]
   2. Optical digital output
   3. High-Resolution Audio: 96KHz/24-bit

 

[gr8soundz]

  correct. i have idsd which i use as portable and such.. but this would be connected to speakers. I just dont want to have laptop parked near it..
 
I think if they make new version, 2 things should be strongly considered: 4-pin balanced xlr out  and usb input to support flash drives with music... 

 
Yeah, if iFi found a way to add local playback and balanced out the Retro would be the end-game all-in-one. I'd sell all my other gear to get a balanced Retro.
 
But I don't see how they can fit much more into it since its essentially an idsd, ican, iphono, itube, and speaker amp in one.
 
As for adding support for flash drives to the usb in, heat from the tubes could be a problem (flash drives might get too hot).
 
I think the cleanest way (although maybe not the most 'audiophile' solution) is just to transmit from your laptop or tablet over bluetooth to the Retro. Bet iFi thought of your scenario and added bluetooth for that reason.
 

 

[ptolemy2k6]

   
Yeah, if iFi found a way to add local playback and balanced out the Retro would be the end-game all-in-one. I'd sell all my other gear to get a balanced Retro.
 
But I don't see how they can fit much more into it since its essentially an idsd, ican, iphono, itube, and speaker amp in one.
 
As for adding support for flash drives to the usb in, heat from the tubes could be a problem (flash drives might get too hot).
 
I think the cleanest way (although maybe not the most 'audiophile' solution) is just to transmit from your laptop or tablet over bluetooth to the Retro. Bet iFi thought of your scenario and added bluetooth for that reason.
 

totally possible...
 
i wouldnt think heat would be an issue for  2 reasons...  you can use microsd or sd card and they built to resist that or flash drive.
 
control can be had over bt via an app
 
you're end, there are almost no end-all solutions out there but if i could wish..

 

[cjs001]

If you've been in the design industry long enough, you'll very fast come to realize a lot of times, whatever your design is, their greatest strength is also their weaknesses, and to address said weaknesses you start adding in all these other knick knacks or implementing clever designs which may end up being another flaw if overdone - too many parts or a complicated design. There is no end to development hell. o.o
 
In the end, you realize the problem comes down to one thing. The User.

 

[technobear]

I go to sleep at night dreaming of a 7 inch Android tablet that has three full size USB ports - one for charging, one for storage and one for the DAC. Or omit one USB port and add a full size SDXC slot.

I'm afraid tablet manufacturers took a very narrow view of what these devices would be used for - just glorified eReaders. They could so easily be much more general purpose but no-one will make one.

Instead we end up messing around with a jumble of building blocks like Raspberry Pi to try and achieve the same thing - but not everyone can get their head around that and just want something that works.

Or we just use the quietest laptop we can find. For me that's an Acer Aspire V11 fanless but it still has a spinning hard drive. Why did a company of Acer's stature not offer a version with SSD? Do they employ dummies? Once again they took a very narrow view of who and what the machine is for. We need to get computer manufacturers to think outside the box when designing tablets (and laptops)

There is one ray of hope. FiiO are working on a transport (OK, it's a DAP pretending to be a transport) but it will be an excellent solution if it ever sees the light of day:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/799227/the-upcoming-fiio-t3-dual-sd-slot-3-2-inch-full-touch-screen-optical-coaxial-usb-digital-output-slim-design-apt-x-type-c

 

[ptolemy2k6]

I go to sleep at night dreaming of a 7 inch Android tablet that has three full size USB ports - one for charging, one for storage and one for the DAC. Or omit one USB port and add a full size SDXC slot.

I'm afraid tablet manufacturers took a very narrow view of what these devices would be used for - just glorified eReaders. They could so easily be much more general purpose but no-one will make one.

Instead we end up messing around with a jumble of building blocks like Raspberry Pi to try and achieve the same thing - but not everyone can get their head around that and just want something that works.

Or we just use the quietest laptop we can find. For me that's an Acer Aspire V11 fanless but it still has a spinning hard drive. Why did a company of Acer's stature not offer a version with SSD? Do they employ dummies? Once again they took a very narrow view of who and what the machine is for. We need to get computer manufacturers to think outside the box when designing tablets (and laptops)

There is one ray of hope. FiiO are working on a transport (OK, it's a DAP pretending to be a transport) but it will be an excellent solution if it ever sees the light of day:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/799227/the-upcoming-fiio-t3-dual-sd-slot-3-2-inch-full-touch-screen-optical-coaxial-usb-digital-output-slim-design-apt-x-type-c

 
i wonder...would a noral tablet + otg cable work?  http://www.ebay.com/itm/131566476380 an example

 

[technobear]

i wonder...would a noral tablet + otg cable work?  http://www.ebay.com/itm/131566476380 an example

Of the three issues: power, storage and external DAC, the OTG cables solves only one.

 

[ptolemy2k6]

Of the three issues: power, storage and external DAC, the OTG cables solves only one.

tablet has 6-8 hr charge, i dont listen to music for longer and can always recharger in between,  external dac? i thought amp/dac is handled by the unit?> storage, they can take 128 microsd cards, so one can swap?>

 

[technobear]

Of the three issues: power, storage and external DAC, the OTG cables solves only one.

tablet has 6-8 hr charge, i dont listen to music for longer and can always recharger in between,  external dac? i thought amp/dac is handled by the unit?> storage, they can take 128 microsd cards, so one can swap?>

I'm sorry, we are just not on the same wavelength here.

Please re-read my post from up the page:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/753978/competition-closed-but-what-is-in-the-retro-stereo-50/435#post_12560078

I have a tablet that does all the things you have listed. I'm saying that's not good enough.

 

[ptolemy2k6]

I'm sorry, we are just not on the same wavelength here.

Please re-read my post from up the page:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/753978/competition-closed-but-what-is-in-the-retro-stereo-50/435#post_12560078

I have a tablet that does all the things you have listed. I'm saying that's not good enough.

oh, i did see it,. but you said it's not 'good enough' but why exactly? audio quality suffers or something else? like not enough battery or capacity?