Amanero Isolator/Reclocker GB

[Chanh]

Banana Pro with Jriver

Thanks Chanh

Can you provide links to learn more about this combo? Banana pro etc
thanks

First of all, you need a Banana Pro.
Image can be download here ==> Lubuntu For BananaPro - BananaPro - Banana Pro | Banana Pi | Open source platform makes more possibilities.

Extract and Copy into a SDCard via Win32DiskImageR.
Jriver is a free trial at this stage ==> JRiver Media Center demo 20.0.81 for Debian ARM

Instructions on how to setup, pls pm as this is way off topic. Sorry Acko!

Chanh

 

[acko]

First of all, you need a Banana Pro.
Image can be download here ==> Lubuntu For BananaPro - BananaPro - Banana Pro | Banana Pi | Open source platform makes more possibilities.

Extract and Copy into a SDCard via Win32DiskImageR.
Jriver is a free trial at this stage ==> JRiver Media Center demo 20.0.81 for Debian ARM

Instructions on how to setup, pls pm as this is way off topic. Sorry Acko!

Chanh

Don't mind at all! Thanks for the links. I am very keen myself with this JRiver/Banana combo
Just one question, can it stream DSD. I understand for WinPc, the JRiver version uses ASIO to handle DSD but ASIO is Windows only. Is there anything similar with the Armhf JRiver

 

[Chanh]

It's certain DSD can transfer via UPnD. I did this with mine, and have MPD transcoding back to PCM for DDDAC. You need to "nano /etc/MPD.conf" to change a couple lines.
1. Enable sampling interpolation "Best Sine interpolation"
2. Down to Botic output, change "native DSD = no"

I must say, DSD to pcm via DDDAC sounds abit artificial!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[acko]

It's certain DSD can transfer via UPnD. I did this with mine, and have MPD transcoding back to PCM for DDDAC. You need to "nano /etc/MPD.conf" to change a couple lines.
1. Enable sampling interpolation "Best Sine interpolation"
2. Down to Botic output, change "native DSD = no"

I must say, DSD to pcm via DDDAC sounds abit artificial!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, very useful!
Of course any transcoding will not be bit-perfect will destroy the original pristine qualities of the recording.
I will use EDEL NMR receiver and DSD native to 9018 DAC.

 

[acko]

We have the R2R DAC here. Based on what I have heard, it sounds completely away from DDDAC. Certainly not my cuppa tea. May be those having both can report their findings?!? Stijn?

There is a diy discrete DSD DAC, which I will be the first few recieving one. Can't let the cat out just yet. Hopefully in time for this June WE's gtg in Paris, France.

Thanks Chanh, It be best to make an informed decision always. Still early stages and the jury is still out there. We will need more feedback and user experience. I reckon it is not just the DAC engine that matters but also what is around it to bring out the best. On this point you and others have invested a lot with the DDDAC - and reaping rewards from the looks of it Of course the options to upgrade, tweak or mod the default build is a big plus for systems like this. Well done!

Oh, yes, very keen on your discrete DSD only DAC

 

[acko]

Amanero

I hope you don't mind me asking this question its sort of relevant
I have just rebuilt my BIIISE DAC & added the Acko Isolator to the Amanero output & update the Amanero firmware and driver, but for the life of me I cannot get Foobar to play music using any of the ASIO Output Devices.
I can play music using the WASAPI Output Devices.
I have attached some screen shots in the hope somebody can spot a problem with what I'm doing.
PS: The Amanero work in the past using ASIO Output Devices before I did the updating.

I used the factory standard install 1080 it's the top of the list in the firmware install program, I'm not re clocking, not yet anyway, just using the board as an isolator

Fixed

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

Great to hear, nice display, well done!
I see that you can play DxD and DSD files. How do they sound, stable?

On my system with Amanero Sync re-clocked in Slave mode (FW 1095), cannot seem to play beyond 192k and DSD has noisy background!
Sometimes, I can get DxD playing nicely, and yes all goose bumps SQ but stops in ~30s like someone turned off a turntable power.

Using Foobar like yours

Maybe due to my "tech-wreck" setup

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

 

[Chanh]

Thanks Chanh, It be best to make an informed decision always. Still early stages and the jury is still out there. We will need more feedback and user experience. I reckon it is not just the DAC engine that matters but also what is around it to bring out the best. On this point you and others have invested a lot with the DDDAC - and reaping rewards from the looks of it Of course the options to upgrade, tweak or mod the default build is a big plus for systems like this.

Tottally agreed! Pls don't take away what I have said....! As always, audio is nothing but subjectively debatable. The ability/capability of one's perceive and appreciate the music/sound never aligning with another. Individual's audiable acceptance, setup synergy, listenning environment, are all come to play part of the overall outcome. Which is why we need this community...!

Yes my DDDAC has already had more than $6k invested if not exceedingly more...! I tend to blindfold and not think about it, else this deems too silly.
I will go all in for the DSD DAC once it made available to me. Your SuperCape and those $750 clocks are part of this plan. Having say this, if Banana Pro i2s deems satisfactory after my trail. I will proceed with Banana Pro instead of BBB.

 

[acko]

...
I will proceed with Banana Pro instead of BBB.

Actually, before you jump in, re: my previous post, the BananaPro-I2S has a closed and compromised clocking system like that of the RPi. So I would think BBB/Botic-I2S has the advantage of dual native audio clocks (at least theoretically speaking)

...
...$750 clocks are part of this plan.

Pulsar Clocks...
I guess this is the only possible upgrade left for you and see if it can take your system beyond the current "Holographic" level

 

[DQ828]

Great to hear, nice display, well done!
I see that you can play DxD and DSD files. How do they sound, stable?

Unfortunately sound I cant really comment on as I've only every played the real Hi Res via my test setup you see in the photo

To play the Hi Res I need to play it directly from my computer & my main system is rooms away from the computer.

The signal has been rock solid once I worked out which Driver-Device to use etc
The whole software-driver side seems a bit flaky as I could only get Foorbar to play the music when I used the Foo_dsd_asio device, the Amanero & ASIO4ALL devices wouldn't work.

 

[nautibuoy]

I've embarked on some garden reshaping over the weekend (phew, it'll be good to go to work today for a rest!) so no time to play with manually mapping the BBB pins for DSD playback testing with AssetUPnP. It looks like I might have to wait for the new header board!

Chanh, do I understand you correctly; you are going to replace the BBBotic with a BananaPi, primarily to facilitate the use of a SATA hard disk? If so, I think you are taking a backward step as the BBBotic is far more optimised towards audio and can make use of dedicated high quality clocking via boards such as Acko's SO3.

Ray

 

[acko]

Unfortunately sound I cant really comment on as I've only every played the real Hi Res via my test setup you see in the photo

To play the Hi Res I need to play it directly from my computer & my main system is rooms away from the computer.

The signal has been rock solid once I worked out which Driver-Device to use etc
The whole software-driver side seems a bit flaky as I could only get Foorbar to play the music when I used the Foo_dsd_asio device, the Amanero & ASIO4ALL devices wouldn't work.

Thanks mate, will keep going.... If anyone one else have succeeded with DxD on Amanero using the factory default FW-1080, please let us know.

One reason why I am still hanging onto this PC-USB audio is somehow the downstream conditioning with the S03 will harmonize the outputs so it will sound just the same as a direct I2S drive like the BBB. I can hear flashes of excellence already when the Amanero-S03 is running fine but just cannot get it complete the play beyond 192k and plus all the flaky behavior at other times.

 

[acko]

I've embarked on some garden reshaping over the weekend (phew, it'll be good to go to work today for a rest!) so no time to play with manually mapping the BBB pins for DSD playback testing with AssetUPnP. It looks like I might have to wait for the new header board!
...
Ray

Yes, these domestic chores can make you time poor

Just as well wait for the new BBB-DSD board. After all the electrical tests, I can send you a sample for further tests if you are interested... and if it works fine, it is all yours -gratis

 

[DQ828]

Thanks mate, will keep going.... If anyone one else have succeeded with DxD on Amanero using the factory default FW-1080, please let us know.

for what it is worth these are the settings I am using in Foobar;

 

[acko]

...... people who already own an S03 re-clocking board are better off with just going with the BBB-DSD board. Am I looking at this correctly?

This is correct. The other, SuperCape, duplicates some of the clocking functions for those who do not have or need to use the S03, e.g Soren's DAC. The SuperCape has a full featured UPS though with all the associated monitoring and control but I would think this may not be necessary for the current use case. BBB-DSD has simple shutdown accordingly, so firmware pretty straightforward.

 

[Chanh]

Chanh, do I understand you correctly; you are going to replace the BBBotic with a BananaPi, primarily to facilitate the use of a SATA hard disk? If so, I think you are taking a backward step as the BBBotic is far more optimised towards audio and can make use of dedicated high quality clocking via boards such as Acko's SO3.

Ray

Ray,
Thanks for the heads up! I do not plan to replace this BBB&S03 via Botic by a Banana Pro i2s. However, I plan to give i2s from Banana Pro a trial. They said "if we never go, we'd never know!".

Will keep you guys posted if interest ?

Chanh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nautibuoy]

Just as well wait for the new BBB-DSD board. After all the electrical tests, I can send you a sample for further tests if you are interested... and if it works fine, it is all yours -gratis

Sounds like a great opportunity but I would expect to recompense you. Thanks.

Ray

 

[acko]

Sounds like a great opportunity but I would expect to recompense you. Thanks.

Ray

All nicely covered by your time and efforts in setting up and testing the unit

 

[acko]

....
Also, I mentioned earlier in the thread about wanting to use the OTTOII to switch between an Amanero and the BBB. Would synchronous clocking be possible in this setup with an S03? In my mind the way to do it would be to have OTTOII send LRCK SDATA and BCK via UFL to S03. Then have bypassed* 49,45 CLK sent back to both Amanero and BBB directly, without going back thru OTTOII. For this to work I'd have to have simultaneous clock coming from both the MCLK UFL and the CLK pin header (pin 7). Also the other challenge is CLK Select from both devices. I know the Amanero uses pins 1 and 11 for this. What about the BBB? Finally, the last challenge would be switching between both devices on the OTTOII. I'd assume some type of off/on switch could be used to select one or the other.

Maybe you could do this but I am not very familiar with the OTTO...
Alternatively, you may want to consider the upcoming S04 module. This is similar to the S03 but has two digital input ports multiplexed. I will be using the S04 to connect the EDEL NMR and SDTrans384. Both will get fully synchronized with the re-clocker. You should be able connect other transports with similar capability.

 

[Mull3t]

Hrmmm... lots to think about. Is the S04 going to be a complete DIY effort or more in line with your AKU384? or up to the end-user?

Just sprang for a BBB. I figure it'll be good to have around to start mucking with the Linux bits.

Just curious... Is anyone using the BBB in a wireless manner eg with a WiFi USB dongle? I'm planning on using my "all-in-one" in a garage workshop with a lack of ethernet cabling.

 

[acko]

Hrmmm... lots to think about. Is the S04 going to be a complete DIY effort or more in line with your AKU384? or up to the end-user?

Just sprang for a BBB. I figure it'll be good to have around to start mucking with the Linux bits.

S04 will be a fully assembled and tested with the same clock options as S03 - sorry, no DIY bare boards this time. I am trying shoehorn everything into the same footprint - components are getting smaller
BBB, likewise will connect nicely as per current S03 setup - no guesswork or need to jump through hoops and loops. I will preview layout pics soon...

Just curious... Is anyone using the BBB in a wireless manner eg with a WiFi USB dongle? I'm planning on using my "all-in-one" in a garage workshop with a lack of ethernet cabling.

Similar situation with my man-cave studio I am planning to use a 200Mb/s power-line ethernet modem to connect Edel!