Tinker, Tailor, Streamer, Pi.

[Fretless]

The Xmos USB and not the Amanero version?

I have seen this several times and it looks like an excellent value-for-money, high-end DAC.

[Fretless]

Major reshuffle of audio apparatus at Fretless Manor. The second DAC (for headphone use) has been moved to the office and there is now space for the tiny Schiit Magni3 headphone amp next to the unexciting-looking Tinkerboard
(flashy aluminium case on order ).

Removed: 1 DAC, 1 mains lead, 1 Toslink cable, 2 Digital coax interconnects, 1 5V wall-wart, 1 USB power cable.

Downsizing in price: Teradak Chameleon approx half the price of Metrum Musette.
Asus Tinker Board S is approx one-third price of RPi & Allo DigiOne Signature.

[slinger]

I read that XMOS handles jitter better at higher bitrates, other than that they both have their fans and both camps think their choice is the best.

[Firebug1]

You guys are all over the board with these boards

[karatestu]

Major reshuffle of audio apparatus at Fretless Manor. The second DAC (for headphone use) has been moved to the office and there is now space for the tiny Schiit Magni3 headphone amp next to the unexciting-looking Tinkerboard
(flashy aluminium case on order ).

Removed: 1 DAC, 1 mains lead, 1 Toslink cable, 2 Digital coax interconnects, 1 5V wall-wart, 1 USB power cable.

Downsizing in price: Teradak Chameleon approx half the price of Metrum Musette.
Asus Tinker Board S is approx one-third price of RPi & Allo DigiOne Signature.

So you prefer the Teradak to the Metrum ? Is that support from Lkea ?

Topping D90 is available now Fret, you need to try that one out for us all

[Fretless]

You guys are all over the board with these boards

Bonzo Dog Band 'I'm Board'

[Fretless]

So you prefer the Teradak to the Metrum ? Is that support from Lkea ?

Topping D90 is available now Fret, you need to try that one out for us all

I find the 'Teradak-sound' to be much warmer and more emotionally-involving than the Metrum. It actually reminds me of the lovely Musical Fidelity M1DAC but then with far more authority.

Just swapped the Musette over with the cheapest TeraDak 2.7 for a listen and although the Metrum appears more accurate and 'cleaner' it also comes across as cold and distanced from the music in comparison. Both are NOS-based DAC's but are using a totally different chipset. For me, at the moment, the Teradak approach using paralleled arrays of TDA1543 processors is a hands-down winner in terms of enjoyment and 'getting inside' the music.

And yes, there is another TeraDak model on the way. I'm expecting a V4.1 this week - it's just landed in Amsterdam. Hard-accuracy and measurement boffins will be horrified, probably, but I want music that I can fall in love with.

The shelf-unit is a TV-stand from JYSK, cost 25 euro. Perfect.

Topping D90 ?? I'm on DAC overload here!

Next up is a shoot-out between the Musette and the Topping D30.

[Fretless]

Just in time for Xmas, the Asus Tinker Board fanless aluminium casing has arrived. Looks real smart and solid and is a doddle to assemble - takes literally one minute with no (serious) fiddling.

Inside, a cube of solid aluminium rests on the Rockchip CPU and connects to the housing, turning the whole case into one integral heatsink that thermally stabilises the main processor.

Allo do something similar with their massive aluminium casing for the Pi & DigiOne, when I set that up I did notice an improvement in SQ with respect to smoothness, imaging and control. The metal casings also provide EM shielding for the delicate digital components which may also help.

Keen-eyed observers will, no doubt, spot that there are 2 AudioQuest Jitterbugs mounted; AQ recommend 2 as being the most effective in sonic terms. Who am I to disagree?

End result is that I find the metal-jacketed Tinkerboard to sound a touch sweeter and more detailed than it did before.

Strangely enough there is a reduction in audible distinction between WAV, FLAC and ALAC files. The increased processing power of the Tinkerboard certainly rises above the lesser-endowed RPi 2B that I have been using up to now.

Hopefully this will now end my current bout of upgrade-itis and I can concentrate on shaking off the virus that has been bothering me for the last couple of weeks.

[antonio66]

That look very neat, pleased you're happy with everything now.

[Fretless]

That look very neat, pleased you're happy with everything now.

Certainly am. The Tinkerboard has come as a surprising revelation in SQ terms.