I assembled this Ian Canada streamer - the flagship compact #93B. It's come together very well - super easy to put together and sounds absolutely divine in my chain. However, it does look like a Mars lander - which I don't mind, but my family is not a fan of (the kit is in my living room), and I do worry about electrocuting some curious visitor who starts poking the super-caps.
Looking for experiences and advice on putting this in a case. One option would be to just build or buy a case into which this can go as it is - as a vertical stack. The other option would be to flatten it and put some of the boards across with ribbons connecting the GPIOs. Am ok with the mains brick outside - just need the main stack inside the case.
If anyone has built a 3D printed case for the whole stack, would love to get the designs ... or other ideas also welcome.
Looking for experiences and advice on putting this in a case. One option would be to just build or buy a case into which this can go as it is - as a vertical stack. The other option would be to flatten it and put some of the boards across with ribbons connecting the GPIOs. Am ok with the mains brick outside - just need the main stack inside the case.
If anyone has built a 3D printed case for the whole stack, would love to get the designs ... or other ideas also welcome.
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I am very curious, did you have any other streamer to compare it to? I never seen comparison with other streamer. I am all for putting in the work to make myself one, but it really needs to be very good. If it just ok. I may as well save me the money and time and go for an already made 3-5000 Euro Streamer/server and be done with it. Currently I use a Pi2AES 2.0 with a Jcat PSU, that while better then the Project S2 Stream box, it isn't anything special, and I feel it really limits what I can get out of my Qtest, and that's why would like to find out where in the marget the Ian Canada solution sits purely on sound quality.
Thank you
Thank you
Do you like the sound of ES9038Q2M? If you don't like the ESS Hyperstream 2 sound, then you might not like Ian's implementation of it either?
For the absolute best SQ out of Chord Qutest, power it from unregulated Eneloop NiCad (1.2V) batteries x4 (double up for longer use). FAR better sound quality than those portable power banks (regulators) or various smps, linear power supplies I have (such as Allo Shanti).
Also, the overachiever from Jcat is the Jcat USB card. Power that Jcat card from external PS, unregulated battery or IanCanada UcConditioner with supercaps, then into Qutest.
0808240724a by drjlo2, on Flickr
Also, the overachiever from Jcat is the Jcat USB card. Power that Jcat card from external PS, unregulated battery or IanCanada UcConditioner with supercaps, then into Qutest.
0808240724a by drjlo2, on Flickr
I don’t have a Jcat card, but a Jcat psu that significantly better then Allo Shanti. Better then super capacitore? I don’t know.
Again, my question is about the quality of the streamer not the DAC, because currently my Pi2AES 2.0 with 1000Euro PSU is matched by my phone USB out playing Apple Music. I don’t think this is the best music can sound.
I only had it in Project S2 Digital and sounded fine For the price range. It works best with smother amps like Emotiva BaseX or Rebel Amp because it takes of that sharp-ish uncontrolled edge, but again I have no problem with it.
Again, my question is about the quality of the streamer not the DAC, because currently my Pi2AES 2.0 with 1000Euro PSU is matched by my phone USB out playing Apple Music. I don’t think this is the best music can sound.
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I don't know that the problem is in the streamer. All it does is stream. It shouldn't damage the digital audio data. Its what happens inside whatever is considered to be the dac that really matters.
There is a thread I have on boards for clocking dacs, etc., and another thread on a truly exceptional dac once its clocked properly and once it has a great output stage. There is some assembly required, however. And there is some cost, not all of which has to be spent at once. I think if done up to its best potential we are talking about at least at $10,000 class dac that would be worth the money in the commercial marketplace given the performance that is achievable with sufficient care.
These threads are at:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/general-purpose-dac-clock-board.413001/
and:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/return-to-zero-shift-register-firdac.379406/
and:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/simple-dsd-modulator-for-dsc2.370177/
Combining all the above with the best clocks from Iancanada or better can result in a world class dac system.
For the very best clocks for this particular dac I would suggest to consider Acko Labs diy portal offerings.
Again, this is something that can be built up and used as-is along the way. Over time it can be upgraded until it is at peak performance. It will take many years before a better diy dac project becomes available, if ever.
There is a thread I have on boards for clocking dacs, etc., and another thread on a truly exceptional dac once its clocked properly and once it has a great output stage. There is some assembly required, however. And there is some cost, not all of which has to be spent at once. I think if done up to its best potential we are talking about at least at $10,000 class dac that would be worth the money in the commercial marketplace given the performance that is achievable with sufficient care.
These threads are at:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/general-purpose-dac-clock-board.413001/
and:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/return-to-zero-shift-register-firdac.379406/
and:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/simple-dsd-modulator-for-dsc2.370177/
Combining all the above with the best clocks from Iancanada or better can result in a world class dac system.
For the very best clocks for this particular dac I would suggest to consider Acko Labs diy portal offerings.
Again, this is something that can be built up and used as-is along the way. Over time it can be upgraded until it is at peak performance. It will take many years before a better diy dac project becomes available, if ever.
UcConditioner is great, but I finally built the IanCanada UcPure Quad ultracapacitor PS for Chord Qutest. Worth every penny and effort 😀
0824240816 by drjlo2, on FlickrI put mine inside the more expensive polycarbonate junction box with transparent cover, which is nice to see inside.
But for streamer, the ABS junction boxes with similar look and clear top cover are much cheaper and look very nice and come in different sizes too!
https://www.amazon.com/LeMotech-Jun...63&sprefix=transparent+abs+cas,aps,174&sr=8-3
@mothbhai
My project all-aluminum case!
https://modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_291_293&product_id=444
My project all-aluminum case!
https://modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_291_293&product_id=444
