[Clemmaster]

It looks like the Wavedream can switch the I2s mode as well. @Clemmaster Were you able to solve the inverted channel issue too?

The Rockna can switch between 2 very different I2S pinouts. Can't change the polarity of a given mode, unfortunately.
I noticed that if I start playing on the Pi2AES first and then connect the HDMI cable, the channel were reversed, too. I'm not sure how the DAC locks onto the signals to ensure the LR clock has the proper polarity?

 

[ctrlm]

As indicated previously I got the I2S connection between the NS and Spring 3 to work - all thanks to musicjunkie917 on the HQ Player dedicated thread (found elsewhere).

Holo Audio has 4 different configurations to choose from, with Alt 2 being the one to use with the Neo Stream:

 

[ctrlm]

OK. So I've done some reasonably extensive comparisons between USB & I2S from the Neo Stream to my Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE.

Some points & disclaimers up front:

• Comparisons were done using HQ Player to the NS as an NAA, upsampling to 705 & 768kHz.
• Listening was done via my Violectric V550 headphone amp and Hifiman Edition XS headphones.
• I couldn't do it with my speaker setup as I use digital room correction which takes AES and I can't stand listening without it.
• For the cable people - the USB cable is a 1.0m Supra USB 2.0 & the HDMI cable is a 1.2m cheap brand (but the most expensive option of their range) with gold plated connectors and triple shielded oxygen-free pure copper with flexible PVC jacket cotton sleeve.....yada yada - AUD 50.00.
• No I don't have a Tubulus I2S cable and don't see one in my future as I would prefer to keep both of my kidneys.
• Results will always depend on the quality of the DAC inputs as well as the outputs of the upstream source - the Spring 3 uses the supposedly much lauded Titanis 2.0 USB module with galvanic isolation.
• Switching between USB & I2S was about 10 to 15 seconds so I always played a minimum of one full track.
• To my ear the volume levels were the same and I did not try to volume match in any sort of technical manner.
• I intend to get one of my sons to do the same comparison next time they come over, their ears are 20+ years younger than mine. They are both sceptical about HiFi tweaks and if they hear a difference then you know it is real.
• Both the USB and I2S options are very good.
• Don't blindly trust the opinions of faceless people on the internet.

The result surprised me as I leaned towards preferring the I2S almost immediately. Why did it surprise me? Because as I said, the USB module in my DAC has an excellent reputation and I had already read in the Holo Audio Spring thread that Tim from Kitsune HiFi stated that the USB input was "better" than I2S, so if anything my bias going in was for the USB.

It took me a while to figure out why I preferred I2S and I'm really not very good at describing SQ differences. I guess my take is that the I2S sounds a little more natural and dynamic, with the USB being a bit flatter in comparison. It's hard to explain.....for those familiar with dynamic range and the DR meter, it was like I2S was a DR12 mastering and the same track was DR10 with USB. I did wonder how much of a role the iFi ANC II active noise cancellation played in the USB presentation?

Remember - the impressions above are in comparison to each other and they are subtle differences but I feel they are there. USB still sounds bloody good and I would be happy enough if there was no I2S option.

Anyway, I intend to sanity check my impressions with one or both of my sons in the next few weeks.

As always YMMV.

 

[JCB1964]

What about remote Roon control with this streamer ? May I plug a FLIRC IR receiver to USB port, and Roon bridge in the streamer have this Roon extension ?

If not, what are the possibilities to remote control Roon playback with this streamer ? (except of course Roon app : I love to use my normal Harmony Remote, it's more handy)

BTW, what is displayed on the screen when Roon playback ?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

What about remote Roon control with this streamer ? May I plug a FLIRC IR receiver to USB port, and Roon bridge in the streamer have this Roon extension ?

If not, what are the possibilities to remote control Roon playback with this streamer ? (except of course Roon app : I love to use my normal Harmony Remote, it's more handy)

BTW, what is displayed on the screen when Roon playback ?

The only question I can answer for you is on the display, It displays Album artwork/Track info and Sample rate, I have no info on the other question.

This display is the same for all options of streaming, if you go back thru these posts there are many examples of the display posted.

Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

The NEO and The SMSL M500…



I could not wait to try out the SMSL M500 with the NEO, this was one of my very first “Full Decoder” DACs that I bought basically to experience MQA back when I was a Tidal subscriber, and I was anxious to see how it held up to changing times.

Connections tested were, USB, Coaxial, and Optical.

Both Tidal and Qobuz were tested for this quick snippet.

The M500 was recognized by the NEO via its USB out and reflected both on the display and in the menu under playback options as being the SMSL M500.

Back at the time of its release, the SMSL was considered a very good “measuring” DAC, and its ability to handle not only PCM 768 but also DSD 512. This was tested using Roon for the conversion, and it performed very well! The NEO presented these rates with no issues or lengthy delay

The MQA gapless issue that I am having was still present here, although setting the MQA pass thru to “Off” minimized it greatly, this gave off the dreaded (By MQA Lovers Only) “Magenta OFS” indication on the SMSL Display and also made me nostalgic for the Older/Simpler MQA, you know Just one color, lol

In a direct comparison of the USB straight from my MAC and the USB from the NS, it was obvious to me that the NEO accomplished this in a much finer fashion, as it should’ve, due to its Isolation properties. I was also very impressed with the coaxial spdif connection, to me it just seemed to present a more dynamic, “meat on the bone” type sound.


I would bet that is a very safe assumption on my part to say that owners of SMSL equipment will be very pleased with the upgraded performance they will get by using the NS vs. straight PC connections, and being that companies like SMSL and say Topping come out with new DACs (along with many other devices) every couple months, I am sure performance will be even better with newer units.


I was always a fan of this DAC, and with the NEO Stream now, I may keep it around for a bit longer, but, In a sentence, I once again preferred the Sound of the internal DAC included with the NEO over the SMSL, I found it to be more dynamic and detailed than the SMSL. Please remember these are impressions of what I hear/prefer and nothing more.

Thoughts of selling equipment are starting to become more prevalent in my mind, which tells me I am becoming more and more comfortable with the thought of the NEO being the one for me.

Ya, I said that, lol, however, it wasn’t until reading thru that I realized what I had written, so it’s staying,

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

the USB input was "better" than I2S

An audio interface between two digital components can't get any simpler than I2S (it sounds so good because it's very simple), so we're not sure how one can improve upon that

 

[Nationalizer]

Hello! @iFi audio and team!
I just got the Neo Stream and it came with the (white) IPower X 9V 2.5A power adaptor. I didn't plug it in yet, waiting for the temperature of the unit to stabilize.
But in the brochure inside and on the back of the unit it says it needs 9V/3A-15V/2A

Is this right?
Also, I may want to upgrade to the Elite 12V or 15V - any users can confirm if it's worth it?

 

[iFi audio]

Is this right?
Also, I may want to upgrade to the Elite 12V or 15V - any users can confirm if it's worth it?

Yup, that's correct, the product works within the 9V/3A-15V/2A DC voltage range. Thanks!

 

[ctrlm]

Yup, that's correct, the product works within the 9V/3A-15V/2A DC voltage range. Thanks!

I think @Nationalizer was questioning if the published working range is 9V/3A-15V/2A, then why did they get a 9V/2.5A power adapter in the box?

 

[ctrlm]

I usually leave the Neo Stream on most of the time but on the odd occasion that I do turn it off, the default startup state of having software volume control on is starting to annoy me. I really hope the default is changed to "none" in the next update or at least changed so that it remembers the last setting.

 

[Nationalizer]

I think @Nationalizer was questioning if the published working range is 9V/3A-15V/2A, then why did they get a 9V/2.5A power adapter in the box?

Exactly! Thank you!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I think @Nationalizer was questioning if the published working range is 9V/3A-15V/2A, then why did they get a 9V/2.5A power adapter in the box?

I'll chalk this one up to being a typo, I do not think the iPower X even comes in a 9v/3A, I believe they all are 2.5 but this does call for the experts, lol.

Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I usually leave the Neo Stream on most of the time but on the odd occasion that I do turn it off, the default startup state of having software volume control on is starting to annoy me. I really hope the default is changed to "none" in the next update or at least changed so that it remembers the last setting.

I am in 100% agreement on a fix for this, however, I strictly want the "last" setting enabled, I have no issue with changing this setting if I choose to do something else, but having to remember to change it on every power "cycle" and when switching exclusive modes, or even from "Digital" to "Analog" is just tedious.

Cheers!!

 

[cglin222]

Yup, that's correct, the product works within the 9V/3A-15V/2A DC voltage range. Thanks!

So it is better to get the 12/4 or 15/3.5 Ipower elite
I guess always go for highest voltage?