I am somewhat confused.
Can I clarify some simple things please and ask some basic questions?
I think i have muddled up some of the things I have read.
I have a LiFePo4 psu (which i at last have repaired by replacing a cap)
Pi3B+
FifoPi
Transportpi
Khadas Tone Board
I am powering the Pi via the FiFoPi from the non isolated on the LifePo4.
Powering the Fifopi from one of the isolated 3.3v outputs from the LifePo4.
I then got a Khadas Tone Board as i read that they were good value.
While i see if my old ears notice any difference (surprised and pleased to say i can)
When getting the fifopi, I also got a transportpi.
Because i read that the better way to transfer signal was coax.
As the KTB has coax in, I thought i needed that.
Question 1.
I understand that the fifopi is there to clean up the signal etc.
But think i have lost the point of the Transportpi.
Should i remove the transportpi and go i2s from fifopi to dac?
Is that a better signal than coax?
Is my Transportpi a bit redundant here?
Question 2.
I was hoping to power the Dac from the LifePo4 to just use one LPSU
I am currently using the non isolated usb 5v to power the KTB.
But I understand i would be better using the isolated.
But they can only be configured 3.3v 6.6v 9.9v etc.
Is there something I can do there?
Thanks.
Edit: I was just reading something else. Perhaps the KTB is not really the right thing to go for. Perhaps a DAC hat is more appropriate.
Edit again: Ah, I am at last putting some pieces together. I really wasn't getting it last time round.
I found something saying that the KTB is really for USB use. That they are meant to be able to use I2s but it isn't working.
So, what I really want is Ian Canada's Dual mono Dac hat isn't it? With an I/V.
That is I2s and can be powered by the LiFePo4 3.3v rails...... what a coincidence 🙂
So, if everything is i2s, that is better, right?
Then straight to RCA.
Transportpi is just there in case you want a different output giving you plenty of options (which is what i thought i wanted to cover my options and it does it very well. But I don't, right?)
Can I clarify some simple things please and ask some basic questions?
I think i have muddled up some of the things I have read.
I have a LiFePo4 psu (which i at last have repaired by replacing a cap)
Pi3B+
FifoPi
Transportpi
Khadas Tone Board
I am powering the Pi via the FiFoPi from the non isolated on the LifePo4.
Powering the Fifopi from one of the isolated 3.3v outputs from the LifePo4.
I then got a Khadas Tone Board as i read that they were good value.
While i see if my old ears notice any difference (surprised and pleased to say i can)
When getting the fifopi, I also got a transportpi.
Because i read that the better way to transfer signal was coax.
As the KTB has coax in, I thought i needed that.
Question 1.
I understand that the fifopi is there to clean up the signal etc.
But think i have lost the point of the Transportpi.
Should i remove the transportpi and go i2s from fifopi to dac?
Is that a better signal than coax?
Is my Transportpi a bit redundant here?
Question 2.
I was hoping to power the Dac from the LifePo4 to just use one LPSU
I am currently using the non isolated usb 5v to power the KTB.
But I understand i would be better using the isolated.
But they can only be configured 3.3v 6.6v 9.9v etc.
Is there something I can do there?
Thanks.
Edit: I was just reading something else. Perhaps the KTB is not really the right thing to go for. Perhaps a DAC hat is more appropriate.
Edit again: Ah, I am at last putting some pieces together. I really wasn't getting it last time round.
I found something saying that the KTB is really for USB use. That they are meant to be able to use I2s but it isn't working.
So, what I really want is Ian Canada's Dual mono Dac hat isn't it? With an I/V.
That is I2s and can be powered by the LiFePo4 3.3v rails...... what a coincidence 🙂
So, if everything is i2s, that is better, right?
Then straight to RCA.
Transportpi is just there in case you want a different output giving you plenty of options (which is what i thought i wanted to cover my options and it does it very well. But I don't, right?)
Last edited:
Khadas tone board is not a great match to FIFO_Pi, IMHO. If using FIFO_Pi you would probably be much happier with the sound of Iancanada's dual mono ES9038Q2M dac and the output stage of your choice.
If you are using USB input only, then you don't need a FIFO or Coax. You do need a good dac with good clocks, good power, and a good USB board.
A FIFO is to clean up jittery digital audio coming from a jittery source such as RPi, coax, or optical fiber. For plain old USB from a computer, no FIFO is needed, although one can be used if there are other problems such as poor clocks on one's USB board.
You don't really need LiPO4 battery power either, some of the best dacs in the world are made without batteries. However, batteries are one way to solve certain power supply and grounding problems.
Given the components you have acquired so far and the questions you have, from here it kinda looks like you have been spending money on components before understanding enough about what you are doing. Probably be happier if you did it the other way around.
If you are using USB input only, then you don't need a FIFO or Coax. You do need a good dac with good clocks, good power, and a good USB board.
A FIFO is to clean up jittery digital audio coming from a jittery source such as RPi, coax, or optical fiber. For plain old USB from a computer, no FIFO is needed, although one can be used if there are other problems such as poor clocks on one's USB board.
You don't really need LiPO4 battery power either, some of the best dacs in the world are made without batteries. However, batteries are one way to solve certain power supply and grounding problems.
Given the components you have acquired so far and the questions you have, from here it kinda looks like you have been spending money on components before understanding enough about what you are doing. Probably be happier if you did it the other way around.
I agree entirely.
I thought i had understood but was mixing up info from different places I think.
I have found it hard to find information from such a low starting point.
It is difficult when you don't understand most of the words in a sentence 🙂
Let alone the inferences.
I appreciate the confirmation.
I agree, I have been rereading stuff now and it is slowly making more sense.
The ES9038Q2M makes much more sense.
Knowing that bit means that a lot of sentences now make MUCH more sense to me.
Cheers for the input.
I thought i had understood but was mixing up info from different places I think.
I have found it hard to find information from such a low starting point.
It is difficult when you don't understand most of the words in a sentence 🙂
Let alone the inferences.
I appreciate the confirmation.
I agree, I have been rereading stuff now and it is slowly making more sense.
The ES9038Q2M makes much more sense.
Knowing that bit means that a lot of sentences now make MUCH more sense to me.
Cheers for the input.
ES9038Q2M is the part number of a dac chip made by ESS, mostly intended for things like cell phones. However, it is a very capable part used in many high quality dac products. In fact, Khadas tone board uses one. Thing about dac chips is they are only one piece of the puzzle for making a good dac. The rest is referred to as the 'implementation' which is more important than the exact choice of dac chip. Its all where most all the cost is in really good dacs.