DDC - Digital USB interfaces - Xmos or Amanero Combo384 based - Raspberry Pi - HifiBerry DAC+ Pro - reviews, comparison, modifications and USB-Audio in general

[prot]

@bartels
Your diagram is surely nicer

 

[abartels]

@bartels
Your diagram is surely nicer

 
Thanks 

 

[abartels]

Hi guys,
 
Here's the FIRST review of the Singxer SU-1.
The article is in English, first part is in Japanese.
 
http://www.jplay.info/#!blank-2/fbb2v
 
 
Regards,
Alex

 

[prot]

Hi guys,

Here's the FIRST review of the Singxer SU-1.
The article is in English, first part is in Japanese.

http://www.jplay.info/#!blank-2/fbb2v


Regards,
Alex

A very nice review .. especially considering that it comes from the jplay unicorn caves

 

[abartels]

 

Hi guys,

Here's the FIRST review of the Singxer SU-1.
The article is in English, first part is in Japanese.

http://www.jplay.info/#!blank-2/fbb2v


Regards,
Alex

A very nice review .. especially considering that it comes from the jplay unicorn caves

Well said 

 
I still prefer low computing option 

 

[prot]

The simplest rpi+dac solution using a berry digi+ board
https://support.hifiberry.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/206528455-RPi-network-to-I2S-transport-using-DIGI-as-I2S-bus-controller

And looks like the rpi+dac design is getting a lot of attention lately. Here's a fully built device
http://www.audiophonics.fr/en/appareils-hifi-dac/audiophonics-dap-dac-sabre-es9018-raspberry-pi-2-p-10390.html

 

[abartels]

The simplest rpi+dac solution using a berry digi+ board
https://support.hifiberry.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/206528455-RPi-network-to-I2S-transport-using-DIGI-as-I2S-bus-controller

And looks like the rpi+dac design is getting a lot of attention lately. Here's a fully built device
http://www.audiophonics.fr/en/appareils-hifi-dac/audiophonics-dap-dac-sabre-es9018-raspberry-pi-2-p-10390.html

 
The Digi+ board doesn't have I2S output, only Coax/Toslink SPDIF. The guy uses I2S directly from RPI which is very jittery.
 
AudioPhonics has several RPI dac's / projects. They are nice, but not more than that. They use I2S output from RPI directly,
so, again, very jittery. ESS dac's have own MCLK so no need for external master clock, that's why they can use RPI's I2S output (which doesn't have mclk).
ESS says their chips are not jitter sensitive, but they are,,, so direct I2S output from RPI into ESS will not sound at its best.
 
 
Btw, I bought a new DAC+ Pro since the first one, modified with NDK's finally did not sound that good as expected. The NDK's were not as good as the ExpressO TCXO's!
Strange since ExpressO tcxo's have lot's of phase noise, this again points to the fact that low phase noise at it's own is not a recipe for HQ sound.
Happy with the RPI/DAC+Pro combo, very happy 

 

[prot]

Opops, didnt check that setup very closely. But there is a digi+ board there .. IIUC it provides clocking. But anyway, it's even simpler without extra boards.

And interesting about those clocks, maybe you can also try the crysteks. Or bobb's OCXO. Thinkin about that one for my ess dac .. but dont have the required soldering skills

 

[abartels]

Opops, didnt check that setup very closely. But anyway, it's even simpler so.

And interesting about those clocks, maybe you can also try the crysteks. Or bobb's OCXO .. thinkin about that one for my ess dac .. but dont have the required soldering skills

would love to try OCXO's, but first would have to investigate how to mount a DIP14 instead of a surface mount TCXO, those are much smaller, and need some sort of smt>DIP14 adapter to solder on the pcb.
I wrecked one DAC+Pro allready...

 

[prot]

would love to try OCXO's, but first would have to investigate how to mount a DIP14 instead of a surface mount TCXO, those are much smaller, and need some sort of smt>DIP14 adapter to solder on the pcb.
I wrecked one DAC+Pro allready...

That stuff is indeed awfully small. But at those prices you can afford to wreck a few for fun

 

[abartels]

 

would love to try OCXO's, but first would have to investigate how to mount a DIP14 instead of a surface mount TCXO, those are much smaller, and need some sort of smt>DIP14 adapter to solder on the pcb.
I wrecked one DAC+Pro allready...

That stuff is indeed awfully small. But at those prices you can afford to wreck a few for fun

hmm, not exactly my hobby to throw €45 away for fun 

 
RPI/DAC+Pro in monster dac sounds great. The new one has burned-in now, did put some extra buffer caps on it, sounds heavenly open, airy, background is blacker than black, very natural/analog sounding with massive body an huge soundstage.
 
Would love to compare with USB device like F1 from U208 forum, maybe someone can send me one for comparison? 

 

[prot]

http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/GROVE_System. Some of those 'groves' may be useful in a Dac project.

Not sure why would you want to waste time with any other ddc .. especially a 'hypealot' one like the F1. But if you really want it check the pm deal propo.

 

[abartels]

Opops, didnt check that setup very closely. But there is a digi+ board there .. IIUC it provides clocking. But anyway, it's even simpler without extra boards.

And interesting about those clocks, maybe you can also try the crysteks. Or bobb's OCXO. Thinkin about that one for my ess dac .. but dont have the required soldering skills

 
Soldering skills are a must, it's also not very easy to remove the onboard TCXO, it's probably smt mounted?
 
Further, most OCXO's need 5V instead of 3.3V, and in addition, they need much more power, so a diyinhk 0.8uV ultra low noise psu wouldn't be sufficient (not sure though)

 

[rootscript]

   
The Digi+ board doesn't have I2S output, only Coax/Toslink SPDIF. The guy uses I2S directly from RPI which is very jittery.
 
AudioPhonics has several RPI dac's / projects. They are nice, but not more than that. They use I2S output from RPI directly,
so, again, very jittery. ESS dac's have own MCLK so no need for external master clock, that's why they can use RPI's I2S output (which doesn't have mclk).
ESS says their chips are not jitter sensitive, but they are,,, so direct I2S output from RPI into ESS will not sound at its best.
 
 
Btw, I bought a new DAC+ Pro since the first one, modified with NDK's finally did not sound that good as expected. The NDK's were not as good as the ExpressO TCXO's!
Strange since ExpressO tcxo's have lot's of phase noise, this again points to the fact that low phase noise at it's own is not a recipe for HQ sound.
Happy with the RPI/DAC+Pro combo, very happy 

A friend of mine has the Audiophonics Rasberry Pi 2 with Sabre V3 and says that it sounds GREAT.  Here is a link to the finished one that he bought: http://www.audiophonics.fr/en/appareils-hifi-dac/audiophonics-raspdac-network-player-raspberry-pi-20-dac-sabre-v3-p-10369.html
 

 

 

 
Is there anything on the Rasberry Pi that could be replaced to improve the design?
OR
Could the Rasberry Pi 2 be raplaced with another microcontroller that does I2S?
 
This Rasberry Pi 'clone' looks interesting, with an Intel chip (Maybe it could run Roon Labs server)?
http://www.up-board.org/

 

[abartels]

http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/GROVE_System. Some of those 'groves' may be useful in a Dac project.

Not sure why would you want to waste time with any other ddc .. especially a 'hypealot' one like the F1. But if you really want it check the pm deal propo.

 
Grove system looks nice but can't find a lot components which really could be interesting for building ddc/dac.
 
 
To be honest, I am not very eager to build an F1-based DDC, just would want to compare it with RPI3/DAC+Pro, especially because of the hype. I suppose it does sound real good.
That's why I would want to know how it would compare to RPI3/DAC+Pro
 
Not sure if I want to start this project at all, would love to, but it takes lots of time and lots of money. The costs of this project could (probably WOULD) exceed the cost of SU-1, and if I don't want to keep it,
and others don't want it too, then it's a waste of my hard earned money, and of my precious free time.....
 
Further, there was a specific statement at XMOS XU208 thread which caused me hesitating starting F1 project at all. Sorry @rb2013 , Bob, I don't want to be rude, picky or stab you in the back, but I really have to share this:
 
 
"The biggest change - the 5ft tall Maggies - absolutely disappear sound wise" ( posted yesterday http://www.head-fi.org/t/803111/xmos-xu208-usb-bridges-the-latest-gen-has-arrived/1335#post_12567829 )
 
 
I really am wondering if I should dive into this project, just because of the simple fact that:
"My speakers absolutely disappeared - sound wise" with my heavily modded Melodious MX-U8 ALREADY, connected with I2S to my low cost AK4495SEQ dac!!!!! 
 
That is what is keeping me from trying F1 and all those USB gimmicks, just because of that fact. That combo sounded breathtaking already.
 
 
I think I don't have to explain what happened when upgrading to my MonsterDac, and further, the very big upgrade to RPI3/DAC+Pro, how it sounds. We have to invent new words and phrases for that.
 
But, still would want to know how F1 sounds................