[slazhx]

No,
You should get an USB blaster like this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/326...exp_id=8f28ce4e-f11d-49da-b73f-c33bbea94f80-6

Oh, many thanks Jan. I will order it right away.

 

[FredA]

No. You rather need this:

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002771854113.html

Copy the text of the link and paste it into to url field of your browser. The ali links won't wotk directly..

 

[DACLadder]

Sorry for my ignorance, I didn't read the manual carefully so I thought the process is just with Altera/Quartus similar to DI-20. I have only Altera blaster and need to get the Xilink one first.

Is this the one I need? (Alinx AL201 Intel/Altera FPGA USB Blaster, not PANGOMICRO) / The ebay link on manual has already expired.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002703504597.html?pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000021782265860","ship_from":""}&gps-id=pcStoreJustForYou&scm=1007.23125.137358.0&scm_id=1007.23125.137358.0&scm-url=1007.23125.137358.0&pvid=76fbe082-8cbc-44d6-befd-5971ed12ae26&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.smartJustForYou_1047717688.0

That USB programmer is for Altera which you already have. You need one specific for Xilinx.. Just search AliExpress and Ebay for “Xilinx USB Programmer”.

We just went through Xilinx programming on this R7 thread just one month ago (March 20, 2022. page 563, link below). You may want to review that as Xilinx programming s/w is not as smooth operating or reliable as Altera.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/new...cs-and-dac-amps.853902/page-563#post-16879665

 

[slazhx]

We just went through Xilinx programming on this R7 thread just one or two months ago. You may want to review that as Xilinx programming s/w is not as smooth operating or reliable as Altera.

Thank you for the heads-up. I will read through it carefully.

 

[AudioAlex]

Has any one had a chance to try the new R27HE? As I understand it is a combination of R8 DAC and HE9 amp with regenerative power supply and all the recent improvements to the USB chain. How does it sound in general? Is it comparable to the original R27 or is it a level above it due to the new power supply design? Is there an option to hook an external clock to the device as in case of R8 EC?

I currently own a R28 2020 and consider an upgrade so for me it is either to go for another combo or go separate with R8 EC and HE9.. Generally speaking I quite like the sound of R28 in terms of tonality .. I definitely don't want anything warmer, just more resolution, separation and soundstage.. The sound I like has to be crisp but organic and holographic.. Some of it I have achieved using Roon + HQPlayer with oversampling to PCM 384, but I feel it can be much better than what I currently have.. especially if I eventually hook up an external clock, as suggested by more experienced fellow audiophiles..

Any input is highly appreciated.

 

[Articnoise]

Has any one had a chance to try the new R27HE? As I understand it is a combination of R8 DAC and HE9 amp with regenerative power supply and all the recent improvements to the USB chain. How does it sound in general? Is it comparable to the original R27 or is it a level above it due to the new power supply design? Is there an option to hook an external clock to the device as in case of R8 EC?

I currently own a R28 2020 and consider an upgrade so for me it is either to go for another combo or go separate with R8 EC and HE9.. Generally speaking I quite like the sound of R28 in terms of tonality .. I definitely don't want anything warmer, just more resolution, separation and soundstage.. The sound I like has to be crisp but organic and holographic.. Some of it I have achieved using Roon + HQPlayer with oversampling to PCM 384, but I feel it can be much better than what I currently have.. especially if I eventually hook up an external clock, as suggested by more experienced fellow audiophiles..

Any input is highly appreci

@Currawong have a R27HE.​

 

[Raul77]

I am very grateful to everyone for the large number of tips that have helped me a lot! Now I'm working on a dedicated line, and I was thinking about acquiring Holton DC Blocker One R4. I have a question, will this really have an effect when used to power an amplifier, and won't it limit the current and dynamics? I will have two dedicated lines, one for the amplifier where I plan the Holton DC Blocker One R4, and the other for everything else where there will be a Zero-Zone SPO-500
on the advice @FredA (https://aliexpress.ru/item/33004402...t.0.0.4ff81b45yua61X&sku_id=12000024865405181). And whether the Holton DC Blocker One R4 model was chosen correctly, because there are different options on the Hilton website...

 

[DACLadder]

Kingwa has announced a new product variation. The R-8HE MK2.
http://www.audio-gd.com/HE/R8HEMK2/R8HE_MK2EN.htm

 

[PhMZ4]

I wanted to share with you my last weeks experiences on HQPLAYER upsampling/filtering using my R8HE in pure NOS mode (00N15)…that made a real big step up in SQ…
Now the setup is using: LMS 8.3 as server, upnpbrige plugin, HQPLAYER Embedded on PI4 for Upsampling/filtering and finally the last node with my USBridge Signature running PiCoreNAA...and iPeng on iPad for control.
on the filter side, due to the compute limitations of the PI4 I‘m staying reasonable with DSD in direct native format (no upsampling) and PCM upsampled to 352/384 using 1x Poly-sinc-gauss-long Nx Poly-sinc-gauss-hires-lp LNS15 making a very good job on our R2R DACs.
The SQ increase is just….phenomenal of realism, transient like never had before, space preserved and timbre being just more real.

The PiCoreNAA node is just great as well, enabling to reuse the Allo USBridge in the chain…as it’s noise level is pretty good on the USB side.

 

[FredA]

I am very grateful to everyone for the large number of tips that have helped me a lot! Now I'm working on a dedicated line, and I was thinking about acquiring Holton DC Blocker One R4. I have a question, will this really have an effect when used to power an amplifier, and won't it limit the current and dynamics? I will have two dedicated lines, one for the amplifier where I plan the Holton DC Blocker One R4, and the other for everything else where there will be a Zero-Zone SPO-500
on the advice @FredA (https://aliexpress.ru/item/33004402...t.0.0.4ff81b45yua61X&sku_id=12000024865405181). And whether the Holton DC Blocker One R4 model was chosen correctly, because there are different options on the Hilton website...

The dc blocker is only useful useful if you have a dc offset, you should measure it first. I use the Zerozone only with the clock, streamer and di20he.

 

[Articnoise]

The dc blocker is only useful useful if you have a dc offset, you should measure it first. I use the Zerozone only with the clock, streamer and di20he.

I get what you mean @FredA, but do we not always have a little dc offset on our mains power? How much dc offset would you say our most sensitive audio devices can handle without adversely affecting audio?

 

[JaMo]

PiCoreNAA node

What is a PiCoreNAA node? I am using piCorePlayers since many years now and I'm using LMS nightly Builds on my NAS'es . Now piCorePlayer v8.1.0 and LMS on 8.3.0 (latest). I have never heard of PiCoreNAA. Please explain. Thanks

 

[PhMZ4]

Hello,

to be able to use HQPLAYER with LMS, you’ll need to install the UPnP/DLNAbridge plugin and configure it for pass through to have a bit perfect streaming to the HQPLAYER main upsampling node.
Then you have either the possibility to go out straight to your DAC via USB or via network to à last node called NAA if you desire (just a last mile FIFO streamer).
HQPLAYER-NAA emmbedded image exists only for x86-64, amd-64 and arm-64, but the latter limited to the PI4 architecture.
However the USBridge is based on the PI3 architecture (CM3+ module) and therefore will not install the HQPLAYER-NAA emmbedded image.
I could find a lovely guy who has reused the PiCorePlayer 8.1 on which he has added the NAA code (latest 4.2) as an in-memory module, while stopping the SqueezePlay process, letting a light NAA node which runs perfectly on the Allo USBridge.
i can send the link to the package if you are interested…

 

[JaMo]

Hello,

to be able to use HQPLAYER with LMS, you’ll need to install the UPnP/DLNAbridge plugin and configure it for pass through to have a bit perfect streaming to the HQPLAYER main upsampling node.
Then you have either the possibility to go out straight to your DAC via USB or via network to à last node called NAA if you desire (just a last mile FIFO streamer).
HQPLAYER-NAA emmbedded image exists only for x86-64, amd-64 and arm-64, but the latter limited to the PI4 architecture.
However the USBridge is based on the PI3 architecture (CM3+ module) and therefore will not install the HQPLAYER-NAA emmbedded image.
I could find a lovely guy who has reused the PiCorePlayer 8.1 on which he has added the NAA code (latest 4.2) as an in-memory module, while stopping the SqueezePlay process, letting a light NAA node which runs perfectly on the Allo USBridge.
i can send the link to the package if you are interested…

Yes, please. I am curious to learn about it. I PM You. Thanks

 

[WindowsX]

Finally, today I managed to flash new firmwares for my R7HE 2021 version having FPGA/CPLD/Amanero firmware update to latest version.

Overall sound presentation is more relaxed and smoother. Original firmware that came with unit sounded a bit aggressive and forward so this one should hit more sweet spots.

I also unscrewed screws on power supply and analogue boards and adjust screw tightness to reduce stress. Maybe that also helps making DAC sounding more relaxed too.

I highly recommend updating firmwares although they're quite tedious tasks to do but also rewarding in long run.