Hi everyone thanks for all the info and shared systems here in this thread.I stumbled on this DIY build via a Telegram group of Goldensound. I was originally looking for a high end streamer to connect to a Ferrum Wandla DAC (DAC not bought yet). I previously owned a Pi2AES that I put together.
Very keen now after reading the last 50 pages of this thread to build a flagship streamer + DAC-in-1 without any soldering (I don't trust myself with that).
@iancanada could you please advise me which parts or project solution to purchase from your website? These are my criteria:
Do you think the 9038DAC you offer sounds better then a flagschip IAN streamer into Spring 3? If not I would go for a streamer only and buy the Wandla.
Does the DAC/Monitor Pro have a line-out option? I already know that it has a pre amp function, but If I use a headphone amp with it, Line-out would be nice.
Thanks again.
Very keen now after reading the last 50 pages of this thread to build a flagship streamer + DAC-in-1 without any soldering (I don't trust myself with that).
@iancanada could you please advise me which parts or project solution to purchase from your website? These are my criteria:
- Streamer
- DDC (USB in for when using my Macbook)
- DAC XLR OUT
- No soldering
- Money no object seeking 'best' SQ
Do you think the 9038DAC you offer sounds better then a flagschip IAN streamer into Spring 3? If not I would go for a streamer only and buy the Wandla.
Does the DAC/Monitor Pro have a line-out option? I already know that it has a pre amp function, but If I use a headphone amp with it, Line-out would be nice.
Thanks again.
hello ian and everyone
i have a question about fifopiQ7, the J6,J11 mclk output is 50ohm or 75ohm?
because my dac accept standard work clock from source equipment, i copy and paste some info. from the dac manual
***"(word clock interfaces, use 75ohm coax cables fitted with BNC plugs........
The W/Clock In connector(S) will accept standard word clock from the source equipment or a master clock at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192kHz.)",
so, i am searching some ipx to bnc cable, but dont know the impedance.
i have a question about fifopiQ7, the J6,J11 mclk output is 50ohm or 75ohm?
because my dac accept standard work clock from source equipment, i copy and paste some info. from the dac manual
***"(word clock interfaces, use 75ohm coax cables fitted with BNC plugs........
The W/Clock In connector(S) will accept standard word clock from the source equipment or a master clock at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192kHz.)",
so, i am searching some ipx to bnc cable, but dont know the impedance.
Hi first time poster. I’m at the electronics store trying to buy wire for this project’s streamer/DAC build power connections between boards as well as ground wire. I read a couple posts about 14 gauge solid core but I haven’t had any more time to research. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Sorry for rookie question!
Hi , can you stack 4 Linear Pi power supplies on top of each other with a Gap of about 20mm, gap above each Power supply . need to do this for Space will it cause any Issues ??, I could put an aluminium shield between each one not sure it that would help, I have an image of what I want to do
Attachments
Way too large wire, either 20 or 22 gauge solid is fine. Twist the hot and cold wires together.
Simply put, if you're serious about resulting SQ, you ought to put all toroids away from the digital circuits, to the separate enclosure altogether and dampen it properly.
Hi again,
haven't tried those Tonars, so don't know if or what benefit they bring. In my experience, anything and everything I put below any of my digital equipment, has some sonic characteristics. But that doesn't mean that everyone could hear it in their system like I do. I would start at properly damping the power supplies, especially toroids, but I don't see how you've attached those.
For my platforms or underneath cones, I'm using all kinds of dampers, according to the space available. I tried some cheaper ones like Vibrapod Isolators (not so good) or Audio Bastion Redline - not bad but not great either. Much better ones are Audio Engineers Fluidum (Kinetic not so much) and if you can match the weight with the specs of the dampers from Isoacoustics Orea range, those proved to be very good as well.
Fuses are a controversial matter and don't wanna dig deep into this here, but again in my system and my equipment, I could hear them distinctively. From cheaper ones like HiFi Tuning to more expensive like Audio Magic M-1. Why or how that is achieved, I'm not entirely sure, I have some theories, but I'm not a scientist in this matter, I only have a good gear to hear it, especially what I DON'T want to hear (life would be so much easier if none of that made a difference).
I also can't predict, if there will be any benefit of an upgraded fuse in your case, when it is followed by a pair of big cans downstream
So for a start, I would just try to put there a $1 ceramic fuse to try and see/hear if anything happens. But fuses have one more special function for me now, as they're providing a permanent interface, where I put the NPS-Q45T to work its magic.For the LAN cables, I'm using various brands Cat7 to 8.1. Cat 7 is usually AWG23 and still is somewhat flexible, Cat8+ is usually AWG22 and that is a stiff MF, no sharp bending there. But performs the best in my experience.
I had the best results with these plugs - Logilink MP0048. I also tried those fancy and expensive "field / toolless" Cat8 and such, but they all tended to add some artificial flavour/edginess. For building your own LAN cables, I could give you some tips & tricks later. You don't have to attach the shield on one end, if you want to isolate it from the source. But maybe better to ground the network devices locally where you can, but that is a different topic altogether
hello ian
i tried fifopiQ7 pin35"lrck", it works with dac sync clock, the pin 35 is also 50ohm?
For RPi there a so much software / player solutions available I lost track of the latest / best recommendations.
Running a BeagleBone Black for 10 years now and recent years with the Botic I2S output based on Debian and MPD but what recommendation do you suggest for RPi 4 ?
I have the RPi4 4Gb already and awaiting the delivery of the GB for FifoPi Q7 and TransportPi AES to send SPDIF to my Lyngdorf amp.
Did not order the controller so will run completely headless and use my iPad for control of the music from NAS or online stream.
Looking forward to any recommendations.
P.S. I realise I might be off-topic here so do not want to start any discussions .. just name one of a few OS / software contenders and I will investigate them without clogging this tread any more ;-)
Running a BeagleBone Black for 10 years now and recent years with the Botic I2S output based on Debian and MPD but what recommendation do you suggest for RPi 4 ?
I have the RPi4 4Gb already and awaiting the delivery of the GB for FifoPi Q7 and TransportPi AES to send SPDIF to my Lyngdorf amp.
Did not order the controller so will run completely headless and use my iPad for control of the music from NAS or online stream.
Looking forward to any recommendations.
P.S. I realise I might be off-topic here so do not want to start any discussions .. just name one of a few OS / software contenders and I will investigate them without clogging this tread any more ;-)
@Oystein my experience
You can get yourself more than one SD card and just swap them to boot different software. One card with a simple solution (like Ropieee or Volumio) and then another one to test Gentoo.
- Ropieee - most easy to set up and use RPi as an endpoint - then you can test various players on iPad or NAS
- Volumio - also quite easy to set up, well designed, can also work as a player (streaming from Tidal, files from NAS, internet radio). You can also add screen to it. I thought it gives better sound quality than Ropieee, although I did not test that with an attached screen.
- GentooPlayer - a bit more demanding to set up initially, but once you pass a certain point on a learning curve, it is not so difficult - In my opinion the best sound quality. It is commercial but has a free trial
You can get yourself more than one SD card and just swap them to boot different software. One card with a simple solution (like Ropieee or Volumio) and then another one to test Gentoo.
@iancanada
After some further tests -- and our recent PM exchanges -- I would like to revisit my distortion issue, namely continuous static noise on all material above PCM96, including DSD.
In this setup:
- RPi4 > USB cable > Audio-GD DCC > I2S cable > DAC
the result is totally distortion-free up to PCM384 and DSD512
However, using either of the following setups:
- RPi4 > USB cable > Amanero board > IC stack > I2S cable > DAC
or
- RPi4 > internal I2S 'DAC' > Amanero board > IC stack > I2S cable > DAC
there is distortion
The DAC uses the PS Audio I2S protocol, like the HDMIPi Pro.
So it appears that the distortion is caused by the IC stack, which consists of StationPi Pro > ShieldPi Pro > FifoPi Q7 with SC-Pure clocks > HDMIPi Pro.
I tried changing all FifoPi settings using the MonitorPi Pro, to no avail.
I spent € 1.200 on a DIY streamer with the sole purpose to play DSD, using modules that are advertised as PCM384/DSD512 capable, following all your instructions to the letter, and then finding this limitation. Your reply is that I have to solve it myself as you do not troubleshoot DIY projects. I find that disappointing from someone who only sells DIY modules.
Now that it appears that the distortion is caused by the IC stack, do you have any suggestions what to try next? I was thinking of removing the ShieldPi Pro (which is now reversed under the Q7), but this would mean some work as all is built into a case. So I will first await your advice.
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@bodiebill
I have the same stack with Amanero for DDC. No static noise at all up to PCM384, DSD512. Rockna WD Balanced as DAC (with PS Audio input activated). You may revisit your grounding maybe. I have the whole stack free floating.
I have the same stack with Amanero for DDC. No static noise at all up to PCM384, DSD512. Rockna WD Balanced as DAC (with PS Audio input activated). You may revisit your grounding maybe. I have the whole stack free floating.
@bodiebill
I do not have ShieldPI (and you did not specify in your post that you are using it). I have Amanero mounted on the StationPI PRO near RPI.
I do not have ShieldPI (and you did not specify in your post that you are using it). I have Amanero mounted on the StationPI PRO near RPI.
I use picoreplayer in a 2 RPI setup, one for LMS (RPI4, Argon One M.2 and a SSD for Music storage) i use the following plugins Qobuz, Material Skin and radio, and another RPI 3 or 4 for Squeezelite player. It works really well and i can have many players connected to LMS
It’s a little bit complicated to setup, but it’s ok.