Pi 2 Design - Mercury Streamer

[theveterans]

Thanks,
btw is this the same with the Red or does the Red offer a superior USB like Lumin U2?

I'm not familiar with Red's USB implementation, but people have no sound quality issues with its USB output AFAIK

 

[Guidostrunk]

I have tried the usb out to my Gungnir 2 and can confirm that the AES is the better output on the mercury 3. Dynamics, imaging, blacker background. AES sounds more 3D to me.

 

[matthia]

So with Mercury all Unison improvements are useless

 

[theveterans]

So with Mercury all Unison improvements are useless

Unison in itself is pretty good but can still be massively improved with a usb optimized streamer. Just that Mercury V3 doesn’t have the usb optimization that something like Innuos Pulsar does

 

[matthia]

Unison in itself is pretty good but can still be massively improved with a usb optimized streamer. Just that Mercury V3 doesn’t have the usb optimization that something like Innuos Pulsar does

Yes, my point is that in the price range of Mercury it seems to be impossible to get a streamer with a really good USB output.
The next candidates might be Holo Red or Sonore ultraRendu, then Lumin U2 or your mentioned Innuos Pulsar.

 

[theveterans]

Yeah unfortunately. Mercury with intona usb isolator gets you to Red prices on a not so elegant 2 box solution

 

[conductor609]

I'm not familiar with Red's USB implementation, but people have no sound quality issues with its USB output AFAIK

yeah I'm not aware of anybody complaining about it - I'm not sure if anybody has measured all the individual outputs of the red or anything but the red does have a non standard usb port. the usb out is part of the red's board and has some improvements made to it and is not just part of the pi board, so definitely the better option if you're looking to use the usb for hqplayer or something.

 

[jcn3]

Thanks,
btw is this the same with the Red or does the Red offer a superior USB like Lumin U2?

the red uses the rpi 4 compute module and is installed on a custom board, so it's usb it superior to the standard rpi 4. most find that the usb out sounds quite good.

 

[Ufanco]

Been considering the mercury3 but all my listening is done thru Tidal. My understanding is to use Tidal I would need either roon or volumio subscription?

 

[Guidostrunk]

Been considering the mercury3 but all my listening is done thru Tidal. My understanding is to use Tidal I would need either roon or volumio subscription?

You can get volumio installed as your os on the mercury v3 upon purchase.. Then download the volumio app and login into tidal on the volumio app. It's really simple to do. The v3 walks you through the process. Volumio is a little wonky because we're used to simple Android and apple os systems but once you navigate through it a few times it's like everything else lol. You really don't need roon if you're just jammin Tidal and strictly headphone rig.

Ps: Yes Volumio is a $80 a year subscription.

 

[mr_macgee]

Been considering the mercury3 but all my listening is done thru Tidal. My understanding is to use Tidal I would need either roon or volumio subscription?

There's a couple of options when using Tidal only. As mentioned above, you can always use Volumio with a subscription. like Roon. Tidal has a feature called "Tidal Connect" it doesn't work on all streamers, it allows your Tidal app to directly control your streamer without needing Volumio or Roon, nor the streamers own music app and it's Free (no subscription)!
It talks directly to the streamer from your iPad, PC/apple or tablet/iPad, It's only controlling it as a remote control, no music is moving through your phone, computer or iPad.

Here's the catch, you streamer must have the feature included called "Tidal Connect" inside it for it to work; Tidal Connect wont work on the Mercury, but thought I would mention it as an option to consider in case your open to view other streamers and it will save you money every year not having to subscribe and pay. Just go onto Tidal, to the Tidal Connect page and see all the streaming companies that have this feature, Wiim, Bluesound, ifi, Eversolo.....etc https://tidal.com/supported-devices?filter=tidal-connect

Having said that, I have a lifetime subscription to Roon, and I freaking love it and I can't ever imagine having to go back to something else. It's not cheap but the lifetime is a bargain if I keep using Roon for the long term, which I very much plan on it. With Roon, your not tied down to one music supplier (Tidal, Qobuz, etc), all my playlist on Roon will stay intact and I can weave into one playlists, songs from Qobuz, from Tidal, and your songs saved on your hard drive; it easily combines all. Also easy to burn CD with Roon, to save them onto a hard drive and playlists. Later on, I can always add another streamer or change out the old one, and no changes will have to be done (plug&play) to Roon. It continues to visually look and act the same on your screen. I currently have three different types of streamers on my Roon network, in different rooms, all working the same on Roon, so it does add some really nice features, No more multiple streamer apps from different companies on my phone to control each streamer, just Roon.

Volumio is $80/year subscription; looks like the avg length of a streamer being used in a typical system is approx. 4 years, that's $360 your giving to Volumio so you can use the Mercury, as apposed to a streamer that has Tidal Connect. That's over $900 for the V3 & Volumio compared to a streamer that has Tidal Connect. And it will be more $ if you keep the V3 for longer.

These are just some things to consider, they all seem to have their place, and we all have our own preferences & budgets, but it's good know what choices you have and may prefer

 

[Ufanco]

Great advice only issue is we no longer use a PC. I do have a mini Mac but it’s over 10 years old and not sure it even run roon. Guess that leaves just Volumio as a option.

The reason I was considering the mercury3 was for the i2s connection since I just upgraded to the Pontus 15. Sadly not many choice for streamers that have i2s connection that are under $1000.00 that also have tidal connect.

 

[theveterans]

Why not the Holo Red? It can do Tidal Connect on i2s without paying for Volumio premium. Its stock Red OS is Tidal connect ready

 

[Ufanco]

Why not the Holo Red? It can do Tidal Connect on i2s without paying for Volumio premium. Its stock Red OS is Tidal connect ready

Did a brief web search and sounds like holo red is built on same system as the Mercury3. Lot of reports of issue with not being hi Rez and other software issues. Will have to research it more would hate to drop money on a Red to find out it no longer supports tidal in the future.

Might just stick to wiim pro and see if someone else can offer a i2s streamer that just works with tidal. Really shouldn't have to spend this much to add i2s connection to a device.

Guess other option would be buy a dcc and use it instead. I would least get some of the benefits of the i2s that way. I listen to around 5 hours a day to tidal and just want something that doesn't require spending all day just to make it work.

Ok venting off and thanks again for the help if I sound frustrating, it wasn't at you.

 

[theveterans]

A USB reclocker followed by LaiV uDDC after WiiM Pro should improve the sonics more than a Pi streamer IMHO

Chain would be Wiim Pro -> 10 MHz ultra low phase noise master clock -> [ USB reclocker -> Laiv uDDC ] (both are slaved to the master clock) -> Pontus 15th (i2s input)