That card with the Raspberry logo on is a Pi Compute Module 3. Basically it's a Raspberry Pi 3 but in a DDR2 SODIMM card form factor.Fretless wrote: ↑Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:15 pm On the subject of USB output streamers I have spotted that Allo are now making a USBridge Signature. If I read this correctly they have taken a Pi board and restructured it with all sorts of individual power lines and separated out the Ethernet and USB connections from the same bus. AND you can attach a DigiOne Sig board to it to give ultra-high purity output on USB and Coax.
USBridge Sig was build using RPI compute module so from a software point of view, this will give you access to the latest kernels (way ahead of any competitor). The focus of the device is to lower the noise on USB bus. We chose an excellent USB hub IC (TI) and a separated Ethernet to USB Ic (Axis).
To lower the noise of the USB, we had to lower noise on EACH rail. In total, USBridge Sig uses more than 30 LDOs. Even the SD card power rail has a dedicated LDO. There are zero switching elements on board.
Of course, since this is based on RPI compute, we decided to include the standard RPI connector. Anything that works on an RPI will work on the USBridge Sig. For example, you can use a DigiOne / DigiOne Sig to make a full fledge streamer that outputs USB, BNC and coaxial.
https://www.allo.com/sparky-eu/usbridge ... e-pcb.html
DAC to the Future
- slinger
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Re: DAC to the Future
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
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Re: DAC to the Future
Costs a bit too...
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future
USB is always a difficulty for me; higher bit rate than Coax or TOSLink, but then you have all of the USB jitter BS to deal with.
I was looking at the case for the USB Sig thinking it looked cheap. Not suggesting billet aluminium, but they could do better.
I was looking at the case for the USB Sig thinking it looked cheap. Not suggesting billet aluminium, but they could do better.
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)
Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0
Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt
Power
Farad • Tomanek
Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)
Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0
Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt
Power
Farad • Tomanek
Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
- slinger
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Re: DAC to the Future
The most common problem with using USB as a source was always that it was also commonly used to supply power. I remember seeing one piece where this was lauded as a great solution because only one lead was required. I felt like screaming "what about the feckin' noise it creates in the signal path" but after many years of verbally abusing a series of televisions, I guessed I'd get no more response out of a Chromebook, so restrained myself.
The problem seems to have been recognised, and in a large part, remedied now. Indeed, one major factor in my buying a Tinker Board was precisely this reason. Although it's powered via MicroUSB its four USB 2 ports are completely separate. The other little bonus is that you don't need a "specialist" case for it as you're not going to be using a "HAT" so any bog-standard Raspberry Pi case will fit. This also means, of course, that although the Tinker Board is more expensive than a Pi you don't need to buy a HAT to interface between the TB and your external DAC. Another plus is that it's a bit speedier than the Pi, and has Gigabit Ethernet which helps exploit that speed when using Volumio. The UI is very responsive and indexing my two Synology NASs was appreciably faster.
At the moment it's approaching the quality I had from my Pi/Digi+ Pro but I'm leaning towards believing that my choice of USB cable might be flawed. Reviews state that it takes quite a while to come on song, so I'll persevere for a while longer. The bass appears to have firmed up and it's more musical than seismological now, but the top end still sounds very brittle to me.
On the whole though, for around £120.00 for Tinker Board, case, MicroSD, and USB cable, it's proving a worthwhile experiment, and I haven't even tried out the onboard 192K/24bit output yet.
Next, though, I need to find out which bits of code to hack around, The Pi has a nice little config.txt file which allows you to add code that will disable things like the unused (by me) HDMI subsystem, and actually throttle back some processor tasks. The Tinker Board, sadly, does not. Looks like I'll be spending some time trolling Tinker Board forums, and asking silly questions.
The problem seems to have been recognised, and in a large part, remedied now. Indeed, one major factor in my buying a Tinker Board was precisely this reason. Although it's powered via MicroUSB its four USB 2 ports are completely separate. The other little bonus is that you don't need a "specialist" case for it as you're not going to be using a "HAT" so any bog-standard Raspberry Pi case will fit. This also means, of course, that although the Tinker Board is more expensive than a Pi you don't need to buy a HAT to interface between the TB and your external DAC. Another plus is that it's a bit speedier than the Pi, and has Gigabit Ethernet which helps exploit that speed when using Volumio. The UI is very responsive and indexing my two Synology NASs was appreciably faster.
At the moment it's approaching the quality I had from my Pi/Digi+ Pro but I'm leaning towards believing that my choice of USB cable might be flawed. Reviews state that it takes quite a while to come on song, so I'll persevere for a while longer. The bass appears to have firmed up and it's more musical than seismological now, but the top end still sounds very brittle to me.
On the whole though, for around £120.00 for Tinker Board, case, MicroSD, and USB cable, it's proving a worthwhile experiment, and I haven't even tried out the onboard 192K/24bit output yet.
Next, though, I need to find out which bits of code to hack around, The Pi has a nice little config.txt file which allows you to add code that will disable things like the unused (by me) HDMI subsystem, and actually throttle back some processor tasks. The Tinker Board, sadly, does not. Looks like I'll be spending some time trolling Tinker Board forums, and asking silly questions.
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
- Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future
The more-than-positive experience with the Topping D30 has had me digging around on AliExpress for other ChiFi DAC's that might be affordable and fun to play with. And I have found quite a few - but what to actually get?
Twice I have had disappointing experiences and so I wasn't ready to commit to something potentially dodgy and DIY-ish like this:
An intriguing little NOS DAC that has 8 TDA1543 chips running together. This Lite DAC-AH has been around for many years and is a modder-favourite with, apparently a great sound but a build-flaw that the wrong resistors are used in the output stage.
A very similar device, also using the same 8x TDA1543 setup is the TeraDak V2.6D which is from a Taiwanese company that I have been interested in for a long time. Their 2-box V4.5 Chameleon DAC has a major reputation as totally-awesome sounding and uses 16 processors in NOS mode alongside an external PSU. TeraDak are also known for the high-quality PSU's they make for a variety of well-known audio devices.
So, for not too much cash, I've just ordered a TeraDak 2.6 and hopefully:
1) It 'll arrive fairly soon
2) It will work.
We'll see.
Twice I have had disappointing experiences and so I wasn't ready to commit to something potentially dodgy and DIY-ish like this:
An intriguing little NOS DAC that has 8 TDA1543 chips running together. This Lite DAC-AH has been around for many years and is a modder-favourite with, apparently a great sound but a build-flaw that the wrong resistors are used in the output stage.
A very similar device, also using the same 8x TDA1543 setup is the TeraDak V2.6D which is from a Taiwanese company that I have been interested in for a long time. Their 2-box V4.5 Chameleon DAC has a major reputation as totally-awesome sounding and uses 16 processors in NOS mode alongside an external PSU. TeraDak are also known for the high-quality PSU's they make for a variety of well-known audio devices.
So, for not too much cash, I've just ordered a TeraDak 2.6 and hopefully:
1) It 'll arrive fairly soon
2) It will work.
We'll see.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future
@Fretless - €75 per chip. You'll need two.
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)
Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0
Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt
Power
Farad • Tomanek
Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)
Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0
Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt
Power
Farad • Tomanek
Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
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Re: DAC to the Future
An interesting thread.
What is a sensible money DAC as an upgrade from a Caiman SEG?
What is a sensible money DAC as an upgrade from a Caiman SEG?
- Fretless
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Re: DAC to the Future
At this moment I would say look at the Topping series (D50 D70) or something from Metrum - although recent Metrum DAC's may have compatibility issues with NVA amps.
Chord or Schiit would seem to be a safe bet too.
Chord or Schiit would seem to be a safe bet too.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- George Hincapie
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Re: DAC to the Future
Before you replace that DAC, buy an LPSU for it from LongDog Audio; it transforms it.CaterhamKev wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:28 pm An interesting thread.
What is a sensible money DAC as an upgrade from a Caiman SEG?
Then in the future buy a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic Plus and use the same LPSU.
No idea which ICs you are using, but have a look at Blue Jeans; sensibly priced, superb build quality and excellent performance.
Job done!
Headphone Amplification
Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)
Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0
Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt
Power
Farad • Tomanek
Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Headphones
HifiMan Sundara • HiFiMan Arya Stealth Edition • ZMF Vérité Closed Ltd (Stabilised) • ZMF Atrium Open Ltd (Hawaiian Koa) • ZMF Aeolus Ltd (Mexican Bocote)
Digital
Audial S5 • Pi2AES 2.0
Cables
Forza Audio Works • Blue Jeans • DH Labs • Periapt
Power
Farad • Tomanek
Sources
Roon • Tidal • Qobuz
- slinger
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Re: DAC to the Future
Before you ditch the SEG I'd have a word with Stan. because the SEG itself is upgradeable.CaterhamKev wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:28 pm An interesting thread.
What is a sensible money DAC as an upgrade from a Caiman SEG?
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X