Asynchronous I2S FIFO project, an ultimate weapon to fight the jitter

[Drive Shaft]

I am worried about the metal standoffs digging in the thin cap sleeve, the Cap Body is Positive The standoff where the nut is located is only separated by Varnish from the - ground of the UCPure.
With a bit of time or bad luck you could have a huge short. I suggest using Plastic Standoffs and strapping the caps independently from the UcPure or different design. Other the that that is a great way to do 15.5V I learned the hard way years ago with a regular cap. Hope I did not hurt any feelings I thought I say something.

Yes, thank you for your concern and advice. Actually, this is Crom's photo not mine:

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...epo4-battery-power-supply.327105/post-6886105

Yes, I only exclusively use Plastic Standoffs and Plastic Nuts for all my Ian gear since the beginning. I also only exclusively use trusted Brand Name Balancing Boards like Eaton or UcBalancer. That's why I waited years to implement the UcPure since I had the Eaton Balancing Boards on backorder.

I even double washer just to make sure nothing touches the Cap Body:

It's just my memory is bad so I forget how many Balancing Boards are needed for 12-15.5V. I believe it's three. That's why I posted Crom's photo because that is the closest we have on documentation on how to implement a 15.5V UcPure solution.

I was hoping there would be an updated UcPure/UcBalancer 15.5V photo / documentation by the time I implement.

So since the Group Buy will end soon, does a quantity of three UcBalancers sound about right for a 15.5V solution? With Ian mentioning the awesome measurements of the DRIXO (I love my DRIXO) with the UcPure 15.5V, I think this will be my next Summer Project.

 

[Drive Shaft]

Here is my setup…..

Nice, the Tecates. I remember them.

Thanks for the alternative configuration. I did not consider a lying flat stack.

So I see 3 Balancing Boards, but not UcBalancers.

Do you think all I need is a quantity of three UcBalancers? I don't want to be in a bind when I start implementing for my next Summer Project and find out I'm a UcBalancer short of implementing properly.

Sorry for the simple question, my memory is bad so I forget the proper configuration for a 15.5V UcPure solution but I want to make sure my Group Buy is complete as it's coming to a close.

 

[SimonJ]

Yes 3 balance boards for for each pair of caps. Don’t look at this any different than 3 pairs of balanced caps joined together to give the voltage needed as it is as simple as that

 

[bodiebill]

Sound like an interesting project 🙂

I would always go with the station Pi pro instead of a separate DAC/RPI stack.

The station pi pro is designed to have two separate stacks with a shielded wall between them.
This will also give you the opportunity to add a USB input via an amanero.

Indeed I will go for the StationPi Pro. I have decided however to limit the project to a streamer (not an integrated streamer-DAC) as I believe that ESS is not the DAC for me.

 

[Drive Shaft]

Yes 3 balance boards for for each pair of caps. Don’t look at this any different than 3 pairs of balanced caps joined together to give the voltage needed as it is as simple as that

Many thanks. I'm not up2date. I barely familar with any Ian products in the last two years, so with things constantly changing it's better to be safe than sorry.

I'll order 3 UcBalancers.

Nice doublers BTW.

 

[SimonJ]

hello

i have completed the streamer case.
I made one more case for the uc-pureIII for power.

I have connected all the wires needed to make it work.
I haven't mounted the raspberry pi module yet.
For now, it only works with eRED-mod.
It works perfectly with roon, tidal, and qobuz.

I put in power and wait for the SC-PURE clock to warm up.
Music is more realistic and fine details come to life.
Comparison of the CCHD957, NDK2520SDA, and sc-pure.
sc-pure is the best for fine detail.

The control buttons on the MonitorFi Pro have been moved to the back.
There's still a little more work to be done, but I'm happy with the sound quality.

FifoPiQ7
TransportPiAES (sc947-02lf)
HdmiPiPro
ScPure 45,49
UcPure III
MonitorPiPro

Fantastic project, well done!!! LOVE the case design!

 

[SimonJ]

Many thanks. I'm not up2date. I barely familar with any Ian products in the last two years, so with things constantly changing it's better to be safe than sorry.

I'll order 3 UcBalancers.

Nice doublers BTW.

Thanks! Thats the base case for my 2 case streamer/DAC. That bottom case in on 24/7 powering just the clocks to get the best performance

 

[bodiebill]

Although for some time I have been ogling Ian Canada's modules and ploughing through this bounteous thread, this is my first post here. I think I am ready to take the plunge, and to start with a streamer with I2S output, for which I would use the RPi4 that is now in my Pi2AES.

Before ordering, I would appreciate any comments on my current shopping list:

• StationPi Pro
• FifoPi Q7
• HDMIPi Pro
• PurePi II
• 2x batteries 18650
• UcConditioner 3.3V
• 2 ultracapacitors

I thought to use the StationPi Pro to facilitate putting it in a box later. I have a good 5V LPS available (Paul Hynes).

Newbee question: is it correct that all RPi based DAC projects here are actually integrated streamer/DAC combo's? If yes, would that bring SQ benefits compared to using a separate streamer, due to shorter/simplified connections? No need in that case for an HDMI/I2S cable for instance.

Today I ordered above modules for a streamer from Audiophonic.

Question: are the stock clocks on the FifoPi Q7 of the 45/49 variety? I could not yet find the answer.
If yes, is it possible (for DSD-only use) to replace only the 45 one by an SC-Pure 45 clock?
If no, would the combination SC-Pure 45 and stock 24 be a problem?

 

[qwertyl]

A question about ES9038Q2M Dual Mono II DAC... According to the spec there is +/- 11% matching accuracy between chips - are the channel output levels corrected so they match? Perhaps by "auto level calibration" feature?

No response so I assume that DAC/channel output level correction is not implemented. Anybody noticed a imbalance between channels when using ES9038Q2M Dual Mono DAC?

 

[iancanada]

Today I ordered above modules for a streamer from Audiophonic.

Question: are the stock clocks on the FifoPi Q7 of the 45/49 variety? I could not yet find the answer.
If yes, is it possible (for DSD-only use) to replace only the 45 one by an SC-Pure 45 clock?
If no, would the combination SC-Pure 45 and stock 24 be a problem?

Question: are the stock clocks on the FifoPi Q7 of the 45/49 variety?
Yes, The supplied clocks are good 45/49. No need to upgrade unless for SC-Pure clocks.

If yes, is it possible (for DSD-only use) to replace only the 45 one by an SC-Pure 45 clock?
Yes, it is possible. You can upgrade with only one SC-Pure 45 and keep the other 49 one.

If no, would the combination SC-Pure 45 and stock 24 be a problem?
You have no problem combine SC-Pure 45 and a 24 clock as long as you have a FifoPi Q7

 

[bodiebill]

Thanks Ian, I am looking forward to the build

 

[clsidxxl]

Yes, I only exclusively use Plastic Standoffs and Plastic Nuts for all my Ian gear

View attachment 1228633

Please Drive, Can you tell me or you buy the Plastic Nuts and the copper washer,thanks.

 

[iancanada]

I have news on this issue. If I remove Rpi4 from the stack, MonitorPi Pro works flawlessly.

My whole stack is the following:

• Rpi4
• ReceiverPi Pro II
• FifoPi Q7
• TransportPi MKII
• MonitorPi Pro

In this case the MonitorPi stops receiving remote control signal if I switch to HDMI or Rpi4 input with no signal.

If I put MonitorPi onto a Rpi4+ReceiverPi mini-stack, I get the same error.
The only way for issue-safe working is to remove Rpi4 from the stack.

Can anyone test it for me?

@melorin
MonitorPi Pro remote control trouble shooting:

Thank you for keep reporting the problem. I finally duplicated the issue on my system. But it has no business with FW.

The reason is that the IR signal (pin22/GPIO25) is also passed to RPi to for possible software control. However RPi may not initial that IR pin properly if the IR plug-in software is not installed.
In this case the IR signal might be affected some how because the wrong logic levels. I have two solutions for you:

1. Software solution
Edit the config.txt file on a PC using a SD reader, add and copy the follow line as a last line to the file, then save it.
gpio=25=ip,pu

2. Hardware solution
If you use a GPIO extension KIT, please bent or cut the pin22 (GPIO25).
Or if you install the MonitorPi Pro to the non-isolated GPIO of a FifoPi, please bent or cut the same pin.

Please let me know if you have an update.

Good weekend.
Ian

 

[miklau]

hello

i have completed the streamer case.
I made one more case for the uc-pureIII for power.

I have connected all the wires needed to make it work.
I haven't mounted the raspberry pi module yet.
For now, it only works with eRED-mod.
It works perfectly with roon, tidal, and qobuz.

I put in power and wait for the SC-PURE clock to warm up.
Music is more realistic and fine details come to life.
Comparison of the CCHD957, NDK2520SDA, and sc-pure.
sc-pure is the best for fine detail.

The control buttons on the MonitorFi Pro have been moved to the back.
There's still a little more work to be done, but I'm happy with the sound quality.

FifoPiQ7
TransportPiAES (sc947-02lf)
HdmiPiPro
ScPure 45,49
UcPure III
MonitorPiPro

That looks really good🙂

I am just curious, since I am working on my own enclosure, but what radius do you have at the cutout for the monitor Pi pro?
Did you use a 2x2 mm chamfer after that?
Did you anodize all panels after manufacturing?

Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[melorin]

T

@melorin
MonitorPi Pro remote control trouble shooting:

Thank you for keep reporting the problem. I finally duplicated the issue on my system. But it has no business with FW.

The reason is that the IR signal (pin22/GPIO25) is also passed to RPi to for possible software control. However RPi may not initial that IR pin properly if the IR plug-in software is not installed.
In this case the IR signal might be affected some how because the wrong logic levels. I have two solutions for you:

1. Software solution
Edit the config.txt file on a PC using a SD reader, add and copy the follow line as a last line to the file, then save it.
gpio=25=ip,pu

2. Hardware solution
If you use a GPIO extension KIT, please bent or cut the pin22 (GPIO25).
Or if you install the MonitorPi Pro to the non-isolated GPIO of a FifoPi, please bent or cut the same pin.

Please let me know if you have an update.

Good weekend.
Ian

@iancanada Thank you for the info!
is it a bad idea to cut the pin22 on the MonitorPi Pro instead of Rpi/FIFO?

 

[skilion51]

That looks really good🙂

I am just curious, since I am working on my own enclosure, but what radius do you have at the cutout for the monitor Pi pro?
Did you use a 2x2 mm chamfer after that?
Did you anodize all panels after manufacturing?

Thanks in advance 🙂

Aluminum 8T plate machined, hairline, and silver anodized.

 

[skilion51]

Can you elaborate on the eRED-mod Roon bridge capabilities? Any web based management for configuration? Which are the max capabilities detected by Roon and which are the actual usable with FIFOPI-Q7 (PCM/DSD native/DoP)?
I would expect it to be far better than a RPI for audio purposes and this looks to match your observation so far.
I have noticed this board in the past, however there was not much information available for it and therefore refrained from ordering one.

https://www.engineered.ch/products/ered-mod/
You can get information from the manufacturer's webpage.
I only connected the I2S output of the ERED MOD to FIFOPI Q7.(12,35,40+gnd)
The same board is used in the ch-precision C1, soulution 330.

digital Media Renderer for stereo audio
UPnP AV 2.0 / DLNA
playing and decoding common audio formats from HTTP streams
2-channel asynchronous endpoint for highest quality digital audio stereo playback
bit-perfect, jitter free data transmission
PCM up to 32-bit resolution, sampling rate up to 384kHz
support for DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256
support for gapless playback
ethernet interface and I2S/DSD digital audio output
hardware mode for easy operation
SPI interface available for extended features
compact design, low EMI

 

[Drive Shaft]

Please Drive, Can you tell me or you buy the Plastic Nuts and the copper washer,thanks.

I documented my UcPure build in the Power Thread as this thread is too fast-moving and a General Thread.

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...epo4-battery-power-supply.327105/post-7494588

Hopefully, in time, I can document a 15.5V UcPure/UcBalancer Rig as that is sorely needed. Along with adding resistors to build a 12V UcPure/UcBalancer Rig.

I still need to track down the Nylon I used to buffer the Cap Body from the UcPure for documentation completeness later in the week and I'll try to remember to include the Medical Grade Mean Well AC/DC as it's top quality :

 

[iancanada]

T

@iancanada Thank you for the info!
is it a bad idea to cut the pin22 on the MonitorPi Pro instead of Rpi/FIFO?

It would be a good idea as long as you can do it.
But I would suggest try the software solution first. It could be the easiest way. Just to edit the SD card.

Ian

 

[JanDH]

Rijd alstublieft, kunt u mij vertellen over u de plastic moeren en de koperen ring koopt, bedankt.

Rijd alstublieft, kunt u mij vertellen of u de plastic moeren en de koperen ring koopt, bedankt.